Third Gear Grind: Honda fix vs. Amsoil vs...

[GlennS]

This is my summary of this issue.

The steps we seem to have documented to date are:

1) Have your dealer check your MT to see if it is overfilled (from the factory) with fluid.
(My '06 EX coupe MT was overfilled, and others here have reported the same thing.)

and/or

2) Have your dealer drain and refill your MT, per Honda Service News below.

Originally Posted by MrPanther
Honda ServiceNews - January 2007
Look at the bottom left of page 3 in that 6-page newsletter.

or

3) Change to Amsoil, GM Syncromesh, or RoyalPurple MT fluid.
(Most here seem to agree that this step is the best possible solution.)

and/or

4) Send the government some money for their report.
See post #10 on the first page of this thread for details.

Some here have been persistent, and one forum user here says
he got new 3rd-gear syncros installed by Honda under warranty.

Other than that, there seems little left as recourse.
It's up to each individual owner to proceed as best fits their personality.

As for the 4-step plan above:
I've done step 1, and now have an appointment to get step 2 done (free under warranty).
If step 2 does not solve the issue, I'll then go to step 3 (Amsoil).
The final step, #4, will come into play if need be--before the warranty runs out.

Good luck all,
Glenn in CT

[jeffo]

i got some synthitic fluid from a company called BG. we use all of their products to do flushes, injector cleaning, intake cleaning, or any differential services. i have yet to put it in but i will soon.

[aki]

5) Have the dealer repeatedly drive your car until they can replicate the problem. That's what I did, that's why the finally fixed the 3rd gear syncromesh. Oh and I got Amsoil afterwards since it was still notchy (but didn't grind). Now it seems pretty much fixed, for now.

[Special Ringpop]

I've tried three of the five here.

1.) Haven't done yet.

2.) They say there is no bullitin that truly says this and because it isn't a TSB, they won't do it.

3.) They say this voids the warranty / they won't put anything besides Honda stuff in.

4.) Haven't done yet.

5.) 100 some miles later, they claim the transmission operates fine. I took the manager on a 10 mile cruise because they couldn't replicate it. It kicked out of third twice, and grinded more than once as well. The dealer "didn't hear or see anything."

If this is what is meant by Honda quality, I should've stuck with Chevy, at least they're desperate enough for my business that they'll listen to me the first time I tell them something is wrong, and it doesn't require calling American Honda and filing a complaint against the dealership.

[aki]

Originally Posted by Special Ringpop

5.) 100 some miles later, they claim the transmission operates fine. I took the manager on a 10 mile cruise because they couldn't replicate it. It kicked out of third twice, and grinded more than once as well. The dealer "didn't hear or see anything."

I meant have the mechanic actually drive the car. If you drive it and grind it, they can put the blame on you. Ask if the mechanic can drive it, keep having them drive it until they find the problem. If they're not cool w/ that, take it to another dealership, rinse, repeat.

[Special Ringpop]

Right, I did that. They drove it 100+ miles trying to find it and they said they couldn't.

I don't believe it, persaonlly.

[chilipepper]

Had a local shop replace the MTF with AMSOIL MTF today. So far, no more 3rd gear problems (didn't have any 1st or 2nd gear issues). Seems to shift a little smoother than before. Maybe wishful thinking?? My tranny was about 1 pint overfilled from the factory. Dealer wouldn't replace fluid under warranty without a TSB (ServiceNews article wasn't enough for them) so I just had it done. I'm happier!

[sfccrx]

my dealer asked to see the service bulletin today and replaced it free per the January Honda news letter, 3rd gear is livable now.

[TommyD]

Originally Posted by Special Ringpop

3.) They say this voids the warranty / they won't put anything besides Honda stuff in.

Bullshit! You should print them a copy of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
They can't tell you that. If the MTF fluid meets or exceeds OEM specs that can't do a damn thing or you can take them to court and win, and they know it.

[pinchycm]

Anyone able to get their dealership to put 3rd party MTF in there? I don't even want to waste my time with the Honda MTF...

[aki]

Originally Posted by Special Ringpop

Right, I did that. They drove it 100+ miles trying to find it and they said they couldn't.

I don't believe it, persaonlly.

Hmm, could it be possible that it didn't grind in their 100 mile test?

How about going to a diff dealer if they think they're screwin you over. Also, I'm wonderin did u replace MTF w/ Amsoil? That fixed my notchiness completely.

[Tiller]

Originally Posted by TommyD

Bullshit! You should print them a copy of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
They can't tell you that. If the MTF fluid meets or exceeds OEM specs that can't do a damn thing or you can take them to court and win, and they know it.

Very true, they cannot deny you putting another brand of fluid in your car as long as it meets or exceeds the proper specifications, however they will not cover the job under warranty, as in do it at no cost to you. But it will not void your warranty if you ask them to install the fluid with customer supplied fluid, just you pay the normal shop rate and keep going. As long as you have the proper service records they cannot deny you warranty on your tranny from putting that fluid in (ie AMSOIL, GM synchromesh)

Later

[Special Ringpop]

Originally Posted by aki

Hmm, could it be possible that it didn't grind in their 100 mile test?

How about going to a diff dealer if they think they're screwin you over. Also, I'm wonderin did u replace MTF w/ Amsoil? That fixed my notchiness completely.

Dealerships I go to refuse to put non-Honda MTF in the car....

I guess it is possible it didn't grind on their 100 mile test, it was just funny that on the 5 mile test with the dealer, it happened like three times to me.

[aki]

Originally Posted by Special Ringpop

Dealerships I go to refuse to put non-Honda MTF in the car....

I guess it is possible it didn't grind on their 100 mile test, it was just funny that on the 5 mile test with the dealer, it happened like three times to me.

Mine had gotten so bad to the point that it would grind every day, so it got easier and easier for them to catch it When I first got the car it was once a week, then it got down to almost every day.

Sucks to hear you have cruddy dealerships in your area. Mine did charge me $30-40 labor for putting Amsoil in But living in an apartment I don't have the luxury of doing it myself so it was worth the money. And they kept insisting it was unnecessary. Pssh.