Honda 6 Speed Manual Dilemma - Article

[Special Ringpop]

Originally Posted by Dezoris

I wanted to post this here first.

But I confirmed today from multiple sources that there is a mechanical fix that will be released in the next 30-60 days for the 2006-2008 Civic Si, Honda Accord (6SPD) 03-07, and Acura TL (6SPD) 04-2008.

The fix was not detailed but at the very least according to my sources will be a 3rd gear set.

By Thursday I will be able to provide a few dealerships people can call for updates on when the TSB will be released.

Dealerships that know about the issue.

Good to hear. I have a question though: how are they going to decide who needs this fix? My car definitely does, but I have tried over a dozen times to get dealerships to replicate it, and they say they can't. What's the point of a fix for an afflicted car if the dealership won't help you?

[ryker]

Request the tech ride along with you. ??

[Dezoris]

Originally Posted by Special Ringpop

Good to hear. I have a question though: how are they going to decide who needs this fix? My car definitely does, but I have tried over a dozen times to get dealerships to replicate it, and they say they can't. What's the point of a fix for an afflicted car if the dealership won't help you?

Just an FYI I will be posting updates in detail here as I have them:
Automotive Articles .com Magazine | Automotive Articles Magazine

I will come back and update this thread as well but I won't have as much time to give details on all the forums.

But to answer the question...
I have talked to several people who have the same issue you have.
And some of these people are not lucky enough to have 4 different Honda shops close to them to jump around for second opinions.

I will suggest what I suggested to them.
If you don't have many dealers around...

1. Have your visits to the dealer documented.
2. Wait for the TSB.
3. Call you dealer, make an appointment to come in and talk to the service manager. Don't do it on the phone, they are often busy or won't want to deal with you.

Go in talk with them.

Explain that you have had the problem since taking delivery of the car. You have brought it in several times without help. And ask them to see if they know anything about it. If they do not look up the TSB right away while you are there you politely offer up the notion that you have called around to different dealers and they told you that Honda has a fix just released for this and they have been repairing other cars with the same issue.

You want the dealer to look up the TSB without you telling them to do it namely if you are dealing with a place that is difficult. If they still don't look it up ask them for an email address so you can send him the articles which at that point will have TSB info on it.

Worst case if the service manager still does not help go to the front desk and ask to talk with the general manager, make an appointment if needed to talk to them. Always calmly explain what is going on and let them know you need THEIR help.

They will want you to bring the car in. It is best to drive with a mechanic. Let him drive and then you drive.

Take as much time as you need until you can recreate it.
Maybe leave your car there overnight, have someone drop you off in the morning and take the mechanic out during a cold start to help make the problem worse.

If you still can't get help last resort is opening a case with Honda customer service and dealing with a district manager from Honda.


My guess is that this TSB will be very well known.
If your complaint matches the TSB description dealers will have no problem swapping in the parts.

[Skyline4life]

I just want to clearify something

Does the 3rd gear issue also have to do with the 3rd gear feeling like theres knotch in it? cause i KNOW if i don't push it hard enugh sometimes..that it will pop out/grind..


edit-nvm, the second video told me i was right

[Orbit1]

Originally Posted by Skyline4life

I just want to clearify something

Does the 3rd gear issue also have to do with the 3rd gear feeling like theres knotch in it? cause i KNOW if i don't push it hard enugh sometimes..that it will pop out/grind..


edit-nvm, the second video told me i was right

ding ding ding!

[Skyline4life]

Originally Posted by Orbit1

ding ding ding!

Maybe now my mom will be like 'OMG THE CAR IS UNSAFE! go get a WRX they sound safer!!" ha.

yea right i love my car.

[Ambilobe]

[Driversound]

I've noticed the shifting problem at a little above 4K miles. At first I thought it was just me but I've own several manual cars before and never had a problem. Then I found this forum and changed out my fluid with a synthetic one. I definately noticed a difference in shifting. Shifting was smoother but it did NOT fix the problem but it did help the tranny. Now at almost 16K miles, I still get the occasional grind and two pop outs due to an incomplete shift. I did notice however that when shifting to third gear sometimes, I can feel 3 clicks before I am confident enough that is indeed in gear. I do get the occasional grinds on first and second but it doesn't happen too often. So the fluid change doesn't fix the problem, it only hides it and I just take extra care when shifting to third. I would hate to think what kind of shifting problem I would have if I didn't change the fluid.

[Special Ringpop]

Originally Posted by ryker

Request the tech ride along with you. ??

They have, several times.

One time, in particular, it not only grinded, but popped out of gear, and when I asked the tech if he heard of saw it, he said "Oh, I didn't see or hear it."

[DumbasSi]

Here is a thought of mine to add fuel to the fire...

Is it possible that the popping out of 3rd gear or not going completely into is being caused by the shift cables or shifter itself and not by the transmission?

Example... The driver is accelerating and the motor is moving around because of the torque. The motor moving around slighly while under load is "pulling" on the shift cables and pulling the shifter out of gear.

[06CivEXJon]

I doubt Honda will fix it...its the same tranny that was in the RSX.

[Dezoris]

Originally Posted by 06CivEXJon

I doubt Honda will fix it...its the same tranny that was in the RSX.

They are fixing it.

[RowansMom702]

Originally Posted by Leonard1818

Man, I'm at the point where I will be ordering an Si within a matter of days.

Things like this make me so scurrd to pull the trigger on the Si.


EDIT: Can anyone offer any reassurance or other suggestions?

I work here at AHM and I am also the proud owner of a 2007 Si Sedan. Go for it! You will not regret it! Yes I have had some of the problems listed with 3rd gear, however, it was fixed. Not all of them are like this and the 2008s are looking great for now. There is supposed to be a fix, but I am not sure on the ETA of that bulletin. Also, you need to shift this thing hard. Drive it like you stole it baby!!! If you need any other information on this car just send me a message or reply here. I can answer any questions you may have

[GeezerSi]

Originally Posted by Dezoris

They are fixing it.

Do you sense any cynicism?

[0720Steve]

subscribed

[blueice1984]

Originally Posted by Dezoris

Just an FYI I will be posting updates in detail here as I have them:
Automotive Articles .com Magazine | Automotive Articles Magazine

I will come back and update this thread as well but I won't have as much time to give details on all the forums.

But to answer the question...
I have talked to several people who have the same issue you have.
And some of these people are not lucky enough to have 4 different Honda shops close to them to jump around for second opinions.

I will suggest what I suggested to them.
If you don't have many dealers around...

1. Have your visits to the dealer documented.
2. Wait for the TSB.
3. Call you dealer, make an appointment to come in and talk to the service manager. Don't do it on the phone, they are often busy or won't want to deal with you.

Go in talk with them.

Explain that you have had the problem since taking delivery of the car. You have brought it in several times without help. And ask them to see if they know anything about it. If they do not look up the TSB right away while you are there you politely offer up the notion that you have called around to different dealers and they told you that Honda has a fix just released for this and they have been repairing other cars with the same issue.

You want the dealer to look up the TSB without you telling them to do it namely if you are dealing with a place that is difficult. If they still don't look it up ask them for an email address so you can send him the articles which at that point will have TSB info on it.

Worst case if the service manager still does not help go to the front desk and ask to talk with the general manager, make an appointment if needed to talk to them. Always calmly explain what is going on and let them know you need THEIR help.

They will want you to bring the car in. It is best to drive with a mechanic. Let him drive and then you drive.

Take as much time as you need until you can recreate it.
Maybe leave your car there overnight, have someone drop you off in the morning and take the mechanic out during a cold start to help make the problem worse.

If you still can't get help last resort is opening a case with Honda customer service and dealing with a district manager from Honda.


My guess is that this TSB will be very well known.
If your complaint matches the TSB description dealers will have no problem swapping in the parts.

This makes me LOL very hard! I work at MotorWerks(dealership stated in original post) and my father is the service director. He has been with MotorWerks for over 25 years. Anyways, I bought a brand new 07 civic si and I tell him all the time about the 2nd/3rd gear issue. I've brought it in twice and they tell me "they are all like that". Here is the point, Unless there is a TSB they will not fix it cause they have to eat the cost/labor. Even I can not get this fixed and I have connections! LOL

[08blacex]

this is not just with the 6 speed si trannys.. i have an EX and it grinds 2nd and 3rd.

[Adlh29]

[quote=Skyline4life;2016204]Maybe now my mom will be like 'OMG THE CAR IS UNSAFE! go get a WRX they sound safer!!" ha.

I would probably keep that to myself.

[Dezoris]

Originally Posted by blueice1984

This makes me LOL very hard! I work at MotorWerks(dealership stated in original post) and my father is the service director. He has been with MotorWerks for over 25 years. Anyways, I bought a brand new 07 civic si and I tell him all the time about the 2nd/3rd gear issue. I've brought it in twice and they tell me "they are all like that". Here is the point, Unless there is a TSB they will not fix it cause they have to eat the cost/labor. Even I can not get this fixed and I have connections! LOL

I have talked with Brian and Ed in Honda service at Motorwerks several times about this.

For most dealers it is simple. They will not go out of their way to investigate an issue. They want it to come up on their system in 5 seconds when they do a search for the TSB or the problem does not exist.

All of these guys have access to a local service rep and tech line.
Getting them to call is like asking God to talk to you sometimes.

[FusionSi11]

Originally Posted by blueice1984

This makes me LOL very hard! I work at MotorWerks(dealership stated in original post) and my father is the service director. He has been with MotorWerks for over 25 years. Anyways, I bought a brand new 07 civic si and I tell him all the time about the 2nd/3rd gear issue. I've brought it in twice and they tell me "they are all like that". Here is the point, Unless there is a TSB they will not fix it cause they have to eat the cost/labor. Even I can not get this fixed and I have connections! LOL

Originally Posted by Dezoris

I have talked with Brian and Ed in Honda service at Motorwerks several times about this.

For most dealers it is simple. They will not go out of their way to investigate an issue. They want it to come up on their system in 5 seconds when they do a search for the TSB or the problem does not exist.

All of these guys have access to a local service rep and tech line.
Getting them to call is like asking God to talk to you sometimes.

well i bought my Si at motorwerks back in 05 so hopefully you (blueice) can help me with my 3rd gear notch when the TSB comes up. Dezoris, once the TSB goes out, hopefully you can provide us a list of dealeships that won't be a-holes reggarding this issue.

my other question is...my car aleady has 45k miles on it so its obvious that its out of warranty. however, being it a TSB, is my car still covered? will i have to pay anything extra or will i be taken care of the same way as a customer thats still has warranty on their car.