Si 2nd Gear Question/Problem

tomato989 · 02-27-2008, 12:01 PM

I was just wondering out of all you people experiencing 3rd gear issues, how many of you are also experiencing 2nd gear issues as well (ie. grind, cannot engage)?

Also, are most people experiencing 2nd gear grinding only seeing this at high RPMs or at low RPMs as well? I've been noticing that even at 3-4krpm when i shift into 2nd I get a horrible grinding sound (I assume this is the synchro?). This grinding is most apparent during the mornings when I first start driving my car or when the weather is cold but has occurred randomly as well.

I've noticed a few threads on high rpm grinding when shifting from 1st - 2nd, but very few have mentioned grinding at lower rpms. Is this a common defect or should I take the car in for diagnostics? Also, if this is a common defect, does anyone think it will be addressed by the "rumored" fix that is coming?

Cheers.

DBruceM2 · 02-27-2008, 12:11 PM

You just explained my other concern w/ this transmission (besides the 3rd gear issue). I rarely red-line (maybe 5 times in the year of ownership) my car in first gear, and I will agree w/ the 2nd gear crunchy/grindy feel... especially on a cold morning. I do occasionally notice it after warming up, but primarily when it's cold. Additionally, when the engine/trans is cold, downshifting into 2nd is near impossible... it is locked out.
For instance, if I'm in 3rd gear going about 20mph and I go to downshift into 2nd, I literally have to force it into 2nd... and when I do, i can actually feel the car lunge like I dropped the clutch, but the clutch is all the way to the floor.
Because of this, I've just eliminated downshifting into second from the first 10 minutes of my morning commute. It gets a little annoying.
I'm with you. I hope the supposed 3rd gear fix helps 2nd gear as well. I'm affected by the 3rd gear issue as well, but this 2nd gear grinding/ cold lockout bugs me more than 3rd. I can catch 3rd gear not engaging fully, but I can't stop 2nd from grinding, even when the clutch is to the floor.

nastynogales · 02-27-2008, 02:09 PM

my problem occurs when i'm at high rpms in 1st and try to throw it into 2nd - it'll take a bit more effort and pisses me off cause it's not smooth like it would be at low rpms.

i thought AMSOIL would do the trick but i still have this issue of being too notchy

Megeralis · 02-27-2008, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nastynogales

my problem occurs when i'm at high rpms in 1st and try to throw it into 2nd - it'll take a bit more effort and pisses me off cause it's not smooth like it would be at low rpms.

I experience the same problem, and had to change the way I drive. Make sure you engage the clutch, and give a little delay before doing your 1-2 upshift. After that you can shift the crap outta the transmission, but the 1-2 shift is not good at those high rpms.

***Aldaris*** · 02-27-2008, 02:59 PM

The only problem I've had with second gear is that it does become a bit notchy when v-tecing first.

rp215 · 02-27-2008, 03:09 PM

I thought I was alone....sweet! lol

Leonard1818 · 02-27-2008, 03:13 PM

Yeah, I think when something is spinning that quickly (8K rpm) it's hard to match that as quickly as you can shift.

the 1-2 grind was the only one I would ever feel in my RSX-S and if I waited a fraction of a second longer after pressing the clutch, it didn't happen...

Si_of_Relief · 02-27-2008, 03:26 PM

yeah I got that problem too.... I thought i was the only one! This drives me up the freakin' wall!!!! Or should i say the wall it feels like my shifter hits tryin to engage 2nd!!!! Ive learned not to redline in 1st and to hesitate shifting into 2nd but that sucks!!! ya know! I love my vtec in 1st :[... There are times that i can get it to engage at 8k tho.... I jus don't understand???

***Special Ringpop*** · 02-27-2008, 03:39 PM

It occassionally grinds and doesn't want to go in, just like third, but it has only ever popped out into neutral once for me.

Third is by far a bigger issue for me than second.

nastynogales · 02-27-2008, 04:36 PM

def nowhere near the gear box of the s2k - which was effin' sweet btw

tomato989 · 02-27-2008, 09:19 PM

seems like we have a real array of problems.

Some with no gear problems at all.
Some with 3rd gear problems.
Some with 3rd gear problems and 2nd gear problems at high revs.
Some with 3rd gear problems and 2nd gear problems at all revs.

I'm just wondering for those that have no 2nd gear problems, do you live in warmer climate regions? It seems like cold temperatures aggravates this gear problem. I live in Canada and for the past 3 months the temp has been around zero Celsius. I didn't get much of a chance to try my car in warmer temperatures as I picked up my 08 si in October when it started getting cold, not sure if it'll be much different in the spring/summer.

nayilsi · 02-27-2008, 09:21 PM

2nd gear is pretty lousy.... never worked for me when street racing.

hence ul find tCs beating Sis in tC boards

j/k

ive missed it a few times...u just need to be slow while engaging it.

tylermachel · 02-27-2008, 09:25 PM

never had problems with 2nd... only had 3rd not want to engage or slip out a few times. this mainly happened when the engine was still cold.

shibiku · 02-28-2008, 04:35 PM

personally it seems that forcing a gear in when it doesn't feel right is not a good idea. While I don't personally own a new civic si, I have driven 2 and neither of them had transmission problems, but both owners insisted that the vehicles be at operating temp before setting out.

chrisng · 03-03-2008, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomato989

seems like we have a real array of problems.

Some with no gear problems at all.
Some with 3rd gear problems.
Some with 3rd gear problems and 2nd gear problems at high revs.
Some with 3rd gear problems and 2nd gear problems at all revs.

I'm just wondering for those that have no 2nd gear problems, do you live in warmer climate regions? It seems like cold temperatures aggravates this gear problem. I live in Canada and for the past 3 months the temp has been around zero Celsius. I didn't get much of a chance to try my car in warmer temperatures as I picked up my 08 si in October when it started getting cold, not sure if it'll be much different in the spring/summer.

i think i'm another category.

Some with 2nd gear problems at all revs, no 3rd gear problems.

what did you guys do? take it into the dealership? its a relief knowing that its the transmission grind and not me just not paying attention.

ygoslo · 03-03-2008, 11:05 AM

to tomato 989,i live in a warm weather climate,but december and january have mornings in the 20`s and 30`s,those months the clutch was notchy,and rarely you had to be careful as 3rd would need a little extra push to go all the way in,now that its geting warmer here,in the 60`s and 70`s, the clutch is very smooth,no issues at all. so i think the temperature does make a differance

Gimenez · 03-03-2008, 11:06 AM

Lets just say I had to get a brand new first and second gear because of this... 2nd completely broke. $1600 paid (by the dealership) because I fought it. Ya'll have to shift slower. Sometimes I still grind second if I am nervous. Sometimes it grinds, and still goes in, sometimes it just grinds like crazy and never goes in.

bangmonsta · 03-03-2008, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomato989

seems like we have a real array of problems.

Some with no gear problems at all.
Some with 3rd gear problems.
Some with 3rd gear problems and 2nd gear problems at high revs.
Some with 3rd gear problems and 2nd gear problems at all revs.

I'm just wondering for those that have no 2nd gear problems, do you live in warmer climate regions? It seems like cold temperatures aggravates this gear problem. I live in Canada and for the past 3 months the temp has been around zero Celsius. I didn't get much of a chance to try my car in warmer temperatures as I picked up my 08 si in October when it started getting cold, not sure if it'll be much different in the spring/summer.

i'm #4, but 3rd gear i've learned to deal with, 2nd gear now a days is just really disappointing. Feels like I'm killing the syncros when all I'm trying to do it drive and shift the same way I would every other gear

07k20z3ftw · 03-04-2008, 08:14 AM

i live in FL i get second gear crunchness/notchiness to matter what rpm's im at or what the temperature of the car is...it does it just as much when its cold as it does warmed up...i also have 3rd gear notchiness and grinding, i always hit that "invisible wall" everyother time or so i shift into 3rd...but only on upshifts...on downshifts everything is smooth in every gear..sometimes second is notchy but rarely...upshifting in 2nd and 3rd is a nightmare..

nandro · 03-04-2008, 08:28 AM

took my car in yesterday for 3rd gear problem. i assumed they wouldn't find anything and send me on my way. they just called me saying they got 'parts ordered' to fix the transmission and i had a 2nd gear problem too! i never had a 2nd gear issue before but the dealership said the tech drove it and certianly it's acting up also. moss motors ftw! (louisiana). my girlfriend's sister sold me the car when she worked there and she said they are awesome at getting things fixed....as long as you don't have any mods! (mine are sitting in my house...lol)

02-27-2008, 12:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
tomato989 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Si 2nd Gear Question/Problem I was just wondering out of all you people experiencing 3rd gear issues, how many of you are also experiencing 2nd gear issues as well (ie. grind, cannot engage)? Also, are most people experiencing 2nd gear grinding only seeing this at high RPMs or at low RPMs as well? I've been noticing that even at 3-4krpm when i shift into 2nd I get a horrible grinding sound (I assume this is the synchro?). This grinding is most apparent during the mornings when I first start driving my car or when the weather is cold but has occurred randomly as well. I've noticed a few threads on high rpm grinding when shifting from 1st - 2nd, but very few have mentioned grinding at lower rpms. Is this a common defect or should I take the car in for diagnostics? Also, if this is a common defect, does anyone think it will be addressed by the "rumored" fix that is coming? Cheers.

02-27-2008, 02:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
*Aldaris* MMJ Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Margate, FL Posts: 961 C@rlo$ iTrader: 1 / 100%	The only problem I've had with second gear is that it does become a bit notchy when v-tecing first. __________________ "Wanna witness some blue blood bleed red..."

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02-27-2008, 12:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
DBruceM2 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cincy, OH Age: 30 Posts: 16 David iTrader: 0 / 0%	You just explained my other concern w/ this transmission (besides the 3rd gear issue). I rarely red-line (maybe 5 times in the year of ownership) my car in first gear, and I will agree w/ the 2nd gear crunchy/grindy feel... especially on a cold morning. I do occasionally notice it after warming up, but primarily when it's cold. Additionally, when the engine/trans is cold, downshifting into 2nd is near impossible... it is locked out. For instance, if I'm in 3rd gear going about 20mph and I go to downshift into 2nd, I literally have to force it into 2nd... and when I do, i can actually feel the car lunge like I dropped the clutch, but the clutch is all the way to the floor. Because of this, I've just eliminated downshifting into second from the first 10 minutes of my morning commute. It gets a little annoying. I'm with you. I hope the supposed 3rd gear fix helps 2nd gear as well. I'm affected by the 3rd gear issue as well, but this 2nd gear grinding/ cold lockout bugs me more than 3rd. I can catch 3rd gear not engaging fully, but I can't stop 2nd from grinding, even when the clutch is to the floor.

02-27-2008, 02:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
nastynogales Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 766 iTrader: 1 / 100%	my problem occurs when i'm at high rpms in 1st and try to throw it into 2nd - it'll take a bit more effort and pisses me off cause it's not smooth like it would be at low rpms. i thought AMSOIL would do the trick but i still have this issue of being too notchy

02-27-2008, 03:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
rp215 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: East Orlando, but my heart is in Kailua Posts: 961 Ronnie iTrader: 2 / 100%	I thought I was alone....sweet! lol

02-27-2008, 03:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
Leonard1818 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: OH Posts: 2,472 Leonard iTrader: 0 / 0%	Yeah, I think when something is spinning that quickly (8K rpm) it's hard to match that as quickly as you can shift. the 1-2 grind was the only one I would ever feel in my RSX-S and if I waited a fraction of a second longer after pressing the clutch, it didn't happen...

02-27-2008, 03:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
Si_of_Relief Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Paducah, KY Posts: 43 Matt iTrader: 0 / 0%	yeah I got that problem too.... I thought i was the only one! This drives me up the freakin' wall!!!! Or should i say the wall it feels like my shifter hits tryin to engage 2nd!!!! Ive learned not to redline in 1st and to hesitate shifting into 2nd but that sucks!!! ya know! I love my vtec in 1st :[... There are times that i can get it to engage at 8k tho.... I jus don't understand???

02-27-2008, 04:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
nastynogales Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 766 iTrader: 1 / 100%	def nowhere near the gear box of the s2k - which was effin' sweet btw

02-27-2008, 09:19 PM	#11 (permalink)
tomato989 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8 iTrader: 0 / 0%	seems like we have a real array of problems. Some with no gear problems at all. Some with 3rd gear problems. Some with 3rd gear problems and 2nd gear problems at high revs. Some with 3rd gear problems and 2nd gear problems at all revs. I'm just wondering for those that have no 2nd gear problems, do you live in warmer climate regions? It seems like cold temperatures aggravates this gear problem. I live in Canada and for the past 3 months the temp has been around zero Celsius. I didn't get much of a chance to try my car in warmer temperatures as I picked up my 08 si in October when it started getting cold, not sure if it'll be much different in the spring/summer.

02-27-2008, 09:21 PM	#12 (permalink)
nayilsi Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: I have to return some Video Tapes. Posts: 7,193 iTrader: 0 / 0%	2nd gear is pretty lousy.... never worked for me when street racing. hence ul find tCs beating Sis in tC boards j/k ive missed it a few times...u just need to be slow while engaging it.

02-27-2008, 09:25 PM	#13 (permalink)
tylermachel Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 27 Tyler iTrader: 0 / 0%	never had problems with 2nd... only had 3rd not want to engage or slip out a few times. this mainly happened when the engine was still cold.

02-28-2008, 04:35 PM	#14 (permalink)
shibiku Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Age: 23 Posts: 1 iTrader: 0 / 0%	personally it seems that forcing a gear in when it doesn't feel right is not a good idea. While I don't personally own a new civic si, I have driven 2 and neither of them had transmission problems, but both owners insisted that the vehicles be at operating temp before setting out.

03-03-2008, 11:05 AM	#16 (permalink)
ygoslo Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: El Paso Posts: 27 iTrader: 0 / 0%	to tomato 989,i live in a warm weather climate,but december and january have mornings in the 20`s and 30`s,those months the clutch was notchy,and rarely you had to be careful as 3rd would need a little extra push to go all the way in,now that its geting warmer here,in the 60`s and 70`s, the clutch is very smooth,no issues at all. so i think the temperature does make a differance

03-03-2008, 11:06 AM	#17 (permalink)
Gimenez Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Orlando FL Posts: 893 Luis Gimenez iTrader: 0 / 0%	Lets just say I had to get a brand new first and second gear because of this... 2nd completely broke. $1600 paid (by the dealership) because I fought it. Ya'll have to shift slower. Sometimes I still grind second if I am nervous. Sometimes it grinds, and still goes in, sometimes it just grinds like crazy and never goes in.

03-04-2008, 08:14 AM	#19 (permalink)
07k20z3ftw Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 949 Mitch iTrader: 0 / 0%	i live in FL i get second gear crunchness/notchiness to matter what rpm's im at or what the temperature of the car is...it does it just as much when its cold as it does warmed up...i also have 3rd gear notchiness and grinding, i always hit that "invisible wall" everyother time or so i shift into 3rd...but only on upshifts...on downshifts everything is smooth in every gear..sometimes second is notchy but rarely...upshifting in 2nd and 3rd is a nightmare..

03-04-2008, 08:28 AM	#20 (permalink)
nandro Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 148 iTrader: 0 / 0%	took my car in yesterday for 3rd gear problem. i assumed they wouldn't find anything and send me on my way. they just called me saying they got 'parts ordered' to fix the transmission and i had a 2nd gear problem too! i never had a 2nd gear issue before but the dealership said the tech drove it and certianly it's acting up also. moss motors ftw! (louisiana). my girlfriend's sister sold me the car when she worked there and she said they are awesome at getting things fixed....as long as you don't have any mods! (mine are sitting in my house...lol)