Notchy first and second.

[Moses]

first and second gear feel notchy...

this is primarily a problem when it's cold, but I've found that 1st and 2nd gear are notchy... as if there's something getting in the way, a pause, and then it goes in. Also, second gear is quite stiff to get in to. It doesn't grind or anything... it's just a bit annoying. Down shifting to first is pretty much impossible, which is REALLY annoying in parking lots. I'm sure you can all agree that at <10kms in 2nd gear the lude is no superstar.

Anybody else experience this?

My options are basically to take it in to Honda and complain (try and get warranty work), change the tranny fluid, or both. I figure probably needs to be done. It's been a year and 30,000kms since I think it was last done. Could that be it? Dirty tranny fluid?

-Ryan

[Jarek]

My car is at 41K and this winter, especially when colder 1,2 is notchy. If I don't rev up right second grinds slightly. I'll have to see how it is after I change my clutch/tranny fluids.

[OUZO Power]

Originally posted by Moses
Also, second gear is quite stiff to get in to. It doesn't grind or anything
I got the same problem when in nuatral sitting at a light. Only with first gear. No griding either. When I downshift to first however all is fine.

[Laura]

Yup.. change the tranny fluid first see if that helps with anything.
The weather is also cold and yes that would affect 1st.
I know I have the same problems BUT... I also need a new clutch, so that is why it isnt smooth for me. Once my car warms up shifting gets much smoother.

Next time you are trying to go into 1st in a parking lot, try giving a little gas at the same time your shifting. That might help.

[Maverick]

I experience this with a cold car...

Diminishes as the tranny warms up.....dont confuse that w/ the motor. The motor can be at operating temp. (like when u start ur car in the morning) but tranny still notchy 'cuz....well it hasnt been driven yet.

[Moses]

Yeah, I noticed that once the car is well heated up (i.e. drove all the way to Toronto) it clears up almost completely. I'll change the fluid next week then. Thanks everyone!

As always, the TPC calms my nerves!

-Ryan

[OUZO Power]

Originally posted by BoX
Next time you are trying to go into 1st in a parking lot, try giving a little gas at the same time your shifting. That might help. That's exactly what I have to do. I don't think trany fluid would help my case. Car still has few KM on it.

[silvalude]

I get the samething sometimes in first, Box recommended releasing the clutch again. . . that's always worked for me. . .

still gotta do the tranny fluid change though...

[Satan_SRV]

Sometimes at a light I can't get it into first...it just gets into a notch and is stuck.

I just pull it out and pump the clutch again and everything's fine

[tRiX]

Originally posted by OUZO Power

I got the same problem when in nuatral sitting at a light. Only with first gear. No griding either. When I downshift to first however all is fine.

dude, you downshift to 1st when your driving? don't you have to be going really really slow inorder to put it into 1st?

[OUZO Power]

Clutch is fully engaged. Even if I'm slowing down to a light from 100 I'll still take it through the gears either with engaged clutch or disengaged.

[Jarek]

Originally posted by tRiX

dude, you downshift to 1st when your driving? don't you have to be going really really slow inorder to put it into 1st?
Nope, at the auto-x it's sometimes necessary to shift into first at 5K rpm.. have done it a few times.. don't try this at home.. :omg:

[phatz]

Originally posted by Quick_lude

Nope, at the auto-x it's sometimes necessary to shift into first at 5K rpm.. have done it a few times.. don't try this at home.. :omg:


Then ya wonder why the tranny has problems! You guys are beating on the poor things, haha

[TO_SH]

When I can't shift into 2nd in the cold weather or down shift into first gear I usually blip the throttle and then shift again and it will go in. My guess is the 1st/2nd gear synchro has not warmed up yet.

[Flavour]

i've said it before and i'll say it again...

if the shift to second grinds when its cold then double clutch for 5 minutes when shifting into second, or pause a half second before shifting into second. one of these will work for sure. this winter has been so warm i havent had to do it much.

to shift into first while moving the easiest way to do it is to put pressure on the stick (but not forcefully) as if you were going to put it into first. then hit the brakes, the harder you hit the brakes the faster it will pop into first. don't ask what if you dont want to hit the brakes while shifting into first cuz thats a stupid question.

now to shift into first while you're stopped and you're locked out, use your body to roll the car up a bit, like rocking the boat but forward and back instead of side to side... i know it looks stupid but its better than jamming it in really hard or starting in second. you only need to move the wheels a few inches to allow the gear to line up to get into first.

[CrazyVTEC]

If I'm locked out of first at a light I'll put it in second then try first again, usually works for me.

I haven't found a way to get rid of the notchiness in the shifter when its cold but I'll try the double clutch tip, thanks Flavour

[BB1-4WS]

Prelude 1st gear is really crappy!

Tried downshifting into 1st once in an auto-X. Grinded the hell out of my transmission, and heard everyone go - OOOOOH!
Grant has the video.

My transmission grind a bit during the cold mornings. I'll double de-clutch while shifting into 2nd and 3rd for the first few streets until the transmission warms up. It's fine after that.

When I'm stopped at a redlight, I try to shift into gear when the lights turning amber on the on the other side. If it doesn't go, I notch it into 2nd gear a bit (not fully in gear), then back to 1st. It usually slides in.
I think my 1st/2nd shiftfork maybe slightly bent, but this method works for me.

I highly recommend changing the transmission fluid every year with Honda MTL, and no other substitute.
Unless you have a LSD.

[Crude_Lude]

what i do is let the clutch up a bit while trying to put it into first...it'll slide in like......:thumbup:

[Flavour]

Originally posted by BB1-4WS

Unless you have a LSD.

why not with lsd?

[sash]

Originally posted by lude2k
what i do is let the clutch up a bit while trying to put it into first...it'll slide in like......:thumbup:

I use the same method too man... Works all the time.

I'm more concerned with my 1st to 2nd shifts. It's nearly impossible to do split second shifts. Grinds pretty much all the time as it goes into 2nd, or in the worst case scenario I gotta give up, go in neutral and back in second. It shifts perfectly if I take it easy and pay attention. I would imagine that shift forks are bent. Honda would not cover that under warranty I'd guess :D

[Moses]

I was more or less looking to see if everyone had the same issue. Because I found it irritating. I don't want to do any damage, and as such I don't ram it into 1st while I'm rolling at 30kph or anything, but when I'm rolling to a stop at a light and if changes to green, it'd be nice to throw it into first without having extra steps to go through.

The double clutch method works marvels, and serves me well on a regular basis, but with synchros and a transmission from a $30K car, these annoyances are particularly unwanted. I keep telling myself: "it was built in Japan, they didn't know any better..." (refering to the stupidly cold winter season in Canada, and not the general intelligence of a Honda of Japan engineer)

-Ryan

[Todd]

LSD's use different oil GL4 or GL5, I think Nissan specs its own type of fluid. Some even require a friction modifier, depending on the type of diff, to make it work properly.

As far as the gearbox being "tight" in the winter, we all gotta remember that these cars were designed and built in Japan, Canadian weather would typically be the worst climate that a Prelude would be driven in.

These cars have some of the smoothest gearboxes and shifters around, I would just take the 1-2 shift real light during the winter, until the car was at operating temp. As for downshifting into 1st gear, not a good idea when you are moving any faster than a crawl.

Just my $.02....

Todd