this may be normal. you're not the first one to experience this.

the shift from 1st into 2nd is always "crunchy" for me. that's the best that i can describe it.

try and stay as steady as possible on the gas pedal in 1st gear. try not to make the car rock back and forth so much, you know?

i swear, with this tranny, i feel like i'm learning to drive stick every other day! especially when my seat has moved forward or backward and i haven't noticed it.

 

couldn't have said it better, man. 1st to 2nd is whiplashy 90% of the time for me. It's hard for me to drive like a grandmother just to shift smoothly. I notice a lot of bucking, but the 3rd to 4th to 5th shifts are buckfree. I do feel challenged every single day too, like a noob. Somedays are perfect, and others I just can't seem to get it right. Still, 3200mi on the clock and no stalls yet lol I grinded 2nd gear the other night though because I was at the longest red light of all time and was getting pissed off. It hurt me inside when I heard it...

 

Well I do a lot of city driving, and the Fit is my only car so it gets a lot of use. I'm just over the 4000 mile mark so I wonder if it could be the grease wearing thin prematurely. Stranger things have happened in new cars I'm sure

 

yup i have or had the same thing i guess

but i really dont feel it anymore ever since i installed the H-fit SSA

and the grinding feeling
i have that sometimes but i can control it
hahaha just step on the clutch all the way

 

Was the H-Fit adapter hard to install? Did you get the adapter and bushings kit?

 

easiest install ever and yes i recommend getting the bushing kit along with the SSA cuz it gives the shifter room to shift

 

My Fit is an automatic, but in the past I have driven Honda products with standard transmissions in both Accords and Preludes. I found that Honda's second gear synchronizers were generally slow, especially when going down from third to second. This is most noticeable when the transmission is cold. The best advice, to achieve long transmission life, on any standard transmission is to depress the clutch all the way come out of the present gear and then wait about one or two seconds in neutral before selecting the next gear. Also, when starting from a stop, depress the clutch and wait a second or two before selecting first gear.

Clutch wear is never covered under new car warrantees because you can wear out the clutch by speed shifting, or by riding the clutch. Your technique with the clutch and transmission will determine how long those parts will last.

 

Or my method... since I learned to drive clutch on a Ford tractor, I drive as if there are no synchros. Revmatching uses a little gas but man does it make up for it on clutch life.

I'm too lazy to double clutch but I do blip the throttle to the rpm I want on every downshift, which is close enough IMO.

Another thought on original topic. Since first is so short, and engine torque is multiplied that much, it helps to ease up on the gas a little bit gradually over a second or two before you shift. This will reduce the change in drivetrain torque when closing throttle/ depressing clutch and reduce the popping action. It's nice for the passengers too, I've noticed with my usual driving the guy in the front seat goes WHAH into the seatbelt as soon as the clutch goes down.

 

honda will not warranty ur clutch or even the trans. they will tell u that uve been hotrodding it around. i have the same prob and its pissing me off. even being an employee they most likely wont warranty my clutch/trans. but i forgot who said it before me but i also blame the motor mounts. check into aftermarket mounts or a cheaper route go with an engine damper.