I've been searching the site and haven't seen this mentioned - my '13 Sport MT suddenly is very difficult to get into 2nd gear. When I can get it in, it doesn't feel very good doing it. Other gear changes are just fine. Car has ~1300 gentle miles on her. Anybody have a similar problem??

Thanks!
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Try "going through the gears" while stopped and engine off and see if it is still hard to do.

 

^yes try that first, it will isolate the issue for us. Report back.

Second had always been a little crunchy for me, even when new. It never got worse or anything, it's just like that but doesn't hurt my driving at all.

 

jeez, at that low milage id be straight into the dealer demanding a resolution.

 

Mine acts the same as Wonderer's. I'd agree to Kelvinator though, if it is that bad at 1300 miles, I'd go back to the dealer.

 

If you can get it into 2nd gear with the engine off after shifting through several gears, then you most likely have a synchro problem. Have you missed a shift into second at a high RPM and heard a grind? That can grind on the end of the synchro and wont allow the proper meshing to slow the gears to the same rotational speed for easy engagement.

When we used to street race muscle cars of the 60's, we would sometimes shift with no clutch by learning the trans and knowing what speed the gears could be uphifted without the clutch. Im not suggesting you go clutchless but am wondering if you have tried to find an RPM where it can engage easier. Try shifing, while driving, and holding it gently towards second while holding the clutch down. Does it find the sweet spot and then go into gear?

The other possible cause here is a bent shoft fork inside the trans or a bent component on the shifter. Since it uses cables to the connect the trans to the shifter then it shouldnt be anything between the two.

 

No missed gear changes and virtually impossible to get in gear regardless of whether running, moving, etc. dealer is keeping it and gave me loaner. They seemed baffled. Stay tuned!
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I occasionally miss gears but I think that is due to timing my shift once in a while seem to do this on the Fit on my Miata hardly ever. If I was not able to get into gear I would take it back to the dealer as soon as possible so they do not try to shift the blame back onto you. Because I am not sure what is cover under a manual transmission for warranty.

I have read the following " If you have a manual transmission, the warranty may exclude an important part such as the clutch. It may cover the driveshaft, the axles or transaxle, but may exclude parts that typically wear, such as clutch plates or CV joints."

 

I'll be furious if they don't fully take responsibility for it. Less than 2 months and 1300 miles- I've been driving stick shift for 30 years and the car is used to haul around 2 toddlers- nothing abusive on my part!

 

I'd ask for a new tranny... Hope it works out! Do keep us posted!

 

If it wont go in while the engine is off then its most likely the shifter itself or the shift forks inside the transmission.

They will have to disconnect the cables at the transmission and try to move the linkage on the outside of the transmission by hand. If the linkage moves then they will work backwards towards the shifter. If the linkage doesn't move, they will pull the transmission out and probably replace it.

Some dealers have techs that specialize in transmission diagnostics but don't replace many major internal parts. Those dealers usually replace the trans and send it back to the factory for a teardown and quality control failure inspection. Some dealers have tchs who do internal work in house. Each brand oes it its own way. Im not sure how honda is set up.

I do agree that i would want a brand new unit from the factory installed if something is wrong on the inside. The reason being is that I know from first hand experience is that techs don't always torque things down to spec when rebuilding a trans. Many times they tighten things down with a small impact gun. At least the factory unit will more likely be built to spec.

I think we have some guys out there that work at Honda. Can anyone who works at Honda chime in and let us know if Honda does that kind of teardown in house or if they just replace and send back to factory?

 

Many thanks for all the info and support- I feel better informed and prepared for whatever they tell me Monday. In the meantime I'm cruising around in an enormous Odyssey.
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Sounds like today it's time for you to go to Ikea!

 

Can I put my 'pennies worth'? It is not out of the realms of possibility that there is something physical making it differcult to get into second. Like for example lost or dropped components from the manufacturing plant. But this requires the garage (on such a new car) to strip and investigate and be honest. I found, in my brand new Nissan Qashqai +2 (a Rogue is USA and Dualis in Australia), 2 Torx type bolts and a washer under the carpet. They didn't appear to come from anything nearby and looked more suited to engine bay. Something like that or even fouling cable may restrict movement of your gear linkage. By the way .... you or the garage haven't had the radio out by any chance? I have, in the past, experience that a connector block from a radio/cassette etc became so low or fell low enough to stop the gear linkage work by getting trapped in that area as the linkage moved around. Just a thought....

 

https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/2nd-...h-problem.html <----what happened to my clutch

I suggest go to your dealer, tell them to fix the problem.
Your car will be covered under the 60,000 powertrain warranty. You will NOT pay anything

 

GSX600FMAN- good point and I worry they'll come back and say it has to do with me installing the OEM center storage arm rest (and I dreamed that it was caused by over tightening the OEM leather shift knob; both installs were 1000+miles ago though).

Love the Ikea idea! But I'm flying solo with 2 toddlers (and we're all sick). Pretty slick vehicle though.

 

GSX600FMAN is the winner! Apparently a squirrel tried to stuff an Osage Orange up under there while I was at work (look it up if unfamiliar - large goofy looking fruit that the local critters love). $125 later and I'm good to go.

 

 

not laughing at the expense just at the squirrel's choice of hiding places!

Glad you got it fixed.

 

haha love it Wanderer! That would be the culprit and its instrument...

Squirrels are a bit of an icon where I work so not so surprised.

Strangely, the dealer must have had the car idling for a long while because my dash MPG went from ~37 to 17 MPG.