Hey guys, new member and first time Honda owner here. I recently bought an 03 EP3, and it came with an intake, Megan Racing headers, and a full cat-back exhaust. Unfortunately, as you all know, I got stuck with the K20A3, with the pansy version of VTEC. Anyway, as I'm not familiar with Hondas, this may not be totally weird, but 1st gear has NO torque. Winding it out to 4-5k will only get me to just above 25 MPH.

It occurred to me that perhaps the exhaust is too big, so there isn't enough backpressure? I have no idea. I just wanted some thoughts as to why this is happening. Also, I really can't ride 1st gear up to higher RPMs because 2nd gear likes to grind if my revs get too high (and even sometimes when the revs are low). I was told the car got a new clutch recently, so I assume that rules out the CMC problem that I've read about. So is it perhaps my 2nd gear synchro? Any thoughts on this would also be appreciated.

 

it's a honda. get used to no torque without boost or a lot of displacement.

 

Hmm. Well alrighty. It just seems odd. I've ridden in Hondas before and I don't remember them being so bad in 1st gear. And those were the old B series motors too. I don't know, I'm still thinking something is off. I was actually a little generous in my initial description. When I shift fairly early out of 1st (2-3.5k RPM), I'm around 15 mph. It's pretty bad.

Anyway, any thoughts on the shifting problem I mentioned? The fact that I can't wind 1st gear out just exacerbates the acceleration problem that I already mentioned.

Thanks for y'all's help!

 

the ep3 5-speed is not geared for acceleration. it has the longest 1st gear of all the k series trannys.



bad synchros are a possibility. these trannys are known to crap out 2nd and 3rd. happened to mine.

 

You'll have to excuse my ignorance, but precisely what do those numbers mean...?

And yeah, I've noticed that 3rd is starting to do it too.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gear_ra...o_transmission
http://www.teammfactory.com/torque

 

its a honda

 

Buddy, how fast you are going in a gear has nothing to do with the torque. How fast you GET there does. it all depends on the gear ratios. If you have all the same tire specs, then 3000 rpm in first with a ratio of 3.32:1 and a final drive of 3.56:1 will be a lower speed in mph than 3000 rpm in first with a ratio of 2.92:1 and a final drive of 3.56:1. It's all about ratios, and has nothing to do with power. If you are full throttle at that 3000 revs or off the throttle completely, the speed will be the same no matter what. (At least in a stickshift)

 

You would experience a bit better acceleration with a 6 speed as the ep3 5 speed has very long gears. Many boosted guys go to it for this reason. Really no need for you to do 140 in 4th gear with less than 300+wtq.