I have a 200 honda LX with the VTEC 4 cyl and a 5 spd manual trans.

Occasionally it would get difficult to get into third gear from time to time, but it cleared up in a minute or two typically.

Now, the shifter will not go into third or fourth gears, as in the linkage will not move into position for those gears at all. 1, 2, 5 and reverse are all fine, it is just 3 and 4.

Is this likely a linkage issue on these cars or is it an internal transmission issue?

 

If it were a synchro issue, I would suspect maybe 2nd or 3rd would be the gears hard to shift into. Those two gears get a lot more use around town in both directions (up- and down-shifting). However, that does not mean that you still don't have a synchro issue. Back in the day before synhcros and even on newer big trucks, you would have to double clutch to shift. Try double clutching in those gears and see if it helps with the shifting.

Have you done a visual inspection of the linkage to see if things are sloppy? Take a peek and you might find your answer.

Do you have any softness or a little extra freeplay in the clutch pedal? When was the last time you checked the reservoir? My Ranger would get tough to shift into gear when the clutch fluid got low. Fortunately, it never got air in the line so topping off without bleeding was an easy cure.

A worn throwout bearing can also cause shift issues, but I would expect that you might have issues with other gears as well. But, combined with bad synchros in 3rd and 4th might be the problem.

Chances are the transmission fluid has never been changed. People seem oblivious to the fact that even manual transmissions need love too. I would try fresh fluid if your linkage and clutch fluid look good.

Start simple and go from there. That's just what I would do. I can't speak from direct experience with a Honda manual transmission.

 

Considering it only happens on 3-4 I would look at the shift fork, detents, and the like.
Of course check the oil but I do not think that would be the current issue. It could've caused the issue, but not actually 'be' the problem.

 

I recently replaced both the clutch MC and the slave, and bled it out well. I have suspected the throw out bearing needing attention, but my thought is that anything clutch related would effect all shifts. This is simply third and fourth.

I have tried double clutching and no good.

What makes me think it is a linkage issue and not a synchro issue is that it is not that it grinds the gears and will not go in, it absolutely will not even slide up or down toward the gears. As in, the shifter will slide over and travel maybe 1/4" or so toward the third or fourth gears and then hits a brick wall. Like it will snap something off if you push any harder. No gear grinding or anything of the like, just shifter will not move up or down toward third or fourth. Move it over to fifth and it slides in like butter, same for reverse, first, and second.

I have owned the car for about two years, it had 91,000 on it when I bought it, has about 110,000 on it now. I have not yet changed the tranny oil.

 

update. So now I have it going into third gear just fine. But it will not go into fourth. If I try to force it into fourth, it is very hard to get it into third. But it will go into third easily after you get it loose from fourth.

Seems like the synchro to fourth is fubarred and it locks the shift sleeve up when you try to force it. Break it loose and third is no problem.