I had a new clutch put in my 2004 Civic (240k miles) just a few days ago by a professional mechanic (not dealership but trusted shop). He said the throw out berring that came with my clutch kit was bad after my car was having trouble shifting into any gear, and I'd need a different one (because the throw out berring wasn't allowing the part to actually spin freely/disconnect or whatever it does) After a different throw out berring was installed it seamed to shift into gear better, but my stick shifter felt funny... Looser and just... Finikier... Mechanic noted that my shifter cables were bad.

I opened up my hood and confirmed that the one connecting the the 1/2 - 5/R selector part of my tranny was infact experiencing some friction and the seal/rubber boots was torn. But I was able to shift the car solidly into every gear just using my hands and things felt fine.

Fast forward 5 hours and the roads are wet from the rain. I'm on the back roads by my work where nobody is so I take the chance to test my new clutch to see how it takes off from a launch (I've taken this car on SCCA autocross courses and wanted to do it again soon) so I rev it pretty high and pop it into 1st. Peel out a bit and drive about my way, satisfied...until I have to get into second.

Second gear is just... Blocked. I pull over and try to get it into gear by hand but it's just not going. All other gears work... Although first gear doesn't always want to work and I have to put it in reverse first, then first gear falls into place.

So I skip-shift home and now I'm here. I don't have $900 for the mechanic to take apart my car again... What should be checking for and googling up on?

Thanks