just picked up my 03 ep3 less than two weeks ago. after a gentle break in (no hard stops or accelerations for 600 miles.....didn't even go about 4500 RPMs) i finally decided to open it up a little today. everything was fine until i hit third gear. i got a horrible crunching/grinding noise as it shifted in. i figured i just missed the shift, but then it did it on the next shift. and the next one. and the next one. every time i upshift into 3rd at more than 5000 RPMs, it grinds into gear. even if i'm going slowly, but shifting out of 2nd at more than 5K. i did some really slow shifts with the clutch all the way to the floor (i thought maybe i wasn't all the way down when i was shifting quickly) but it grinded with the clutch touching the floor. doesn't do it in other gears either. this is my 6th standard shift car, so i definitely know how to drive a standard (didn't learn on this car or anything).

am i missing something here? is there a very small threshold of space where the car can shift into 3rd gear? or did i pick up an si with a defective 3rd gear synchro? the dealer i bought the car from is over an hour away, so i figured i'd ask around before bringing it there. anyone else have this problem this early?

by the way, i've been reading a few forums over the past few weeks (ephatch.com, k-series.com, etc) and this seems to be the best one. any other forums that anyone would recommend?

thanks in advance!

TOM

 

Honestly it sounds like your 3rd gear synchro is defective. Just take it to the dealer and they will fix it since it since it is still under warranty.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Preston &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Honestly it sounds like your 3rd gear synchro is defective. Just take it to the dealer and they will fix it since it since it is still under warranty.</TD></TR></TABLE>

that's kinda what i'm thinking right now. i just had my girlfriend drive it (she has a civic so i thought maybe she'd be more used to shifting it or something) and it did the exact same thing. so i've concluded it's not me. now just have to call the dealer and see what they can do for me (hopefully i can at least get a loaner). well, this is a pain in the ***!

 

Your problem is worn syncronizers. Many people with RSX have this problem as well. Actually, go on the S2000, ITR, Prelude (BB6), TSX, and Si forums and you'll see the problems there too. I don't know what's up with Honda anymore. Seems like alot of problems these days. I will tell you one thing though, some people who have had their syncronizers replaced, had the problem come back again. Myself included.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SKYDC5 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Your problem is worn syncronizers. Many people with RSX have this problem as well. Actually, go on the S2000, ITR, Prelude (BB6), TSX, and Si forums and you'll see the problems there too. I don't know what's up with Honda anymore. Seems like alot of problems these days. I will tell you one thing though, some people who have had their syncronizers replaced, had the problem come back again. Myself included.</TD></TR></TABLE>


damn....worn out even after 600 miles of under 4000 RPM shifting? i did a search about it and found some stuff about an integra type-r, but no other SIs. did your's at least get replaced for free?

 

Do you clutch all the way in, to the floor, when you shift? If not, you should start doing it. For the RSX at least, that's the number one cause to worn syncros.

If you don't believe me do your own test. First, from 1st gear, shift into second while only clutching in partially. Feel the resistance? Now do the same thing, but this time, clutch all the way down to the floor. Do you feel a difference? There should be less resistance.

For the Type S at least, the clutch fully engages really low on the clutch throw. That's the reason for the worn syncros.

 

learn to drive stick better.. its all about timing and if your off **** grinds..
now if it keeps doing it EVERYTIME u shift into 3rd.. take it to the dealer enjoy.

 

thanks for the input all. to answer the last two posts, here are some quotes from my original post:
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tac379 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> i figured i just missed the shift, but then it did it on the next shift. and the next one. and the next one. EVERY time i upshift into 3rd at more than 5000 RPMs, it grinds into gear. </TD></TR></TABLE>

so yup, it happens every time, not just once or twice like i'm missing a shift here and there.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tac379 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
i did some really slow shifts with the clutch all the way to the floor (i thought maybe i wasn't all the way down when i was shifting quickly) but it grinded with the clutch touching the floor. doesn't do it in other gears either. </TD></TR></TABLE>

after the first time when i thought i just missed the shift, i made sure my foot was as far to the floor as possible. I even checked my floormat b/c i thought maybe it was bunched up and preventing the clutch from fully engaging. so it's definitely all the way to the floor.


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tac379 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
this is my 6th standard shift car, so i definitely know how to drive a standard (didn't learn on this car or anything).
</TD></TR></TABLE>

knowing how to drive a standard is definitely not the issue here. i'll be calling the dealer tomorrow to see what they have to say. if this needs to be fixed, they best be providing me with a loaner! thanks again for the input!

TOM

 

The majority of the time is not driver error. This is a known problem to Honda/Acura. If you do a search on http://www.clubrsx.com, you will find the actual service bulletin for the worn syncronizers. Many of us who have this problem have been driving standard for years. It's faulty syncronizers.

We have taken our cars to the dealers and have had the syncronizers replaced under warranty.

 

Take your car back to the dealer and let them worry about it.
But it does sound like you have a bad synchro.
Also, good luck on getting a loaner from a Honda dealer. You dont have a Benz

 

let the honda dealer worry about it

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SKYDC5 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The majority of the time is not driver error. This is a known problem to Honda/Acura. If you do a search on http://www.clubrsx.com, you will find the actual service bulletin for the worn syncronizers. Many of us who have this problem have been driving standard for years. It's faulty syncronizers.

We have taken our cars to the dealers and have had the syncronizers replaced under warranty.</TD></TR></TABLE>

that's exactly the type of thing i was looking for! if the dealer gives me crap about it being "normal" or "driver error" i wanted to be sure it wasn't. seeing those TSBs and all the problems the RSX drivers are having makes me a feel a little better (at least i didn't screw it up) and a LOT MAD my whole point in getting a brand new car was to avoid broken stuff!

anyway, i have an appt at the dealer on monday.....i'll post what they say afterwards. and as for a loaner, the service advisor told me that if it is a warranty issue that is going to take a while to replace, b/c the car is so new they will "do whatever they need to do to help me out".....i'm gonna hold him to that when i bring the car in

thanks again for all input! I appreciate the help!

 

Sorry to burst your bubble, but the TSB for the second gear grind was ONLY for the RSX Type S.

I had mine replaced under warranty almost a year ago. I never heard of anyone with the base model getting their syncros replaced under the TSB. Oh yeah, the TSB for the Type S replaced the '02 1st and 2nd gear syncros with '03 1st and 2nd gear syncros.

But hey, it doesn't hurt to try. It really does sound like you got a defective tranny though. Good luck.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sjracer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sorry to burst your bubble, but the TSB for the second gear grind was ONLY for the RSX Type S.

I had mine replaced under warranty almost a year ago. I never heard of anyone with the base model getting their syncros replaced under the TSB. Oh yeah, the TSB for the Type S replaced the '02 1st and 2nd gear syncros with '03 1st and 2nd gear syncros.

But hey, it doesn't hurt to try. It really does sound like you got a defective tranny though. Good luck.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i saw TSBs for the last Si's and also the S2000 for all gear synchros. i'm assuming there's a pretty good chance the actual synchros are the same in each tranny, right? i could be way off on that though. also, i saw a lot of people on ephatch.com (si forum) that had the same problem and had synchros replaced under warranty.

like you said though, i think mine does sound defective either way. i'm hoping it won't be an issue at all and at the very minimum will be replaced under warranty, whether or not they've seen others with the same problem. we shall see though. i guess i'll just be continuing with my 1st-2nd-4th shifts fro the weekend

 

Yeah, the only forums i travel through are Clubrsx and here on honda-tech. I don't believe i've seen a TSB on clubrsx for the base model RSX 2nd gear syncro. I made that comment earlier because someone stated you could find info about the TSB at clubrsx, but it only applies to the Type S.

Now, if you can get it to grind when you take it into the dealership, then you have no problem getting it fixed under warranty. A lot of times though, they turn a blind eye to your problems. Also for some reason, once you get to the dealership, the problem goes away until you get back home. Good luck again.

 

Actually, many DC5 owners have had all different gears replaced. Some had grind in 2, some third, fourth, some even 5th.

The TSB is just to show the dealer that something is wrong. You see in Canada, that TSB isn't even released here. Doesn't matter though, just show your service manager the TSB and they should fix it. If they don't, try another dealer in your area.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sjracer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Also for some reason, once you get to the dealership, the problem goes away until you get back home. Good luck again.</TD></TR></TABLE>

haha.....that's what i'm afraid of. but it basically does it every time i shift, so i'm not too worried. crossing my fingers just in case though.

 

brought it to the dealer this morning and they confirmed that it's a defective 3rd gear synchro. they ordered the part and said they'll call me when it comes in and have a rental car waiting....in the mean time i was told not to shift too hard. well, it's a pain in the ***, but at least they were nice and didn't try to blame it on me like i've read happening to others.

my question though: they said shifting into third will be fine for now, b/c the only thing that will be damaged is the synchro, which is already broken....no damage will happen to the gear. i'm trying to picture it, and it makes sense. synchro crunches and grinds, dogbone gear engages without grinding. just to be sure though, can anyone else confirm this definitely? i don't want to screw up the actual gear.