Uncertain engagement of 1st & 2nd in 2004 S2K

[jssm1th]

I bought my S2K about 4 months ago with 20K miles. Everything appears mint except that when I engage 1st, the last bit of movement that I feel is so subtle that occasionally I think I am in gear and find I am not. The same happens with second. I end up pushing the shifter harder, just to be sure, and I don't like that. Otherwise, best car I ever had.

Having no experience with the car, is this normal, or is there an adjustment of the shift linkage, or is it an internal tranny issue that I will live with unless it gets worse.

Thanks for any help. Jeffery

[ajay]

You may want to consider changing your transmission fluid. I did mine at around 25k and shifting was notably smoother. There is another thread about that.

http://forums.s2kca.com/showthread.php?t=16261&highlight=gear

There have been quite a few threads where people have noted this issue.

http://forums.s2kca.com/showthread.php?t=13732&highlight=gear

Try searching. With people at S2K Days, search is definately your best friend.

Good luck
-Andy

[repiv]

I think I am in gear and find I am not. The same happens with second. I end up pushing the shifter harder, just to be sure, and I don't like that.

Please explain what happens when you find you are NOT in gear. How do you know it's not in gear? Explain both how you know you are not in 1st or 2nd. What do you do next in order to discover you are not in gear?

[jssm1th]

Thanks, everyone. I will definitely change tranny & diff fluids. I, too am surprised that would make a noticeable difference. Regarding repiv's thoughtful reply, in going into gear, there is one last hard metalic-feeling catch before the car is in first. In most cars this is large and easy to feel, but in my S2K, it is so small it is hardly perceptible. This morning at a stop light, I thougt it went into gear, but hadn't felt that last notch. Tried the clutch, and nothing, so I pushed the shifter into gear again, and it worked. Once in gear, thank heavens, my car has always stayed there, no popping out. A few times I have hit the throttle in second and was out of gear. Now I am more sensitive, and can usually feel that it hasn't gone the last bit.

I don't know what this last bit of movement is. It is definitely after the synchros have done their work, as you can hear the gears slowing to engage. After the gears are in sync, then the shifter goes the last bit of movement to engage the gear. This is where the questionable part happens.

Hope this detail clarifies the problem. Again , thank you all, Jeffery

[repiv]

Regarding repiv's thoughtful reply, in going into gear, there is one last hard metalic-feeling catch before the car is in first. In most cars this is large and easy to feel, but in my S2K, it is so small it is hardly perceptible. This morning at a stop light, I thougt it went into gear, but hadn't felt that last notch. Tried the clutch, and nothing, so I pushed the shifter into gear again, and it worked. Once in gear, thank heavens, my car has always stayed there, no popping out. A few times I have hit the throttle in second and was out of gear. Now I am more sensitive, and can usually feel that it hasn't gone the last bit.

I don't know what this last bit of movement is. It is definitely after the synchros have done their work, as you can hear the gears slowing to engage. After the gears are in sync, then the shifter goes the last bit of movement to engage the gear. This is where the questionable part happens.
By your description, I tend to think this is not a mechanical problem as such but more of a situation to do with driver shift technique. I believe that it's just a matter of getting used to what this gearbox feels like and making a concerted effort to positively engage the gears. If uncertain, you can always meet up with another S2000 owner in your area and exchange drives in each other's cars. This way, you can feel what another S is like and he can feel what yours is like and make a judgement on if things are normal.
However, depending upon how old the car is, with 20K miles on it, it's likely not a bad idea to change the tranny fluid and clutch fluid. You might want to do all the fluids as well (brake fluid, rear diff fluid).

[jssm1th]

Thanks much, Repiv. I'll pursue those thoughts. Jssm1th

[Nippon]

Whats up. I had the same issue when I bought my '04 at 41k on the odometer. Would feel that slight slight tap of something metallic on the shifter. So what I did was change the fluids as recommended and it "seemed" to solve the problem right away.

But the real difference is after a good amount of driving at speed for maybe 10 - 20 minutes. This is the first manual I've owned so I didn't know that a manual transmission had to "warm" up. Well after driving it on the highway or roadway non-stop for a few good minutes, it becomes very smooth.

In the mornings, your tranny is gonna feel more clunky than usual. Even if you're in stop and go traffic for a good 30 minutes, this wont really warm the tranny fluid up as much as if you were to drive it above say, 3000rpm for a good 10 - 20 minutes.

Most of the guys here recommend Honda MTF by the way.