First Gear Problem... - Honda Prelude Forum

Racinghart02 · 10-13-2002, 11:44 AM

Anyone have problems usually at traffic lights with engaging your first gear. I get this problem like every other day. I have to like shuve it into gear with much effort, or go to second then the first before i can go.

H22cm · 10-13-2002, 11:45 AM

YES i have this problem sometimes as well....the thing feels like im trying to put it there going 60 but im almost stopped.....i dont know what it is. anyone...........

blackbb6 · 10-13-2002, 12:05 PM

I feel you guys! I have this same prob. I think it happens to all of us cause my friend bought his 2001 lude like 8 months after I did and had the same prob after like 2 months of getting it. My personal opinion is that my synchros are pretty much gone and that is why i have to start from 2nd and then put it back in first! Also on cold nights is the worst too!

jnkoh · 10-13-2002, 12:16 PM

there is no synchro for first gear. Are you trying to downshift into first. If you are moving, there is a torque lockout that won't let you. If you want to get into first, either slow down, or blip the throttle with the clutch pedal down and then shift into first.

mrmumbels · 10-13-2002, 12:22 PM

Just hold it up towards first and let off the clutch it sync itself before taking off. that's how i do it. Or throw it in another gear then back to first to align them better

blackbb6 · 10-13-2002, 12:35 PM

Well i always throw it in 2nd gear then back to fist that ususally helps but there have been times when i have to put it in 1st and it wont go in so i put it in 2nd and same thing. Eventually i put it in 3rd then back to 1st. It always happens when im at a stop.

AzNxGQ · 10-13-2002, 01:51 PM

i got the same exact problem, always gotta put it in 2nd or 3rd before i goto first sometimes at the lights... and on cold mornings or nights, oh man, it never goes away for a while =/.

blackbb6 · 10-13-2002, 02:08 PM

I remember i went to honda and changed the Tranny oil on the car and that solved the prob for a while. Im going to honda on Monday cause one of the service managers told me to add some kind of liquid they have there and it fixes it. Ill keep you guys posted!

5Gen_Prelude · 10-13-2002, 02:12 PM

Just a suggestion guys: Most people stay in second as they come to a stop, push the clutch in then pop the shifter into neutral. Then when they're ready to go, they push 1st in. I would bet that most of you who are complaining do this. Try this instead:

Stay in second, push clutch in, push shifter into 1st until it pops in (you should still be moving slowly while doing this - braking yes, stopped, no). Then you can go ahead and push the shifter into neutral and relax. When you're ready to go, start off as normal - you won't have nearly as many problems.

alphajesse · 10-13-2002, 03:25 PM

5gen has the right idea. that procedure saves me a lot of headaches at lights. unless it's a long light, i just leave the clutch disengaged and the shifter in 1st.
jnkoh- there are synchros on 1st gear. the only gear that is unsynchronised is reverse on our cars.

Ludatic · 10-13-2002, 03:57 PM

yea if i'm moving i'll rev match...

but if i'm at a stop light and it wont go into first, i'll throw it into 2nd then back into 1st and that works fine

crashandburn · 10-13-2002, 05:52 PM

Mine has the problem but only occasionally. I leave it in neutral, let the clutch out, push the clutch back in and then it almost always goes into first.

blackbb6 · 10-13-2002, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ludatic
yea if i'm moving i'll rev match...

but if i'm at a stop light and it wont go into first, i'll throw it into 2nd then back into 1st and that works fine

SHUT UP!!! You just like playing with your shifter!! hahahahaha

Ludatic · 10-13-2002, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 01PrEdAtOr

SHUT UP!!! You just like playing with your shifter!! hahahahaha

oh baby

i work the pedals real well too with my double clutching skillls =-P

blackbb6 · 10-13-2002, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ludatic

oh baby

i work the pedals real well too with my double clutching skillls =-P

You make sure you pump it a couple times don't you? huh?

GroverzVTEC · 10-13-2002, 10:09 PM

The very thought of putting the car in first going any faster than 5mph makes me really nervous....not sure why. Maybe the fear of hearing the engine scream...

I have problems getting into ANY gear occasionally, but it is so rare I think little of it. Is it when the transmission is cold or are we talking all the time here?>

Grover

checkmate58 · 10-13-2002, 10:58 PM

Likewise as the other guys... either put it into nuetral and then into first.. or second and then into first.

--Sam

blackbb6 · 10-13-2002, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GroverzVTEC
The very thought of putting the car in first going any faster than 5mph makes me really nervous....not sure why. Maybe the fear of hearing the engine scream...

I have problems getting into ANY gear occasionally, but it is so rare I think little of it. Is it when the transmission is cold or are we talking all the time here?>

Grover

I think eveyone one has this prob when that car is cold.

I just went out right now and got me some Krispy Cream (yummy). Anyhow, on the way home i encountered this prob because the car got cold from me being there so long. First gear did not go in and all i did is just hit the has and tried to put it back in first and it worked fine.

This might work as well - If you let the car roll a lil (about 3 to 5 inches) the gear will slip right in

5Gen_Prelude · 10-14-2002, 12:38 AM

Yeah, that's the whole point guys. If you put it into the gear you will need AFTER you've stopped BEFORE you actually stop, your problem will go away. I never said you had to downshift into 1st, you can crawl along at 1 mph and push (not force) the shifter into 1st (or reverse BTW) with the clutch pushed in the entire time. It's just a habit you have to get into and you'll be amazed at how easy starting in first (or reverse) ALWAYS is after that.

blackbb6 · 10-14-2002, 12:41 AM

I never put my car in 1st when its rolling! Makes me feel like im forcing it to go in. Ohh and never hold your clutch in at a light!! So bad for the clutch

crashandburn · 10-14-2002, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 01PrEdAtOr
Ohh and never hold your clutch in at a light!! So bad for the clutch

My stock clutch is such a POS, I wanna do bad things to it.

But then my leg gets tired from holding the clutch in so long...

Racinghart02 · 10-14-2002, 11:47 AM

5 gen u just made my day, your solution works, thanks man.

solojam · 10-14-2002, 01:02 PM

try synthetic tranny oil for those cold engine problems.

doe · 10-14-2002, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 01PrEdAtOr
Ohh and never hold your clutch in at a light!! So bad for the clutch

One of my friends does this and told me to do it, then another friend saw me doing it and told me not to, so I stopped. Why exactly is it bad for the clutch? I just don't do it cause I'm lazy and like to let my legs chill

5Gen_Prelude · 10-14-2002, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 01PrEdAtOr
I never put my car in 1st when its rolling! Makes me feel like im forcing it to go in.

Well keep having the same problems then!

It's fine, the transmission is not being hurt if it just pops in, it's when you force it that may cause problems. You only have to roll a foor or two before it pops in.

5Gen_Prelude · 10-14-2002, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by doe

One of my friends does this and told me to do it, then another friend saw me doing it and told me not to, so I stopped. Why exactly is it bad for the clutch? I just don't do it cause I'm lazy and like to let my legs chill

It's not bad for the clutch per say, it's bad for the linkage. It's like you shouldn't press on the brake more than you need to hold the car in place, you're not wearing your brake pads any more, but you are pressurizing the line more than you need to. It really depends on how long you are stopped for - stop sign no need - traffic light - well might as well as sit back and relax.