Civic Type R Owners With Third Gear Issues Please Read

I honestly think its not really a mechanical problem as such.
More to do with the inconsistency of the gearbox that catches most people
3rd gear (or 2nd gear for DC5 and AP1 owners) feels different to the rest of the gearbox in that the clutch needs to be all the way to the floor. Most times you get away with not doing things, and the other gears you can get away with pressing the clutch half way. I cant help but wonder, if Honda made all the gears needing clutch to the floor, would there be so many complaints? Thats my opinion anyway.

With the Euro, the clutch bite point for the newer models is somewhere near the bottom, so you do have to get your clutch pedal all the way down before you can shift. Those of you complaining about 3rd gear popping out, do you shift with partial clutch or full clutch? Does it happen during normal driving or when you are driving "spiritedly"?

Thanks for your thoughts but this is incorrect with the dc5r ... its caused from 5th and 6th gear set.. the syncro's are rough which causes drag on second gear... they made a revised 5th & 6th gear set in japan to fix this issue... and made a service bulletin in the states... to change 5th & 6th gear to the revised set... which fixes the notchy second gear... issue... But won't bring the fix here as Honda Australia deny's there is an issue. They rather just replace 2nd gear under warranty which doesn't resolve anything... If you dont have warranty your pretty much screwed i think its a similar issue with the CTR... but the cause hasnt been discovered as yet. It is not a human driving fault.. its not something so easy as pressing the clutch in all the way otherwise everyone would do it.

Have a read of the service bulletin on the below link..
http://www.intensedesigns.com.au/RSX...erbulletin.pdf

I've got a quick fix...........hit top speed down EC straight in 6th or 5th then be a sick carnt and BANG IT into 1st...........I reckon it'll loose the 3rd gear along with some valve train as well.

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Originally Posted by MKI4EVA

I've got a quick fix...........hit top speed down EC straight in 6th or 5th then be a sick carnt and BANG IT into 1st...........I reckon it'll loose the 3rd gear along with some valve train as well.

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..........:thumbdwn:

Has anyone got any more news on the dreaded 3rd gear prob.

Would be interested to hear any views on the matter.

Still no word from Honda Australia and according to the UK forums the 'fix kit' has been delayed until September/October. Honda Australia will not acknowledge the problem until Honda UK release the 'fix kit', but once it is released it will filter through to Australia in due course.

i have recently bought a TYPE R 2007 black, ran into the same problem on the 3rd gear issue, when i change from 2nd gear to 3rd gear, it won't go in smoothly as it would with the other gears, and when i ask about this problem, on my first service, they tested the car, and said it was normal.

however, i do run into an additional problem with this car, maybe other Type R owners have too. please confirm this with me if it's normal or not

i can hear a squeaking sound from the dashboard sometimes, as if like someone was pressing on it, but it stops and starts randomly, it's very anoying, and i asked about this issue with the salesman, he said this was normal, it happens, is that true?

any squeking shouldnt be normal in a new car, it might happen after a few years because of the firm suspension but shouldnt happen to a new car. I dont have this problem with my ctr

yes, he did mention that it was probably due to the firm suspension, but it's hard to show it to him, it only happens randomly, is there anyways to prevent this from happening?

open the whole dashboard and see where it comes from? and reinstall it again tightly thats the only option it will be quite hard, i also had a problem with my power window, the passenger side window switch on the driver side doesnt work but the passenger side switch works, havent consult honda yet since i have no time to go there yet

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Originally Posted by noodle999

.................................................. .................................................. ..................................however, i do run into an additional problem with this car, maybe other Type R owners have too. please confirm this with me if it's normal or not

i can hear a squeaking sound from the dashboard sometimes, as if like someone was pressing on it, but it stops and starts randomly, it's very anoying, and i asked about this issue with the salesman, he said this was normal, it happens, is that true?

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Check out the posts on the UK site,they maybe talking about the same problem.

http://www.civictype-r.co.uk/forum/v...?f=90&t=143303

oh my god, looks like just about every new civic tyep R owner has this problem, or will have it soon, far out, paid $44,000 to get this home, and i have to live with this....... looks i have to complain about this in details in the survey they sending me, what else can i do? call that number and complain?

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Originally Posted by Sidor

keep silence .... :)

they just want to sell you one and do not mention 3rd gear issue at all.

every dealer saying that CTR is in great demand and everyone has to put a deposit right now !

but Honda Australia sales figures are not available yet for the last two months - it would be interesting to know how many CTR have been sold ...

I would not be suprised that they are selling than 120 estimated figure per moth.

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Channel 9 "Test Drive" program this afternoon had a red Civic Type R on the show. It says there are only 1200 allocated for Australia in the first 12 months.

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Originally Posted by PNR888

Channel 9 "Test Drive" program this afternoon had a red Civic Type R on the show. It says there are only 1200 allocated for Australia in the first 12 months.

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yup thats true and i got one of the few

i got my first service done last week at Ringwood Honda. I told them how it was hard to shift into 3rd at times and they acknowledged that it was a universal thing with the new hondas. Something about it having differnt syncro's and what not. believe their response or not they at least acknowleded that it 3rd gear was abit more difficult to get into take just suggested i fully engaged clutch and firmly placed it into 3rd. not much more we can do i guess

when i had my first service done, at essendon, they said it was normal, standarded , "couldn't find fault", bastards...

The Euro doesn't have a hard shifting into 3 problem, so it is not a thing with the recent new Hondas. :)

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Originally Posted by PNR888

Channel 9 "Test Drive" program this afternoon had a red Civic Type R on the show. It says there are only 1200 allocated for Australia in the first 12 months.

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1200 for a car like this is heaps, it's not like everyone is falling in love with this car so much. i will laugh they can actually get rid off all 1200...

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Originally Posted by xtercii

1200 for a car like this is heaps, it's not like everyone is falling in love with this car so much. i will laugh they can actually get rid off all 1200...

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So if they perform badly and can't sell all of them, you won't laugh? :confused::confused::confused:

hahahah excuse my poor way of expressing myself...
your presence in ozhonda not only injecting wealthy amount of knowledge into the forum, but also helping the fellow members constantly elevating their English level...:D:D

LOL, nah, I just thought it was funny. Hehe. :)

Surprised this thread got down to page 7

Has anyone had further news on 3rd gear issues in Oz?

Seems as though some bods have had the fix done on the UK forum.

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Originally Posted by xtercii

...
your presence at Ozhonda not only injects a wealth of knowledge into the forum, but also helps fellow members to elevate their English ...:D:D

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FixT

:D

I called Honda Australia spoke to a guy called Mark - seems there are as of last week only 3 official people on the list for issue logged. They still do not have anything from the UK to say do the fix - so at this stage still a waiting game.

i've had mine for about 4 weeks now and have had the 3rd gear pop out a couple times. I can't seem to replicate the problem consistently though.
I had it happen this morning as I drove to work. No enthusiastic driving was involved.
I think it's a combination of cold weather (in perth ?!), and also getting used to the clutch.
My old EG civic was very forgiving on pressing the clutch down before changing gears.
the fn2 seems to demand that you press all the way and change the gear before letting the clutch up.
I'll keep an eye on it and see if it happens regularly.

Hi guys,

any improvements in your cars with this issue?

is the problem still persisting for those who have their civics for a while now?
is the problem present in any of the cars that have purchased very recently?

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Originally Posted by stix

Hi guys,

any improvements in your cars with this issue?

is the problem still persisting for those who have their civics for a while now?
is the problem present in any of the cars that have purchased very recently?

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Still waiting for the official fix to be released in the UK and then for it to filter through to AUS.

The problem is still persisting on my car, the only improvement is from me becoming more aware of it and modifying the way I change into third...

hi guys i just bought my CTR a week ago and i've had the third gear pop out once so far. Just found this thread..interesting to see fellow ctr owners have been having this problem also? I haven't even done 100km on the clock yet and its already happened to me :( At first I thought it was my poor driving and didn't shift properly as I only just learned how to drive manual.. lol :P

Yeh my grandma is driving 1 of these... and the 3 gear grinds and pops out on her too ... pretty notchy 3rd gear if you ask me ... especially when she hits vtec... will just pop out! Once it warms up gear box is ok... what's the go honda?

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Originally Posted by stix

Hi guys,

any improvements in your cars with this issue?

is the problem still persisting for those who have their civics for a while now?
is the problem present in any of the cars that have purchased very recently?

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I got my car on Friday OCT. 19th.It has popped out a few times but,I wondering whether the problem is caused partially by my own doing.I'm still not quite used to slotting it into third as my previous car (1998 CXI)On the times that I have quickly accelerated the car the gear changes have slotted in perfectly including the 3rd.
I have just over 400 Klms on the clock and I have to say ,I've enjoyed every single one of them. :)

haha dude theres no trick to putting it into 3rd gear... lol all u do is put clutch in and shift up... it pops out because there is an issue with the 3rd gear on this model car... check the uk forums its all over the site

I've had my FN2 for 3 months now and I have no problems with it.

I just had a look on the UK type R owners forum and apparently a fix was out for the 3rd gear synchro replacement 4-6 weeks ago.

Please post link for others to see Reothe...

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Originally Posted by Reothe

I just had a look on the UK type R owners forum and apparently a fix was out for the 3rd gear synchro replacement 4-6 weeks ago.

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As far as I am aware a fix was fitted to a few cars around a month ago unsuccessfully, hence it is still not available.....

so is it Japans fault or UKs fault with the 3rd gear prob. with the gear box commin from japan.

I don't think you're slotting it into 3rd fully in.

I've had no problems.

Is it just me but my gears are smooth as.

1 -> 2
2 -> 3
3 -> 4
4 -> 5
5 -> 6

All smooth. Strange to hear about popping out. Did you guys run it in properly? I avoided rapid acceleration during the first 1000kms as recommended in the manual. I always warm it up before driving. Maybe its a temperature issue? Try warming it up first?

Here is the link to the UK owner's discussion on 3rd gear synchro replacements in the UK: http://www.civictype-r.co.uk/forum/v...sd=a&start=380

Apparently a lot of owners in the UK have this problem and a few of them have claimed to have had it fixed or given new cars without the faulty gearboxes.

hmmm our demo doesnt slip. and i know 3 customers cars that are fine.
i had one customer tell me about the slip though, but he said u just learnto drive with it and push the clutch in further every time u change to 3rd.
he still loves his car.

Hi guys, there is one thing I've definitely noticed. If the engine is cold I do tend to feel getting it into 3rd gear is a bit stiff. I think after about 10 minutes and the engine is properly settled the gears are fine.

I did a naughty thing this morning, i revved it to 7000rpm on 2nd and shifting into 3rd was difficult. The engine was running for about 5 minutes in total.

What's your opinion?

Ok this is because the gear box oil is cold so the gear box will be notchy it shouldnt be but this is the way it is.. once the gear box oil warms up a good 10-15mins of driving should be heaps better because the gears get all lubed up and the oil becomes hot... should slide into gears like silk once warmed up.. other reccomendation is to try out a gear box oil like Redline Shockproof super light weight or even just redline MTF (Best gear box oil i have ever used!) as i think honda mtf isnt that great.

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Originally Posted by obsessionz

Ok this is because the gear box oil is cold so the gear box will be notchy it shouldnt be but this is the way it is.. once the gear box oil warms up a good 10-15mins of driving should be heaps better because the gears get all lubed up and the oil becomes hot... should slide into gears like silk once warmed up.. other reccomendation is to try out a gear box oil like Redline Shockproof super light weight or even just redline MTF (Best gear box oil i have ever used!) as i think honda mtf isnt that great.

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No wonder! Thanks for sharing.

when i got my civic type r 2 weeks ago 3rd gear was popping out but now it does not do it anymore. my paint is also of poor quality its chipping away along the door. oh well great car tho.

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Originally Posted by dancivicR

my paint is also of poor quality its chipping away along the door. oh well great car tho.

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What colour is yours? Mines red. Cipping away at the door? Where abouts and how did that happen? I banged my door accidentally on a wall and it has very very small chips on the edge. I got one minor stone chip on the lip but that's about it. I'll probably get some touch up paint soon.

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Originally Posted by FN2TypeR

What colour is yours? Mines red. Cipping away at the door? Where abouts and how did that happen? I banged my door accidentally on a wall and it has very very small chips on the edge. I got one minor stone chip on the lip but that's about it. I'll probably get some touch up paint soon.

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Like I said in a previous post,I luckily have a very good paint job on my car and as yet, no chips.Have you tried using the touch-up pencil that Honda includes ?.I think I found mine in the glove box.

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Originally Posted by fasthonda

Like I said in a previous post,I luckily have a very good paint job on my car and as yet, no chips.Have you tried using the touch-up pencil that Honda includes ?.I think I found mine in the glove box.

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touch up pencil? There is such a thing? I wasn't given any!? What does it look like? I'm gonna complain!

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Originally Posted by FN2TypeR

touch up pencil? There is such a thing? I wasn't given any!? What does it look like? I'm gonna complain!

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Here is a picture of my touch -up pencil.


http://i22.tinypic.com/2dkleo5.jpg

Hmmm maybe it's a Melbourne thing to give out touch up paint. Not here in Sydney. My last 2 Honda purchases (05 Euro and 06 Accord) didn't provide touch up paint either.

So does it have bristles? I get the feeling a 'pencil' would be much more finer and easier to apply.

Any other Sydney FN2R owners got touch up paint with their purchase?

It's very similiar to a nail brush from a small bottle that women may use to paint or polish their nails.So,strictly speaking it's not really a pencil but that's how they named it on the package.

Got 1 in Perth too...
They usually give u 1... the last few cars did.

my civic is silver and its chipping away at the door. i have not banged the door against anything. unless it was done before i picked up the car.

I received a touch up pencil in the glove box as well and mine's milano red. On the day I picked up the car I remember my dad enquiring about touch up paint and the dealer adamantly refused to include a bottle..and then when we got home we miraculously discovered a bottle hidden inside the glovebox :D Guess the dealers don't realize they come with a small bottle of touch up paint out of the factory as standard :) For those that didn't receive it..could your car have been a demo or display car and someone sneaked in and pinched it out of the glovebox?

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Originally Posted by Reothe

I received a touch up pencil in the glove box as well and mine's milano red. On the day I picked up the car I remember my dad enquiring about touch up paint and the dealer adamantly refused to include a bottle..and then when we got home we miraculously discovered a bottle hidden inside the glovebox :D Guess the dealers don't realize they come with a small bottle of touch up paint out of the factory as standard :) For those that didn't receive it..could your car have been a demo or display car and someone sneaked in and pinched it out of the glovebox?

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No mine wasn't on display or a demo. I had specifically requested a brand new one off the boat hence waited 3 weeks.

Are you in Sydney? If so which dealer did you get yours from?

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Originally Posted by fasthonda

It's very similiar to a nail brush from a small bottle that women may use to paint or polish their nails.So,strictly speaking it's not really a pencil but that's how they named it on the package.

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Thanks for this info. If it weren't for you guys I wouldn't have known it came standard. I'm going to ring my dealer now. Thanks for the photo too, it provides good leverage if they refuse.

The dealer just rang back, he said it doesn't come standard as it varies from dealer to dealer. Luckily he remembered me so he's gonna order one for me for free. Phew...

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Originally Posted by FN2TypeR

The dealer just rang back, he said it doesn't come standard as it varies from dealer to dealer. Luckily he remembered me so he's gonna order one for me for free. Phew...

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I think its your dealer's problem. The paint should come with the car. My 3 honds all have them, crv, mdx and ctr

I got mine from John Blair in Melbourne and not only did the dealer not know about the touch up paint he refused to give us one when we went and picked the car up. Anyway, luckily we managed to find one tucked away in the glove box. I'm pretty sure it should come standard out of the factory since our previous honda had it as well. Your dealer's definitely being dodgy if it's missing :P But yeah.. they all try to deny your car comes with anything apart from a metal shell and a steering wheel :D

Just adding my 2 cents to the 3rd gear debate. I just had my 1,000km service done and so far (since driving from new) I haven't noticed any issues with 3rd gear, either slotting it in or it popping out.

hmmmm ive done about 11000 kilometres in my civic and never notice a gearbox or paint chip problem,

User error maybe?

lol the CTR is the only car that comes with touch up paint standard in the glove box!

If they dont give it to you then id fire up!
everyone ive sold and seen has it!

honda paint is not thick at all, hence the touch up paint, one of my mates has the civic type R and he has stone chips left front centre on his bumper and bonnet...god damn...

bad UK build quality?

Hi Guys

I got my CTR in November its now done 1400Ks approx. I had this problem from the very first day. I have read a million threads and forums and can confirm this is a problem is CTRs (atleast 95%) only a few owners have not had this problem. Maybe they have not realized it yet because this problem does not happen every time you engage third gear. But to those who are thinking of buying it its not a major issue. If I am not lazy I dont get this problem it happens only in city driving when I am tired....

But have tot say love this car... !!!!!!!!!!

I read somewhere that Honda are trying to get a fix for this problem in UK any news on that....??? Let me know

Cheers

We're not the only ones with 3rd gear issues. Same problem in the States with their SI.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNOQHAVsbhE

You guys aren't the only ones with this problem. All the guys in North America are suffering as well.

http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/mecha...-problems.html

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Originally Posted by Kidnkorner

You guys aren't the only ones with this problem. All the guys in North America are suffering as well.

http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/mecha...-problems.html

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Managing Director of JAS Motorsport, Mr. Alessandro Mariani said, “We are frustrated with the failure of the transmission which prevented the Civic from achieving an impressive result in its Australian debut. However, we enjoyed the experience and are very committed to the next Australian event."

hopefully it was not 3rd gear issue that Honda denies ...

:p

JAS motorsport FN2 doesn't use Honda Gearbox
They use Sequential Gearbox made by SADEV

i picked up my FN on friday, ive done 120ks over the weekend and didnt notice what o ever the third gear prob maybe i am just lucky...

Luvin it though best car i have eva bought!!

I just took mine in for the 1month service. The honda dealer mentioned that they were aware of 3rd gear issues in the FN2R and that a transmission fluid change "seems" to fix the problem...

Did they change your transmission fluid over under warranty or did they make you pay for it? Thanks for the info by the way.

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Originally Posted by Reothe

Did they change your transmission fluid over under warranty or did they make you pay for it? Thanks for the info by the way.

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Under warranty, during first free check up. i just picked up the car, drove about 15kms. Going into 3rd gear feels heaps better already. The mechanic said they have fixed 6 cars with the 3rd gear problem by just changing the transmission fluid.

hey all,

i got my fn2 around october 07 waited 2months before i got the car which was a bitch. its now 7months and still loving it the only problems i had were the frickin paint stone chipping dat sucked was like a week after i got the car i had like 3 big ones.

Ive experienced my fn2 to roll down the drive way when parked i forgot to place it in gear only the hand brake on. Was weird a new car to be doin that nearly broke down n cryed like a baby. This was like 2 weeks in.

Ive experience a pop maybe 2 times with the gear box but seems to be runnin fine. That really sux for those with that 3rd gear issue.

The first 1000k you have to be gentle right but i was thrashing it hard, when i went out of the dealer ship hit 140km on the m4 which i was told no to do but still ive had no problems with the gear box.

i got new rims after doin 1000k was real happy with em too OZZY TYRES Vertinni Fashios 20x8.5 $2700 cash money. Was so paranoid about get m dem scratched they look awsome but to summarise everything up until now --

Passenger side door bottom section scratched up (Fukn Pitt St Parking Barriers)

Front bonet 3 big stone chips n accumilattin also my pops dropped a frikkin broom on it has a tiny dent (cryed for like weeks about it)

Water reservoir was leaking so got that fixed with the waranty - that really sux for a new car to have dat problem

20inch Vertinni Fashions all wheels Scratched but still lookin hot

Front Skirt mud guard driver side eatin up - ive got 20s n didnt lower my ride no rubbing but occasional front end scratchn - so for those lowerin your FN2 drive really really really careful



All up still lookin hot n can't waite to mod it up JTUNE Supacharga

http://www.hondatech.com.au/forum/at...1&d=1208928763

http://www.hondatech.com.au/forum/at...1&d=1208928763

http://www.hondatech.com.au/forum/at...1&d=1208928763