[SandyBITS]

Hello BHPians,

I've been having issues with my barely 6 months old 5th Gen Honda City MT, as the gearstick becomes hard whenever I try to engage the first gear when going from the second.

When moving from the standstill, the gear shift to the 1st is totally smooth. The issues arrives when I am downshifting from 2nd (or a higher gear) to 1st in stop-go traffic or any other situation that requires me to downshift at slow speeds (less than 15 kmph) while the car is still in motion. Its not as if the stick gets stuck, but you have to fight it and apply some pressure to slot into the first.

I showed it to the service center (Courtesy Honda, Wazirpur) in Delhi, and they took the car on a couple of test runs. The issue was evident in front of them too, but I was told how this is always going be there because one is always supposed to shift to first ONLY from a standstill. Even if I try to downshift at negligible speeds, the first gear will become 'hard' is what I was repeatedly told. Seeing their continued knack to justify problems as non-issues with senseless arguments as I have seen before too, I decided to came back home.

I'm now looking forward to hearing what BHPians have to say, before I go someplace else with this problem. Is it really a non-issue as the service center guys want me to believe, or is something wrong as I suspect?

[NerdSpeaks]

Its same situation in my car, but the difference is that mine is 3rd gen city.
I have come across solution : when shifting between 1st & 2nd gears, I first slot neutral & then shift to required gear. It works for me.
Try it yourself.

[Shreyans_Jain]

It’s has always been the same way in my 2012 Jazz as well. It bugs me sometimes, as you need first gear every now and then with its weedy engine + taller gearing combination. Still, this is something you get used to and make peace with.

[cryptarchy]

It has always been this way in my polo. It only slots in easily if car is at crawling speed or from complete stop otherwise there is some resistance. The owner manual also mentions to use 1st only to get moving and then move to 2nd immediately.

[hrman]

I had this with my Honda City (2nd Gen) in 2008. However when I got the next ZX version in 2009, this issue did not occur. You eventually get used to it.

[SandyBITS]

Originally Posted by NerdSpeaks

Its same situation in my car, but the difference is that mine is 3rd gen city.
I have come across solution : when shifting between 1st & 2nd gears, I first slot neutral & then shift to required gear. It works for me.
Try it yourself.

Don't you think double clutching and rev matching shouldn't be needed with these modern day cars because the synchro ring should be doing it's job?

[NerdSpeaks]

Originally Posted by SandyBITS

Don't you think double clutching and rev matching shouldn't be needed with these modern day cars because the synchro ring should be doing it's job?

Buddy, you may be right, as I'm not aware of technology about gear shifting to such extent.
However, I've found a practical solution which works for my car.
About 'dual clutching' query, : I don't release clutch when I slot to neutral as I immediately shift to next gear before I release clutch.

[ashivas89]

Hey OP. This "feature" is built into many MT cars. All the MT Hyundais we have ever owned have had it, same with my wife's Fabia, only my MIL's Swift doesn't seem to have it. I am willing to bet that it exists to prevent one from money shifting.

[urbanzameendar]

Seems like it's not just limited to Maruti Suzuki cars.

My FNG says this is because the 1st and Reverse gears are not linked with the syncromesh, thats the reason why it is hard to slot into 1st gear while the vehicle is in motion.

[fireball]

I have recently bought 2021 model 5th Gen V varient City, I am having facing difficulty when shifting from the 3rd to the second. From the service centre they had mentioned that it is normal in Honda City.

[unrealunity]

I am facing the same issue in my new Baleno. Looks like I am not alone and it's really frustrating.

[sunilch]

Originally Posted by SandyBITS

I've been having issues with my barely 6 months old 5th Gen Honda City MT, as the gearstick becomes hard whenever I try to engage the first gear when going from the second.

When moving from the standstill, the gear shift to the 1st is totally smooth. The issues arrives when I am downshifting from 2nd (or a higher gear) to 1st in stop-go traffic or any other situation that requires me to downshift at slow speeds (less than 15 kmph) while the car is still in motion. Its not as if the stick gets stuck, but you have to fight it and apply some pressure to slot into the first.

Facing same issue with my BR-V MT and I thought it is something with my car GB. But then a few people told me it is common in Honda Manuals. So I am living with it. And like you said, moving to Neutral and then to 1st works always.