Axel6

Has anyone experienced a low "CLUNK" sound when engaging first gear when the car is not warmed up??? The issue seems to get better when the car is warm. Strange...

David1

Normal, some S's have this and others don't. I have heared this a couple times from my02 in the past couple of years.

rorrick

I have noticed a 1st gear clunk as well....I actually hear the clunk right before i put it into 1st....for some reason, I'm not that worried about it though

rworne

Dunno about a clunk, but sometimes my car just refuses to go into 1st gear. As if I have somewhere else to shift to after slowing down 5 or so MPH. Two or three tries later it goes in, but is real stiff doing so. It feels/sounds like some sort of mechanical resistance. It can do this hot or cold.

simons2k

I experience this too. Especially if I'm in a hurry to get it in to 1st. This is normal.

asaj

I have an 04, and I too hear the "clunk" from time to time. I just figure this car makes so many other noises, the "clunk" just adds to the fun.

1Fast99Si

I had this clunk the first 3-4 months of ownership of my 03 and it has since went away!

boiler

You are hearing this "clunk" because the clutch is dragging on the pressure plate. If the clutch pedal free play is adjusted per Honda's spec's, then this is likely to happen. To avoid this, adjust your clutch pedal to get more travel on the pressure plate, which will also get rid of the dragging clutch and the "clunk". In other words, lengthen the linkage from the pedal to the master cylinder, it's adjustable. This will also move the clutch engagement point away from the floor. Mine now engages several inches from the floor, instead of right on the floor.

I did this to mine in order to get rid of an ocassional second gear grind and this was successful. It also fixed the "clunk" going into first at a stop.

This could also be caused by a clutch disk that is binding from lack of lubrication. I believe that there is a TSB about this lubrication issue. If there isn't sufficient grease on the collar that the throughout bearing ass'y slides on, this will bind and the clutch will drag.

You may also find it beneficial to change the fluid in the clutch hydraulic system.

mwy23

so how do you adjust the clutch pedal to get more travel on the pressure plate? is this in the helms manual?

Axel6

Interesting. I had no idea that others were having similar issues. Frankly, I don't think it's anything detrimental, but it is annoying at times. Thankfully, I'm not in 1st often...