How To: Fix RSX Jerking at Low Speeds

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I've heard from a few manual transmission RSX owners that they've experienced jerkiness when driving at lower speeds in first and second gear. I thought it was just my driving, but there is a lack of smoothness I've felt even as I become a better driver. I looked into the RSX drivetrain and its issues, and I think I found some solutions that I can share with you and turn your commute from a headache into driving bliss.

As a sort of "prologue statement" keep in mind that jerkiness is caused by slack within the driveline. When it comes down to it, it's either you introducing slack by driving in a suboptimal fashion, or a problem in the design or function of something in the driveline. The RSX has a few innate disadvantages that can make jerkiness occur at low speeds, but there are some things you can investigate and improve.

Clutch Problems

Sometimes the jerkiness can be caused by clutch issues. Your clutch could be past its prime and in need of replacement. Of course right next to the clutch in the transmission is the flywheel. The RSX flywheel is notorious for being heavy, which makes low speed operations feel jerky. 

Worn Gear Synchros


Worn gear synchros in your transmission are a common problem in manual RSX's. In fact, Honda / Acura released a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) about it. These are also to blame for second and third gear grinding / popping out. The recommendation is to replace the synchros, which can be a difficult job that you might want a reputable shop to do for you. I'll be doing mine myself and eventually documenting it on this website. K Series Parts and Drag Cartel both sell synchro rebuild sets, replacing the original material with carbon to make them stronger.

K Series Parts Synchros

Drag Cartel Synchros

Low / Old Transmission Fluid

Amsoil MTF

This was a huge solution for me. From the color of the transmission fluid that came out of the car, I was probably the first one to change it. It was a pretty easy job, about as easy as an oil change, and it made the car shift remarkably better. There's various suggestions about what transmission fluid to use. The service manual specifies only using Honda / Acura Manual Transmission Fluid. I chose to use Amsoil Manual Synchromesh Transmission Fluid 5W-30 and since I've used it I haven't had any more problems with gear pop out and the grinding went away. The only thing lame about Amsoil is they don't sell on Amazon and they make you make an account to buy anything off their website. I'll link it below anyway for ease of access. Because I'm sweet.

Buy Honda Genuine Manual Transmission Fluid

Buy Amsoil Synchromesh 5W-30 Manual Transmission Fluid

Engine Problems

Anything from the throttle position sensor to engine misfire could be a problem and causing jerky acceleration. I spoke to my tuner about the problem since I have a custom tune on my K-Pro 4, and some small changes he made helped the car jerk around less. Make sure there aren't any engine related Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) present before chasing the issue any further.

Driving Habits

This is a big one. Every car is different, so even if you learned how to drive manual, you might need to focus on the intricacies of each new one you learn. Most jerking at low speeds can be attributed to jerky or even slightly not smooth throttle application on acceleration and deceleration. Also not letting off the clutch slowly or smoothly enough can be an issue. Go on a drive and experiment with faster clutch release and slow it down until it gets smooth in the first few gears. A general rule of thumb is that with each shift towards sixth gear you can be less smooth with the clutch. You'll get a feel for it. Maybe go for a drive with someone who has more experience so you can feel what it's supposed to feel like.

Conclusion

While the Acura RSX has a bit more jerkiness in general than a lot of other manual transmission cars I've driven, there are ways to tighten it up and make sure it's not excessive. I hope you learned something and that this helped you on a good path towards a better more fun driving experience.

Disclaimer:
I may receive payment if you purchase products using my Amazon links. Thanks for helping keep the HID's on : )

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