I have 03.5 5AT. When I put on the manual mode, it starts from the 4th gear. Is this normal? Shouldn't it starts from the 1st gear? Since it starts from the 4th gear, everytime when I want manual mode, I have to take down to 1st and drive. I ask to dealer n they told me it's normal for 03G.
But why?????

 

yup..thats normal

 

normal, it's so you don't switch into 1st gear from automatic when you are doing like 70 on the highway.

The later models go into 4th if the car is moving and into 1st if the car is completely stopped.

 

That's odd...I have an 03 coupe and when it's moving it will go into 4th, but if it's stopped it will go into 1st.

 

^ coupe

 

Is this from a standstill or at speed?

 

same thing here, always 4th i asked dealer they said its normal.

 

My 2003 sedan will always display "4th" regardless of speed (well legal speeds) when I slide it over to manual mode. Its the default gear for at least 2003-2003.5 sedans.

 

03 - 04 (not 04.5+) 5AT sedans do that gear range thing... so 4 really means 1 to 4. In all coupes and 04.5+ sedans, 4 means 4 only (and 5 means 5 only, etc.)

 

i have a 6mt that goes into 2nd gear at 50mph... oh wait, this is only when some punk in a riced civic is tryin to front on the highway

 

I think he meant when you're in 4th and come to a stop, he has to manually switch down 3 -> 2 -> 1 before taking off again, which I agree is very odd but normal for the early models.

If you are already at a stop and then swith to MM, i hope it puts you in 1st and not 4th?

 

That is correct. "4" just represents the top gear it will hold onto if you go that fast. If you select "3", from a stop, it will go from 1st to 3rd like a normal auto. but from 3rd to 5th, you have to do the shifting.

 

thank you guys.
It goes to 4th even standstill....
I guess it's just normal...
thank you