rworne

I must have bad luck.

I needed to get smogged and replace my "summer tires" before the rain started up last weekend. Car spent the day in the garage Friday due to the fact it would be suicide with my rear tires (SO-2's) which were now pretty much racing slicks.
Noticed a slight stumble in the engine when the car was cold with a loss of power that week - like the engine missed a cylinder, but it's always been a bit temperamental with the cold.

Saturday rolls around, the car passes smog, and I impressed the tire installer with my "slicks".

Drive the car for lunch on Wed. and the engine starts running real rough and the CEL is flashing - Uh oh... My phone chimes up and tells me my car is throwing a P0302, really rough idle, no torque (for an S2000) - I must be running on three cylinders.
So now it's at the dealer. Shall we have a pool going on what the repair cost will be? (Hint: 86K miles and stock AP1) I should know what's wrong with it Thursday evening.

Only good news is it waited until it passed smog before throwing the CEL. It needs an alignment too, dealer wants $200 for it (on sale from $300!) Who would be a better choice to go to (I'm in the SFV)?

ateens4

Same thing happened to me in February 2015 and it was my coil packs. Engine running rough and flashing CEL as I was a mile away from my house. I got the P0302 code as well as other ones. I checked the plugs, they were fine and swapped the coil packs around. My coil in cylinder one was gone and had to get one for $90. My CEL was still on and I got the same code again, cylinder 3 had a problem and it was also the coils. In total, I had to replace 2 coils and the problem went away. Sometimes they go out at the same time. Hopefully its just your plugs. Goodluck.

rworne

Thanks, I hope it's the same with me.

No overrevs, poor car hasn't gone into VTEC in a couple of years as it shuttles me back and forth to work. I'm really hoping it's something simple like this.

RussianHammer

I had two coil packs die on me before. S2000 coil packs arent cheap, and if you want an alternative. DC5 (RSX) 2002-2004 run the same coil packs as a AP1.
I have been using them since 2012 with no issues.

I honestly do not know any good shop in the valley that will be able to provide a alignment. I do go to SGV for my alignments, and always works great. They usually run under a 100 for a
full spec alignment.

rworne

Got the call today.

Good news is compression and leakdown tests tests are good!

Plug for cyl 2 was fouled and the coil for cyl 2 was bad. Dealer is replacing all coils and plugs as well as performing a fuel injector cleaning, and oil change. I'm having the alignment done there too.

$1500 approx for everything, before discounts, for those keeping score.

BlakeNFR

Jesus, $1500 is a lot. If I didn't do my own work on my S2000 I would have saved nothing for Volks and an OEM hardtop.

I guess having the peace in mind that the dealership will warranty and insure their work incase anything happens is always nice.

jyeung528

are you getting the ap2 coils? i believe they're cheaper and updated as well. ap1 coils are super expensive.

vtecaddict

Glad it wasn't anything major

rworne

Expensive yes. Total was actually $1430.
Plugs, coils, injector cleaning, synthetic oil change and alignment, leak down and compression tests.

I could have saved more, but the issue was I do not have the tools or ability to do my own work anymore, the car had to go somewhere, and I do not know any local mechanics.

Yes, warrantee on the work is also a big part too.

After deliberating, I figured I'll have the car for quite a while yet and investing in the repair was the prudent thing to do.

spontaneous123

I say considering it was a dealership that did it, that's not that expensive.

OEM Plugs: Roughly $80 for all 4
OEM Coils: Roughly $250 if they're using the AP1
Synthetic Oil Change: $75(?)
Alignment: $150
Injector Cleaning: Somewhere down in long beach (injector dynamics?) charges $150 roughly for all 4 cleaned, so dealership mark-up..


Cost alone is roughly $600+tax, on top of $80-100/hour for labor time off the service manual.