Had an 00 s2k out here Saturday for the once over. First thing I always do is get the valve cover off and check for cracked retainers. Sure enough, I find recessed keepers. This is the 6th S2000 I have found with cracked retainers during routine maintenence.

At this point I skip the entire once over, and fix the engine while the guy waits. F22C retainers and keepers on the intake side only. Re-did the VA that honda did. I'll have the guy post the dealer, NEVER go there for a VA. Half had loose locknuts, all clearances were tight and loose.

-Car has about 40k miles
-guy is the 2nd owner
-car was purchased from a Honda employee who likely demoed the car and used it for test drives.
-the owner is confident he has never mechanically over-reved, but I'm pretty sure the car was over-reved by the first owner.

First pic, little blurry. Serverely broken retainer on left, slightly broken on right.


F22C retainers installed (USA 2.2L)


Here's the kicker. check out the crack on this retainer. It is split circumferentially. This is the first time I've seen this type of crack. This engine was days from coming apart. This type of crack will not show a recessed keeper. However, I'm pretty confident it will only be found in conjunction with the type of cracked retainers we are familiar with.

 

Actually, the normal cracks are radial. That one is circumferential.

I'm sure this is something that gets easier with practice and skill, but what you seem to be able to do in a few minutes took me hours and hours of work. I wish you lived closer to me -- this is definitely a job I would pay someone else to do if I trusted them to do it right.

 

Wow i might have to install some AP2 retainers and keepers for the heck of it. Good job Bill! see yall at the next meet.

 

Excuse my French

I'll adjust....

 

Nice catch.

I'm assuming the 2.2L retainers are a little stronger then the 2.0L ones?

 

Correct.

You mat be getting them on May 12th

 

How much is a set of retainers??

 

You would think Honda would help us out somehow with this issue.

I haven't been on this site in awhile and troll every now and than.

Bought a 02 used with 18k on it at 25k a CEL came on cylinder was trashed.

Honda Warranty blamed it on me and wouldn't cover needless to say I am now running a F22 with no problems yet.

I think they know the car was released with this issue and they will never admit it.

 

http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/auto/j...PartsSearch.jsp

A couple bucks per retainer. The cost is in the labor.

 

What dealership was the original VA performed at? PM me if you don't want to say it out loud, but I had an adjustment performed at a local LI dealer not too long ago...