So how exactly does sandblasting or roughing up the worm gear fix the noise and oil pressure issues? I started getting the noise at 28k miles and went out to honda and got a new tct for $141 after tax, but was thinking to maybe do the fix instead of putting the new one in. Anyone know the details to why they go bad? Especially at 28k?

 

You should read the write up by billman, but Basically the soft aluminum gets pitted over time. When you sandblast and remove the pitting the oil freely moves over the worm gear and properly lubricates it. I have done the fix myself and was definitely worth not spending the $140 dollars... Tho I did pinch the oring and ruin it, causing a minor oil leak for a week until I saw and replaced the $.04 problem.

 

That doesn't sound convincing enough though, there's no way a slight texture in the worm gear can cause oil to not lubricate it, most diy things I've seen, the work gear comes out shiny smooth, not pitted. I couldn't find a thread where billman explains the cause of the problem. Can you please link it?

 

i always thought it was the other way around, giving the oil something to "bite" to.

 

Whatever point is simple...it cost nothing and fixes the problem for another 2x,xxx miles

 

OK, then just keep buying new ones and when it stops working again ask us this same question. I had two replaced under warranty and then I sandblasted mine fixing it for a much longer while. I found my own solution to this issue as my car has a bigger issue with it than any other I've seen to date, I had gone through 4 units by the time I had 30,000 miles on my car. That aside read on...

There IS a way the slight texture solves it. Shinny and smooth yes but smooth doesn't always mean less friction. Note the part when new isn't shiny and smooth like a used one. Still that isn't the issue anyway, the TCT is oil driven, the pockets hold oil creating a better (read thicker) oil surface for the gear to slide within, essentially it's a traction change as well as a surface friction change.

I read the thread but I've no time to search it.

Alex (ballad motorsports) in SoCal makes a replacement part that fixes it for good you might try him in the SoCal threads. I'd back his part. He knows what I know, that the sand blasting fix is good but not permanent just an improvement. His fix changes the internal components and includes a stiffer spring set.

When in doubt... TRUST BILLMAN!!! He's a notch above the rest and solved many S2000 issues and discovered them originally. CDV for example and TCT. Xviper was another great hand until s2ki pissed him off and he left for good.

-Greg

 

My 06 started doing this last week 50k miles. Only on two bar temp start.