Originally Posted by ShortShift

I really don't care how long anyone has been on this forum. There are a ton of guys out there in the world that know way more than anyone here about cars, guys that will rarely or never venture onto the internet to discuss S2000's. My old man has been taking cars apart and putting 'em back together since the '60's, and doesn't post on forums, but you'd be blown away by what he knows and can do without a manual or a DIY. And I'm sure there are plenty of guys here on this forum that have been here since it started, but have never truly lifted a wrench on their own.

And for the record, I didn't talk down to anyone until AFTER I received a shitty response, namely starting with xviper. Other guys have come on here and provided good info in a straightforward manner, and I do appreciate their responses.

Guess what... it may be 2013, but there's more to life than the internet, son.

Originally Posted by bakalag

From everyone has responded legitimately to you, you seem eager to find that one person that will tell you the problem WILL occur if you buy a 04-05. Just buy a 00-03 or 06-08 and don't worry about the 04-05 because you keep pressing on similar questions that will probably lead to the same answers that have been given already. Or buy a 04-05 and hopefully you will not get the issue.

Originally Posted by xviper

You've taken a tiny tidbit of information posted in a thread that goes back 6 to 7 years ago and brought it back to the surface and blown it out of proportion. If you are that concerned about the "problem", then don't buy an '04 or '05. The actual numbers of those S2000's that had the pop-out were few and NOT common. A TSB is NOT a recall on all VINs designated in it. It only means that those production numbers "might" suffer from the defect. The vast majority did not. Those who had a car with those VINs had to prove it had the condition before Honda would do anything about it. Paranoid and compulsive/obsessive owners did everything they could to make the tranny pop-out so they could get the work done. (And yes, there is a way to make it happen. But you are basically damaging the tranny on purpose and committing fraud at the dealership.)
This has been discussed ad nauseum in the years since then. Honda took a sledge hammer approach to fix a problem that didn't need such an invasive solution. Many owners of S2000s with the pop-out simply used a mix of Amsoil MTF and Honda MTF on an annual basis to resolve the pop-out entirely. The rest understood why it did the pop-out and just "drove around it". I'm one of those who purchased such a transmission (brand new from the dealer) to put into my AP1. It had the pop-out right from day ONE. I use the fluid mix and it's been in my car for years. It either does it or it doesn't. It doesn't develop this pop-out over time by itself. The operator has to screw it up by not knowing how to shift or doing stupid things on purpose.
This is not much different than the mass hysteria of the day when the early AP1s had the clutch decel buzz. A few people freaked out over nothing and Honda had to come up with a TSB for it to appease the cry babies. Many owners understood what it was and they did absolutely nothing over the life of the clutch. Just a few people to freak out and all of a sudden, all AP1s should be avoided because of the potential for clutch buzz and all '04s and '05s should be avoided because the tranny will pop out of 1st and 2nd. We should probably tell everyone to avoid ALL S2000s as we know how weak the diffs are, don't we? Oh, and that horrible acceleration vibration on ALL S2000s when the CV buckets pit. And let's not forget about the Timing Chain Tensioners. We know how all of them are junk and will eventually go, right?

Originally Posted by felixs2k

I picked up my '04 last February and I've experienced my fair share of 2nd gear pop-out (would happen at least once a week). I only put a little over 4k miles on the car since I bought it (have another car I DD) and last month I had the transmission fluid changed with OEM fluid while it was in the shop for some other work. Three weeks and 600 miles later, I haven't had a single pop-out dilemma.

I'm certainly not an expert on these kind of issues but I wonder if fresh tranny fluid will reduce the occurrence/severity of this issue - its nice not getting the nasty surprise when she rejects 2nd gear.

Originally Posted by xviper

We should probably tell everyone to avoid ALL S2000s....

Originally Posted by Jasoons2k

I have a 2005 48k miles and I've got issues going from 1 to 2nd, it doesn't pop out but sometimes it grinds a little if I just trow it in gear quickly. To not make it grind you can take another second to put it in slowly and doesn't do it. Also if the tranny is completely warmed up you will not have this issue at all.