silverstone2004

Hello all. I've done some research lately, but a few things I'd like to ask. There's an 04 silver ap2 with 98k miles. Asking price is 12,500 "as is". Clutch pedal is very squeaky with a slop/easy play the first inch of pushing the clutch down. Visually looking at the car it has some common rock paint chips and a rear panel rock chip that had rusted a little, which seems like an easy fix of scraping and a retouch. The top has a small tear, but not all the way through. Car fax says its been through 3 owners from alaska to arkansas and to wisconsin. Had an accident on rear passenger quarter panel, which makes me think the paint they used chipped easy hence the tiny light rust spot. Car idles fine with a slight whine while listening to the engine under the hood. Didn't get a chance to test drive it as the used car dealer was closed and only got the keys to check the inside and start up. Will test drive this monday. What do you guys think and thanks in advance!

B serious

12.5K is a good price from what you're saying. Even though the car has likely been driven in road salt?

silverstone2004

Yeah, it seems like its likely driven on salt roads or has been driven all season with snow on the ground. Bottom front bumper has road rash, but that could be solved with a lip kit. What about the squeaky clutch? Could there be a throw out bearing issue? There was pretty decent slop/give the first inch of pressing down the clutch pedal. Normal?

B serious

The inch of freeplay may point to either a badly adjusted clutch, an irreputable replacement of clutch, or failed clutch components. Or all of the above.

Obviously, the best case scenario is an adjustment to fix it...which takes 1 wrench and 10 mins.

The squeak could be parts that need grease (best case), or again...failed components or a bad install.

silverstone2004

Thanks for the advice. I'll see if I can deal down if indeed it needs a new clutch. A 6-800 dollar job? Will take it a mechanic to check it out.

B serious

The clutch component cost from Honda (don't buy aftermarket) is like $600-650.

-Disk
-Pressure plate
-Release bearing
-Release bearing guide sleeve
-Honda high temp urea grease

Try bernardiparts.com or similar. You'll need a clutch alignment tool as well.

Install cost seems to range between $350-800 regularly.

B serious

**Also flywheel resurfacing or flywheel replacement.

An AP1 flywheel seems to be a well liked modification to AP2's.

B serious

at 98k, typically, the car will either be needing a clutch soon...or the clutch had been replaced.

An issue with the latter will likely arise if the clutch was replaced with anything but genuine Honda parts. There are very few exceptions to the "aftermarket clutches are junk" rule.

I have seen aftermarket clutches do fine (its rare), for a long time, even with agressive driving. But...a huge majority fail within 30K.

silverstone2004

Yes, looking at the oem exedy clutch kit, which seems to be used from factory? I hear I have to order the throw out bearing separate from honda as the bearing that comes with the kit is likely to fail quickly. I would most likely have them turn the flywheel or if its cheaper to just buy an ap1 stock flywheel.

B serious

The Exedy kit won't work. Exedy does not make the Honda S2000's clutches. It is considered an aftermarket solution.

Beyond that, even when Exedy did make Honda's clutches, an Exedy aftermarket kit was NOT the same as a dealer spec Exedy kit.

FCC makes the genuine Honda clutch per Honda's spec.

You have to literally buy genuine Honda parts. Typically from a Honda dealer. I posted a website address earlier.