As of about a week ago, I'm the happy owner of a slightly used (8000m) '03 Suzuka Blue. Manymany questions, but I've been learning a ton just lurking here. I'm mostly just feeling the car out right now, slowly working my way up the performance curve. Real happy with the car, but there's two things that bother me slightly:

#1, if I take it up past about 8300 in 1st and shift quick to second, it feels like I'm getting quite a bit of clutch slippage. If I watch the tach, I'm re-engaging the clutch before the revs get much below 8k, but then I'm feeling acceleration while I'm watching the revs continue to drop, and then it hooks up around 6500 or so. Acceleration is strong and smooth through the hookup; it's not like I'm freewheeling and then it lurches when the clutch grabs. I'm coming off the clutch real quick and it feels like if the clutch were stronger I'd be chirping. It probably seems like the clutch slips longer than it really does - I've never smelled it or anything. Should I worry about this? Is the clutch weak? Or is it just giving because it's hotter 'n a skillet here in Austin right now and the sticky asphalt won't let go of my rear tires? The clutch takes up pretty high on the pedal stroke (there's still an inch or so of slack though). I have yet to try to launch it so I can't say how it behaves there.


#2, if I'm shifting hard/quick, the tranny is smooth as a baby's bottom in all gears, but if I'm just driving lazy it feels real notchy into third. This seems backwards; if the synchronizer was going, wouldn't it feel worse the faster you shift? Is this just a quirk of the shifter? Is there something I can do differently to help? (Other than drive like my hair's on fire all the time ;-) I was considering changing the tranny fluid, even though it's only got 8k on the odometer.

I don't know anything about the original owner, but there's no particular indication that the car was driven especially hard.

Opinions appreciated

ras

 

1.


Stock clutch sucks.

 

2.

Mine feels notchier going into 3rd during normal driving than it does driving hard. It does seem backwards doesn't it?

 

hell ya....ive grinded couple times lately...but i know damn well that the cluth was all the way in..(driving chill..not hard at all..)..but neverrr a slip when runnin it hard..wats the deal???

 

Hmm, my 2003 has the same slipping feel with 3000 miles. I talked to the dealer about it and I'm supposed to bring the car there when traffic is light and show him. Please let me know what you learn. I'll do the same.

I have no shifting problems.

 

I thought my clutch was fried. It turns out a lot of people have slipping either at launch or like you.

Basically, stock clutches are no good.

I'm sure when we upgrade to aftermarket, the problem should go away.

Enjoy the new ride!!!!

 

Yeah, alot of S2000s have this kind of problems.

 

#1. My car is a late 2002 and does the same thing from 1st to 2nd when shifting at a high RPM. It started with less than 5k miles. It seems to be a common problem. I'm taking my to the Honda dealership to see if it can be fixed under warrenty. If not, I'll have to replace the stock clutch with my own cash.

 

wait..so if we decide to throw in a aftermarket clutch..will that void anyy type of warranty or what?...it aggrivates me..ill be aggressively driving hard,,and shifting is sooo smooth and nice..then another moment ill be just cruisinggg..mad slow....and a grind all of a sudden..u gota be kidding me...i guess the car is Truly not meant for "chill driving"...u gotta literally "drive it like u hate it" 24-7.

 

a voodo shift knob from www.ricks2k.com will help out with the notchiness and clunkiness of the shifter....i know it helped me!