[QUOTE]Originally posted by RT
[B]

I'm convinced the root source for these failures is the excessive vibration.

 

Hi SCS2k, RT, & Bieg,

First, Jim, I did not think you were harsh. Your comment regarding men and machines was spot-on. However, if I had a problem with my Honda or Acura, it would not cost me more than the $31,500 I paid for the car since it would be a recall or covered under warranty. My experience with Comptech was that they asked me to work with them and I did (at my expense). They did not offer to cover my additional mechanic expenses, nor did they even refund me the 100% I paid for the SC. In the end, Shad even questioned my mechanic's ability (a certified Honda Master Mechanic with 15 Years of experience working on Hondas and Acuras).

RT - Given the number of PMs I have received since posting on this thread, I would say that your estimate of those having cracking brackets is too low. Shad told me I was the only one having fuel smell problems too.

Bieg - Excellent Post. My mechanic could not agree with you more. He also feels that the excessive vibration caused by the supercharger is the reason for the majority of the problems.

As I have said all along, I think Comptech put this kit out on the market before putting enough testing into it. Also, they should stand behind their product 100% (not 100% as long as you keep their kit). They have design flaws with this kit and rather than admitting it and pulling the kit off the market until they are fixed, they are trying to quietly fix the problems one customer at a time.

 

Well, we may get a test of that theory. To date, I haven't had any bracket problems; however, I have just recently decided to change the way I drive the car.

My previous style:
When not doing full acceleration or "hot rodding" around, I would generally shift to next higher gear between 4k-5k rpm and would generally stay in a gear (and not shift to lower gear) as long as rpms were above 3k. Because this is my daily driver car, I unfortunately tend to be in congested traffic a lot. This style led to a lot of up-shifting and down-shifting.

My "new" style:
Just this week, I decided to start staying in a gear up to as much as 5500rpm for an extended basis (extended being only a minute or two in heavy traffic, if that long). Not only does this save on the amount of shifting, it also keeps me in a good powerband and close to vtec (just in case ). The first thing I noticed when I started doing this was the increased noise and vibration at the higher rpm, expecially in the lower gears. I guess it's always been there, but the way I had been driving, I usually passed thru that point pretty quickly; now I am staying there for many seconds, maybe a minute or more.

I will start checking my SC brackets more frequently. If I start seeing cracks, maybe we have a good clue about why this is happening.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by rocketman
[B]

Well, we may get a test of that theory.

 

Regarding vibration and harmonic induced fatigue it just goes to show you that sometimes there is more to something than your common sense would indicate.

Honda engineers sweat the details to produce a reliable 120HP per liter, 9000 RPM street engine that the company could waranty out to 7 years.

Tamper with that recipe at your own risk.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bieg
[B]
Try some shifts at redline to really test it while you are at it.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bieg
[B]....................
.............

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bieg
[B]


Try some shifts at redline to really test it while you are at it.

 

This is one of the difficult issues when driving with SC. You have to be really quick to catch the shift point in 1st and 2nd gear. From 3rd on, it's no problem. The tach goes from 7k to 9k very quickly. I'm usually aiming at 8k, and usually get very close to 9. About once out of ten times I'll hit the limiter. I'm a senior, so you kids should be able to do much better with your reaction times.

 

Hey Guys, I just bought my S2000 and I spoke with a guy who put a Vortech SC in his Civic and he hasn't had any problems with it in the 8 months he's had it. I was wondering if the bolt on will add any more boost in the low rpm's, which is where I'm looking to add on to. Also, if there are any REAL negatives to adding the bolt on. I was told that it will add not only 117 hp to the wheels, but also like 20% torque. Can anyone aknowledge this for me? I know alot about cars, but this is a first for me in this arena. And I don't want to make any major mistakes that will cost me my slammin' new s2000. thanks.