Yes, it's another clutch thread....


As a once proud owner of a 2002 Honda S2K, I'm seeking your advice before finding a way to remove myself from the ranks of "owner."

My car is seven months young. After only 8,500 normal (lifetime manual transmission experienced) miles, my clutch is fried. Saying it slips is an understatement. Before reading up on the subject in this wonderful forum, I took my car in for service. I expected to be without it for a few days for repairs and pay for an oil change but I never expected the burring desire I have to rid myself of the worst financial mistake I have ever made. The car payment and $297.00 a month insurance rate isn't a problem, this one is all about principle.

Clutch fried = $1,800

Still in shock, I have made every attempt to understand why the extremely weak nature of the stock clutch on an otherwise near perfect machine is not covered under warranty. I realize now that Honda could care less. My corporate dispute is still open but it doesn't look good. They of course say it's a wear item and not covered. They haven't even disassembled it yet! Did I mention that I only have 8,500 miles on the car?

Now to my question, it seems many of you have had your clutch replaced by Honda as a "good will gesture" or cited a known issue. According to Honda, the 2002s are without clutch defect and I'm apparently not eligible for a good will gesture (my age - 26 doesn't help).

Should I set the car on fire now and work it out with the insurance company or let my only vehicle sit in a garage until Honda acknowledges the problem? Has anyone else with a 2002 been helped or screwed? I won't pay to replace/upgrade it.

Thank you in advance!

 

Tampabuc,

Try another dealership. I'm serious. $1800 and not under warranty...that sounds like BS!
I've had great luck at Autoway Honda in Clearwater or Honda of Bradenton (ask for Scott Bunker).

Good luck.

 

Tampa,

That sucks..sounds like another Honda dealer with a "couldn't care less" attitude..as Red said, try other dealers in the area...Bradenton has a great reputation and Honda in Sarasota has done great work for me in many areas.

BTW, I have 6K miles and clutch/tranny is causing no problems (yet!).

Don't give up on being an owner yet and keep us updated.

 

Yeah, try another dealer. My 2002 clutch seems to have TO bearing problem (release bearing assembly) problem. It doesn't fully disengages and I get a thumping rattle sound near the friction point in reverse and 1st sometimes.

I don't abuse my clutch but I will try my hardest to get them to replace this under warrantee, the car is very good, just some of the drivetrain components are suspect.

 

Go to another dealership.........you need to shop around!

 

If your Honda dealer is denying the warranty request because the DSM (district service manager) denied it, then another dealer may not be much help. The factory DSM usually calls on multiple dealers in a given area. You need to find out who EXACTLY denied the claim. You can then take it to the next level.

IMO, you are right on the "cusp" of a judgement call. If your clutch had failed at 2000 miles, you could make a claim it was obviously defective. If you go in with 8500 miles and lets say you are on the wear indicators on your rear tires, they could cite abuse and deny the claim. I feel for you, but contemplating insurance fraud is not the answer.

 

Not sure what to say about the clutch, but why is your insurance so high? I'm also 26 and my insurance is 1/4 what yours is. Unless you have some stuff on your record you should call around and make sure that's the best rate you can get.

Mark

 

Well, the stock 02 clutch is really weak from the factory. You do realise that it won't hold full power from a standing start with anything more than 5k rpm on the clock? It just slips away.

It's very annoying. The 2000 I test drove had a much better clutch.

But $1800 sounds rediculous. A stronger aftermarket clutch is about $500 and I have heard that it takes 4 hours labour to swap it in.

I'd go that route, and just consider it a fact of life of owning this car.

 

Dude, that is exactly the same problem i'm having with my car! Even with the clutch fully pressed in, it still doesn't disengage completely and I still have to yank it out of gear at times. I am also getting that wierd thumping rattle sound in reverse as well. The clutch not fully disengaging might be why i'm having so many issues with my transmission grinding at times on the 1-2 upshift. It seems to have been getting worse lately, and I just might make a second trip out to the dealer because this is uncalled for on a brand new car. It's also uncalled for how such a high performance vehicle comes with such an underpowered clutch. I hope Honda realizes this is Honda's flagship performance vehicle(excluding the Acura NSX), not some cheapass Civic DX

 

I am pretty sure this is similar to mine, the cold makes it a bit worse and so that is why I get minor grinds in 1st to 2nd. I knew that TO bearing was a part of the problem. I for sure will try to get them to fix this, I am not waiting till a full clutch change.