Hey guys, I just purchased a brand new berlina black s2k and I had some questions.
The first time I open the driver side windows after I turn on the engine, there is a thud when the window closes. Anyone else experience this? Also this is my third Honda car and I seem to notice that after I start the car and get moving, I hear a thud from the bottom of the car. And finally, I just reached 1000 miles with my car and I noticed that the first couple hundred miles seemed very quiet and the shifting was very smooth, but now I feel that the shifter isn't AS smooth anymore. I'm an experienced manual driver so the problem couldn't have risen from my driving.
Thanks for the help.

 

Well you'll have to be more descriptive than just "thud". There are a lot of noises in this car than in other cars, so you'll notice things that you might not otherwise notice.

Second, I ask to distinguish the "thuds" because you say one is comming from the window and one from underneath the car.

When I put down my windows I do not hear a thud, all I hear is the window comming off of the rubber weather strip.

When I take off I hear a bunch of noises. When I put the gear in first, I hear a clunk, which it the clutch engaging with the flywheel. If you put the gear in first in, at a stop, in neutral, in a fast manner, you'll most likely hear this sound. Second I hear the ABS check kicking in at around 12-15mph, that sounds like a knock.

As far as shifting performance, in the mornings, or at first start, the gears will be a little cold and stiff. When the car warms up they will get smoother. If they are constantly notchy I would check your differential, but as it is a new car I'd say there's nothing to worry about.

 

You said that this is your third Honda...have your last Honda's had this "thud" from the underbody? Is it a noise that only occurs when you shift, or when you turn, or anything at all to distinguish it from just a noise coming from under you?

There are many noises that cars can make when they start accelerating...are you only hearing it at speeds maybe 25mph and under? I noticed when most of my previous cars had problems that i heard it only at slower speeds or lower rpm's cause the engine or exhaust was too loud to hear it, but never with 1,000 miles on them.

You say you're experienced at driving a manual transmission, but is this your first new car? I've had one new car in the past (not being the s2k) and I definitely thought the transmission had changed when the car's mileage started to add up. However, it wasn't something that I was worried about cause it's normal. The s2k is a very smooth shifting car and I've been in some with 100,000 miles on them and they didn't make noises from windows or from under me. If it is distinct enough for you to notice it, I would get it checked out.

 

The shifter is very short in the S which does not facilitate an easy shift that you may be used to in your other cars. This is not to say that the shift is hard just much more purposeful than most cars. I had been driving a Celica GT 5sp. for several years and now when I drive it the throws are long and seem downright sloppy in comparison.
I also have about a 1000miles on my car and the shifter seems to be a little looser now than when new but it could also be my "acclimation" more than anything else.

 

I have about 8700 on my 06, no weird noises or anything else.

Of course, normal noises in this car would be weird in my other cars.

 

I should have noted that I once owned a TR4a and during the years I owned it the IRS very often sort of gave a a slight kick in the butt. This was something I could feel but don't really recall ever hearing.
The thud you feel or hear could easily be your differential.
If the S is anything like the TR4 ,it's probably nothing to worry about.t

 

If the noise when first moving the car is the ABS checking in, then that is no problem. I always just wondered what it was because I experienced it with my 03 Honda Accord too.

However the window bothers me. It only occurs once when I first roll down the windows after starting the car and I can't explain it any better then a thud. It started since yesterday and I have no clue what the cause is. I roll it down and after I hear the thud I roll it back up so I can figure out what makes that noise but I have no clue.

 

Do you hear a THUD,in the shifter too???

 

I'm not noticing any strange noises on mine...

 

This "Thud" is likely the differential engaging a "hard connection" with the rest of the drivetrain when you let out the clutch, shift into the next gear. . . I noticed it too since my other manual Hondas have been FWD...there was no rear differential