Hi, I just got back from a testdrive with a 99MY which is almost fully original with just 74000 km on the odo.

Apart from 12 year old tires, the car was almost perfect. However, there was one particular noise:

When gently pulling of in first gear from a standstill, there was a clearly hearable mechanical clunck. A very short noise, like some spring is settling or an axel which has some play. From the driver's side, with the roof open, it came from the left rear. Car is sold without warrantly - is this potentially anything expensive to sort out?

 

There is some play in the drivetrain, but that's usually taken up when the car is put in gear. Especially on cold mornings there is often a "clunk" that takes place when putting the shifter in 1st or reverse.

It's possible that a brake pad retainer clip is broken, bent or missing, which would cause a clunk when launching. That's a minor, inexpensive fix. Off hand, I can't think of anything else that would cause this.

 

Depending on how fast the clutch is let out there can be clunking noises in the powertrain as noted above. Axle nuts may need torquing as many S2000's need it. Sometimes brakes will make a clunking noise after switching directions, or if the pads were stuck to the rotors (put away wet). Neither items would be a deal breaker, I doubt it had any issues, Nice low km car you found there.

 

My guess is the axel nut needs tightening....my 02 did that back in the day....easy fix.
Levi

 

If it's axle nut, it'll sound like this:

 

Its most likely the axle nut.

What's been working really well for me is to use an EP grease on the threads and face of the nut...and torque to 250LB.

Remember....the torque wrench has to be moving at a steady pace (about 2X the speed of the second hand on a clock) when it clicks. Otherwise, it won't result in the right amount of tension on the fastener.