For this many people to have problems I can not believe that there havent been any complaints with the NHTSA(national highway and transportation safety administration)there is however a service bulliten in there database regarding the s2k oil consumption-however there are no recalls, just a service bulliten.go to there web site and start the ball rolling

www.nhtsa.gov/cars/problems

also what production dates had problems, how should I tell if I should be worried or not?

 

How much you want to worry is kind of a personal decision. 19 short block replacements out of 30,000 cars is about 0.063% There are probably more than the 19 we know about but still not a huge number.

It probably is a worry for Honda and for their regional affiliates.

My advice is: DO NOT WORRY and DOCUMENT that you check the oil and coolant every gasoline fill-up as the owner's manual recommends.

If you are the twentieth out of 30,000, you'll get your car back good as new. That has been the experience of everyone on my list of 19 except dhoward. I'm betting his will turn out okay too.

The list in this thread is the most complete list of model year and VIN numbers. I don't think we have a list of production dates. My production date was 23 August 2000.

The highest mileage at cylinder/piston failure was 7,450 miles (Zoinks) and the lowest is mine at 650 miles. The average odometer reading at failure (where known) is 3,700 miles.

Here's the link to my short block replacement history thread:

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?...=&threadid=8051

 

Agreed, the number of engine failures is probably below the average for any new car. I have heard that Honda is blaming it directly on people not watching their oil consumption (aka driving with no oil).

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Barry WY Silver/Black '01
[B]How much you want to worry is kind of a personal decision. 19 short block replacements out of 30,000 cars is about 0.063%

 

I agree.

 

Every car manufacturer has a percentage of cars that have failures. I currently drive a 2000 Audi S4. Every couple of days on the audi forum, the talk is failed turbos, the lack of a recall, and what is anybody going to do about it. The fact still remains that mostly people with problems with their cars post on the forums looking for help and they represent a very small perentage of the owners. I suggest you do what I have done, enjoy the car, take good care of it and if there is a problem then deal with it.

 

Barry,

Did the Check-Engine light come on during any of these failures? And if so, what were the ECU codes?

 

I think a far greater proportion of those with this problem have posted the issue here that you may think.

A major problem like this draws people to whatever resources they can find. And this is the preeminent source of s2000 info on the net. Case in point, the most recent report of this issue was the first post of the person with the problem. They obviously sought out the forum to seek a remedy.

I'm not trying to minimize the severity of the problem for those that have it. I just think it's very rare and not worth worrying about for the average S2000 owner.

 

To the best of my knowledge no. In my case, absolutely no. I had the tap-tap-tap sound that sounded like valve noise. I took it to the dealer who thought it was valve noise and ordered a valve cover gasket. When they tried to adjust the valves, it was NOT valve noise but noise from the #4 cylinder. That's when Honda tech-line told them to look inside with a "bore-o-scope" and they did and saw cylinder scoring and oil on the piston head.

I had no engine check light, no check oil light, no performance degradation. The engine temperature gauge read three bars. I did have full oil. My odometer read 651 miles at the time the sound developed. It was a sunny, chilly 4 January, exactly two months after I took delivery. I had been driving normally on I-90 with my wife for about an hour when it happened.

 

I check my oil today after starting this thread and told my father to check his (mine-blk/red his-yel/blk) He was 1qt low after 9 weeks, I was 1 qt low after 2 1/2 weeks, thats assuming however that the dipstick was at the full level when I picked up the car, I never checked it. Now I know to check it every time I get gas. Just keep a log and store it it the console. My dealer however I dont think would be a problem, they warrentied all kinds of stuff on my 99 accord v6 including the tranny even though I had intake, comptech headers, suspension, exhaust, and the usual JDM exterior mods.

While where on the subject of problems, does anyone have any cracks in the paint surrounding the rear liscense plate. My fathers has cracked paint and the honda regional rep said no warrenty coverage without even looking at it that was when the car was only 7 weeks old.Just wanted to know.thanks