I need to listen to someone else's S2. Maybe the next time the guys in Silicon Valley get together for lunch I'll spend a moment listening.

My engine makes a very tiny, but very disconcerting ticking sound. I can't really hear it unless I'm sitting in my carport listening to it. It has a frequency of about 2 ticks per second. I can't hear it at any RPM except idle (since, after all, it's very tiny). Is it normal? I wasn't worried about it until all the "loose spark plug" posts appeared.

Also, I think my clutch may not be disengaging all the way (sound familiar, passleft?). When I rev the engine in neutral, it's smooth all the way up. When I rev the engine with the clutch depressed, while in gear, I feel a little bit of a split-second "glitch" at about 4k that interrupts the smooth rev. Is it normal?

You all must get out bed, and go out to listen to all the tiny little noises your car makes, and report back to me. Yes, I am anal.

- Warren

 

Moved to s2000 talk. You'll get more views here, hopefully somebody responds.

 

Some ticking is normal. It's a Honda trademark. It's the valve clearance Honda runs. I usually adjust my valves .001 or .002" tighter than stock to help keep it down. If you listen to another S2 that's recently had a valve adjustment, or know a dealer you can trust, you might see if yours is really louder. You might have a few valves looser than spec.

I've noticed in every Honda I've driven that I can feel clutch engagement when I'm in gear and clutcing. I had an '89 Prelude that would actually start rolling at redline in gear and clutched. I couldn't come up with any explanation other than "creepage" or viscous coupling of the air inside the tranny. Both far-fetched, but it was a phenomenon I felt.

You might be feeling something similar, or some kind of emissions byproduct. You might notice on a lot of Hondas that the power band is real lumpy (dips) around 2200 to maybe 2700 RPMs... it corresponds with "at speed" emissions testing around that RPM.

 

That standard Honda, someone told me it was related to the timing belt.

If its the lifters you will know it. It will be a LOUD tick.

 

Actually, I've had this same concern. On MY 93 Civic, I waited a long time to do my timing belts and a tick developed. My mechanic said that the tick was from the old belts. I guess I'll have to check another S2K as well.

 

Ive always assume it is the lifters that are making the ticking noise.

 

There are no lifters on Honda DOHC (or any Honda, for that matter) engines. I assume all of you mean the rocker arms and valve clearance between the rocker/follower and the cam lobe.

The characteristic Honda tick IS from this. Louder or abnormal ticking could be a number of things- failed internals, timing belt tensioner, etc.

If you suspect something being wrong, take it back to the dealer. Listen to a new one if you can. Ultimately the only way to tell for sure is to check whatever is suspect.

 

My ticking engine was driving me crazy. I brought it to two dealers and an independant Honda/Accura garage. All told me it was normal with varying degrees of explenations. Problem is, when people talk about being louder than normal, I have no idea what normal is. Listen to another one or as many as you can to gauge. I intend to do this also but have yet to pursue it.

Chaz01

BTW-The independant offered to do a complete diagnostic if it would give me piece of mind, and him a coupla hundred$.