I recently bought a 00 s2k. The transmission has a 1-2 grind which i hear is a common problem. I am new to s2000's and i know there is a few weird problems with them so this is why im asking here. Here is the odd thing. I dont drive the car hard at all. When the car is cold first started in the morning ill drive shift a 3-5k no grind at all. As it gets warmer the grind will come from the 1-2 shift as low as 3500-4k rpms. I am certain the clutch is pushed in all the way. I have put GM syncromesh in with hopes it would correct the problem to atleast a higher RPM. however It has not. Can anyone help me out? im sure there is no quick fix. do i need to rebuild it with a new 2nd gear set? or should i just trash the trans for a ap2? I am very mechanically inclined as i am a tech for lexus. But I dont know much about the s2k yet. any help would be appreciated.

Rob

 

If the grind persists with fresh fluid and the clutch is releasing all the way the only other option is synchro and gear set replacement. (Trans rebuild)

Honda only sells a synchro with the matching gear set, and they are expensive

 

I just dont know why it doesnt grind when its cold. i would think the opposite if anything. i got a price from a friend who works for honda at $316 for the entire 2nd gear set. which im assuming it would come with synchros. Is swapping the gear/syncro pretty strait foward? any special tools or anything like that? thanks for the response.

 

You may need some bearings if any are damaged. You'll also need the countershaft and companion flange locknuts.

I highly recommend getting the Honda service manual. www.helminc.com Don't try a trans build without it.

 

where is the engagement point on your clutch...if it is very low, you can try to adjust the clutch pedal rod.

secondly, for me...i depress the clutch pedal completely and let the revs drop a bit...then i shift out of 1st into 2nd. this has cured my grinding 100%.

 

Did you use the GM Synchromesh Friction Modified (preferred), or the plain GM Synchromesh? It will be spelled out specifically on the bottle.

Before the rebuild, I would try one more fluid...the new Honda MTF (white cap and green label on bottle). Drive it for 500 miles and re-evaluate the performance of your transmission. I think this is the best MTF there is right now. Make sure you try it for at least 500 miles though.

 

I am a technician at Honda World(dealership) here in conway... There is actually a service bulletin and service news for MY00's and some MY01's on the first to second gear grind... It can be fixed, but you have to pull the tranny and replace a few things inside. There were a few parts they updated when they found out the first ones had this problem. You could get the bulletin/news from any Honda Dealership, and it tells you what parts are needed to fix it. I will print out the bulletin at work tomorrow if i have time. And i could probably fax it to you if there is not a dealership near you.

-dustin

 

i've seen this...

assuming the bulletin was issued around 2002...it can be assumed that MY03+ should be fixed with the updated parts...but that's not the case...

even my03's have the problem as well...and having the updated parts already means that it's a problem we have to deal with.

 

Yeah you are correct, but they are alot better than most my00's and my01's. I also think alot of these problems can be from the crappy stock clutch... haha

 

i have adjusted the clutch, the synchromesh i used was the friction modified version. The stardard comes in the round bottle, this one comes in the regular looking oil bottle. anyway. I did see the parts that needed to be replaced with the tsb. i am thinking of just buying an ap2 trans because i seem to hear they are much better. I still dont know why it doesnt grind when the car is cold and trans is cold. when it heats up is when it gives me the problem. weird.

about that new trans fluid... is it supposed to be better then syncrhomesh?


also, when i drive i do let the revs drop down a little but if im over 4-5k it grinds regardless.