I have a 2005 S2000 with 98,000 miles on it . I never had any issues with shifting until recently. When shifting from 1st to 2nd, or downshifting from 3rd to 2nd, or 2nd to first, the gear shift grinds. But it will shift normally if below 1000 RPM.

I've had both the master and slave clutch cylinders replaced ($800 at John Eagle Honda), and the transmission fluid replaced. Still no improvement.

Not sure if this is a clutch or syncro issue, or something worse. Any thoughts?

Can anyone in the Houston, TX area recommend a quality place to have it diagnosed? (Not interested in bringing it back to John Stealer...)

 

Try re-bleeding the clutch hydraulic line?

 

My suggestions (in no particular order);

-Re-check clutch fluid
-Check/remove clutch pedal play
-Grease shifter
-Experiment with other MTF's

I know the last one seems counter-intuitive (since you just had new fluid put in), but I have the theory that our cars (especially brass synchro AP1's) MTF needs can change as they age. Mine had a decently bad 3rd gear grind when I got it, and finding the best fluid for it solved it.

These things are worth checking before shelling out more $$.

 

$800? Wow, thats a lot for such easy, quick work.

I concur with other post, adjust clutch pedal play. You probably have too much play, so clutch isn't fully disengaging.

It takes one wrench, and less than 5 min time, so that dealer will probably only charge you $200 and screw it up worse than it is now.

Actually, it wouldn't surprise if your original problem was air in the lines, and when they replaced those components they didn't bother to bleed it well, and you still have air in the lines.

When you brought it there, did you say, fix my shifting problem? If so, you spent $800 and they didn't fix it. So they owe you to make it right.

If you went there and said, please change these parts, then its on you.

I very seriously doubt there was anything wrong with your old mc or slave. They are very reliable components.

 

Thanks for the replies. I'll check the clutch pedal play adjustment and doing a gravity bleed if that's not it. Just seems strange that it's primarily 2nd gear. And now it does it at any RPM.

A while back I had a leak and the clutch pedal was on the floorboard, couldn't shift, and the transmission\clutch was shuddering. On the freeway at the time I had to force it into gear and limp home in 2nd.

John Eagle Honda in Houston diagnosed it as the master and slave and ripped me for $800. Also quoted $2400 for a new clutch and suggested to 'keep an eye on it'.

I would expect a Honda dealer to know enough and care enough to check clutch play and making sure there was no air in fluid. John Eagle has probably seen my last days as a customer. No faith in their ability or integrity at this point.

If this doesn't do the job, can anyone recommend a shop in Houston area that knows the nuances of S2000 transmissions?

 

pg_0001

Sounds an awful lot like this...