I'll be one to apologize for part of this.

So, to respond to your questions:
I would say that even with your aftermarket clutch, you have the typical "clutch buzz" syndrome that many of the older OEM clutches exhibited. It's the clutch disc springs rattling in response to the backlash from your transmission. It's just a noise and shouldn't affect the operation of the clutch. But sounds awful.

This sort of thing seems to get reported a lot lately. Diagnosis and resolve is often complicated and tedious. Start off by checking the gaps on those new plugs you put in. After that, you'll have to have the dealer do a proper series of checks and measures.

Tranny: Honda MTF or GM Syncromesh Friction Modified. The GM stuff may resolve some of your tranny issues but it's been said that it doesn't last very long. If you can get away with using a fresh batch of Honda MTF, then go with that.
Rear diff: LE607 or Mobil 1 GL-5 75W90
These are my recommendations. I'm sure others will have their favourites.

 

i have a toda clutch..you are getting buzz decel.. dont worry about it. this is normal. Every one that i know that has gotten an aftermarket clutch with exception of a few experience this.

 

[QUOTE=xviper,Aug 2 2006, 02:57 PM]

 

Wow Red! I was done with this topic but, you've opened up a whole 'nother area I never considered! You're saying people with problems are unworthy of the S2000 then? That's a level of elitism, I never even considered!

To paraphrase, you're saying if the tranny's reliable for 10% of the users then the other 90% of the unwashed masses aren't worthy of the S2000?

Comments like this are comedy gold. You're quoting Honda marketing phrases at us. Honda's not only an amazing car company. They're marketing geniuses! Damn, I love my '2k but, it's just a car and Honda's just a company, like Microsoft or Toyota all they want is my money.

 

Very true.

I'll be the first, and hopefully we'll hear from a few more.

I have an early MY00 AP1 that I purchased used in 2004. The car is now pushing eight years old, but for the most part it still looks like new. There are no dents, and the paint still looks new (or better). The leather seats are holding up amazingly well given the hours they've spent exposed to the direct rays of the sun, and the carpet is a little faded, but the rest of the car is like new or better. It has no leaks, and uses no oil between 3,000 mile changes. We upgraded the banjo bolts at about 40,000 miles and the crankcase looked immaculate. We routinely inspect the retainers and the top end shows no signs of any abnormal wear. All the TSB's have been performed on the car, and I have had absolutely NO problems. I've lowered the car, supercharged it, installed an AxialFlow Engineering short shifter (one of the first prototypes), and have a Comptech reinforced differential with 4.30:1 gears and a KAAZ 1.5 LSD. I have driven the car in gridlock with temperatures of 100+ degrees, autocrossed it, tracked it, and done just about every wild thing one can do with a rear wheel drive car. I do burnouts, spin donuts, speed shift, and even do a little drifting and drag racing. The car gets driven very hard, but it is *never* jerked around or driven roughly, because this car doesn't respond well to that kind of driving (and that's not the way I drive). I am not trying to imply that I'm some kind of Michael Schumacher, because I'm most certainly not, but I am very smooth with the controls and I do a good job of keeping the car balanced (IOW, driving smoothly to minimize weight transfer). I believe, but do not know for a fact, that this has a major effect on the reliablity and longevity of all the cars I've owned, and the S2000 is no exception. I've done all the things with the car I'd care to do with it, and not had a single problem. When my transmission is cold I understand that the synchros have to work harder in the thick oil, so I shift early, and gently, and the car shifts perfectly. Even though my car is lowered, it does not have any major handling flaws, though like any stifly sprung car it can be twitchy at the limits over rough surfaces (and a small amount of bump steer in the back may make this a little worse), and it would be faster on the autocross courses if the bias was moved a little more toward understeer, but these are minor issues and with the UK alignment the car actually handles better than when new. I am still running OEM S02's and a stock clutch because I see the clutch and tires as the fusable links in the driveline, and at the current power level they're getting the job done. I drive it hard, and I have had NONE of the problems others have reported here on S2kI. The car is almost eight years old. Mileage is currently somewhere close to 50k.

I have quite literally had to do NOTHING to the car other than feed it gas, drive it, modify it, and change the fluids and filters.

LOL, I was going to ignore this thread, but I liked your post and am hoping that others will chime in with their positive experiences.

 

I also apologise i went off on a tangent, i also believe that the stock clutch is the first order of buisness to solving your problem.

 

[QUOTE=Ek9,Aug 3 2006, 12:06 AM]Wow Red! I was done with this topic but, you've opened up a whole

 

The S2000 is a "niche" car. It is to Honda what the Corvette is to Chev.

 

**HIJACK** But seriously, you probably don't have a problem... Its probably just decel buzz. Annoying but harmless.

Well, I'll put in my story. I had a red 2000 s2000 that I traded for a 2004 sti. Car ran perfectly btw. I hated the clunky shifting, rattling interior, and general "driving a boat" feel of the STI and hunted down a black 2000 s2k with only 23k miles... give or take. 3000 miles later I got the comptech SC, 12k miles after that the 4.57's and reinforced diff. I drive the piss out of my car, and after 15 months I've put almost 20k miles on it. I drive it in the winter, I drive it in the snow, I drive it when its 107 degrees. I'm still on the stock clutch, my car shifts like a dream, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

 

Yes clearly the s2000, and the nsx, and the insight are cars for a small group of people. That doesnt make Honda elitest at all, im happy because they make a car that is exciting to a small number of people rather than producing every vehicle to appeal to the mass market, aka Toyota.