Hello everyone. I'm a long time reader...first time poster.

I'm looking into purchasing a '00 S2000 with a leaking intake manifold gasket (it's hissing). I'm curious as to the repair cost of this...I'm assuming it will be in the 600-800 range.

I know it's a fairly easy procedure aside from the messiness of the drain and reataching the manifold (bolt sequence and torque specs...I'm not the best at this)...I've just never done this before and I don't want to destroy anything. Would I be better off taking it to my mechanic? I'm also not sure if any coolant is leaking into the engine. What should I expect as far as worst case scenario?

I'd like to do it myself (no helms as of yet and no torque wrench...hah) so I just want to see what I'm getting myself into if I decide to make this purchase.

thanks,
Jay

 

most are going to tell you its a bitch and the first time it is.

they are also going to tell you that you need a couple of long extensions and a wobble...you dont.

take an extra 5 minutes to remove the serp belt, alternator, and idler pulley and it makes it MUCH easier to reach all the bols underneath.

and go buy that torque wrench. itll be your new best friend

 

http://www.s2000.org/mods/insulator/

 

Back up and look at what you are saying. The S intake never leaks unless it was messed with by someone that doesn't know what they are doing. Look at that car closely to make sure it isn't one that was hot rodded and returned to stock or otherwise modified. I would be very leary of buying that car.

 

ya, a leaking intake manifold in a stock S2k is about as common as a drinking party at an AA meating

 

I was thinking about that. I've owned a lot of hondas and I've never come across an intake mani gasket that went bad.

The car is going for $16,900 through a private seller...67k miles. There are not many decently priced S's in my area so thats why this car is so appealing regardless of the repair needed.

You guys DO know better than I about this car... what are your suggestions? Would it be foolish to purchase it considering I may have to shell out a little more cash for the repair? I've already checked out the car and everything else seems to check out ok.

 

Major question is why is it leaking. Possibly a major overheat.

Best advice, pay a local mechanic to have a look at the car, run a comp test also. IMO there is no way an s2k intake gasket could go bad. Unless it has seen major trauma, like a shady tech or modding.

Where you located?

 

The stock metal intake gaskets are pretty much leak proof. Either it's got a Hondata intake gasket, or the cylinder head has been off and not all the bolts have been put back in the intake manifold.

I've seen plenty of cheap (autozone) paper intake gaskets leak, usually because some moron didn't tighten all the bolts.

 

Yeah. I'm going to speak with the seller and schedule a diagnosis, leakdown/comp test. Considering what is wrong with the car now, (I forgot to mention it's throwing a P420...bad cat or exhaust leak) what other problems might I expect?

I'm from Houston, TX by the way.

 

P0420 is gonna be a bad convertor. It would have to have a very noticeable exhaust leak to cause this DTC.