I just had bc stainless valves installed with valve job, valve guides, ap2 retainers. Had the shop put it back together with oem Honda gasket kit. I drove it for 100 miles without a problem but then heard a ticking noise under acceleration only. It ticked with engine speed and when I let off the gas it disappeared. I pulled into a gas station to have a look, oil was fine. I didn't see anything wrong in the bay. When I went to go start it, heard a normal chunk from the starter and then silence. Read up possible issues and a website said seized motor. So I grab a socket wrench and try and turn the crank and it won't budge. I towed it back to the shop and they said they found copper bearing pieces in the oil pan. What could have caused this? What bearings in this motor are copper?

 

I also want to note that the night before, the clutch was having trouble, like it was engaged all the time. I checked the fluid in the morning and it was low so I filled it and no problem after that. Drove 10 miles, Hung out with a buddy and on the way back is when I started hearing the ticking noise.

 

i am no certified mechanic, but it sounds like the crankshaft bearings are gone. usually it takes a motor running on almost no oil for this to happen, or at least no oil getting to the lubrication points between the bearing and the crankshaft. if this is the case, the motor is pretty toast. good luck

 

Was the valve job due to an over rev issue or just because you wanted to do it?

 

The valve job was done because the sparkplug backed out and ripped the threads with it. I rethreaded the hole and put in a new plug and plug coil, started her up and she sounded like a subaru. Did a compression test and it was getting 60psi. So I took the head off, inspected it, everything looked ok and decided to clean the valve ports with carb cleaner and noticed that on the 2 intake valves where the plug blew up, cleaner leaked through. All the other valves retained the cleaner, so the problem was obvious. The 2 intake valves on that cylinder werent sealing correctly. I bought all new valves, even exhaust ones, had a shop install them, then put the head back on. And now it's broken all over again. I'm about done with this car. I'm looking to either fix it and sell it or sell it with the broken motor. I want an EVO X, but every single nice day while driving my 95 Accord daily I dream of driving with the top down, so I might get another s2000 either 06+ or CR. I want to get the hondata unit for tuning. Either way I think I'm done with this car. This is the 2nd motor I've been through, and my seats were stolen out of this car 2 years ago as well. It's been a pain and a drain on my wallet.

 

Well then for 6k or so drop in a V8 and be done with motor issues and have tons of power.

 

im sorry you going through so much.

having someone work on your car is risky.

hopefully Bill could shed some light on this issue.

 

Xyster: the pictures in your Sig got me thinking about that. Lol. But I just dumped $1500 into this head.

 

The shop said the crank bearings looked fine. They pulled the rod caps to check them out. They said it's most likely the thrust bearing... They quoted me $600 to get to it. I don't know how legit this is. Can anyone chime in?

 

Sounds like a bad coincidence, from a quick search it seems as if the s2000 has some issue with the thrust bearing. Good luck man, if they say that will fix your problem I would go for it, if they are right you have your car fixed, if they are wrong then don't pay them until they fix it. Maybe you could ask them to show you and explain why/how it is the thrust bearing?

-Nick.