56,7XX miles. Bone stock.

Car makes a horrrific rattling noise- NOT coming from the engine compartment. Not audible outside of the car, at least with the top up. Seems to be coming from the center of the car, a lot of times it sounds like it's coming from behind the radio. Other times it seems to be coming from the entire transmission tunnel.

Noise is not RPM dependent, as in it doesn't get louder or faster with engine speed.

However, when the engine idles low (i.e. after pushing the clutch in at a stop light with the A/C on or after first starting) the noise is accompanied by vibration that I can feel through the brake pedal.

Also, sometimes I can move the shifter slightly to one side and the noise changes or goes away.

Otherwise, the car performs normally. Sometimes it doesn't make any noise at all. I haven't noticed that the car is slower, and the transmission otherswise seems fine. It might feel a little loose, possibly, but it could be my imagination.

Yeah, yeah, I know, it's impossible to diagnose this stuff over the internet. Just wondering if it sounds familiar, I'm gonna take it to the dealer to have it checked out- but it's gonna be 80 degrees and sunny here for the next week and I kinda need my convertible.

 

It's probably just the shift 'linkage' itself. If you push the clutch in and the noise goes away that would be a sure sign that it is not inside the gearbox

 

Nope, this is an S2000, what little linkage there is IS inside the gearbox.

It will take a bit of work to figure out the noise you are describing.. could be transmission, clutch, or it may well be something as simple as an oil cap lodged between the bellhousing and the body.

 

Hmmmm... interesting oil cap theory.

I was recently missing an oil cap- I was checking the oil in both of my cars and forgot to put the oil cap back on the S2000. I replaced it but never found the original. Fortunately, I drove less than a mile before I realized the oil cap was missing. The rattling noise made me check under the hood- when I saw the oil cap missing, I thought I was throwing a rod or something. Fortunately, the oil level was still all good.

Holy crap, if you diagnosed an "oil cap lodged between the bellhousing and the body" over the internet you get the "S2000 ESP Troubleshooting Genuis" award.

I hpe that's it- I'll feel really, really stupid- but- it ain't the first time- and that sounds a lot cheaper than tearing my transmission apart.

 

Just the fact that he said you might have lost your oil cap and the fact that you did just blew me away. I've been in and around car forums for the last 4 or 5 years and have never heard that one. I was going to say check all your mounts, engine and transmission, and make sure no debris has lodged istelf where certain frequencies could cause immense vibrations.

 

[QUOTE=Karl O.,Feb 28 2006, 01:58 PM]Holy crap, if you diagnosed an "oil cap lodged between the bellhousing and the body" over the internet you get the "S2000 ESP Troubleshooting Genuis" award.

 

someone else did the same thing....i remember reading about it....they couldnt get it out or something

 

So did the oil cap end up being it?
Always nice to be relieved at such a dumb/simple fix.

 

And???

What was it?

What was it?!?

WHAT WAS IT??

WELL????

Damn.. I can't wait.

 

Sorry dude- been in court for most of two days, haven't had a chance to go by the dealer.

If there's a way for me to check for the oil cap without a lift, I'll cut out of the office a little early today and give it a shot.


This has the potential to be really, really funny.