First of all I was recommended to your Forum and so far there seems to be at least a few months of reading here for me. I have traditionally been a Vette and F-Body guy, I have had several of each from a bottle fed 90 Lingenfelter Vette, to a 97 Trans Am ready for road racing. I have also had a bunch of bikes and have been a avid race fan and enthusiast for as long as I can remember.

Anyway, I came over to the Honda stable for a car that I could race without heavily modifying or spending big money. I recently bought a 03 with 39K and I am having some issues finding posts that answer my questions. The clutch has a good bit of chatter similar to the racing clutches I have used in the past. It seems to be holding great, I have no problem grabbing rubber from 2nd to 3rd. The issue is that the pedal either is on or off which is somewhat typical in the Vette

 

That sounds like aftermarket to me A stock clutch would not have the holding power your talking about in a 2nd to 3rd shift, and the chatter your talking about is very very common on an S2k with non OEM clutch parts. I would start by finding out what you have in there and if you can work with it.

The way to go is a Stage 1 style Pressure plate ( ACT, CM....) and an OEM disc, The weak point in the stock assembly is the prssure plate.

I have an ACT PP with OEM dics and ACT light Flywheel, Great holding power and NO chatter!!!!

Hope this helps

 

Possible it's got a aftermarket clutch already. Most will have an increased pedal effort over stock.

Stock pedal effort should be very light, almost easy to push.

I'd go to a dealer and sit in a new one to compare pedal effort. If it's much harder you've either got a aftermarket clutch, or a stock clutch that has been through many heat cycles.

It would also be worth checking to see if the clutch fluid is filthy. Chances are it's nevr been changed.

 

That noise your hearing is usually normal in early ap1's. The transmission buzzes while decelerating from 4 to 3k rpm. Its normal.

And as far as the clutch pedal, its best to just leave the cylinder alone but adjusting the height and regreasing the pushrod isnt a bad idea.

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=568555 That should answer ALMOST every question you might ever have. Enjoy the s2k and welcome

 

03 cars didn't have the buzzy clutch decel noise like 00-01 cars.

Some of the aftermarket clutches ARE just as noisy as 00-01 Original clutches.

 

Well, the pedal pressure is normal, the master cylinder piston rod has been greased and the fluid is very dirty. I have only had the car 2 days so when I get a chance the fluid is getting dumped. I doubt that the fluid is causing the on / off engagement though. If the fluid was the issue the pedal should be spongy and the release point low. I am guessing the fly wheel was turned and shimmed to much in combination with a racing clutch. I am going to get the car in the air an check it out soon.

The car needs rubber, some idiot put on H rated tires, a wet sand and polish and to fix the clutch issue but I only spent 15K. As for the rest of the car it is in excellent shape with no previous wreck history.

I could not get the this link to work
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=568555

 

Most on/off style clutches make a whirring noise when engaging. See if yours does.

I can almost guarantee you have some type of 6puck in there. Not only does it make for a crappy of/on type of clutch, it will give the car a deceleration buzz (decel buzz is directly related to the precision of the disc)

Get a Comptech, toda, or ACT flywheel.
Get an ACT pressure plate, part # H021.
Get an OEM disc and OEM bearings, and it will be the last time you ever pull the tranny

 

Bad guess. It is rare that the flywheel is turned in our car. It is a two step process if they do it right. If they just did the friction surface, the clutch would not be working as an an/off switch. That is clearly the aftermarket clutch, flywheel andpressure plate. Also you don't shim the setup either. We have a pull type clutch.

How do you know the pressure is normal? Based on what, you have only driven this S2000? Like Slows2k said, go drive a new one at the dealer.

 

I have driven several recently, and several in the past which is where I am getting my reference from. I
I think I am going to drive up to the dealer this weedend and see if they have a service record for it anyway. I will check it out then.

Thanks for all the input.

 

to answer your questions, yes sounds like aftermarket clutch...suggestions have been offered for minimizing clutch buzz, like the set-up billman suggested.

flushing your clutch fluid is a must, regardless of symptoms...it gets dirty quickly...no need to wait til it causes leaks as it most surely will in due time.

compression/leakdown are good tests...

always check your oil level.

you should be familiarize yourself with the TCT noises...

change your diff fluid with 90w...but i believe new sae specs has changed this to 110w.

new honda mtf works wonders for the tranny.