Just a few questions from a new owner.

1.] I just bought a brand new 05 S2K and there is a slight clunking sound, sometimes, from the back of the car when I put it in first gear [ clutch fully depressed ].

2.] The hood [ front edge ] does not line up fully with the front bumper. It is not very bad, but there is definitely a variation of spacing from one end to the other. Is this normal for an S2000 ?

3.] The car smells like crap every time I come to a stop after driving it. I do not drive it hard because I still have under 200 miles on it. I think that the smell is from the engine compartment.

Other than that I love this car more than any other vehicle I have owned. Other cars seem so boring after driving this one.

Thank you in advance for your comments.

 

#1- Yes, the clunk is normal. If you delay your 1st gear engagement after depressing the clutch, it will go away. Nothing to worry about.

#2- I'm not a body guy. Sorry

#3- That sounds like the catalytic converter breaking it (that's not the right term for it). Its burning off stuff/residue from the manufacturing process, the smell should go away after a few hundred miles.

 

^^^ Ditto....Maybe the dealer can adjust your hood slightly so it fits better.

Congrats on your purchase.

 

The rear "clunking" sound that your hearing is normal but should be avoided at all costs. When the clutch is fully depressed the transmission is still spinning. By placing the vehicle to fast into gear, the diff. ends up taking the slack, thats the "clunking" sound! You can stop that from happening by delaying your gear engagment by waiting a few seconds before placing the vehicle in 1st gear. Somethings on the S2000 will have to be aquired from a unique driving style, so get used to it. The smell unfortunatly is due to break-in! Get used to that for a couple of miles as well! Other wise congratulations on your purchase, you will love it even more in time.

 

hehe another classic S2000 owner being as overzealous to protect the car and anal as hell, wanting it to be just right. god bless ya and welcome.

 

I felt the same exact way... with both of my S2000's. You'd think I would learn by now!

But this time around, on my '04, my catalytic converter still stinks after 5k miles! I guess I need to beat on it more...

 

Thanks a bunch guys. But what about the front of your hood and the top of your bumper. Do they line up perfectly ? Or is there a slight variation between the left side and the right. The rubber insulation strip under the hood seems to jut out a little more on one side.

 

At 200 miles, you could have sealant or some kind of residue on the rotors, gasket sealer is still being burned off, residue on the engine being burned off and under body sealant over spray on exhaust and engine being burned off as well. When my S was new (less than 300 miles) oil residue came out the tailpipes due to rings not yet being seated.

When you reach 500-600 miles, all this stuff should be burned off and the rings should be close to being seated.

 

ahh i remember when i had those questions...yeah it did smell REALLY bad.

 

This is something you can just bring back to the dealer! They can adjust the hood but I also think that it might not be as off as you think! I glanced at mine this past evening and noticed a slight mis-alignment with the nose of the front bumper as well. See what the dealer states but Im sure its just the way the hood sits!