rear differential drain plug
 

So today was an interesting day. I just purchased a 2002 Honda S2000. Upon purchase three weeks ago I had my local honda dealership replace all the fluids. This is a weekend cruiser for me so I have only logged about 100 miles on my AP1 since the fluid change. This morning I went on a drive and about 30 miles out a heard a grinding sound so I brought it to another Honda dealership where I attend school. Well they discovered that the drain plug for the rear differential was missing. They informed me that I needed a new differential on the car now. I contacted the dealership which performed the initial fluid changes and they assured me that any damages sustained would be corrected at no cost after their technicians go over the vehicle. My question is what other problems might arise because of this dilemma and whether other components might have been adversely affected from this misfortune. Thanks.

other than differential damage , nothing else.

I will be SHOCKED if this dealership owns up to their neglect. It will be business as usual if they try to twist it around and blame you.

In a way, it was probably good this happened. They probably also used the wrong diff fluid, so the diff was going to die soon anyway. Then it would have been a lot more difficult to prove dealership was to blame.

Hopefully this also teaches you not to ever take this car to a dealership again. They don't know this car, don't know how to service it. Yet they act like they can do no wrong.

Arrogance and ignorance is a terrible combination.

Always try to go to a dealership where a tech owns/owned one or at the very least knows the car and has worked on them before. If I can't do a job myself, the only person I would let put their hands on my car is Billman250 or the tech that works at my dealership who also owns one.

I agree. But, this particular problem had nothing to do with lack of experience working on an S2k.

If that first dealer agrees to replace the diff your next question should be whether there is a tech working there who has replaced an s2k diff before.

this could happen everywhere. every worker makes mistakes from time to time.
people today work with one hand wrenching, the other hand texting with the smartphone. my boss lately found very german words and way to adress this...

nothing else but the differential is damaged on your car. get it replaced at the shop and you are fine.

Negligence will happen. I'm curious when/where the drain plug fell out and how long the differential lasted. Puddle of oil where you last parked the car?

And folks wonder why there are washers and torque specs for drains and other bolts. "Trust me, I can tell when they're tight enough..."

FYI Honda does have a proper, Honda-branded GL-5 hypoid gear oil for the S2000. But it's different from what's used in the Civics, etc. Part number is 08200-9014 Fluid HGO-1.

The correct oil is SAE90 GL-5 hypoid gear oil. The Honda oil is thinner. GL-5 but not SAE90. See next notes.

-- Chuck

Chuck I don't think that oil should be used in the S2000, it might work for light use but 75W-80 is really way to thin.
In Europe we have HGO-3 with part number 08294-P99-01HE, this is a SAE90 (like the manual suggests) GL-5 specifically made for the S2000 diff.

Thanks for the correction! I thought Honda fixed this. The spec is indeed SAE90 GL-5 Hypoid Gear Oil. Honda claims the HGO-1 is suitable but it's not SAW90 and I don't see a North American source for the Honda branded HGO-3.

-- Chuck

These guys poured fluid into your differential without making sure the drain plug was tight? I'd check every other drain plug and other things this dealer "fixed." Wow! :feint: