Hey all. I noticed something while taking my S2k out for a drive in between snows. When shifting from 1st to 2nd gear, it would be a bit harder to get into gear and would make a bit of a clunk noise when going into 2nd. It definitely wasn’t grinding, but it definitely was a clunk once it went into 2nd. And this only seemed to happen when going from 1st to 2nd, when I shifted from 3rd to 2nd, it didn’t do this.
It had also been the first time I had driven the car in about a week and a half.

Does anyone have any insight into what this could be? Thank you!

EDIT: to clarify, it’s an ‘07

 

How many miles on the transmission fluid? What brand and viscosity are you using?

 

I’m not sure, I bought it in July and put about 2,800 miles on it. I can ask the previous owner.

 

Does it go away after driving it for a bit?

I have to be gentle with mine till the trans warms up. Until then, it can slightly grind/resist that 1st -> 2nd change.

 

Mine also resists then clunks when it goes into 2nd. I’ll need to check when the salt on the roads washes away. The last time I drove it, it was still doing it while it was warmed up, but I didn’t get above 3rd.

 

A complete fluid refresh will help if you didn't do one when you bought the car. Consensus here is to do a completer fluid replacement when buying a S2000. Low mileage cars have likely not been maintained and several fluids, including the gearbox, need to be changed on a mileage -- or -- time period and a 2007 has probably missed many time based maintenance events.

Gearbox is full of oil (or should be) which is thicker in cold temperatures. Lots of oil will work including Honda MTF. Some caution shifting gears with a cold gearbox may be all that's needed. With this few miles there are questions about just what's in the engine, gearbox, and differential. The engine may still have the factory break-in oil (so things like the rings and cylinders get worn in) that should remain in the engine until the first scheduled service -- which in this case was long ago. I'd use dino oil until you get 7500 miles on the car so the needed wear takes place, send an oil sample for analysis, and see what it looks like.

-- Chuck

 

They said they have put 2800 miles on the car, not that it has 2800 miles on it.

 

I just heard back from the seller. It was changed a little under 3 years and about 6,000 miles ago with AMSoil MSTF 5W-30.


Correct, I have put 2,800 miles on the car since I bought it, it currently has around 66,000 miles.

 

Mine has always done this,an italian tune helps inc 6/7/8k gear changes and then its fine ,new oem mtf & greased shifter with new parts on bottom linkages helped feel,very cheep to do about $15 for lower bushes

 

Ok, I feel better knowing this might be normal.

Also related, is there any way to check the transmission fluid level without getting under the car? The conclusion I’ve come to is that there isn’t, but I want to make sure.