Hey ladies and gents, this weekend im doing some maintenance on the s2000. Since ive got 73k on mine already and not knowing from the previous owner if the valves have ever been adjusted I would like to adjust them this weekend while I can let the car cool down properly. I did read the FAQs on how to do it but it also states you must have the Helms manual. I do not have that, can anyone help me with this situation??? Also, ive never done a valve adjsutment on a car before but some of you fellow s2k owners have stated that its not that difficult to do... im mechanically inclined so im not scared of doing it, its not that hard is it really?

 

1. Get the Helm manual
2. Buy some angled feeler guages and a valve cover gasket.
3. Offer beer to knowledgeable S2000 enthusiasts to come over to help. Adjusting valves requires some experience to make sure the feeler guage is being used correctly.
4. Adjust valves - give yourself a couple of hours to get it right if you have good help.

 

There isn't any reason for a DIY'er to not have a Helm manual. If you have valve adjustment experience, it isn't a total necessity, but it would be stupid to do your 1st ever adjustment without it.

 

And I don't think a valve cover gasket is needed unless you plan on damaging the one you have. It is a reusable rubber gasket.

 

The valve cover gasket is reuseable up to a point. They get brittle with age.

My suggestion, if you're car is more than 3 years old, is to just replace it, along with the bolt gaskets (just order a valve cover gasket kit, you'll get everything you need). It's a cheap part, and prevents you from having to pull the cover off to replace a leaking gasket down the road.

 

True, but if I had an older S2000 with 70K miles on it, I would definitely want to have a new gasket set on hand, just in case.

 

The best case scenario if you have never done it before would be to have someone come over who has done it (and done it on this car as well) and walk you through it. Not only watch them, but do hands on as well. What you could do is feel the how the feeler gauge feels when a setting is wrong, have them set it to the correct spec, then feel what the feeler gauge feels like when it is at a correct spec, so youll get the actual feel for it yourself.

 

Thanks, ill see if I can find someone