with your statement.

It does not cost 5.5k per diff either.

d

 

Sideways by the sounds of it

Ash

 

Spot on then.

 

@Bassoctopus - that's my theory too. (Wrong oil.) The correct oil is GL5 Hypoid. (A motorbike oil, I believe). I suspect some dealers are using Honda's own dual pump fluid, meant for the CRV, which grinds the diff gears, getting metal fragments into the oil and causing it to self destruct. It seems to be a plausable theory based on info from people on this board and the US board last time it went. Having said that, if it was the dealers using the wrong oil, I would have thought there would be more similar cases. I'm not very knowledgable about car mechanics, but I can't think what else could make a diff keep on breaking, when the entire unit has been replaced each time.

I already have HUK involved - infact, I went straight to them rather than the dealer. They are dealing directly with the dealer who put the last one in. So far HUK have been pretty good - they basically said don't worry about it, whatever it costs, they'll pay. Once it's sorted I'll be pressing them for some kind of compensation (at the very least I think I should get an extra year's free warranty for peace of mind).

Cost - don't know why I had 5.5K in my head - I just looked up the info from last time - total cost for inspection, new part and fitting was just under 4 grand. Still pretty steep, but at least it's not my money.

Symptoms, by the way, as Pie'n'chips said are noise and vibration when accelerating and turning at the same time (especially at low speeds - when I guess the turning angle is tighter), and the back end getting unbalanced when accelerating through a turn at higher speeds.

And no, it's not the way I drive the car!! I'm pretty restrained!

 

Found the reason then

My diff developed a problem shortly after the dealer did an oil change . Ended up being repaired (if you can find a garage that knows what they're doing, the diff can be repaired not replaced at a considerable cost saving) as it was out of warranty and had a pretty spivvy oil put in - can't remember what kind of Castrol it was, other than expensive - no probs since, though.

 

Interesting - another point to the 'wrong oil' theory!

 

You could provide them with some decent oil yourself. I've got some Redline to put in mine next service. IIRC diff oil will only set you back a tenner.

 

Got Redline diff and gearbox oil from last GB (~

 

Two different dealers - first diff broke with the previous owner, so I don't know if an oil change had been done, but it would make sense.

I wouldn't be surprised, though, if there are quite a few dealers using the wrong oil - I have a copy of a Honda memo released by Honda in Canada, warning dealers there as to the correct and incorrect diff oil for the s2000 - so I guess it must be a common mistake.

 

I provided my dealer with diff oil as well to be on the safe side .

Gave them Texaco Geartex LS 85W-90 (an API GL-5 extreme pressure-rated oil for use in limited slip differentials - datasheet available via here) which you can pick up in their petrol stations or try Morrison supermarkets which sometimes stock Havoline and Geartex cheap.

Dealer ended up using just over 2 bottles of the stuff. It has done 4.5K in the diff with no complaint so far.