S2000 gearbox replacement

flinco

flinco

flinco

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22 Jan 2005
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Australia
Hi,

Having owned my S2000 for 5 days, I have managed to ruin the gearbox.

Conducting acceleration testing, I went to engage 5th gear whilst running at high RPM in 4th and somehow released the clutch just before the stick was fully into 5th.

I can't remember the exact noise that accompanied this apart from the sound of a large bit and smaller bits of metal either dropping off the car or falling inside the gearbox. As soon as clocked on to something having gone amiss I dipped the clutch, coasted for a while in horror and then successfully reengaged 5th.

Whilst I was thinking "Oh £$£$", the gearbox appeared to have no change in operation. Believing I had got lucky with no sudden breakdown and hoping it was just a shortened gearbox life I had caused, I soon arrived on slower roads. With the accompanying reduction in noise I soon heard a fairly quiet whining noise coming from the transmission tunnel. This sound increases in intensity with RPM and does not appear whilst blipping the throttle in neutral.

I have yet to have had the car seen by anyone or put on a ramp, but think the gearbox is most likely toast. Looks like used gearboxes cost around £350.

My current plan of action is to take it a Honda dealer locally to see what they reckon when its put on the ramps. I think a likely outcome is I will buy a used gearbox, new clutch and depending on labour rates, have Honda put them both in or go to a specialist. It is my understanding that the transmission has to be pretty much taken out of the car to replace the clutch. It seems 6 hours labour is the usual.

Anyone here with expeirence replacing S2000 clutches and/or gearboxes?
 
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Hopefully not. It will still be quite expensive due to the amount of time it takes to get the gearbox out.

The main issue is the unknown condition of gearbox that can be bought. The option of rebuilding is always there. Maybe someone here has had the gearbox go on of these fine cars.
 
That's what I mean though, with it being RWD it shouldn't take too long to drop the gearbox surely?

The mechanic that works for my GF's dad can do a Mondeo gearbox in 6 hours and that's obviously front wheel drive & a lot more messing around.

(edit: just did a google, looks like a fun job! Not so simple lol.)
 
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I think you're worrying over nothing. The S2000 gearbox is fairly robust but can be a bit noisy in it's operation, especially when cold. Mine has a very slight whine too and always has.
I'd start with a fluid flush and re-fill. How many miles has it done?
 
It's done 100k miles. I think I probably should be worrying. The whine is quite noticable especially with revs above 5k and sounds like it will blow up if I went into vtec. The clear sound of debris coming loose also does not put my mind at rest.

I will have the garage drop the gearbox fluid and see how much metal is floating around in it.
 
If debris had come loose, from a gear, synchro or shaft, I think you'd know about it.

Also, dropping the oil won't tell a full story as I'd imagine there will be a magnet inside the box which will metal pieces.

As above, given the box seems to operating fine other than a whine, I'd change the fluid first before calling the box fubar'd.

Also, If box has gone, I'd get yours rebuilt rather than buying a 2nd hand box.
 
You'll have done more damage to the engine. I can't really see how you will have damaged the clutch or gearbox. The gearbox and diff are whiny and the release bearing will make noise.
 
I think engine damage is unlikely - I definitely got the stick into the 5th and 6th side of the box. I did not go into 3rd.

Though I suppose its possible the engine may not have enjoyed meeting the resistance of the gearbox in between the gears.

The whining noise is not the same as the faint whining noise it made at low rpm in 1st and 2nd prior to this incident. The noise is coming from the area by my left arm.

If if I put in neutral and give it a few revs the engine does not sound any different and there is no whine from the gearbox area.
 
High RPM in 4th? Is that something you want to be admitting on a public forum ? ;)

It was on a track of course wasn't it?


So you crunched a gear, big deal. I wouldn't immediately assume you have broken anything. I am sure everyone has crunched a gear change or two in their time.
 
Yes, it was on a track.

Crunching a gear, yeah, just that would not be so bad. Its when you hear metal breaking at the same time that you worry.

The noise it makes above 5k rpm suggests something bad will happen if i keep pushing. How can you enjoy an S2000 like that? I've crunched gears before but never at 8k rpm.
 
Maybe you should focus on learning to change gear rather than worrying about a noise :D

It's likely you hit the rev limiter
 
I shall do once it has been fixed. A stupid mistake on my part but at least I didn't put it in 3rd and kill the engine.

I think the clutch doesn't have much life left it in anyway. Assuming the used gearbox I get has not had too hard a life, the £300 extra for it is not too bad when combined with the clutch change.

I just want that lovely induction sound back in my life. AEM intake. Hopefully the next mistake is not hydro locking the engine
 
You wouldn't hear anything 'drop' in the box.

Maybe you have done something to the spring in the gear knob. Or broke a mount ? Changing the gearbox seems a bit extreme.

It's pretty hard to diagnose on the net
 
The whining can be heard further back from the gear stick, in the big working bit. There was the sound of metal and possibly liquid 'dropping'. Would a bad mount or spring cause loud whining as RPM's increase?

I don't know. I will see what the Honda garage think tomorrow. It's probably a hard thing to diagnose in any case.
 
does the car still drive and go into gear?

if so, leave it.

Maybe do a fluid change as I mentioned but other than that, just drive it and monitor it.

I think you are worrying about nothing here.
 
flinco said:
My current plan of action is to take it a Honda dealer locally to see what they reckon when its put on the ramps.
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It's at least a 6 year old car with 100k miles, just take it a decent independent garage. If you worried get them to change the fluid as previously mentioned - If there is anything that may suggest damage (e.g. lots of metal swarf etc), then will be the time to start worrying about it.

flinco said:
I just want that lovely induction sound back in my life. AEM intake. Hopefully the next mistake is not hydro locking the engine
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Do you regularly drive through rivers or lakes? If not then I'm not sure why this would even cross your mind.

flinco said:
Having owned my S2000 for 5 days
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rjk said:
I think you are worrying about nothing here.
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You have owned it for 5 days, potentially it could have any number of rattles or noises - I would agree with RJK that you are worrying about nothing.
 
The S2000 is not a refined car by any stretch of the imagination. It whines, creaks, rattles, bangs, vibrates, and generally makes a lot of noise. This is part of it's appeal because it's so raw.
Change the fluids and enjoy the drive.
 
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