acn684

Hey guys, just got a s2000 from a prior owner. 2004 with 20K miles - pretty much clean. Prior owner had locitited an aftermarket gear knob which i removed by heating with a hairdrying and had to use some ample force with wrench to get the aftermarket bolt off.

With that said - I noticed that the shifting is a bit notchy at times.

Symptoms:
Cold-Engine Off w/ or w/o clutch depressed: gears seem to be clunky depending on which gear engaged last (feels like a slight bite before it fully drops in gear). However, if i shift into 3rd I can reset at 1st gear and row through gears in order most of the time clunk free. I would get 1-2-3 extremely smooth.
Driving: When driving, 1st is usually smooth to engage with 2 being 'clunky'; 3rd is randomly clunky and sometimes drops in completely smooth; 4th the same; 5th is a bit notchy and 6th is ocassionally notchy. All in all i've had smooth shifts into gear and i've had shifts where it feels like i need to wait for the gear to get caught or I can push it through the "wall"

As a new owner: a) is this normal? b) i'm planning to change out the diff and the trans fluid, and lube up the shift lever c) might it be due to trying to yank out that shift knob? I didn't know it was glued in and i put some force into it. Can a damaged shift level be the cause of this?

Any other thoughts?

dwight

a)IDK
b)Always a good idea to change those fluids periodically. There are some good DIYs for them.
https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/565.../page__hl__mtf
https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/348...-fluid-change/
c)How was it before you changed the gear knob?

lltysonll

I always get clunky shifts when car is COLD, I always warm up the engine now and no more clunks.

Since, your a new owner I would change the (engine, transmission, diff, and clutch fluids).

I use Amsoil for all my fluids. I prefer it over Honda MTF.

clio

+ 1 ensure fluids clean, also check your master and slave clutch cylinders to ensure they're in good condition

nofearofdanger

Redoing the clutch fluid removed a lot of the clunkiness for me. I've heard that a weighted shiftknob also helps. Best of luck!

mister x

You may want to pull your shifter out and make sure nothing got tweaked from wrenching off the knob. At the same time, grease it up with Honda High Temp Urea grease.

B0neSt0ck

same deal when I got mine.2005 with 22k on it.Change the fluid,that helps alot.You might have to adjust your clutch free play. On mine I did a fluid change and eliminated the clutch free play and it made quite a bit of difference.Its not absolutely perfect,but alot better.

meccjoo

change your trans and clutch fluid and grease your shifter.

acn684

Thanks guys, i was going to do these:

1. Trans Fluid Change (Honda MTF)
2. Diff Fluid Change (Mobil 75w90)
3. Motor Fluid Change (RP 10W30)
4. Clutch Fluid Change (Honda DOT3?)
5. Check and Re grease Shifter
6. Check Clutch Master and Slave Cylinder for leaks.

Prior to the knob change, i think the clunkiness was there but I'm not sure. I'm confused because sometimes it would go into gear silky smooth and sometimes I have to push it past the bite, more often i have to push it past the bite. I just don't want to be messing anything up.

Billman250

If you shift at low RPM, cluck is very very common.

Bring the RPMs up to 4500 or so before shifting. This is the normal operating speed for the engine, and transmission.