CH33TAH

Hey guys. I currently have a 2000 S2000 with around 35k miles on it. I've noticed that the transmission has been acting a little weird. Here are the symptoms.

When I'm pulling up to a light, I'll disengage the clutch, but the shifter sometimes will not want to come out of gear. This can happen in any gear, really, as long as I'm pulling up to a light and still have some speed. Also, when I'm at a light, stopped, and the clutch is engaged, I'll try and hit the clutch and shift into first, but it's difficult. Sometimes I'll shift into second, then first to get it in gear.

I have also noticed that there is a first-second gear grind. I think that's more shifting too fast, but I've done it a few times.

This brings me to the question. I've wanted to rebuild my transmission for a while and I've been looking for transmission parts, specifically a rebuild kit or a performance kit for the transmission, along with a good street/track clutch and flywheel combo. I've also heard a few weird quirks with the S2k that the driveshaft may cause the grind as well. Does anyone have any information on that as well?

Any information is helpful. Thanks guys!

Goldtrom

Have you tried bleeding/flushing the clutch fluid? Old clutch fluid can cause some of the symptoms you described...

-- Rob

Sideways

It's the clutch not the drive shaft. Install the new clutch, clean and lube the tranny splines and flush the hydraulic clutch fluid.

stopmenot2002

Sounds like new clutch is needed.

attack666

I kind of got the same problem, its really hard to put in gear. just replaced my clutch 3 days ago, shifting is still hard

I didnt flush the clutch fluid, gonna do it tomorrow and HOPE i can shift better and pedal becomes lighter.

joes sled 2000

Its clutch related. Try bleeding out the clutch first and verify no leaks.

A51_AP1

Heres the jacked up thing about honda, they do NOT sell individual parts for rebuildling your tranny (trust me I know, I work at a tranny shop, and I have a friend that works at Honda) There are 2 options:

Aftermarket parts to rebuild your tranny: you MUST buy each item that you need individually which is much better b/c you can buy just the parts you need, but it's NOT OEM...Depends on how picky you are.

OEM Honda: you MUST buy the enitre gear set for your 1-2 gear. Your gears come in either 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 and you cannot use AP2 stuff, but the benifit now is that the new AP1 stuff has the carbon synchros. I believe the 1-2 was about $600 special order from Honda. 3-4 is $1200 and 5-6 is $800. Even is you know people at Honda, special order parts are harder to get at a discount.

Try to bleed your clutch fluid all the way out, then replace it. Then, get a tranny shop to open up the tranny to see exactly what is wrong. There are some places that will do this diagnostic for free (like my shop). This will tell you EXACTLY what is wrong. Then you won't risk buying a brand new clutch and having it blow up on you. If this doesn't work for you then you can look into rebuilding your tranny. (on a side note, I have a extra tranny that I'm planning on rebuilding for myself, then rebuilding my other tranny, I may be able to sell you one of my rebuild ones if you like). But thats what I would do. hope that helps.

Billman250

This is very common on AP1s as of now. The clutch gets replaced, but shifting remains difficult. If you don't clean the splines and grease them, the problem will never go away.

The problem could very well be the hydraulics too. I've cured many 2nd gear grinds and sticky shifting by changing the clutch fluid and adjusting the clutch rod under the dash.