Thread: Calling AP1 S2000 owners

I found a much cheaper way to do all the hardware,but I need to talk with you sometime so I can get more actual informantion.

Originally Posted by FLYRYD

its just mainly the rear diff that is weak, its just not a very beefy diff and with abuse like dropping the clutch at high rpm (with wide 245/255 tyres), it is likely to break before anything else in the drivetrain.

the gearbox is pretty strong, the only thing is with the early ones. some are very hard to get into gear, grinds when going to gear, popping out of gear...etc
the reason is not wear and tear either. there are technical updates to fix it. usually you must replace the gear set or counter shaft, stuff like that. it does get expensive.

Ive met a person with a very low km, early s2000. he must have only had 15,000km on it. the gearbox grinded like mad in 2nd and 3rd. his attitude was "its just wearing in, it'll get smoother with age".... sorta implies that its always been like that from the start.

normally with the grinding gearboxes, its very bad when cold. but when the trans warms up, there is less or no grind.

last time i priced up a OEM complete hard top kit (hardtop painted to color and everything needed to fit it to the car) was $12,000 retail. and was discontinued. the strikers, side catchers, latches etc cost a lot more than a couple of hundred

---------- Post added at 07:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:42 AM ----------

Phil,I am still working out the total price,one confirmed in coming shipment for sure,once I confirmed the price might have another one confirmed,I will let you know for sure and it's the best chance to order all together since the shipment cost will be lower,I guess you can guess how big will be box!!!hehe

Originally Posted by SoL

the 04 facelift gets carbon synchros in the gearbox which addresses some of the grinding and shifting issues...

even though mine is MY05 model, going from 1st to 2nd was a bit notchy when cold, and i know it's not a wear and tear issue as mine is new and has done that from new. although, in saying that, it's just ticked over 18,000kms and with the 3rd gearbox oil change just done recently, it's all but dissapeared and smooth now...

damn alfred... you tempting me... pm me a price eh...

---------- Post added at 07:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:45 AM ----------

I found that a bit on my car as well,isn't it because the oil need to be change???I want to do it but don't have a chance yet....

Originally Posted by kc.org.nz

yeah the gearbox is alittle clunky? i found that there is like a sweet rpm that allows the shifts to be nice something like 3200~3600rpm for my car or i just use the old single/double clutching going up in order for it to go in nicely when it feels "clunkY" or cold operating temps rather then ramming it in there

hard tops sound nice....! but expensive~
pics sound nice~!
here is mine

---------- Post added at 07:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:46 AM ----------

You know what my car look like anyway.hehehehe

Originally Posted by atmo_monster

mind sharing all your s2k pics?? hehheheeee

yes changing the oil will fix it..... for a very short period of time. lol

i'm happy my trans is pretty smooth, never been notchy, never grind even when cold.


nice pics john, got any more action pics?

yeah got some more pics but u probably have seen it? as i got them off this forum(driftx trackday) haha;
will take some this weekend and will post them up

alfred: mtf change everytime before going to track....haha;and suction bleeding too... i guess mine is not A+ condition like alans...

I want to do the oil change as well,but seen no one I can trust can do it for me.....sigh....my best friendly shop close down at last...LOL mine is alright,not really often,but just want to do it since I know it's better for the car.

Originally Posted by kc.org.nz

yeah got some more pics but u probably have seen it? as i got them off this forum(driftx trackday) haha;
will take some this weekend and will post them up

alfred: mtf change everytime before going to track....haha;and suction bleeding too... i guess mine is not A+ condition like alans...

Hey guys-- just joined so I can reply to this thread... Am a member over on s2ki.com but seems like the NZ thread is pretty dead.

Re: AP1 problems

None to speak of if it's been treated well... Ideally you want 2002 or newer as the 1999/2000 didn't come with a wind deflector and in 2002 they switched to glass window soft top which is nice.

As far as grenading the diff goes, supposedly it's actually better for it to launch in the higher revs and break the tyres loose as opposed to loading up the diff. I had 150,000kms on my AP1 in the states, supercharged for about 50,000kms of that, and never had any issues with the diff, trans or stock clutch. Second gear seems to be the most common to grind when it's cold and you could try a different trans fluid, should go away when it warms up.

The top is definitely the weakest link, but can be replaced at home in a day with pretty basic tools... Not sure what a top will cost you over here, you can get them (new) for $500 US or so in the states.

Another thing to look out for is the driver side door side thigh bolster, which will start to collapse... Had heard you can have an upholstry shop fix it, but never bothered me enough to sort it out.

The standard radio is pretty crap, and if you get an S that was imported from Japan you won't pick up most [radio] stations... I rock a tape adapter and an iPod...

All that aside, with at least 100,000km's between the two AP1's I've had- they've never really let me down. Pretty bomb-proof if you take care of them.

---

Anyhow... Definitely considering the Taupo trackday, will be driving up to Hamilton this weekend to vist some family, so if anyone is around on Sunday would be cool to get a little impromptu meet together.

Cheers,
James

2000 Silverstone (JDM)
2001 Spa (USDM) -- Sold

hey james, welcome to nzhondas.

yeah, if you are keen on the trackday, please give me a buzz


heres a pic of me at the last taupo trackday, i hardly get a chance to drive like that on the street....

hope to see lots of s2ks at taupo! thanks for sharing your experience James did u ever track the sc s2k? cause my friends sc s2k didnt last very long until it started blowing up here and there on the track but it sure seemed super quick..making over 240kw atw with 4.77 fd from memory.. m3 and gtrs had hard time keeping up with it until over 160km/h....

nice pic alan featured on nzpc i believe
SoL: DC5R Seats? nice...im surprised that they fit in there... is it rubbing on the door trim or has some clearance?

^^ how did you get a passenger on the track with no cage?

Originally Posted by WingIt

^^ how did you get a passenger on the track with no cage?

J tuned track day.

Phil post your s2k, its the hottest s2k in nz.

Originally Posted by WingIt

^^ how did you get a passenger on the track with no cage?

the track keeper allowed us to take passengers as long as they had helmet, overalls, signed the form and the driver didn't drive all stupid.

Originally Posted by FLYRYD

the track keeper allowed us to take passengers as long as they had helmet, overalls, signed the form and the driver didn't drive all stupid.

Ahh right, just wondering as everytime ive been to taupo we wernt allowed passengers unless had a full cage and all that

yeah post pic of your s2k Phil....

more more of nz s2k pics plss.....

the clutch buzz, usually happens when you let go of the accelerator with the car in gear at highish rpm.

if your clutch disc is faulty, the little springs on the clutch disc become loose and rattle.
it doesnt affect performance but it is annoying.



hey phil, did you roll your guards? front and rear?




IMO EP3 seats dont hold you any better than the S2000 seats....
Ive test driven a S2k with bride fixed back bucket seats, its so awesome but getting in and out is like wtf....
its almost impossible. haha

After owning my s2k after 2 weeks I can safely say I love driving the s2k! Though my 99 spec has the clutch buzz issue when you let go off the gas the gbox makes a loud buzzing noise...kinda annoyin at first but you get use to the sound (kinda racey soundin even haha) Also my 2nd gear in the cold is a quite notchy but normally goes away after being fully warmed up.

I met up with Phil aka Sol a few weeks back we had a mini S2k meet at maccas in htown Lol. I bought a litre of that lubrication engineers diff oil off him and once I drained out the oem honda diff oil from honda wgtn and installed this new thicker LE diff oil it quietened down the diff considerably and would recommend it to all s2k owners out there...though it is a bit more pricey than normal diff oil but for the s2k its worth it I think!

so which s2k owners are goin to the taupo jtune trackday in august then?

pic of my s2k attached, need to take some descent pics!

Originally Posted by AL-

pic of my s2k attached, need to take some descent pics!

hurry up, get your car sorted and come taupo!!

phil going to come? accomodation is cheap if u want to stay the night or two