URGENT Help with clutch problems

[pilotb777_300]

Hey guys,

I just got home now after an eventfull drive in the S2k. Not sure where to start really but I got a 99 S2000 with 80K on the clock. Had some problem with the clutch slipping initially after which honda installed a new OEM clutch for me under warrenty. I've done about 1500KM since then and I got more clutch problems ! I just barely made it home. Was getting onto the freeway after a long drive stuck in traffic on hoddle st. As soon as I started accelerating in 3rd gear the clutch started to slip so bad that I thought it wasnt even engaged... I put it in 4th and again more slip ! I eventually got to 6th and managed a conastant speed but as soon as I touch the pedal to accelerate it just slips. Also noticed over the last fwe weeks that the longer I drive in traffic the higher the contact point on the clutch feels. So the pedal keeps moving up and up... to the point where the clutch only engages almost at the top of the pedal travel. As soon as I let the car cool down and drive it again in the morning the clutch contact point is back down to about 3/4 -1/2 way mark then it slowley moves up and up again ! I dont understand whats goin on ? Any ideas ? could be master or slave cylinder ? I havent noticed and fluid leaking from anywhere though... HELP ! I have it booked in for honda to look at but I'm sure once I let it cool off over night and take it tomorrow morning it will eb working fine again ! I cant seem to replicate the conditions in which it starts to slip so badly.... All I can think of so far it happens after LOTS of start stop traffic. Anyone mechanically minded can add to this ?

[ludecrs]

Common problem.

Cyclinder needs replacing.

[Age_S2000]

the master cylinders on them tend to leak abit i knw mine is sweating abit do the slave cylinders play up at all??

[lzybum]

which cyclinder needs replacing do u think?
master or slave or both?

[pilotb777_300]

Also, let me stress that I checked the clutch fluid and its at max level. Could it still be the cyclinder ??

[vyets]

Dosent sound like the typical leaking cyclinder. Sounds to me like something went wrong with the installation. After you installed the clutch did you baby the car or did you rip it up straight away?

[pilotb777_300]

Dosent sound like the typical leaking cyclinder. Sounds to me like something went wrong with the installation. After you installed the clutch did you baby the car or did you rip it up straight away?


I'ev never given the car a hard time form the day I got it. I had this same problem to begin with the first time round and honda thought the clutch was gone so they put a new clutch in there. Funny though when they took out the old clutch they found that it was far from worn and looked in good condition. so they put the slipping down to hot spots found on the old pressure plate. This was about 3 month ago and the car was fine since so I assumed that had fixed the problem. Seem like something esle is at fault here and I dont know how the hell they;re gonna diagnose this one ! its got me stumped

[JAP-S2K]

Man that's a difficult one. You can automatically cancel out the cause of a leaking slave or master cylinder, as neither will make the clutch slip under progressive heat, if anything it would have a negative effect and you wouldn't be able to select gears..... however leaking master cylinder's are common as mentioned. The cause of it getting worse under heat, would leave my to believe either the piston inside the slave cylinder is binding thus getting stuck, or fork around the release bearing wasn't installed properly and it binding and not releasing correctly, both these problems would cause premature wear and shorten the life of your clutch massively. If your claiming Honda only recently changed the clutch, did they also change your slave? if so with an oem part? Also do you know if the flywheel was changed last time?

[pilotb777_300]

well last time they did the clutch they said they changed the whole thing including the release bearing and machined the flywheel. I dont think they touched the master or slave cylinder... having said that the clutch pedal does start to feel a bit sticky like its creaking on the way up when it starts to heat up after a few stop and starts in traffic... never thought much of it though. Could this be the problem ? I also have to say that when the whole thing is working properly its REALLY working. I can never get it to slip even under very high load... but when it starts slipping it slips like the damn thing isnt even engaged... so I could be in 6th gear at 100KM/h doin 3500RPM then I put my foot down slightly to accelerate.. and straight away the revs go up but the car goes no where.. Its very strange. I also have to say that this has only happened once to me so far since the clutch was changed and once b4 the clutch change, and I have driven in traffic heaps before with no probs. So I dont know what was different about today. I took the car for a spin a few mins ago again, about 5 hours after I had the problem and its working perfectly fine again but till with a very high contact point... I'm very confused right about now ! not sure how I can prove all this to honda really

[JAP-S2K]

The fact it's heat related........ my guess is the slave cylinder.

Proving it to Honda will be difficult, especially if it is a part they didn't replace. Hope your clutch ain't screwed though.

[pilotb777_300]

ok Just got off the phone with honda... as expected the answer is as follows;

Car was test driven and found to drive great. Technitian simulated start stop driving for 30 mins and found no problems with slipping clutch. They also inspected both the slave and master and found them to be in good working order with no fluid leaks. They said the clutch may have slipped that day cause it just got too hot in traffic and this sometimes happens.

So am back to square one. Why did my clutch really slip and why is my clutch pedal getting higher and higher the longer I drive the car !

[JAP-S2K]

Wankers!

[pilotb777_300]

I might sit down on the weekend and draw a schematic of the clutch hydraulic system and give this some thought myself. I'll also drive it for a bit longer and work out how often it does this an under what conditions and then I might take it to CRS automotive and see what they have to say about it. The only thing that worries about all this is I may be doing damage to my new clutch !

[JAP-S2K]

Sad to say it...... but more than likely, if it glazes up or forms hot spots on the flywheel and/or pressure plate, you could be up for another clutch kit.

[pilotb777_300]

well funny thing with that is, the old clutch that came out the first time round had plenty of thickness on it but had a few hot spots... I'm thinking maybe this same problem caused it. Having said that though, when the whole thing is working it doesnt slip AT ALL. So I dont think any damage would be occuring 90% of the time. It would be the day when it starts to slip for whatever reason that it could cause damage. Also this slipping thing has only ever happened the one time since the clutch was replaced. Thats once in about 3 month of driving. so maybe it was just a one off thing... I dont know. Could it be just heat in the clutch ?

[JAP-S2K]

I seriously doubt it, unless your riding the clutch like a $2 hooker..LOL. Seriously though, i'm sure most can vouch for this too, the factory clutches are a little weak, but if they can hold up at tracks days, then stop starting in traffic shouldn't be to much of an issue. Generally you know when a factory clutch is starting to show signs of punishment and under heaps of heat, as they start to loose there bite between gear changes. But i'm yet to experience one actually slip. Have you searched this issue on S2Ki, good chance someone on there may have experienced same/similar problem.

[pilotb777_300]

hmmmm where do I find these $2 hookers ??? lol

[pilotb777_300]

ohh and have searched on S2K and even have a post up there now. No luck so far ! ohh well I'll keep driving and post back here the next time it does this and under what conditions it did do it