I brought my 2003 Honda S2000 with only 60,000 miles to - ethantrout22
I brought my 2003 Honda S2000 with only 60,000 miles to Honda of Tomball a few weeks ago for a shifter rebuild, transmission fluid service, and a full diagnostic inspection. I specifically chose a Honda dealership because I believed my car would receive OEM-quality work from experienced technicians.
Since many S2000 parts are discontinued, I personally purchased and supplied a complete OEM shifter rebuild kit that cost me around $200. I was then charged $656.55 in labor alone for the rebuild. Although the final bill ended up being higher than originally quoted, I accepted it because I trusted the dealership and expected quality work.
Shortly after getting the car back, the shifter began feeling worse than before. I eventually brought the car to a trusted mechanic who specializes in Honda S2000s, and what he found was shocking. He told me this was one of the worst attempted shifter rebuilds he had personally seen.
According to the inspection:
* Several OEM replacement parts that I supplied were never installed.
* The original pivot shifting ball was never removed or replaced, causing unnecessary wear and damage.
* The old contaminated grease — filled with dirt and debris from over 20 years of driving — was never cleaned out. Instead, new grease was simply added on top of the old grease.
* The work appeared rushed and incomplete.
On top of that, I specifically requested a diagnostic inspection to identify anything preventing the transmission from operating properly. I was told the “master mechanic” completed the inspection, yet they somehow failed to identify that the car was shifting poorly because the clutch master/slave cylinder was leaking and failing — a very basic issue that any competent inspection should have caught.
Because of the negligence and poor workmanship from this service department, I am now facing over $2,000 in additional repairs to correct problems that should have been properly handled the first time.
I genuinely thought bringing my S2000 to an official Honda dealership was the safest and smartest choice. Instead, I lost time, money, and confidence in the quality of work being performed. I would strongly recommend other S2000 owners and enthusiasts think carefully before trusting this dealership’s service department with their vehicle.
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