What is making my 2001 Honda S2000 hesitate, especially before it’s warmed up, but even balking some after it’s warm? It started out happening only at full throttle, on occasion, but has progressed to happening every time I drive it (2-3 times per week). It has 60k miles, no tuneup ever, and has run flawlessly for years. Thanks - Gary from Seattle
No “tuneup” ever? Well, since there is no standard definition of what constitutes a tuneup, and since you have not told us of any specific maintenance, I am going to have to assume that the only servicing that this car has had is oil changes. If I am incorrect, please feel free to fill in the missing details.
Anyway–if I were you, I would begin by reading the Honda Maintenance Schedule that came with the car in order to see what services were required for 30k and for 60k and to have those services performed. More than likely, one of those services is the replacement of the fuel filter, which is what I suspect may be causing the problem. But, rather than “cherry picking” one item, you need to have ALL of the specified services performed.
However, bear in mind that most service procedures have an elapsed time value and an odometer mileage value, with a proviso of “whichever comes first”( X miles or X months, whichever comes first). So, in the case of your 2001 car with only 60k on the odometer, you actually need to identify services that needed to be performed at intervals like 30 months, 60 months, 90 months, etc, and have them done in their entirety.
If you bring the car up to date with maintenance, the hesitation and any other driveability problems should be resolved. If not, at least the diagnostic procedures at that point will be easier and less time-consuming than if you continue to ignore vital services.
First, agree with post above.
Next, there is a sensor(s) that determine the engine is cold and the car’s computer reads them and makes the fuel mixture “richer” until the car warms up. Something maybe amiss in that system.
No tuneup ever doesn’t mean that the car wasn’t serviced - it was. Why bother giving advice if you’re just trying to sell 30k and 60k service visits at the dealership…
Your original post looks a lot like others from people who neglect their cars and then wonder why they have a problem. VDCdrives was suggesting that the regular maintenance is necessary to keep the vehicle in working order, not to sell you to dealer visits and all that that entails. If you had never had the transmission fluid replaced, or one of the many other items that people neglect to do, then we would like to find that out right away.
There is an old saying that tell us, "Never assume, because when you assume, you make an ass out of u and me.
While you have assumed that I was directing you to go to a dealership, a careful re-reading of my advice should reveal that I never mentioned where to go for these services. I was advising you to bring the car’s maintenance up to date, and for this you can go to any competent mechanic of your own choosing.
I stand by my recommendation that you bring the car up to date with maintenance, in terms of both odometer mileage and in terms of elapsed time before attempting to zero in on any one source of the problem. If you wish to take my advice, that is fine, and if you choose to ignore my advice, that is fine also. And, if you feel that you are more knowledgeable than I am in regard to car maintenance, then I invite you to give us all some fact-based advice on that topic.