MajorCommonEngine

Honda S2000: F22C Timing Chain Tensioner Cold-Start Rattle

F22C Timing Chain Tensioner Cold-Start Rattle is a common engine fault on the Honda S2000 on the 2004–2009 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $500 to $1,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 13 documented faults on the Honda S2000.

Vehicle: Honda S2000
Engine: F22C
Years: 2004–2009
Fuel: petrol
Gearbox: manual
System: Engine

This page covers the Honda S2000 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Honda S2000 faults13 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

What goes wrong

The 2.2L F22C in the AP2 S2000 uses a timing chain with a hydraulic tensioner that loses oil pressure when the engine sits for extended periods. This produces a distinctive rattle or clattering on cold startup for several seconds until oil pressure builds and the tensioner primes. Repeated occurrences can cause chain and guide wear over time if the root cause (worn tensioner or low oil) is not addressed.

What you would notice

Metallic rattling or clattering from top of engine on cold start
Rattle disappears within 3-10 seconds of startup
Noise more pronounced after the car has sat for several days

How to check it

Where to look. Front of engine, timing chain and tensioner assembly

Cold-start the engine from cold (not warmed up beforehand) and listen for timing chain rattle from the front/top of the engine. Time how long the rattle lasts. Check oil level and condition. Ask about oil change frequency.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

What it costs to put right

$500 to $1,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Does the engine rattle at all when first started cold?”
“How often is the oil changed and what weight is used?”
“Has the timing chain or tensioner ever been inspected or replaced?”

Now check the Honda S2000 you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Honda S2000 buyer questions

Is f22c timing chain tensioner cold-start rattle serious on a Honda S2000?

We rate it major and common on the Honda S2000. The 2.2L F22C in the AP2 S2000 uses a timing chain with a hydraulic tensioner that loses oil pressure when the engine sits for extended periods. This produces a distinctive rattle or clattering on cold startup for several seconds until oil pressure builds and the tensioner primes. Repeated occurrences can cause chain and guide wear over time if the root cause (worn tensioner or low oil) is not addressed.

How much does it cost to fix on a Honda S2000?

$500 to $1,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Honda S2000 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2004–2009 Honda S2000. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.