2000 HONDA S2000 Owners Manual

6-speed Manual Transmission
Recommended Shift Points
Drive in the highest gear that lets
the engine run and accelerate
smoothly. This
will give you the best
fuel economy and effective emis­
sions control.
The following shift
points are recommended:
Shift
Up Normal Acceleration
1st to 2nd
15 mph (24 km/h)
2nd to 3rd 25 mph (40 km/h)
3rd to 4th 40 mph (64 km/h)
4th to 5th 47 mph (75 km/h)
5th to 6th 52 mph (83 km/h)
134 Driving
Engine Speed Limiter Reverse Lockout
If you exceed the maximum speed
for the gear you are in, the engine
speed will enter into the tachometer's
red zone. If this occurs, you may feel
the engine cut
in and out. This is
caused by a limiter in the engine's
computer controls.
The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
RPM below the red zone.
Before downshifting, make sure the
engine will not go into
the
tachometer's red zone in the lower
gear.
The 6-speed manual transmission
has a lockout so you cannot
accidentally shift from Fifth to
Reverse instead of Sixth.
With the clutch pedal depressed,
move
the shift lever to the Reverse
side of
the Neutral gate, then push
the shift lever down and shift to
Reverse.

Always use the parking brake when
you park your car.
The indicator on
the instrument panel shows that the
parking brake is not fully released; it
does not indicate that the parking
brake is firmly set. Make sure the
parking brake is set firmly or your
car may roll
if it is parked on an
incline. If
the car is facing uphill, turn the
front wheels away from the curb and
put
the transmission in first gear.
If the car is facing downhill, turn the
front wheels toward the curb and put
the transmission
in reverse gear.
Make sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes.
Parking
Parking Tips
• Make sure the convertible top and
the windows are closed.
• Turn off the lights.
• Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the trunk or take them with you.
• Lock the doors with the key or the
remote transmitter.
• Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other flammable
materials.
The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on
fire.
Driving 135

The Braking System
Your Honda is equipped with disc
brakes at
all four wheels. A power
assist helps reduce the effort needed
on the brake pedal.
The ABS helps
you retain steering control when
braking very hard.
Put your foot on the brake pedal only
when you intend to brake. Resting
your foot on the pedal keeps the
brakes applied lightly, causing them
to build up heat. Heat build-up can
reduce how well your brakes work.
It
also keeps your brake lights on all
the time, confusing drivers behind
you.
136 Driving
Constant application of the brakes
when going down a long hill builds
up heat and reduces their effective­
ness.
Use the engine to assist the
brakes by downshifting to a lower
gear and taking your foot off the
accelerator pedal.
Check your brakes after driving
through deep water. Apply the
brakes moderately to see
if they feel
normal.
If not, apply them gently and
frequently until they
do. Since a
longer distance is needed to stop
with wet brakes, be extra cautious
and alert in your driving.
Brake Wear Indicators
All four brakes have audible brake
wear indicators.
When the brake pads need replacing,
you will
hear a distinctive metallic
"screeching" sound when you apply
the brakes.
If you do not have the
brake pads replaced, they will begin
screeching
all the time.
Your brakes may sometimes squeal
or squeak when you apply
them
lightly. Do not confuse this with the
brake wear indicators.
They make a
very audible
"screeching."

Brake System Design
The hydraulic system that operates
the brakes has two separate circuits.
Each circuit works diagonally across
the car (the left-front brake is
connected with the right-rear brake,
etc.).
If one circuit should develop a
problem, you will still have braking
at two wheels.
Anti-lock Brakes
Your car has an Anti-lock Brake
System
(ABS) as standard
equipment. ABS helps to prevent the
wheels from locking up and skidding
during hard braking, allowing you to
retain steering control.
The Braking System
When the front tires skid, you lose
steering control; the car continues
straight ahead even though you turn
the steering wheel.
The ABS helps to
prevent lock-up and helps you retain
steering control by pumping the
brakes rapidly; much faster than a
person can do
it.
CONTINUED
Driving 137

The Braking System
You should never pump the
brake pedal, this defeats the
purpose of the ABS. Let the ABS
work for you by always keeping firm,
steady pressure on the brake pedal
as you
steer away from the hazard.
This is sometimes referred to as
"stomp and steer."
You will feel a pulsation in the brake
pedal when the
ABS activates, and
you may
hear some noise. This is
normal, it is the
ABS rapidly
pumping the brakes.
Activation varies with the amount of
traction your tires have.
On dry
pavement, you will need to press on
the brake pedal very
hard before you
activate the
ABS. However, you may
feel the
ABS activate immediately if
you are trying to stop on snow or ice.
138
Driving
Important Safety Reminders
ABS does not reduce the time or
distance it takes to stop the car, it
only helps with steering control
during braking. You should always
maintain a safe following distance
from other vehicles.
ABS will not prevent a skid that
results from changing direction
abruptly, such as trying to take a
corner too fast or making a sudden
lane change. Always drive at a safe,
prudent speed for the road and
weather conditions.
ABS cannot prevent a loss of
stability. Always steer moderately
when you are braking hard.
Severe
or sharp steering wheel movement
can still cause your car to veer into
oncoming traffic
or off the road.
A car with ABS may require a
longer
distance to stop on loose or
uneven surfaces, such as gravel
or
snow, than a car without anti-lock.
Slow down and allow a greater
distance between cars under those
conditions.

ABS Indicator
The ABS is self-checking. If anything
goes wrong,
the ABS indicator on
the instrument panel comes on (see
page
45 ) . This means the anti-lock
function of the braking system has
shut down. The brakes still work like
a conventional system without anti­
lock, providing normal stopping
ability. You should have the dealer
inspect your car as soon as possible.
The Braking System
Driving 139

Driving in Bad Weather
Rain, fog, and snow conditions re­
quire a different driving technique
because of reduced traction and
visibility. Keep your car well­
maintained and exercise greater
caution when you need to drive in
bad weather.
The cruise control
should not be used in these condi­
tions.
140 Driving
Driving Technique -Always drive
slower than you would
in dry
weather.
It takes your car longer to
react, even
in conditions that may
seem just barely damp. Apply
smooth, even pressure to
all the
controls. Abrupt steering wheel
movements or sudden, hard appli­
cation of the brakes can cause loss of
control in wet weather. Be extra
cautious for the first few miles
(kilometers) of driving while you
adjust to the change in driving
conditions.
This is especially true in
snow. A person can forget some
snow-driving techniques during the
summer months.
Practice is needed
to relearn those skills.
Exercise extra caution when driving
in rain after a long dry spell. After
months of dry weather, the first
rains bring
oil to the surface of the
roadway, making it slippery.
Visibility -Being able to see
clearly in
all directions and being
visible to other drivers are important
in all weather conditions. This is
more difficult
in bad weather. To be
seen more clearly during daylight
hours, turn on your headlights.
Inspect your windshield wipers and
washers frequently. Keep the wind­
shield washer reservoir full of the
proper fluid. Have the windshield
wiper blades replaced
if they start to
streak the windshield or leave parts
unwiped.
Use the defrosters and air
conditioning to keep the windows
from fogging up on
the inside (see
page
91 ).

Traction -Check your tires
frequently for wear and proper
pressure. Both are important
in
preventing "hydroplaning" (loss of
traction on a wet surface). In the
winter, mount snow tires on all four
wheels for the
best handling.
Watch road conditions carefully,
they can change from moment to
moment. Wet leaves can be as
slip­
pery as ice. "Clear" roads can have
patches of ice. Driving conditions
can be very hazardous when the
outside temperature is near freezing.
The road surface can become
covered with areas of water puddles
mixed with areas of ice, so your
traction can change without warning.
Be careful when downshifting. If
traction is low, you can lock up the
drive wheels for a moment and cause
a skid.
Driving in Bad Weather, Towing a Trailer
Be very cautious when passing, or
being passed by other cars.
The
spray from large cars reduces your
visibility, and the wind buffeting can
cause you to lose control.
Towing a Trailer
Your car is not designed to tow a
trailer. Attempting to
do so can void
your warranties.
Driving 141