2000 HONDA S2000 Owners Manual

Exterior Care
Aluminum Wheels
Clean your Acura's aluminum alloy
wheels as you
do the rest of the
exterior. Wash them with the same
solution, and rinse them thoroughly.
The wheels have a protective clear­
coat that keeps the aluminum from
corroding and tarnishing.
Using
harsh chemicals, including some
commercial wheel cleaners, or stiff
brushes can damage this clear-coat.
Only use a mild detergent and soft
brush or sponge to clean the wheels.
206 Appearance Care
Paint Touch-up
Your dealer has touch-up paint to
match your car's color.
The color
code is printed on a sticker on the
driver's doorjamb.
Take this code to
your dealer so you are sure to get
the correct color. Inspect
your car frequently for chips
or scratches
in the paint. Repair
them right away to prevent corrosion
of the metal underneath.
Use the
touch-up paint only on small chips
and scratches. More extensive paint
damage should be repaired by a
professional.

Carpeting
Vacuum the carpeting frequently to
remove dirt. Ground-in dirt
will make
the carpet wear out faster.
Periodically shampoo the carpet to
keep it looking new.
Use one of the
foam-type carpet cleaners on the
market. Follow the instructions
that
come with the cleaner, applying it
with a sponge
or soft brush. Keep
the carpeting as dry as possible by
not adding water to the foam.
Fabric
Vacuum dirt and dust out of the
material frequently. For general
cleaning, use a solution of mild soap
and lukewarm water, letting it air dry.
To clean off stubborn spots, use a
commercially-available fabric cleaner.
Test it on a hidden area of the fabric
first, to make sure it does not bleach
or stain the fabric. Follow the
instructions
that come with the
cleaner.
Vinyl
Remove dirt and dust with a vacuum
cleaner. Wipe
the vinyl with a soft
cloth dampened in a solution of mild
soap and water.
Use the same
solution with a soft-bristle
brush on
more difficult spots. You can also use
commercially-available spray
or
foam-type vinyl cleaners.
Leather
Vacuum dirt and dust from the
leather frequently. Pay particular
attention to the pleats and seams.
Clean the leather with a soft cloth
dampened with clear water,
then
buff it with a clean, dry cloth. If
further cleaning is needed, use a
soap specifically for leather, such as
saddle soap. Apply this soap with a
damp, soft cloth. Wipe down and
buff as described above.
Interior Care
Rear Window
Clean the rear window with either
clean water or a mild
detergent/
water solution and a soft, damp cloth.
Never use a brush or dry cloth, and
do not use any harsh chemicals or
abrasive cleaners. You
will damage
the window.
Polish the rear window periodically
with a
commerCially available plastic
polish made especially for
convertible rear windows.
Seat Belts
If your seat belts get dirty, you can
use a soft brush with a mixture of
mild soap and warm water to clean
them. Do not use bleach, dye,
or
cleaning solvents. They can weaken
the belt material. Let the belts air­
dry before you use
the car.
Appearance Care 207

Interior Care, Corrosion Protection
Windows
Clean the windows, inside and out,
with a commercially-available glass
cleaner. You can also use a mixture
of one part white vinegar to ten parts
water.
This will remove the haze that
builds up on the inside of the
windows.
Use a soft cloth or paper
towels to clean all glass and clear
plastic surfaces.
208 Appearance Care
Air Fresheners
If you want to use an air freshener I
deodorizer in the interior of your car,
it is best to use a solid type.
Some
liquid air fresheners contain chemi­
cals that may cause parts of the
interior trim and fabric to crack or
discolor.
If you use a liquid air freshener,
make sure you fasten it securely so it
does not spill as you drive.
Corrosion Protection
Two factors normally contribute to
causing corrosion
in your car:
1. Moisture trapped in body cavities.
Dirt and road salt
that collects in
hollows on the underside of the
car stays damp, promoting
corrosion
in that area.
2. Removal of paint and protective
coatings from
the exterior and
underside of the car.

Many corrosion-preventive measures
are built into your Honda.
You can
help keep your car from corroding
by performing some simple periodic
maintenance:
• Repair chips and scratches in the
paint as soon as you discover them.
• Inspect and clean out the drain
holes
in the bottom of the doors
and body.
• Check the floor coverings for
dampness. Carpeting and floor
mats may remain damp for a long
time, especially
in winter. This
dampness can eventually cause
the floor panels to corrode.
• Use a high-pressure spray to clean
the underside of your car. This is
especially important
in areas that
use road salt
in winter. It is also a
good idea
in humid climates and
areas subject to salt air. Be careful
of the
ABS wheel sensors and
wiring
at each wheel.
• Have the corrosion-preventive
coatings on the underside of your
car inspected and repaired
periodically.
Corrosion Protection
Appearance Care 209

Body Repairs
Body repairs can affect your car's
resistance to corrosion.
If your car
needs repairs after a collision, pay
close attention to the parts used
in
the repair and the quality of the
work.
Make sure the repair facility uses
Genuine Honda replacement body
parts.
Some companies make sheet
metal pieces that seem to duplicate
the original Honda body parts, but
are actually inferior
in fit, finish, and
corrosion resistance.
Once installed,
they
do not give the same high­
quality appearance.
21 0 Appearance Care
When reporting your collision to the
insurance company, tell them you
want Genuine Honda parts used
in
the repair. Although most insurers
recognize the quality of original
parts, some may try to specify that
the repairs be done with other
available parts. You should investi­
gate this before any repairs have
begun.
Take your car to your authorized
Honda dealer for inspection after the
repairs are completed. Your dealer
can make sure that quality materials
were used, and that corrosion­
preventive coatings were applied to
all repaired and replaced parts.

Taking Care of the Unexpected
This section covers the more­
common problems
that motorists
experience with their vehicles.
It
gives you information about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to
do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also find instructions
on getting your car towed. Compact
Spare Tire .......................
212
Changing a Flat Tire ..................... 213
If Your Engine Won't Start ........... 218
Nothing Happens or the
Starter Motor
Operates
Very
Slowly ......................... 218
The Starter Operates
Normally ................................. 219
Jump Starting ................................. 220
If Your Engine Overheats ............. 223
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .......... 226
Charging System Indicator.. .........
227
Malfunction Indicator Lamp ........ 228
Brake System Indicator ................ 229
Closing the Convertible Top ........ 230
Fuses ............................................... 231
Checking and Replacing ........... 232
If Your Car Gets Stuck. ................. 236
Emergency Towing ....................... 238
Taking Care of the Unexpected 211

Compact Spare Tire
Your car has a compact spare tire
that takes up less space.
Use this
spare tire as a temporary replace­
ment only. Get your regular tire
repaired or replaced and put back on
your car as soon as you can.
Check the inflation pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires.
It should be
inflated
to:
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm2
)
212 Taking Care of the Unexpected
Follow these precautions whenever
you are using the compact spare tire:
• Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
under any circumstances.
• This tire gives a harsher ride and
less traction on some road sur­
faces than the regular tire.
Use
greater caution while driving on
this tire.
• Do not mount snow chains on the
compact spare.
• The wheel of the compact spare
tire is designed especially to fit
your car.
Do not use your spare
tire on another vehicle unless it is
the same make and model.
The compact spare tire has a shorter
tread life than a regular tire. Replace
it when you can see
the tread wear
indicator bars.
The replacement
should be the same size and design
tire, mounted on
the same wheel.
The compact spare tire is not
designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and
the compact wheel is not
designed for mounting a regular tire.

If you have a flat tire while driving,
stop in a safe place to change it.
Stopping in traffic
or on the shoulder
of a busy road is dangerous. Drive
slowly along
the shoulder until you
get to an exit or an area to stop that
is far away from the traffic lanes.
The car can easily roll off the
jack,
seriously injuring anyone
underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire
exactly, and
never get under the car when it
is supported only by the jack.
The compact spare tire is smaller
than a standard tire, which
will affect
the vehicle's handling. Drive
cautiously when this spare is
mounted on your vehicle.
The size difference may also cause
damage to
the rear differential, so do
not mount
the compact spare on the
rear. If either rear tire goes flat,
remove
the front tire on that same
side, mount
the compact spare tire
on
the front, then mount the front
tire on
the rear.
1. Park the car on firm, level, non­
slippery ground away from traffic.
Put the transmission in Reverse.
Apply
the parking brake.
2. Turn on the hazard warning lights
and turn
the ignition switch to
LOCK (O). Have your passenger
get out of the car while you
change
the tire.
Changing a Flat Tire
3. Open the trunk. Lift up the tool
box lid and take
the jack, wheel
wrench and extension out of
the
tool box.
NOTICE
Use the jack that came on your car. If
you try to raise another car by this jack
or use another jack to raise your car,
the car
or jack can be damaged.
CONTINUED
Taking Care of the Unexpected 213