2000 HONDA S2000 radiator cap

Adding Engine Coolant
If the coolant level in the reserve
tank is at or below the MIN line, add
coolant to bring it up to the
MAX line.
Inspect the cooling system for leaks.
This coolant should always be a
mixture of
50 percent antifreeze and
50 percent water. Never add straight
antifreeze
or plain water. Always
use Genuine Honda
Antifreeze/Coolant.
If it is not
available, you may use another
major-brand non-silicate coolant as a
temporary replacement. Make sure it
is a high-quality coolant
recommended for aluminum engines.
However, continued use of any non­
Honda coolant can result in
corrosion, causing the cooling
system to malfunction or fail. Have
the cooling system flushed and
refilled with Honda antifreeze/
coolant as soon as possible.
Cooling System
If the reserve tank is completely
empty, you should also check the
coolant level
in the radiator.
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the
coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator
cool down before
removing the radiator cap.
1. Make sure the engine and radiator
are cool.
CONTINUED
Maintenance 161

Cooling System
2. Turn the radiator cap counter­
clockwise, without pressing down
on it, until it stops.
This relieves
any pressure remaining in the
cooling system.
3. Remove the radiator cap by
pushing down and turning
counterclockwise.
162 Maintenance
4. The coolant level should be up to
the base of the filler neck. Add
coolant
if it is low.
5. Put the radiator cap back on.
Tighten it fully.
6. Pour coolant into the reserve tank.
Fill it to halfway between the
MAX
and MIN marks. Put the cap back
on the reserve tank.
Do not add any rust inhibitors or
other additives to your vehicle's
cooling system.
They may not be
compatible with
the coolant or
engine components.

Replacing Engine Coolant
The cooling system should be
completely drained and refilled with
new coolant according to
the time
and distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule. Only use
Genuine Honda Antifreeze/Coolant.
Draining the coolant requires access
to
the underside of the vehicle.
Unless you have the tools and
knowledge, you should have this
maintenance done by a skilled
mechanic.
1. Turn the ignition ON (II). Turn
the heater temperature control
dial fully clockwise.
Turn the
ignition off.
2. Open the hood. Make sure the
engine and radiator are cool to the
touch.
3. Remove the radiator cap.
Cooling System
4. Loosen the drain plug on the
bottom of the radiator. The
coolant will drain through the
splash guard. Remove the drain
bolt and washer from the engine
block.
CONTINUED
Maintenance 163

Cooling System
5. Remove the reserve tank from its
holder by pulling it straight
up.
Drain the coolant, then put the
tank back
in its holder.
164
Maintenance
6. When the coolant stops draining,
tighten the drain plug at
the
bottom of the radiator.
Apply non-hardening sealant to the
drain bolt threads, put a new
washer on the drain bolt, and
reinstall
the bolt in the engine
block. Tighten it securely.
Tightening torque:
61 lbf.ft (83 N·m I 8.5 kgf·m)
7. Mix the recommended antifreeze
with an equal amount of purified
or distilled water
in a clean
container.
The cooling system
capacity
is:
1.72 US gal (6.5 Q I 1.43 Imp gal)
8. Loosen the bleeder bolt on top of
the engine, and remove
the
bleeder cap near the engine oil fill
cap. Pour coolant into the radiator
up to the base of
the filler neck.
Tighten the bleeder bolt and
reinstall the bleeder cap when
coolant comes out in a steady
stream with no bubbles.

9. Start the engine and let it run for
about
30 seconds. Then turn off
the engine.
lO.Pour coolant into the radiator up
to the base of the filler neck.
Cooling System
ll.Fill the reserve tank to the MAX
mark. Install the reserve tank cap.
12.Install the radiator cap, and
tighten it to
the first stop.
13.Start the engine and let it run until
the radiator fan comes on two
times.
Then stop the engine.
CONTINUED
Maintenance 165

Cooling System
14.Remove the radiator cap.
15.Pour coolant into the radiator up
to the base of the filler neck and
into the reserve tank up to the
MAX mark.
16.Start
the engine and hold it at
1,500 rpm until the radiator fan
comes on.
Turn off the engine.
Check the coolant level in the
radiator and add coolant
if needed.
17.Install the radiator cap, and
tighten it fully.
18.If necessary, fill the reserve tank
to the
MAX mark. Install the
reserve tank cap.
166
Maintenance

Air Conditioning System
Your car's air conditioning is a sealed
system. Any major maintenance,
such as recharging, should
be done
by a qualified mechanic. You can do
a couple of things to
make sure the
air conditioning works efficiently.
Periodically
check the engine's
radiator and air conditioning
condenser for leaves, insects, and
dirt
stuck to the front surface. These
block the air flow and reduce cooling
efficiency.
Use a light spray from a
hose or a soft
brush to remove them.
NOTICE
The condenser and radiator fins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure
~pray
or soft-bristle brush to clean them.
182 Maintenance
Run the air conditioning at least once
a
week during the cold weather
months. Run it for at least ten
minutes while you are driving at a
steady speed with
the engine at
normal operating temperature. This
circulates the lubricating oil con­
tained in
the refrigerant.
If the air conditioning does not get as
cold
as before, have your dealer
check the system. Recharge the
system with Refrigerant HFC-134a
(R-134a). (See Specifications on page
245.)
NOTICE
Whenever you have the air conditioning
system serviced, make sure the service
facility uses a refrigerant recycling
system. This system captures the
refrigerant
for reuse. Releasing
refrigerant into the atmosphere can
damage the environment.

If Your Engine Overheats
6. Look for any obvious coolant leaks,
such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution.
If you find a leak, it
must be repaired before you
continue driving (see
Emergency
Towing on page 238 ) .
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the
coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator
cool down before
removing the radiator cap.
224 Taking Care of the Unexpected
7. If you don't find an obvious leak,
check the coolant level in
the
radiator reserve tank (see page
120 ) . If the level is below the
MIN mark, add coolant to halfway
between the MIN and
MAX marks.
8. If there was no coolant in the
reserve tank, you may also have to
add coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the reading
reaches the middle of the
temperature gauge, or lower,
before checking the radiator.
9. Using gloves or a large heavy
cloth, turn
the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to
the first stop. This
releases any remaining pressure
in
the cooling system. After the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap and turn it until it comes
off.