2001 HONDA S2000 tow

S2000 2001 Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com. Contents


Introduction ........................................................................\
............................................................... i
A Few Words About Safety........................................................................\
....................................... ii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
........................................... 2
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
.................................... 5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Control s........................................................................\
........................................ .41
Instrume nt panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
..................... . 85
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................115
What gasoline to use, how to break -in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... .129
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................143
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take you r vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Car e........................................................................\
..................................................... .203
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpecte d........................................................................\
..............................213
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, an d how to handle them.
Technical Informatio n........................................................................\
.............................................243
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................257
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manu als (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................263
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index........................................................................\
........................................................................\
...... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.
Owner's Identification Form

Heatin
g an d Coolin g

Ven t Control s
Yo u ca n adjus t th e directio n o f th e
ai r comin g fro m th e vent s o n bot h
side s o f th e instrumen t pane l an d a t
th e corne r o f th e dashboar d o n th e
passenger' s side . T o adjus t th e ai r
flo w u p an d down , mov e th e ta b in
th e cente r o f eac h ven t u p an d down .
T o adjus t i t lef t an d right , tur n th e
dia l unde r eac h ven t lef t an d right . SID
E VEN T
Yo u ca n shu t of f th e ai r flo w fro m
eac h ven t b y turnin g th e dia l al l th e wa
y towar d th e mar k unti l i t
clicks .
Ho
w to Us e th e Syste m

Thi s sectio n cover s ho w to se t u p th e
syste m control s fo r ventilation ,
heating , cooling , dehumidifying , an d
defrosting .
Th e engin e mus t b e runnin g fo r th e
heate r an d ai r conditionin g t o
generat e ho t an d col d air . Th e heate r
use s engin e coolan t t o war m th e air .
I f th e engin e is cold , i t wil l b e severa l
minute s befor e yo u fee l war m ai r
coinin g fro m th e system .
Th e ai r conditionin g doe s no t rel y o n
engin e temperature .
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s

CENTE
R VEN T

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s

3 . Pul l th e suppor t ro d ou t o f it s cli p
an d inser t th e en d int o th e hol e o n
th e fron t o f th e hoo d aroun d th e
center .
T o clos e th e hood , lif t i t u p slightl y
t o remov e th e suppor t ro d fro m
th e hole . Pu t th e suppor t ro d bac k
int o it s holdin g clip . Lowe r th e
hoo d to abou t a foo t (3 0 cm ) abov e
th e fender , the n le t i t drop .
Afte r closin g th e hood , mak e sur e
i t i s securel y latched .
Oil Check

Chec k th e engin e oi l leve l ever y tim e
yo u fil l th e ca r wit h fuel . Wai t a fe w
minute s afte r turnin g th e engin e of f
befor e yo u chec k th e oil .
1 . Remov e th e dipstic k (blac k
handle) . 2
. Wip e th e dipstic k wit h a clea n
clot h o r pape r towel .
CONTINUED
Befor e Drivin g

DIPSTIC
K

Drivin
g
Thi s sectio n give s yo u tip s o n
startin g th e engin e unde r variou s
conditions , an d ho w to operat e th e
manua l transmission . I t als o include s
importan t informatio n o n parkin g
you r car , an d th e brakin g system . Preparin
g to Drive........................ . 13 0
Startin g th e Engine....................... . 13 1
Startin g i n Col d Weathe r
a t Hig h Altitud e .................... . 13 2
6-spee d Manua l Transmission.... . 13 3
Recommende d Shif t Points..... . 13 4
Engin e Spee d Limite r .............. . 13 4
Revers e Lockout....................... . 13 4
Parking........................................... . 13 5
Th e Brakin g System..................... . 13 6
Brak e Wea r Indicators............. . 13 6
Brak e Syste m Design............... . 13 7
Anti-loc k Brakes....................... . 13 7
Importan t Safet y
Reminders......................... . 13 8
AB S Indicator........................ . 13 9
Drivin g in Ba d Weather............... . 14 0
Towin g a Trailer........................... . 14 1

Drivin g

Parkin
g

Alway s us e th e parkin g brak e whe n
yo u par k you r car . Th e indicato r o n
th e instrumen t pane l show s tha t th e
parkin g brak e is no t full y released ; i t
doe s no t indicat e tha t th e parkin g
brak e is firml y set . Mak e sur e th e
parkin g brak e is se t firml y o r you r
ca r ma y rol l i f i t i s parke d o n a n
incline . I
f th e ca r i s facin g uphill , tur n th e
fron t wheel s awa y fro m th e cur b an d
pu t th e transmissio n in firs t gear .
I f th e ca r i s facin g downhill , tur n th e
fron t wheel s towar d th e cur b an d pu t
th e transmissio n in revers e gear .
Mak e sur e th e parkin g brak e is full y
release d befor e drivin g away .
Drivin g wit h th e parkin g brak e
partiall y se t ca n overhea t o r damag e
th e rea r brakes . Parkin
g Tip s Mak
e sur e th e convertibl e to p an d
th e window s ar e closed . Tur
n of f th e lights . Plac
e an y packages , valuables , etc. ,
i n th e trun k o r tak e the m wit h you . Loc
k th e door s wit h th e ke y o r th e
remot e transmitter . Neve
r par k ove r dr y leaves , tal l
grass , o r othe r flammabl e
materials . Th e thre e wa y catalyti c
converte r get s ver y hot , an d coul d
caus e thes e material s t o catc h o n

fire .

Driving

Drivin
g in Ba d Weather , Towin g a Traile r

Tractio n — Chec k you r tire s
frequentl y fo r wea r an d prope r
pressure . Bot h ar e importan t i n
preventin g "hydroplaning " (los s o f
tractio n o n a we t surface) . I n th e
winter , moun t sno w tire s o n al l fou r
wheel s fo r th e bes t handling .
Watc h roa d condition s carefully ,
the y ca n chang e fro m momen t t o
moment . We t leave s ca n b e a s slip -
per y a s ice . "Clear " road s ca n hav e
patche s o f ice . Drivin g condition s
ca n b e ver y hazardou s whe n th e
outsid e temperatur e is nea r freezing .
Th e roa d surfac e ca n becom e
covere d wit h area s o f wate r puddle s
mixe d wit h area s o f ice , s o you r
tractio n ca n chang e withou t warning .
B e carefu l whe n downshifting . I f
tractio n is low , yo u ca n loc k u p th e
driv e wheel s fo r a momen t an d caus e

a skid .
B
e ver y cautiou s whe n passing , o r
bein g passe d b y othe r cars . Th e
spra y fro m larg e car s reduce s you r
visibility , an d th e win d buffetin g ca n
caus e yo u to los e control . Towin
g a Traile r
You r ca r i s no t designe d t o to w a
trailer . Attemptin g to d o s o ca n voi d
you r warranties .

Driving

Batter
y

Chec k th e conditio n o f you r car' s

batter y monthly . Yo u shoul d chec k

th e colo r o f th e tes t indicato r window ,

an d fo r corrosio n o n th e terminals .

Check th e batter y conditio n b y
lookin g a t th e tes t indicato r windo w
o n th e battery .
Th e labe l o n th e batter y explain s th e
tes t indicator' s colors . Chec
k th e batter y terminal s fo r
corrosio n ( a whit e o r yellowis h
powder) . T o remov e it , cove r th e
terminal s wit h a solutio n o f bakin g
sod a an d water . I t wil l bubbl e u p an d
tur n brown . Whe n thi s stops , was h it
of f wit h plai n water . Dr y of f th e
batter y wit h a clot h o r pape r towel .
Coa t th e terminal s wit h greas e to
hel p preven t futur e corrosion .
WARNING : Batter y posts ,
terminal s an d relate d accessorie s
contai n lea d an d lea d compounds .
Was h hand s afte r handling .
CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

TES
T INDICATO R WINDO W

Wipe
r Blade s
Chec k th e conditio n o f th e wipe r
blade s a t leas t ever y si x months .
Loo k fo r sign s o f crackin g in th e
rubber , o r area s tha t ar e gettin g
hard . Replac e th e blade s i f yo u fin d
thes e signs , o r the y leav e streak s
an d unwipe d area s whe n used .
To replac e th e blade :
1 . Rais e th e wipe r ar m of f th e
windshield . 2
. Disconnec t th e blad e assembl y
fro m th e wipe r ar m b y pushin g i n
th e loc k tab . Hol d i t i n whil e yo u
pus h th e blad e assembl y towar d
th e bas e o f th e arm .

Maintenanc e
LOC
K TA B