2001 HONDA S2000 brake light

Th
e Brakin g Syste m

You r Hond a is equippe d wit h dis c
brake s a t al l fou r wheels . A powe r
assis t help s reduc e th e effor t neede d
o n th e brak e pedal . Th e AB S help s
yo u retai n steerin g contro l whe n
brakin g ver y hard .
Pu t you r foo t o n th e brak e peda l onl y
whe n yo u inten d to brake . Restin g
you r foo t o n th e peda l keep s th e
brake s applie d lightly , causin g the m
t o buil d u p heat . Hea t build-u p ca n
reduc e ho w wel l you r brake s work . I t
als o keep s you r brak e light s o n al l
th e time , confusin g driver s behin d

you .
Constan
t applicatio n o f th e brake s
whe n goin g dow n a lon g hil l build s
u p hea t an d reduce s thei r effective -
ness . Us e th e engin e to assis t th e
brake s b y downshiftin g to a lowe r
gea r an d takin g you r foo t of f th e

accelerato r pedal .

Chec k you r brake s afte r drivin g
throug h dee p water . Appl y th e
brake s moderatel y t o se e if the y fee l
normal . I f not , appl y the m gentl y an d
frequentl y unti l the y do . Sinc e a
longe r distanc e is neede d to sto p
wit h we t brakes , b e extr a cautiou s
an d aler t i n you r driving . Brak
e Wea r Indicator s
Al l fou r brake s hav e audibl e brak e
wea r indicators .
Whe n th e brak e pad s nee d replacing ,
yo u wil l hea r a distinctiv e metalli c
"screeching " soun d whe n yo u appl y
th e brakes . I f yo u d o no t hav e th e
brak e pad s replaced , the y wil l begi n
screechin g al l th e time .
You r brake s ma y sometime s squea l
o r squea k whe n yo u appl y the m
lightly . D o no t confus e thi s wit h th e
brak e wea r indicators . The y mak e a
ver y audibl e "screeching. "

Drivin g

Drivin
g in Ba d Weathe r

Rain , fog , an d sno w condition s
requir e a differen t drivin g techniqu e
becaus e o f reduce d tractio n an d
visibility . Kee p you r ca r well -
maintaine d an d exercis e greate r
cautio n whe n yo u nee d to driv e in
ba d weather . Th e cruis e contro l
shoul d no t b e use d in thes e

conditions .
Drivin
g Techniqu e — Alway s driv e
slowe r tha n yo u woul d in dr y
weather . I t take s you r ca r longe r t o
react , eve n in condition s tha t ma y
see m jus t barel y damp . Appl y
smooth , eve n pressur e to al l th e
controls . Abrup t steerin g whee l
movement s o r sudden , har d appli -
catio n o f th e brake s ca n caus e los s o f
contro l i n we t weather . B e extr a
cautiou s fo r th e firs t fe w mile s
(kilometers ) o f drivin g whil e yo u
adjus t t o th e chang e i n drivin g
conditions . Thi s i s especiall y tru e in
snow . A perso n ca n forge t som e
snow-drivin g technique s durin g th e
summe r months . Practic e is neede d
t o relear n thos e skills .
Exercis e extr a cautio n whe n drivin g
i n rai n afte r a lon g dr y spell . Afte r
month s o f dr y weather , th e firs t
rain s brin g oi l t o th e surfac e o f th e
roadway , makin g it slippery . Visibilit
y — Bein g abl e to se e
clearl y in al l direction s an d bein g
visibl e t o othe r driver s ar e importan t
i n al l weathe r conditions . Thi s i s
mor e difficul t i n ba d weather . T o b e
see n mor e clearl y durin g dayligh t
hours , tur n o n you r headlights .
Inspec t you r windshiel d wiper s an d
washer s frequently . Kee p th e wind -
shiel d washe r reservoi r ful l o f th e
prope r fluid . Hav e th e windshiel d
wipe r blade s replace d i f the y star t t o
strea k th e windshiel d o r leav e part s
unwiped . Us e th e defroster s an d ai r
conditionin g t o kee p th e window s
fro m foggin g u p o n th e insid e (se e

pag e 9 1).

Drivin g

Owne
r Maintenanc e Check s
Yo u shoul d chec k th e followin g
item s a t th e specifie d intervals . I f
yo u ar e unsur e o f ho w to perfor m
an y check , tur n t o th e pag e given . Engin
e oi l leve l — Chec k ever y
tim e yo u fil l th e fue l tank . Se e
pag e 119 .
Engin e coolan t leve l — Chec k th e
radiato r reserv e tan k ever y tim e
yo u fil l th e fue l tank . Se e pag e 12 0.
Windshiel d washe r flui d — Chec k
th e leve l i n th e reservoi r monthly .
I f weathe r condition s caus e yo u t o
us e th e washer s frequently , chec k
th e reservoi r eac h tim e yo u sto p
fo r fuel . Se e pag e 16 7. Brake
s an d clutc h — Chec k th e
flui d leve l monthly . Se e pag e 17 0. Tire
s — Chec k th e tir e pressur e
monthly . Examin e th e trea d fo r
wea r an d foreig n objects . Se e pag e
185 . Light
s — Chec k th e operatio n o f
th e headlights , parkin g lights ,
taillights , high-moun t brak e light ,
tur n signals , brak e lights , an d
licens e plat e light s monthly . Se e
pag e 192 .

Maintenanc e

Changin
g a Fla t Tir e

I f yo u hav e a fla t tir e whil e driving ,
sto p in a saf e plac e to chang e it .
Stoppin g in traffi c o r o n th e shoulde r
o f a bus y roa d is dangerous . Driv e
slowl y alon g th e shoulde r unti l yo u
ge t t o a n exi t o r a n are a to sto p tha t
i s fa r awa y fro m th e traffi c lanes .
Th e compac t spar e tir e is smalle r
tha n a standar d tire , whic h wil l affec t
th e vehicle' s handling . Driv e
cautiousl y whe n thi s spar e is
mounte d o n you r vehicle . Th
e siz e differenc e ma y als o caus e
damag e to th e rea r differential , s o d o
no t moun t th e compac t spar e o n th e
rear . I f eithe r rea r tir e goe s flat ,
remov e th e fron t tir e o n tha t sam e
side , moun t th e compac t spar e tir e
o n th e front , the n moun t th e fron t
tir e o n th e rear .
1 . Par k th e ca r o n firm , level , non -
slipper y groun d awa y fro m traffic .
Pu t th e transmissio n in Reverse .
Appl y th e parkin g brake .
2 . Tur n o n th e hazar d warnin g light s
an d tur n th e ignitio n switc h t o
LOC K (0) . Hav e you r passenge r
ge t ou t o f th e ca r whil e yo u
chang e th e tire . 3
. Ope n th e trunk . Lif t u p th e too l
bo x li d an d tak e th e jack , whee l
wrenc h an d extensio n ou t o f th e
too l box .
Use the jack that came on your car. If
you try to raise another car by this jack
o r use another jack to raise your car,

the car or jack can be damaged.

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

CONTINUED

Th
e ca r ca n easil y rol l of f th e
jack , seriousl y injurin g anyon e
underneath .
Follo w th e direction s fo r
changin g a tir e exactly , an d
neve r ge t unde r th e ca r whe n i t
i s supporte d onl y b y th e jack .

NOTICE

Jum
p Startin g
I f you r car' s batter y ha s ru n down ,
yo u ma y b e abl e t o star t th e engin e
b y usin g a booste r battery . Althoug h
thi s seem s lik e a simpl e procedure ,
yo u shoul d tak e severa l precautions . T
o jum p star t you r car , follo w thes e
direction s closely :
1 . Ope n th e hoo d an d chec k th e
physica l conditio n o f th e batter y
(se e pag e 17 7). I n ver y col d
weather , chec k th e conditio n o f
th e electrolyte . I f i t seem s slush y
o r lik e ice , d o no t tr y jum p startin g
unti l i t thaws .

If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can freeze.
Attempting to jump start with a frozen
battery can cause it to rupture.

2 . Tur n of f al l th e electrica l acces -

sories : heater , A/C , stere o system ,
lights , etc .

Pu t th e transmissio n in Neutra l

an d se t th e parkin g brake .

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
NOTIC
E

A
batter y ca n explod e if yo u d o
no t follo w th e correc t procedure ,
seriousl y injurin g anyon e
nearby .
Kee p al l sparks , ope n flames ,
an d smokin g material s awa y
fro m th e battery .

Brak
e Syste m Indicato r

Th e Brak e Syste m Indicato r
normall y come s o n whe n yo u tur n
th e ignitio n switc h O N (II) . I t i s a
reminde r t o chec k th e parkin g brake .
I t come s o n an d stay s li t i f yo u d o no t
full y releas e th e parkin g brake . I
f i t come s o n a t an y othe r time , i t
indicate s a proble m wit h th e car' s
brak e system . I n mos t cases , th e
proble m is a lo w flui d leve l i n th e
brak e flui d reservoir . Pres s lightl y o n
th e brak e peda l t o se e if i t feel s
normal . I f i t does , chec k th e brak e
flui d leve l th e nex t tim e yo u sto p a t a
servic e statio n (se e pag e 17 0). I f th e
flui d leve l i s low , tak e th e ca r t o you r
deale r an d hav e th e brak e syste m
inspecte d fo r leak s o r wor n brak e

pads .

However , i f th e brak e peda l doe s no t
fee l normal , yo u shoul d tak e
immediat e action . Becaus e o f th e
brak e system' s dual-circui t design , a
proble m in on e par t o f th e syste m
wil l stil l giv e yo u brakin g a t tw o
wheels . Yo u wil l fee l th e brak e peda l
g o clow n muc h farthe r befor e th e ca r
begin s t o slo w clown , an d yo u wil l
hav e t o pres s harde r o n th e pedal .
Th e distanc e neede d to sto p wil l b e
muc h longer . Slo
w dow n b y shiftin g to a lowe r
gear , an d pul l t o th e sid e o f th e roa d
whe n it i s safe . Becaus e o f th e
longe r distanc e neede d to stop , i t i s
hazardou s t o driv e th e car . Yo u
shoul d hav e it towed , an d repaire d a s

soo n a s possible .

I f yo u mus t driv e th e ca r a shor t
distanc e in thi s condition , driv e
slowl y an d cautiously .

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

BRAK
E SYSTE M INDICATO R

Inde
x

Accessorie s

Installation................................. . 12 2
Accessor y Powe r Socket............... . 8 2
ACCESSOR Y (Ignitio n Ke y
Position)....................................... 61
Additives , Engin e Oil.................... . 15 8
Airba g (SRS)..................................... . 9
Ai r Cleane r Element..................... . 17 2
Ai r Conditioning.............................. . 8 6
Maintenance.............................. . 18 2

Usage........................................... 86

Ai r Outlet s (Vents)......................... . 8 8
Ai r Pressure , Tires....................... . 18 5
Alarm , Anti-theft........................... . 11 4
Alcoho l i n Gasoline....................... . 25 0
Aluminu m Wheels , Cleaning....... . 20 6
Antifreeze...................................... . 16 1
Anti-loc k Brake s (ABS )
Indicato r Light.................... 45, 13 9
Operation................................... . 13 7
Anti-thef t Steerin g Colum n Loc k . . 6 0
Anti-thef t System.......................... . 11 4
Appearanc e Care.......................... . 20 3
Audi o Panel...................................... . 8 2
Audi
o System.................................. . 9 4

Automati c Ca r Washes................ . 20 4

Automati c Spee d Control............... . 5 5

Back-u p Lam p Replacement........ . 19 8
Batter y
Chargin g Syste m
Indicator........................... 44, 22 9
Jum p Starting............................ . 22 2
Maintenance.............................. . 17 7
Specifications............................ . 24 7
Befor e Driving.............................. . 11 5
Belts , Seat......................................... 8
Beverag e Holder............................. . 8 2
Bod y Repair................................... . 21 1
Brakes............................................ . 13 6
Anti-loc k Syste m (ABS)........... . 13 7
Break-in , Ne w Lining s ............. . 11 6
Bul b Replacement.................... . 19 8

Fluid........................................... . 17 0

Parking......................................... . 8 1

Syste m Indicator......................... . 4 4
Wea r Indicators , Dis c .............. . 13 6
Brakin g System............................. . 13 6 Break-in
, Ne w Car........................ . 11 6
Brightnes s Control , Instruments.. . 5 2
Brights , Headlights........................ . 5 1

Bul b Replacement......................... . 19 4

Back-u p Lights.......................... . 19 8
Brak e Lights.............................. . 19 8
Headlights................................. . 19 4
Licens e Plat e Lights................. . 20 0
Sid e Marke r Light s .................. . 19 6
Specifications............................ . 24 7
Tur n Signa l Lights.................... . 19 6
Bulbs , Halogen.............................. . 19 4

Capacitie s Chart............................ . 24 6

Carbo n Monoxid e Hazard............. . 3 9

Cargo , Carrying............................ . 12 4

CAUTION , Explanatio n of............ ii
C D Changer................................... . 10 8

Certificatio n Label........................ . 24 4

Chains............................................ . 19 1

CONTINUED

Inde
x

Closin g th e Convertibl e Top... . 23 3
Lo w Oi l Pressur e Indicator..... . 22 8
Malfunctio n Indicato r Lam p ... . 23 0
Overheate d Engine.................. . 22 5
Emergenc y Brake........................... . 8 1
Emergenc y Flashers...................... . 8 0
Emergenc y Trun k Opener............ . 6 7
Emission s Controls....................... . 25 2
Emission s Testing , Stat e ............. . 25 5

Engin e

Chec k Engin e Light........... .45 , 23 0
Compartment , Checkin g
i n the....................................... 118
Coolant....................................... . 12 0
Coolan t Temperatur e Gaug e .... . 4 7
Driv e Belt................................... . 18 4
Malfunctio n Indicato r
Lamp................................ 45, 23 0
Oi l Pressur e Indicator........ . 44 , 22 8
Oil , Wha t Kin d t o Use.............. . 15 7
Overheating............................... . 22 5
Specifications............................ . 24 6
Spee d Limiter............................ . 13 4
Starting....................................... . 13 1
Engin e Cover , Openin g the......... . 11 8
Ethano l i n Gasolin e ...................... . 25 0 Evaporativ
e Emissio n Controls... . 25 2

Exhaus t Fumes............................... . 3 9

Expectan t Mothers , Us e o f Sea t

Belt s by........................................ . 1 7

Exterior , Cleanin g the.................. . 20 4

Fabric , Cleaning............................ . 20 8
Fan , Interior..................................... . 8 6
Features , Comfor t an d
Convenience................................ . 8 5
Fillin g th e Fue l Tank.................... . 11 7
Filter s
Oil................................................ 159
Flashers , Hazar d Warning............. . 8 0
Fla t Tire , Changin g a................... . 21 5
Fluid s

Brake........................................... 170
Clutch.......................................... 171

Manua l Transmission.............. . 16 8

Windshiel d Washer.................. . 16 7

F M Stere o Radi o Reception........ . 10 3

Foreig n Countries , Drivin g in..... . 25 1

Four-wa y Flashers.......................... . 8 0
Fuel..................................................
116

Fil l Doo r an d Cap...................... . 11 7
Gauge........................................... . 4 8
Octan e Requirement................ . 11 6
Oxygenated............................... . 25 0
Reserv e Indicator........................ . 4 6
Tank , Fillin g the........................ . 11 7
Fue l Mileage , Improving.............. . 12 1
Fue l Statio n Procedure s .............. . 11 7
Fuses , Checkin g the..................... . 23 5
Gasohol.......................................... . 25 0
Gasoline......................................... . 11 6
Fue l Reserv e Indicator............... . 4 6
Gauge........................................... . 4 8
Octan e Requirement................ . 11 6
Oxygenate d Fuels..................... . 25 0
Tank , Fillin g the........................ . 11 7
CONTINUED