2001 HONDA S2000 tow

Storin
g You r Ca r
I f yo u nee d t o par k you r ca r fo r a n
extende d perio d (mor e tha n on e
month) , ther e ar e severa l thing s yo u
shoul d d o t o prepar e i t fo r storage .
Prope r preparatio n help s preven t
deterioratio n an d make s i t easie r t o
ge t you r ca r bac k o n th e road . I f
possible , stor e you r ca r indoors . Fil
l th e fue l tank . Chang
e th e engin e oi l an d filte r
(se e pag e 159 ).
Was h an d dr y th e exterio r
completely .
Clea n th e interior . Mak e sur e th e
carpeting , floo r mats , etc . ar e
completel y dry . Rais
e th e convertibl e to p cover . Leav
e th e parkin g brak e off . Pu t
th e transmissio n i n Reverse . Bloc
k th e rea r wheels .
I f th e ca r i s t o b e store d fo r a
longe r period , i t shoul d b e
supporte d o n jackstand s s o th e
tire s ar e of f th e ground . Leav
e on e windo w ope n slightl y (i f
th e ca r i s bein g store d indoors) . Disconnec
t th e battery .
Suppor t th e fron t wipe r blad e
arm s wit h a folde d towe l o r ra g s o
the y d o no t touc h th e windshield . T
o minimiz e sticking , appl y a
silicon e spra y lubrican t t o al l doo r
an d trun k seals . Also , appl y a
vehicl e bod y wa x t o th e painte d
surface s tha t mat e wit h th e doo r
an d trun k seals . Cove
r th e ca r wit h a "breathable "
cover , on e mad e fro m a porou s
materia l suc h a s cotton .
Nonporou s materials , suc h a s
plasti c sheeting , tra p moisture ,
whic h ca n damag e th e paint . I
f possible , ru n th e engin e fo r a
whil e periodicall y (preferabl y onc e
a month) .
I f yo u stor e you r ca r fo r 1 2 month s
o r longer , hav e you r Hond a deale r
perfor m th e inspection s calle d fo r i n
th e 2 4 months/30,00 0 mile s (48,00 0
km ) maintenanc e schedul e a s soo n
a s yo u tak e it ou t o f storag e (se e
pag e 14 8). Th e replacement s calle d
fo r i n th e maintenanc e schedul e ar e
no t neede d unles s th e ca r ha s
actuall y reache d tha t tim e o r mileage .

Maintenanc e

Exterio
r Car e

Washin g

Frequen t washin g help s preserv e
you r car' s beauty . Dir t an d gri t ca n
scratc h th e paint , whil e tre e sa p an d
bir d dropping s ca n permanentl y rui n
th e finish .
Was h you r ca r i n a shad y area , no t i n
direc t sunlight . I f th e ca r i s parke d in
th e sun , mov e it int o th e shad e an d
le t th e exterio r coo l dow n befor e yo u

start .

Onl y us e th e solvent s an d cleaner s
recommende d in thi s Owner' s

Manual .
Chemical
solvents and strong cleaners
can damage the paint, metal, and
plastic on your car.

Rins e th e ca r thoroughl y wit h coo l
wate r t o remov e loos e dirt . Fil
l a bucke t wit h coo l water . Mi x
i n a mil d detergent , suc h a s
dishwashin g liqui d o r a produc t
mad e especiall y fo r ca r washing . Was
h th e car , usin g th e wate r an d
neutra l detergen t solutio n an d
spong e o r sof t cloth . Star t a t a to p
an d wor k you r wa y down . Rins e
frequently . Chec
k th e bod y fo r roa d tar , tre e
sap , etc . Remov e thes e stain s wit h
ta r remove r o r turpentine . Rins e it
of f immediatel y s o it doe s no t
har m th e finish . Remembe r t o re -
wa x thes e areas , eve n if th e res t o f th
e ca r doe s no t nee d waxing .
D o no t us e hars h chemical s t o
remov e stain s fro m th e
convertibl e to p o r rea r window .
Us e a mil d detergent/wate r
solutio n wit h a soft-bristl e brus h
o n th e top , an d wit h a sof t clot h o n
th e rea r window . Whe
n yo u hav e washe d an d rinse d
th e whol e exterior , dr y it wit h a
chamoi s o r sof t towel . Lettin g it
air-dr y wil l caus e dullin g an d wate r

spots .

Mak e sur e th e to p is completel y
dr y befor e yo u fol d it .
A s yo u dr y th e car , inspec t i t fo r
chip s an d scratche s tha t coul d allo w
corrosio n to start . Repai r the m wit h
touch-u p pain t (se e pag e 20 6).
Appearanc e Car e
NOTIC
E

Interio
r Care , Corrosio n Protectio n

Window s
Clea n th e windows , insid e an d out ,
wit h a commercially-availabl e glas s
cleaner . Yo u ca n als o us e a mixtur e
o f on e par t whit e vinega r t o te n part s
water . Thi s wil l remov e th e haz e tha t
build s u p o n th e insid e o f th e
windows . Us e a sof t clot h o r pape r
towel s t o clea n al l glas s an d clea r
plasti c surfaces . Ai
r Freshener s
I f yo u wan t t o us e a n ai r freshener /
deodorize r i n th e interio r o f you r car ,
i t i s bes t t o us e a soli d type . Som e
liqui d ai r freshener s contai n chemi -
cal s tha t ma y caus e part s o f th e
interio r tri m an d fabri c t o crac k o r
discolor .
I f yo u us e a liqui d ai r freshener ,
mak e sur e yo u faste n i t securel y s o i t
doe s no t spil l a s yo u drive . Corrosio
n Protectio n
Tw o factor s normall y contribut e t o
causin g corrosio n i n you r car :
1 . Moistur e trappe d in bod y cavities .
Dir t an d roa d sal t tha t collect s i n
hollow s o n th e undersid e o f th e
ca r stay s damp , promotin g
corrosio n in tha t area .
2 . Remova l o f pain t an d protectiv e
coating s fro m th e exterio r an d
undersid e o f th e car .

Appearanc e Car e

Takin
g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
Thi s sectio n cover s th e more -
commo n problem s tha t motorist s
experienc e wit h thei r vehicles . I t
give s yo u informatio n abou t ho w to
safel y evaluat e th e proble m an d wha t
t o d o t o correc t it . I f th e proble m ha s
strande d yo u o n th e sid e o f th e road ,
yo u ma y b e abl e t o ge t goin g again .
I f not , yo u wil l als o fin d instruction s
o n gettin g you r ca r towed . Compac
t Spar e Tire...................... . 21 4
Changin g a Fla t Tir e .................... . 21 5
I f You r Engin e Won' t Start.......... . 22 0
Nothin g Happen s o r th e
Starte r Moto r Operate s
Ver y Slowly........................ . 22 0
Th e Starte r Operate s
Normally................................ . 22 1
Jum p Starting................................ . 22 2
I f You r Engin e Overheats............ . 22 5
Lo w Oi l Pressur e Indicator......... . 22 8
Chargin g Syste m Indicator.......... . 22 9
Malfunctio n Indicato r Lam p ....... . 23 0
Brak e Syste m Indicator............... . 23 2
Closin g th e Convertibl e Top....... . 23 3
Fuses.............................................. . 23 4
Checkin g an d Replacing.......... . 23 5
I f You r Ca r Get s Stuck................. . 23 9
Emergenc y Towing...................... . 24 1

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

I
f You r Engin e Won' t Star t
Diagnosin g wh y you r engin e won' t
star t fall s int o tw o areas , dependin g
o n wha t yo u hea r whe n yo u pres s
th e ENGIN E STAR T button . Yo
u hea r nothing , o r almos t
nothing . Th e engine' s starte r
moto r doe s no t operat e a t all , o r
operate s ver y slowly . Yo
u ca n hea r th e starte r moto r
operatin g normally , o r th e starte r
moto r sound s lik e i t i s spinnin g
faste r tha n normal , bu t th e engin e
doe s no t star t u p an d run . Nothin
g Happen s o r th e Starte r
Moto r Operate s Ver y Slowl y
Whe n yo u pres s th e ENGIN E
STAR T button , yo u d o no t hea r th e
norma l nois e o f th e engin e tryin g t o
start . Yo u ma y hea r a clickin g soun d
o r serie s o f clicks , o r nothin g a t all .
Chec k thes e things : You
r ca r ha s th e Immobilize r
System . Yo u shoul d us e a
properly-code d maste r o r vale t ke y
t o star t th e engin e (se e pag e 59 ).
A ke y tha t i s no t properl y code d
wil l caus e th e immobilize r syste m
indicato r i n th e das h pane l t o blin k
rapidly . Tur
n th e ignitio n switc h t o O N (II) .
Tur n o n th e headlight s an d chec k
thei r brightness . I f th e headlight s
ar e ver y di m o r don' t ligh t a t all ,
th e batter y is discharged . Se e
Jum p Startin g o n pag e 22 2. Pres
s th e ENGIN E STAR T button ,
the n releas e it . I f th e headlight s d o
no t dim , chec k th e conditio n o f th e
fuses . I f th e fuse s ar e OK , ther e i s
probabl y somethin g wron g wit h
th e electrica l circui t fo r th e
ignitio n switc h o r starte r motor .
Yo u wil l nee d a qualifie d
technicia n t o determin e th e
problem . (Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 241 .)

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

I
f You r Engin e Won' t Star t
I f th e headlight s di m noticeabl y o r
g o ou t whe n yo u tr y t o star t th e
engine , eithe r th e batter y i s dis -
charge d o r th e connection s ar e
corroded . Chec k th e conditio n o f th e
batter y an d termina l connection s
(se e pag e 177 ). Yo u ca n the n tr y
jum p startin g th e ca r fro m a booste r
batter y (se e pag e 222 ). Th
e Starte r Operate s Normall y
I n thi s case , th e starte r motor' s
spee d sound s normal , o r eve n faste r
tha n normal , whe n yo u pres s th e
ENGIN E STAR T button , bu t th e
engin e doe s no t run . Ar
e yo u usin g th e prope r startin g
procedure ? Refe r t o Startin g th e
Engin e o n pag e 131 . D
o yo u hav e fuel ? Tur n th e
ignitio n switc h t o O N (II ) fo r a
minut e an d watc h th e fue l gauge .
Th e lo w fue l leve l warnin g ligh t
ma y no t b e working , s o yo u wer e
no t reminde d t o fil l th e tank . Ther
e ma y b e a n electrica l
problem , suc h a s n o powe r t o th e
fue l pump . Chec k al l th e fuse s
(se e pag e 235 ).
I f yo u fin d nothin g wrong , yo u wil l
nee d a qualifie d technicia n t o fin d
th e problem . Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 241 .

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

I
f You r Engin e Overheat s
6 . Loo k fo r an y obviou s coolan t leaks ,
suc h a s a spli t radiato r hose .
Everythin g i s stil l extremel y hot ,
s o us e caution . I f yo u fin d a leak , i t
mus t b e repaire d befor e yo u
continu e drivin g (se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 241 ). 7
. I f yo u don' t fin d a n obviou s leak ,
chec k th e coolan t leve l i n th e
radiato r reserv e tan k (se e pag e
120 ). I f th e leve l i s belo w th e
MI N mark , ad d coolan t t o halfwa y
betwee n th e MI N an d MA X marks .
8 . I f ther e wa s n o coolan t i n th e
reserv e tank , yo u ma y als o hav e t o
ad d coolan t t o th e radiator . Le t th e
engin e coo l dow n unti l th e readin g
reache s th e middl e o f th e
temperatur e gauge , o r lower ,
befor e checkin g th e radiator . 9
. Usin g glove s o r a larg e heav y
cloth , tur n th e radiato r ca p
counterclockwise , withou t pushin g
down , t o th e firs t stop . Thi s
release s an y remainin g pressur e i n
th e coolin g system . Afte r th e
pressur e releases , pus h dow n o n
th e ca p an d tur n i t unti l i t come s

off .
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Removin
g th e radiato r ca p
whil e th e engin e is ho t ca n
caus e th e coolan t t o spra y out ,
seriousl y scaldin g you .
Alway s le t th e engin e an d
radiato r coo l dow n befor e
removin g th e radiato r cap .

I
f You r Engin e Overheat s
10. Star t th e engin e an d se t th e
temperatur e contro l dia l t o
maximum . Ad d coolan t t o th e
radiato r u p t o th e bas e o f th e fille r
neck . I f yo u d o no t hav e th e
prope r coolan t mixtur e available ,
yo u ca n ad d plai n water .
Remembe r t o hav e th e coolin g
syste m draine d an d refille d wit h
th e prope r mixtur e a s soo n a s yo u

can .
11. Pu
t th e radiato r ca p bac k o n
tightly . Ru n th e engin e an d watc h
th e temperatur e gauge . I f i t goe s
bac k t o th e re d mark , th e engin e
need s repair . (Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 241 .)
12. I
f th e temperatur e stay s normal ,
chec k th e coolan t leve l i n th e
radiato r reserv e tank . I f i t ha s
gon e down , ad d coolan t t o th e
MA X mark . Pu t th e ca p bac k o n
tightly .
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d