2001 HONDA S2000 ESP

Introductio
n

Congratulation s o n you r selectio n o f th e 200 1 Hond a S2000 . W e ar e certai n
yo u wil l b e please d wit h you r purchas e o f on e o f th e mos t sophisticate d an d
technologically-advance d sport s car s i n th e world .
On e o f th e bes t way s t o enhanc e th e enjoymen t o f you r ne w Hond a is t o
rea d thi s manual . I n it , yo u wil l lear n ho w to operate its drivin g control s an d
convenienc e items . Afterwards , kee p thi s owner' s manua l i n you r ca r s o yo u
ca n refe r t o it a t an y time .
Severa l warrantie s protec t you r ne w Honda . Rea d th e warrant y bookle t
thoroughl y s o yo u understan d th e coverage s an d ar e awar e o f you r right s
an d responsibilities .
Maintainin g you r ca r accordin g to th e schedules given in thi s manua l help s
t o kee p you r drivin g trouble-fre e whil e i t preserve s you r investment . Whe n
you r ca r need s maintenance , kee p in min d tha t you r Hond a dealer' s staf f i s
speciall y traine d in servicin g th e man y system s uniqu e t o you r Honda . You r
Hond a deale r i s dedicate d to you r satisfactio n an d wil l b e please d to answe r
an y question s an d concerns .
Californi a Propositio n 6 5 Warnin g
WARNING : Thi s produc t contain s o r emit s chemical s know n t o th e Stat e o f
Californi a to caus e cance r an d birt h defect s o r othe r reproductiv e harm . A
s yo u rea d thi s manual , yo u wil l
fin d informatio n tha t i s precede d b y
symbol . Thi s
informatio n is intende d t o hel p yo u
avoi d damag e to you r S2000 , othe r
property , o r th e environment .

a

NOTIC E

A
Fe w Word s Abou t Safet y

You r safety , an d th e safet y o f others ,
i s ver y important . An d operatin g thi s
ca r safel y is a n importan t
responsibility .
T o hel p yo u mak e informe d
decision s abou t safety , w e hav e
provide d operatin g procedure s an d
othe r informatio n o n label s an d in
thi s manual . Thi s informatio n alert s
yo u t o potentia l hazard s tha t coul d
hur t yo u o r others .
Of course , it is no t practica l or
possibl e to war n yo u abou t al l th e
hazard s associate d wit h operatin g o r
maintainin g you r car . Yo u mus t us e
you r ow n goo d judgement . Yo
u wil l fin d thi s importan t safet y informatio n in a variet y o f forms ,
including : Safet
y Label s — on th e car . Safet
y Message s — precede d b y a safet y aler t symbo l an d on e o f
three signal words: DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION.

Thes e signa l word s mean :

Yo u WIL L b e KILLE D o r SERIOUSL Y

HUR T if yo u don' t follo w instructions .

Yo u CA N b e KILLE D o r SERIOUSL Y

HUR T if yo u don' t follo w instructions .

Yo u CA N b e HUR T if yo u don' t follo w

instructions .
Safet
y Heading s — suc h a s Importan t Safet y Reminder s o r Importan t
Safet y Precautions . Safety
Sectio n — suc h a s Drive r an d Passenge r Safety . Instruction
s — ho w to us e thi s ca r correctl y an d safely .
Thi s entir e boo k i s fille d wit h importan t safet y informatio n — pleas e rea d it
carefully .

Importan
t Safet y Precaution s
You'l l fin d man y safet y
recommendation s throughou t thi s
section , an d throughou t thi s manual .
Th e recommendation s o n thi s pag e
ar e th e one s w e conside r t o b e th e
mos t important .
Alway s Wea r You r Sea t Bel t
A sea t bel t i s you r bes t protectio n i n
al l type s o f collisions . Airbag s
supplemen t sea t belts , bu t airbag s
ar e designe d to inflat e onl y i n a
moderat e to sever e fronta l collision .
S o eve n thoug h you r ca r i s equippe d
wit h airbags , mak e sur e yo u an d
you r passenge r alway s wea r you r
sea t belts , an d wea r the m properly .
(Se e pag e 15 ).
You r Ca r i s No t Recommende d
fo r Chil d Passenger s
Sinc e al l childre n ar e safes t i n th e
bac k sea t o f a car , an d you r ca r doe s
no t hav e a bac k seat , w e recommen d
tha t yo u d o no t carr y a chil d
passenger . Due to the passenger's

airbag hazard, you should never

carry an infant in a rear-facing child

seat in this car. I f a smal l chil d wh o
mus t b e restraine d in a forward -
facin g chil d seat , o r a large r child ,
mus t rid e in thi s car , b e sur e t o
follo w al l instruction s an d safety
warning s in thi s manual . (Se e page s
2 6 an d 29 .)
B e Awar e o f Airba g Hazard s
Whil e airbag s ca n sav e lives , the y
ca n caus e seriou s o r fata l injurie s t o
occupant s wh o si t to o clos e t o them ,
o r ar e no t properl y restrained .
Infants , youn g children , an d shor t
adult s ar e a t th e greates t risk . B e
sur e t o follo w al l instruction s an d
warning s i n thi s manual . (Se e pag e
7 ).

Don' t Drin k an d Driv e

Alcoho l an d drivin g don' t mix . Eve n
on e drin k ca n reduc e you r abilit y t o
respon d t o changin g conditions , an d
you r reactio n tim e get s wors e wit h
ever
y additiona l drink . S o don' t drin k

an d drive , an d don' t le t you r friend s

drin k an d drive , either .

Contro l You r Spee d
Excessiv e spee d i s a majo r facto r i n
cras h injurie s an d deaths . Generally ,
th e highe r th e spee d th e greate r th e
risk , bu t seriou s accident s ca n als o
occu r a t lowe r speeds . Neve r driv e
faste r tha n i s saf e fo r curren t
conditions , regardles s o f th e
maximu m spee d posted .
Kee p You r Ca r i n Saf e Conditio n
Havin g a tir e blowou t o r a
mechanica l failur e ca n b e extremel y
hazardous . T o reduc e th e possibilit y
o f suc h problems , chec k you r tir e
pressure s an d conditio n frequently ,
an d perfor m al l regularl y schedule d
maintenance . (Se e pag e 146 .)

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Adult s

Introductio n
Th e followin g page s provid e
instruction s o n ho w to properl y
protec t adul t occupants .
Thes e instruction s als o appl y t o a
chil d who m yo u hav e decide d is
larg e enoug h an d matur e enoug h t o
rid e a s a passenger . (Se e pag e 2 9 fo r
importan t additiona l guideline s o n
ho w to properl y protec t large r
children. )

1 . Clos e an d Loc k th e Door s

Afte r everyon e ha s entere d th e car ,
b e sur e th e door s ar e close d an d

locked .
You
r ca r ha s a doo r
monito r ligh t o n th e
instrumen t pane l t o indicat e whe n a
specifi c doo r i s no t tightl y closed .
Fo r safety , lockin g th e door s reduce s
th e chanc e tha t a passenger ,
especiall y a child , wil l ope n a doo r
whil e th e ca r i s movin g an d
accidentall y fal l out . I t als o reduce s
th e chanc e o f someon e bein g throw n
ou t o f th e ca r durin g a crash .
Fo r security , locke d door s ca n
preven t a n outside r fro m
unexpectedl y openin g a doo r whe n
yo u com e to a stop .
Se e pag e 6 2 fo r ho w to loc k th e

doors .
2.Adjus
t th e Fron t Seat s
An y drive r wh o sit s to o clos e t o th e
steerin g whee l i s a t ris k o f bein g
seriousl y injure d o r kille d b y strikin g
th e steerin g wheel , o r fro m bein g
struc k b y a n inflatin g airba g durin g a

crash .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n

Childre n depen d o n adult s to protec t
them . However , despit e thei r bes t
intentions , man y parent s an d othe r
adult s ma y no t kno w ho w to properly

protec t youn g passengers .

S o if yo u hav e children , o r i f yo u eve r
nee d to driv e wit h a grandchil d o r
othe r childre n in you r car , b e sur e to
rea d thi s section . Al
l Childre n Mus t B e Restraine d
Eac h year , man y childre n ar e injure d
o r kille d in vehicl e crashe s becaus e
the y ar e eithe r unrestraine d o r no t
properl y restrained . I n fact , vehicl e
accident s ar e th e numbe r on e caus e
o f deat h o f childre n age s 1 2 an d
under .
T o reduc e th e numbe r o f chil d
death s an d injuries , ever y stat e an d
Canadia n provinc e require s tha t
infant s an d childre n b e restraine d
wheneve r the y rid e in a vehicle .

Any child who is too small to wear a
seat belt should be properly
restrained in a child seat. (See page

26 .)
A larger child should always be

restrained with a seat belt. (See page
29 .
)

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Childre
n wh o ar e unrestraine d

o r improperl y restraine d ca n b e
seriousl y injure d o r kille d in a

crash .

An y chil d to o smal l fo r a sea t
bel t shoul d b e properl y
restraine d in a chil d seat . A
large r chil d shoul d b e properl y
restraine d wit h a sea t belt .

Additiona
l Informatio n Abou t You r SR S

Durin g a crash , you r sea t bel t help s
restrai n you r lowe r bod y an d torso ,
whil e th e tensione r tighten s an d
lock s th e sea t bel t t o hel p kee p yo u
i n place . You r airba g provide s a
cushio n t o hel p restrai n an d protec t
you r hea d an d chest .
Sinc e bot h airbag s us e th e sam e
sensors , bot h airbag s normall y
inflat e a t th e sam e time . However , i t
i s possibl e fo r onl y on e airba g to
inflate .
Thi s ca n occu r whe n th e severit y o f
a collisio n is a t th e margin , o r
threshold , tha t determine s whethe r
o r no t th e airbag s wil l deploy . I n
suc h cases , th e sea t bel t wil l provid e
sufficien t protection , an d th e
supplementa l protectio n offere d b y
th e airba g woul d b e minimal . Afte
r inflating , th e airbag s
immediatel y deflate , s o the y won' t
interfer e wit h th e driver' s visibility ,
o r th e abilit y t o stee r o r operat e
othe r controls .
Th e tota l tim e fo r inflatio n an d
deflatio n is approximatel y one-tent h
o f a second , s o fas t tha t mos t
occupant s ar e no t awar e tha t th e
airbag s deploye d unti l the y se e the m
lyin g in thei r laps . Afte
r a crash , yo u ma y se e wha t
look s lik e smoke. This is actuall y
powde r fro m th e airbag' s surface .
Althoug h th e powde r i s no t harmful ,
peopl e wit h respirator y problem s
ma y experienc e som e temporar y
discomfort . I f thi s occurs , ge t ou t o f
th e ca r a s soo n a s it i s saf e to d o so .

U.S. Owners

Fo r additiona l informatio n o n ho w
you r airbag s work , se e th e bookle t

title d SRS: What You Need to Know
About Airbags that cam e wit h you r

owner' s manual .

Canadian Owners

Fo r additiona l informatio n o n ho w
you r airbag s work , as k you r deale r
fo r a copy of th e bookle t title d SRS:
What You Need to Know About Airbags.

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Gauge
s

TEMPERATUR E GAUG E


SPEEDOMETE R
Liqui d crysta l i s use d in th e mete r
panel . Yo u ma y fee l th e indicator s
appea r slowl y i n th e lo w temperature .
Speedomete r
Thi s show s you r spee d in mile s pe r
hou r (mph ) o r kilometer s pe r hou r

(km/h) .
SELEC
T BUTTO N
Selec t Butto n
Th e Selec t butto n switche s th e
speedomete r readin g betwee n mile s
pe r hou r an d kilomete r pe r hour . I t
als o change s th e odomete r an d tri p
meter s t o rea d i n mile s o r kilometer s
correspondingly . T o chang e th e
readings , pus h th e Selec t butto n an d
hol d it unti l yo u hea r a beep .
Tachomete
r

Th e tachomete r show s th e engin e
spee d in revolution s pe r minut e
(rpm) . T o protec t th e engin e fro m
damage , neve r driv e wit h th e
tachomete r readin g in th e re d zone .
Temperatur e Gaug e
Thi s show s th e temperatur e o f th e
engine' s coolant . Durin g norma l
operation , th e readin g shoul d b e in
th e middl e o f th e gauge . I n sever e
drivin g conditions , suc h a s ver y ho t
weathe r o r a lon g perio d o f uphil l
driving , th e readin g ma y reac h nea r
th e re d mark . I f i t reache s th e re d
mark , pul l safel y t o th e sid e o f th e
road . Tur n t o pag e 22 5 fo r
instruction s an d precaution s o n
checkin g th e engine' s coolin g

system .

Instrument s an d Control s
TACHOMETE
R

Key
s an d Lock s

As required by the FCC:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) This device
may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired

operation.

Changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user's
authority to operate the equipment.
This device complies with Industry

Canada Standard RSS-210.

Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) this device may not cause
interference, and (2) this device must
accept any interference that may cause
undesired operation of the device.
Ignitio
n Switc h

Th e ignitio n switc h is o n th e righ t
sid e o f th e steerin g column . I t ha s
thre e positions : LOC
K (0 ) ACCESSOR
Y (I )
O
N (II )
LOC
K (0 ) - Yo u ca n inser t o r
remov e th e ke y onl y i n thi s position .
T o switc h fro m ACCESSOR Y to
LOCK , yo u mus t pus h th e ke y in
slightl y a s yo u tur n it . Th e anti-thef t
loc k wil l loc k th e steerin g colum n
whe n yo u remov e th e key . I f th e
fron t wheel s ar e turned , th e anti -
thef t loc k ma y sometime s mak e it
difficul t t o tur n th e ke y fro m LOC K
t o ACCESSORY . Firml y tur n th e
steerin g whee l t o th e lef t o r t o th e
righ t a s yo u tur n th e key .

Instrument s an d Control s
Removin
g th e ke y fro m th e
ignitio n switc h whil e drivin g

lock s th e steering . Thi s ca n
caus e yo u to los e control .
Remov e th e ke y fro m th e

ignitio n switc h onl y whe n

parked .