2001 HONDA S2000 maintenance

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

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

Drive
r an d Passenge r Safet y

Thi s sectio n give s yo u importan t
informatio n abou t ho w to protec t
yoursel f an d you r passenger . I t
show s yo u ho w to us e sea t belt s
properly . I t explain s you r Supple -
menta l Restrain t System . An d it tell s
yo u ho w to properl y restrai n childre n
i n you r car . Importan
t Safet y Precaution s ......... . 6
You r Car' s Safet y Feature s ............. . 7

Sea t Belts....................................... . 8

Airbags........................................... . 9

Seat s & Seat-Backs..................... . 1 0
Hea d Restraints........................... . 1 0
Doo r Locks.................................. . 1 0
Pre-Driv e Safet y Checklist........ . 1 1
Protectin g Adults............................ . 1 2
1 . Clos e an d Loc k th e Doors..... . 1 2
2 . Adjus t th e Fron t Seats........... . 1 2
3 . Adjus t th e Seat-Backs............ . 1 3
4 . Faste n an d Positio n th e Sea t

Belts..................................... . 1 5

5 . Maintai n a Prope r Sittin g
Position................................ . 1 6
Advic e fo r Pregnan t Women..... . 1 7
Additiona l Safet y Precautions... . 1 8
Protectin g Children........................ . 1 9
Al l Childre n Mus t B e

Restrained............................... . 1 9

You r Ca r i s No t Recommende d

fo r Chil d Passengers.............. . 2 0

Th e Passenger' s Airba g Pose s

Seriou s Risk s t o Children...... . 2 0

Additiona l Safet y Precaution..... . 2 2
Genera
l Guideline s fo r Usin g
Chil d Seats.............................
22

Protectin g Smal l
Children.........
. 2 6
Protectin g Large r Children....... . 2 9
Additiona l Informatio n Abou t You r
Sea t Belts................................. . 3 3
Sea t Bel t Syste m Components.. . 3 3
Lap/Shoulde r Belt...................... . 3 3
Sea t Bel t Maintenance............... . 3 4
Additiona l Informatio n Abou t You r

SRS........................................... 35

SR S Components........................ . 3 5
Ho w You r Airbag s Work........... . 3 5
Ho w th e Automati c Sea t Bel t
Tensioner s Work.................... . 3 7
Ho w th e SR S Indicato r Ligh t

Works....................................... 37

SR S Service.................................. 38

Additiona l Safet y Precautions... .

38

Carbo n Monoxid e
Hazard.............
.

39

Safet y Labels................................... .
40

Drive r an d
Passenge
r Safet y

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

Additiona
l Informatio n Abou t You r SR S

SR S Servic e
You r Supplementa l Restrain t Syste m
i s virtuall y maintenance-free , an d
ther e ar e n o part s yo u ca n safel y
service . However , yo u mus t hav e
you r ca r service d if :
Your airbags ever inflate. Th
e

airbags , sea t bel t tensioners , an d
contro l uni t mus t b e replaced . D o
no t tr y t o remov e o r replac e th e
airbag s yourself .
Thi s mus t b e don e b y a Hond a
deale r o r a knowledgeabl e bod y

shop .
The SRS indicator light alerts you

to a problem. Tak
e you r ca r t o a n
authorize d Hond a deale r a s soo n
a s possible . I f yo u ignor e thi s
indication , th e airbag s migh t no t
inflat e whe n yo u nee d them . Additiona
l Safet y Precaution s D
o no t attemp t t o deactivat e you r
airbags . Together , airbag s an d
sea t belt s provid e th e best
protectio n i n a moderat e t o sever e
fronta l collision . D
o no t tampe r wit h SRS
component s o r wirin g fo r an y
reason . Tamperin g coul d caus e
th e airbag s t o deploy , possibl y
causin g ver y seriou s injury .
Se e pag e 123 for furthe r informatio n
an d precaution s relatin g t o you r SRS .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Instrument
s an d Control s
Thi s sectio n give s informatio n abou t
th e control s an d display s tha t
contribut e t o th e dail y operatio n o f
you r Honda . Al l th e essentia l
control s ar e withi n eas y reach .
Contro
l Locations........................... . 4 2

Indicato r Lights............................... . 4 3

Gauges............................................. . 4 7
Speedometer............................... . 4 7
Selec t Button............................... . 4 7

Tachometer................................. . 4 7

Temperatur e Gauge................... . 4 7
Fue l Gauge.................................. . 4 8

Odometer..................................... . 4 8

Tri p Meter................................... . 4 8
Maintenanc e Require d

Indicator................................... . 4 9

Control s Nea r th e Steerin g

Wheel....................................... 50

Headlights................................... .
51

Daytim e Runnin g
Lights............
. 5 2
Instrumen t Pane l Brightness.... . 5 2
Tur n Signals................................ 53

Windshiel d Wipers..................... 53

Windshiel d Washers.................. 54

Steerin g Whee l Control s ............... . 5 5

Cruis e Control............................. . 5 5

Key s an d Locks............................... . 5 8

Keys............................................... 58

Immobilize r System.................... . 5 9
Ignitio n Switch............................ . 6 0 Powe
r Doo r Locks...................... . 6 2

Remot e Transmitter................... . 6 3

Trunk........................................... . 6 6

Emergenc y Trun k Opener.........
6 7
Consol e Compartments............. . 6 8

Sea t Adjustments............................ . 6 9

Powe r Windows.............................. . 7 0

Convertibl e Top.............................. . 7 2

Lowerin g th e Convertibl e Top.. . 7 2
Raisin g th e Convertibl e To p ..... . 7 5
Convertibl e To p Cover............... . 7 7

Maintenance................................ .
7 8

Hazar d Warning.............................. . 8 0

Mirrors............................................. . 8 0

Adjustin g th e Powe r Mirrors.... . 8 0

Parkin g Brake................................. . 8 1

Beverag e Holder............................. . 8 2

Accessor y Powe r Socket............... . 8 2

Audi o Panel...................................... . 8 2

Interio r Lights................................. . 8 3

Instrument s an d Control s

Gauge
s

Maintenanc e Require d Indicato r
Thi s indicato r remind s yo u tha t i t i s
tim e t o tak e you r ca r i n fo r

schedule d maintenance .

Refe r t o th e Maintenanc e Schedule s
fo r Norma l an d Sever e Drivin g
Condition s o n page s 148 — 152 Whe
n th e distanc e drive n sinc e th e
las t schedule d maintenanc e reache s
6,00 0 mile s (9,60 0 km) , th e indicato r
start s blinking . I f yo u excee d 7,50 0
mile s (12, 000 km) , th e indicato r
stay s on .
You r deale r wil l rese t th e indicato r
whe n the y perfor m th e schedule d
maintenance . I f someon e els e
perform s th e maintenance , rese t th e
indicato r yourself .
T o rese t th e maintenanc e require d
indicator , tur n th e ignitio n switc h t o
th e LOC K position , the n pres s an d
hol d th e tri p mete r rese t butto n
whil e yo u tur n th e ignitio n switc h
ON . Continu e holdin g th e butto n
unti l th e indicato r reset s (th e
indicato r ligh t goe s out) .

Instruments an d Control s

MAINTENANC
E REQUIRE D INDICATO R

Maintenanc
e

Thi s sectio n explain s wh y i t i s
importan t t o kee p you r ca r wel l
maintaine d an d to follo w basi c
maintenanc e safet y precautions .
Thi s sectio n als o include s
Maintenanc e Schedule s fo r norma l
drivin g an d sever e drivin g conditions ,
a Maintenanc e Record , an d instruc -
tion s fo r simpl e maintenanc e task s
yo u ma y wan t t o tak e car e o f
yourself .
I f yo u hav e th e skill s an d tool s t o per -
for m mor e comple x maintenanc e
task s o n you r Honda , yo u ma y wan t
t o purchas e th e Servic e Manual . Se e
pag e 26 3 fo r informatio n o n ho w to
obtai n a copy , o r se e you r Hond a

dealer .
Maintenanc
e Safety...................... . 14 4
Importan t Safet y Precautions. . 14 5
Maintenanc e Schedule................. . 14 6
Require d Maintenanc e Record... . 15 3
Owne r Maintenanc e Checks....... . 15 5
Flui d Locations.............................. . 15 6

Engin e Oil...................................... . 15 7
Addin g Oil.................................. . 15 7

Recommende d Oil.................... . 15 7

Syntheti c Oil.............................. . 15 8

Additives.................................... . 15 8
Changin g th e Oi l an d Filter..... . 15 9
Cooling System............................. . 16 1
Addin g Engin e Coolant............ . 16 1
Replacin g Engin e Coolant....... . 16 3
Windshiel d Washers.................... . 16 7
6-spee d Manua l Transmissio n

Fluid........................................... . 16 8

Differentia l Fluid.......................... . 16 9
Brak e an d Clutc h Fluid................ . 17 0
Brak e Fluid................................. 170
Brak e System............................ . 17 0
Clutc h System........................... . 17 1
Ai r Cleane r Element..................... . 17 2
Hoo d Latch.................................... . 17 4 Spar
k Plugs.................................... . 17 4
Replacement.............................. . 17 4
Specifications............................ . 17 6
Battery........................................... . 17 7
Wipe r Blades................................. . 18 0
Ai r Conditionin g System.............. . 18 2
Ai r Conditionin g Filter................. . 18 3
Driv e Belt....................................... . 18 4
Tires............................................... . 18 5

Inflation....................................... 185

Inspection.................................. . 18 7
Maintenance.............................. . 18 8
Tir e Rotation............................. . 18 8
Tir e Wear................................... . 18 8
Replacin g Tire s an d Wheel s ... . 18 9
Wheel s an d Tires...................... . 19 0
Winte r Driving.......................... . 19 0
Sno w Tires............................. . 19 1
Tir e Chains............................ . 19 1
Lights............................................. . 19 2
Replacin g Bulbs........................ . 19 4
Storin g You r Car........................... . 20 2

Maintenanc e