2003 HONDA S2000 Owners Manual

The coolant level should be up to
the base of the f iller neck. Add
coolant if it is low.
Turn the radiator cap counter-
clockwise, without pressing down
on it, until it stops. This relieves
any pressure remaining in the
cooling system.
Remove the radiator cap by
pushing down and turning
counterclockwise. Pour coolant into the reserve tank.
Fill it to half way between the MAX
and MIN marks. Put the cap back
on the reserve tank.
Put the radiator cap back on.
Tighten it f ully. Pourthecoolantslowlyand
caref ully so you do not spill. Clean
up any spills immediately. Spilled
coolant could damage components
in the engine compartment. Do not add any rust inhibitors or
other additives to your car’s cooling
system. They may not be compatible
with the coolant or engine compo-
nents.
2.
3.
4.
5.6.
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance166
RADIATOR CAP RESERVE TANK
Fill up to here
FILLER NECK

Turn the ignition ON (II). Turn
the heater temperature control
dial f ully clockwise. Turn the
ignition of f .
Openthehood.Makesurethe
engine and radiator are cool to the
touch.
Remove the radiator cap.Loosen the drain plug on the
bottom of the radiator. The
coolant will drain through the
splash guard. Remove the drain
bolt and washer f rom the engine
block.
Thecoolingsystemshouldbe
completely drained and ref illed with
new coolant according to the time
and distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule. Only use
Honda All season Antif reeze/
Coolant Type 2.
Draining the coolant requires access
to the underside of the car. Unless
you have the tools and knowledge,
you should have this maintenance
done by a skilled mechanic.
1.
2.
3. 4.
CONT INUED
Replacing Engine Coolant
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance167
DRAIN BOLT
DRAIN PLUG

Remove the reserve tank f rom its
holder by pulling it straight up.
Drain the coolant, then put the
tank back in its holder.When the coolant stops draining,
tightenthedrainplugatthe
bottom of the radiator.
Apply non-hardening sealant to the
drain bolt threads, put a new
washer on the drain bolt, and
reinstall the bolt in the engine
block. Tighten it securely.
Tightening torque:
Loosen the bleeder bolt on top of
the engine, and remove the
bleeder cap near the engine oil f ill
cap.
5. 6.
7.
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance168
RESERVE TANK CAP
HOLDER RESERVE TANK BLEEDER BOLT
61 lbf·ft (83 N·m , 8.5 kgf·m)

CONT INUED
Fill the reserve tank to the MAX
mark. Install the reserve tank cap.
Install the radiator cap, and
tighten it to the first stop.
Start the engine and let it run until
the radiator fan comes on two
times. Then stop the engine.
Pour Honda All Season
Antif reeze/Coolant Type 2 into
the radiator up to the base of the
f iller neck. This coolant is a
mixture of 50 percent antif reeze
and 50 percent water. Pre-mixing
is not required.
Pour coolant into the radiator up
to the base of the f iller neck. Start the engine and let it run f or
about 30 seconds. Then turn of f
the engine. Tighten the bleeder bolt and
reinstall the bleeder cap when
coolant comes out in a steady
stream with no bubbles.
The cooling system capacity is: 9.
10.
11. 12.
13.
14.
8.
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance169
BLEEDER CAP
Fill up to here
FILLER NECK RESERVE TANK
1.72 US gal (6.5)

Remove the radiator cap.
Pour coolant into the radiator up
to the base of the f iller neck and
into the reserve tank up to the
MAX mark.
Start the engine and hold it at
1,500 rpm until the radiator f an
comes on. Turn of f the engine.
Check the coolant level in the
radiator and add coolant if needed.
Install the radiator cap, and
tighten it fully.
If necessary, f ill the reserve tank
to the MAX mark. Install the
reserve tank cap.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance170

Check the level in the windshield
washer reservoir at least monthly
during normal usage. In bad weather,
when you use the washers of ten,
check the level every time you stop
for fuel.Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer f luid. This
increases the cleaning capability and
prevents f reezing in cold weather.
The windshield washer reservoir is
located in the rear of the engine
compartment on the passenger’s side. Check the reservoir’s f luid level by
removing the cap and looking at the
level gauge attached to the cap.
When you ref ill the reservoir, clean
the edges of the windshield wiper
blades with windshield washer f luid
on a clean cloth. This will help to
condition the blade edges.
Windshield Washers
Maint enance171
RESERVOIR CAP
Do not use engine antif reeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir.
Antif reeze can damage your car’s paint,
while a vinegar/water solution can
damage the windshield washer pump.
Use only commercially-available
windshield washer f luid.

The transmission should be drained
and ref illed with new f luid according
to the time and distance recommen-
dations in the maintenance schedule.
Check the f luid level with the
transmission at normal operating
temperature and the car sitting on
level ground. Remove the
transmission f iller bolt and caref ully
f eel inside the bolt hole with your
f inger. The f luid level should be up
to the edge of the bolt hole. If it is
not, add Honda Manual Transmis-
sion Fluid (MTF) until it starts to
run out of the hole. Reinstall the
f iller bolt and tighten it securely. If Honda MTF is not available, you
may use an SAE 10W-30 or 10W-40
viscosity motor oil with the API
Certif ication seal that says ‘‘FOR
GASOLINE ENGINES’’ as a
temporary replacement. However,
motor oil does not contain the proper
additives and continued use can
cause stiffer shifting. Replace as
soon as it is convenient.
Maint enance
6-speed Manual T ransmission Fluid
172
CORRECT LEVEL
FILLER BOLT

Put a new washer on the f iller bolt,
then reinstall the f iller bolt. Tighten
it securely. Tightening torque:
The dif f erential should be drained
and ref illed with new f luid according
to the time and distance
recommendations in the
maintenance schedule.
Check the f luid level with the
dif f erential at normal operating
temperature and the vehicle sitting
on level ground. Remove the
dif f erential f luid f iller bolt and
washer and caref ully f eel inside the
bolt hole with your f inger. The f luid
level should be up to the edge of the
bolt hole. If it is not, slowly add f luid
until it starts to run out of the hole. Use an SAE 90 viscosity hypoid gear
oil, API service classif ied GL5 or
GL6 only, in the dif f erential.
Maint enance
Dif f erential Fluid
173
CORRECT LEVEL
FILLER BOLT
33 lbf·ft (45 N·m , 4.6 kgf·m)