2003 HONDA S2000 engine overheat

The manual transmission is synchro-
nizedinallforwardgearsforsmooth
operation. It has a lockout so you
cannot shift directly from Fifth to
Reverse instead of Sixth (see page). When shif ting up or down,
make sure you push the clutch pedal
down all the way, shift to the next
gear, and let the pedal up gradually.
When you are not shif ting, do not
rest your f oot on the clutch pedal.
This can cause your clutch to wear
out f aster. Come to a full stop before you shift
into Reverse. You can damage the
transmission by trying to shif t into
Reverse with the car moving. Push
down the clutch pedal, and pause f or
a f ew seconds bef ore shif ting into
Reverse, or shif t into one of the
f orward gears f or a moment. This
stops the gears so they won’t ‘‘grind.’’
When slowing down, you can get
extra braking f rom the engine by
shifting to a lower gear. This extra
braking can help you maintain a safe
speed and prevent your brakes f rom
overheating while going down a
steep hill. Bef ore downshif ting,
make sure engine speed will not go
into the tachometer’s red zone in the
lower gear.
138
Driving
6-speed Manual T ransmission
137
Rapid slowing or speeding-up
can cause loss of control on
slippery surfaces. If you crash,
you can be injured.
Use extra care when driving on
slippery surfaces.

´
µ
Repeat this procedure f or the
other three spark plugs. Install the ignition coil. Reinstall
the bolt.
Reinstall the cover on the cylinder
bank. Reinstall the f our hexagon
socket head cap bolts.Spark Plug Gap:
7.
8.
9. NGK:
DENSO:
Spark Plugs
Maint enance
Specif ications:
180
PK22PR-L11S PFR7G-11S
0.04 in (1.1 mm)
0
0.1 mm
Tighten the spark plugs caref ully. A
spark plug that is too loose can
overheat and damage the engine.
Overtightening can cause damage to
the threads in the cylinder head.

This section covers the more-
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you inf ormation about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also f ind instructions
on getting your car towed.......................
Compact Spare Tire .218
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .219
..........
If Your Engine Won’t Start . 224
Nothing Happens or the Starter Motor Operates ........................
Very Slowly .224
The Starter Operates ................................
Normally .225
................................
Jump Starting .226
............
If Your Engine Overheats . 229
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 232
..........
Charging System Indicator . 233
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 234
...............
Brake System Indicator . 236
.......
Closing the Convertible Top . 237
..............................................
Fuses .238
..........
Checking and Replacing . 239
.................
If Your Car Gets Stuck . 243
......................
Emergency Towing .245
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed217

If the temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn of f the engine. If you do not see steam or spray,
leave the engine running and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading
(climbing a long, steep hill on a
hot day with the A/C running, for
example), the engine should start
to cool down almost immediately.
If it does, wait until the tempera-
ture gauge comes down to the mid-
point then continue driving.
Your car can overheat f or several
reasons, such as lack of coolant or a
mechanical problem. The only
indication may be the temperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming f rom under the car or
engine cover. In either case, you
should take immediate action. The reading on your car’s
temperature gauge should stay in
the midrange under most conditions.
Itmaygohigherif youaredrivingup
a long steep hill on a very hot day. If
it climbs to the red mark, you should
determine the reason. Saf ely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in Neutral
and set the parking brake. Turn
of f the heating and cooling system
andallotheraccessories.Turnon
the hazard warning indicators.
If you see steam and/or spray
coming f rom under the hood, turn
of f the engine.Wait until you see no more signs
of steam or spray, then open the
hood.
1. 3.
4.
5.
2.
CONT INUED
If Your Engine Overheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed229
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
Driving with the temperature gauge
reading at the red mark can cause
serious damage to your engine.

Look f or any obvious coolant leaks,
such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you f ind a leak, it
must be repaired bef ore you
continue driving (seeon page ). If you don’t f ind an obvious leak,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank (see page
). If the level is below the
MIN mark, add coolant to halfway
between the MIN and MAX marks. Using gloves or a large heavy
cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the f irst stop. This
releases any remaining pressure in
the cooling system. After the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap and turn it until it comes
of f .
If there was no coolant in the
reserve tank, you may also have to
add coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the reading
reaches the middle of the
temperature gauge, or lower,
bef ore checking the radiator.
6.
7.9.
8.
245 124
Emergency
Towing
If Your Engine Overheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed230
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.

Start the engine and set the
temperature control dial to
maximum. Add coolant to the
radiator up to the base of the f iller
neck. If you do not have the
proper coolant mixture available,
you can add plain water.
Remember to have the cooling
system drained and ref illed with
the proper mixture as soon as you
can.Put the radiator cap back on
tightly. Run the engine and watch
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair. (See
on page .) If the temperature stays normal,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the
MAX mark. Put the cap back on
tightly.
10.
12.
11.
245Emergency
Towing
If Your Engine Overheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed231

CONT INUED
...
Closing the Convertible Top . 237
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 232
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 234
..................
Overheated Engine . 229
...........................
Emergency Brake .81
......................
Emergency Flashers .80
............
Emergency Trunk Opener . 67
.......................
Emissions Controls .257
.............
Emissions Testing, State . 260
Engine ...........
Check Engine Light . 47,234
Compartment, Checking ......................................
in the .122
.......................................
Coolant .124
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 49
...................................
Drive Belt .188
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp .47, 234
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 46,232
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 161
...............................
Overheating .229
............................
Specif ications .250
............................
Speed Limiter .138
.......................................
Starting .135
.........
Engine Cover, Opening the . 122
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .255 ...
Evaporative Emission Controls . 257
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .40
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .17
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 208
............................
Fabric, Cleaning .212
.....................................
Fan, Interior .86
Features, Comfort and ................................
Convenience .85
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 121
Filters ...............................................
Oil .163
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 80
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 219
Fluids ..........................................
Brake .174
.........................................
Clutch .175
..............
Manual Transmission . 172
..................
Windshield Washer . 171
........
FM Stereo Radio Reception . 103
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 256
..........................
Four-way Flashers .80 .................................................
Fuel .120
......................
Fill Door and Cap .121
...........................................
Gauge .50
................
Octane Requirement . 120
...............................
Oxygenated .255
........................
Reserve Indicator .48
........................
Tank, Filling the .121
..............
Fuel Mileage, Improving . 125
..............
Fuel Station Procedures . 121
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .239
..........................................
Gasohol .255
.........................................
Gasoline .120
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 48
...........................................
Gauge .50
................
Octane Requirement . 120
.....................
Oxygenated Fuels .255
........................
Tank, Filling the .121
Index
F
G
III

CONT INUED
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator .48
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 46,232
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart . 250
.........................................
Luggage .128
..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 120
.....................
Normal Shif t Speeds .138
..................
NOTICE, Explanation of . ii
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 248
..................................
Maintenance .147
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 159
........................................
Record .157
....................................
Schedule .150
..
Maintenance Required Indicator . 51
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 47,234
...................
Manual Transmission . 137
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 172
...............................
Meters, Gauges .49
...................
Methanol in Gasoline . 255
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .80 ...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 120
.........................................
Odometer .50
...............................
Odometer, Trip .51
Oil ........................
Change, How to .163
......................
Change, When to .150
......................
Checking Engine .123
..............
Pressure Indicator . 46,232
Selecting Proper Viscosity ......................................
Chart .162
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 61
.........................
Opening the Trunk .66
..
Operation in Foreign Countries . 256
..............................
Outside Mirrors .80
....................
Overheating, Engine .229
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels .255
..............................
Paint Touch-up .210
..............
Panel Brightness Control . 54
.................................
Parking Brake .81
.................................
Parking Lights .53
.............................
PGM-FI System .258 ..................
Polishing and Waxing . 209
Power ..................................
Door Locks .62
..............
Engine, Specif ications . 250
.........................................
Mirrors .80
......................................
Windows .70
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . 17
............................
Protecting Adults .12
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 18
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 17
........................
Protecting Children .18
.......
Protecting Larger Children . 29
.........
Protecting Small Children . 26
...................
Radiator Overheating . 229
.......................
Radio Sound System .94
...................
Readiness Codes . 235,260
..
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement . 202
............................
Rear View Mirror .80
................
Reclining the Seat-backs . 69
.......
Recommended Shif t Speeds . 138
Index
M
N O
P
R
V