2003 S2000 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.helminc.com. Contents
Owner's Identification Form
Introduction ........................................................................\
............................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safety ........................................................................\
.................................................. ii
Your Car at a Glance ........................................................................\
.............................................................. 2
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
............................................... 5
Proper use and care of your car's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System.
Instruments and Controls........................................................................\
...................................................43
Instrument panel indica tor and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features........................................................................\
.................................85
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.
Before Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... 119
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new car, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving........................................................................\
...................................................... .............................133
The proper way to start the engine, shift the tr ansmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
...................................................... ...................147
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your car to the dealer.
Appearance Care........................................................................\
................................................................. 207
Tips on cleaning and protecting your car. Things to look for if your car ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
.......................................217
This section covers several problems motorists someti mes experience, and how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
...................................................... .247
ID numbers, dimensions, capaciti es, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)......................................................................261
A summary of the warranties covering your new Honda, and how to contact us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
.......................................265
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index ........................................................................\
......................................................................................... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need wh en you pull up to the fuel pump.
Usecautionif youshoulddrive
your car on very rough or rutted
roads. You could damage the
suspension and underbody by
bottoming out. Going too f ast over
parking lot ‘‘speed bumps’’ can
also cause damage.Because of the low-prof ile tires
f itted to your car, the alloy wheels
are closer to the ground. Driving
over a pothole or road debris at
too high a speed can seriously
damage a wheel. Slow down under
these conditions.
Your Honda is designed to give you
optimum handling and perf ormance
on well-maintained roads. As part of
this design, your car has a minimum
of ground clearance and very low-
prof ile tires.
Curbs and steep inclines could
damage the f ront and rear
bumpers. Low curbs that do not
affect the average car may be high
enough to hit the bumper on your
Honda. The f ront or rear bumper
mayscrapewhentryingtodrive
onto an incline, such as a steep
driveway or trailer ramps.
Bef ore Driving
General Precautions
131
This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
manual transmission. It also includes
important inf ormation on parking
your car, and the braking system.........................
Preparing to Drive .134
.......................
Starting the Engine .135
Starting in Cold Weather ....................
at High Altitude .136
....
6-speed Manual Transmission . 137
.....
Recommended Shif t Points . 138
..............
Engine Speed Limiter . 138
.......................
Reverse Lockout .138
...........................................
Parking .139
.....................
The Braking System .140
.............
Brake Wear Indicators . 140
...............
Brake System Design . 141
.......................
Anti-lock Brakes .141
Important Saf ety .........................
Reminders .142
........................
ABS Indicator .143
...............
Driving in Bad Weather . 144
...........................
Towing a Trailer .145
Driving
Driving133
µCheck your tires
f requently f or wear and proper
pressure. Both are important in
preventing ‘‘hydroplaning’’ (loss of
traction on a wet surface). In the
winter, mount snow tires on all f our
wheels f or the best handling.
Watch road conditions caref ully,
they can change f rom moment to
moment. Wet leaves can be as slip-
pery as ice. ‘‘Clear’’ roads can have
patches of ice. Driving conditions
can be very hazardous when the
outside temperature is near f reezing.
The road surf ace can become
covered with areas of water puddles
mixed with areas of ice, so your
traction can change without warning.
Be caref ul when downshif ting. If
traction is low, you can lock up the
drive wheels f or a moment and cause
askid. Be very cautious when passing, or
beingpassedbyothercars.The
spray f rom large cars reduces your
visibility, and the wind buf f eting can
cause you to lose control.Your car is not designed to tow a
trailer. Attempting to do so can void
your warranties.
Driving
Traction
Towing a Trailer
Driving in Bad Weather, Towing a Trailer
145
..............................
Economy, Fuel .125
............
Emergencies on the Road . 217
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 226
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 219
.....
Charging System Indicator . 233
..................
Checking the Fuses . 239
Changing Oil
........................................
How to .163
......................................
When to .150
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .219
............
Changing Engine Coolant . 167
...
Charging System Indicator . 46,233
...............
Check Engine Light . 47,234
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 134
.....................................
Child Saf ety .18
.......................................
Child Seats .22
...................................
Cleaner, Air .176
.........................................
Cleaning .207
....................
Aluminum Wheels .210
...................................
Carpeting .211
......................................
Exterior .208
.................................
Floor Mats .211
.......................................
Interior .211
.......................................
Leather .212
...................................
Seat Belts .212
...........................................
Vinyl .212
....................................
Windows .213
...................................
Clutch Fluid .175
........................
CO in the Exhaust .257
............
Cold Weather, Starting in . 136
......................
Compact Spare Tire .218
.............
Controls, Instruments and . 43..............................
Convertible Top .72
...............
Convertible Top Cover . 77
..
Lowering the Convertible Top . 72
................................
Maintenance .78
.....
Raising the Convertible Top . 75
Coolant ........................................
Adding .165
....................................
Checking .124
.........................
Proper Solution .165
...................
Temperature Gauge . 49
....................
Corrosion Protection .213
Crankcase Emission Control ........................................
System .257
............
Cruise Control Operation . 115
Customer Relations ................................
Inf ormation .264
................
DANGER, Explanation of . ii
.......................................
Dashboard .44
................
Daytime Running Lights . 54
............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety . 266
................
Def rosting the Windows . 91
....................................
Dimensions .250
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 53Dipstick
..................................
Engine Oil .123
..........................
Directional Signals .55
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 140
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .164
...................
Do Not Tow a Trailer . 145
Doors ..............
Locking and Unlocking . 62
..............................
Monitor Light .47
......................
Power Door Locks .62
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 252
Downshif ting, 6-speed Manual .............................
Transmission .138
...........................................
Driving .133
....................................
Economy .125
.........................
In Bad Weather .144
................
In Foreign Countries . 256
Index
D
E
II
CONT INUED
...........................
Storing Your Car .206
.......................................
Stuck Car .243
Supplemental Restraint System ......................................
Servicing .39
.........................
SRS Indicator .38 ,47
...............
Tensioners, Seat Belts . 34
.....................................
Tachometer .49
......
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in . 202
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected . 217
Technical Descriptions ......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 252
.....
Emissions Control Systems . 257
.....................
Oxygenated Fuels .255
Three Way Catalytic ...............................
Converter .259
.......................
Temperature Gauge .49
...................
Tensioners, Seat Belts . 34
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 259
....................................
Tire Chains .195
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 219
...........................
Tire Inf ormation .254
...............................................
Tires .189
..............................
Air Pressure .189 ...................................
Balancing .192
.........................
Checking Wear .191
.................
Compact Spare Tire . 218
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 252
......................................
Inf lation .189
..................................
Inspection .191
...................................
Replacing .193
......................................
Rotating .192
...........................................
Snow .195
............................
Specif ications .251
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 219
Towing ......................
A Trailer, Do Not .145
................
Emergency Wrecker . 245
..................
Trailer, Do Not Tow a . 145
Transmission Checking Fluid Level, 6-speed ..........
Manual Transmission . 172
...........................
Fluid Selection .172
..............
Identif ication Number . 248
Shif ting the 6-speed Manual .........................
Transmission .137
.....................................
Treadwear .252
.......................................
Trip Meter .51
................................................
Trunk .66
........
Emergency Trunk Opener . 67.................................
Opening the .66
...................
Open Monitor Light . 47
....................................
Turn Signals .55
......................
Vehicle Dimensions .250
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number . 248
.............................
Vehicle Storage .206
........................................
Ventilation .88
.................................................
VIN .248
...............................
Vinyl Cleaning .212
..................................
Viscosity, Oil .162
.....................
Underside, Cleaning .213
Unexpected, Taking Care ..........................................
of the .217
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 252
........................
Unleaded Gasoline .120
.....................
Upholstery Cleaning .211
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 164
Index
T U
V
VII