service HONDA S2000 2000 1.G Owner's Manual

Changing the Oil and Filter
Always change the oil and filter
according to the time and distance
(miles/kilometers) recommenda­
tions
in the maintenance schedule.
The oil and filter collect contami­
nants that can damage your engine
if
they are not removed regularly.
Changing the
oil and filter requires
special tools and access from
underneath
the car. The car should
be raised on a service station-type
hydraulic lift for this service.
Unless
you have the knowledge and proper
equipment, you should have this
maintenance done by a skilled
mechanic.
1. Run the engine until it reaches
normal operating temperature,
then shut it off.
2. Remove the engine oil fill cap.
Remove the
oil drain bolt from the
bottom of
the engine. Drain the oil
into an appropriate container.
Engine Oil
3. Remove the oil filter and let the
remaining
oil drain. A special
wrench (available from your
Honda dealer) is required to
remove the filter.
4. Install a new oil filter according to
instructions that come with it.
CONTINUED
Maintenance 159

6-speed Manual Transmission Fluid
Check the fluid level with the
transmission at normal operating
temperature and the car sitting on
level ground. Remove the
transmission filler bolt and carefully
feel inside the bolt hole with your
finger.
The fluid level should be up
to the edge of the bolt hole.
If it is
not, add Genuine Honda Manual
Transmission Fluid (MTF) until it
starts to run out of the hole. Reinstall
the filler bolt and tighten it securely.
168 Maintenance
If Honda MTF is not available, you
may use an
API service SG, SH or SJ
grade motor oil with a viscosity of
SAE lOW-30 or lOW-40 as a
temporary replacement. An
SG
grade is preferred, but an SH or SJ
grade may be used if SG is not
available. However, motor
oil does
not contain the proper additives and
continued use can cause stiffer
shifting. Replace as soon as
convenient.
The transmission should be drained
and refilled with new fluid according
to the time and distance recommen­
dations
in the maintenance schedule.

Check the fluid level with the
differential at normal operating
temperature and the vehicle sitting
onlevelground.Removethe
differential fluid filler bolt and
washer and carefully feel inside the
bolt hole with your finger.
The fluid
level should
be up to the edge of the
bolt hole.
If it is not, slowly add fluid
until it starts to run out of
the hole.
Use a SAE 90 viscosity hypoid gear
oil, API service classified GL5 or
GL6 only, in the differential.
Put a new washer on the filler bolt,
then reinstall the filler bolt. Tighten
it securely. Tightening torque:
33 lbf·ft (45 N·m, 4.6 kgf·m)
The differential should be drained
and refilled with new fluid according
to the time and distance
recommendations in the
maintenance schedule.
Differential Fluid
Maintenance 169

Air Conditioning System
Your car's air conditioning is a sealed
system. Any major maintenance,
such as recharging, should
be done
by a qualified mechanic. You can do
a couple of things to
make sure the
air conditioning works efficiently.
Periodically
check the engine's
radiator and air conditioning
condenser for leaves, insects, and
dirt
stuck to the front surface. These
block the air flow and reduce cooling
efficiency.
Use a light spray from a
hose or a soft
brush to remove them.
NOTICE
The condenser and radiator fins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure
~pray
or soft-bristle brush to clean them.
182 Maintenance
Run the air conditioning at least once
a
week during the cold weather
months. Run it for at least ten
minutes while you are driving at a
steady speed with
the engine at
normal operating temperature. This
circulates the lubricating oil con­
tained in
the refrigerant.
If the air conditioning does not get as
cold
as before, have your dealer
check the system. Recharge the
system with Refrigerant HFC-134a
(R-134a). (See Specifications on page
245.)
NOTICE
Whenever you have the air conditioning
system serviced, make sure the service
facility uses a refrigerant recycling
system. This system captures the
refrigerant
for reuse. Releasing
refrigerant into the atmosphere can
damage the environment.

Changing a Flat Tire
ll.Put on the spare tire. Put the
wheel nuts back on finger-tight,
then tighten them
in a crisscross
pattern with the wheel wrench
until the wheel is firmly against
the hub.
Do not try to tighten
them
fully.
216 Taking Care of the Unexpected
12.Lower the car to the ground and
remove the jack. 13.Tighten
the wheel nuts securely in
the same crisscross pattern. Have
the wheel nut torque checked at
the nearest automotive service
facility.
Tighten
the wheel nuts to:
80 lbf.ft (1 08 N·m, 11 kgf·m)

This indicator should come on when
the ignition switch is
ON (II), and go
out after the engine starts.
If it
comes on brightly when the engine
is running, it indicates that the
charging system has stopped
charging the battery. Immediately
turn off
all electrical
accessories: radio, heater, A/C,
cruise control, etc.
Try not to use
other electrically-operated controls
such as
the power windows. Keep
the engine running and take extra
care not to stall
it. Starting the
engine
will discharge the battery
rapidly.
Charging System Indicator
By eliminating as much of the
electrical load as possible, you can
drive several miles (kilometers)
before
the battery is too discharged
to keep the engine running. Drive to
a service station or garage where
you can get technical assistance.
Taking Care of the Unexpected 227

The Brake System Indicator light
comes on when you turn the ignition
ON (II). If the parking brake is not
set, it goes off after you start the
engine.
If the parking brake is set, it
goes off when you fully release the
parking brake with the engine
running. If
it comes on at any other time, it
indicates a problem with
the car's
brake system. In most cases, the
problem is a low fluid level in
the
brake fluid reservoir. Press lightly on
the brake pedal to see if it feels
normal.
If it does, check the brake
fluid level the next time you stop at a
service station (see page
170 ) . If the
fluid level is
low, take the car to your
dealer and have the brake system
inspected for leaks or worn brake
pads.
However,
if the brake pedal does not
feel normal, you should take
immediate action. Because
of the
brake system's dual-circuit design, a
problem
in one part of the system
will still give you braking at two
wheels.
You will feel the brake pedal
go down much farther before the car
begins to slow down, and you
will
have to press harder on the pedal.
The distance needed to stop will be
much longer.
Brake System Indicator
Slow down by shifting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is safe. Because
of the
longer distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the car.
You
should have it towed, and repaired as
soon as possible.
If you must drive the car a short
distance in this condition, drive
slowly and cautiously.
Taking Care of the Unexpected 229

If Your Car Gets Stuck
If your car gets stuck in sand, mud,
or snow, call a towing service to pull
it out (see page
238).
236 Taking Care of the Unexpected
For very short distances, such as
freeing
the car, you can use the
detachable towing hook that mounts
on
the anchors in the front and rear
bumpers.
To use the towing hook:
1. Remove the cover from the
bumper.
2. Remove the towing hook, hook
extension and wheel wrench from
the tool box.
3. Using the wheel wrench, fasten
the extension into the bolt hole in
the anchor.

Emergency Towing
If your car needs to be towed, call a
professional towing service or,
if you
belong to one, an organization that
provides roadside assistance. Never
tow your car behind another vehicle
with just a rope or chain.
It is very
dangerous.
There are three popular types of
professional towing equipment.
238 Taking Care of the Unexpected
Flat-bed Equipment -The operator
loads your vehicle on the back of a
truck.
This is the only way your
S2000 should be transported.
When you contact the towing agency,
inform
them that you have an S2000
and that a flat-bed is required.
Wheel Lift Equipment -The tow
truck uses two pivoting arms that go
under the tires (front or rear) and lift
them off the ground. The other two
tires remain on the ground. Because
the
S2000 sits so low, the body could
come
in contact with the ground and
be damaged.
This method of
towing is unacceptable.

DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
The tires on your vehicle meet all
U.S. Federal Safety Requirements.
All tires are also graded for
treadwear, traction, and temperature
performance according to
Department of Transportation
(DOT) standards. The following
explains these gradings.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between the tread shoulder and the
maximum section width. For
example: Treadwear
200
TractionAA
Temperature A
246 Technical Information
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a compara­
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government
test course. For example, a tire
graded
150 would wear one and one
half (1-1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded
100. The relative performance of
tires depends upon
the actual condi­
tions of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm
due to variations
in driving habits,
service practices, and differences in
road characteristics and climate. Traction
The traction
grades, from highest to
lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C. Those
grades represent the tire's ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on
specified government
test surfaces
of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Warning:
The traction grade
assigned to this tire
is based on
straight-ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.