wheel HONDA S2000 2001 1.G User Guide

Th
e Brakin g Syste m
Brak e Syste m Desig n
Th e hydrauli c syste m tha t operate s
th e brake s ha s tw o separat e circuits .
Eac h circui t work s diagonall y acros s
th e ca r (th e left-fron t brak e i s
connecte d wit h th e right-rea r brake ,
etc.) . I f on e circui t shoul d develo p a
problem , yo u wil l stil l hav e brakin g
a t tw o wheels .
Anti-loc
k Brake s

You r ca r ha s a n Anti-loc k Brak e
Syste m (ABS ) a s standar d
equipment . AB S help s t o preven t th e
wheel s fro m lockin g u p an d skiddin g
durin g har d braking , allowin g yo u t o
retai n steerin g control . Whe
n th e fron t tire s skid , yo u los e
steerin g control ; th e ca r continue s
straigh t ahea d eve n thoug h yo u tur n
th e steerin g wheel . Th e AB S help s t o
preven t lock-u p an d help s yo u retai n
steerin g contro l b y pumpin g th e
brake s rapidly ; muc h faste r tha n a
perso n ca n d o it .

CONTINUED

Drivin g

Fron
t

Drivin
g in Ba d Weather , Towin g a Traile r

Tractio n — Chec k you r tire s
frequentl y fo r wea r an d prope r
pressure . Bot h ar e importan t i n
preventin g "hydroplaning " (los s o f
tractio n o n a we t surface) . I n th e
winter , moun t sno w tire s o n al l fou r
wheel s fo r th e bes t handling .
Watc h roa d condition s carefully ,
the y ca n chang e fro m momen t t o
moment . We t leave s ca n b e a s slip -
per y a s ice . "Clear " road s ca n hav e
patche s o f ice . Drivin g condition s
ca n b e ver y hazardou s whe n th e
outsid e temperatur e is nea r freezing .
Th e roa d surfac e ca n becom e
covere d wit h area s o f wate r puddle s
mixe d wit h area s o f ice , s o you r
tractio n ca n chang e withou t warning .
B e carefu l whe n downshifting . I f
tractio n is low , yo u ca n loc k u p th e
driv e wheel s fo r a momen t an d caus e

a skid .
B
e ver y cautiou s whe n passing , o r
bein g passe d b y othe r cars . Th e
spra y fro m larg e car s reduce s you r
visibility , an d th e win d buffetin g ca n
caus e yo u to los e control . Towin
g a Traile r
You r ca r i s no t designe d t o to w a
trailer . Attemptin g to d o s o ca n voi d
you r warranties .

Driving

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

Tire
s

Maintenanc e
I n additio n t o prope r inflation ,
correc t whee l alignmen t help s t o
decreas e tir e wear . I f yo u fin d a tir e
i s wor n unevenly , hav e you r deale r
chec k th e whee l alignment .
Th e tire s wer e properl y balance d b y
th e factory . The y ma y nee d t o b e
rebalance d a t som e tim e befor e the y
ar e wor n out . Hav e you r deale r
chec k th e tire s i f yo u fee l a consis -
ten t vibratio n whil e driving . A tir e
shoul d alway s b e rebalance d if i t i s
remove d fro m th e whee l fo r repair .Mak
e sur e th e installe r balance s th e
wheel s whe n yo u hav e ne w tire s
installed . Thi s increase s ridin g
comfor t an d tir e life . You r car' s
origina l tire s wer e dynami c o r "spin "
balance d a t th e factory . Fo r bes t
results , hav e th e installe r perfor m a
dynami c balance .

Improper wheel weights can damage

your vehicle's aluminum wheels. Use

only genuine Honda wheel weights for

balancing.
Tir
e Rotatio n
Yo u shoul d no t rotat e you r Honda' s
tires . Th e fron t an d rea r tire s ar e
differen t sizes , s o the y canno t b e
rotate d front-to-rear . Th e original -
equipmen t tire s o n you r Hond a hav e
a unidirectiona l trea d pattern , s o
the y canno t b e rotate d side-to-side .

Tir e Wea r

Th e tire s tha t cam e o n you r ca r wer e
designe d an d constructe d to provid e
superio r gri p durin g acceleration ,
braking , an d cornering . A s a trade -
off , the y wil l wea r mor e rapidl y tha n
tire s use d o n ordinar y passenge r
cars . Becaus e o f th e car' s weigh t
distribution , an d th e fac t tha t the y
ar e th e drivin g wheels , yo u ma y
expec t th e rea r tire s t o wea r mor e
rapidl y tha n th e fron t tires .
Maintenanc e
NOTIC
E

Tire
s

Yo u shoul d carefull y inspec t you r
car' s tire s fo r wear , damage , an d
prope r inflatio n ever y 7,50 0 mile s
(12,000km ) (se e pag e 185 ). Replacin
g Tire s an d Wheel s
Th e tire s tha t cam e wit h you r ca r
wer e selecte d t o matc h th e perform -
anc e capabilitie s o f th e ca r whil e
providin g th e bes t combinatio n o f
handling , rid e comfort , an d lon g life .
Yo u shoul d replac e the m wit h radia l
tire s o f th e sam e size , loa d range ,
spee d rating , an d maximu m col d tir e
pressur e ratin g (a s show n o n th e
tire' s sidewall) . Mixin g radia l an d
bias-pl y tire s o n you r ca r ca n reduc e
it s brakin g ability , traction , an d
steerin g accuracy .
It i s bes t t o replac e al l fou r tire s a t
th e sam e time . I f tha t i s no t possibl e
o r necessary , the n replac e th e tw o
fron t tire s o r th e tw o rea r tire s a s a
pair . Replacin g jus t on e tir e ca n
seriousl y affec t you r car' s handling .

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e
Installin
g imprope r tire s o n you r
ca r ca n affec t handlin g an d
stability . Thi s ca n caus e a cras h
i n whic h yo u ca n b e seriousl y
hur t o r killed .
Alway s us e th e siz e an d typ e o f
tire s recommende d in thi s
owner' s manual .

Tire
s

Th e AB S work s b y comparin g th e
spee d o f th e wheels . Whe n replacin g
tires , us e th e sam e siz e originall y
supplie d wit h th e car . Tir e siz e an d
constructio n ca n affec t whee l spee d
an d ma y caus e th e syste m to wor k in -

consistently .

I f yo u eve r nee d to replac e a wheel ,
mak e sur e th e wheel' s specification s
matc h thos e o f th e origina l whee l
tha t cam e o n you r car . Replacemen t
wheel s ar e availabl e a t you r Hond a

dealer .
Wheel
s an d Tire s

Wheels :

Front :
16x6 1/ 2 J J

Rear :

16x 7 1/ 2 J J

Tires :

Front :

205/55 R 1 6 89 W

Rear :

225/50 R 1 6 92 W

Se e pag e 24 8 fo r informatio n abou t
DO T Tir e Qualit y Grading . Winte
r Drivin g
Tire s tha t ar e marke d " M + S " o n th e
sidewal l hav e a n all-weathe r trea d
design . The y shoul d b e suitabl e fo r
mos t winte r drivin g conditions . Tire s
wi t ou t thes e marking s ar e designe d
fo r optimu m tractio n in dr y
conditions . The y ma y no t provid e
adequat e performanc e i n winte r

driving .

Fo r th e bes t performanc e in snow y
o r ic y conditions , yo u shoul d instal l
sno w tire s o r tir e chains . The y ma y
b e require d b y loca l law s unde r
certai n conditions .
Maintenanc e

Tire
s

Snow Tires

I f yo u moun t sno w tire s o n you r
Honda , mak e sur e the y ar e radia l
tire s o f th e sam e siz e an d loa d rang e
a s th e origina l tires . Moun t sno w
tire s o n al l fou r wheel s t o balanc e
you r vehicle' s handlin g in al l weathe r
conditions . Kee p i n min d th e tractio n
provide d b y sno w tire s o n dr y road s
ma y no t b e a s hig h a s you r vehicle' s
origina l equipmen t tires . Yo u shoul d
driv e cautiousl y eve n whe n th e road s
ar e clear . Chec k wit h th e tir e deale r
fo r maximu m spee d recommenda -
tions .
Tire Chains

Becaus e you r Hond a ha s limite d tir e
clearance , moun t onl y SA E Clas s "S "
cable-typ e tractio n device s o n th e
rea r tires . Us e tractio n device s onl y
whe n require d b y drivin g condition s
o r loca l laws . Mak e sur e the y ar e th e
correc t siz e fo r you r tires .
Meta l link-typ e "chains " shoul d no t
b e used . N o matte r ho w tigh t the y
see m to b e installed , the y ca n com e
int o contac t wit h th e bod y an d
suspension , causin g seriou s damage .
Whe n installin g cables , follo w th e
manufacturer' s instruction s an d
moun t the m as tightl y a s yo u can .
Driv e slowl y wit h the m installed . I f
yo u hea r the m comin g in contac t
wit h th e bod y o r chassis , sto p an d
investigate . Mak e sur e th e cable s ar e
installe d tightly , an d tha t the y ar e
no t contactin g th e brak e line s o r

suspension .

Remov e the m as soo n a s yo u begi n drivin
g o n cleare d roads .

Cables that are the wrong size or
improperly installed can damage your

car's brake lines, suspension, body, and

wheels. Stop driving if they are hitting

any part of the car.

Maintenanc e

NOTIC
E

Storin
g You r Ca r
I f yo u nee d t o par k you r ca r fo r a n
extende d perio d (mor e tha n on e
month) , ther e ar e severa l thing s yo u
shoul d d o t o prepar e i t fo r storage .
Prope r preparatio n help s preven t
deterioratio n an d make s i t easie r t o
ge t you r ca r bac k o n th e road . I f
possible , stor e you r ca r indoors . Fil
l th e fue l tank . Chang
e th e engin e oi l an d filte r
(se e pag e 159 ).
Was h an d dr y th e exterio r
completely .
Clea n th e interior . Mak e sur e th e
carpeting , floo r mats , etc . ar e
completel y dry . Rais
e th e convertibl e to p cover . Leav
e th e parkin g brak e off . Pu t
th e transmissio n i n Reverse . Bloc
k th e rea r wheels .
I f th e ca r i s t o b e store d fo r a
longe r period , i t shoul d b e
supporte d o n jackstand s s o th e
tire s ar e of f th e ground . Leav
e on e windo w ope n slightl y (i f
th e ca r i s bein g store d indoors) . Disconnec
t th e battery .
Suppor t th e fron t wipe r blad e
arm s wit h a folde d towe l o r ra g s o
the y d o no t touc h th e windshield . T
o minimiz e sticking , appl y a
silicon e spra y lubrican t t o al l doo r
an d trun k seals . Also , appl y a
vehicl e bod y wa x t o th e painte d
surface s tha t mat e wit h th e doo r
an d trun k seals . Cove
r th e ca r wit h a "breathable "
cover , on e mad e fro m a porou s
materia l suc h a s cotton .
Nonporou s materials , suc h a s
plasti c sheeting , tra p moisture ,
whic h ca n damag e th e paint . I
f possible , ru n th e engin e fo r a
whil e periodicall y (preferabl y onc e
a month) .
I f yo u stor e you r ca r fo r 1 2 month s
o r longer , hav e you r Hond a deale r
perfor m th e inspection s calle d fo r i n
th e 2 4 months/30,00 0 mile s (48,00 0
km ) maintenanc e schedul e a s soo n
a s yo u tak e it ou t o f storag e (se e
pag e 14 8). Th e replacement s calle d
fo r i n th e maintenanc e schedul e ar e
no t neede d unles s th e ca r ha s
actuall y reache d tha t tim e o r mileage .

Maintenanc e

Appearanc
e Car e

Regula r cleanin g an d polishin g o f
you r Hond a help s t o kee p it "new "
looking . Thi s sectio n give s yo u hint s
o n ho w to clea n you r ca r an d
preserv e it s appearance : th e paint ,
brightwork , wheel s an d interior . Als o
include d ar e severa l thing s yo u ca n
d o to hel p preven t corrosion . Exterio
r Care................................. . 20 4
Washing..................................... . 20 4

Waxing....................................... 205

Aluminu m Wheels.................... . 20 6
Pain t Touch-up.......................... . 20 6
Interio r Care.................................. . 20
7

Carpeting................................... . 20
7

Floo r Mats................................. .
20

7

Fabric.........................................
208

Vinyl...........................................

20 8

Leather.......................................
208

Rea r Window.............................
208

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


20
8

Windows.................................... .
209

Ai r Fresheners.......................... .
209

Corrosio n Protection.................... .
209

Bod y Repairs................................. .
211

Appearanc e Car e

Exterio
r Car e

Aluminu m Wheel s

Clea n you r Acura' s aluminu m allo y
wheel s a s yo u d o th e res t o f th e
exterior . Was h the m wit h th e sam e
solution , an d rins e the m thoroughly .
Th e wheel s hav e a protectiv e clear -
coa t tha t keep s th e aluminu m fro m
corrodin g an d tarnishing . Usin g
hars h chemicals , includin g som e
commercia l whee l cleaners , o r stif f
brushe s ca n damag e thi s clear-coat .
Onl y us e a mil d detergen t an d sof t
brus h o r spong e to clea n th e wheels .
Pain
t Touch-u p

You r deale r ha s touch-u p pain t t o
matc h you r car' s color . Th e colo r
cod e is printe d o n a sticke r o n th e
driver' s doorjamb . Tak e thi s cod e t o
you r deale r so yo u ar e sur e to ge t
th e correc t color . Inspec
t you r ca r frequentl y fo r chip s
o r scratche s i n th e paint . Repai r
the m righ t awa y t o preven t corrosio n
o f th e meta l underneath . Us e th e
touch-u p pain t onl y o n smal l chip s
an d scratches . Mor e extensiv e pain t
damag e shoul d b e repaire d b y a

professional .

Appearanc e Car e