HONDA S2000 2001 1.G Owner's Guide

Protectin
g Childre n

5 . Afte r confirmin g tha t th e bel t i s
locked , gra b th e shoulde r par t o f
th e bel t nea r th e buckl e an d pul l
u p to remov e an y slac k fro m th e
la p par t o f th e belt . Remember , i f
th e la p par t o f th e bel t i s no t tight ,
th e chil d sea t wil l no t b e secure . I t
ma y hel p to pu t weigh t o n th e
chil d seat , o r pus h o n th e bac k o f
th e seat , whil e pullin g u p o n th e

belt .
6
. Pus h an d pul l th e chil d sea t
forwar d an d fro m sid e to sid e to
verif y tha t i t i s secur e enoug h to
sta y uprigh t durin g norma l drivin g
maneuvers . I f th e chil d sea t i s no t
secure , unlatc h th e belt , allo w it t o
retrac t fully , the n repea t thes e

steps .

T o deactivat e th e lockin g
mechanis m in orde r t o remov e a
chil d seat , unlatc h th e buckle ,
unrout e th e sea t belt , an d le t th e bel t
full y retract . Additional Precautions for Small
Children
Never hold a small child on your

lap. I f yo u ar e no t wearin g a sea t

bel t i n a crash , yo u coul d b e

throw n forwar d int o th e

dashboar d an d crus h th e child .

I f yo u ar e wearin g a sea t belt , th e

chil d ca n b e tor n fro m you r arm s

durin g a crash . Fo r example , i f

you r ca r crashe s int o a parke d

vehicl e a t 3 0 mp h (4 8 km/h) , a

30-l b (1 4 kg ) chil d wil l becom e a

900-l b (41 0 kg ) force , an d yo u wil l

no t b e abl e t o hol d on .
Never put a seat belt over yourself

and a child. Durin g a crash , th e

bel t coul d pres s dee p int o th e chil d

an d caus e ver y seriou s injuries .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n

Protectin g Large r Childre n
Th e passenger' s airba g pose s
seriou s risk s t o children , includin g
thos e wh o hav e outgrow n chil d seats .
I f th e vehicl e sea t i s to o fa r forward ,
o r th e child' s hea d is throw n forwar d
durin g a collision , o r th e chil d is
unrestraine d o r ou t o f position , a n
inflatin g airba g ca n kil l o r seriousl y
injur e th e child .
Fo r thes e reasons , w e recommen d
tha t yo u d o no t carr y a chil d

passenger .

Wit h thi s in mind , followin g ar e
som e guideline s t o hel p yo u decid e
whe n a give n chil d ma y rid e in you r
car .

The Child Should Wear a Seat Belt

Whe n a chil d reache s th e
recommende d weigh t o r heigh t limi t
fo r a forward-facin g chil d seat , th e
chil d shoul d wea r a lap/shoulde r belt .I
f a chil d is to o shor t fo r th e shoulde r
par t o f th e bel t t o properl y fit , w e
recommen d tha t th e chil d us e a
booste r sea t unti l th e chil d is tal l
enoug h to us e th e sea t bel t withou t a

booster .

Th e followin g page s giv e
instruction s o n ho w to chec k prope r
sea t bel t fit , wha t kin d o f booste r
sea t t o us e if on e is needed , an d
importan t precaution s fo r a chil d
wh o mus t rid e in thi s car .
Checking Seat Belt Fit

T o determin e i f a lap/shoulde r bel t
properl y fit s a child , hav e th e chil d
pu t on the sea t belt . Follo w th e
instruction s o n pag e 15 . The n chec k
ho w th e bel t fits .
I f th e shoulde r par t o f th e bel t rest s
ove r th e child' s collarbon e an d
agains t th e cente r o f th e chest , a s
shown , th e chil d is larg e enoug h to
wea r th e sea t belt .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Allowin
g a large r chil d to si t
improperl y in th e fron t sea t ca n
resul t i n injur y o r deat h if th e

airbag s inflate .

I f a large r chil d mus t si t i n front ,
mak e sur e th e chil d move s th e
sea t a s fa r bac k a s possibl e
an d wear s th e sea t bel t properly .
CONTINUED

Protectin
g Childre n

However , i f th e bel t touche s o r
crosse s th e child' s neck , th e chil d
need s t o us e a booste r seat .

Do not let a child wear a seat belt
across the neck. Thi s coul d resul t i n
seriou s nec k injurie s durin g a crash .

Do not let a child put the shoulder

part of a seat belt behind the back or
under the arm. Thi s coul d caus e
ver y seriou s injurie s durin g a crash .
I t als o increase s th e chanc e tha t th e
chil d wil l slid e unde r th e bel t i n a
cras h an d b e injured .
Do not put any accessories on a seat

belt. Device s intende d t o improv e
occupan t comfor t o r repositio n th e
shoulde r par t o f a sea t belt , severel y
compromis e th e protectiv e capabilit y
o f th e sea t bel t an d increas e th e
chanc e o f seriou s injur y in a crash .

Two children should never use the

same seat belt. I f the y do , the y coul d
b e ver y seriousl y injure d in a crash .
Using a Booster Seat

I f a chil d need s a booste r seat , w e
recommen d choosin g a styl e tha t
allow s th e chil d t o us e th e lap /
shoulde r bel t directly , withou t a
shield , a s shown .
Whicheve r styl e yo u select , follo w
th e booste r sea t maker' s instructions .
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n

A chil d ma y continu e usin g a booste r
sea t unti l th e top s o f th e ear s ar e
eve n wit h th e to p o f th e seat-back . A
chil d o f thi s heigh t shoul d b e tal l
enoug h t o us e th e lap/shoulde r bel t
withou t a booster .
When Can a Larger Child Ride in this

Car

Childre n var y widely . An d whil e ag e
ma y b e on e indicato r o f whe n a chil d
ca n safel y rid e in thi s car , ther e ar e
othe r importan t factor s yo u shoul d
consider .
Physical Size

Physically , a chil d mus t b e larg e
enoug h fo r th e lap/shoulde r bel t t o
properl y fi t ove r th e hips , chest , an d
shoulde r (se e page s 1 5 an d 29 ). I f
th e sea t bel t doe s no t fi t properly ,
th e chil d shoul d us e a booste r seat .
Maturity
T o safel y rid e i n thi s car , a chil d
mus t b e abl e t o follo w th e rules ,
includin g sittin g properl y an d
wearin g th e sea t bel t properl y
throughou t a ride .
CONTINUED

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n

I f yo u decid e tha t a chil d can safely
rid e in thi s car , b e sur e to : Carefull
y rea d th e owner' s manua l
an d mak e sur e yo u understan d al l
sea t bel t instruction s an d al l safet y

information .
Mov
e th e vehicl e sea t t o th e rear -
mos t position . Hav
e th e chil d si t u p straight , bac k
agains t th e seat , an d fee t o n o r
nea r th e floor . Chec
k tha t th e child' s sea t bel t i s
properl y positione d an d secured . Supervis
e th e child . Eve n a matur e
chil d sometime s need s to b e
reminde d to faste n th e sea t bel t o r
si t properly .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Additiona
l Informatio n Abou t You r Sea t Belt s
Sea t Bel t Syste m Component s

You r sea t bel t syste m include s lap /
shoulde r belt s i n bot h seatin g

positions .

Th e sea t belt s ar e als o equippe d wit h
automati c sea t bel t tensioners .
Th e syste m als o include s a
ligh t o n th e instrumen t
pane l t o remin d yo u an d you r
passenge r t o faste n you r belts . I f th e
driver' s sea t bel t i s no t fastene d
befor e th e ignitio n is turne d O N (II) ,
th e ligh t wil l com e o n an d a beepe r
wil l als o sound . Th e beepe r wil l sto p
afte r a fe w seconds , bu t th e ligh t wil l
sta y o n unti l th e driver' s sea t bel t i s

fastened .
Lap/Shoulde
r Bel t
Thi s sea t bel t ha s a singl e bel t tha t
goe s ove r you r shoulder , acros s you r
ches t an d acros s you r hips .
T o faste n th e belt , inser t th e latc h
plat e int o th e buckle , the n tu g o n th e
bel t t o mak e sur e th e buckl e is

latched .

T o unloc k th e belt , pus h th e re d
PRES S butto n o n th e buckle . Guid e
th e bel t acros s you r bod y t o th e doo r
pillar . Afte r exitin g th e car , b e sur e
th e bel t i s ou t o f th e wa y an d wil l no t ge
t close d in th e door .
Bot h sea t belt s hav e a n emergenc y
lockin g retractor . I n norma l driving ,
th e retracto r let s yo u mov e freel y i n
you r sea t whil e i t keep s som e
tensio n o n th e belt .
Durin g a collisio n o r sudde n stop ,
th e retracto r automaticall y lock s th e
bel t t o hel p restrai n you r body .
Th e passenger' s sea t bel t ha s a n
additiona l lockin g mechanis m tha t
mus t b e activate d to secur e a chil d
seat . (Se e pag e 2 7 fo r instruction s o n
ho w to secur e a forward-facin g chil d
sea t wit h thi s typ e o f belt. )
I f th e shoulde r par t o f th e bel t i s
pulle d al l th e wa y out , th e lockin g
mechanis m wil l activate . Th e bel t
wil l retract , bu t i t wil l no t allo w th e
passenge r t o mov e freely .

CONTINUED

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Additiona
l Informatio n Abou t You r Sea t Belt s
T o deactivat e th e lockin g
mechanism , unlatc h th e buckl e an d
le t th e sea t bel t full y retract . T o
refaste n th e belt , pul l i t ou t onl y a s
fa r a s needed .
Se e pag e 1 5 fo r instruction s o n ho w
t o wea r th e lap/shoulde r bel t
properly . Sea
t Bel t Maintenanc e
Fo r safety , yo u shoul d chec k th e
conditio n o f you r sea t belt s regularly .
Pul l eac h bel t ou t full y an d loo k fo r
frays , cuts , burns , an d wear . Chec k
tha t th e latche s wor k smoothl y an d
tha t th e lap/shoulde r belt s retrac t
easily . An y bel t no t i n good conditio n
o r no t workin g properl y wil l no t
provid e good protectio n an d shoul d
be replace d a s soo n a s possible .

U.S. Models

Hond a provide s a lifetim e warrant y
o n sea t belts . Hond a wil l repai r o r
replac e an y sea t bel t componen t tha t
fail s t o functio n properl y durin g
norma l use . Pleas e se e you r Honda

Warranty Information booklet fo r

details .
I
f a sea t bel t i s wor n durin g a crash ,
yo u shoul d hav e you r deale r inspec t
th e belt , an d replac e it i f necessary .
A bel t tha t ha s bee n wor n durin g a
cras h ma y no t provid e th e sam e leve l
o f protectio n in a subsequen t crash .
Th e deale r shoul d als o inspec t th e
anchor s fo r damag e an d replac e
the m if needed .
Fo r informatio n o n ho w to clea n you r
sea t belts , se e pag e 20 8 .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y
No
t checkin g o r maintainin g
sea t belt s ca n resul t i n seriou s
injur y o r deat h i f th e sea t belt s
d o no t wor k properl y whe n
needed .
Chec k you r sea t belt s regularl y
an d hav e an y proble m
correcte d a s soo n a s possible .

Additiona
l Informatio n Abou t You r SR S

SR S Component s

You r Supplementa l Restrain t Syste m
(SRS ) includes : Tw
o fron t airbags . Th e driver' s
airba g is store d in th e cente r o f
th e steerin g wheel ; th e fron t
passenger' s airba g is store d in th e
dashboard . Bot h ar e marke d "SR S
AIRBAG. " Automati
c sea t bel t tensioner s
tha t tighte n th e fron t sea t belt s
durin g a moderat e to sever e
fronta l collision . Sensor
s tha t ca n detec t a
moderat e t o sever e fronta l

collision .
A
sophisticate d electroni c syste m
tha t continuall y monitor s
informatio n abou t th e sensors , th e
contro l unit , an d th e airba g
activator s whe n th e ignitio n is O N
(II) . A
n indicato r ligh t o n th e
instrumen t pane l tha t alert s yo u to
a possibl e proble m wit h th e
syste m (se e pag e 37 ). Emergenc
y backu p powe r i n cas e
you r car' s electrica l syste m is

disconnecte d in a crash .
Ho
w You r Airbag s Wor k
I f yo u eve r hav e a moderat e to

sever e fronta l collision , th e sensor s

wil l detec t rapi d deceleratio n an d

signa l th e contro l uni t t o instantl y
inflat e th e airbag s an d activat e th e

automati c sea t bel t tensioners .

CONTINUED
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Additiona
l Informatio n Abou t You r SR S

Durin g a crash , you r sea t bel t help s
restrai n you r lowe r bod y an d torso ,
whil e th e tensione r tighten s an d
lock s th e sea t bel t t o hel p kee p yo u
i n place . You r airba g provide s a
cushio n t o hel p restrai n an d protec t
you r hea d an d chest .
Sinc e bot h airbag s us e th e sam e
sensors , bot h airbag s normall y
inflat e a t th e sam e time . However , i t
i s possibl e fo r onl y on e airba g to
inflate .
Thi s ca n occu r whe n th e severit y o f
a collisio n is a t th e margin , o r
threshold , tha t determine s whethe r
o r no t th e airbag s wil l deploy . I n
suc h cases , th e sea t bel t wil l provid e
sufficien t protection , an d th e
supplementa l protectio n offere d b y
th e airba g woul d b e minimal . Afte
r inflating , th e airbag s
immediatel y deflate , s o the y won' t
interfer e wit h th e driver' s visibility ,
o r th e abilit y t o stee r o r operat e
othe r controls .
Th e tota l tim e fo r inflatio n an d
deflatio n is approximatel y one-tent h
o f a second , s o fas t tha t mos t
occupant s ar e no t awar e tha t th e
airbag s deploye d unti l the y se e the m
lyin g in thei r laps . Afte
r a crash , yo u ma y se e wha t
look s lik e smoke. This is actuall y
powde r fro m th e airbag' s surface .
Althoug h th e powde r i s no t harmful ,
peopl e wit h respirator y problem s
ma y experienc e som e temporar y
discomfort . I f thi s occurs , ge t ou t o f
th e ca r a s soo n a s it i s saf e to d o so .

U.S. Owners

Fo r additiona l informatio n o n ho w
you r airbag s work , se e th e bookle t

title d SRS: What You Need to Know
About Airbags that cam e wit h you r

owner' s manual .

Canadian Owners

Fo r additiona l informatio n o n ho w
you r airbag s work , as k you r deale r
fo r a copy of th e bookle t title d SRS:
What You Need to Know About Airbags.

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Additiona
l Informatio n Abou t You r SR S

Ho w th e Automati c Sea t Bel t
Tensioner s Wor k
You r Hond a ha s automati c sea t bel t
tensioner s lo r adde d protectio n
durin g a moderat e t o sever e fronta l

collision .

I f you r airbag s inflate , th e lensioner s
immediatel y tighte n th e fron t sea t
belt s t o hel p hol d th e occupant s i n
place . Th e belt s wil l remai n tigh t
unti l yo u unbuckl e the m in th e
norma l way . Ho
w th e SR S Indicato r Ligh t
Work s
The purpos e o f th e SR S
ligh t i s t o aler t yo u t o a
potentia l proble m wit h you r
Supplementa l Restrain t System .
Whe n yo u tur n th e ignitio n O N (II) ,
thi s indicato r wil l ligh t briefl y the n
g o out . Thi s tell s yo u tha t th e syste m
i s workin g properly .
I f th e ligh t come s o n a t an y othe r
time , o r doe s no t com e o n a t all , yo u
shoul d hav e th e syste m checke d b y
you r dealer . Fo r example : I
f th e SR S indicato r ligh t doe s not
com e o n afte r yo u tur n th e ignitio n
ON (II) . I
f th e ligh t stay s o n afte r th e

engin e starts .
I
f th e ligh t conie s o n o r flashe s o n
an d of f whil e yo u drive .
I f yo u se e an y o f thes e indications ,
you r airbag s an d sea t bel t tensioner s
ma y no t deplo y whe n yo u nee d them .
Se e you r Acur a deale r a s soo n a s

possible .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y
SRS

Ignorin g th e SR S indicato r ligh t
ca n resul t i n seriou s injur y o r
deat h if th e airbag s d o no t
inflat e whe n needed .
Hav e you r vehicl e checke d b y a
deale r a s soo n a s possibl e if
th e SR S ligh t alert s yo u to a
potentia l problem .