engine HONDA S2000 2001 1.G Owner's Guide

I
f You r Engin e Won' t Star t
Diagnosin g wh y you r engin e won' t
star t fall s int o tw o areas , dependin g
o n wha t yo u hea r whe n yo u pres s
th e ENGIN E STAR T button . Yo
u hea r nothing , o r almos t
nothing . Th e engine' s starte r
moto r doe s no t operat e a t all , o r
operate s ver y slowly . Yo
u ca n hea r th e starte r moto r
operatin g normally , o r th e starte r
moto r sound s lik e i t i s spinnin g
faste r tha n normal , bu t th e engin e
doe s no t star t u p an d run . Nothin
g Happen s o r th e Starte r
Moto r Operate s Ver y Slowl y
Whe n yo u pres s th e ENGIN E
STAR T button , yo u d o no t hea r th e
norma l nois e o f th e engin e tryin g t o
start . Yo u ma y hea r a clickin g soun d
o r serie s o f clicks , o r nothin g a t all .
Chec k thes e things : You
r ca r ha s th e Immobilize r
System . Yo u shoul d us e a
properly-code d maste r o r vale t ke y
t o star t th e engin e (se e pag e 59 ).
A ke y tha t i s no t properl y code d
wil l caus e th e immobilize r syste m
indicato r i n th e das h pane l t o blin k
rapidly . Tur
n th e ignitio n switc h t o O N (II) .
Tur n o n th e headlight s an d chec k
thei r brightness . I f th e headlight s
ar e ver y di m o r don' t ligh t a t all ,
th e batter y is discharged . Se e
Jum p Startin g o n pag e 22 2. Pres
s th e ENGIN E STAR T button ,
the n releas e it . I f th e headlight s d o
no t dim , chec k th e conditio n o f th e
fuses . I f th e fuse s ar e OK , ther e i s
probabl y somethin g wron g wit h
th e electrica l circui t fo r th e
ignitio n switc h o r starte r motor .
Yo u wil l nee d a qualifie d
technicia n t o determin e th e
problem . (Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 241 .)

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

I
f You r Engin e Won' t Star t
I f th e headlight s di m noticeabl y o r
g o ou t whe n yo u tr y t o star t th e
engine , eithe r th e batter y i s dis -
charge d o r th e connection s ar e
corroded . Chec k th e conditio n o f th e
batter y an d termina l connection s
(se e pag e 177 ). Yo u ca n the n tr y
jum p startin g th e ca r fro m a booste r
batter y (se e pag e 222 ). Th
e Starte r Operate s Normall y
I n thi s case , th e starte r motor' s
spee d sound s normal , o r eve n faste r
tha n normal , whe n yo u pres s th e
ENGIN E STAR T button , bu t th e
engin e doe s no t run . Ar
e yo u usin g th e prope r startin g
procedure ? Refe r t o Startin g th e
Engin e o n pag e 131 . D
o yo u hav e fuel ? Tur n th e
ignitio n switc h t o O N (II ) fo r a
minut e an d watc h th e fue l gauge .
Th e lo w fue l leve l warnin g ligh t
ma y no t b e working , s o yo u wer e
no t reminde d t o fil l th e tank . Ther
e ma y b e a n electrica l
problem , suc h a s n o powe r t o th e
fue l pump . Chec k al l th e fuse s
(se e pag e 235 ).
I f yo u fin d nothin g wrong , yo u wil l
nee d a qualifie d technicia n t o fin d
th e problem . Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 241 .

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Jum
p Startin g

3 . Connec t on e jumpe r cabl e t o th e
positiv e ( + ) termina l o n you r
Honda' s batteiy . Connec t th e
othe r en d t o th e positiv e ( + )
termina l o n th e booste r battery .4
. Connec t th e secon d jumpe r cabl e
t o th e negativ e (— ) termina l o n
th e booste r battery . Connec t th e
othe r en d t o th e meta l projectio n
nea r th e intak e manifol d a s show n
i n th e illustration . D o no t connec t
thi s jumpe r cabl e t o an y othe r par t
o f th e engine . 5
. I f th e booste r batter y i s i n anothe r
vehicle , hav e a n assistan t star t
tha t vehicl e an d ru n it a t a fas t idle .

CONTINUED

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

I
f You r Engin e Overheat s

Th e readin g o n you r car' s
temperatur e gaug e shoul d sta y in
th e midrang e unde r mos t conditions .
I t ma y g o highe r i f yo u ar e drivin g u p
a lon g stee p hil l o n a ver y ho t day . I f
i t climb s t o th e re d mark , yo u shoul d
determin e th e reason .
Driving with the temperature gauge
reading at the red mark can cause
serious damage to your engine.
You r ca r ca n overhea t fo r severa l
reasons , suc h as lac k of coolan t or a
mechanica l problem . Th e onl y
indicatio n ma y b e th e temperatur e
gaug e climbin g to o r abov e th e re d
mark . O r yo u ma y se e stea m or
spra y comin g fro m unde r th e ca r o r
engin e cover . I n eithe r case , yo u
shoul d tak e immediat e action . 1
. Safel y pul l t o th e sid e o f th e road .
Pu t th e transmissio n in Neutra l
an d se t th e parkin g brake . Tur n
of f th e heatin g an d coolin g syste m
an d al l othe r accessories . Tur n o n
th e hazar d warnin g indicators .
2 . I f yo u se e stea m and/o r spra y
comin g fro m unde r th e hood , tur n
of f th e engine . 3
. I f yo u d o no t se e stea m o r spray ,
leav e th e engin e runnin g an d
watc h th e temperatur e gauge . I f
th e hig h hea t i s du e t o overloadin g
(climbin g a long , stee p hil l o n a
ho t da y wit h th e A/ C running , fo r
example) , th e engin e shoul d star t
t o coo l clow n almos t immediately .
I f i t does , wai t unti l th e tempera -
tur e gaug e come s dow n t o th e mid -
poin t the n continu e driving .
4 . I f th e temperatur e gaug e stay s a t
th e re d mark , tur n of f th e engine .
5 . Wai t unti l yo u se e n o mor e sign s
o f stea m o r spray , the n ope n th e
hood .

CONTINUED

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

NOTIC
E
Stea
m an d spra y fro m a n
overheate d engin e ca n
seriousl y scal d you .
D o no t ope n th e hoo d i f stea m
i s comin g out .

Lo
w Oi l Pressur e Indicato r

Thi s indicato r shoul d ligh t whe n th e
ignitio n switc h is O N (II) , an d g o ou t
afte r th e engin e starts . I t shoul d
neve r com e o n whe n th e engin e is
running . I f i t start s flashing , i t
indicate s tha t th e oi l pressur e
droppe d ver y lo w fo r a moment , the n
recovered . If th e indicato r stay s on
wit h th e engin e running , i t show s
tha t th e engin e ha s los t oi l pressur e
an d seriou s engin e damag e is
possible . I n eithe r case , yo u shoul d
tak e immediat e action .
Running
the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanical
damage almost irnmediately. Turn off
the engine as soon as yo u can safel y get
the car slopped.

1 . Safel y pul l of f th e roa d an d shu t
of f th e engine . Tur n o n th e hazar d
warnin g indicators .
2 . Le t th e ca r si t fo r a minute . Ope n
th e hoo d an d chec k th e oi l leve l
(se e pag e 11 9). Althoug h oi l leve l
an d oi l pressur e ar e no t directl y
connected , a n engin e tha t i s ver y
lo w o n oi l ca n los e pressur e durin g
cornerin g an d othe r drivin g

maneuvers .

3 . I f necessary , ad d oi l t o brin g th e
leve l bac k t o th e ful l mar k o n th e
dipstic k (se e pag e 157 ). 4
. Star t th e engin e an d watc h th e oi l
pressur e indicator . I f th e ligh t
doe s no t g o ou t withi n te n seconds ,
tur n of f th e engine . Ther e is a
mechanica l proble m tha t need s t o
b e repaire d befor e yo u ca n
continu e driving . (Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 241 .)
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
NOTIC
E

LO
W OI L PRESSUR E INDICATO R

PUS H CANCE L

Malfunctio
n Indicato r Lam p
MALFUNCTIO N INDICATO R LAM P

Thi s indicato r come s o n fo r a fe w
second s whe n yo u tur n th e ignitio n
switc h O N (II) . I f i t come s o n a t an y
othe r time , i t indicate s on e o f th e
engine' s emission s contro l system s
ma y hav e a problem . Eve n thoug h
yo u ma y fee l n o differenc e i n you r
car' s performance , i t ca n reduc e
you r fue l econom y an d caus e you r
ca r t o pu t ou t excessiv e emissions .
Continue d operatio n ma y caus e
seriou s damage .
I
f yo u hav e recentl y refuele d you r
car , th e caus e o f thi s indicato r
comin g o n coul d b e a loos e o r
missin g fue l fil l cap . Chec k th e ca p
an d tighte n it unti l i t click s severa l
times . Replac e th e fue l fil l ca p if i t i s
missing . Tightenin g th e ca p wil l no t
mak e th e indicato r tur n of f
immediately ; i t take s thre e drivin g

trips .

I f th e indicato r remain s o n pas t thre e
drivin g trips , o r th e fue l ca p wa s no t
loos e o r missing , hav e th e ca r
checke d b y th e deale r a s soo n a s
possible . Driv e moderatel y unti l th e
deale r ha s inspecte d th e problem .
Avoi d full-throttl e acceleratio n an d
drivin g a t hig h speed .
Yo u shoul d als o hav e th e deale r
inspec t you r ca r i f thi s indicato r
come s o n repeatedly , eve n thoug h it
ma y tur n of f a s yo u continu e driving .If
you keep driving with the
malf unction indicator lamp on, you can
damage your car's emissions controls
and engine. Those repairs may not be
covered by you r car's warranties.

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d NOTIC
E

PUS H CANCE L

Identificatio
n Number s

Th e Engin e Numbe r i s stampe d o n
th e lef t fron t corne r o f th e engin e
block .
Th e Transmissio n Numbe r i s o n a
labe l underneat h th e transmission .
TRANSMISSIO
N NUMBE R

ENGINE NUMBE R

Technica l Informatio n

0.1
6 U S ga l (0. 6 , 0.1 3 Im p gal )

*
2 : Excluding the oil remaining in the engine.

Technica l Informatio n
pag
e 17 6
Specification
s

*

1 : Including the coolant in the reserve tank and that remaining in the
engine.
Reserv e tan k capacity :

Emission
s Control s

Th e burnin g o f gasolin e i n you r car' s
engin e produce s severa l byproducts .
Som e o f thes e ar e carbo n monoxid e
(CO) , oxide s o f nitroge n (NOx ) an d
hydrocarbon s (HC) . Gasolin e
evaporatin g fro m th e tan k als o
produce s hydrocarbons . Controllin g
th e productio n o f NOx , CO , an d H C
i s importan t t o th e environment .
Unde r certai n condition s o f sunligh t
an d climate , NO x an d H C reac t t o
for m photochemica l "smog. " Carbo n
monoxid e doe s no t contribut e t o
smo g creation , bu t i t i s a poisonou s

gas .
Th
e Clea n Ai r Ac t

Th e Unite d State s Clea n Ai r Act *
set s standard s fo r automobil e
emissions . I t als o require s tha t
automobil e manufacturer s explai n t o
owner s ho w thei r emission s control s
wor k an d wha t t o d o t o maintai n
them . Thi s sectio n summarize s ho w
th e emission s control s work .
Schedule d maintenanc e is o n pag e

148 .

* I n Canada . Hond a vehicle s compl y
wit h th e Canadia n Moto r Vehicl e
Safet y Standard s (CMVSS ) fo r
Emission s vali d a t th e tim e the y ar e
manufactured .
Crankcas e Emission s Contro l
Syste m
You r ca r ha s a Positiv e Crankcas e
Ventilatio n System . Thi s keep s
gasse s tha t buil d u p in th e engine' s
crankcas e fro m goin g int o th e
atmosphere . Th e Positiv e Crankcas e
Ventilatio n valv e route s the m fro m th
e crankcas e bac k t o th e intak e
manifold . The y ar e the n draw n int o
th e engin e an d burned .
Evaporativ e Emission s Contro l
Syste m
A s gasolin e evaporate s i n th e fue l
tank , a n evaporativ e emission s
contro l caniste r fille d wit h charcoa l
adsorb s th e vapor . I t i s store d in thi s
caniste r whil e th e engin e i s off . Afte r
th e engin e is starte d an d warme d up ,
th e vapo r i s draw n int o th e engin e
an d burne d durin g driving .

Technica l Informatio n

Emission
s Control s

Exhaus t Emission s Control s
Th e exhaus t emission s control s
includ e fou r systems : PGM-FI ,
Ignitio n Timin g Control , Secondar y
Ai r Injectio n Syste m an d Thre e Wa y
Catalyti c Converter . Thes e fou r
system s wor k togethe r t o contro l th e
engine' s combustio n an d minimiz e
th e amoun t o f HC , CO , an d NO x tha t
come s ou t th e tailpipe . Th e exhaus t
emission s contro l system s ar e
separat e fro m th e crankcas e an d
evaporativ e emission s contro l

systems .

PGM-FI System
Th e PGM-F I Syste m use s sequentia l
multipor t fue l injection .
I t ha s thre e subsystems : Ai r Intake ,
Engin e Control , an d Fue l Control .
Th e Engin e Contro l Modul e (ECM )
use s variou s sensor s t o determin e
ho w muc h ai r i s goin g int o th e
engine . I t the n control s ho w muc h
fue l t o injec t unde r al l operating -
conditions .
Ignition Timing Control System

Thi s syste m constantl y adjust s th e
ignitio n timing , reducin g th e amoun t
o f HC , C O an d NO x produced .

Secondary Air Injection System

Durin g engin e warm-up , ai r i s
pumpe d int o th e exhaus t t o reduc e
emission s whe n th e engin e is cold .

Three Way Catalytic Converter

Th e thre e wa y catalyti c converte r i s
i n th e exhaus t system . Throug h
chemica l reactions , i t convert s HC ,
CO , an d NO x i n th e engine' s exhaus t
t
o
carbon dioxide (CO2), dinitrogen
(N
2)
,
and water vapor.

Replacemen t Part s

Th e emission s contro l system s ar e
designe d an d certifie d to wor k to -
gethe r i n reducin g emission s t o

level s tha t compl y wit h th e Clea n Ai r

Act . T o mak e sur e th e emission s
remai n low , yo u shoul d us e onl y ne w

Genuin e Hond a replacemen t part s o r

thei r equivalen t fo r repairs . Usin g

lowe r qualit y part s ma y increas e th e

emission s fro m you r car .
Th e emission s contro l system s ar e

covere d b y warrantie s separat e fro m

th e res t o f you r car . Rea d you r

warrant y manua l fo r mor e informa -

tion .

Technica l Informatio n