ESP HONDA S2000 2001 1.G Owners Manual

Introductio
n

Congratulation s o n you r selectio n o f th e 200 1 Hond a S2000 . W e ar e certai n
yo u wil l b e please d wit h you r purchas e o f on e o f th e mos t sophisticate d an d
technologically-advance d sport s car s i n th e world .
On e o f th e bes t way s t o enhanc e th e enjoymen t o f you r ne w Hond a is t o
rea d thi s manual . I n it , yo u wil l lear n ho w to operate its drivin g control s an d
convenienc e items . Afterwards , kee p thi s owner' s manua l i n you r ca r s o yo u
ca n refe r t o it a t an y time .
Severa l warrantie s protec t you r ne w Honda . Rea d th e warrant y bookle t
thoroughl y s o yo u understan d th e coverage s an d ar e awar e o f you r right s
an d responsibilities .
Maintainin g you r ca r accordin g to th e schedules given in thi s manua l help s
t o kee p you r drivin g trouble-fre e whil e i t preserve s you r investment . Whe n
you r ca r need s maintenance , kee p in min d tha t you r Hond a dealer' s staf f i s
speciall y traine d in servicin g th e man y system s uniqu e t o you r Honda . You r
Hond a deale r i s dedicate d to you r satisfactio n an d wil l b e please d to answe r
an y question s an d concerns .
Californi a Propositio n 6 5 Warnin g
WARNING : Thi s produc t contain s o r emit s chemical s know n t o th e Stat e o f
Californi a to caus e cance r an d birt h defect s o r othe r reproductiv e harm . A
s yo u rea d thi s manual , yo u wil l
fin d informatio n tha t i s precede d b y
symbol . Thi s
informatio n is intende d t o hel p yo u
avoi d damag e to you r S2000 , othe r
property , o r th e environment .

a

NOTIC E

A
Fe w Word s Abou t Safet y

You r safety , an d th e safet y o f others ,
i s ver y important . An d operatin g thi s
ca r safel y is a n importan t
responsibility .
T o hel p yo u mak e informe d
decision s abou t safety , w e hav e
provide d operatin g procedure s an d
othe r informatio n o n label s an d in
thi s manual . Thi s informatio n alert s
yo u t o potentia l hazard s tha t coul d
hur t yo u o r others .
Of course , it is no t practica l or
possibl e to war n yo u abou t al l th e
hazard s associate d wit h operatin g o r
maintainin g you r car . Yo u mus t us e
you r ow n goo d judgement . Yo
u wil l fin d thi s importan t safet y informatio n in a variet y o f forms ,
including : Safet
y Label s — on th e car . Safet
y Message s — precede d b y a safet y aler t symbo l an d on e o f
three signal words: DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION.

Thes e signa l word s mean :

Yo u WIL L b e KILLE D o r SERIOUSL Y

HUR T if yo u don' t follo w instructions .

Yo u CA N b e KILLE D o r SERIOUSL Y

HUR T if yo u don' t follo w instructions .

Yo u CA N b e HUR T if yo u don' t follo w

instructions .
Safet
y Heading s — suc h a s Importan t Safet y Reminder s o r Importan t
Safet y Precautions . Safety
Sectio n — suc h a s Drive r an d Passenge r Safety . Instruction
s — ho w to us e thi s ca r correctl y an d safely .
Thi s entir e boo k i s fille d wit h importan t safet y informatio n — pleas e rea d it
carefully .

Importan
t Safet y Precaution s
You'l l fin d man y safet y
recommendation s throughou t thi s
section , an d throughou t thi s manual .
Th e recommendation s o n thi s pag e
ar e th e one s w e conside r t o b e th e
mos t important .
Alway s Wea r You r Sea t Bel t
A sea t bel t i s you r bes t protectio n i n
al l type s o f collisions . Airbag s
supplemen t sea t belts , bu t airbag s
ar e designe d to inflat e onl y i n a
moderat e to sever e fronta l collision .
S o eve n thoug h you r ca r i s equippe d
wit h airbags , mak e sur e yo u an d
you r passenge r alway s wea r you r
sea t belts , an d wea r the m properly .
(Se e pag e 15 ).
You r Ca r i s No t Recommende d
fo r Chil d Passenger s
Sinc e al l childre n ar e safes t i n th e
bac k sea t o f a car , an d you r ca r doe s
no t hav e a bac k seat , w e recommen d
tha t yo u d o no t carr y a chil d
passenger . Due to the passenger's

airbag hazard, you should never

carry an infant in a rear-facing child

seat in this car. I f a smal l chil d wh o
mus t b e restraine d in a forward -
facin g chil d seat , o r a large r child ,
mus t rid e in thi s car , b e sur e t o
follo w al l instruction s an d safety
warning s in thi s manual . (Se e page s
2 6 an d 29 .)
B e Awar e o f Airba g Hazard s
Whil e airbag s ca n sav e lives , the y
ca n caus e seriou s o r fata l injurie s t o
occupant s wh o si t to o clos e t o them ,
o r ar e no t properl y restrained .
Infants , youn g children , an d shor t
adult s ar e a t th e greates t risk . B e
sur e t o follo w al l instruction s an d
warning s i n thi s manual . (Se e pag e
7 ).

Don' t Drin k an d Driv e

Alcoho l an d drivin g don' t mix . Eve n
on e drin k ca n reduc e you r abilit y t o
respon d t o changin g conditions , an d
you r reactio n tim e get s wors e wit h
ever
y additiona l drink . S o don' t drin k

an d drive , an d don' t le t you r friend s

drin k an d drive , either .

Contro l You r Spee d
Excessiv e spee d i s a majo r facto r i n
cras h injurie s an d deaths . Generally ,
th e highe r th e spee d th e greate r th e
risk , bu t seriou s accident s ca n als o
occu r a t lowe r speeds . Neve r driv e
faste r tha n i s saf e fo r curren t
conditions , regardles s o f th e
maximu m spee d posted .
Kee p You r Ca r i n Saf e Conditio n
Havin g a tir e blowou t o r a
mechanica l failur e ca n b e extremel y
hazardous . T o reduc e th e possibilit y
o f suc h problems , chec k you r tir e
pressure s an d conditio n frequently ,
an d perfor m al l regularl y schedule d
maintenance . (Se e pag e 146 .)

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Adult s

Introductio n
Th e followin g page s provid e
instruction s o n ho w to properl y
protec t adul t occupants .
Thes e instruction s als o appl y t o a
chil d who m yo u hav e decide d is
larg e enoug h an d matur e enoug h t o
rid e a s a passenger . (Se e pag e 2 9 fo r
importan t additiona l guideline s o n
ho w to properl y protec t large r
children. )

1 . Clos e an d Loc k th e Door s

Afte r everyon e ha s entere d th e car ,
b e sur e th e door s ar e close d an d

locked .
You
r ca r ha s a doo r
monito r ligh t o n th e
instrumen t pane l t o indicat e whe n a
specifi c doo r i s no t tightl y closed .
Fo r safety , lockin g th e door s reduce s
th e chanc e tha t a passenger ,
especiall y a child , wil l ope n a doo r
whil e th e ca r i s movin g an d
accidentall y fal l out . I t als o reduce s
th e chanc e o f someon e bein g throw n
ou t o f th e ca r durin g a crash .
Fo r security , locke d door s ca n
preven t a n outside r fro m
unexpectedl y openin g a doo r whe n
yo u com e to a stop .
Se e pag e 6 2 fo r ho w to loc k th e

doors .
2.Adjus
t th e Fron t Seat s
An y drive r wh o sit s to o clos e t o th e
steerin g whee l i s a t ris k o f bein g
seriousl y injure d o r kille d b y strikin g
th e steerin g wheel , o r fro m bein g
struc k b y a n inflatin g airba g durin g a

crash .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n

Childre n depen d o n adult s to protec t
them . However , despit e thei r bes t
intentions , man y parent s an d othe r
adult s ma y no t kno w ho w to properly

protec t youn g passengers .

S o if yo u hav e children , o r i f yo u eve r
nee d to driv e wit h a grandchil d o r
othe r childre n in you r car , b e sur e to
rea d thi s section . Al
l Childre n Mus t B e Restraine d
Eac h year , man y childre n ar e injure d
o r kille d in vehicl e crashe s becaus e
the y ar e eithe r unrestraine d o r no t
properl y restrained . I n fact , vehicl e
accident s ar e th e numbe r on e caus e
o f deat h o f childre n age s 1 2 an d
under .
T o reduc e th e numbe r o f chil d
death s an d injuries , ever y stat e an d
Canadia n provinc e require s tha t
infant s an d childre n b e restraine d
wheneve r the y rid e in a vehicle .

Any child who is too small to wear a
seat belt should be properly
restrained in a child seat. (See page

26 .)
A larger child should always be

restrained with a seat belt. (See page
29 .
)

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Childre
n wh o ar e unrestraine d

o r improperl y restraine d ca n b e
seriousl y injure d o r kille d in a

crash .

An y chil d to o smal l fo r a sea t
bel t shoul d b e properl y
restraine d in a chil d seat . A
large r chil d shoul d b e properl y
restraine d wit h a sea t belt .

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

Gauge
s

TEMPERATUR E GAUG E


SPEEDOMETE R
Liqui d crysta l i s use d in th e mete r
panel . Yo u ma y fee l th e indicator s
appea r slowl y i n th e lo w temperature .
Speedomete r
Thi s show s you r spee d in mile s pe r
hou r (mph ) o r kilometer s pe r hou r

(km/h) .
SELEC
T BUTTO N
Selec t Butto n
Th e Selec t butto n switche s th e
speedomete r readin g betwee n mile s
pe r hou r an d kilomete r pe r hour . I t
als o change s th e odomete r an d tri p
meter s t o rea d i n mile s o r kilometer s
correspondingly . T o chang e th e
readings , pus h th e Selec t butto n an d
hol d it unti l yo u hea r a beep .
Tachomete
r

Th e tachomete r show s th e engin e
spee d in revolution s pe r minut e
(rpm) . T o protec t th e engin e fro m
damage , neve r driv e wit h th e
tachomete r readin g in th e re d zone .
Temperatur e Gaug e
Thi s show s th e temperatur e o f th e
engine' s coolant . Durin g norma l
operation , th e readin g shoul d b e in
th e middl e o f th e gauge . I n sever e
drivin g conditions , suc h a s ver y ho t
weathe r o r a lon g perio d o f uphil l
driving , th e readin g ma y reac h nea r
th e re d mark . I f i t reache s th e re d
mark , pul l safel y t o th e sid e o f th e
road . Tur n t o pag e 22 5 fo r
instruction s an d precaution s o n
checkin g th e engine' s coolin g

system .

Instrument s an d Control s
TACHOMETE
R

Key
s an d Lock s

As required by the FCC:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) This device
may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired

operation.

Changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user's
authority to operate the equipment.
This device complies with Industry

Canada Standard RSS-210.

Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) this device may not cause
interference, and (2) this device must
accept any interference that may cause
undesired operation of the device.
Ignitio
n Switc h

Th e ignitio n switc h is o n th e righ t
sid e o f th e steerin g column . I t ha s
thre e positions : LOC
K (0 ) ACCESSOR
Y (I )
O
N (II )
LOC
K (0 ) - Yo u ca n inser t o r
remov e th e ke y onl y i n thi s position .
T o switc h fro m ACCESSOR Y to
LOCK , yo u mus t pus h th e ke y in
slightl y a s yo u tur n it . Th e anti-thef t
loc k wil l loc k th e steerin g colum n
whe n yo u remov e th e key . I f th e
fron t wheel s ar e turned , th e anti -
thef t loc k ma y sometime s mak e it
difficul t t o tur n th e ke y fro m LOC K
t o ACCESSORY . Firml y tur n th e
steerin g whee l t o th e lef t o r t o th e
righ t a s yo u tur n th e key .

Instrument s an d Control s
Removin
g th e ke y fro m th e
ignitio n switc h whil e drivin g

lock s th e steering . Thi s ca n
caus e yo u to los e control .
Remov e th e ke y fro m th e

ignitio n switc h onl y whe n

parked .

Key
s an d Lock s

Remov e th e ol d batter y an d not e th e
polarity . Mak e sur e th e polarit y o f
th e ne w batter y i s th e sam e ( + sid e
facin g up) , the n inser t i t i n th e
transmitter .
Alig n th e mar k o n th e cove r wit
h th e mar k o n th e
transmitter , the n se t th e cove r i n
plac e an d tur n it clockwise .
Transmitter Care

Avoi d sever e shoc k t o th e trans -
mitter , suc h a s droppin g o r throwin g
it . Also , protec t i t fro m extrem e ho t
o r col d temperatures .
Clea n th e transmitte r cas e wit h a
sof t cloth . D o no t us e stron g
cleaner s o r solvent s tha t coul d har m
th e case . Immersin g th e transmitte r
i n an y liqui d wil l har m th e trans -
mitte r an d caus e it t o no t functio n
properly .
I f yo u los e a transmitter , yo u wil l
nee d to hav e th e replacemen t
programme d t o you r vehicle' s
syste m by you r Hond a dealer . An y
othe r transmitter s yo u hav e wil l als o
nee d to b e reprogrammed .
As
required by the FCC:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) This device
may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired

operation.

Changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user's
authority to operate the equipment.
This device complies with Industry

Canada Standard RSS-210.

Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) this device may not cause
interference, and (2) this device must
accept any interference that may cause
undesired operation of the device.

Instrument s an d Control s

BATTER
Y
ROUND

COVE R

Audi
o Syste m

Radi o signals , especiall y o n th e F M
band , ar e deflecte d b y larg e object s
suc h a s building s an d hills . You r
radi o the n receive s bot h th e direc t
signa l fro m th e station' s transmitter ,
an d th e deflecte d signal . Thi s cause s
th e soun d t o distor t o r flutter . Thi s i s
a mai n caus e o f poo r radi o receptio n
i n cit y driving . Radi
o receptio n ca n b e affecte d b y
atmospheri c condition s suc h a s
thunderstorms , hig h humidity , an d
eve n sunspots . Yo u ma y b e abl e to
receiv e a distan t radi o statio n on e
da y an d no t receiv e it th e nex t da y
becaus e o f a chang e in conditions .Electrica
l interferenc e fro m passin g
vehicle s an d stationar y source s ca n
caus e temporar y receptio n problems .
As required by the FCC:
Changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user's
authority to operate the equipment.
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s