fuel HONDA S2000 2001 1.G Owners Manual

S2000 2001 Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com. Contents


Introduction ........................................................................\
............................................................... i
A Few Words About Safety........................................................................\
....................................... ii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
........................................... 2
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
.................................... 5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Control s........................................................................\
........................................ .41
Instrume nt panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
..................... . 85
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................115
What gasoline to use, how to break -in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... .129
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................143
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take you r vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Car e........................................................................\
..................................................... .203
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpecte d........................................................................\
..............................213
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, an d how to handle them.
Technical Informatio n........................................................................\
.............................................243
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................257
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manu als (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................263
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index........................................................................\
........................................................................\
...... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.
Owner's Identification Form

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s

Fillin g th e Fue l Tan k
1 . Becaus e th e fue l fil l ca p is o n th e
driver' s sid e o f th e car , par k wit h
tha t sid e closes t t o th e servic e
statio n pumps .
2 . Ope n th e fue l fil l doo r b y pullin g
o n th e kno b o n th e driver' s doo r

jamb .
3
. Remov e th e fue l fil l ca p slowly .
Yo u ma y hea r a hissing sound a s
pressur e insid e th e tan k escapes .
Plac e th e ca p in th e holde r o n th e
fue l fil l door .
CONTINUED
Befor e Drivin g

Gasolin
e i s highl y flammabl e

an d explosive . Yo u ca n b e
burne d o r seriousl y injure d

whe n handlin g fuel .
Sto
p th e engin e an d kee p

heat , sparks , an d flam e away . Handl
e fue l onl y outdoors . Wip
e u p spill s immediately .

FUEL FIL L CA P

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s

3 . Pul l th e suppor t ro d ou t o f it s cli p
an d inser t th e en d int o th e hol e o n
th e fron t o f th e hoo d aroun d th e
center .
T o clos e th e hood , lif t i t u p slightl y
t o remov e th e suppor t ro d fro m
th e hole . Pu t th e suppor t ro d bac k
int o it s holdin g clip . Lowe r th e
hoo d to abou t a foo t (3 0 cm ) abov e
th e fender , the n le t i t drop .
Afte r closin g th e hood , mak e sur e
i t i s securel y latched .
Oil Check

Chec k th e engin e oi l leve l ever y tim e
yo u fil l th e ca r wit h fuel . Wai t a fe w
minute s afte r turnin g th e engin e of f
befor e yo u chec k th e oil .
1 . Remov e th e dipstic k (blac k
handle) . 2
. Wip e th e dipstic k wit h a clea n
clot h o r pape r towel .
CONTINUED
Befor e Drivin g

DIPSTIC
K

Fue
l Econom y

Th e conditio n o f you r ca r an d you r
drivin g habit s ar e th e tw o mos t
importan t thing s tha t affec t th e fue l
mileag e yo u get .
Ca r Conditio n
Alway s maintai n you r ca r accordin g
t o th e maintenanc e schedule . Thi s
wil l kee p it i n to p operatin g condition .
A n importan t par t o f tha t mainte -
nanc e is th e Owne r Maintenanc e
Check s (se e pag e 15 5 ) . Fo r
example , a n underinflate d tir e
cause s mor e "rollin g resistance, "
whic h use s fuel . I t als o wear s ou t
faster , s o chec k th e tir e pressur e a t
leas t monthly .
I n winter , th e build-u p o f sno w o n
you r car' s undersid e add s weigh t an d
rollin g resistance . Frequen t cleanin g
help s you r fue l mileag e an d reduce s
th e chanc e o f corrosion . Drivin
g Habit s
Yo u ca n improv e fue l econom y b y
drivin g moderately . Rapi d acceler -
ation , abrup t cornering , an d har d
brakin g us e mor e fuel .
Alway s driv e i n th e highes t gea r tha t
allow s the engin e t o ru n an d acceler -
at e smoothly .
Dependin g o n traffi c conditions , tr y
t o maintai n a constan t speed . Ever y
tim e yo u slo w dow n an d spee d up ,
you r ca r use s extr a fuel . Us e th e
cruis e control , whe n appropriate , t o
increas e fue l economy .
A col d engin e use s mor e fue l tha n a
war m engine . I t i s no t necessar y t o
"warm-up " a col d engin e b y lettin g it
idl e fo r a lon g time . Yo u ca n driv e
awa y in abou t a minute , n o matte r
ho w col d it i s outside . Th e engin e
wil l war m u p faster , an d yo u ge t
bette r fue l economy . T o cu t dow n o n
th e numbe r o f "col d starts, " tr y t o combin
e severa l shor t trip s int o one .
Th e ai r conditionin g put s a n extr a
loa d o n th e engin e whic h make s i t
us e mor e fuel . Tur n of f th e A/ C to
cu t dow n o n ai r conditionin g use .
Us e th e flow-throug h ventilatio n
whe n th e outsid e ai r temperatur e is

moderate .

Before Drivin g

Maintenanc
e Safet y

Importan t Safet y Precaution s
Befor e yo u begi n an y maintenance ,
mak e sur e you r ca r i s parke d o n
leve l groun d an d tha t th e parkin g
brak e is set . Also , b e sur e th e engin e
i s off . Thi s wil l hel p t o eliminat e
severa l potentia l hazards : Carbo
n monoxid e poisonin g
fro m engin e exhaust . B e sur e
ther e is adequat e ventilatio n
wheneve r yo u operat e th e engine . Burn
s fro m ho t parts . Le t th e
engin e an d exhaus t syste m coo l
befor e touchin g an y parts . Injur
y fro m movin g parts . D o
no t ru n th e engin e unles s in -
structe d to d o so . Rea
d th e instruction s befor e yo u
begin , an d mak e sur e yo u hav e th e
tool s an d skill s required .
T o reduc e th e possibilit y o f fir e o r
explosion , b e carefu l whe n workin g
aroun d gasolin e o r batteries . Us e a
commerciall y availabl e degrease r o r
part s cleaner , no t gasoline , t o clea n
parts . Kee p cigarettes , sparks , an d
flame s awa y fro m th e batter y an d al l
fuel-relate d parts .
Yo u shoul d wea r ey e protectio n an d
protectiv e clothin g whe n workin g
nea r th e batter y o r whe n usin g
compresse d air .

Maintenance

Owne
r Maintenanc e Check s
Yo u shoul d chec k th e followin g
item s a t th e specifie d intervals . I f
yo u ar e unsur e o f ho w to perfor m
an y check , tur n t o th e pag e given . Engin
e oi l leve l — Chec k ever y
tim e yo u fil l th e fue l tank . Se e
pag e 119 .
Engin e coolan t leve l — Chec k th e
radiato r reserv e tan k ever y tim e
yo u fil l th e fue l tank . Se e pag e 12 0.
Windshiel d washe r flui d — Chec k
th e leve l i n th e reservoi r monthly .
I f weathe r condition s caus e yo u t o
us e th e washer s frequently , chec k
th e reservoi r eac h tim e yo u sto p
fo r fuel . Se e pag e 16 7. Brake
s an d clutc h — Chec k th e
flui d leve l monthly . Se e pag e 17 0. Tire
s — Chec k th e tir e pressur e
monthly . Examin e th e trea d fo r
wea r an d foreig n objects . Se e pag e
185 . Light
s — Chec k th e operatio n o f
th e headlights , parkin g lights ,
taillights , high-moun t brak e light ,
tur n signals , brak e lights , an d
licens e plat e light s monthly . Se e
pag e 192 .

Maintenanc e

Windshiel
d Washer s

RESERVOI R CA P

Chec k th e leve l i n th e windshiel d
washe r reservoi r a t leas t monthl y
durin g norma l usage . I n ba d weather ,
whe n yo u us e th e washer s often ,
chec k th e leve l ever y tim e yo u sto p

fo r fuel .

Th e windshiel d washe r reservoi r i s
locate d in th e rea r o f th e engin e
compartmen t o n th e passenger' s side .
Chec
k th e reservoir' s flui d leve l b y
removin g th e ca p an d lookin g a t th e
leve l gaug e attache d to th e cap . Fil
l th e reservoi r wit h a good-qualit y
windshiel d washe r fluid . Thi s
increase s th e cleanin g capabilit y an d
prevent s freezin g in col d weather .
Whe n yo u refil l th e reservoir , clea n
th e edge s o f th e windshiel d wipe r
blade s wit h windshiel d washe r flui d
o n a clea n cloth . Thi s wil l hel p to
conditio n th e blad e edges .

Do not use engine antifreeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir.
Antifreeze can damage your car's paint,
while a vinegar/water solution can
damage the windshield washer pump.
Use only commercially-available
windshield washer fluid.

Maintenanc e

NOTIC
E

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

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

Technica
l Informatio n
Th e diagram s i n thi s sectio n giv e
yo u th e dimension s an d capacitie s o f
you r Honda , an d th e location s o f th e
identificatio n numbers . I t als o
include s informatio n yo u shoul d
kno w abou t you r vehicle' s tire s an d
emission s contro l systems . Identificatio
n Numbers................ . 24 4

Specifications................................ . 24 6

DO T Tir e Qualit y Gradin g

(U.S . Vehicles)...................... . 24 8

Treadwear................................. . 24 8
Traction...................................... . 24 8

Temperature............................. 249

Technical Informatio n

Oxygenate
d Fuels......................... . 25 0

Drivin g in Foreig n Countries...... . 25 1
Emission s Controls....................... . 25 2
Th e Clea n Ai r Act..................... . 25 2
Crankcas e Emission s Contro l

System.................................... . 25 2

Evaporativ e Emission s Contro l

System.................................... . 25 2

Exhaus t Emission s Controls... . 25 3

PGM-F I System.................... . 25 3

Ignitio n Timin g Contro l

System................................ . 25 3

Secondar y Ai r Injectio n

System................................ . 25 3

Thre e Wa y Catalyti c
Converter........................... . 25 3

Replacemen t Parts.................... . 25 3

Thre e Wa y Catalyti c Converter.. . 25 4
Stat e Emissio n Testing................ . 25 5