warning 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

Instrument
s an d Control s
Thi s sectio n give s informatio n abou t
th e control s an d display s tha t
contribut e t o th e dail y operatio n o f
you r Honda . Al l th e essentia l
control s ar e withi n eas y reach .
Contro
l Locations........................... . 4 2

Indicato r Lights............................... . 4 3

Gauges............................................. . 4 7
Speedometer............................... . 4 7
Selec t Button............................... . 4 7

Tachometer................................. . 4 7

Temperatur e Gauge................... . 4 7
Fue l Gauge.................................. . 4 8

Odometer..................................... . 4 8

Tri p Meter................................... . 4 8
Maintenanc e Require d

Indicator................................... . 4 9

Control s Nea r th e Steerin g

Wheel....................................... 50

Headlights................................... .
51

Daytim e Runnin g
Lights............
. 5 2
Instrumen t Pane l Brightness.... . 5 2
Tur n Signals................................ 53

Windshiel d Wipers..................... 53

Windshiel d Washers.................. 54

Steerin g Whee l Control s ............... . 5 5

Cruis e Control............................. . 5 5

Key s an d Locks............................... . 5 8

Keys............................................... 58

Immobilize r System.................... . 5 9
Ignitio n Switch............................ . 6 0 Powe
r Doo r Locks...................... . 6 2

Remot e Transmitter................... . 6 3

Trunk........................................... . 6 6

Emergenc y Trun k Opener.........
6 7
Consol e Compartments............. . 6 8

Sea t Adjustments............................ . 6 9

Powe r Windows.............................. . 7 0

Convertibl e Top.............................. . 7 2

Lowerin g th e Convertibl e Top.. . 7 2
Raisin g th e Convertibl e To p ..... . 7 5
Convertibl e To p Cover............... . 7 7

Maintenance................................ .
7 8

Hazar d Warning.............................. . 8 0

Mirrors............................................. . 8 0

Adjustin g th e Powe r Mirrors.... . 8 0

Parkin g Brake................................. . 8 1

Beverag e Holder............................. . 8 2

Accessor y Powe r Socket............... . 8 2

Audi o Panel...................................... . 8 2

Interio r Lights................................. . 8 3

Instrument s an d Control s

Sea
t Adjustment s

See pages 12 — 13 for important safety
information and warnings about how to
properly position seats and seat-backs.

Mak e al l sea t adjustment s befor e
yo u star t driving .
To adjus t th e sea t forwar d an d
backward , pul l u p o n th e leve r unde r
th e sea t cushion' s fron t edge . Mov e
th e sea t t o th e desire d positio n an d
releas e th e lever . Tr y t o mov e th e
sea t t o mak e sur e i t i s locke d in

position .
T
o chang e th e angl e o f th e seat-back ,
pul l u p o n th e leve r o n th e outsid e o f
th e sea t bottom . Mov e th e seat-bac k
t o th e desire d positio n an d releas e
th e lever . Le t th e seat-bac k latc h in
th e ne w position .

Instrument s an d Control s

Hazar
d Warning , Mirror s

Hazar d Warnin g
Pus h th e re d butto n nex t t o th e roo f
switc h t o tur n o n th e hazar d warnin g
light s (four-wa y flashers) . Thi s
cause s al l fou r outsid e tur n signal s
an d bot h indicator s i n th e instrumen t
pane l t o flash . Us e th e hazar d
warnin g light s i f yo u nee d t o par k i n
a dangerou s are a nea r heav y traffic ,
o r i f you r vehicl e i s disabled .
Mirror
s

Kee p th e insid e an d outsid e mirror s
clea n an d adjusted for bes t visibility .
B e sur e t o adjus t th e mirror s befor e
yo u star t driving .
Th e insid e mirro r ha s da y an d nigh t
positions . Th e nigh t positio n reduce s
glar e fro m headlight s behin d you .
Fli p th e ta b o n th e botto m edg e o f
th e mirro r t o selec t th e da y o r nigh t

position .
Adjustin
g th e Powe r Mirror s
Adjus t th e outsid e mirror s wit h th e
adjustmen t switc h o n th e driver' s
doo r armrest :
1 . Tur n th e ignitio n switc h O N (II) .
2 . Mov e th e selecto r switc h t o L
(driver' s side ) o r R (passenger' s
side) .

Instrument s an d Control s
TA
B
ADJUSTMEN
T SWITC H

SELECTO
R SWITC H

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

Batter
y

Chec k th e conditio n o f you r car' s

batter y monthly . Yo u shoul d chec k

th e colo r o f th e tes t indicato r window ,

an d fo r corrosio n o n th e terminals .

Check th e batter y conditio n b y
lookin g a t th e tes t indicato r windo w
o n th e battery .
Th e labe l o n th e batter y explain s th e
tes t indicator' s colors . Chec
k th e batter y terminal s fo r
corrosio n ( a whit e o r yellowis h
powder) . T o remov e it , cove r th e
terminal s wit h a solutio n o f bakin g
sod a an d water . I t wil l bubbl e u p an d
tur n brown . Whe n thi s stops , was h it
of f wit h plai n water . Dr y of f th e
batter y wit h a clot h o r pape r towel .
Coa t th e terminal s wit h greas e to
hel p preven t futur e corrosion .
WARNING : Batter y posts ,
terminal s an d relate d accessorie s
contai n lea d an d lea d compounds .
Was h hand s afte r handling .
CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

TES
T INDICATO R WINDO W

DO
T Tir e Qualit y Gradin g (U.S . Vehicles )

Th e tire s o n you r vehicl e mee t al l
U.S . Federa l Safet y Requirements .
Al l tire s ar e als o grade d fo r
treadwear , traction , an d temperatur e
performanc e accordin g to
Departmen t o f Transportatio n
(DOT ) standards . Th e followin g
explain s thes e gradings .
Unifor m Tir e Qualit y Gradin g
Qualit y grade s ca n b e foun d wher e
applicabl e o n th e tir e sidewal l
betwee n th e trea d shoulde r an d th e
maximu m sectio n width . Fo r

example :

Treadwea r 20 0

Tractio n A A

Temperatur e A

DO T Qualit y Grade s

Al l passenge r ca r tire s mus t confor m
t o Federa l Safet y Requirement s in
additio n to thes e grades .
Treadwea
r

Th e treadwea r grad e is a compara -
tiv e ratin g base d o n th e wea r rat e o f
th e tir e whe n teste d unde r controlle d
condition s o n a specifie d governmen t
tes t course . Fo r example , a tir e
grade d 15 0 woul d wea r on e an d one -
hal f ( 1 1/2 ) time s a s wel l o n th e
governmen t cours e a s a tir e grade d
100 . Th e relativ e performanc e o f
tire s depend s upo n th e actua l condi -
tion s o f thei r use , however , an d ma y
depar t significantl y fro m th e nor m
clu e t o variation s i n drivin g habits ,
servic e practice s an d difference s i n
roa d characteristic s an d climate .
Tractio
n — AA , A , B , C

Th e tractio n grades , fro m highes t t o
lowest , ar e AA , A , B , an d C . Thos e
grade s represen t th e tire' s abilit y t o
slo p o n we t pavemen t a s measure d
unde r controlle d condition s o n
specifie d governmen t tes t surface s
o f asphal t an d concrete . A tir e
marke d C ma y hav e poo r tractio n
performance .
Warning : Th e tractio n grade
assigne d t o thi s tir e is base d o n
straight-ahea d brakin g tractio n tests ,
an d doe s no t includ e acceleration ,
cornering , hydroplaning , o r pea k
tractio n characteristics .

Technica l Informatio n

DO
T Tir e Qualit y Gradin g (U.S . Vehicles )

Temperatur e — A, B , C
Th e temperatur e grade s ar e A (th e
highest) , B , an d C , representin g th e
tire' s resistanc e to th e generatio n o f
hea t an d it s abilit y t o dissipat e hea t
whe n teste d unde r controlle d
condition s o n a specifie d indoo r
laborator y tes t wheel . Sustaine d hig h
temperatur e ca n caus e th e materia l
o f th e tir e t o degenerat e an d reduc e
tir e life , an d excessiv e temperatur e
ca n lea d to sudde n tir e failure . Th e
grad e C correspond s t o a leve l o f
performanc e whic h al l passenge r ca r
tire s mus t mee t unde r th e Federa l
Moto r Vehicl e Safet y Standar d No .
109 . Grade s B an d A represen t
highe r level s o f performanc e o n th e
laborator y tes t whee l tha n th e
minimu m require d b y law .
Warning
: Th e temperatur e grad e fo r

thi s tir e is establishe d fo r a tir e tha t

i s properl y inflate d an d no t over -

loaded . Excessiv e speed , underinfla -
tion , o r excessiv e loading , eithe r

separatel y o r i n combination , ca n

caus e hea t buildu p an d possibl e tir e

failure .

Technical Informatio n