airbag HONDA S2000 2003 1.G Owner's Manual

The passenger’s airbag poses
serious risks to children, including
those who have outgrown child seats.
If the vehicle seat is too f ar f orward,
or the child’s head is thrown f orward
during a collision, or the child is
unrestrained or out of position, an
inf lating airbag can kill or seriously
injure the child.
For these reasons, we recommend
that you do not carry a child
passenger.
With this in mind, f ollowing are
some guidelines to help you decide
when a given child may ride in your
car.
When a child reaches the
recommended weight or height limit
for a forward-facing child seat, the
child should wear a lap/shoulder belt.If a child is too short f or the shoulder
part of the belt to properly f it, we
recommend that the child use a
booster seat until the child is tall
enough to use the seat belt without a
booster.
The f ollowing pages give
instructions on how to check proper
seat belt f it, what kind of booster
seat to use if one is needed, and
important precautions f or a child
who must ride in this car.
To determine if a lap/shoulder belt
properly f its a child, have the child
sit all the way back in the seat, and
put on the seat belt. Follow the
instructions on page . Then check
how the belt f its.15
CONT INUED
Checking Seat Belt Fit
T he Child Should Wear a Seat BeltProtecting L arger Children
Protecting Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety29
Allowing a larger child to sit
improperly in the front seat can
result in injury or death if the
passenger’s front airbag inflates.
If a larger child must sit in front,
make sure the child moves the
seat as far back as possible,
uses a booster seat if needed,
and wears the seat belt properly.

If the shoulder part of the belt is
pulled all the way out, the locking
mechanism will activate. The belt
will retract, but it will not allow the
passenger to move f reely.
To deactivate the locking
mechanism, unlatch the buckle and
let the seat belt f ully retract. To
ref asten the belt, pull it out only as
f ar as needed.
See page f or instructions on how
to wear the lap/shoulder belt
properly.For saf ety, you should check the
condition of your seat belts regularly.
Pull each belt out f ully and look f or
f rays, cuts, burns, and wear. Check
that the latches work smoothly and
that the lap/shoulder belts retract
easily. Any belt not in good condition
or not working properly will not
provide good protection and should
be replaced as soon as possible.
Your Honda has automatic seat belt
tensioners f or added protection
during a moderate to severe frontal
collision.
If your airbags inf late, the tensioners
immediately tighten the seat belts to
help hold the occupants in place. The
belts will remain tight until you
unbuckle them in the normal way.
15
Additional Inf ormation About Your Seat Belts
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Seat Belt Maintenance
A utomatic Seat Belt T ensioners
34

An indicator light on the
instrument panel that alerts you to
a possible problem with the
system (see page ).
Emergency backup power in case
your car’s electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.
Your Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) includes:
Two f ront airbags. The driver’s
airbag is stored in the center of
the steering wheel; the f ront
passenger’sairbagisstoredinthe
dashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRS
AIRBAG.’’
Automatic seat belt tensioners
(see page ).
Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe frontal
collision.
A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors
inf ormation about the sensors, the
control unit, and the airbag
activators when the ignition is ON
(II). If you ever have a moderate to
severe f rontal collision, the sensors
will detect rapid deceleration and
signal the control unit to instantly
inflate the airbags and activate the
automatic seat belt tensioners.
34 38
Additional Inf ormation About Your SRS
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
SRS Components
How Your A irbags Work
36

Af ter inf lating, the airbags
immediately def late, so they won’t
interf ere with the driver’s visibility,
or the ability to steer or operate
other controls.
The total time for inflation and
def lation is approximately one-tenth
of a second, so f ast that most
occupants are not aware that the
airbags deployed until they see them
lying in their laps.
This can occur when the severity of
a collision is at the margin, or
threshold, that determines whether
or not the airbags will deploy. In
such cases, the seat belt will provide
suf f icient protection, and the
supplemental protection of f ered by
the airbag would be minimal. During a crash, your seat belt helps
restrain your lower body and torso,
while the tensioner tightens and
locks the seat belt to help keep you
in place. Your airbag provides a
cushion to help restrain and protect
your head and chest.
Since both airbags use the same
sensors, both airbags normally
inf late at the same time. However, it
is possible f or only one airbag to
inf late. After a crash, you may see what
looks like smoke. This is actually
powder f rom the airbag’s surf ace.
Although the powder is not harmf ul,
people with respiratory problems
mayexperiencesometemporary
discomf ort. If this occurs, get out of
the car as soon as it is safe to do so.
For additional information on how
your airbags work, see the booklet
titled
that came with your
owner’s manual.
For additional information on how
your airbags work, ask your dealer
f or a copy of the booklet titled
SRS: What You Need to Know
About Airbags
SRS:
What You Need to Know About Airbags
.
U.S. Owners
Canadian Owners
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Additional Inf ormation About Your SRS
37

If the light comes on or f lashes on
andoff whileyoudrive.
If you see any of these indications,
your airbags and seat belt tensioners
may not deploy when you need them.
See your Honda dealer as soon as
possible.
Thepurposeof theSRS
light is to alert you to a
potential problem with your
Supplemental Restraint System.
When you turn the ignition ON (II),
this indicator will light brief ly then
go out. This tells you that the system
is working properly.
If the light comes on at any other
time, or does not come on at all, you
should have the system checked by
your dealer. For example:
If the SRS indicator light does not
come on after you turn the ignition
switch to ON (II).
If the light stays on after the
engine starts.
Additional Inf ormation About Your SRS
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
How the SRS Indicator L ight
Works
38
Ignoring the SRS indicator light
can result in serious injury or
death if the airbags do not
inflate when needed.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS light alerts you to a
potential problem.

Your Supplemental Restraint System
is virtually maintenance-f ree, and
there are no parts you can saf ely
service. However, you must have
your car serviced if :The
airbags, seat belt tensioners, and
control unit must be replaced. Do
not try to remove or replace the
airbags yourself .
This must be done by a Honda
dealer or a knowledgeable body
shop.
Take your car to an
authorized Honda dealer as soon
as possible. If you ignore this
indication, the airbags might not
inf late when you need them. Tampering could cause
the airbags to deploy, possibly
causing very serious injury.
See page f or f urther inf ormation
and precautions relating to your SRS. Together, airbags and
seat belts provide the best
protection in a moderate to severe
f rontal collision.
127
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
SRS Service Additional Saf ety Precautions
Your airbags ever inf late.
T he SRS indicat or light alert s yout o a problem. Do not t amper wit h SRS
component s or wiring f or anyreason.
Donotattempttodeactivateyour
airbags.
Additional Inf ormation About Your SRS
39

When properly installed, cellular
phones, alarms, two-way radios, and
low-powered audio systems should
not interf ere with your car’s
computer-controlled systems, such
as the SRS and anti-lock brake
system.If possible, have your dealer inspect
the f inal installation.Be sure electronic accessories do
not overload electrical circuits
(see page ). Make sure the accessory does not
obscure any lights, or interf ere
with proper car operation or
perf ormance.
Bef ore installing any accessory: However, if electronic accessories
are improperly installed, or exceed
your car’s electrical system capacity,
they can interfere with the operation
of your car, or even cause the
airbags to deploy.
Modif ying your car, or installing
some non-Honda accessories, can
make your car unsaf e. Bef ore you
make any modif ications or add any
accessories,besuretoreadthe
f ollowing inf ormation.
Your dealer has genuine Honda
accessories that allow you to
personalize your car. These
accessories have been designed and
approved f or your car, and are
covered by warranty.
Non-Honda accessories are usually
designed f or universal applications.
Although aftermarket accessories
may f it on your car, they may not
meet f actory specif ications, and
could adversely af f ect your car’s
handling and stability. (See
‘‘Modif ications’’ on page f or
additional information.) Have the installer contact your
Honda dealer f or assistance bef ore
installing any electronic accessory.
239
127
A ccessories
A ccessories and Modif ications
Bef ore Driving126
Improper accessories or
modifications can affect your
car’s handling, stability, and
performance, and cause a
crash in which you can be hurt
or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner’s manual regarding
accessories and modifications.

Do not attach or place objects on the
airbag covers. Any object attached to
or placed on the covers marked ‘‘SRS
AIRBAG,’’ in the center of the
steering wheel and on top of the
dashboard, could interf ere with the
proper operation of the airbags. Or,
if the airbags inf late, the objects
could be propelled inside the car and
hurt someone.
Some examples are:
Lowering the vehicle with an
aftermarket suspension kit that
signif icantly reduces ground
clearance can allow the
undercarriage to impact speed
bumps or other raised objects,
which could cause the airbags to
deploy.
Raising the vehicle with an
af termarket suspension kit can
af f ect the handling and stability.
Af termarket wheels, because they
are a universal design, can cause
excessive stress on suspension
components. Larger or smaller wheels and tires
can interf ere with the operation of
your vehicle’s anti-lock brakes and
other systems.
Do not modif y your steering wheel
or any other part of your
Supplemental Restraint System.
Modif ications could make the
system inef f ective.
If you plan to modif y your vehicle,
consult with your Honda dealer.
Removing parts f rom your vehicle,
or replacing components with non-
Honda (af termarket) components
could seriously af f ect your vehicle’s
handling, stability, and reliability. Modif ications
Additional Saf ety Precaution
A ccessories and Modif ications
Bef ore Driving127

CONT INUED
............................
Capacities Chart .250
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 40
............................
Cargo, Carrying .128
..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
...................................
CD Changer .108
.......................................
CD Player .105
........................
Certif ication Label .248
............................................
Chains .195
........
Back-up Lamp Replacement . 202
Battery Charging System ...........................
Indicator .46, 233
............................
Jump Starting .226
..............................
Maintenance .181
............................
Specif ications .251
..............................
Bef ore Driving .119
..........................................
Belts, Seat .8
.............................
Beverage Holder .82
...................................
Body Repair .215
............................................
Brakes .140
...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 141
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 120
....................
Bulb Replacement .202
...........................................
Fluid .174
.........................................
Parking .81
.................
System Indicator . 46,236
..............
Wear Indicators, Disc . 140
.............................
Braking System .140
........................
Break-in, New Car .120 ..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 54
........................
Brights, Headlights .53
.........................
Bulb Replacement .198
..........................
Back-up Lights .202
..............................
Brake Lights .202
.................................
Headlights .198
.................
License Plate Lights . 204
..................
Side Marker Lights . 200
............................
Specif ications .251
....................
Turn Signal Lights . 200
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .198
Accessories
.................................
Installation .126
...............
Accessory Power Socket . 82
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) .61
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 162
.....................................
Airbag (SRS) .9
.....................
Air Cleaner Element .176
..............................
Air Conditioning .86
..............................
Maintenance .186
............................................
Usage .86
.........................
Air Outlets (Vents) .88
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .189
...........................
Alarm, Anti-theft .114
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline .255
.......
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning . 210
......................................
Antif reeze .165
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) ....................
Indicator Light .47, 143
...................................
Operation .141
.
Anti-thef t Steering Column Lock . 60
..........................
Anti-thef t System .114
..........................
Appearance Care .207
......................................
Audio Panel .82 ..................................
Audio System .94
.............
Automatic Speed Control . 115
Index
B
A
C
I

Recovery Vehicle, Emergency.......................................
Towing .245
.............................
Reminder Lights .45
.......................
Remote Transmitter .63
Replacement Inf ormation ................................
Air Cleaner .176
..........................
Engine Coolant .167
................
Engine Oil and Filter . 163
..........................................
Fuses .239
................................
Light Bulbs .198
....................................
Schedule .150
................................
Spark Plugs .178
...........................................
Tires .193
.............................
Wiper Blades .184
Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a ............................................
Crash .34
...............................
Restraint, Child .19
................................
Rotation, Tire .192
........................................
Saf ety Belts .8
............
Safety Defects, Reporting . 266
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of . 41
...............................
Saf ety Messages .ii ...........................................
Seat Belts .8
...............
Additional Information . 33
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 17
.....................................
Cleaning .212
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt .33
................................
Maintenance .34
......
Reminder Light and Beeper . 46
...................
System Components . 33
...............
Use During Pregnancy . 17
........................
Seats, Adjusting the .69
...............................
Serial Number .248
...........................
Service Intervals .150
.............................
Service Manual .267
.........
Service Station Procedures . 121
Shif ting The 6-speed Manual .........................
Transmission .137
Side Marker Lights, Bulb .........................
Replacement in .200
...............................
Signaling Turns .55
6-speed Manual Transmission ...............
Checking Fluid Level . 172
................................
Shif ting the .137
.....................................
Snow Tires .195
...................
Solvent-type Cleaners . 208
..................................
Sound System .94 Spare Tire
......................................
Inf lating .218
............................
Specif ications .251
................
Spark Plugs, Replacing . 178
....................
Specif ications Charts . 250
................................
Speed Control .115
...................................
Speedometer .49
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation . 36
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 39
How the Automatic Seat Belt ....................
Tensioners Work .34
How the SRS Indicator .......................................
Works .38
...........
How Your Airbags Work . 36
........................
SRS Components .36
..................................
SRS Service .39
..................
SRS Indicator Light . 38,47
.......................
Starting the Engine .135
In Cold Weather at High ..................................
Altitude .136
................
With a Dead Battery . 226
..............
State Emissions Testing . 260
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine . 229
Steering Wheel .............
Anti-theft Column Lock . 60
.....................
Stereo Sound System .94
Index
S
VI