HONDA S2000 2004 2.G Owner's Manual

Your airbag system includes:Two SRS (Supplemental Restraint
System) airbags. The driver’s
airbag is stored in the center of
the steering wheel; the passenger’s
airbag is stored in the 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 in
the ON (II) position. An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you to a possible
problem with your airbags (see
page ).
Emergency backup power in case
your vehicle’s electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.
If you ever have a moderate to
severe f rontal collision, sensors will
detect the vehicle’s rapid
deceleration. If the rate of
deceleration is high enough, the
control unit will instantly inf late the
drivers and passenger’s airbags.
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Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
A irbag System Components
How Your A irbags Work
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During a f rontal crash, your seat belt
restrains your lower body and torso,
and the airbag helps protect your
head and chest.
Although both airbags normally
inf late within split second of each
other, it is possible f or only one
airbag to deploy.
This can happen if 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.Af ter inf lating, the airbags will
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 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.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 vehicle as soon as it is saf e to do
so.
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety19

The SRS indicator alerts
you to a potential problem
with your airbags or seat belt
tensioners (see page ).
When you turn the ignition to ON
(II), this indicator will come on
brief ly then go out. This tells you the
system is working properly.
If the indicator 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 does not come
on after you turn the ignition to
ON (II).
If the indicator stays on after the
engine starts. If the indicator comes on or
flashesonandoff whileyoudrive.
If you see any of these indications,
your airbags and seat belt tensioners
may not work properly when you
need them.
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Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
How the SRS Indicator Works
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Ignoring the SRS indicator can
result in serious injury or death
if the airbags or tensioners do
not work properly.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS indicator alerts you to
a possible problem.

Your airbag systems are virtually
maintenance-f ree, and there are no
parts you can saf ely service.
However, you must have your
vehicle 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 vehicle to an
authorized Honda dealer as soon
as possible. If you ignore this
indication, your airbags may not
operate properly. Together, airbags and
seat belts provide the best
protection.
Tampering could cause
the airbags to deploy, possibly
causing very serious injury.
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Airbag Service Additional Saf ety Precautions
Your airbags ever inf late.
T he SRS indicat or alert s you t o aproblem. Donotattempttodeactivateyour
airbags.
Do not t amper wit h airbagcomponent s or wiring f or anyreason.
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Children depend on adults to protect
them. However, despite their best
intentions many adults do not know
how to properly protect child
passengers.
If you ever need to drive with a child
in your vehicle, be sure to read this
section. It begins with important
general guidelines, then presents
special inf ormation f or small
children and larger children.Each year, many children are injured
or killed in vehicle crashes because
they are either unrestrained or not
properly restrained. In f act, vehicle
accidents are the number one cause
of death of children ages 12 and
under.
To reduce the number of child
deaths and injuries, every state and
Canadian province requires that
inf ants and children be properly
restrained when they ride in a
vehicle.
(see pages
). (see
pages ). 27 29
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Protecting Children General Guidelines
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
All Children Must Be Restrained
A larger child must be restrained
with a booster until the seat belt fitshim her properly
A small child must be restrained in
an approved child seat t hat isproperly secured t o t he vehicle
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Children who are unrestrained
or improperly restrained can be
seriously injured or killed in a
crash.
Any child too small for a seat
belt should be properly
restrained in a child seat. A
larger child should be properly
restrained with a seat belt and
use a booster if necessary.

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The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that all children
age12and under be properly
restrained in a back seat.
Since this vehicle does not have a
back seat, we strongly recommend
that you do not carry any child who
is not large enough or mature
enough to ride in f ront (see page ). Airbags have been designed to help
protect adults in a moderate to
severe f rontal collision. To do this,
the passenger’s airbag is quite large
and it can inflate with enough force
to cause very serious injuries.
If the passenger’s airbag
inflates, it can hit the back of the
child seat with enough f orce to kill or
very seriously injure an inf ant. If the vehicle seat is too
f ar f orward, or the child’s head is
thrown f orward during a collision, an
inf lating passenger’s airbag can
strike the child with enough force to
kill or very seriously injure them.
If a larger child must ride in
this vehicle, see page for
important guidelines on how to
decide when a child is ready to ride
in f ront and how to properly protect
the child.
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Protecting Children General Guidelines
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Your Vehicle is Not
Recommended f or Child
passengersThe Passenger’s Airbag Can Pose
Serious Risks
Inf antsSmall Children
L arger Children
Never put a rear-f acing child seat in
t his vehicle. Placing a f orward-f acing child seat in
t he passenger’s seat can behazardous.
Children who have outgrown childseat s are also at risk of being injuredor killed by an inf lat ing passenger’sairbag.
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To remind you of the passenger’s
airbag hazards, your vehicle has
warninglabelsonthedashboardand
on the driver’s and passenger’s
visors. Please read and f ollow the
instructions on these labels.To remind you of the airbag hazards,
your vehicle has warning labels on
the driver’s and passenger’s visors.
Please read and follow the
instructions on these labels.
Protecting Children General Guidelines
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
U.S. Models
Canadian Models
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Never hold a small child on your
lap. If you are not wearing a seat
belt in crash, you could be thrown
f orward and crush the child
against the dashboard. If you are
wearing a seat belt, the child can
be torn f rom your arms and be
seriously hurt or killed.
Never put a seat belt over yourself
and a child. During a crash, the
belt could press deep into the child
and cause serious or fatal injuries.
Never let two children use the
same seat belt. If they do, they
could be very seriously injured in a
crash.Lock both doors and the trunk
when your vehicle is not in use.
Children who play in vehicles can
accidentally get trapped inside the
trunk. Teach your children not to
play in or around vehicles. Know
how to operate the emergency
trunk opener and decide if your
children should be shown how to
use this f eature (see page ).Keep vehicle keys and remote
transmitters out of the reach of
children. Even very young
children learn how to unlock
vehicle doors, turn on the ignition,
and open the trunk, which can
lead to accidental injury or death.
Do not leave children alone in a
vehicle. Leaving children without
adult supervision is illegal in most
states and Canadian provinces,
and can be very hazardous. For
example, a small child lef t in a
vehicle on a hot day can die f rom
heatstroke. A child lef t alone with
the key in the ignition can
accidentally set the vehicle in
motion, possibly injuring
themselves or others.
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Protecting Children General Guidelines
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Additional Saf ety Precautions
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Because an inf lating airbag can
seriously injure or kill small children,
we recommend that you do not carry
a small child as a passenger in this
vehicle.
If you decide to transport a small
child in this vehicle, be sure to move
the passenger seat as far to the rear
as possible, and follow the
instructions and guidelines in the
f ollowing pages.A child who is at least one year old,
and who fits within the child seat
maker’s weight and height limits,
should be restrained in a f orward-
f acing, upright child seat.
Of the different seats available, we
recommend those that have a f ive-
point harness system as shown.We also recommend that a small
child uses the child seat as long as
possible, until the child reaches the
weight or height limit f or the seat.
Protecting Small Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Child Seat T ype
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Placing a forward-facing child
seat in the passenger’s seat
can result in serious injury or
death if the airbag inflates.
Ifyoumustplaceaforward-
facing child seat in the
passenger’s seat, move the
vehicle seat as far back as
possible, and properly restrain
the child.

To provide proper protection, a child
seat should meet three
requirements:Look f or FMVSS
213 or CMVSS 213 on the box.
Bef ore purchasing a child seat, or
using a previously purchased one, we
recommend that you test the seat to
make sure it f its properly in the
passenger’s seat. Af ter selecting a proper child seat,
there are three main steps to install
it:
All child seats must be
secured to the vehicle with the lap
part of a lap/shoulder belt. A child
whose seat is not properly secured
to the vehicle can be endangered
in a crash.
Af ter installing a child
seat, push and pull the seat
f orward and f rom side to side to
verif y that it is secure. Make sure the child is properly
strappedinthechildseat
according to the child seat maker’s
instructions. A child who is not
properly secured in a child seat
can be seriously injured in a crash.
The f ollowing pages provide
guidelines on how to properly install
a f orward-f acing child seat.
A child seat secured with a seat
belt should be installed as f irmly
as possible. However, it does not
need to be ‘‘rock solid’’. Some side-
to-side movement can be expected
and should not reduce the child
seat’s ef f ectiveness.
Selecting a Child Seat
Installing a Child Seat
T he child seat should meet U.S. or
Canadian Mot or Vehicle Saf et ySt andard 213.
T he child seat should be of theproper t ype and size t o f it t he child.
T he child seat should f it thepassenger’s seat . Properly secure t he child seat t o
the vehicle.
Make sure t he child seat is f irmlysecured. Secure the child in the child seat.
1. 2.3. 1.
2. 3.
Selecting a Child Seat, Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety27