Seasonal Warnings and Reminders

EDIT by CKit: The S2000 is not a toy. It is dangerous when operated in an unsafe manner. Don't let your previous driving experience lull you into a false sense of security. See the following thread for people who underestimated driving conditions / overestimated driving skill.

http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=645876

End EDIT


I'm in my 10th year of ownership and I've been on S2KI for most of it.
Every year we see a bunch of the same mistakes costing owners their S2000s. If not the entire car at least the engines. Very expensive problems so I thought we should put this information out again as a warning for new owners. Many different things need to be known by all and new members often are not aware of some of the most important. Fall has arrived and temps are falling so it is time to warn the new S2000 owners of the perils of fall and winter.

Traction. These cars have all sorts of issues due to the rapid run up of torque and horsepower in a short rpm span. Best to drive like a little old lady and don't take it over 3000 rpm or so when in inclement conditions. It is wise if you can avoid driving in bad conditions and use another car.

Tires need to have adequate or new tread. When cold there is little to no traction. After first rains there can be floating oil slicks on the road.

Torsen differentials add to the perils by adding or releasing torque to the wheels depenedent on both wheels maintaining traction.

Search and look at all the threads about "I crashed my car" or "totaled" There has to be more than a hundred of them. When the conditions are less than ideal the driver needs to be aware of the quirks of this car and never hit V-tec.

If you have a cold air intake you should be aware of hydrolock. AEM in particular has cost many engines. Some AEM intakes can hydrolock your engine from a rain storm without moving. Switch out to your factory intake for the rainy season.

And any season, if you hear your engine starting to make knocks or other bad sounds don't try to drive home. This happens almost weekly costing the owners mega dollars in self induced engine repairs. The same goes for if you think you may have taken water into the intake. Shut it off immediately and call a tow.


HTH

And don't use your cruise control on wet and/or slippery roads!

Thanks for the info.

Good thread

Yep, good advice for everyone new to their S2000.

Good info, I hate reading about those threads. Hopefully this will save more S's this year.

can someone please explain the deal with the plastic window? lets say i wanted to ride top down when the temps really drop is it safe to do so with the plastic window?

i think there was just a thread from someone who cracked theirs because of that. i'd try to avoid using it but one tip i've heard was to heat up the interior to soften the window a bit and then drop the top. but i'm not sure if you'll have problems bringing the top back up when the window is cold again?

I know with Boxsters, the owners have a technique called the boxster chop. You begin to lower the top with the plastic rear window, stop it halfway, lightly chop the window to make sure that it folds properly (in a straight line down the middle of the window), then get back in and lower it the rest of the way. Plastic become more stiff with cold temps and is more likely the crack instead of bending at lower temps. This makes sure that it is folding correctly to ensure that chances of cracking are minimal.

In my area (NJ), morning temperatures are around 50 degrees right now and I've noticed a marked drop-off in grip from the stock RE050's. It caught me by surprise a couple weeks ago. Now I'm prepared for it and sometimes even have fun kicking the back end out and letting the VSA tuck it back in, but I digress, please be careful as temperatures are dropping as we move into fall/winter. I can only imagine what the tires would be like when it gets to be 45 or lower. I plan to stop driving the S regularly in November.

The best analogy I can draw is when you're chewing a piece of gum and drink some cold water, the gum gets hard immediately.

Be safe guys.

Remember to go smooth on the throttle! That goes for accelerating & decelerating!

How does the glass window top handle low temps? Is it ok to raise or lower the top in 30 degree weather?

Yes. I wouldn't do it if the fabric is iced up though.


Summer tires turn into hocky pucks below 50F. Consider a second set of winter wheels and tires for such seasons.

Don't downshift with rain, ice, or snow on the road without rev matching. You may break the rearend loose causing you to lose control.

Becareful everyone, it's time to drive with limits, so you can enjoy again next year.

Good advice, I can tell you after taking a drive today (low 50s) that the stock tires aren't fond of the temp, hard cornering made the car twitchy when it normally wouldn't. Did make for some fun, but you had to be ready for it!

Great advice and good warnings

I now have a large crack in my plastic window from lowering it when it was slightly cold. Be careful

Great thread with great info. Thanks

This is one of the rare times I am glad to be in California in regards to car stuff...no rust either!

Rarely gets below freezing for low temps.

the new aemv2's have a drain valve at the lowest point btw

good thread though!

good thread, and it can be dangerous especially without good tires. i suggest going on tire rack and looking at their reviews. the mich pilot sport A/S is the highest ranked ultra high performance all season tire on the market right now... well technicalle the bridgestone is, but having run both, the mich is better in the wet and dry... those bridgestones have a magic way of getting to the top of the list. anyway, those pilot sport as's are as good i not better in good warm conditions as stock tires, and way better in the wet, and cold. they are currently the only tire i would consider for my s, some sizes aren't made, but there is always something, and they are not all that spendy.

if you live where there is actually weather it is the tire to have IMO...

This post has been edited by luder_5555 on Nov 7 2009, 11:46 PM

hope the noobs read this.
i hit vtec in 30 degree temps. ....ended up getting a new paint job

I live in Alabama and it does get cold in the winter, as low as 20's (cold for here at least).

I usually drive conservatively anyway (except when I want to have fun), but why would VTEC'ing during low temps hurt the car? I always warm up the car or drive below 4k until engine temperature is adequate.

If the engine is up to temperature, why would VTEC be an issue during colder atmospheric conditions?

Just curious...don't want to hurt my baby, especially since she is new to me, but not having the opportunity to VTEC a bit during the 'winter' is going to be a bummer!

Thanks!

It's not about causing harm to the engine when hitting vtec in the cold, it's about losing traction and spinning out when the extra power kicks in.

edit...this would be more of an issue with summer tires, of course.

This post has been edited by dc4nomore on Nov 21 2009, 08:40 PM