Service Bulletin
.
2000 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. – All Rights Reserved
ATB 22238 (0010)
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CUSTOMER INFORMATION:
The information in this bulletin is intended for use only by skilled technicians who have the proper tools, equipment,
and training to correctly and safely maintain your vehicle. These procedures should not be attempted by “do-it-yourselfers,” and you should not assume
this bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle has the condition described. To determine whether this information applies, contact an
authorized Honda automobile dealer.
October 17, 2000
00-078
Applies To:
2000 S2000 – ALL
Safety Recall: S2000 Seat Belt Retractors
BACKGROUND
Under cer tain conditions, the seat belt retractor
actuator can deform and cause complete or frequent
locking of the retractor. As a result, the seat belt cannot
be used.
CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION
All owners of affected vehicles w ill be notified of this
recall. An example of the customer notification is at the
end of this service bulletin.
Some of the affected vehicles are still in dealer
inventory. According to Federal law, any new or
used vehicle that is subject to a recall cannot be
sold or leased until it is repaired.
CORRECTIVE ACTION
Replace the sensors in both seat belt retractors.
PARTS INFORMATION
Seat Belt Sensor Ki t: P/N 04814-S2A-305, H/C 6646137
WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION
Operation Number : 854103
Flat Rate Time: 2.4 hours
Failed Par t:
P/N 04818-S2A-A01ZA
H/C 6231393
Defect Code: 746
Contention Code: L04
Template ID:
00-078A
Skill Level:
Repair Technician
REPAIR PROCEDURE
1. Open the seat belt sensor kit. Use a marker to mark
all four plastic pieces (pink, orange, light blue, dark
blue) for later identification.
2. Open the roof.
3. Remove both seats. R emove the door sill trim, the
rear side trim, and the roll bar lower trim. (Refer to
pages 20-48 and 20-49 of the service manual.)
4. Close the roof.
5. Open the trunk. Remove the spare tire cover and
the spare tire.
6. Unclip the rear tray rear trim and the rear tray.
Remove them through the trunk (see page 20-50).
7. Remove the rear console back board (see page
20-56).
8. Open the roof.
9. Carefully pr y up the center console (see page
20-55). Remove the rear console (see page 20-56),
and the rear console box (see page 20-57).
10. Close the roof.
11. Remove the roll bars (see page 20-51).
12. Remove both seat belt retractor assemblies.
13. Set the retractor assembly on a level surface with
the spring (silver) side down. Slowly pull the belt out
of the retractor until it is fully extended.
RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY
(Set spring side down
on a level surface.)
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00-078
14. Hold the reel, then turn the retractor assembly over.
Insert the spring stop in the hole in the spring
assembly to keep the belt from retracting. It may be
necessary to let the belt retract slightly to get the
spring stop to fit into the hole.
15. Turn the retractor assembly over, and use the small
end of the pin punch from the kit to drive the three
pins out of the retainer. Make sure the pins do not
fall inside the retractor mechanism. Discard the
pins.
16. Use a small screwdriver to pry the retainer off the
seat belt retractor assembly. Pry carefully along the
edges. Do not stick the screwdriver too far under
the retainer; you could damage the retractor
mechanism. Discard the retainer.
17.
Driver’s side only:
If the retainer you removed is
green, install the red cap from the kit on the
retractor reel shaft. If the removed retainer is pink,
do not install the cap.
HOLE IN THE
SPRING ASSEMBLY
SPRING
STOP
PIN PUNCH
RETAINER
PINS
(Punch out
and discard.)
Install red cap only if you
removed a green retainer.
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00-078
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18. Remove the sensor from the retractor assembly
with your fingers. Discard the sensor.
19. Install the new sensor. Make sure it is fully seated in
the retractor assembly.
20. Install the new retainer on the retractor assembly.
Make sure it snaps into position and is fully seated
on the retractor assembly.
21. Use the large end of the supplied pin punch to drive
the three pins into the retainer. Make sure they are
driven in straight and are flush with the surface of
the retainer.
22. Hold the belt, then remove the spring stop. Allow
the belt to slowly retract. Set the belt on a level
surface as you did in step 13, and make sure the
belt pulls out and retracts smoothly.
23.
Passenger’s side only:
Pull the belt out until it is
fully extended. Let it retract slowly. You should hear
a clicking sound that means the child seat locking
mechanism is working.
NOTE: You may have to fully extend, then retract
the belt two or three times to get the child seat
locking mechanism to work properly.
24. Repeat steps 13 thru 23 on the other seat belt
retractor assembly.
25. Install the seat belt assemblies in the car. Refer to
page 23-6 of the service manual for the proper
configuration of washers and collars on the anchor
bolts. Torque the anchor bolts and retractor
mounting bolts to 32 N
·
m (24 lb-ft). Torque the
retractor mounting screw to 9.8 N
·
m (7.2 lb-ft).
26. Reinstall all removed par ts.
27. Center-punch a completion mark above the fourth
character (A) of the engine compartment VIN.
Center-punch here.
JHMAP1XXXXXXXXXXX
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00-078
October 2000
Safety Recall: S2000 Seat Belts
Dear S2000 Owner:
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the
requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle
Safety Act.
What is the reason for this notice.
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has determined that a defect
relating to motor vehicle safety exists in 2000 model
year S2000 automobiles because the seat belts may not
be usable.
Under certain conditions, the seat belt retractor actuator
can deform and cause complete or frequent locking of
the retractor. As a result, the seat belt cannot be pulled
out of the retractor and, therefore, cannot be used.
Seat belts are the single most effective safety device for
adults and larger children. Not wearing a seat belt
increases the chance of serious injury or death in a
collision, even though your vehicle is equipped with airbags.
What should you do.
Call any authorized Honda automobile dealer and make
an appointment to have your vehicle repaired. The
dealer will install a new actuator assembly that has
been redesigned to prevent this problem.
This repair will
be done free of charge
. The repair takes just over two
hours. Please plan to leave your car all day to allow the
dealer flexibility in scheduling.
Who to contact if you experience problems.
If you are not satisfied with the service you receive from
your Honda dealer, you may write to:
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Honda Consumer Affairs Dept.
Mail Stop 500-2N-7D
1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501-2746
If you believe that American Honda or the dealer has
failed or is unable to remedy the defect in your car,
without charge, within a reasonable period of time (60
days from the date you first contact the dealer for a
repair appointment), you may submit a complaint to:
Administrator
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
400 Seventh St., SW
Washington, DC 20590
Or call the toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.
What to do if you feel this notice is in error.
Our records show that you are the current owner or
lessee of an S2000 involved in this recall. If this is not
the case, or the name/address information is not
correct, please fill out and return the enclosed, postage-
paid
Information Change Card
. We will then update our
records.
If you have questions.
If you have any questions about this notice, or need
assistance with contacting a Honda dealer, please call the
Honda Consumer Affairs Department at (800) 999-1009.
We apologize for any inconvenience this campaign may
cause you.
Sincerely,
AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Honda Automobile Division
Example of Customer Letter