engine HONDA PRELUDE 1992 User Guide

Seat Adjustments, Seat Heaters

Seat-back Angle Memory
After you have adjusted the seat-
back angle, press the MEMORY
button. This retains the setting so the seat-back will return to thatposition after you tilt it forward for
rear seat access. If you do not press
the MEMORY button, the seat-
back will return to about the midpoint of its adjustment range.
You will then have to readjust the
angle to your preference.
Seat Heaters
Available only on SR 4WS model in

Canada

Both fron
t
seats are equipped with
seat heaters. The ignition must be
ON (II) to use them. Push the
heater switch to turn the power on
or off. The pilot lamp lights and
remains on while the heaters are on. Do not use the seat heaters when
the engine is off or when idling for
a long period of time. They can
drain the battery, making your car
hard to start.

Instruments and Controls
INDICATORSProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Heating and Cooling

How to Use the System
This section covers the best way to
use the system for ventilation, cooling, dehumidifying, defrosting
and heating. In most cases, the
mode and air source selections are
only recommendations. You may
prefer different settings.
Use the Recirculation mode to heat
or cool the interior more quickly, or
to keep out smoke and dust.
Leaving the system in recirculation
mode with the A/C off can cause
the windows to fog up. Switch to
the Fresh Air mode as soon as the
interior reaches a comfortable
temperature or the outside smoky,
dusty condition clears.
The engine must be running for the

heater and air conditioner to pro-

vide hot and cold air. The heater
uses engine coolant to warm the air.

If the engine is cold, it will be sever-

al minutes before you feel warm air

circulating.

The air conditioner does not de-

pend on engine temperature. It can produce cold air almost immedi-

ately.

Controlling Air Flow direction
Air flows into the interior at three
levels: Toward the floor
through the dash vents
toward the windshield and side windows You select the air
flow level or combination of levels
with th

e five mode buttons. Ventilation
Your car has a flow-through
ventilation system. Air enters the car through vents in front of the
windshield. I

t circulates through
the interior then exits through
vents nea
r the rear window. This
system provides fresh air even
when th

e car is standing still. To
bring i

n outside air, select the
Fresh Air mode. Set the fan at a
comfortable speed
.

CONTINUED

Comfort an

d Convenience Features

and
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Heating and Cooling

To Cool

To operate the air conditioner,
press the air conditioning button.

Set the fan to the desired speed.
You can also use the mode
button to direct air out of the dash

and heater vents.

To cool the interior down rapidly after the car has been sitting in the

sun:
1. Start the engine.

2. Turn o
n the A/C by pressing the

button.

3. Set

the fan to maximum speed.
4.


Open the windows partially.

Select the Recirculation mode
and

When the
interior reaches a com-

fortable temperature, close the

windows and set the system for
cooling as described above.
MODE BUTTONS


AIR CONDITIONER
BUTTON
TEMPERATURE
CONTROL LEVER

The air conditioner places an extra
load on the engine. Watch the
coolant temperature gauge (see
page 38 ) when using the A/C in
heavy traffic or driving up long
hills. If the temperature indication
climbs near the H, turn off the air
conditioner until the gauge reads
normally.
FAN CONTROL

LEVER

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Heating and Cooling

To Heat

To warm the interior, press and select the Fresh Air
mode. Set the fan to the desired
speed. Adjust the warmth of the air
with the temperature control lever.
To warm the interior rapidly after
the car has been sitting out in cold
weather.
1. Start the engine.

2. Select
the Recirculation mode

and

3. Slide the temperature control

lever to maximum heat.

4. Leave
the fan OFF for the first

few minutes. When the tempera-
ture gauge rises above the bot-
tom white mark, set the fan to
medium speed.

5. Whe
n
the interior warms up,
switch to fresh air mode and
adjust the temperature control
lever to a comfortable setting.
To Defrost

To remove frost or ice from the
windshield and side windows after the car has been sitting out in cold
weather.

1. Start the engine.

2. Selec t
the Recirculation mode

and

3. Open

the side defroster vents.

4. Set the fan and temperature

controls to maximum.

These settings
direct all the air
flow to the defroster vents at the
base of the windshield and the side
window defroster vents. The air
flow will get warmer and clear the
windows faster as the engine
warms up. You can close the corner
vents with the dial beside each vent.
That will send more warm air to
the side defroster vents.
For safety, make sure you have a
clear view through all the windows
before driving away.
To Turn Everything Off

To shut off the system temporarily,
slide the fan speed and temperature
control levers all the way to the left.
You should only shut the system completely off for the first few
minutes of driving in cold weather,
until the engine coolant warms up
enough to operate the heater. Keep
the fan on at all other times so stale
air does not build up in the interior.
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Break-in Period, Gasoline

Break-in Period

Help assure your car's future
reliability and performance by
paying extra attention to how you
drive during the first 1,000 km (600

miles).

During thi
s period:
Avoid full-throttle starts and
rapid acceleration.
If you need to add oil, use the
engine oil recommended in this
owner's manual.
Avoid hard braking. New brakes need to be broken-in by moderate
use for the first 300 km (200

miles).

You should follow these same re-
commendations with an overhauled
or exchanged engine, or when the
brakes are relined. Gasoline
Your Honda is designed to operate
most effectively on unleaded

gasoline.

Using gasoline containing lead will
damage your car's emission
controls. Thi s
contributes to air
pollution and can void certain parts
of your warranty.

(S model)

Use an unleaded gasoline with a
pump octane number of 86 or
higher.
Use of a lower octane gasoline can
cause a persistent, heavy metallic
rapping noise that can lead to
engine damage.

(All other models)

Use a
premium unleaded gasoline
with a pump octane number of
91
or higher .
I
f you are unable to find premium
unleaded, you may substitute an
unleaded regular gasoline. The engine will compensate for the
lower octane, but you may notice a
slight decrease in power as a result.

Oxygenated Fuels

Some conventional gasolines are

being blended with alcohol or an
ether compound to increase the

gasoline's octane. These gasolines
are collectively referred to as

oxygenated fuels. Some areas of

the United States and Canada use
oxygenated fuels to help meet clean
air standards.

If you use an oxygenated fuel, be

sure it meets the minimum octane

rating requirement as recom-

mended.

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Service Station Procedures

Oil Check
Check the engine oil level every
time you fill the car with gas. Wait
at least two minutes after turningthe engine off before you check the

oil.

1.
Remove the dipstick (orange

handle).
2. Wipe
the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel. 3. Insert it all the way back in its
tube.

Before Drivin
g
DIPSTIC
KProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Fuel Economy

The condition of your car and your
driving habits are the two most
important things that affect the
fuel mileage you get.

Vehicle Condition

Always maintain your car accord-
ing to the maintenance schedule.
This will keep it in top operating
condition.
An important part of that mainte-
nance is the Periodic Checks
(see page
133). For example an
underinflated tire causes more "rolling resistance," which uses
fuel. It also wears out faster, so check the tire pressure at least

monthly. In winter, the build-up of

snow on your car's underside adds

weight and rolling resistance.

Frequent cleaning helps your fuel

mileage and reduces the chance of

corrosion.
Driving
Habit
s

You can improve fuel economy by
driving moderately. Rapid acceler-
ation, abrupt cornering, and hard
braking use more fuel. Always
drive in the highest gear that al-
lows the engine to run and acceler-
ate smoothly. Depending on traffic
conditions, try to maintain a con-
stant speed. Every time you slow
down and speed up, your car uses
extra fuel. Use the cruise control,
when appropriate, to increase fuel
economy.

A cold engine uses more fuel than a
warm engine. It is not necessary to "warm-up" a cold engine by letting
it idle for a long time. You can
drive away in about a minute, no
matter how cold it is outside. The
engine will warm up faster, and you
get better fuel economy. To cut
down on the number of "cold starts,"
try to combine several short trips
into one. The air conditioner puts an extra
load on the engine which makes it
use more fuel. Turn off the A/C to
cut down on air conditioner use.
Use the flow-through ventilation
when the outside air temperature is moderate.

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Accessories

Your Honda dealer has many acces-
sories available to personalize your
car. Some of these are audio sys-
tems, alloy wheels, air conditioning, and color-coordinated carpet floor
mats. All Genuine Honda Acces-
sories have been approved by our
engineers for installation and use
on your car, and are covered by
warranty. For a complete guide to the Genuine Honda Accessories
available, see your dealer for a 1992

Accessories brochure.
Some non-Honda accessories you
can buy in the "aftermarket" are designed for universal applications.
Although they may fit your Honda,
they may not be within factory specifications. For example, after-
market wheels may not meet
Honda's specifications for width
and offset. They could cause sus-
pension problems which would not
be covered by your warranty. Im- properly-designed accessories can
adversely affect your car's han-
dling and stability.
Your car has several computer-
controlled systems, including the
SRS system, the engine's fuel
injection, and the Anti-lock brake
system. Strong electronic inter-
ference can affect their operation. Electronic communications equip-
ment, such as cellular telephones
and two-way radios are regulated
by the FCC and should not inter-
fere with your car's systems. Improper installation, or using
electrical equipment not intended
for mobile use may interfere with
your car's operation. If you want to
install a cellular telephone, other
mobile communications equipment
or even add-on stereo amplifiers,
please discuss it first with your
Honda dealer.
In many cases, improper instal-
lation is the real cause of problems
with aftermarket accessories. Have
these accessories installed by quali- fied technicians who are familiar
with your Honda. If possible, have
your Honda dealer inspect the final installation.

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Driving
This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various conditions, and how to operate the
5-speed and automatic transmis-
sions. It also includes important information on your car's braking
system and facts you need if you
are planning to tow a trailer. Preparing to Drive ....................... 108
Starting the Engine...................... 109
5-speed Transmission............. 109

Automatic Transmission........ 109 Starting in Cold Weather at High Altitude.................... 110
5-speed Manua l
Transmission...
111
Recommended Shif
t
Points....
111
Maximum Speeds....................
.

112
Automatic Transmission...........
.

112
Shift Leve
r
Positions...............
112
Maximum Speeds....................
.

115
Shift Loc
k
Release...................
115
The Brakin
g
System....................
116
Brake Wea
r
Indicators............
116
Brake Syste
m
Design..............
116
Anti-lock Brakes.....................
.

117
Four Whee
l
Steering....................
118
Driving i
n
Bad Weather..............
119
Towing a
Traile
r ..........................
121

Driving
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Preparing to Drive
You should do the following checks and adjustments every day before
you drive your car.
1. Make sure all windows, mirrors, and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove frost,
snow, or ice.
2. Check that the hood and trunk are fully closed.
3. Check that any items you may be carrying with you inside are
stored properly or fastened down
securely. 4. Check the adjustment of the seat
(see page 51 ).
5. Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page 59 ).

6. Chec k
the adjustment of the
steering wheel (see page 43 ).
7. Make sure the doors are securely
closed and locked.

8. Fasten your seat belt. Check that your passengers have fastened
their seat belts (see page 7 ). 9. Turn the ignition ON (II). Check

the indicator lights in the instru-
ment panel.

10.Start th
e
engine.
11.Check the gauges and indicator

lights in the instrument panel
(see page 31 ).

Driving
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