light HONDA PRELUDE 1998 Workshop Manual

Windshield Washers

Check the level in the windshield
washer reservoir at least monthly
during normal usage. In bad weather,

when you use the washers often,
check the level every time you stop

for fuel. The windshield washer reservoir is
located behind the driver's side
headlight. Check the reservoir's fluidlevel by removing the cap and
looking at the float. It should be up
to the top of the neck. If the float is at the bottom of the neck, the
reservoir is nearly empty.
Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer fluid. This increases the cleaning capability and
prevents freezing in cold weather.
Do not use engine antifreeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir.
Antifreeze can damage your vehicle's
paint, while a vinegar/water solution
can damage the windshield washer

pump.

Use only commercially-available
windshield washer fluid.

Maintenance
NOTICE

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Air Conditioning System
Your vehicle's air conditioning is a sealed system. Any major mainte-
nance, such as recharging, should be
done by a qualified mechanic. You
can do a couple of things to make
sure the air conditioning works
efficiently. Periodically check the engine's
radiator and air conditioning
condenser for leaves, insects, and
dirt stuck to the front surface. These
block the air flow and reduce cooling
efficiency. Use a light spray from a
hose or a soft brush to remove them.

The condenser and radiator fins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or soft-bristle brush to clean them.

Run the air conditioning at least once
a week during the cold weather
months. Run it for at least ten
minutes while you are driving at a steady speed with the engine at
normal operating temperature. This
circulates the lubricating oil con-
tained in the refrigerant. If the air conditioning does not get as
cold as before, have your dealer
check the system. Recharge the system with Refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a). (See Specifications on page 255.)

Whenever you have the air conditioning

system serviced, make sure the service

facility uses a refrigerant recycling
system. This system captures the
refrigerant for reuse. Releasing
refrigerant into the atmosphere can

damage the environment.

Maintenance

AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER

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Lights

Check the operation of your vehicle's
exterior lights at least once a month.
A burned out bulb can create an unsafe condition by reducing your
vehicle's visibility and the ability to signal your intentions to other
drivers.

CONTINUED

Maintenance
PARKING LIGHT
HEADLIGHT LOW BEAM
SIDE MARKER LIGHT
HEADLIGHT HIGH BEAM
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Lights

Check the following:
Headlights (low and high beam)
Parking lights Taillights
Brake lights
High-mount brake light
Turn signals
Back-up lights
Hazard light function
License plate light
Side marker lights
Daytime running lights
(Canadian models)
If you find any bulbs are burned out,

replace them as soon as possible.
Refer to the chart on page 255 to

determine what type of replacement

bulb is needed.

Maintenance TAILLIGHT/BRAKE LIGHT
HIGH-MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT

TAILLIGHT

BACK-UP LIGHT
LICENSE PLATE LIGHT
TURN SIGNAL
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Lights

Headlight Aiming
The headlights were properly aimed
when your vehicle was new. You should check their aim if you
regularly carry heavy items in the
trunk or pull a trailer. Each headlight
assembly has horizontal and vertical
adjustment indicators. These are set to their "0" positions after the
headlights are aimed at the factory.
To check these settings:
1. Make sure the fuel tank is full. Park the vehicle on level ground.
2. The driver or someone who weighs the same should be sitting
in the driver's seat for all checks
and adjustments.Load the trunk with the items you
normally carry. If you usually pull a trailer, load it as
you would normally and attach it to the vehicle. Push down on the frontand rear bumpers several times tomake sure the vehicle is sitting
normally.
3. Open the hood.
4. Check the horizontal angle gauge. The line on the adjustment screwindicator should line up with the"0" mark on the gauge. 5. Check the vertical angle gauge.
The bubble should be centeredunderneath the longest scribe
mark on the gauge.

CONTINUED

Maintenance
HORIZONTAL ANGLE GAUGE

BUBBLE

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Lights

6. If either indicator is not aligned
with its "0" mark as described, an adjustment ca

n be made using a
Phillips-head

screwdriver to
realign it with the "0" mark. Please
refer t
o the illustrations. 7. I
f you cannot get an indicator to
align,

have your Honda dealer
inspect the vehicle for body

damage or suspension problems.
Replacing a Headlight Bulb
Your ca

r has two bulbs on each side,
four in total. Make sure you are replacing
the bulb that is burned out.
Your ca

r uses halogen headlight
bulbs. When replacing a bulb, handle it by its plastic case and protect the
glass

from contact with your skin or
hard

objects. If you touch the glass,
clea

n it with denatured alcohol and a
clean

cloth.
The headlight bulbs in your car are H1 headlight bulbs for
longer life.
We recommend the use of Genuine Honda parts for replacing a
headlight bulb.

Halogen headlight bulbs get very hot when lit. Oil, perspiration, or a scratch
on the glass can
cause the bulb to
overheat and shatter.

Maintenance

HORIZONTAL ADJUSTMENT


VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT

NOTICE
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Lights

1. Open the hood.
2. Remove the electrical connector from the bulb by squeezing the
connector on both sides to unlock
the tab. Pull the connector straight
off.

3. Remove the rubber weather sealby pulling on the tab.
4. Unclip the end of the hold-down wire from its slot. Pivot it out ofthe way and remove the bulb.
5. Insert the new bulb into the hole,
making sure the tabs are in theirslots. Pivot the hold-down wire
back in place and clip the end into
the slot.
6. Install the rubber seal over the back of the headlight assembly.Make sure it is right side up; it is

marked "TOP".

7. Push the electrical connector onto the tabs of the new bulb. Makesure it locks in place.
Turn on the headlights to test the new bulb.
Maintenance

BULB

CONNECTOR

WEATHER SEAL

HOLD-

DOWN

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Lights

Replacing a Parking Light Bulb
1. Open the hood. The front parking light is next to the headlight bulb.
If you need to change a bulb on
the passenger's side, remove the radiator reserve tank by pulling it
out of its holder.
2. Remove the socket from theheadlight assembly by turning itone-quarter turn counterclockwise. 3. Pull the bulb straight out of its

socket.

Push the new bulb straight into
the socket until it bottoms.
4. Insert the socket back into the headlight assembly. Turn itclockwise to lock it in place.
5. Turn on the parking lights to make sure the new bulb works.
6. (Passenger's side) Reinstall the radiator reserve tank.

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Lights

Replacing a Front Side Marker Light Bulb
1. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to remove the side marker assembly's
mounting screw.
2. Remove the side marker assembly from the bumper. 3. Remove the socket from the side
marker assembly by turning it one-quarter turn counterclockwise.
4. Pull the bulb straight out of its socket.
Push the new bulb straight into
the socket until it bottoms. 5. Insert the socket back into the
side marker assembly. Turn it
clockwise to lock it in place.
6. Test the side marker to make sure the new bulb is working.
7. Put the side marker assembly into the bumper. Make sure the tab on
the side marker assembly fits into
the bumper slot. Tighten themounting screw.
Maintenance

SCREW

BULB

SOCKET

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Lights

Replacing a Front Turn Signal Light Bulb
1. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to loosen the turn signal assembly's
mounting screw.
2. Remove the turn signal assembly from the bumper. 3. Remove the socket from the turn
signal assembly by turning it one-
quarter turn counterclockwise.
4. Pull the bulb straight out of its socket.
Push the new bulb straight into
the socket until it bottoms. 5. Insert the socket back into the
turn signal assembly. Turn itclockwise to lock it in place.
6. Test the lights to make sure the new bulb is working.
7. Put the turn signal assembly into the bumper. Make sure the tab on
the turn signal assembly fits into
the bumper slot. Tighten themounting screw.

Maintenance

SCREW
SOCKETBULB

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