HONDA PRELUDE 2000 Owner's Manual (in English)

Spar
k Plugs , Batter y

Tighten The spark plugs carefully. A
spark plug That is too loose can overheat and damage The engine.Overtightening can cause damage to
the Threads in the cylinder head. Specifications
:
NGK:

DENSO:

Spark Plug Gap:
0.04 in (1.1 mm
PZFR6F-1
1
PKJ20CR-L1 1
Batter
y

Check the condition of your car's
battery monthly. You should check
the color of the test indicator window, and for corrosion on the terminals.
Maintenanc e

NOTIC
E

7. Install the spark plug cap.
8. Repeat this procedure for the other three spark plugs.
Reinstall the plug wire cover, and
tighten the four nuts.

Batter
y

Check the battery condition by
looking at the test indicator window on the battery.
The label on the battery explains the test indicator's colors. Check the battery terminals for
corrosion (a white or yellowish
powder). To remove it, cover the
terminals with a solution of baking soda and water. It will bubble up and
turn brown. When this stops, wash it
off with plain water. Dry off the

battery with a cloth or paper towel. Coat the terminals with grease to
help prevent future corrosion. If the terminals are severely cor-
roded, clean them with baking soda
and water. Then use a wrench to
loosen and remove the cables from
the terminals. Always disconnect the negative (—) cable first and recon-
nect it last. Clean th
e battery termi-
nals with a terminal cleaning tool or
wire brush. Reconnect and tighten
the cables, then coat the terminals
with grease.
If you need to connect the battery to
a charger, disconnect both cables to
prevent damage to the car's electrical system.
Maintenance
CONTINUED
TES
T INDICATO R WINDO W

Battery
, Wipe r Blade s

If your car's battery is disconnected
or goes dead, the audio system willdisable itself. The next time you turn on the radio you will see
in the frequency display. Use the Preset buttons to enter the five-digit
code (see page 123 ).

Charging the battery with the cables

connected can seriously damage your

car's electronic controls. Detach the
battery cables before connecting the

battery to a charger.
Wipe
r Blade s

Check the condition of the wiper
blades at least every six months. Look for signs of cracking in the
rubber, or areas that are getting
hard. Replace the blades if you find these signs, or they leave streaksand unwiped areas when used.

Maintenanc e

The battery gives off explosive
hydrogen gas during normal
operation.
A spark or flame can cause the battery to explode with enough
force to kill or seriously hurt you.
Wear protective clothing and a
face shield, or have a skilled mechanic do the battery
maintenance.
NOTIC
E

Wipe
r Blade s
To replace the blade:
1. Raise the wiper arm off the windshield.Raise the driver's side first, then
the passenger's side. 2. Disconnect the blade assembly
from the wiper arm by pushing inthe lock tab. Hold it in while you
push the blade assembly toward
the base of the arm. 3. Remove the blade from its holder
by grasping the tabbed end of the
blade. Pull firmly until the tabs come out of the holder.

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

WIPE
R ARM S
LOCK TA B
BLAD
E

Wipe
r Blades , Ai r Conditionin g Syste m

4. Examine the new wiper blades. If they have no plastic or metal rein-
forcement along the back edge,
remove the metal reinforcement strips from the old wiper blade and
install them in the slots along the edge of the new blade. 5. Slide the new wiper blade into the
holder until the tabs lock.
6. Slide the wiper blade assembly onto the wiper arm. Make sure it
locks in place.
7. Lower the wiper arm down against the windshield.Lower the passenger's side first,
then the driver's side. Ai
r Conditionin g Syste m
Your car's air conditioning is a sealed system. Any major maintenance,
such as recharging, should be done
by a qualified mechanic. You can do a couple of things to make sure theair conditioning works efficiently.
Maintenanc e
BLAD
E
REINFORCEMEN T
AI
R CONDITIONIN G CONDENSE R

Ai
r Conditionin g System , Ai r Conditionin g Filte r

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
265.)

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.
Ai
r Conditionin g Filte r
The air conditioning filter removes pollen and dust from the outside air
the climate control system brings
into the interior.
This filter should be replaced every 30,000 miles (48,000 km) under
normal conditions. It should be
replaced every 15,000 miles (24,000
km) if you drive primarily in urban areas that have high concentrations
of soot in the air from industry and
diesel-powered vehicles. Replace it
more often if air flow from the
heating and cooling system becomes
less than usual. Have the air conditioning filter replaced by your
Honda dealer.

Maintenance

NOTIC
E NOTIC
E

Driv
e Belts , Timin g Bel t

Driv e Belt s
Check the condition of the two drive
belts. Examine the edges of each belt for cracks or fraying.Check the tension of each belt by
pushing on it with your thumb
midway between the pulleys. The belts should have the following
"play" or deflection.

Alternator belt:
0.37 — 0.49 in (9.5 — 12.5 mm)
Power steering belt:
0.53 — 0.65 in (13.5 — 16.5 mm)
If you see signs o
f wear or looseness,
have your dealer adjust or replace the belts.
Timin
g Bel t

The timing belt and balancer belt should normally be replaced at the
intervals shown in the maintenance schedule.
Replace these belts at 60.000 miles (U.S.) or 100,000 km (Canada) if you
regularly drive your car in one or
more of these conditions: In very high temperatures

(over 110°F,43°C).

In very low temperatures
(under — 20°F, — 29°C).

Maintenanc e
POWE
R STEERIN G BEL T
ALTERNATO R BEL T

Tire
s

To safely operate your car, your tires must be the proper type and size, in
good condition with adequate tread, and correctly inflated. The following
pages give more detailed information on how and when to check air
pressure, how to inspect your tires
for damage and wear, and what to do
when your tires need to be replaced. Inflatio
n
Keeping the tires properly inflated
provides the best combination of
handling, tread life and riding
comfort. Underinflated tires wear
unevenly, adversely affect handling
and fuel economy, and are more
likely to fail from being overheated. Overinflated tires can make your car
ride more harshly, are more prone to damage from road hazards, and wear

unevenly.

We recommend that you visually check your tires every day. If you
think a tire might be low, check it immediately with a tire gauge.
Use a gauge to measure the air
pressure at least once a month. Even
tires that are in good condition may
lose one to two psi (10 to 20 kPa, 0.1
to 0.2 kgf/cm2) per month. Remember to check the spare tire at
the same time you check all the other tires. Check the pressure in the tires when
they are cold. This means the car
has been parked for at least three
hours. If you have to drive the car
before checking the tire pressure,
the tires can still be considered "cold" if you drive less than 1 mile (1.6 km).
If you check the pressure when the
tires are hot (the car has been driven several miles), you will see readings
4 to 6 psi (30 to 40 kPa, 0.3 to 0.4
kgf/cm2) higher than the cold reading. This is normal. Do not letair out to match the specified cold
pressure. The tire will be underinflated.
You should get your own tire pressure gauge and use it whenever
you check your tire pressures. This
will make it easier for you to tell if a pressure loss is due to a tire problemand not due to a variation between

gauges.

Maintenance
CONTINUED

Using tires that are excessivel
y
worn or improperly inflated can
cause a crash in which you can be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner's manual regarding tire inflation and maintenance.

Tire
s

Recommended Tire Pressures for
Normal Driving

The following chart shows the recommended cold tire pressures for
most normal driving conditions and
speeds.

The compact spare tire pressure is:60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm2)
These pressures are also give
n on
the tire information label on the driver's doorjamb. Tubeless tires have some ability to
self-seal if they are punctured.
However, because leakage is often
very slow, you should look closely
for punctures if a tire starts losing
pressure.

Tir e Pressur e Adjustmen t Fo r
Hig h Spee d Drivin g
Honda strongly recommends that
you not drive faster than posted speed limits and conditions allow. If
you decide it is safe to drive at high speeds, be sure to adjust the cold tire
pressures as shown below. If you do
not adjust the tire pressure, exces-
sive heat can build up and cause sudden tire failure. Be sure to readjust the pressure for
normal driving speeds. You should
wait until the tires are cold before adjusting the tire pressure.
Inspectio n
Every time you check inflation, you
should also examine the tires for
damage, foreign objects, and wear.
You should look for: Bumps or bulges in the tread or
side of the tire. Replace the tire if
you find either of these conditions. Cuts, splits, or cracks in the side
of the tire. Replace the tire if you
can see fabric or cord. Excessive tread wear.

Maintenanc e

Tire
s

Your car's tires have wear indicators molded into the tread. When the
tread wears down to that point, you
will see a 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) wide band running across the tread. Thisshows there is less than 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread left on the tire. A
tire that is this worn gives very little
traction on wet roads. You should
replace the tire if you can see the
tread wear indicator in three or more
places around the tire.
Maintenanc
e

In addition to proper inflation,
correct wheel alignment helps to decrease tire wear. If you find a tire
is worn unevenly, have your dealer
check the wheel alignment.
The tires were properly balanced by the factory. They may need to be
rebalanced at some time before theyare worn out. Have your dealer
check the tires if you feel a consis-
tent vibration while driving. A tire should always be rebalanced if it is
removed from the wheel for repair.
Make sure the installer balances the
wheels when you have new tires installed. This increases riding
comfort and tire life. Your car'soriginal tires were dynamic or "spin"
balanced at the factory. For best results, have the installer perform a
dynamic balance.
Improper wheel weights can damage
your car's aluminum wheels. Use only
Genuine Honda wheel weights for
balancing.

Maintenance

NOTIC
E

INDICATO
R

LOCATIO N

MARK S

TREA D WEA R

INDICATOR S