engine coolant HONDA PRELUDE 2000 Owner's Manual (in English)

Gauges

Fue l Gaug e
This shows how much fuel you have. It is most accurate when the car is on
level ground. It may show slightly more or less than the actual amount
when you are driving on curvy or hilly roads. The gauge stays at the same fuel
level reading after you turn off theignition. When you add fuel, the
gauge slowly changes to the new
reading after you turn the ignition switch back ON (II). Temperatur
e Gaug e
This shows the temperature of the engine's coolant. During normal
operation, the pointer should rise
from the bottom white mark to about the middle of the gauge. In severedriving conditions, such as very hot
weather or a long period of uphill driving, the pointer may rise to near
the upper white mark. If it reaches
the red (Hot) mark, pull safely to the side of the road. Turn to page 246 for
instructions and precautions on
checking the engine's cooling
system.

Instrument s an d Control s

FUE
L GAUG E
TRI
P METE R
SPEEDOMETE
R
TACHOMETE R
TEMPERATUR E
GAUG E MAINTENANC
E
REQUIRE D INDICATO R
ODOMETE
R TRIP METE R
RESE T BUTTO N

Heatin
g an d Coolin g

Ven t Control s
You can adjust the direction of the
air coming from the dashboard vents

by moving the tab in the center of
each vent up-and-down and side-to-

side.
The vents in the corners of the

dashboard can be opened and closed

with the dials underneath them. Ho
w to Us e th e Syste m
This section covers how to set up the system controls for ventilation,
heating, cooling, dehumidifying, and defrosting.
The engine must be running for the heater and air conditioning to
generate hot and cold air. The heater
uses engine coolant to warm the air.If the engine is cold, it will be several
minutes before you feel warm air
coming from the system.
The air conditioning does not rely on engine temperature.

Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s

CENTE
R VEN T

Open

SID
E VEN T

Close

Heatin
g an d Coolin g

If the interior is very warm from
being parked in the sun, you can cool it down more rapidly by setting up
the controls this way:
1. Start the engine.
2. Turn on the A/C by pressing the button. Make sure the tempera-
ture control lever is all the way to
the left.
3. Set the fan to maximum speed.
4. Open the windows partially. Select and Fresh Air mode.
When the interior has cooled down to a more comfortable temperature, close the windows and set the
controls as described for normal
cooling.
Air conditioning places an extra load
on the engine. Watch the engine
coolant temperature gauge (see page 59 ) when driving in stop-and-go
traffic or climbing a long, steep hill.
If it moves near the red zone, turn off the A/C until the gauge reads
normally.

To Heat

To warm the interior:
1. Start the engine. 2. Select and Fresh Air mode.
3. Set the fan to the desired speed.
4. Adjust the warmth of the air with the temperature control lever.
To Heat and Dehumidify with Air

Conditioning

Air conditioning, as it cools, removes moisture from the air. When used in
combination with the heater, it
makes the interior warm and dry.
1. Switch the fan on.
2. Turn on the air conditioning. 3. Select and Fresh Air mode.
4. Adjust the temperature control
lever so the mixture of heated andcooled air feels comfortable.
This setting is suitable for all driving conditions whenever the outsidetemperature is above 32°F (0°C).

CONTINUED

Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s

Heatin
g an d Coolin g

To remove exterior frost or ice from the windshield and side windowsafter the car has been sitting out in
cold weather:
1. Start the engine. 2. Select
When you select the
system automatically switches to
Fresh Air mode and turns on the
A/C.
3. Switch the fan and temperature controls to maximum.
To rapidly remove exterior frost or ice from the windshield (on very cold
days), first select the Recirculation
mode. Once the windshield is clear, select the Fresh Air mode to avoid
fogging the windows. 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 side vents with the dial
underneath each vent. This will send
more warm air to the windshield
defroster vents.
For safety, make sure you have a
clear view through all the windows
before driving away.
T
o Tur n Everythin g Off

To shut off the system temporarily, slide
the fan speed an
d temperature
control levers all the way to the left.
You should shut the system completely off only for the first few
minutes of driving in cold weather,
until the engine coolant warms upenough to operate the heater. Keep
the fan on at all other times so stale air does not build up in the interior.
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s

Befor
e Drivin g
Before you begin driving your Honda,
you should know what gasoline to use, and how to check the levels of
important fluids. You also need to
know how to properly store luggageor packages. The information in this
section will help you. If you plan to
add any accessories to your car,
please read the information in this
section first.
Break-in Period.............................. 126

Gasoline.......................................... 126

Service Station Procedures .......... 127 Filling the Fuel Tank................. 127

Opening the Hood..................... 128

Oil Check................................ 130
Engine Coolant Check.......... 131

Fuel Economy................................ 132
Vehicle Condition...................... 132
Driving Habits............................ 132
Accessories and Modifications.... 133
Accessories................................. 133Modifications............................. 134
Additional Safety Precaution.... 134

Carrying Cargo.............................. 135

Load Limit.................................. 136

Carrying Items in the Passenger Compartment......................... 136

Carrying Cargo in the Trunk or
on a Roof Rack....................... 137

Before Drivin g

Service
Statio n Procedure s

4. Remove the dipstick again and check the level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
If it is near or below the lower mark, see Addin g Oi l on page 181.
Engine Coolant Check

Look at the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it is
between the MAX and MIN lines. If
it is below the MIN line, see Addin g
Engin e Coolan t on page 185 for
information on adding the proper

coolant.
Refer to Owne
r Maintenanc e
Check s on page 179 for information
on checking other items in your

Honda.

Before Drivin g

UPPE
R MAR K
LOWE R MAR K

RESERVE TAN K
MA
X

MI N

Maintenanc
e

This section explains why it is important to keep your car well
maintained and to follow basic
maintenance safety precautions.
This section also includes Maintenance Schedules for normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions for simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself.
If you have the skills and tools to per-
form more complex maintenance
tasks on your Honda, you may want to purchase the Service Manual. See
page 279 for information on how toobtain a copy, or see your Honda

dealer.
Maintenance Safety....................... 168
Important Safety Precautions ..169
Maintenance Schedule.................. 170
Required Maintenance Record.... 177 Owner Maintenance Checks........ 17
9

Fluid Locations............................... 180

Engine Oil.......................................

181

Adding Oil...................................
181

Recommended Oil.....................
181

Synthetic Oil............................... 182

Additives.....................................182
Changing
the Oil and Filter...... 183
Cooling System.............................. 185 Adding Engine Coolant............. 185Replacing Engine Coolant........ 187
Windshield Washers..................... 190
Transmission Fluid........................ 19

1

Automatic Transmission.......................... 19

1

5-speed ManualTransmission.......................... 192
Brake an
d Clutch Fluid................. 193
Brake System............................. 193 Clutch System............................ 194
Power Steering............................... 194
Air Cleaner Element...................... 195
Hood Latch.....................................

196

Spark Plugs.....................................
196

Replacement...............................
196

Specifications.............................
198

Battery............................................
198

Wiper Blades.................................. 200
Air Conditionin g
System............... 202
Air Conditioning Filter.................. 203 Drive Belts...................................... 204
Timing Belt..................................... 204
Tires................................................ 205

Inflation.......................................205

Inspection................................... 206
Maintenance............................... 20

7

Tire Rotation.............................. 208
Replacing Tire s
and Wheels .... 208
Wheels and Tires....................... 209
Winter Driving...........................209
Snow Tires.............................. 210

Tire Chains............................. 210
Lights..............................................

211

Headlight Aimimg..................... 213
Replacing Bulbs........................ .
214
Storing Your Car............................ 225
Maintenance

Owne
r Maintenanc e Check s

You should check the following items at the specified intervals. If
you are unsure of how to perform any check, turn to the page given. Engine oil level — Check every
time you fill the fuel tank. See
page 130. Engine coolant level — Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
you fill the fuel tank. See page 131 .
Windshield washer fluid — Check the level in the reservoir monthly.If weather conditions cause you to
use the washers frequently, check
the reservoir each time you stop
for fuel. See page 190 .
Automatic transmission — Check the fluid level monthly. See page
191.
Brakes — Check the fluid level
monthly. See page 193 .
Tires — Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread for
wear and foreign objects. See page
205.
Lights — Check the operation of
the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light,
turn signals, brake lights, and license plate lights monthly. See

page 211.

Maintenance

Coolin
g Syste m

Addin g Engin e Coolan t

If the coolant level in the reserve
tank is at or below the MIN line, add coolant to bring it up to the MAX line.
Inspect the cooling system for leaks.
This coolant should always be a mixture of 50 percent antifreeze and50 percent water. Never add straight
antifreeze or plain water. Always use Genuine Honda
Antifreeze/Coolant. If it is not available, you may use another
major-brand non-silicate coolant as a
temporary replacement. Make sure it
is a high-quality coolant
recommended for aluminum engines.
However, continued use of any non-
Honda coolant can result in
corrosion, causing the cooling system to malfunction or fail. Have
the cooling system flushed and refilled with Honda antifreeze/
coolant as soon as possible. If the reserve tank is completely
empty, you should also check the
coolant level in the radiator.
CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

RESERV
E TAN K
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.

Coolin
g Syste m

1. Make sure the engine and radiator are cool.
2. Turn the radiator cap counter- clockwise, without pressing down
on it, until it stops. This relieves
any pressure remaining in the

cooling system.
3. Remove the radiator cap by
pushing down and turning
counterclockwise.
4. The coolant level should be up to the base of the filler neck. Addcoolant if it is low.
5. Put the radiator cap back on.
Tighten it fully.

6. Pour coolant into the reserve tank.Fill it to halfway between the MAX
and MIN marks. Put the cap backon the reserve tank.
Maintenanc e
RADIATO
R CA P
RESERVE TAN K