brake HONDA PRELUDE 1990 User Guide

Starting the Engine
Before Starting
Manual Transmission:

1 . Apply the parking brake.
2 . Push the clutch pedal all the way in (see NOTE below).
3 . Shift the transmission to neutral.

NOTE:

On cars equipped with manual transmissions, the engine will
not crank unless the clutch pedal is fully depressed.
Automatic Transmission: 1. Make sure the shift lever is in Park (P).
2. Apply the parking brake and the foot brake.
Starting a Cold Engine(2.0 S)
NOTE:

When starting in cold weather, keep all unnecessary electrical

circuits off (lights, defogger, etc.) for the best battery output.

1. Above 32°F(0°C) Push the accelerator to the floor 1 time and slowly release it.
Below 32°F(0°C)
Push the accelerator to the floor 2 or 3 times and slowly

release it.

Below 0°F(-18°C)
Push the accelerator to the floor 3 or 4 times and slowly

release it.

DO NOT pump while cranking.
2. With your foot OFF the accelerator, crank the engine until it starts and runs. (It may require more than 5 seconds of cranking.)

NOTE:
If the engine won't start, push the accelerator pedal down 1 more
time and slowly release it, then start the engine.Repeat once more if necessary,
If the engine still won't start, push the accelerator down about halfway; hold it there and crank the engine until it starts. Once the
engine starts, release the accelerator gradually as the enginewarms up.If the engine doesn't start within 15 seconds of cranking, turn the
key off
and wait 10 seconds before trying again.
3. If the outside temperature is below freezing, or if your car has not been driven for several days, warm up the engine for a few
minutes before driving.
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Safety Items
Before driving away, check that: The doors are closed properly. The mirrors are properly adjusted, and the windows clean.
The driver and passengers are wearing properly adjusted seat
belts.
The head restraints are properly adjusted.
The warning and indicator lights are operating properly.
The brake pedal feels normal.
All luggage and cargo is secured.
Nothing is interfering with the driver's feet or blocking vision to

the rear.

While driving remember to: Always drive defensively; expect the unexpected. Reduce your speed during night hours and bad weather.
Follow at a safe distance; don't tailgate.
Get off the highway when you are tired; stop and take a rest.
When stopping for repairs: Park the car well off the road.
Turn on the hazard warning flasher. Use flares or other warning devices to warn other motorists.
After parking your car: Apply the parking brake and shift to first gear if equipped withmanual transmission, or PARK on automatic transmission

equipped cars.
Make sure the windows are closed and all doors are locked.
If parked on a hill:
Turn the front wheels away from the curb if facing uphill.
Turn the front wheels toward the curb if facing downhill. Never leave children unattended in a parked car.
Take your
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Shifting the 5 Speed
The fully synchronized manual
transmission is very easy to shift up or down. When you slow

down for traffic, steep hills, or
corners, shift to a lower gearbefore the engine starts to labor.
When descending steep grades, select a lower gear to help
maintain a safe speed and to
prevent the brakes from over-

heating.

When shifting, depress the clutch pedal fully, shift gears and then release the clutch gradually. Do not speed-shift; allow time for the
gears to synchronize.
To prevent grinding the gears when shifting into reverse, hold the clutch pedal depressed briefly before shifting, or shift the lever intoone of the forward gears before selecting reverse.
A safety lockout prevents accidental shifting straight from 5th to

Reverse.

Avoid rapid acceleration or sudden deceleration when either or both driving wheels are on a slippery surface. Decreased traction
could cause loss of directional control.

CAUTION:
Do not drive with your foot on the clutch pedal as this will causepremature wear of clutch components.
Do not shift into reverse while the car is moving.

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Shifting the Automatic
The automatic transmission shift lever has a locking mechanism to prevent accidental shifting into Reverse (R), Park (P) or 2nd (2). Also,
the Automatic Shift Lock prevents you from shifting out of Park unless the brake pedal is already depressed and the ignition switch isin the II position.
Push the button on the shift handle to shift into 2nd, Reverse or
Park; depress the brake pedal and then push the button on the shifthandle to shift out of Park.
: Depress the brake pedal first and push the button, then shift.
: Push the button, then shift.
: Shift as desired.
If you cannot shift out of Park with
the brake pedal depressed and the ignition switch in the II position:

1. Turn the ignition switch off and
remove the key.
2. Insert the key in the Shift Lock Release located to the right of the

shift lever.

3. Press and hold the key down, then press the button on the shifthandle and move the shift lever to

Neutral.

4. Return the key to the ignition switch, depress the brake pedal
and restart the engine. Depress
buttonNOTE:
If you
encounter any problem shifting out of Park, have your
authorized Honda dealer check the system as soon as possible. KEY
Insert

SHIFT LOCK RELEASE

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Operating Tips

For smoother operation, apply the brakes when shifting from
Neutral or Park to a forward or reverse gear.
When parking: bring the car to a stop with the foot brake, hold the brake on and shift into Park, set the hand brake and then turn off
the engine.

NOTE:

Your 4 speed automatic transmission is equipped with a torque
converter lock-up clutch. Because of this, you may notice what
feels like an extra shift as the clutch engages.
CAUTION: Shift into P only after the car has come to a complete stop.
Shift into or out of R only after the car has come to a complete

stop.

Do not "rev-up" the engine when the brake is on and the shift
lever is in D, S, 2 or R.
When stopped on a hill, use the brakes to hold your position, not the accelerator pedal.Do not shift from N or P into D, S, 2 or R when the engine is
above idle speed. Before shifting into gear, make sure your foot
is firmly on the brake pedal. Do not rest your hand on the shift lever or push the shift button
while driving.

Driving Technique

D-4th
Use the D range for normal in-town and highway driving. The car
will start off in 1st and shift automatically to 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. The
further down you push the accelerator, the later the transmission will shift and the faster the car will accelerate.

S3/S4

The "S" shift selector range changes the shift points under part
throttle acceleration, allowing the transmission to stay in each lower
gear for a longer period before automatically upshifting. With the shift selector in the "S" range, the "S3" indicator light in the dashpanel will come on and the transmission will shift from 1st to 2nd
and 3rd but not 4th. This is especially useful when climbing or
descending grades. While driving in the "S" range, the car's performance is improved but fuel economy is reduced.
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Towing a Trailer (cont'd)

Hitches

Use only a hitch recommended by your Honda dealer. The hitch

should be bolted securely to the car and installed by a qualified

technician. Do not use a hitch designed for temporary installation
and never use one that attaches only to the bumper.
Trailer Brakes and safety chains
The Honda Automobile Division recommends that trailers equippedwith brakes, should conform to any applicable federal and stateregulations, When using a trailer equipped with electric brakes, a
trailer brake controller that connects to the car's electrical system is recommended. Installing a brake controller that connects to the car's
brake hydraulic system could result in brake fluid contamination or
leaks, A safety chain must always be used between the car and the
trailer. Leave sufficient slack in the chain so that it does not bind in
sharp turns. The chain should cross under the trailer tongue to prevent the tongue from dropping to the ground.

Tires
Make sure your car's are properly inflated. Adjust tire pressure

to the recommended tire pressure indicated on the label attached to
the edge of the driver's door.The trailer tires should be of the proper size, load rating and inflated to the pressure recommended
by the trailer manufacturer.
Trailer Lights
Trailer light must comply with federal, state and local regulations. See your local recreation vehicle dealer or rental agency for the

correct type of lighting and wiring for your trailer, Check for correct
operation of the turn signals and stop lights each time you hitch up.

CAUTION:

Connections to your car's electrical system should be made by
your Honda dealer or a qualified electrician.Improper installation

may damage your vehicle's electrical system and cause a

malfunction of the lights.
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CAUTION:
Before starting out, check the operation of the lights and all car/
trailer connections. After driving a short distance, stop and
recheck the lights and connections.
Reversing is difficult and requires practice. While backing-up,
the trailer may pivot off-course. To correct for this, grip the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand to the left to
move the trailer to the left, or to the right to move the trailer to
the right. Turn the steering wheel a little at a time, and keep the
speed very low. Have someon e guide you when backing.

To help
prevent overheating of the brakes, shift into a lower
gear to make use of engine braking before descending steep or
long grades. Do not make sudden downshifts. Pay strict attention to the coolant temperature gauge when
going up hills. Because of the added load of the trailer, your car's
engine may overheat on hot days. Turning off the air conditioner
will reduce the load on the cooling system.
On cars equipped with automatic transmission. —Do not hold the car stationary on an incline by using the accelerator pedal; this can cause the transmission fluid tooverheat. Instead, use the handbrake or footbrake.
—When towing trailers, avoid high transmission fluid temperatures (caused by the transmission frequently shiftingbetween 3rd and 4th gears) by driving in S3.

NOTE:

Be sure to check state and local laws concerning maximum speed or

other driving restrictions for cars towing trailers. If you are driving
across several states, check each state's requirements before

leaving home, because restrictions may vary.

Parking with a Trailer

Whenever parking your car on an incline with a trailer attached, first
place and seat chocks at each wheel of the car and trailer. This is in

addition to the normal parking preparations of firmly applying the parking brake and placing the transmission in first or reverse
(manual transmission) or P (automatic transmission).

CAUTION:
Parking on an incline is not recommended and should be done only
if it cannot be avoided. Follow all precautions mentioned above
and turn the wheels to point towards a curb if facing downhill,
away from a curb if facing uphill. When leaving an inclined parking place, move the car slightly to unseat the chocks. Then while
keeping the foot brakes firmly applied, have an assistant remove
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Check the following items at each fuel stop:

1. Engine oil level.

2. Radiator coolant level.
Check the following items periodically: 1. Brakes: for braking efficiency, brake pedal travel and hydraulic fluid level.
2. Lights: for operation of headlights, taillights, side marker lights, stoplights, turn signals and back-up lights.
3. Tires: for correct pressures (including spare); inspect for cuts and uneven or excessive wear. Rotate every 7,500 miles (12,000 km)
in the pattern shown on page 107.
4. Steering: for excessive play or vibration while driving. 5. Exhaust system: for leaks or loose mounts.
6. Wipers: for operation of windshield wipers and washer, and condition of wiper blades.
7. Seat belts: for condition of fabric and buckles, and operation of the restraint mechanism.

8. Battery condition.

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Fluid Locations
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONFLUID DIPSTICK
POWER STEERING
FLUID RESERVOIR
ANTI LOCK BRAKE
FLUID RESERVOIR (Si with ALB) ENGINE OIL
FILLER CAP
CLUTCH FLUID
RESERVOIR (Manual Transmission Only)
RADIATOR

RESERVE

TANK CAP
RADIATOR
CAP ENGINE OIL
DIPSTICK WASHER FLUID
RESERVOIR BRAKE FLUID
RESERVOIRProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Fuel Filters/Clutch Fluid

Fuel Filters
(2.0 S)
There are two fuel filters in your car; the main filter is located near
the left side of the fuel tank and an auxiliary filter is at the left side
of the air filter in the engine compartment. Both should be replaced at 60,000 miles (96,000 km) or 48 months,
whichever comes first, or any time you suspect contaminated gas
may have clogged them.

For easier access to the main filter, remove the left rear wheel to
inspect or replace the filter.
The fuel filter is located in the engine compartment, on the right
center of the firewall. It should be replaced at 60,000 miles (96,000km) or 48 months whichever comes first, or any time you suspect

contaminated gas may have clogged it.

CAUTION:
Because the fuel system is under pressure, the filter should be
replaced only by a qualified Honda technician.

CLUTCH FLUID
RESERVOIR

Clutch Fluid
Check the fluid level in the clutchreservoir periodically; it should be
between the MAX and MIN marks
on the reservoir.
If the level is near the MIN mark, add

fluid to raise it to the MAX mark. Do not overfill. Use only brake fluid

manufactured to DOT 3 or DOT 4

specifications from a sealed

container. Follow the manufacturer's instructions printed on the can.
NOTE:

A low clutch fluid level may be an indication of clutch fluid leakage.
You should have your clutch checked if the clutch fluid level in the reservoir is low.
When removing the rear wheel, use safety stands to support the
car.

AUXILIARYFILTER

(2.0 Si,Si)
MAIN FILTERProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s