service HONDA PRELUDE 1990 User Guide

Appearance Care (cont'd)
Rust Prevention
Rusting is likely to occur in parts of the car where water is trapped
or where there is continual dampness. Water will collect inside doors and body panels if drain holes
become clogged.
Water which seeps under or soaks floor mats will subject floor sections to prolonged wetness or dampness. Road dirt or sand, which collects and fills recesses on the
underside of the car, retains moisture long after the rest of the
car has dried.
The removal of paint and undercoating by stones, gravel, and minor accidents immediately exposes metal to air and moisture.Rusting is increased by high humidity and by the presence of
corrosive substances in the air or on the roads.
Salt used for road de-icing will coat the bottom of the ear and
hasten rusting.Localities with high humidity have greater potential for rust
problems, especially where salt is also present on the road or in
moist sea air.
Industrial pollution will accelerate the deterioration of paint
finishes and promote rusting.
Preventive Service Check all drain holes in doors and body panels for clogging and clear
if necessary. When washing your car, also clean the underside of the car by using high pressure water; above subframe, inside
front fender, rear suspension, inside rear wheel housing, and
under rear bumper.
After washing your car or after heavy rain, check for leaks. While checking for leaks, lift the floor mats in the passenger, cargo and
spare tire areas, and check beneath them. Water can collect in
these areas and remain unseen for prolonged periods. Dry any wet areas of your car's interior. Remove and dry wet floor mats. Haveleaks repaired as soon as possible.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

If towing is necessary, contact a professional towing service. Your
authorized Honda dealer can assist you with detailed towing
instructions.
Never use tow chains or rope to tow a car; your ability to safety
control the car may be adversely affected.
We recommend the following:
Flat Bed Equipment — Entire car is winched on a flat bed vehicle.
This is the best way of transporting your Honda.
Wheel Lift Type — Tow with the front wheels off the ground.

If the
car can only be towed with the front wheels on the ground:

make sure the transmission is full of fluid (see page 86 — 87)

and tow with the transmission in neutral (N) and the ignition key in
the I position.

CAUTION:

To avoid serious damage on automatic transmission cars, first start the engine and shift to D, then to N and shut the engine off. If
the engine does not run or the transmission cannot be shifted
while the engine is running, the car must be transported on flatbed equipment.
Check local regulations for towing.

CAUTION:
Do not exceed 35 mph (55 km/h) or tow for distances of more
than 50 miles (80 km). If a Sling Type tow is used, the tow truck driver should position
wood spacer blocks between your car's frame and the chains
and lift straps to avoid damaging the bumper and the body. Do not use the bumpers to lift the car or to support the car's
weight while towing.
When towing a car with 4WS even with the front wheels off the ground, turn the wheels straight ahead and tie the steering wheel in place. TowingProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

If Your Car Gets Stuck
If your car gets stuck in sand, mud, or snow, call a professional
towing service for assistance in getting your car out,

CAUTION:
Do not rev up the engine and allow the wheels to spin freely at
high speed. Severe transmission damage may result if the wheels are allowed to spin for more than a few seconds. DO NOT try to free a car with automatic transmission from
snow etc. by rocking the car alternately between forward and
reverse gears. Severe transmission damage may result from
shifting into gear with the wheels moving.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

DOT Tire Quality Grades
The tires on your car meet Federal Safety Requirements. AM tires
are also "graded" according to Department of Transportation (DOT) standards for tread wear, traction and temperature.
Three gradesare shown on the
tire sidewall

TIRE

WHEEL RIM
Tread Wear The tread wear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate
of the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified
government test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wearone and one half (1-1/2) times as well on the government course as
a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from
the norm due to variations in driving habits, service practices and differences in road characteristics and climate.

Traction

The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B, and C, and they represent the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement asmeasured under controlled conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.
The traction grades assigned are based on braking (straight ahead) traction tests and do not include cornering (turning) traction.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Warranty Service
Warranty The following warranties are provided with every new vehicle: 1. New Car Limited Warranty
2. Emission Control Systems Defects Warranty
3. Emissions Performance Warranty
4. Battery Limited Warranty 5. Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
6. Accessory Limited Warranty 7. Replacement Parts Limited Warranty
8. Replacement Muffler Lifetime Limited Warranty
9. Seat Belt Limited Warranty.
All warranties pertaining to your car can be found in the warranty
booklet provided with your new car except the required
maintenance schedule which is contained here in the Owner's
Manual.

If you are unable to obtain warranty service or are dissatisfied with
the warranty decision or service you received at an authorized Honda dealership, you should review the matter with that
dealership's Service Manager. This will normally resolve your problem. If it does not resolve your problem you should appeal the
decision with the owner of the dealership. Please bear in mind that
your problem will likely be resolved at the dealership, using the
dealer's facilities, equipment and personnel. So it is very important
that your initial contact be with the dealer or his management. After following these steps, if you wish to have the matterreviewed by American Honda you should contact the Automobile
Zone Office serving your area, as shown on the map on the inside of
the back cover. When contacting American Honda, please provide
the Automobile Zone Office with the following information:
Vehicle Identification Number
Servicing Dealer Name and Address
Date of Purchase
Mileage on your Car

Your Name, Address, and Phone Number
Nature of Problem

Selling Dealer

After a review of the facts, you will be advised of what can be done.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Service Manuals
A Honda Service Manual is
available for your car. It is written
for the Journeyman mechanic,
but it is simple enough for most mechanically-inclined owners to
understand.

An Electrical Troubleshooting
Manual is also available for your
car. This manual complements
the Service Manual by providing
in-depth troubleshooting

information for each electrical
circuit in your car.
You can purchase these manuals through your Honda dealer's Parts Department.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Index
(cont'd)
Air Conditioner

Operation.....................................
43

Service.......................................108

Air Filte
r ...........................................95
Air Pressure, Tires........................105
Aluminum Alloy Wheels...............111
Antifreeze ..................See
"Radiator coolant"
Anti Lock Brakes(ALB) ..................18 ALB Warning Light .....................
24

ALB Fluid
.....................................
99
Anti-theft Steering

Column Lock

System.........................................58

Appearance Care .........................
110

Ashtrays..........................................38
Audio System
.................................
47
Automatic Transmission

Driving Technique ......................68

Fluid.............................................87
Operation....................................67

Shift Lever

Position
Indicator .................................
21 Battery
Charging System Warning

Light.......................................23

Jump Starting ...........................119 Maintenance .............................100

Specification ........................... 126

Beeper System Fasten Seat Belt Beeper ............13
Key Reminder .............................58

Light Reminder Chime ................30

Belts,Seat...............See "Seat Belts"
Brake Lamp Warning Light.............25
Brakes Brake Failure Warning Light .......................................23
Brake Fluid...................................99
Brake System Design .................98
Brake Wear .................................98
Brake Wear Indicators................98

Parking Brake ..............................39

Parking Brake Warning Light .......................................23
Break-in Period ..................................2

Bulb

Replacement.............................103
Specification .............................126
Buzzer ............See "Beeper System"
Capacities......................................125

Care and Cleaning.........................110

Catalytic Converter .....................134
Certification Label ........................127

Chains,Tires ................................. 106

Child Restraint System ..................14
Cigarette Lighter .............................38

Clock................................................37

COMPACT Spare Tire .................114Coolant Temperature Gauge .........20
Cooling(with A/C) ...........................44 Cooling System ...............................88
Crankcase Emission ControlSystem ..........................................
130
Cruise Control
Opeartion...................................
35Indicator .....................................22
Defogger.........................................28
Defroster .........................................45

Dimmer Switch, Headlights...........31
Doors
Locks............................................3

Warning Light ............................25
Emergency
Changing Flat Tire ...................116

Hazard Warning System ..........33If the Retractable Headlights do not operate ...................123

If the Sunroof Won't
Close .....................................54
If Your Car Gets Stuck ...........122
Jump Starting .........................119Towing.....................................121Warning and
Indicator

Lights....................................21
ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Keys
Door Locks ..................................3
Glove box ..................................39
Trunk Lid Lock ............................4
Ignition ........................................58

Key Reminder Beeper...............58Keys.............................................3
Lap/Shoulder Belts
................................Se
e "Seat Belts"

Light

Bulb Replacement...................103
Fuse Replacement ..................101
Light Reminder
Chime ..............30

Operation.................................30

Warning and Indicator Light
......................................................21
Locks

Fuel Filler Door ..........................56
Doors..........................................3

Glove Bo
x ..................................39

Trunk Lid......................................4

Anti-theft Steering

Column

Lock.......................................58

Lumbar Support,Driver's .................7
Maintenace Schedule
and

Records......................................76

Manual Transmission Maximum Allowable Speeds
....................................................66

Oil........................................86
Recommended Shift
Speeds

....................................................66

Shifting.....................................65

Meters Gauges.......See
"Gauges"
Mirrors Power Mirrors ...........................29
Rear View Mirrors ....................29 Numbers, Identification................ 127

Octane Rating,
Gasoline

.......................................... See "Fuel"
Odometer ........................................20Oil

Engine Oil ...................................83

Fluid Locations ..........................82Transmission Oil/Fluid ..............86Oil Pressure Warning Light.......22
Power Steering Fluid ................97
Operation In
Foreign Countries

..........................................................56

Panel Brightness Control ...............33
Parking Brake.................................
39

Power

Mirrors .......................................29
Steering .....................................
97

Windows................................40

PGM-FI System............................131
Pressures, Tire Inflation...............105
Preventive Service.......................

112
(cont'd)
Radiator Coolant .............................88

Radio ................................................47

Rear View Mirrors ..........................29
Rear Window Defogger ..................28
Reminder Lights
..........................See "Warning lights"ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Tread Wear................................... 128

Trip Meter........................................20

Trunk.................................................4

Trunk Access From
Rear Seat ................................9

Trunk Lid......................................4
Trunk Light ................................34
Trunk-Open
Indicator Light .......................25

Turn Signals.....................................30

Vehicle Identification Number
....................................................127

Ventilation .......................................41
Warning Lights ................................21

Warranty Service .........................135
Washer
Reservoir Capacity ...................
27

Windshield Washer ...................27
Washing.........................................110

Waxing ..........................................111

Wheels...........................................111

Windows
Appearance Care....................
110

Power Windows .......................40

Windshield Defogger .......................28
Windshield Washer.........................27
Windshield Wipers ..........................27
Wiper Blades
...................................94

Wipers

Windshield Wipers ....................27
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