HONDA PRELUDE 1990 Repair Manual

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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Starting the Engine (cont'd)
Starting a Warm Engine (2.0 S)
Start it without pushing the accelerator down. If it won't start, push
the accelerator pedal about halfway and hold it there while cranking the engine until it starts. It may take 20 to 30 seconds of cranking. DO NOT pump the accelerator.
Once the engine starts, release the accelerator gradually as the

engine speeds up.

Starting the Engine (2.0 Si,Si) NOTE: When starting in cold weather, keep all unnecessary electrical

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

Do not crank the engine for more than 15 seconds at a time. Wait
10 seconds before going to the next step.
1. With YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR start the engine by turning the key to the III position.
2. If the engine won't start within 15 seconds or starts but fails to continue to run, push the accelerator pedal halfway, and hold it
there while cranking the engine. Once the engine starts, release
the accelerator gradually as the engine speeds up.
3. If it doesn't start within 15 seconds, push the accelerator pedal down to the floor and hold it there while cranking in order to clear
flooding. Try step 2 again.
Cold Weather at High Altitude Starting (2.0 Si,Si) NOTE: When starting in cold weather, keep all unnecessary electrical

circuits off (lights, defogger, etc.) for the best battery output.
Do not crank the engine for more than 15 seconds at a time. Wait
10 seconds before going to the next step.
1. When starting in cold weather at high altitude (above 8,000 feet), push the accelerator pedal about halfway and hold it there while
cranking the engine. Once the engine starts, release the
accelerator gradually as the engine speeds up.
2. If it doesn't start within 15 seconds, push the accelerator pedal down to the floor and hold it there while cranking in order to clear
flooding. Try step 1 again.

NOTE:

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.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

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
keys.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Engine Exhaust Gas Warning
A properly maintained car is your best protection against exhaust
gas entering the passenger compartment. The exhaust system should be thoroughly inspected by acompetent mechanic whenever:

The car is raised for an oil change.
You notice a change in the sound of the exhaust.
The exhaust system or the rear or underside of the car is

damaged.

Avoid breathing exhaust gases. They contain carbon monoxide, which is a colorless, odorless gas that can cause loss of
consciousness and eventual death. If you suspect that exhaust gas is entering the passenger compartment, have the cause
determined and corrected as soon as possible. If you must drive
under these conditions, drive only with all windows fully open. Do not drive with the trunk lid open. An open trunk may draw
exhaust gases into the passenger compartment. If you must
drive with the trunk lid open, drive only with all the windows
wide open.
Do not run the engine in confined areas, such as garages, any
longer than necessary to move the car in or out. If you must sit in a parked car with the engine running for more
than a short time, adjust the heating/ventilation system as
follows:
1. Push the
and buttons on.
2. Set the temperature lever for best comfort.
3.Turn the fan to the highest speed.

NOTE:

To insure proper operation of the car's ventilation system, keep the
front air inlet clear of snow, mud, leaves or other obstructions.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

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 5 Speed (cont'd)
Maximum Allowable Speeds
The speeds shown below are the maximum at which the car can be
driven or downshifted in each gear without over-revving the engine: (2.0 S)

(2.0 Si,Si)

Recommended Shift Speeds
For best fuel economy, and effective emission control, shift at the
speeds shown for your car:ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

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.
Shifting the Automatic (cont'd)ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

While driving in the "S" range, you can select 4th gear by pushing
the "S4"
switch. Depending upon vehicle speed and throttle pedal
position, the transmission will shift to 4th gear when the switch is
pressed; the "S4" indicator light in the instrument panel will come
on. Pushing the "S4" switch again will cause the transmission to
downshift to 3rd gear In the "S3" mode. The "S4" indicator light in
the instrument panel will go out, and the "S3" light on the instrument panel will come on.
If the shift lever is moved to any other driving range, the "S4"
switch will be cancelled automatically.

NOTE:
In both the D and S modes, the transmission holds in
2nd while
you are
stopped in gear. When you start moving again, the
transmission shifts to 1st, then 2nd and so on. If rapid acceleration is necessary, depress the accelerator to the
floor; the transmission will automatically shift down according to
load and engine speed. This applies to both D and S ranges.

(cont'd)

S4 SWITCHProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

R-Reverse
2-2nd

Use 2nd gear
for increased engine braking when driving
downhill,
and increased power when driving uphill; also for driving on slippery
roads, and freeing the car from mud or
sand, where 1 st gear could
provide too much power and cause skidding or wheel-spin. The
maximum recommended speed in 2nd gear is:

60 mph (97
km/h)

CAUTION:

Shift into or out of reverse only after the car has come to a

complete stop; the transmission may be damaged if you shift

while the car is moving.

P-Park

CAUTION:

Use this position when starting the engine , or when parking. Shift

into Park only when the car is COMPLETELY stopped.

N — Neutral
Use when starting the engine or during prolonged idling in traffic.

Shifting the Automatic (cont'd)
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