manual transmission HONDA PRELUDE 1990 Owners Manual

Warning and Indicator Lights

Shift Lever Position indicator (Automatic Transmission only) A lighted indicator between the fuel and coolant temperature
gauges shows which gear you have selected.
NOTE:
The S3 indicator light in the instrument panel also serves a second
function, if the light flashes while driving (in any gear range) it indicates a possible malfunction in the transmission; avoid rapid
acceleration and have the transmission checked by an authorized Honda dealer as soon as possible.
Turn Signal/Hazard Warning Indicator Lights
When the turn signal lever is pushed for left or right turns, the appropriate green indicator arrow on the instrument panel will blink
along with the signal. Turning on the hazard warning switch willmake all turn signals and both arrows blink (see page 33).

Headlight High Beam indicator Light

This blue indicator light will go on whenever the high beams are switched on (see page 31).
Seat Belt Warning Light
The seat belt warning light comes on for a couple of seconds each
time the ignition switch is turned on (see page 13).

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Cruise Control
Cruise Control
The Cruise Control system allows you to set and automatically maintain any speed above 30 mph (45 km/h) without keeping your
foot on the accelerator. As its name implies, it is meant for cruising

on straight, uncongested highways or freeways. It is not

recommended to be used in traffic, on winding roads or in bad weather conditions where the driver should have total control.
To Set the Cruise Control:
Push the CRUISE CONTROL

master switch on the dash; the
indicator light will come on. Accelerate to the desired
speed, then, push and release

the SET switch on the
steering wheel. The Cruise
Control light on the

instrument panel will come

on.

The speed you were going when you released the SET switch is the speed the Cruise Control will hold. You can then "fine tune" the set
speed by briefly holding and releasing the SET switch to decrease it
a few mph or pushing the RESUME switch to slightly increase it.
To Cancel the Cruise Control:
Push the CRUISE CONTROL

master switch and the indicator
light will go off (this also erases the memory of the set speed), if you must temporarily disengage the system (but you wish to
retain the memory of the set speed): tap the brake pedal, or the clutch pedal (manual transmission) or move the automatic trans-mission shift lever to N (Neutral). If you are still going above 30 mph(45 km/h), you can return to the set speed by simply pushing the
RESUME switch. If the car has decelerated below approximately 30 mph (45 km/h),you can return to the set speed by using the ac-
celerator conventionally until your speed is above 30 mph (45 km/h) and then pushing the RESUME switch.
MASTER SWITCH

RESUME SWITCH Push

SET SWITCH

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Cruise Control (cont'd)

To Change the Set Speed: To a faster speed — For gradual acceleration with your foot off the
accelerator, push
and hold the RESUME switch until you reach the
desired speed; release the switch and the system's memory will be re-programmed to the new speed.
For faster acceleration, push the accelerator until you reach the
desired speed, then push and release the SET switch to re-program
the system.

To a slower speed — push and hold the SET switch and the car willcoast; when you reach the desired slower speed, release the switchand the system will be re-programmed.
For temporary acceleration above the set speed, such as for passing,
use the accelerator pedal conventionally. When you want to return
to the set speed, take your foot off the accelerator and coast without applying the brakes.
The Cruise Control automates the function of the accelerator pedal to maintain your car at a constant speed. This can be a
convenience on long trips, but it can also be a danger if there are many other cars on the road or if the road is unfamiliar. Pay strict
attention to the responsibility of driving whenever using the Cruise Control.

CAUTION:

Because the Cruise Control directly activates the accelerator pedal, don't rest your foot under the pedal when the Cruise
Control is on; it may pull the pedal down onto your foot.
NOTE:
With Cruise Control on, your speed will still vary slightly,particularly when going up or down hills.
Do not drive with your foot on the brake or clutch pedal (manual
transmission), as this will cause the Cruise Control to disengage.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Ignition Switch
The combined ignition switch/anti-theft lock is located on the right side of the steering column and has four positions:
0-LOCK position: The key can be removed or inserted in thisposition. To remove the key, push it in at position I, then turn it to
0 and pull it out. When the key is removed, the steering column

will lock.

NOTE:

On cars equipped with automatic transmissions, the transmission
must be in Park before pushing and turning the key to the O-LOCK position.
Never turn the ignition switch to the lock position or remove the
key while the car is in motion; the steering wheel can lock causing
a loss of directional control, and an accident could result. I-ACCESSORY position: In this position, the accessory circuit is

on, but the ignition circuit is off.
If the key is difficult to turn from the 0 to the I position, turn the

steering wheel slightly to relieve pressure on the lock.
II-ON position: This Is the normal running position.
III-START position: The starter will engage when the key is
turned to this position.
To remind you to remove the ignition key when leaving your car, a beeper will sound if the key is still in the ignition when you open the
driver's door. The beeper system is deactivated when you turn the ignition to 0 (Lock) and fully remove the key.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

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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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.

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