steering HONDA PRELUDE 1992 User Guide

Controls Near the Steering Wheel

Windshield Wipers
The right lever controls the wind-
shield wipers and washers. The
rotary switch at the end of the
lever has three positions:

INT — intermittent

LO — low speed

HI — high speed

In intermittent, the wipers operate

every few seconds. In low speed

and high speed, the wipers run

continuously.
To operate the wipers in mist mode,

push the control lever down. The

wipers run at high speed until you
release the lever. This gives you a
quick way to clear the windshield. Windshield Washers
To clean the windshield, pull back
on the wiper control lever. The
washers spray until you release the
lever.
The wipers run at low speed while
you're pulling the lever, then
complete one more sweep of the
windshield after you release it.

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Controls Near the Steering Wheel

Steering Wheel Adjustment

You can adjust the steering wheel height to suit your preference. Do
this before you begin driving.
1. Adjust the seat so you are acomfortable distance from the
pedals.

2. The lever to tilt the steering
wheel is under the steering column to the left. Push this
lever all the way down.

3. Move the steering wheel up or
down to the desired position.

Position the wheel so you can see

all the instrument panel gauges
and warning lights. Push the
lever up to lock the steering
wheel in that position.
4. Make sure you have securely locked the steering wheel inplace by trying to move it up and

down.

Instruments an d
Controls

Adjusting the steering wheel
position while driving may
cause you to lose control of
the car and be seriously injured in a crash.
Adjust the steering wheel only
when the car is stopped.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Steering Wheel Controls

Cruise Control

Cruise control
allows you to
maintain a set speed above 25 mph
(40 km/h) without keeping your
foot on the accelerator pedal. It is
for cruising on straight, open
highways. It is not recommended
for conditions such as city driving,
winding roads, slippery roads,
heavy rain, or bad weather. You should have full control of the car
under those conditions. The cruise control, as it operates,
moves the accelerator pedal. You
can damage your car's accelerator
mechanism by resting your foot
under the pedal and blocking the movement. Using the Cruise Control

1. Push in the Cruise Control

Master Switch to the left of the
steering column. The indicator in
the switch will light.

2. Accelerate to the
desired
cruising speed above 25 mph (40

km/h).

Instruments an d
Controls

Improper use of the cruise con-
trol can lead to a crash.
Use the cruise control only
when traveling on open high-
ways in good weather.
NOTICEProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Steering Wheel Controls

3. Press and hold the SET/decel button on the steering wheel
until the CRUISE CONTROL
light on the instrument panelcomes on. This shows the system
is now activated.
The set speed may vary slightly,
particularly on
hills.
Changing the Set Speed

You can increase the set cruising speed in either of two ways:
Press and hold the accel/
RESUME button. The car will

accelerate slowly. When you

reach the desired cruising speed,

release the button.

Push on the accelerator pedal.
Accelerate to the desired
cruising speed and press the SET

/decel button.
Yo
u can decrease the set cruising
speed in either of two ways: Press and hold the SET/decel
button. The car will decelerate. Release the button when you
reach the desired speed.
Tap the brake or clutch pedal
lightly with your foot. The
CRUISE CONTROL light on the
instrument panel will go out.
When the car slows to the desired speed, press the SET/
decel button. The car will then
maintain the desired speed.
CONTINUED

Instruments and Controls

accel/

RESUME

SET/decelProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Steering Wheel Controls

Even with the cruise control turned
on, you can still use the accelerator pedal to speed up for passing. After
completing the pass, take your foot
off the accelerator pedal. The car
will return to the set cruising speed.
Resting your foot on the brake or
clutch pedal will cause the cruise
control to cancel.
Turning off the Cruise Control

Either of these actions take the car

out of cruise control:
Tap the brake or, if manual trans-mission, clutch pedal.
Press the Cruise Control Master

Switch.
When you tap the brake or clutch
pedal, the CRUISE CONTROL
light on the instrument panel will
go out and the car will begin to
slow down. You can use the acceler-
ator pedal in the normal way. The
system retains the previously-set
cruising speed. To return to that
speed, accelerate to above 25 mph
(40 km/h) and then press the
RESUME/accel button until the
CRUISE CONTROL light comes on. The car will accelerate to the

same cruising speed as before.

Pressing the Cruise Control Master
Switch turns the system completely
off. This erases the previous
cruising speed from memory. To
use the system again, you must set
the system up as explained in Using the Cruise Control.
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Steering Wheel Controls, Keys and Locks

Horn

Press either of the buttons on the
steering wheel spokes to sound the

horn.
Key
s

Your
car comes with two kinds of

keys: a master key and a valet key.

The master key fits all locks on
your car: Ignition
Doors

Trunk
Trunk release handle
Rear seat trunk access
Center console compartment
The valet key only works the
ignition and the door locks. You
can keep the trunk, trunk release
handle, center console compart-
ment and rear seat trunk access
locked when you leave your car and valet key at a parking facility.
Each key has a number stamped in
one side. You will need this number
if you have to get a lost key re-
placed. Record this number and
keep it in a safe place.

Instruments and Controls

HORN
VALET KEYMASTER KEY
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Keys and Locks

Ignition Switch

The ignition switch is on the right
side of the steering column. It has

four positions: LOCK (0), ACCES-
SORY (I), ON(II), and START (III).
LOCK (0) — You can insert or
remove the key only in this position.
When you turn the key from LOCK
to ACCESSORY, you may have to
turn the steering wheel to release
the anti-theft lock. To switch from
ACCESSORY to LOCK, you must push the key in slightly as you turn
it. If your car has an automatic
transmission, it must also be in
Park. The anti-theft lock will lock
the steering column when you
remove the key. ACCESSORY (I) — In this

position, you can operate the audio

system and cigarette lighter.
ON (II) — This is the normal key

position when driving. All features

and accessories on the car are
usable. Several of the lights on the instrument panel come on as a test
when you turn the ignition switch
from ACCESSORY to ON (see
page 31).

START (III) — Use this position
only to start the engine. The switch
returns to ON when you let go of
the key.
You will hear a reminder beeper if
you open either front door with the
key in the LOCK or ACCESSORY position. Remove the key to turn it
off.
Instruments and Controls
Removing the key from the
ignition switch while driving
locks the steering. This can
cause you to lose control.
Remove the key from the igni-
tion switch only when parked.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Driving
This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various conditions, and how to operate the
5-speed and automatic transmis-
sions. It also includes important information on your car's braking
system and facts you need if you
are planning to tow a trailer. Preparing to Drive ....................... 108
Starting the Engine...................... 109
5-speed Transmission............. 109

Automatic Transmission........ 109 Starting in Cold Weather at High Altitude.................... 110
5-speed Manua l
Transmission...
111
Recommended Shif
t
Points....
111
Maximum Speeds....................
.

112
Automatic Transmission...........
.

112
Shift Leve
r
Positions...............
112
Maximum Speeds....................
.

115
Shift Loc
k
Release...................
115
The Brakin
g
System....................
116
Brake Wea
r
Indicators............
116
Brake Syste
m
Design..............
116
Anti-lock Brakes.....................
.

117
Four Whee
l
Steering....................
118
Driving i
n
Bad Weather..............
119
Towing a
Traile
r ..........................
121

Driving
ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Preparing to Drive
You should do the following checks and adjustments every day before
you drive your car.
1. Make sure all windows, mirrors, and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove frost,
snow, or ice.
2. Check that the hood and trunk are fully closed.
3. Check that any items you may be carrying with you inside are
stored properly or fastened down
securely. 4. Check the adjustment of the seat
(see page 51 ).
5. Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page 59 ).

6. Chec k
the adjustment of the
steering wheel (see page 43 ).
7. Make sure the doors are securely
closed and locked.

8. Fasten your seat belt. Check that your passengers have fastened
their seat belts (see page 7 ). 9. Turn the ignition ON (II). Check

the indicator lights in the instru-
ment panel.

10.Start th
e
engine.
11.Check the gauges and indicator

lights in the instrument panel
(see page 31 ).

Driving
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The Braking System

If this happens, you will immediate-
ly notice that the brake pedal goes
down much farther and you need to press on it much harder. A much
longer distance will be needed to stop the car.
Slow the car by downshifting to a
lower gear and removing your foot
from the accelerator pedal. Pull to
the side of the road as soon as it is
safe. Because of the longer stop-
ping distance needed, brake system
failure is very hazardous. It is best
to have your car towed, but if you
must drive the car in this condition,
be extremely cautious. Have your car repaired as soon as possible.
Anti-lock Brakes

The Prelude Si and Si 4WS models
in
the U.S. and SR and SR 4WS
models in Canada have an Anti-
lock Brake System (ABS) as standard equipment.
ABS helps you maintain steering
control. It does this by helping you
to prevent the wheels from locking
up and skidding.
The ABS is always "On". It
requires no special effort or driving
technique. You will feel a pulsation
in the brake pedal when the ABS

activates.

Activation varies with the amount of traction your tires have. On drypavement, you will need to press on
the brake pedal very hard before
you feel the pedal
pulsation that
means the ABS has activated.
However, you may feel the ABS
activate immediately if you are
trying to stop on snow or ice. Under all conditions, the ABS is helping to
prevent the wheels from locking so
you can retain steering
control.
You should continue to press on the
brake pedal with the same force.
You may feel a slight movement of
the brake pedal just after you start
the engine. This
is
the ABS

working.

Driving
CONTINUEDProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t