HONDA PRELUDE 1998 Owners Manual

Interior Care
Seat Belts
If your seat belts get dirty, you can
use a soft brush with a mixture of
mild soap and warm water to clean
them. Do not use bleach, dye, or
cleaning solvents. They can weaken
the belt material. Let the belts air- dry before you use the vehicle. Dirt build-up in the loops of the seat
belt anchors can cause the belts to retract slowly. Wipe the insides of
the loops with a clean cloth dampened in mild soap and warm
water or isopropyl alcohol. Windows
Clean the windows, inside and out,
with a commercially-available glass cleaner. You can also use a mixture
of one part white vinegar to ten parts
water. This will remove the haze that builds up on the inside of the
windows. Use a soft cloth or paper
towels to clean all glass and clear plastic surfaces.

The rear window defogger and
antenna wires are bonded to the inside of the glass. Wiping vigorously up-and-
down can dislodge and break these wires. When cleaning the rear window,
use gentle pressure and wipe side-to-

side.

Appearance Care

LOOP

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Interior Care, Corrosion Protection

Air Fresheners If you want to use an air freshener/
deodorizer in the interior of your
vehicle, it is best to use a solid type. Some liquid air fresheners contain
chemicals that may cause parts of
the interior trim and fabric to crack or discolor.
If you use a liquid air freshener,
make sure you fasten it securely so it does not spill as you drive. Corrosion Protection
Two factors normally contribute to causing corrosion in your vehicle:
1. Moisture trapped in body cavities. Dirt and road salt that collects in
hollows on the underside of the
vehicle stays damp, promoting corrosion in that area.
2. Removal of paint and protective coatings from the exterior and
underside of the vehicle.
Many corrosion-preventive measures
are built into your Honda. You can
help keep your vehicle from corroding by performing somesimple periodic maintenance: Repair chips and scratches in the
paint as soon as you discover them.Inspect and clean out the drain
holes in the bottom of the doors and body.
Check the floor coverings for
dampness. Carpeting and floor
mats may remain damp for a long
time, especially in winter. This dampness can eventually cause
the floor panels to corrode.
Use a high-pressure spray to clean
the underside of your vehicle. This is especially important in areas
that use road salt in winter. It isalso a good idea in humid climates
and areas subject to salt air. Be
careful of the ABS wheel sensors
and wiring at each wheel.
Have the corrosion-preventive
coatings on the underside of your
vehicle inspected and repaired periodically.
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Body Repairs

Body repairs can affect your vehicle's
resistance to corrosion. If your
vehicle needs repairs alter a collision, pay close attention to the parts used
in the repair and the quality of the
work.
Make sure the repair facility uses
Genuine Honda replacement body
parts. Some companies make sheet
metal pieces that seem to duplicate
the original Honda body parts, but are actually inferior in fit, finish, and
corrosion resistance. Once installed,
they do not give the same high- quality appearance.
When reporting your collision to the
insurance company, tell them you
want Genuine Honda parts used in the repair. Although most insurersrecognize the quality of original
parts, some may try to specify that
the repairs be done with other available parts. You should investi-
gate this before any repairs are
begun.

Take your vehicle to your authorized Honda dealer for inspection after the
repairs are completed. He can makesure that quality materials were used,
and that corrosion-preventive
coatings were applied to all repaired
and replaced parts.
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Taking Care of the Unexpected

This section covers the more-
common problems that motorists

experience with their vehicles. It
gives you information about how to safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again. If not, you will also find instructions
on getting your vehicle towed.
Compact Spare Tire....................... 228
Changing a Flat Tire ..................... 229
If Your Engine Won't Start........... 234
Nothing Happens or theStarter Motor OperatesVery Slowly.............................235
The Starter Operates Normally................................. 236
Jump Starting................................. 236 If Your Engine Overheats............. 238
Low Oil Pressure Indicator.......... 240Charging System Indicator........... 241
Malfunction Indicator Lamp ........ 242
Brake System Indicator................ 243
Closing the Moonroof................... 244
Fuses............................................... 245
Checking and Replacing........... 246

Towing............................................ 250

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Compact Spare Tire

Your vehicle has a compact spare tire that takes up less space. Use thisspare tire as a temporary replace-
ment only. Get your regular tire
repaired or replaced and put back on
your vehicle as soon as you can.
Check the inflation pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be
inflated to: 60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm2) Follow these precautions whenever
you are using the compact spare tire: Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
under any circumstances.
This tire gives a harsher ride and
less traction on some road sur-
faces than the regular tire. Use
greater caution while driving on
this tire.
Do not mount snow chains on the
compact spare.
The wheel of the compact spare
tire is designed especially to fit
your vehicle. Do not use your
spare tire on another vehicle
unless it is the same make and

model.

The compact spare tire has a shorter
tread life than a regular tire. Replace
it when you can see the tread wear
indicator bars. The replacement should be the same size and design
tire, mounted on the same wheel.
The compact spare tire is not designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and the compact wheel is not designed for mounting a regular tire.
Taking Care of the Unexpected INDICATOR
LOCATION
MARK
TREAD WEARINDICATOR
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Changing a Flat Tire
If you have a flat tire while driving, stop in a safe place to change it.
Stopping in traffic or on the shoulder
of a busy road is dangerous. Drive slowly along the shoulder until you
get to an exit or an area to stop that is far away from the traffic lanes.
1. Park the vehicle on firm, levelground away from traffic. Turn on
the hazard warning lights and turnthe ignition switch to LOCK (0).
2. Put the transmission in Park (automatic) or Reverse (manual).
Apply the parking brake. Have all of the passengers get out of the
vehicle while you change the tire. 3. Open the trunk. Raise the trunk
floor by lifting up on the back edge.
4. Take the tool kit out of the trunk.
5. Unscrew the wing bolt and take the spare tire out of its well.

CONTINUED

Taking Care of the Unexpected

The vehicle can easily roll off
the jack, seriously injuring anyone underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and never get under the vehicle
when it is supported only by the

jack.
JACK

TRUNK

FLOOR

TOOL KIT SPARE
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Changing a Flat Tire
6. The jack is behind a cover in the left fender. Remove the cover by
turning the handle clockwise, thenpulling on the cover. 7. Turn the jack's end bracket
counterclockwise to loosen it, then
remove the jack. 8. Loosen the five wheel nuts 1/2
turn with the wheel wrench.

Taking Care of the Unexpected
HANDLE


COVER JACK
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Changing a Flat Tire

9. Locate the jacking point nearest the tire you need to change. It is
pointed to by A mark molded intothe underside of the body. Place
the jack under the jacking point.
Turn the end bracket clockwise until the top of the jack contacts
the jacking point. Make sure the
jacking point tab is resting in the
jack notch. 10. Use the extension and wheel
wrench as shown to raise the
vehicle until the flat tire is off the

ground.
11. Re move the wheel nuts and flat

tire. Temporarily place the flat tire
on the ground with the outside
surface of the wheel facing up.
You could scratch the wheel if you
put it face down.

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Taking Care of the Unexpected

JACKING
POINT WHEEL
WRENCH

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Changing a Flat Tire

12. Before mounting the spare tire, wipe any dirt off the mounting
surface of the wheel and hub with
a clean cloth. Wipe the hub
carefully, it may be hot from

driving.
13. Put on the spare tire. Put the
wheel nuts back on finger-tight,
then tighten them in a crisscross
pattern with the wheel wrench
until the wheel is firmly against
the hub. Do not try to tighten
them fully.
14. Lower the vehicle to the ground

and remove the jack.

Taking Care of the Unexpected BRAKE HUBProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Changing a Flat Tire

15. Tighten the wheel nuts securely in
the same crisscross pattern. Have

the wheel nut torque checked at
the nearest automotive service

facility.

Tighten the wheel nuts to:
80 lbf .
ft (108N .
m , 11 kgf .
m)
16. Remove the center cap before
storing the flat tire in the trunk

well. 17. Place the flat tire face down in the
spare tire well.
18. Remove the spacer cone from the wing bolt, turn it over, and put it
back on the bolt.
CONTINUED
Taking Care of the Unexpected
CENTER CAP
WING BOLT

SPACER
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