HONDA PRELUDE 1998 Repair Manual

Controls Near the Steering Wheel

Headlights

The rotating switch on the left lever controls the lights. Turning this switch to the position turns
on the parking lights, taillights,
instrument panel lights, side-marker
lights, and rear license plate lights. Turning the switch to the
position turns on the headlights. If you leave the lights on with the
ignition switch in ACCESSORY (I)
or LOCK (0), you will hear a
reminder chime when you open the
driver's door.
To change between low beams and high beams, pull the turn signal lever
until you hear a click, then let go.
The blue high beam indicator will light (see page 55). To flash the high beams, pull the
turn signal lever back lightly, then
release it. The high beams will comeon and go off.
The high beams will stay on for as long as you hold the lever back, nomatter what position the headlightswitch is in.
Daytime Running Lights (Canadian Models)
With the headlight switch off, the high beam headlights come on with
reduced brightness when you turn
the ignition switch to ON (II) and
release the parking brake. Theyremain on until you turn the ignition
off, even if you set the parking brake.
The headlights revert to normal operation when you turn them on
with the switch.
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Controls Near the Steering Wheel

Instrument Panel Brightness

The dial on the dashboard to the left of the instrument panel controls the
brightness of the instrument panel
lights. Turn the dial to adjust the
brightness. Turn Signals
Signal a turn or lane change with this
lever. Push down on the lever tosignal a left turn, and up to signal a
right turn. If you push it up or down
all the way, the turn signal continues
to blink even when you release the
lever. It shuts off automatically as
you complete the turn. To signal a lane change, push lightly
on the turn signal lever in the proper
direction and hold it. The lever will
return to the center position as soon
as you release it.
Instruments and Controls
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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 : low speed
: high speed
In intermittent, the wipers operate
every few seconds. You can vary
how often the wipers sweep the
windshield by turning the INT TIME ring next to the rotary switch. In lowspeed 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 aquick way to clear the windshield.
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Controls Near the Steering Wheel

Windshield Washers
To clean the windshield, pull back on the wiper control lever. The washersspray until you release the lever.
The wipers run at low speed while you're pulling the lever, thencomplete one more sweep of the
windshield after you release it.
Hazard Warning

Push the red button to the left of the
clock to turn on the hazard warning
lights (four-way flashers). This causes all four outside turn signals
and both indicators in the instrument
panel to flash. Use the hazard
warning lights if you need to park in a dangerous area near heavy traffic,
or if your vehicle is disabled. Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger will clear fog, frost, and thin ice from the
window. Push the defogger button to turn it on and off. The light in the
button lights to show the defogger ison. If you do not turn it off, thedefogger will shut itself off after
about 25 minutes. It also shuts off
when you turn off the ignition. You
have to turn it on again when you restart the vehicle.
Instruments and Controls
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Controls Near the Steering Wheel

Make sure the rear window is clear
and you have good visibility before
starting to drive.
The defogger and antenna wires on the inside of the rear window can beaccidentally damaged. When
cleaning the glass, always wipe side
to side.
Steering Wheel Adjustment

See page 15 for important safety

information about how to properly

position the steering wheel.
Make any steering wheel adjustment
before you start driving. To adjust the steering wheel upward
or downward.
1. The lever to tilt the steering wheel is under the steering column to
the left. Push this lever all the way
down.

2. Move the steering wheel to the desired position, making sure the
wheel points toward your chest, not toward your face. Make sure
you can see the instrument panel
gauges and the indicator lights. 3. Push the lever up to lock the
steering wheel in that position.
4. Make sure you have securely locked the steering wheel in place
by trying to move it up and down.

Instruments and Controls
Adjusting the steering wheel
position while driving may
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle and be seriously injured in a crash.
Adjust the steering wheel only
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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 should be used
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 vehicle under
those conditions.
The cruise control, as it operates,
moves the accelerator pedal. You can
damage your vehicle'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).

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Instruments and Controls
Improper use of the cruise
control can lead to a crash.
Use the cruise control only
when traveling on open highways in good weather.
NOTICE

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Steering Wheel Controls

3. Press and hold the SET/decel button on the steering wheel until
the CRUISE CONTROL light on
the instrument panel comes on.
This shows the system is now
activated.

The cruise control may not hold the set speed when you are going
up and down hills.
When climing a steep hill, the automatic transmission may
downshift to hold the set speed. Changing the Set Speed
You can increase the set cruising
speed in either of two ways: Press and hold the RESUME/
accel button. The vehicle will
accelerate slowly. When you reach
the desired cruising speed, release
the button. Push on the accelerator pedal. Ac-
celerate to the desired cruising
speed and press the SET/decel

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

accel

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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 vehicle

will return to the set cruising speed.

Resting your foot on the brake or
clutch pedal will cause the cruise

control to cancel.
Cancelling the Cruise Control

You can cancel the cruise control in
any of these ways:
Tap the brake or clutch pedal. Press the SET/decel and RE-
SUME/accel buttons at the same

time.
Press the Cruise Control Master

Switch.

When you tap the brake or clutch pedal, or press the SET and RE-SUME buttons at the same time, the
CRUISE CONTROL light on the
instrument panel will go out and the
vehicle will begin to slow down. You can use the accelerator pedal in the
normal way.
If you use the brake or clutch pedal
to cancel cruise control, the system
remembers the previously-set cruising speed. To return to that speed, accelerate to above 25 mph
(40 km/h) and press the RESUME/
accel button until the CRUISE CON-
TROL light comes on. The vehicle will accelerate to the same cruisingspeed as before.
If you cancel cruise control by
pressing the SET and RESUME
buttons at the same time, the previously-set cruising speed iserased. To use the cruise control,
accelerate to the desired cruisingspeed and press the SET/decel

button.

Pressing the Cruise Control Master
Switch turns the system completelyoff and erases the previous cruising
speed from memory. To use the
system again, refer to Using the

Cruise Control.

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Keys and Locks
Keys

Your vehicle comes with two kinds of keys: a master key and a valet key.
The master key fits all the locks on
your vehicle:
Ignition

Doors

Trunk Trunk release handle
Rear seat trunk access
Glove box The valet key works only in the
ignition and the door locks. You can
keep the trunk, trunk release handle,
rear seat trunk access and the glove
box locked when you leave your
vehicle and the valet key at a parking facility.
You should have received a key number plate with your keys. You
will need this key number if you ever have to get a lost key replaced. Keep the plate stored in a safe place. If you
need to replace a key, use only
Honda-approved key blanks.
These keys contain electronic circuits that are activated by the
Immobilizer System. They will not
work to start the engine if the circuits are damaged. Protect the keys from direct
sunlight, high temperature, and
high humidity. Do not drop the keys or set heavy
objects on them. Keep the keys away from liquids.
If they get wet, dry them immedi- ately with a soft cloth.
The keys do not contain batteries. Do not try to take them apart.
Instruments and Controls
LEARNING

KEY

(Red)

MASTER

KEY

(Black)

VALET

KEY

(Gray)

KEY

NUMBER

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Keys and Locks

Learning Key

You should also receive a small case containing a learning key. It is used
by the Honda dealer to code replace-
ment keys to your vehicle'sImmobilizer System. It must not be
used in your vehicle's ignition switch.
Store the learning key with the key
number plate in a safe place. If you attempt to use the learning
key to start your vehicle's engine, it
may cause a malfunction in the system that makes your master and
valet keys unusable. If this happens,
you should contact your Honda
dealer.

If you need a new key made, take the
key number plate, the learning key, and all other keys that came with
your vehicle to your Honda dealer. Immobilizer System
The Immobilizer System protects
your vehicle from theft. A properly- coded ignition key must be used in
the ignition switch for the engine to start. If an improperly-coded key (or
other device) is used, the engine'sstarting circuit is disabled.
When you turn the ignition switch to ON (II), the Immobilizer System
indicator should come on for a few seconds, then go out. If the indicator
starts to blink, it means the system
does not recognize the coding of the
key. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK (0), remove the key, reinsert
it, and turn the switch to ON (II)
again.

If the system repeatedly does not
recognize the coding of your key, contact your Honda dealer.
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