air conditioning HONDA PRELUDE 1998 Owners Manual

Comfort and Convenience Features

The heating and air conditioning- systems in your Honda provide a
comfortable driving environment in
all weather conditions.
The standard audio system has many features. This section de-scribes those features and how to
use them. (If you selected an optional audio system, refer to the
operating instructions that came
with it.)
Your Honda has an anti-theft audio system that requires a code number

to enable it.
Heating and Cooling........................ 92

What Each Control Does............ 92How to Use the System............... 94
To Turn Everything Off ............. 99

Audio System................................. 100

AM/FM/CD Audio System..... 100Operating the Radio.................. 101
Adjusting the Sound.................. 104
Audio System Lighting............. 105
Radio Frequencies..................... 105
Radio Reception......................... 105

Operating the CD Player.......... 107
Operating the CD Changer...... 109
Protecting Compact Discs........ 110
CD Player Error Indications.... 111
CD Changer Error
Indications.............................. 112

Operating the Cassette Player...................................... 113
Tape Search Functions............. 114 Caring for the Cassette Player...................................... 116
Theft Protection........................ 117
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Heating and Cooling

Proper use of the Heating and
Cooling system can make the

interior dry and comfortable, and

keep the windows clear for best

visibility.

What Each Control Does
Fan Control Lever
Sliding this lever to the right
increases the fan's speed, which
increases air flow.
Temperature Control Lever
Sliding this lever to the right
increases the temperature of the air

flow.

Air Conditioning (A/C) Button
This button turns the air condi- tioning ON and OFF. The indicator
in the button lights when the A/C is
on.
Rear Window Defogger Button
This button turns the rear window defogger on and off (see page 63). Recirculation Button
This button controls the source of the air going into the system. When
the indicator in this button is lit, air
from the vehicle's interior is sentthrough the system again (Recircula-
tion mode). When the indicator is off,air is brought in from outside the
vehicle (Fresh Air mode).
Comfort and Convenience Features MODE BUTTONS
REAR WINDOW
DEFOGGER BUTTON RECIRCULATION
BUTTON
TEMPERATURE CONTROL LEVER FAN CONTROL

LEVER
AIR CONDITIONING
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Heating and Cooling

Vent Controls
You can adjust the direction of the
air coming from the dashboard vents

by moving the tab in the center of
each vent up-and-down and side-to-

side.
The vents in the corners of the

dashboard can be opened and closed

with the dials underneath them. How to Use the System
This section covers how to set up the system controls for ventilation,
heating, cooling, dehumidifying, and defrosting.
The engine must be running for the heater and air conditioning to
generate hot and cold air. The heater
uses engine coolant to warm the air.If the engine is cold, it will be several
minutes before you feel warm air
coming from the system.
The air conditioning does not rely on engine temperature.
Comfort and Convenience Features
CENTER VENT


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Heating and Cooling

It is best to leave the system in Fresh
Air mode under almost all conditions. Keeping the system in Recirculation
mode, particularly with the A/C off,
can cause the windows to fog up.
Switch to Recirculation mode when
you are driving through smoky or dusty conditions, then switch back to
Fresh Air mode when the condition

clears.

The outside air intakes for the heating and cooling system are at
the base of the windshield. Keep
these clear of leaves and other
debris.
Ventilation

The flow-through ventilation system
draws in outside air, circulates it
through the interior, then exhausts it
through vents near the rear window. 1. Slide the temperature control lever
all the way to the left.
Make sure the A/C is off. 2. Select and Fresh Air mode.
3. Set the fan to the desired speed.

CONTINUED

Comfort and Convenience Features
MODE BUTTONS


RECIRCULATION
BUTTON
TEMPERATURE CONTROL LEVER FAN CONTROL

LEVER

AIR CONDITIONING
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Heating and Cooling

To Cool with A/C

1. Turn on the A/C by pressing the button. The light in the button
should come on.
2. Make sure the temperature control lever is all the way to the

left.
3. Select

4. If the outside air is humid, select
Recirculation mode. If the outside
air is dry, select Fresh Air mode.
5. Set the fan to the desired speed.
Comfort and Convenience Features MODE BUTTONS


RECIRCULATION
BUTTON
TEMPERATURE CONTROL LEVER FAN CONTROL

LEVER
AIR CONDITIONING

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Heating and Cooling

If the interior is very warm from
being parked in the sun, you can cool it down more rapidly by setting up
the controls this way:
1. Start the engine.
2. Turn on the A/C by pressing the button. Make sure the tempera-
ture control lever is all the way to
the left.
3. Set the fan to maximum speed.
4. Open the windows partially. Select and Fresh Air mode.
When the interior has cooled down to a more comfortable temperature,close the windows and set the
controls as described for normal
cooling. Air conditioning places an extra load
on the engine. Watch the engine
coolant temperature gauge (see page 57) when driving in stop-and-go
traffic or climbing a long, steep hill. If it moves near the red zone, turnoff the A/C until the gauge reads
normally.

To Heat

To warm the interior: 1. Start the engine. 2. Select and Fresh Air mode.
3. Set the fan to the desired speed.
4. Adjust the warmth of the air with
the temperature control lever.
To Heat and Dehumidify with Air

Conditioning

Air conditioning, as it cools, removes moisture from the air. When used in
combination with the heater, itmakes the interior warm and dry.
1. Switch the fan on.
2. Turn on the air conditioning. 3. Select and Fresh Air mode.
4. Adjust the temperature control
lever so the mixture of heated and
cooled air feels comfortable.
This setting is suitable for all driving conditions whenever the outside
temperature is above 32°F (0°C).

CONTINUED

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Heating and Cooling

To Defog and Defrost

To remove fog from the inside of the
windows:

1. Switch the fan on.
2. Select

When you select the
system automatically switches to
Fresh Air mode and turns on the
A/C.
3. Adjust the temperature control lever so the air flow from thedefroster vents feels warm.
4. Turn on the rear window defogger to help clear the rear window.
When you switch to another mode from the A/C stays on.
Press the A/C button to turn if off.
Comfort and Convenience Features MODE BUTTONS


REAR WINDOW
DEFOGGER BUTTON RECIRCULATION
BUTTON

AIR CONDITIONING
BUTTON

FAN CONTROL

LEVER

TEMPERATURE
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Fuel Economy

The condition of your vehicle and your driving habits are the two most important things that affect the fuel
mileage you get.
Vehicle Condition Always maintain your vehicle accord- ing to the maintenance schedule.
This will keep it in top operating condition.
An important part of that mainte- nance is the Owner MaintenanceChecks (see page 171). For
example, an underinflated tire
causes more "rolling resistance,"
which uses fuel. It also wears out
faster, so check the tire pressure at
least monthly.
In winter, the build-up of snow on
your vehicle's underside adds weight and rolling resistance. Frequent
cleaning helps your fuel mileage and
reduces the chance of corrosion. Driving Habits
You can improve fuel economy by driving moderately. Rapid acceler-
ation, abrupt cornering, and hard
braking use more fuel.
Always drive in the highest gear that allows the engine to run and acceler-
ate smoothly.
Depending on traffic conditions, try
to maintain a constant speed. Every
time you slow down and speed up,
your vehicle uses extra fuel. Use the cruise control, when appropriate, to
increase fuel economy. A cold engine uses more fuel than a
warm engine. It is not necessary to "warm-up" a cold engine by letting it
idle for a long time. You can drive
away in about a minute, no matter
how cold it is outside. The engine
will warm up faster, and you get better fuel economy. To cut down on
the number of "cold starts," try tocombine several short trips into one.
The air conditioning puts an extra load on the engine which makes ituse more fuel. Turn off the A/C to
cut down on air conditioning use.
Use the flow-through ventilation
when the outside air temperature ismoderate.

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Driving in Bad Weather

Rain, fog, and snow conditions re-
quire a different driving technique
because of reduced traction and
visibility. Keep your vehicle well- maintained and exercise greater
caution when you need to drive in
bad weather. The cruise control should not be used in these condi-
tions. Driving Technique — Always drive
slower than you would in dry
weather. It takes your vehicle longer to react, even in conditions that mayseem just barely damp. Apply
smooth, even pressure to all the
controls. Abrupt steering wheel
movements or sudden, hard appli- cation of the brakes can cause loss of
control in wet weather. Be extra
cautious for the first few miles (kilometers) of driving while you
adjust to the change in driving
conditions. This is especially true in
snow. A person can forget some
snow-driving techniques during the
summer months. Practice is needed
to relearn those skills.
Exercise extra caution when driving
in rain after a long dry spell. After
months of dry weather, the first
rains bring oil to the surface of the
roadway, making it slippery. Visibility — Being able to see
clearly in all directions and being
visible to other drivers are important in all weather conditions. This is
more difficult in bad weather. To beseen more clearly during daylight
hours, turn on your headlights.
Inspect your windshield wipers and
washers frequently. Keep the wind- shield washer reservoir full of the
proper fluid. Have the windshield
wiper blades replaced if they start to streak the windshield or leave parts
unwiped. Use the defrosters and air
conditioning to keep the windows
from fogging up on the inside (see page 98).

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Towing a Trailer

Towing Safety

Your vehicle will not stop as quickly
with a trailer in tow. Leave extra distance between your vehicle and
other vehicles. Avoid braking or
turning suddenly. This could cause
the trailer to jackknife or possibly
turn over.
Keep in mind that your total vehicle
is now much longer. Leave more
room when making turns. The trailer
tracks a smaller arc than the vehicle
and can hit or run over something
that the vehicle misses. When
passing another vehicle, make sure
the trailer is clear before changing

lanes.
The vehicle/trailer combination is
more affected by crosswinds andbuffeting. When being passed by a
large vehicle, keep a constant speed and steer straight ahead. If there is
too much wind buffeting, slow down
to get out of the other vehicle's air

turbulence.

Towing a trailer puts an extra load on your vehicle. You should have
your vehicle serviced according to the "Maintenance Schedule undersevere driving conditions" on page 166. This extra load is magnified when
you are driving in hilly terrain.
Watch the temperature gauge closely when climbing hills. If it gets
near the hot area, turn off the airconditioning (if it is on). If this does
not reduce the heat, it may be
necessary to pull to the side of the
road and wait for the engine to cool. If the automatic transmission shifts
frequently between 3rd and 4th
gears, put it in D3. This will help prevent the transmission from
overheating. Help keep the brakes
from overheating by shifting to a
lower gear when going downhill.
If you have to stop while going uphill,do not hold the vehicle in place by
pressing on the accelerator. This can cause the automatic transmission to
overheat. Use the parking brake or
footbrake.

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