headlights HONDA PRELUDE 1998 Owners Manual

Instruments and Controls

This section gives information about the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your Honda. All the essential controls are within easy reach.

Control Locations............................ 50

Indicator Lights................................ 51

Gauges.............................................. 56
Speedometer................................ 56
Tachometer.................................. 56

Odometer...................................... 56

Trip Meter.................................... 56

Fuel Gauge................................... 57
Temperature Gauge.................... 57 Maintenance Required Indicator.................................... 58
Controls Near the Steering

Wheel........................................ 59

Headlights.................................... 60
Daytime Running Lights............. 60
Instrument Panel Brightness..... 61
Turn Signals................................. 61
Windshield Wipers...................... 62
Windshield Washers................... 63
Hazard Warning........................... 63

Rear Window Defogger.............. 63
Steering Wheel Adjustment....... 64

Steering Wheel Controls ................ 65

Cruise Control.............................. 65
Keys and Locks................................ 68

Keys...............................................68

Learning Key................................ 69
Immobilizer System..................... 69
Ignition Switch............................. 70
Power Door Locks....................... 72
Lockout Prevention..................... 73

Trunk............................................73
Glove Box.....................................74
Seat Adjustments............................. 75 Front Seat Adjustments.............. 75Driver's Seat Height Adjustment............................... 76

Rear Seat Access .........................
76

Head Restraints...........................
77
Seat Heaters..................................... 78
Folding Rear Seat............................ 79
Power Windows............................... 80

Moonroof..........................................82

Mirrors.............................................. 83
Adjusting the Power Mirrors.....

83

Parking Brake..................................
84

Digital Clock..................................... 85
Beverage Holder.............................. 86 Console Compartment.................... 87
Coin Box........................................... 88
Accessory Power Socket................ 88
Ashtrays............................................ 89
Interior Lights.................................. 89 Ceiling Lights............................... 89
Courtesy Lights........................... 90
Instruments and ControlsProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Indicator Lights

Trunk-open Indicator

This light comes on if the trunk lid is not closed tightly.
Door-open Indicator
This light comes on if either door is not closed tightly.
High Beam Indicator
This light comes on with the high beam headlights. See page 60 forinformation on the headlight
controls.
On Canadian models, this indicator
comes on with reduced brightness
when the Daytime Running Lights (DRL) are on (see page 60). Low Fuel Indicator
This indicator is located in the fuel gauge. It comes on as a reminderthat you must refuel soon. "Daytime Running
Lights" Indicator

Canadian models only

This indicator lights when you turn the ignition to ON (II) with the
headlight switch off and the parkingbrake set. It should go off if you turnon the headlights or release the
parking brake. If it comes on at any
other time, it means there is a
problem with the DRL. There may also be a problem with the high
beam headlights.
Instruments and Controls

D
R
L

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Controls Near the Steering Wheel
The two levers on the steering column contain controls for driving
features you use most often. The left
lever controls the turn signals,
headlights, and high beams. The
right lever controls the windshield
washers and wipers.
The controls under the left air vent are for the moonroof, cruise controland instrument panel brightness.
The switches for the hazard warning lights and rear window defogger are
to the right of the steering column.
The tilt adjustment lever on the underside of the steering columnallows you to tilt the steering wheel.

Instruments and Controls

CRUISE
CONTROL
INSTRUMENT PANEL
BRIGHTNESS HAZARD WARNING
LIGHTS
WINDSHIELD

WIPERS/WASHERS

REAR WINDOW

DEFOGGER

HORN

BUTTONS

TILT

ADJUSTMENT

HEADLIGHTS/
TURN SIGNALS

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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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Mirrors

Keep the inside and outside mirrors
clean and adjusted for best visibility.
Be sure to adjust the mirrors before
you start driving.
The inside mirror has day and night positions. The night position reduces
glare from headlights behind you.
Flip the tab on the bottom edge of
the mirror to select the day or night

position.
Adjusting the Power Mirrors
Adjust the outside mirrors with the adjustment switch on the driver'sdoor armrest:
1. Turn the ignition switch ON (II).
2. Move the selector switch to L (driver's side) or R (passenger's

side).
3. Push the appropriate edge of the

adjustment switch to move the
mirror right, left, up or down.
4. When you finish, move the
selector switch to the center (off)

position. This turns off the
adjustment switch so you can't

move a mirror out of position by

accidentally bumping the switch.
Instruments and Controls
TAB
SELECTOR SWITCH

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Audio System

Audio System Lighting You can use the MODE button to turn the illumination on the audiosystem on or off when the headlights

are on.

Push and hold the MODE button for
three seconds and the illumination
will turn off. Push it again for three seconds to turn the illumination on. Radio Frequencies
Your Honda's radio can receive the complete AM and FM bands.
Those bands cover these frequen-
cies:

AM band: 530 to 1,710 kilohertz
FM band:
87.7 to 107.9 megahertz
Radio stations on the AM band are
assigned frequencies at least ten
kilohertz apart (530, 540, 550). Stations on the FM band are
assigned frequencies at least 0.2
megahertz apart (87.9, 88.1, 88.3).
Stations must use these exact
frequencies. It is fairly common for stations to round-off the frequency in
their advertising, so your radio could display a frequency of 100.9 even
though the announcer may identify
the station as "FM101." Radio Reception
How well your Honda's radio
receives stations is dependent on
many factors, such as the distance
from the station's transmitter, nearby large objects, and atmos-
pheric conditions.
A radio station's signal gets weaker as you get farther away from its
transmitter. If you are listening to an
AM station, you will notice the sound volume becoming weaker, and the station drifting in and out. If you are
listening to an FM station, you will see the stereo indicator flickering off
and on as the signal weakens.
Eventually, the stereo indicator will
go off and the sound will fade completely as you get out of range of
the station's signal.

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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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Owner Maintenance Checks
You should check the following items at the specified intervals. If
you are unsure of how to perform any check, turn to the page given. Engine oil level — Check every
time you fill the fuel tank. See page 123. Engine coolant level — Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
you fill the fuel tank. See page 124.
Windshield washer fluid — Check
the level in the reservoir monthly.If weather conditions cause you to
use the washers frequently, check
the reservoir each time you stop
for fuel. See page 182. Automatic transmission — Check
the fluid level monthly. See page
183.
Brakes — Check the fluid level
monthly. See page 185. Tires — Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread for
wear and foreign objects. See page
197.

Lights — Check the operation of
the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light,
turn signals, brake lights, and
license plate lights monthly. See

page 203.

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Lights

Check the following:
Headlights (low and high beam)
Parking lights Taillights
Brake lights
High-mount brake light
Turn signals
Back-up lights
Hazard light function
License plate light
Side marker lights
Daytime running lights
(Canadian models)
If you find any bulbs are burned out,

replace them as soon as possible.
Refer to the chart on page 255 to

determine what type of replacement

bulb is needed.

Maintenance TAILLIGHT/BRAKE LIGHT
HIGH-MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT

TAILLIGHT

BACK-UP LIGHT
LICENSE PLATE LIGHT
TURN SIGNAL
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Lights

Headlight Aiming
The headlights were properly aimed
when your vehicle was new. You should check their aim if you
regularly carry heavy items in the
trunk or pull a trailer. Each headlight
assembly has horizontal and vertical
adjustment indicators. These are set to their "0" positions after the
headlights are aimed at the factory.
To check these settings:
1. Make sure the fuel tank is full. Park the vehicle on level ground.
2. The driver or someone who weighs the same should be sitting
in the driver's seat for all checks
and adjustments.Load the trunk with the items you
normally carry. If you usually pull a trailer, load it as
you would normally and attach it to the vehicle. Push down on the frontand rear bumpers several times tomake sure the vehicle is sitting
normally.
3. Open the hood.
4. Check the horizontal angle gauge. The line on the adjustment screwindicator should line up with the"0" mark on the gauge. 5. Check the vertical angle gauge.
The bubble should be centeredunderneath the longest scribe
mark on the gauge.

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Maintenance
HORIZONTAL ANGLE GAUGE

BUBBLE

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