jump start HONDA PRELUDE 1998 Owners Manual

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

Taking Care of the UnexpectedProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

If Your Engine Won't Start

Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
When you turn the ignition switch to START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying tostart. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all. Check these things: Your vehicle has the Immobilizer
System. You should use a
properly-coded master or valet key
to start the engine (see page 69).
A key that is not properly coded will cause the immobilizer systemindicator in the dash panel to blinkrapidly. Check the transmission interlock.
If you have a manual transmission,
the clutch pedal must be pushed all the way to the floor or the
starter will not operate. With an
automatic transmission, it must be
in Park or Neutral. Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Turn on the headlights and check
their brightness. If the headlightsare very dim or don't light at all,
the battery is discharged. See

Jump Starting on page 236.
Turn the ignition switch to START
(III). If the headlights do not dim,
check the condition of the fuses. If
the fuses are OK, there is proba-
bly something wrong with the electrical circuit for the ignitionswitch or starter motor. You will
need a qualified technician to
determine the problem. (See
Towing on page 250.) If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is dis-
charged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal connec- tions (see page 190). You can
then try jump starting the vehicle
from a booster battery (see page
236).

Taking Care of the UnexpectedProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

If Your Engine Won't Start, Jump Starting

The Starter Operates Normally In this case, the starter motor'sspeed sounds normal, or even faster
than normal, when you turn the
ignition switch to START (III), but
the engine does not run. Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Refer to Starting the
Engine on page 133.
Do you have fuel? Turn the
ignition switch to ON (II) for a
minute and watch the fuel gauge.
The low fuel level warning light
may not be working, so you were
not reminded to fill the tank.
There may be an electrical
problem, such as no power to the
fuel pump. Check all the fuses

(see page 245).

If you find nothing wrong, you will

need a qualified technician to find

the problem. See Towing on page
250. Jump Starting
If your vehicle's battery has rundown, you may be able to start the
engine by using a booster battery.
Although this seems like a simple procedure, you should take several

precautions.

You cannot start a Honda with an automatic transmission by pushing
or pulling it. To jump start your vehicle, follow
these directions closely:
1. Open the hood and check the physical condition of the battery(see page 190). In very cold
weather, check the condition of
the electrolyte. If it seems slushy or like ice, do not try jump starting
until it thaws.

If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can freeze.

Attempting to jump start with a frozen
battery can cause it to rupture.

2. Turn off all the electrical acces- sories: heater, A/C, stereo system,
lights, etc.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park and set the parking brake.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
NOTICE

A battery can explode if you do

not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyone nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,

and smoking materials away

from the battery.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Jump Starting

3. Connect one jumper cable to the positive ( + ) terminal on the
booster battery. Connect the other
end to the positive ( + ) terminal
on your Honda's battery. 4. Connect the second jumper cable
to the negative (—) terminal on
the booster battery. Connect theother end to the grounding strap
as shown. Do not connect this
jumper cable to any other part of
the engine.
5. If the booster battery is in another vehicle, have an assistant startthat vehicle and run it at a fast idle.
BOOSTER BATTERY

6. Start your vehicle. If the starter motor still operates slowly, check
the jumper cable connections to make sure they have good metal-
to-metal contact.
7. Once your vehicle is running, disconnect the negative cable from
yourvehicle, then from the booster battery. Disconnect the
positive cable from your vehicle,
then the booster battery.

Taking Care of the UnexpectedProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Index

Battery Charging SystemIndicator............................ 53, 241
Jump Starting............................. 236 Maintenance............................... 190
Specifications............................. 255
Before Driving............................... 119
Belts, Seat........................................... 4
Beverage Holder.............................. 86
Body Repair.................................... 225

Brakes
Anti-lock System (ABS)............ 146
Break-in, New Linings .............. 120

Fluid............................................ 185
Light, Burned-out...................... 211

Parking.......................................... 84

System Indicator.......................... 53
Wear Indicators......................... 145
Brakes, ABS Operation.................................... 146
System Indicator................. 54, 148
Braking System.............................. 145
Break-in, New Car......................... 120
Brightness Control, Instruments... 61 Brights, Headlights......................... 60
Bulb Replacement
Back-up Lights........................... 211
Brake Lights............................... 211
Ceiling Lights............................. 215Courtesy Lights......................... 215
Front Parking Lights................. 208
Front Side Marker Lights......... 209
Headlights.................................. 206
High-mount Brake Light.......... 213
License Plate Light.................... 214
Rear Side Marker Lights.......... 211
Specifications............................. 255
Trunk Light................................ 216 Turn Signal Lights..................... 210
Bulbs, Halogen............................... 206
Cables, Jump Starting With.......... 236
Capacities Chart............................. 254

Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 47
Cargo, Loading...............................
128

Cassette Playe r

Care.............................................
116

Operation....................................

113

CAUTION, Explanatio n
of...............

ii

CD Changer...................................
.
109
CD Player........................................ 109

Certification Label......................... 252

Chains............................................. 202

Change Oil How to.........................................175

When to....................................... 164

Changing a Flat Tire ..................... 229
Changing Engine Coolant............. 179
Charging System Indicator .... 53, 241 Checking Automatic Transmission

Fluid........................................ 183

Battery Condition...................... 190

Brake Fluid................................. 185
Clutch Fluid................................186
Drive Belts.................................. 196
Engine Coolant........................... 124

Engine Oil................................... 123

Fuses........................................... 246
Manual Transmission Fluid ..... 184
Power Steering Fluid................. 186
Checklist, Before Driving............. 132
Child Safety......................................19
Cleaner, Air.................................... 187ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Index

Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels..................... 221Carpeting.................................... 222
Exterior....................................... 220
Fabric.......................................... 222
Interior........................................ 222
Seat Belts....................................223
Vinyl............................................ 222
Windows..................................... 223
Clock, Setting the ............................ 85
Clutch Fluid.................................... 186
Coin Box........................................... 88
CO in the Exhaust......................... 261
Cold Weather, Starting in............. 133
Compact Spare............................... 228
Consumer Information*................ 266
Controls, Instruments and.............. 49
Coolant
Adding......................................... 177
Checking..................................... 124

Proper Solution.......................... 177

Replacing.................................... 179

Temperature Gauge.................... 57
Corrosion Protection..................... 224

Courtesy Lights............................... 90
Crankcase Emission Control

System......................................... 261

Cruise Control Operation............... 65

Customer Relations Office........... 266

DANGER, Explanation of................. ii
Dashboard........................................ 50
Daytime Running Lights................. 60
Dead Battery, What to Do............ 236
Defects, Reporting Safety............. 270
Defog and Defrost........................... 98
Defogger, Rear Window................. 63
DEXRON ®
III Automatic
Transmission Fluid.................... 183
Dimensions..................................... 254
Dimming the Headlights ................ 60
Dipstick Automatic Transmission........... 183
Engine Oil................................... 123
Directional Signals........................... 61
Disabled, Towing Your Car If...... 250
Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 145
Disposal of Used Oil...................... 176 Doors
Locking and Unlocking............... 72
Power Door Locks....................... 72
DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 257
Downshifting, 5-speed Manual Transmission.............................. 134
Drive Belts...................................... 190
Driving............................................ 131
Economy..................................... 125
In Bad Weather.......................... 150
In Foreign Countries................. 260
Economy, Fuel............................... 125
Emergencies on the Road............. 227 Battery, Jump Starting.............. 236
Brake System Indicator............ 243Changing a Flat Tire................. 229
Charging System Indicator ...... 241
Checking the Fuses................... 245
Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 240
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.... 242
Manually Closing Moonroof.... 243
Overheated Engine................... 238 CONTINUEDProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Index

Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 206
Hazard Warning Flashers............... 63

Headlights
Aiming......................................... 205

Daytime Running Lights............. 60
High Beam Indicator................... 60
High Beams, Turning on............ 60
Low Beams, Turning on ............. 60
Reminder Chime.......................... 60
Replacing Halogen Bulbs ......... 206

Turning on.................................... 60

Head Restraints............................... 77
Heating and Cooling........................ 92
High Altitude, Starting at.............. 133
High-Low Beam Switch .................. 60
High-mount Brake Light............... 213

Hood, Opening the ........................ 122

Horn................................................... 59

Hot Coolant, Warning About........ 177
Hydraulic Clutch............................ 186
Hydroplaning.................................. 151 Identification Number, Vehicle.... 252
If Your Car Has to be Towed....... 250
Ignition Keys............................................... 68
Switch............................................ 70
Timing Control System............. 262
Immobilizer System......................... 69
Indicator Lights, Instrument Panel.............................................. 51
Infant Restraint................................ 19 Inflation, Proper Tire ....................
197

High Speed
Driving................... 257
Normal Driving.......................... 198
Inside Mirror.................................... 83
Inspection, Tire.............................. 198
Instrument Panel............................. 50
Instrument Panel Brightness......... 61
Interior Cleaning............................ 222
Interior Lights.................................. 89
Introduction.........................................

i

Jacking up
the Car......................... 231
Jack, Tire........................................ 230

Jump Starting................................. 236

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

Label, Certification........................ 252
Lane Change, Signaling.................. 61
Lap/Shoulder Belts......................... 40Leaking of Exhaust into Car.......... 47
Learning Key.................................... 69
Lights Bulb Replacement..................... 206
Indicator........................................ 51

Parking.......................................... 60

Turn Signal................................... 61
Loading Cargo................................ 128
LOCK (Ignition Key Position)....... 71
CONTINUEDProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t