roof 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

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

MOONROOFProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Moonroof

Use the switch on the dashboard to
open and close the moonroof. The
ignition must be ON (II). Push and hold the switch to open the
moonroof. Release the switch when
the moonroof reaches the desired
position. To close the moonroof, press and hold the switch. The moonroof has a key-off delay.
You can still open and close the
moonroof for up to ten minutes after
you turn off the ignition. The key-off delay cancels as soon as you open
either door. You must then turn the
ignition ON (II) for the moonroof to
operate.
If you try to open the moonroof in
below-freezing temperatures, or whenit is covered with snow or ice, you can
damage the moonroof panel or motor.

Instruments and Controls MOONROOF SWITCH

NOTICE

Closing the moonroof on
someone's hands or fingers can
cause serious injury.
Make sure passengers are
clear of the moonroof before
closing it.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Before Driving

Before you begin driving your Honda,
you should know what gasoline to use, and how to check the levels of
important fluids. You also need to
know how to properly store luggage or packages. The information in this
section will help you. If you plan to
add any accessories to your vehicle,
please read the information in this section first. Break-in Period.............................. 120
Gasoline.......................................... 120
Service Station Procedures .......... 121 Filling the Fuel Tank................. 121
Opening the Hood..................... 122 Oil Check................................ 123
Engine Coolant Check.......... 124
Fuel Economy................................ 125
Vehicle Condition...................... 125Driving Habits............................ 125
Accessories and Modifications.... 126 Accessories................................. 126
Modifications............................. 127
Additional Safety Precaution.... 127
Carrying Cargo.............................. 128 Load Limit.................................. 129Carrying Items in the Passenger Compartment......................... 129
Carrying Cargo in the Trunk or on a Roof Rack....................... 130

Before DrivingProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Carrying Cargo

Carrying Cargo in the Trunk or on
a Roof Rack Distribute cargo evenly on the
floor of the trunk, placing the
heaviest items on the bottom and as far forward as possible. If you fold down the back seat, tie
down items that could be thrown
about the vehicle during a crash or
sudden stop.
If you carry large items that
prevent you from closing the trunk, exhaust gas can enter the
passenger area. To avoid the
possibility of carbon monoxide
poisoning, follow the instructionson page 47. If you can carry any items on a
roof rack, be sure the total weight of the rack and the items does not
exceed the maximum allowable
weight. Please contact your Honda dealer for further information.

Before DrivingProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Parking

Always use the parking brake when
you park your vehicle. The indicator on the instrument panel shows that
the parking brake is not fully
released; it does not indicate that the
parking brake is firmly set. Make sure the parking brake is set firmly
or your vehicle may roll if it is
parked on an incline.
If your vehicle has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake
before you put the transmission in Park. This keeps the vehicle from
moving and putting pressure on the
parking mechanism in the
transmission — making it easier to move the shift lever out of Park
when you want to drive away. If the vehicle is facing uphill, turn
the front wheels away from the curb. If you have a manual transmission,
put it in first gear.
If the vehicle is facing downhill, turn
the front wheels toward the curb. If
you have a manual transmission, put it in reverse gear.
Make sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving away. Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes. Parking Tips
Make sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.
Turn off the lights. Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the trunk or take them with you.
Lock the doors.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other flammable
materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on

fire.

DrivingProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Maintenance Schedule

Your authorized Honda dealer knows your vehicle best and can
provide competent, efficient service.However, service at a dealer is not
mandatory to keep your warranties
in effect. Maintenance may be done
by any qualified service facility or
person who is skilled in this type of automotive service. Keep all the
receipts as proof of completion, and
have the person who does the work
fill out the Maintenance Record. Check your warranty booklet for
more information. We recommend the use of Genuine
Honda parts and fluids whenever you
have maintenance done. These are
manufactured to the same high-quality standards as the original
components, so you can be confident of their performance and durability.
U.S. Vehicles:
Maintenance, replacement or
repair of emission control devices
and systems may be done by any
automotive repair establishment or individual using parts that are
"certified" to EPA standards. According to state and federal
regulations, failure to performmaintenance on the items marked
with # will not void your emissions
warranties. However, Honda recommends that all maintenanceservices be performed at the
recommended time or mileage
period to ensure long-term reliability.

MaintenanceProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Maintenance Schedule (Severe Conditions)

# : See maintenance and emissions warranty information, last column, page 163 . Follow the Severe Maintenance
Schedule if you drive your
vehicle MAINLY under one or
more of the following condi-

tions:

Driving less than 5 miles (8
km) per trip or, in freezing
temperatures, driving less than 10 miles (16 km) per trip. Driving in extremely hot
[over90°F (32°C)] conditions. Extensive idling or long
periods of stop-and-go driving.
Trailer towing, driving with a
roof rack carrier, or driving inmountainous conditions. Driving on muddy, dusty, or
de-iced roads.

* 1: Refer to page 196 for replacement

information under special driving
conditions.
For Canadian Owners

Follow the Maintenance
Schedule for Severe Conditions.

Maintenance
ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Maintenance Schedule for Severe Conditions (listed by distance/time)

Use this schedule if your vehicle is MAINLY driven in any of the following Severe Conditions, or normally driven in Canada; otherwise use the Normal
Schedule. Service at the indicated distance or time, whichever comes first. Do the items in A, B, C as required for each distance/time.
Severe Conditions:

• Driving less than 5 mi (8 km) per trip or, in freezing temperatures, driving less than 10 mi (16 km) per trip.
• Driving in extremely hot (over 90°F/32°C) conditions.
• Extensive idling or long periods of stop-and-go driving.
• Trailer towing, driving with a roof rack carrier, or driving in mountainous conditions.
• Driving on muddy, dusty, or de-iced roads.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

#: See maintenance and emissions warranty information, last
column, page 163.
page 200).ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Lights

Replacing Bulbs in the Interior Courtesy Lights
The courtesy lights in the doors and roof come apart the same way. Theydo not all use the same bulb.
The spotlight bulbs are in the ceiling light housing.
1. Remove the lens by carefully prying on the edge of the lens witha fingernail file or a small flat-tip
screwdriver. Do not pry on the
edge of the housing around the

lens.

Ceiling light:Pry on the front edge of the
lens in the middle.

On Type SH
Door light: Pry on the top middle of the

lens.
2. Remove the bulb by pulling it
straight out of its metal tabs.
3. Push the new bulb into the metal tabs. Snap the lens back in place.

Maintenance

DOOR LIGHT
CEILING LIGHTProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t