towing HONDA PRELUDE 2000 (in English) User Guide

Takin
g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

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 car towed. Compact Spare Tire....................... 236
Changing a Flat Tire ..................... 237
If Your Engine Won't Start........... 242
Nothing Happens or theStarter Motor OperatesVery Slowly............................. 243
The Starter Operates Normally................................. 244
Jump Starting................................. 244 If Your Engine Overheats............. 246Low Oil Pressure Indicator.......... 248
Charging System Indicator........... 249
Malfunction Indicator Lamp ........ 250
Brake System Indicator................ 251
Closing the Moonroof................... 252

Fuses...............................................253

Checking and Replacing........... 254
Emergency Towing....................... 258
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Emergency Towin g
If your car needs to be towed, call a
professional towing service or, if you belong to one, an organization that
provides roadside assistance. Never
tow your car behind another vehicle
with just a rope or chain. It is very
dangerous.
There are three popular methods of
towing a vehicle:
Flat-bed Equipment — The operator
loads your car on the back of a truck.
Thi s i s th e bes t wa y t o transpor t
you r Honda .
Wheel-Lift Equipment — The tow
truck uses two pivoting arms that go
under the tires (front or rear) and lift
them off the ground. The other two
tires remain on the ground. Thi s is
a n acceptabl e wa y t o to w you r
Honda .
Sling-type Equipment — The tow
truck uses metal cables with hooks
on the ends. These hooks go around
parts of the frame or suspension and
the cables lift that end of the car off
the ground. Your car's suspension and body can be seriously damaged.
Thi s metho d o f towin g is
unacceptable .
If your Honda cannot be transported
by flat-bed, it should be towed by
wheel-lift equipment with the front
wheels off the ground. If, due to damage, your car must be towed
with the front wheels on the ground, do the following:
5-speed Manual Transmission
Release the parking brake.
Shift the transmission to Neutral.
Automatic Transmission:
Release the parking brake.
Start the engine.
Shift to D4, then to N.
Turn off the engine.
Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Follow the
above procedure exactly If you cannot
shift the transmission or start theengine (automatic transmission), your
car must be transported with the frontwheels off the ground.
With the front wheels on the ground, it is best to tow the car no farther
than 50 miles (80 km), and keep thespeed below 35 mph (55 km/h).
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
NOTICE

Emergenc
y Towin g

If you decide to tow your car with all
four wheels on the ground, make sure you use a properly-designed and
attached tow bar. Prepare the car for
towing as described above, and leave the ignition switch in Accessory (I) so the steering wheel docs not lock.
Make sure the radio and any items
plugged into the accessory power socket are turned off so they do not
run down the battery.

The steering system can he damaged if

the steering wheel is locked. Leave the

ignition switch in Accessory (I), and
make sure the steering wheel turns

freely before you begin towing.
Trying to lift or tow your car by the
bumpers will cause serious damage. The bumpers are not designed to
support the car's weight.
Taking Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

NOTIC
E
NOTIC E

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x

Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels..................... 229
Carpeting.................................... 230
Exterior....................................... 228
Fabric.......................................... 230
Interior........................................ 230
Seat Belts.................................... 23
1

Vinyl............................................ 230
Windows..................................... 231

Clock, Settin
g the ............................ 90

Clutch Fluid.................................... 194
Coin Box........................................... 93
CO in the Exhaust......................... 270
Cold Weather, Starting in.............

141

Compact Spare............................... 236
Consumer Information*................
274
Controls, Instruments and.............. 51

Coolant
Adding......................................... 185

Checking.....................................

131

Proper Solution.......................... 185
Replacing.................................... 187
Temperatur
e Gauge.................... 59
Corrosion Protection..................... 232
Courtesy Lights............................... 95 Crankcase Emission Control

System.........................................270

Cruise Control Operation............... 67
Customer Relations Office........... 274
DANGER, Explanation of.................

ii

Dashboard........................................ 52
Daytime Running Lights................
. 62
Dead Battery, What to Do............ 244
Defects, Reporting Safety............. 278 Defog and Defrost......................... 104
Defogger, Rear Window................. 65
DEXRON ®
III Automatic
Transmission Fluid.................... 19

1

Dimensions..................................... 264
Dimming the Headlights................
62
Dipstick Automatic Transmission........... 19

1

Engine Oil...................................130
Directional Signals...........................
63
Disabled, Towing Your Car If...... 258
Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 153
Disposal of Used Oil...................... 184 Doors
Locking and Unlocking............... 7

4

Power Door Locks....................... 7
4

DOT Tire Quality Grading...........
266

Downshifting, 5-speed Manual
Transmission.............................. 14 2

Driv
e Belts...................................... 204

Driving............................................ 139

Economy..................................... 132
In Bad Weather.......................... 158
In Foreign Countries................. 269

Economy, Fuel............................... 132

Emergencies on the Road............. 235 Batteiy, Jump Starting.............. 244
Brake System Indicator............ 251Changing a Flat Tire................. 237
Charging System Indicator ...... 249
Checking the Fuses................... 254
Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 248
Malfunction Indicator Lamp .... 250
Manually Closing Moonroof .... 252

Overheated Engine................... 246

CONTINUED

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Emergency Brake............................ 89
Emergency Flashers....................... 65
Emergency Towing....................... 258
Emission Controls......................... 270
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge ..... 59

Malfunction Indicator
Lamp................................. 55, 250
Oil Pressure Indicator......... 55, 248
Oil, What Kind to Use............... 181
Overheating................................ 246

Specifications............................. 264

Ethanol in Gasoline ....................... 268
Evaporative Emission Controls.... 270
Exhaust Fumes................................ 49
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat Belts by......................................... 19
Exterior. Cleaning the................... 228
Fabric, Cleaning............................. 230

Fan, Interior...................................... 98

Features, Comfort and
Convenience.................................
97

Filling the Fuel Tank.....................
127

Filters
Air................................................ 195

Oil................................................ 183

First
Gear, Shifting........................ 150
5-speed Manual Transmission Checking Fluid Level................ 192

Shifting the................................. 142

Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 65

Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 237

Fluids Automatic Transmission........... 191
Brake........................................... 193

Clutch.......................................... 194

Manual Transmission............... 192

Power Steering........................... 194

Windshield Washer................... 190
FM Stereo Radio
Reception.................................... 110

Folding Rear Seat............................ 84
Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 269
Four-way Flashers........................... 65

Front End, Towing by
Emergency Wrecker................. 258

Fuel.................................................. 126
Fill Door and Cap....................... 127
Gauge............................................ 59
Octane Requirement................. 126

Oxygenated................................ 268

Reserve Indicator......................... 57

Tank, Filling the......................... 127

Fuses, Checking the...................... 254
Gas Mileage. Improving................ 132

Gasohol........................................... 268

Gasoline.......................................... 126
Fuel Reserve Indicator................ 57

Gauge............................................ 59

Octane Requirement................. 126

Tank, Filling the......................... 127

Gas Station Procedures................. 127

Gauges
Engine Coolant Temperature .... 59

Fuel................................................ 59

Gearshift Lever Positions Automatic Transmission........... 144
5-speed Manual Transmission.......................... 142
Glass Cleaning............................... 231
Glove Box......................................... 79

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Protecting Adults............................. 12 Additional Safety Precautions.... 19
Advice for Pregnant Women...... 19
Protecting Children......................... 21 Protecting Infants........................ 29
Protecting Larger Children........ 37
Protecting Small Children.......... 33
Using Child Seats with Tethers...................................... 40
Radiator Overheating.................... 246 Radio/CD Sound System.............. 106
Rear End Towing........................... 258
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement... 219

Rear Seat Access ............................. 81

Rear Seat, Folding........................... 84

Rear View Mirror............................. 88
Rear Window Defogger.................. 65
Reclining the Seat Backs................ 80
Recommended Shift Speeds ........ 143
Reminder Lights.............................. 53
Remote Transmitter........................ 75
Replacement Information Air Cleaner Element.................. 195
Coolant........................................ 187

Engine Oil and Filter................. 183

Fuses...........................................254

Light Bulbs................................. 214

Schedule..................................... 170

Spark Plugs................................. 196

Timing Belt................................. 204

Tires............................................ 208
Wiper Blades.............................. 200

Replacing Seat Belts After a
Crash.............................................44

Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant.... 131

Restraint, Child................................ 21

Reverse Gear Position................... 146

Rotation, Tire................................. 208

Safety Belts......................................... 8
Safety Features.................................. 7
Airbags............................................ 9Door Locks................................... 1
1

Head Restraints........................... 10
Seat Belts........................................
8
Seats & Seat-Backs...................... 10

Safety Labels, Location of.............. 50
Safety Messages................................

ii

Seat Belt, Additional Information..
4
2
Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 42
Seat Belt Maintenance................ 44
Seat Belt System Components... 42
Seat Belts............................................8
Cleaning...................................... 231
Maintenance................................. 44
Reminder Light and Beeper....... 54
System Components.................... 42
Tether Attachment Points.......... 40
Use During Pregnancy................ 19
Seat Heaters..................................... 83
Seats, Adjusting the......................... 80
Sequential SportShift Mode ......... 147
Serial Number................................ 262
Service Intervals............................ 172

Service Manual* ............................ 279
Service Station Procedures .......... 127
Setting the Clock............................. 90
Shifting The Automatic Transmission .. 144
The 5-speed Manual
Transmission.......................... 142
Shift Lever Position Indicator...... 144
CONTINUED

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Shift Lock Release......................... 151

Side Marker Lights, Bulb
Replacement in.......................... 217

Signaling Turns................................
63

Snow Tires...................................... 210

Solvent-type Cleaners....................
228

Sound System................................. 106

Spare Tire Inflating....................................... 236

Specifications............................. 265

Spark Plugs, Replacing................. 196

Specifications Charts ...........

264, 265

Speed Control................................... 67

Speedometer....................................
58

SRS, Additional Information........... 45 Additional Safety Precautions.... 48How the SRS Indicator Light
Works........................................ 47

HowYour Airbags Work............ 45

SRS Components......................... 45

SRS Service................................... 4

7

SRS Indicator.............................. 47, 55
START
(Ignition Key Position)..... 73

Starting the Engine........................ 141

In Cold Weather at HighAltitude................................... 141 With a Dead Battery................. 244
Steam Coming from Engine......... 246
Steering Wheel Adjustment................................... 66

Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 73

Stereo Sound System.................... 106

Storing Your Car............................ 225
Supplemental Restraint System..... 45
Servicing....................................... 47

SRS Indicator......................... 47, 55

Synthetic Oil................................... 182

Tachometer...................................... 58

Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 219
Taking Care of the
Unexpected................................ 235

Tape Player..................................... 119

Technical Descriptions

Emission Control Systems........ 270

Three Way Catalytic
Converter................................ 272
Temperature Gauge........................ 59

Tether Attachment Points.............. 40

Three Way Catalytic Converter... 272
Time, Setting the............................. 90

Timing Belt..................................... 204

Tire Chains..................................... 210
Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 237
Tires................................................ 205
Air Pressure............................... 205Checking Wear.......................... 206

Compact Spare........................... 236

DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 266
Inflation....................................... 205

Inspection................................... 206

Maintenance............................... 207

Replacing.................................... 208
Rotating....................................... 208

Snow............................................ 210

Specifications............................. 265

Tire Chains................................. 210
Winter Driving........................... 209

Tools,Tire Changing.................... 237

Towing
ATrailer...................................... 160

Emergency................................. 258

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Transmission Checking Fluid Level,Automatic...............................
191

Checking Fluid Level, Manual.................................... 192

Flui
d Selection............................ 191

Identification Number............... 262
Shifting the Automatic.............. 144
Shifting the Manual................... 142
Treadwear...................................... 266

Trip Meter........................................ 58

Trunk................................................. 78
Opening the.................................. 78

Open Monitor Light.................... 57

Turn Signals..................................... 63
Underside, Cleaning...................... 232
Unexpected, Taking Care
of the........................................... 235

Uniform Tire Quality Grading..... 266

Unleaded Gasoline......................... 126

Upholstery Cleaning...................... 230
Used Oil, How to Dispose of........ 184 Vehicle Capacity Load .................. 136
Vehicle Dimensions....................... 264
Vehicle Identification Number..... 262 Vehicle Storage.............................. 225
Ventilation...................................... 100

VTN.................................................. 262

Vinyl Cleaning................................ 230
Viscosity, Oil................................... 182
Warning Beepers Headlights on............................... 62

Key in Ignition.............................. 73

Seat Belts........................................ 8

WARNING, Explanation of..............

ii

Warning Labels, Location of.......... 5
0

Warranty Coverages*................... 277
Washer, Windshield Checking the Fluid Level......... 190
Operation...................................... 65
Washing.......................................... 228
Waxing and Polishing................... 229 Wheels

Adjusting the Steering................ 66

Alignment and Balance............. 207
Compact Spare........................... 236

Wrench....................................... 238
Windows Cleaning...................................... 231
Operating the Power................... 85
Rear, Defogger............................ 65

Windshield
Cleaning........................................ 64
Defroster................................... 104
Wipers, Windshield Changing Blades........................ 200

Operation...................................... 64

Worn Tires..................................... 206
Wrecker, Emergency Towing...... 258
* U.S. and Canada only