catalytic converter HONDA PRELUDE 2000 Owner's Manual (in English)

Parkin
g

Always use the parking brake when you park your car. The indicator onthe instrument panel shows that the
parking brake is not fully released; itdoes not indicate that the parking
brake is firmly set. Make sure the
parking brake is set firmly or your car may roll if it is parked on an

incline.

If your car has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake
before you put the transmission in Park. This keeps the car 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 car is facing uphill, turn the
front wheels away from the curb. If
you have a manual transmission, put it in first gear.
If the car 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. Parkin
g Tip s
• 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 with the key or the
remote transmitter. 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.

Drivin g

Technica
l Informatio n

The diagrams in this section give you the dimensions and capacities ofyour Honda, and the locations of theidentification numbers. The expla-
nations of several electronic and
mechanical systems on your Honda are for the more technically-oriented
owner. Identification Numbers................. 262
Specifications................................. 264
DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 266 Treadwear.................................. 266
Traction....................................... 266
Temperature.............................. 26
7

Oxygenated Fuels.......................... 268
Driving i
n Foreign Countries....... 269
Emissions Controls........................ 270 The Clean Air Act...................... 270Crankcase Emissions Control System..................................... 270
Evaporative Emissions Control
System.....................................270

Exhaust Emissions Controls.... 271 PGM-FI System..................... 271
Ignition Timing Control
System.................................271

Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) System.................... 271
Three Way Catalytic Converter............................ 271
Replacement Parts..................... 271
Three Way Catalytic Converter... 272

Technical Informatio n

If you are planning to take your
Honda outside the U.S. or Canada,
contact the tourist bureaus in the areas you will be traveling in to find
out about the availability of unleaded
gasoline with the proper octane
rating.

If unleaded gasoline is not available,
be aware that using leaded gasoline in your Honda will affect perfor-
mance and fuel mileage, and damage
its emissions controls. It will no longer comply with U.S. and
Canadian emissions regulations, and
will be illegal to operate in North
America. To bring your car back into compliance will require the replace-
ment of several components, such as
the oxygen sensors and the three
way catalytic converter. These re- placements are not covered under
warranty.
Drivin
g in Foreig n Countrie s

Technica l Informatio n

Emission
s Control s

Exhaus t Emission s Control s
The exhaust emissions controls include four systems: PGM-FI,
Ignition Timing Control, Exhaust
Gas Recirculation and Three WayCatalytic Converter. These four
systems work together to control the
engine's combustion and minimize
the amount of HC, CO, and NOx that comes out the tailpipe. The exhaustemissions control systems are
separate from the crankcase and
evaporative emissions control

systems.

PGM-FI System
The PGM-FI System uses sequential multiport fuel injection.It has three subsystems: Air Intake,
Engine Control, and Fuel Control.
The Engine Control Module (ECM) uses various sensors to determine
how much air is going into the engine. It then controls how much
fuel to inject under all operating conditions. Ignition Timing Control System
This system constantly adjusts the ignition timing, reducing the amount
of HC, CO and NOx produced.
Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR)
System

The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system takes some of the
exhaust gas and routes it back into
the intake manifold. Adding exhaust
gas to the air/fuel mixture reduces the amount of NOx produced when
the fuel is burned.
Three Way Catalytic Converter
The three way catalytic converter is in the exhaust system. Throughchemical reactions, it converts HC,
CO, and NOx in the engine's exhaust
to carbon dioxide (CO 2), dinitrogen
(N 2), and water vapor. Replacemen
t Part s
The emissions control systems are designed and certified to work to-
gether in reducing emissions to
levels that comply with the Clean Air
Act. To make sure the emissions remain low, you should use only newGenuine Honda replacement parts or
their equivalent for repairs. Using
lower quality parts may increase the emissions from your car.
The emissions control systems are covered by warranties separate from
the rest of your car. Read your
warranty manual for more informa- tion.

Technical Informatio n

Thre
e Wa y Catalyti c Converte r
The three way catalytic converter contains precious metals that serve
as catalysts, promoting chemical
reactions to convert the exhaust
gasses without affecting the metals.
The catalytic converter is referred to as a three-way catalyst, since it acts
on HC, CO, and NOx. A replacement
unit must be an original Honda part
or its equivalent.
The three way catalytic converter must operate at a high temperature
for the chemical reactions to take
place. It can set on fire any com-
bustible materials that come near it. Park your car away from high grass,
dry leaves, or other flammables. A defective three way catalytic
converter contributes to air pollution,
and can impair your engine's per-
formance. Follow these guidelines to protect your car's three way catalyticconverter. Always use unleaded gasoline.
Even a small amount of leaded
gasoline can contaminate the catalyst metals, making the three
way catalytic converter ineffective. Keep the engine tuned-up.
Have your car diagnosed and

repaired if it is misfiring, back-

firing, stalling, or otherwise not
running properly.

Technica l Informatio n THRE
E WA Y CATALYTI C CONVERTE R

Inde
x

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