engine HONDA PRELUDE 2000 Owner's Manual (in English)

2000 Prelude Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com.
Contents

Owner's Identification Form
Introduction ........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safet y........................................................................\
.........................................ii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
............................................ .2
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
......................................5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Controls........................................................................\
........................................ .51
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
........................ 97
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................125
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... .139
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................167
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take yo ur vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Care........................................................................\
..................................................... .227
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
..............................235
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, a nd how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
............................................ .261
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................273
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................279
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index........................................................................\
........................................................................\
...... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

Protectin
g Adult s

7 . Maintai n a Prope r Sittin g
Positio n
After all occupants have adjusted their seats and put on seat belts, it is
very
important that they continu
e to
sit upright, well back in their seats,
with their feet on the floor, until the car is parked and the engine is off.
Sitting improperly can increase the chance of injury during a crash. For
example, if an occupant slouches,
lies down, turns sideways, sits
forward, leans forward or sideways, or puts one or both feet up, the
chance of injury during a crash is
greatly increased. In addition, an occupant who is out of
position in the front seat can be
seriously or fatally injured by
striking interior parts of the car, or
by being struck by an inflating airbag.
Remember, to get the best
protection from your car's airbagsand other safety features, you must
sit properly and wear your seat belt
properly.
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y
Sitting improperly or out of
position can result in seriousinjury or death in a crash.
Always sit upright, well back in
the seat, with your feet on the

floor.

Additional Informatio n Abou t You r SR S

Ho w th e SR S Indicato r
Ligh
t
Work s
The purpose of the SRSlight is to alert you to a
potential problem with your Supplemental Restraint System.
When you turn the ignition ON (II), this indicator will light up briefly
then go out. This tells you that the system is working properly.
However, if the light comes on at any
other time, you should have the system checked by your dealer. For

example:
If the SRS indicator light does not
come on after

you
turn the ignition
ON

(II).
If the light
stays on after the
engine starts. If the light comes on or flashes on
and off while you drive.
If you see any of these indications,
your airbags may not deploy when
you need them. See your Honda dealer as soon as possible. SR
S Servic e
Your Supplemental Restraint System is virtually maintenance-free, and
there are no parts you can safely service. However, you must have
your car serviced if:
Your airbags ever inflate. The

airbags and the control unit must
be replaced. Do not try to remove or replace the airbags yourself.
This must be done by a Honda dealer or a knowledgeable body

shop.
The SRS indicator light alerts you

to a problem. Take your car to an
authorized Honda dealer as soon
as possible. If you ignore this
indication, the airbags might not
inflate when you need them (see
page 45).
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

SRS

Ignoring the SRS indicator light
can result in serious injury or
death if the airbags do not inflate when needed.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS light alerts you to a potential problem.

Carbo
n Monoxid e Hazar d

Your car's exhaust contains carbon monoxide gas. You should have no
problem with carbon monoxide entering the car in normal driving if
you maintain your car properly. Have the exhaust system inspected
for leaks whenever:
The car is raised for an oil change. You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust.
The car was in an accident that may have damaged the underside.

High levels of carbon monoxide can
collect rapidly in enclosed areas,
such as a garage. Do not run the
engine with the garage door closed.
Even with the door open, run the engine only long enough to move the
vehicle out of the garage. With the trunk lid open, air flow can
pull exhaust gas into your car's
interior and create a hazardouscondition. If you must drive with the
trunk lid open, open all the windows and set the heating and coolingsystem as shown below.
If you must sit in your parked car, even in an unconfined area, with the
engine running, adjust the heating and cooling system as follows:
1. Select the Fresh Air mode. 2. Select the mode.
3. Turn the fan on high speed.
4. Set the temperature control to a
comfortable setting.
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and even kill
you.
Avoid any enclosed areas or
activities that expose you to
carbon monoxide.

Indicator Light s
Supplementa l Restrain t
System Indicato r
This indicator lights when you turn
the ignition switch ON (II). If it
comes on at any other time, it
indicates a problem in thesupplemental restraint system. For
complete information, see page 47.
Immobilize r Syste m
Indicato r
This indicator comes on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition
switch ON (II). It will then go off if
you have inserted a properly-coded ignition key. If it is not a properly-
coded key, the indicator will blinkand the engine will not start (see
page 71).
This indicator also blinks several times when you turn the ignitionswitch from ON (II) to ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0). Chargin
g Syste m
Indicato r
If this light comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged. For complete
information, see page 249.
Lo w Oi l Pressur e
Indicato r
The engine can be severely damaged
if this light flashes or stays on when
the engine is running. For complete
information, see page 248.
Malfunctio n Indicato r
Lam p
See page 250.
Cruis e Contro l Indicato r
This lights when you set the cruise
control. See page 67 for information
on operating the cruise control.
Parkin g Brak e
an d Brak e
System
Indicato r
This light has two functions:
1. It lights as a reminder that you have not released the parking
brake. Driving with the parking
brake applied can damage thebrakes and tires.
2. If it remains lit after you release the parking brake while the engine
is running, or comes on while driving, it can indicate a problemin the brake system. For complete
information, see page 251.
Instrument s an d Control s
SRS
CRUISE
CONTRO L
U.S. Canad a
BRAKE

Gauges

TACHOMETER
SPEEDOMETE R
FUEL GAUG E

TEMPERATUR E
GAUG E
ODOMETE
R
MAINTENANC E

REQUIRE D INDICATO R
TRI
P METE R
RESE T BUTTO N

Speedomete r

U.S. Models

This shows your speed in miles per hour (mph). The smaller inner
numbers are the speed in kilometers
per hour (km/h).

Canadian Models

This shows your speed in kilometers per hour (km/h). The smaller inner
numbers are the speed in miles per
hour (mph). Tachomete
r
The tachometer shows the engine speed in revolutions per minute (rpm). To protect the engine from
damage, never drive with the
tachometer needle in the red zone. Odomete
r
The odometer shows the total dis- tance your car has been driven. Itmeasures miles in U.S. models and
kilometers in Canadian models. It is illegal under U.S. federal law andCanadian provincial regulations to
disconnect, reset, or alter the
odometer with the intent to change
the number of miles or kilometers
indicated.

Tri p Mete r

This meter shows the number of miles (U.S.) or kilometers (Canada)
driven since you last reset it. To
reset it, push the trip meter reset
button.

Instrument s an d Control s
TRI
P METE R

Gauges

Fue l Gaug e
This shows how much fuel you have. It is most accurate when the car is on
level ground. It may show slightly more or less than the actual amount
when you are driving on curvy or hilly roads. The gauge stays at the same fuel
level reading after you turn off theignition. When you add fuel, the
gauge slowly changes to the new
reading after you turn the ignition switch back ON (II). Temperatur
e Gaug e
This shows the temperature of the engine's coolant. During normal
operation, the pointer should rise
from the bottom white mark to about the middle of the gauge. In severedriving conditions, such as very hot
weather or a long period of uphill driving, the pointer may rise to near
the upper white mark. If it reaches
the red (Hot) mark, pull safely to the side of the road. Turn to page 246 for
instructions and precautions on
checking the engine's cooling
system.

Instrument s an d Control s

FUE
L GAUG E
TRI
P METE R
SPEEDOMETE
R
TACHOMETE R
TEMPERATUR E
GAUG E MAINTENANC
E
REQUIRE D INDICATO R
ODOMETE
R TRIP METE R
RESE T BUTTO N

Key
s an d Locks

Key s

Your car comes with two master keys and a vale
t key.
Th
e master key fits all the locks on
your vehicle:
Ignition

Doors

Trunk
Trunk release handle Rear seat trunk access

Glove box
The valet key works only in the
ignition and the door locks. You cankeep the trunk, trunk release handle,
rear seat trunk access and the glove
box locked when you leave your car and the valet key at a parking facility.
You should have received a key number plate with your keys. You
will need this key number if you ever have to get a lost key replaced. Keep
the plate stored in a safe place. If you
need to replace a key, use only
Honda-approved key blanks.
These keys contain electronic circuits that are activated by theImmobilizer System. They will not
work to start the engine if the circuits are damaged. Protect the keys from direct
sunlight, high temperature, and
high humidity. Do not drop the keys or set heavy
objects on them. Keep the keys away from liquids.
If they get wet, dry them immedi-
ately with a soft cloth.
The keys do not contain batteries. Do not try to take them apart.
Instrument s an d Control s
MASTE
R KEY S
(Black ) VALE
T KE Y (Gray )
KE Y NUMBE R PLAT E

Key
s an d Lock s

Learning Key

You should also receive a small case containing a learning key. It is used
by the Honda dealer to code replace-
ment keys to your car's Immobilizer
System. It must not be used in your
car's ignition switch. Store the learn- ing key with the key number plate in
a safe place. If you attempt to use the learning
key to start your car's engine, it may
cause a malfunction in the system that makes your master and valet
keys unusable. If this happens, you should contact your Honda dealer.
If you need a new key made, take the
key number plate, the learning key, and all other keys that came with
your car to your Honda dealer.

Remote Transmitter

Your car also comes with two remote transmitters; see page 75 for an
explanation of the operation. Immobilize
r Syste m
The Immobilizer System protects your car from theft. A properly-coded ignition key must be used in
the ignition switch for the engine tostart. If an improperly-coded key (or
other device) is used, the engine's
fuel system is disabled.
When you turn the ignition switch to ON (II). the Immobilizer System
indicator should come on for a few
seconds, then go out. If the indicator
starts to blink, it means the system
does not recognize the coding of the
key. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK (0), remove the key, reinsert
it, and turn the switch to ON (II)

again.

CONTINUED

Instrument s an d Control s

Key
s an d Lock s

This indicator will also blink several times when you turn the ignitionswitch from ON (II) to ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0).
The system may not recognize your key's coding if another immobilizer
key or other metal object is near the
ignition switch when you insert the
key. To make sure the system
recognizes the key code:
Do not keep other immobilizer
keys on the same key ring. Use a plastic or leather key fob,
not metal.
Keep other keys away from your
vehicle's key and the ignition switch while trying to start the
engine. If the system repeatedly does not
recognize the coding of your key,
contact your Honda dealer.
Do not attempt to alter this system
or add other devices to it. Electrical
problems could result that may make
your car undriveable.
If you have lost your key and you
cannot start the engine, contact your
Honda dealer. As required by the FCC:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) This device
way not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation.
Changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's
authority to operate the equipment.
This device complies with Industry

Canada Standard RSS-210.

Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) this device may not cause
interference, and (2) this device must
accept any interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.
Instrument s an d Control s