sport mode HONDA PRELUDE 2000 Owner's Manual (in English)

Protecting Childre n
Childre n Shoul d Si t i n th e Bac k
Sea t
According to accident statistics, children of all ages and sizes aresafer when they are restrained in the
back seat, not the front seat. The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport Canada recommend that all children
ages 12 and under be properly
restrained in the back seat. In the back seat, children are less
likely to be injured by striking hard
interior parts during a collision or
hard braking. Also, children cannot
be injured by an inflating airbag
when they ride in the back. Th
e Passenger' s Airba g Pose s
Seriou s Risk s t o Childre n
Airbags have been designed to help protect adults in a moderate tosevere frontal collision. To do this,
the passenger's airbag is quite large, and it inflates with tremendous
speed.
Infants
Never put a rear-facing child seat in
the front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger's airbag. If the
airbag inflates, it can hit the back of
the child seat with enough force to
kill or very seriously injure an infant.
Small Children
Placing a forward-facing child seat in the front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger's airbag can be
hazardous. If the vehicle seat is too
far forward, or the child's head is
thrown forward during a collision, an inflating airbag can strike the child
with enough force to kill or very seriously injure a small child.
Larger Children
Children who have outgrown child
seats are also at risk of being injured
or killed by an inflating passenger's
airbag. Whenever possible, larger
children should sit in the back seat,
properly restrained with a seat belt.
(See page 37 for important
information about protecting largerchildren.)
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Automati
c Transmissio n

Your Honda's transmission has four forward speeds, and is electronicallycontrolled for smoother shifting. It
also has a "lock-up" torque converter
for better fuel economy. You may
feel what seems like another shift
when the converter locks. Shif
t Leve r Positio n Indicato r
x1000r/mi n
This indicator in the tachometer shows which position the shift lever
is in. The illuminated number next to
the "D4" indicator shows you the
gear you have selected in the
Sequential SportShift mode. The "D4" indicator comes on for a
few seconds when you turn theignition switch ON (II). If it flashes
while driving (in any shift position), it indicates a possible problem in the
transmission. Avoid rapid acceler- ation and have the transmission
checked by an authorized Hondadealer as soon as possible.

Drivin g

Automati
c Transmissio n

Shif t Leve r Position s
SHIF T LEVE R
The shift lever has eight positions. It must be in Park or Neutral to start
the engine. When you are stopped in
D4, D3, 2,1, N, R, or the Sequential
SportShift mode, press firmly on the
brake pedal and keep your toot off
the accelerator pedal. To select the Sequential SportShift
mode, slide the shift lever toward the
left from the "D4" position. In this mode the shift lever allows
you to shift up and down manually.
Whenever you move the shift lever,slide it along the guide on the
console.
You cannot shift out of Park with the brake pedal depressed when the
ignition switch is in LOCK (0) or
ACCESSORY (I).
CONTINUED

SEQUENTIA L
SPORTSHIF T

MOD E

POSITIO N

Driving

Automati
c Transmissio n

Neutra l (N ) — Use Neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop briefly with
the engine idling. Shift to Park posi-
tion if you need to leave the car for any reason. Press on the brake pedal
when you are moving the shift lever
from Neutral to another gear.
Driv e (D 4) — Use this position for
your normal driving. The transmis- sion automatically selects a suitable
gear for your speed and acceleration.
You may notice the transmission shifting up at higher speeds when
the engine is cold. This helps the engine warm up faster.
Sequential SportShift Mode — With

the shift lever in "D4" position, you can select the Sequential SportShift
mode to shift gears; much like a
manual transmission, but without a clutch pedal.
To enter the Sequential SportShift mode, slide the shift lever further to
the left. To return to "D4", slide theshift lever to the right.
In the Sequential SportShift mode, each time you push forward on theshift, lever, the transmission shifts to
a higher gear. Pull back on the lever
to downshift. The number of the
gear selected is displayed next to the "D4" indicator (see page 144).
If you slide the shift lever from "D4"
to the Sequential SportShift mode,
the display shows the selected gear.
If you selected "4", you will see /4/
next to "D4" in the display. The Shift
Lever Position Indicator will show the gear you selected while in the
sequential sportshift mode. If youselect the Sequential SportShift
while the car is stopped, the transmission automatically selects
first gear and the display shows /1/.
CONTINUED

Upshif
t

Downshift

Drivin g

Automati
c Transmissio n

If the car speed slows to below the
redline of the selected lower gear
position while the indicator is

flashing, the transmission will

downshift and the display will show
the selected lower gear.
If the transmission temperature is
below 14°F ( — 10 °C), you may not be able to use the Sequential

SportShift mode.
The table shows the speed ranges
for upshifting and downshifting. Driv
e (D3) — This position is similar
to D4, except only
the first three
gears are selected. Use D3, when towing a trailer in hilly terrain, or to
provide engine braking when goingdown a steep hill. D3 can also keep
the transmission

from cycling
between
third and fourth gears in
stop-and-go driving.
For faster acceleration when in D3 or D4, you can get the transmission to
automatically downshift by pushing
the accelerator pedal to the floor.
The transmission will shift down one or two gears, depending on your
speed.

CONTINUED

Drivin g

Inde
x

Accessories and Modifications.... 133
Accessories................................. 133

Additional Safety Precautions.. 134Modifications............................. 134
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key
Position)........................................ 73

Accessory Power Socket................ 93
Active Torque Transfer System
(ATTS)
Indicator............................... 56, 157
Operation.................................... 157

Adding
Automatic Transmission Fluid........................................ 191
Brake Fluid................................. 193
Clutch Fluid................................ 194

Engine Coolant........................... 185

Engine Oil................................... 181

Manual Transmission Fluid ..... 192
Power Steering Fluid................. 194
Windshield Washer Fluid......... 190
Additional Information About
Your Seat Belts........................ 42

Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 42
Seat Belt Maintenance................ 44
Seat Belt System Components... 42
Additional Information About

Your SRS...................................45

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

How Your Airbags Work............ 45

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

Additives, Engine Oil..................... 182
Adjustments
Headlights.................................. 213

Head Restraints........................... 82

Mirrors..........................................
88

Seats.............................................. 80

Steering Wheel............................ 66

Airba
g (SRS).................................... 45

Air Cleaner Element...................... 195

Air Conditioning............................... 98
Maintenance............................... 202

Usage............................................. 98

Air Conditioning Filter.................. 203
Air Outlets (Vents)........................ 100
Air Pressure, Tires........................ 205 High Speed Driving................... 206
Normal Driving.......................... 206 Alcohol in Gasoline........................ 268
Antifreeze....................................... 185

Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)

Indicator Light.................... 56, 156Operation....................................

15 4

Anti-theft Steering Column

Lock...............................................

73

Appearance Care...........................
227

Ashtrays (Optional)......................... 94
Audio System.................................

106

Automatic Speed Control................ 6
7

Automatic Transmission............... 144 Capacity, Fluid...........................
264
Checking Fluid Level................

191

Sequential SportShift Mode..... 147
Shifting........................................
145
Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 144
Shift Lever Positions................. 145

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

CONTINUED

Inde
x

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