1990 HONDA PRELUDE Owners Manual

The factory-installed tires on your car were selected to provide the
best performance for normal driving.
Inflation Pressures
The tire label attached to the edge
of the driver's door lists
recommended tire pressures for
carrying loads up to the limit shown. (Tire pressures are also listed on the
back cover of this manual.)
These pressures were chosen to provide you with the best combi-
nation of tread life, riding comfort
and stability under normal driving
conditions.
Improper inflation can reduce both tire life and load carrying
capacity. Check the tire pressures at least once a month, including
the spare.
Lower pressure than recommended lets the tread and sidewalls flex
too much, causing increased tire temperatures, uneven wear, and poor handling. Pressure higher than recommended can make the tire
too stiff, increasing the chance of damage from road hazards, and also causing uneven wear.
CAUTION: Check tire pressure when the tires are cold,(After the car has been parked for more than 3 hours or driven
less than 1 mile/1.6 km.) Tire pressure may increase as much as 41 kPa (6 psi) when the
tire is hot, so NEVER ADJUST tire pressure when the tires arehot.
Never inflate load range B tires to more than 220 kPa (32 psi)

cold.

Cars with luggage racks or cartop carriers DO NOT have greater
load limits than those on the label,
Snow Tires If you use snow tires, they should have the same toad capacity as
the original equipment tires, and they must be installed in sets of
four, or they may cause poor handling. Cars with snow tires should not be driven faster than 75 mph (120 km/h).

(cont'd)Tires

TIRE
LABELProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Tires (cont'd)
Tire Chains
When required, tire chains should be installed on the front wheels. If
you are using metal type chains, make sure they are designated SAEClass "S". You may also use plastic or cable type "chains". Use
only the correct size chains recommended for your tire size andmake sure they are installed following the chain manufacturer's

instructions.
Once tire chains are installed, drive at less than 19 mph (30km/h) on
roads covered with snow or ice. To minimize tire and chain wear,
avoid driving on cleared roads with chains installed.

CAUTION:

Improper installation or loose tire chains may damage your car's
chassis and fenders.
NOTE:
Keep the manufacturer's installation instructions in your glove box

for future reference.

Tire Balancing
Unbalanced tires may affect handling and tire wear. A tire should
always be rebalanced after it has been dismounted from the wheel.
Your original tires were properly balanced before the car left the
factory, but may need rebalancing at some time during the life of the
tire. Tire balancing for the COMPACT spare is not necessary.

CAUTION:

Use only genuine Honda aluminum wheel weights if your car is
equipped with aluminum wheels. Non-genuine Honda wheel
weights may corrode and damage the aluminum wheel.
Tire Rotation Tires may wear unevenly when used for a long time at the same position on the car. To avoid this, rotate the tires every 7,500 miles
(12,000 km). If abnormal or uneven wear develops between
rotations, the cause should be found and corrected as soon as
possible. The illustration shows how the tires can be rotated. The
COMPACT spare tire must not be included in tire rotation.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

NOTE:

Brake pads should be inspected for wear whenever the tires are

rotated.

Tire Traction
Worn tires or slippery road surfaces can reduce driving, cornering and braking traction. To reduce the possibility of losing traction,
slow down when the road gets slippery, replace tires when wearindicators are visible, and KEEP TIRES PROPERLY INFLATED.
Tire Replacement
The original tires on your carhave tread wear indicators toindicate when they should bereplaced. The indicators appear
as bands about 12.7 mm (1/2 in)
wide when the tire tread depth is less than 1.6 mm (1/16 in).
When indicators appear across

two or more grooves in a row,

you shoul d
replace the tire.

Driving on worn-out or under-inflated tires is very hazardous, and
will reduce braking effectiveness, steering accuracy and traction.

When replacing tires, use only the recommended tire size. Wheel rim widths and offsets must be those recommended by American
Honda Motor Co., Inc. Contact the Zone Office nearest you as
shown on the inside of the back cover.

Tires and wheels other than those recommended may be unsafe. Do not mix radial and bias ply tires on the same car. INDICATOR
LOCATION MARKS TREAD WEAR
INDICATORSProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Air Conditioner Care
Condenser and Radiator
Check the engine radiator and the air conditioner condenser (in front
of the radiator) for accumulated dirt, insects or leaves. Carefully brush or hose them off to assure maximum cooling performance.

CAUTION:

Radiator and condenser fins are very thin and easily damaged; do
not bend them with the high water pressure or brush.
Compressor Drive Belt Check the compressor bett tension monthly, during periods when
you use the air conditioner a lot.
If the engine has been running, some engine components may be
hot enough to burn you.
When pushed with 98 N (22 Ib) of force midway between the
compressor drive pulley and the engine crankshaft pulley, the beltshould deflect about: 10-12 mm (0.4—0.5 in)
ADJUSTER COMPRESSOR DRIVE
PULLEY
CRANKSHAFT
PULLEYProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

System Maintenance
Run your air conditioner at least once a week for about ten minutes,
even during the off season, to lubricate the seals and the inside of

the compressor and, to verify that the system is functional.

If the air conditioner is not cooling properly, it may indicate an
undercharged system. Have your dealer check the system for leaks,
then evacuate and charge the system with refrigerant 12. Charging quantity:

850-950 g(30.1-33.6 oz)

CAUTION:

Prolonged use of an undercharged system may damage the

compressor.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Appearance Care
Interior Trim
Remove dust and loose dirt with a vacuum cleaner.
Wipe the vinyl with a clean, damp cloth or sponge. Stains can be removed with a commercially available vinyl cleaner.

CAUTION:

Do not use thinner, gasoline, kerosene, naphtha or other solvents
on the interior. They are toxic, flammable and hazardous and could damage the material you're cleaning.
Windows A 10 to 1 mix of water and white vinegar, or a commercially

available glass cleaner may be used to clean windows and to remove

the dust film sometimes caused by the ingredients used in interior vinyls and plastics.
NOTE:
Do not put this solution in the windshield washer reservoir, it will
damage the windshield washer pump.
Be careful not to scratch or damage the defogger wires when
cleaning the inside of the rear window; wipe the window horizontally along the wires, not up and down. Dry the windows
with a lint-free cloth or paper towel. Keep all the windows clean formaximum visibility.

Exterior Care

Waxing Wax the car when water will no longer "bead" on the paint. Always wash and dry the car before you wax it.
Use a good quality liquid or paste wax, and follow the manufacturer's
instructions. Wax all the metal trim to keep its luster.
NOTE:
Removing oil, tar, etc., with a spot remover will usually strip the
wax from the surrounding finish. Be sure to re-wax these areas even if the rest of the car does not yet need waxing.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Washing

NOTE:

Retract the headlights before washing the car. However, make sure

the headlight lenses are cleaned periodically.

Rinse all loose dirt off the car by spraying it with lukewarm or cold

water. Do not use hot water.
Wash using a soft bristle brush, sponge, or cloth with water
containing a mild detergent, such as a liquid dishwashing detergent.
Remove oil, tar, tree sap, etc., with tar remover or turpentine.
Remove road salt, insects, etc., with mild detergent and lukewarm
water. Any of these substances may damage the finish if left on
painted surfaces.

Rinse the car well. Promptly wipe with a chamois or soft towel toprevent water-spotting. Do not let water or soap air-dry on painted

surfaces.
During wiping, inspect the surface for stone chips and scratches;paint them with touch-up paint so they won't rust (touch-up paint

is available through your Honda dealer).
For further instructions on corrosion protection, refer to the Rust

Prevention section on page 112.

Aluminum Alloy Wheels (Si with 4WS or ALB)
CAUTION:
Wash the wheels after driving on snowy or icy roads where salt

has been applied.

Avoid off-road driving. Brush, rocks, dirt and severe impact may
damage the wheels.
Install tire chains carefully. Improperly installed chains can cause

damage to the wheels.
Honda aluminum alloy wheels are treated with a protective
finish. Wash them with a low-phosphate detergent and sponge.
Do not use abrasive cleaners or stiff brushes. Always install aluminum wheels in sets of four. If mixed with
other types, the car's handing may be affected.

(cont'd)ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Appearance Care (cont'd)
Rust Prevention
Rusting is likely to occur in parts of the car where water is trapped
or where there is continual dampness. Water will collect inside doors and body panels if drain holes
become clogged.
Water which seeps under or soaks floor mats will subject floor sections to prolonged wetness or dampness. Road dirt or sand, which collects and fills recesses on the
underside of the car, retains moisture long after the rest of the
car has dried.
The removal of paint and undercoating by stones, gravel, and minor accidents immediately exposes metal to air and moisture.Rusting is increased by high humidity and by the presence of
corrosive substances in the air or on the roads.
Salt used for road de-icing will coat the bottom of the ear and
hasten rusting.Localities with high humidity have greater potential for rust
problems, especially where salt is also present on the road or in
moist sea air.
Industrial pollution will accelerate the deterioration of paint
finishes and promote rusting.
Preventive Service Check all drain holes in doors and body panels for clogging and clear
if necessary. When washing your car, also clean the underside of the car by using high pressure water; above subframe, inside
front fender, rear suspension, inside rear wheel housing, and
under rear bumper.
After washing your car or after heavy rain, check for leaks. While checking for leaks, lift the floor mats in the passenger, cargo and
spare tire areas, and check beneath them. Water can collect in
these areas and remain unseen for prolonged periods. Dry any wet areas of your car's interior. Remove and dry wet floor mats. Haveleaks repaired as soon as possible.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s