1990 HONDA PRELUDE brake light

Starting the Engine
Before Starting
Manual Transmission:

1 . Apply the parking brake.
2 . Push the clutch pedal all the way in (see NOTE below).
3 . Shift the transmission to neutral.

NOTE:

On cars equipped with manual transmissions, the engine will
not crank unless the clutch pedal is fully depressed.
Automatic Transmission: 1. Make sure the shift lever is in Park (P).
2. Apply the parking brake and the foot brake.
Starting a Cold Engine(2.0 S)
NOTE:

When starting in cold weather, keep all unnecessary electrical

circuits off (lights, defogger, etc.) for the best battery output.

1. Above 32°F(0°C) Push the accelerator to the floor 1 time and slowly release it.
Below 32°F(0°C)
Push the accelerator to the floor 2 or 3 times and slowly

release it.

Below 0°F(-18°C)
Push the accelerator to the floor 3 or 4 times and slowly

release it.

DO NOT pump while cranking.
2. With your foot OFF the accelerator, crank the engine until it starts and runs. (It may require more than 5 seconds of cranking.)

NOTE:
If the engine won't start, push the accelerator pedal down 1 more
time and slowly release it, then start the engine.Repeat once more if necessary,
If the engine still won't start, push the accelerator down about halfway; hold it there and crank the engine until it starts. Once the
engine starts, release the accelerator gradually as the enginewarms up.If the engine doesn't start within 15 seconds of cranking, turn the
key off
and wait 10 seconds before trying again.
3. If the outside temperature is below freezing, or if your car has not been driven for several days, warm up the engine for a few
minutes before driving.
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Safety Items
Before driving away, check that: The doors are closed properly. The mirrors are properly adjusted, and the windows clean.
The driver and passengers are wearing properly adjusted seat
belts.
The head restraints are properly adjusted.
The warning and indicator lights are operating properly.
The brake pedal feels normal.
All luggage and cargo is secured.
Nothing is interfering with the driver's feet or blocking vision to

the rear.

While driving remember to: Always drive defensively; expect the unexpected. Reduce your speed during night hours and bad weather.
Follow at a safe distance; don't tailgate.
Get off the highway when you are tired; stop and take a rest.
When stopping for repairs: Park the car well off the road.
Turn on the hazard warning flasher. Use flares or other warning devices to warn other motorists.
After parking your car: Apply the parking brake and shift to first gear if equipped withmanual transmission, or PARK on automatic transmission

equipped cars.
Make sure the windows are closed and all doors are locked.
If parked on a hill:
Turn the front wheels away from the curb if facing uphill.
Turn the front wheels toward the curb if facing downhill. Never leave children unattended in a parked car.
Take your
keys.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Operating Tips

For smoother operation, apply the brakes when shifting from
Neutral or Park to a forward or reverse gear.
When parking: bring the car to a stop with the foot brake, hold the brake on and shift into Park, set the hand brake and then turn off
the engine.

NOTE:

Your 4 speed automatic transmission is equipped with a torque
converter lock-up clutch. Because of this, you may notice what
feels like an extra shift as the clutch engages.
CAUTION: Shift into P only after the car has come to a complete stop.
Shift into or out of R only after the car has come to a complete

stop.

Do not "rev-up" the engine when the brake is on and the shift
lever is in D, S, 2 or R.
When stopped on a hill, use the brakes to hold your position, not the accelerator pedal.Do not shift from N or P into D, S, 2 or R when the engine is
above idle speed. Before shifting into gear, make sure your foot
is firmly on the brake pedal. Do not rest your hand on the shift lever or push the shift button
while driving.

Driving Technique

D-4th
Use the D range for normal in-town and highway driving. The car
will start off in 1st and shift automatically to 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. The
further down you push the accelerator, the later the transmission will shift and the faster the car will accelerate.

S3/S4

The "S" shift selector range changes the shift points under part
throttle acceleration, allowing the transmission to stay in each lower
gear for a longer period before automatically upshifting. With the shift selector in the "S" range, the "S3" indicator light in the dashpanel will come on and the transmission will shift from 1st to 2nd
and 3rd but not 4th. This is especially useful when climbing or
descending grades. While driving in the "S" range, the car's performance is improved but fuel economy is reduced.
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Towing a Trailer (cont'd)

Hitches

Use only a hitch recommended by your Honda dealer. The hitch

should be bolted securely to the car and installed by a qualified

technician. Do not use a hitch designed for temporary installation
and never use one that attaches only to the bumper.
Trailer Brakes and safety chains
The Honda Automobile Division recommends that trailers equippedwith brakes, should conform to any applicable federal and stateregulations, When using a trailer equipped with electric brakes, a
trailer brake controller that connects to the car's electrical system is recommended. Installing a brake controller that connects to the car's
brake hydraulic system could result in brake fluid contamination or
leaks, A safety chain must always be used between the car and the
trailer. Leave sufficient slack in the chain so that it does not bind in
sharp turns. The chain should cross under the trailer tongue to prevent the tongue from dropping to the ground.

Tires
Make sure your car's are properly inflated. Adjust tire pressure

to the recommended tire pressure indicated on the label attached to
the edge of the driver's door.The trailer tires should be of the proper size, load rating and inflated to the pressure recommended
by the trailer manufacturer.
Trailer Lights
Trailer light must comply with federal, state and local regulations. See your local recreation vehicle dealer or rental agency for the

correct type of lighting and wiring for your trailer, Check for correct
operation of the turn signals and stop lights each time you hitch up.

CAUTION:

Connections to your car's electrical system should be made by
your Honda dealer or a qualified electrician.Improper installation

may damage your vehicle's electrical system and cause a

malfunction of the lights.
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CAUTION:
Before starting out, check the operation of the lights and all car/
trailer connections. After driving a short distance, stop and
recheck the lights and connections.
Reversing is difficult and requires practice. While backing-up,
the trailer may pivot off-course. To correct for this, grip the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand to the left to
move the trailer to the left, or to the right to move the trailer to
the right. Turn the steering wheel a little at a time, and keep the
speed very low. Have someon e guide you when backing.

To help
prevent overheating of the brakes, shift into a lower
gear to make use of engine braking before descending steep or
long grades. Do not make sudden downshifts. Pay strict attention to the coolant temperature gauge when
going up hills. Because of the added load of the trailer, your car's
engine may overheat on hot days. Turning off the air conditioner
will reduce the load on the cooling system.
On cars equipped with automatic transmission. —Do not hold the car stationary on an incline by using the accelerator pedal; this can cause the transmission fluid tooverheat. Instead, use the handbrake or footbrake.
—When towing trailers, avoid high transmission fluid temperatures (caused by the transmission frequently shiftingbetween 3rd and 4th gears) by driving in S3.

NOTE:

Be sure to check state and local laws concerning maximum speed or

other driving restrictions for cars towing trailers. If you are driving
across several states, check each state's requirements before

leaving home, because restrictions may vary.

Parking with a Trailer

Whenever parking your car on an incline with a trailer attached, first
place and seat chocks at each wheel of the car and trailer. This is in

addition to the normal parking preparations of firmly applying the parking brake and placing the transmission in first or reverse
(manual transmission) or P (automatic transmission).

CAUTION:
Parking on an incline is not recommended and should be done only
if it cannot be avoided. Follow all precautions mentioned above
and turn the wheels to point towards a curb if facing downhill,
away from a curb if facing uphill. When leaving an inclined parking place, move the car slightly to unseat the chocks. Then while
keeping the foot brakes firmly applied, have an assistant remove
the chocks.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Check the following items at each fuel stop:

1. Engine oil level.

2. Radiator coolant level.
Check the following items periodically: 1. Brakes: for braking efficiency, brake pedal travel and hydraulic fluid level.
2. Lights: for operation of headlights, taillights, side marker lights, stoplights, turn signals and back-up lights.
3. Tires: for correct pressures (including spare); inspect for cuts and uneven or excessive wear. Rotate every 7,500 miles (12,000 km)
in the pattern shown on page 107.
4. Steering: for excessive play or vibration while driving. 5. Exhaust system: for leaks or loose mounts.
6. Wipers: for operation of windshield wipers and washer, and condition of wiper blades.
7. Seat belts: for condition of fabric and buckles, and operation of the restraint mechanism.

8. Battery condition.

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Brakes

Brake System Design
The diagonally-separated dual service brake systemis designed so half the
system will still provide
braking action if the other
half fails.However, stopping the car with only half the system will require
more pedal pressure and pedal travel than normal. Also, the distance
required to stop will be longer using only half the brake system. If
the brakes fail suddenly, downshift to a lower gear for increased engine braking, and pull off the road as soon as possible.
It is dangerous to drive your car with a problem in either the
brake electrical or hydraulic system; have your dealer check
both systems if you suspect brake trouble. Do not ride the brakes, In other words, don't put your foot on
the brake pedal unless you intend to brake. This causes excessive brake wear and can damage, or lead to loss of braking
effectiveness through overheating. Your brake lights may also
confuse drivers behind you.Driving through deep water may affect the brakes.
Check their effectiveness by pressing the brake pedal gently.If the car does not slow down at the normal rate, continue
gently applying the brakes, while maintaining a safe speed, until
they dry out and normal performance returns.
Brake Wear
Both front and rear brakes should be inspected for wear at the
intervals shown in the maintenance schedule on page 78
When the brakes require maintenance, use only genuine Honda replacement parts or their equivalent.
Brake Wear Indicators
Your car is equipped with audible brake wear indicators. When the
brake pads need to be replaced, the wear indicators will make a "screeching" sound or a high pitch chirp.

NOTE:

Due to some driving habits or climates, brakes may "squeal" when
you first apply them or when you have them partially applied; this is normal, and does not indicate excessive wear. The wear indicator
makes a "screeching" sound while the brakes are applied.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Bulb Replacement

NOTE:
See page 126 for bulb specifications.
Front turn signal lights, and position lights
Rear side marker, turn signal, brake/taillights and back-up lights
Front side marker/turn signal lights
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