1990 HONDA PRELUDE automatic transmission

If towing is necessary, contact a professional towing service. Your
authorized Honda dealer can assist you with detailed towing
instructions.
Never use tow chains or rope to tow a car; your ability to safety
control the car may be adversely affected.
We recommend the following:
Flat Bed Equipment — Entire car is winched on a flat bed vehicle.
This is the best way of transporting your Honda.
Wheel Lift Type — Tow with the front wheels off the ground.

If the
car can only be towed with the front wheels on the ground:

make sure the transmission is full of fluid (see page 86 — 87)

and tow with the transmission in neutral (N) and the ignition key in
the I position.

CAUTION:

To avoid serious damage on automatic transmission cars, first start the engine and shift to D, then to N and shut the engine off. If
the engine does not run or the transmission cannot be shifted
while the engine is running, the car must be transported on flatbed equipment.
Check local regulations for towing.

CAUTION:
Do not exceed 35 mph (55 km/h) or tow for distances of more
than 50 miles (80 km). If a Sling Type tow is used, the tow truck driver should position
wood spacer blocks between your car's frame and the chains
and lift straps to avoid damaging the bumper and the body. Do not use the bumpers to lift the car or to support the car's
weight while towing.
When towing a car with 4WS even with the front wheels off the ground, turn the wheels straight ahead and tie the steering wheel in place. TowingProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

If Your Car Gets Stuck
If your car gets stuck in sand, mud, or snow, call a professional
towing service for assistance in getting your car out,

CAUTION:
Do not rev up the engine and allow the wheels to spin freely at
high speed. Severe transmission damage may result if the wheels are allowed to spin for more than a few seconds. DO NOT try to free a car with automatic transmission from
snow etc. by rocking the car alternately between forward and
reverse gears. Severe transmission damage may result from
shifting into gear with the wheels moving.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Index
(cont'd)
Air Conditioner

Operation.....................................
43

Service.......................................108

Air Filte
r ...........................................95
Air Pressure, Tires........................105
Aluminum Alloy Wheels...............111
Antifreeze ..................See
"Radiator coolant"
Anti Lock Brakes(ALB) ..................18 ALB Warning Light .....................
24

ALB Fluid
.....................................
99
Anti-theft Steering

Column Lock

System.........................................58

Appearance Care .........................
110

Ashtrays..........................................38
Audio System
.................................
47
Automatic Transmission

Driving Technique ......................68

Fluid.............................................87
Operation....................................67

Shift Lever

Position
Indicator .................................
21 Battery
Charging System Warning

Light.......................................23

Jump Starting ...........................119 Maintenance .............................100

Specification ........................... 126

Beeper System Fasten Seat Belt Beeper ............13
Key Reminder .............................58

Light Reminder Chime ................30

Belts,Seat...............See "Seat Belts"
Brake Lamp Warning Light.............25
Brakes Brake Failure Warning Light .......................................23
Brake Fluid...................................99
Brake System Design .................98
Brake Wear .................................98
Brake Wear Indicators................98

Parking Brake ..............................39

Parking Brake Warning Light .......................................23
Break-in Period ..................................2

Bulb

Replacement.............................103
Specification .............................126
Buzzer ............See "Beeper System"
Capacities......................................125

Care and Cleaning.........................110

Catalytic Converter .....................134
Certification Label ........................127

Chains,Tires ................................. 106

Child Restraint System ..................14
Cigarette Lighter .............................38

Clock................................................37

COMPACT Spare Tire .................114Coolant Temperature Gauge .........20
Cooling(with A/C) ...........................44 Cooling System ...............................88
Crankcase Emission ControlSystem ..........................................
130
Cruise Control
Opeartion...................................
35Indicator .....................................22
Defogger.........................................28
Defroster .........................................45

Dimmer Switch, Headlights...........31
Doors
Locks............................................3

Warning Light ............................25
Emergency
Changing Flat Tire ...................116

Hazard Warning System ..........33If the Retractable Headlights do not operate ...................123

If the Sunroof Won't
Close .....................................54
If Your Car Gets Stuck ...........122
Jump Starting .........................119Towing.....................................121Warning and
Indicator

Lights....................................21
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Index (cont'd)

Replacement

Air Filter .....................................94
Bulbs........................................ 103

Engine Oil ...................................84

Fuel Filter ...................................96
Fuses .......................................101Oil Filter
......................................84

Radiator Coolant .......................90
Spark Plugs...............................92

Tires.........................................107
Wiper Blades .............................93Retractable Headlights I
f the Retractable Headlights
do not operate ...................123
Rust Prevention.........................111
Safety Items ...................................63
Seat Belt Reminder Light and
Beeper ..................................... .21

Seat Belts
Anchor Points ...........................16
Buckling the FrontSeat Belts .............................10
Buckling the Rear Seat Belts............................12
Child Restraint......................14

Cleaning .....................................17

Warning Light and Warning Beeper ...................13
Inspection ..................................17
Lap/Shoulder Belts ...................10
Pregnant Women ......................16
Reminder Light ..........................20
Replacement .............................17
Seats
Driver's Lumbar Support ...........7
Driver's Side Support..............7
Front Seat ....................................5

Head Restraints ...........................8

Shift Lever Position Indicator........20
Shifting

Automatic..................................67
5-Speed......................................65

Spare Tire

Changing a Flat Tire................116

COMPACT Spare Tire ...........114
Specifications .........................125
Spark Plugs...................................92
Specifications...............................125Speedometer ..................................
20

Starting the Engine .........................61

Steering Anti-theft Column Lock ...........
58Four Wheel Steering............59
Power Steerin g
.........................97
Tilt Steering ........................26
Stereo Sound System
Operation...................................47

Stuck Car ..............................122
Sunroof

If the Sunroof Won't

Close .....................................54

Maintenance...........................54
Operation ........................ 53

Sunshade.......................................
53

Tachometer.............................20

Temperature Gauge
,
Coolant

....................................................20

Thermostat...................................90
Tilt Steering.....................................26
Tire
Air Pressure ............................105

Balancing ................................106

Chains...................................106
Changing a Fla
t Tire................118

COMPACT Spare .................114
DOT Tir
e
Quality Grades........128
Inflation Pressures ..................105

Requirement ..................................128

Rotation ...................................
106

Snow Tires ........................ 105

Spare Tire................................114

Specification ....................... .
126

To Get In/Out of Rear Seat..............6
Tools ..............................................
116

Towing...........................................121
Towing a Traile
r ..............................
71
Transmission

Identification
Number............127

Oil/Fluid......................................86

Shifting the Automatic.............67

Shifting the Manual...................65

Capacity ...................................125ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Gas Station Information
Gasoline: UNLEADED onlyPump octane of 86 or higher.
Gas Tank-Capacity: 60 l (15.9 US gal, 13.2 Imp gal)
Tire Pressure (measured cold): Front/ Rear 195 kPa (28 psi) 180 kPa (26 psi)
Si (with 4WS) 195 kPa (28 psi) 195 kPa (28 psi)
Compact Spare Tire 415 kPa (60 psi)
Other Tire Information: Label on driver's door edge.
Hood Release: Pull handle under left side of dash.
Engine Oil: An "Energy Conserving II" SG grade oil is recommended. See page 83 for viscosity
recommendations.
Capacity (including filter):
3.8 l ( 4.0 US qt, 3.3 Imp qt)
Manual Transmission Oil: Recommended type—SAE 10W—30 or10W—40 weight, grade SE or SF.
Capacity (including differential):
2.1 l (2.2 US qt, 1.8 Imp qt)
Automatic Transmission Fluid:
Use DEXRON® II type Automatic Transmission Fluid
(ATF). Unscrew dipstick in right end of transmission,
wipe off, reinsert, remove and read fluid level-do not screw-in to check fluid level.
Capacity (Including differential):
2.8 l (3.0 US qt, 2.5 Imp qt)
Power Steering Fluid: Use only Honda power steering fluid: do not use ATF
or any other brand of power steering fluid because it
will damage the system.
AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
1919 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, California 90501
1990 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. — All Rights Reserved
31SF1621
00X31-SF1-6211CRESTEC5009806 L PRINTED IN U.S.A.
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