1990 HONDA PRELUDE cooling

Instrument Panel
TURN SIGNAL/ LIGHT SWITCH/
DIMMER SWITCH
SUNROOFSWITCH
HEADLIGHT

MOTOR
SWITCH PANEL BRIGHTNESS
CONTROL KNOB HAZARD WARNING
LIGHT SWITCH
FOG LAMP
SWITCH REAR WINDOW

DEFOGGER

SWITCH
DIGITAL
CLOCK

CENTER

VENTS

CRUISE
CONTROL
MASTER
SWITCH

FUSE BOX COIN BOX
HORN
BUTTON WINDSHIELD
WIPER/WASHER
SWITCH LEVER
IGNITION SWITCH CIGARETTE
LIGHTER
HEATING/
COOLING
CONTROL
PANEL
TACHOMETER SPEEDOMETER
FUEL GAUGESHIFT LEVER
POSITION
INDICATOR
(AUTOMATIC)
ODOMETER TRIP METER
TRIP METERRESET BUTTON SAFETY
INDICATOR
LIGHT

COOLANT
TEMPERATURE
GAUGEProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Heating and Cooling
The vents, heater and air conditioner are combined in one system; adjusting four basic controls to different settings can provide a fullrange of interior temperatures for safe and comfortable driving,
(Air conditioner is optional on the 2.0 S and 2.0 Si models.)
Ventilation
The flow-through ventilation system can provide fresh air to theinterior when the car is moving or stopped, even with the sunroof
and windows closed.

NOTE:

For proper air flow, the flow-through vents must not be covered.
Keep the air inlet at the base of the windshield free of leaves or
other debris.
You can adjust the controls to direct cool or warm outside air
throughout the car for defogging windows, heating, or cooling by
turning on the fan.

(cont'd)

AIR INLET

AIR OUTLET
AIR OUTLETProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Heating and Cooling (cont'd)
Dash Vents
The side and center vents can be tilted up or down, and their
louvers turned right or left, to change the direction of air flow.
SIDE DEFROSTER
OUTLET
SIDE VENT
WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER
OUTLETS

SIDE DEFROSTER
OUTLET
FLOOR OUTLETS SIDE VENTS
CENTER VENTSProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Heating and Cooling (cont'd)

NOTE:

The windows may become fogged if the system is in the
position for an extended period of time with the air

conditioner off. As soon as the interior is warmed, switch to the
position.
How to Use the Controls
To Ventilate Move the temperature lever to the left, and push the buttons. Turn the fan switch on and outside air will flow
through the side and center vents. To change air distribution, select
To Cool with A/C (optional on the 2.0 S and 2.0 Si models)
To cool the car down quickly, start the engine, then turn the fanswitch to high, push the A/C button on and open the windows briefly. Then close the windows, slide the temperature lever to the
When the interior has cooled desired speed, then push the (outside) air to the air conditioner.
When using the air conditioner in heavy traffic, or while driving up long hills, watch the coolant temperature gauge: if the needle movesnear the "H" end of the scale, turn the air conditioner off by
pushing the A/C button ; leave it off until the needle goes back well
into the middle of the scale.
and

the
ducts at the floor level. position and outside air will also flow from the heater
sufficiently, switch the fan to thebutton to direct fresh

and

left, push the
recirculate to the buttons, so inside air will
air conditioner for maximum cooling.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Heating and Cooling (cont'd)

To Dehumidify with A/C(optional on the 2.0 S and 2.0 Si models) Because an air conditioner dehumidifies as it works, you can use it
in cool or cold weather to help defog the windows. Just switch the
fan on, push the A/C button on, select the desired function and
adjust the temperature lever to a comfortable setting.
NOTE:
This setting is desirable for most operating conditions in ambient
temperatures above approximately 32°F (0°C).
To Turn Everything OFFSlide the temperature lever to the left, turn the fan switch off and push the

NOTE:

This setting should only be used in cold weather for the first few minutes of driving to prevent cold air from blowing into the cabin.
Under normal operating conditions, the fan should always be kept
ON to prevent the accumulation of stale air in the system. button on.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

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

Cooling System

Your Honda engine contains a number of aluminum parts. Therefore, it requires an antifreeze/coolant specifically formulated to protect
the aluminum parts from corrosion. Failure to use a suitable antifreeze/coolant may seriously shorten the life of the engine as
the result of rapid corrosion damage. Some antifreeze/coolants, although labelled for use in engines containing aluminum, may not provide adequate protection for your engine.
Therefore, use only a Honda RECOMMENDED antifreeze/coolant.
CHECK WITH YOUR AUTHORIZED HONDA DEALER.

For best corrosion protection, the mixture of coolant and water
must be maintained year-round at 50/50. Concentrations less than50% coolant may not provide sufficient protection against
corrosion and freezing. Concentrations of greater than 60% coolant
will impair cooling efficiency and are not recommended. Low- mineral drinking water or distilled water should be mixed with the
antifreeze/coolant. Coolant loss should be replenished by a mixture
containing the proper concentration of antifreeze and water. Do not mix different antifreeze/coolants.
Do not use additional rust inhibitors or anti-rust products, as they
may not be compatible with the radiator coolant.

ENGINE DAMAGE CAUSED BY IMPROPER COOLANT USAGE IS

NOT COVERED BY THE NEW CAR WARRANTY.

Checking Coolant
Check the coolant level in the reserve tank when the engine is at
normal operating temperature (with the engine off and the car on
the level ground), using the dipstick in the reserve tank. Remove the dipstick and wipe it off. Insert the dipstick and remove it. The
coolant level should be between the MAX and MIN marks. Do not remove the radiator cap when the engine is hot; the
coolant is under pressure and could severely scald you. Keep hands away from the radiator fan. The fan may start
automatically without warning and run for up to 15 minutes,
even after the engine is turned off.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

If the level is between the MIN and MAX marks on the dipstick
add a 50/50 solution of antifreeze and water to bring it up to MAX. If there is no coolant visible on the dipstick, the cooling system
should be checked for leaks and repaired if necessary. Coolantmust then be added to the radiator.

CAUTION:

Radiator coolant will damage paint. Quickly rinse any spilled

coolant from painted surfaces.

Wait until the engine is cool, then turn the radiator cap counterclock-wise until it stops. DO NOT PRESS DOWN WHILE TURNING THECAP. After any remaining pressure has been relieved, remove the
cap by pressing down and again turning it counterclockwise. Add
enough coolant to fill the radiator, and reinstall the cap. Be sure to
tighten it securely. Fill the reserve tank up to the MAX mark with
the engine cold.

Maintenance
1. Check the freeze protection level of the coolant with a hydrometer.
2. Keep the front of the radiator free of dirt and debris.

3. Check hoses and hose clamps regularly.

(cont'd)
MAX
MIN
RESERVE TANKProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s