1990 Prelude Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com.
Features & Safety ........................................................................\
........................................................ 2
What you should know before driving your car.
Starting & Driving........................................................................\
.....................................................
55
What gas to use, how to change gears, etc.
Maintenance
........................................................................\
............................................................... 76
The Required Maintenance Schedule and some items you can service.
Emergency Service
........................................................................\
................................................ 116
Changing a flat, jump starting, towing.
Specifications
........................................................................\
......................................................... 125
Dimensions, weights and capacities.
Consumer Information
........................................................................\
.......................................... 127
Reporting Safety Detects, warranty service, vehicle identification numbe\
rs, etc.
Index ........................................................................\
....................... .................................................
137
Gas Station Information
Contents
Owner's Identification Form
ProCarManuals.com
Your Honda automobile must be properly maintained to ensure that
it is in peak operating condition and the emission levels are within
the standards set by the Federal Clean Air Act, The following instructions and maintenance procedures are based
on the assumption that your car will be used exclusively for the purpose for which it was designed:
1. To carry passengers and cargo within the load limits shown on the label on the edge of the driver's door.
2. To be driven on reasonable road surfaces within legal limits.
3. To generally be driven daily over a distance of several miles.
4. Use gasoline from pumps labeled unleaded, with a pump octane number of 68 or higher. The pump octane number is an average of
the Research (R) octane and Motor (M) octane numbers.
NOTE:
Failures which occur due to a lack of maintenance will not be
covered under warranty.
The Required Maintenance Schedule * specifies all maintenance required to keep your car in peak operating condition. Work should
be done by an authorized Honda dealer but may be done by any qualified service facility or individual who is competent in this type
of work.
Maintenance, replacement, or repair of emission control devicesand systems may be done by any automotive repair establishment
or individual using parts that are "certified" to EPA standards.
After the maintenance has been done, be sure to complete the Maintenance Records on pages 79 — 81 . All required maintenance is
considered normal owner operating cost and you will be charged for it by your dealer.
* For vehicles sold in California, maintenance operations indicated
by * 3 on page 78 are recommended by the manufacturer.
Other maintenance operations are required by California
regulations and condition the emission warranty.
Maintenance Schedule and RecordsProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s
Maintenance Schedule and Records (cont'd)
Cheek oil and coolant level at each fuel stop,
Under severe driving conditions, service these items twice as often. (See page 80 )ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s
Maintenance Schedule and Records (cont'd)
Severe Driving Conditions
CAUTION:
The following items must be serviced more frequently on cars
normally used under severe driving conditions. Refer to the chart
below for the appropriate maintenance intervals. Severe driving conditions include:
A: Repeated short distance driving
B: Driving in dusty conditions
C: Driving in severe cold weather
D: Driving in areas using road salt or other corrosive materials
E: Driving on rough and/or muddy roads
F: Towing a trailer
R-Replace
I-Inspect
After inspection, clean, adjust, repair or replace if necessary.
Non-Scheduled Maintenance Record
Record additional maintenance for severe driving conditions or non-
scheduled maintenance on this page. (See page 78)ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s
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
Warranty Service
Warranty The following warranties are provided with every new vehicle: 1. New Car Limited Warranty
2. Emission Control Systems Defects Warranty
3. Emissions Performance Warranty
4. Battery Limited Warranty 5. Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
6. Accessory Limited Warranty 7. Replacement Parts Limited Warranty
8. Replacement Muffler Lifetime Limited Warranty
9. Seat Belt Limited Warranty.
All warranties pertaining to your car can be found in the warranty
booklet provided with your new car except the required
maintenance schedule which is contained here in the Owner's
Manual.
If you are unable to obtain warranty service or are dissatisfied with
the warranty decision or service you received at an authorized Honda dealership, you should review the matter with that
dealership's Service Manager. This will normally resolve your problem. If it does not resolve your problem you should appeal the
decision with the owner of the dealership. Please bear in mind that
your problem will likely be resolved at the dealership, using the
dealer's facilities, equipment and personnel. So it is very important
that your initial contact be with the dealer or his management. After following these steps, if you wish to have the matterreviewed by American Honda you should contact the Automobile
Zone Office serving your area, as shown on the map on the inside of
the back cover. When contacting American Honda, please provide
the Automobile Zone Office with the following information:
Vehicle Identification Number
Servicing Dealer Name and Address
Date of Purchase
Mileage on your Car
Your Name, Address, and Phone Number
Nature of Problem
Selling Dealer
After a review of the facts, you will be advised of what can be done.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s
Keys
Door Locks ..................................3
Glove box ..................................39
Trunk Lid Lock ............................4
Ignition ........................................58
Key Reminder Beeper...............58Keys.............................................3
Lap/Shoulder Belts
................................Se
e "Seat Belts"
Light
Bulb Replacement...................103
Fuse Replacement ..................101
Light Reminder
Chime ..............30
Operation.................................30
Warning and Indicator Light
......................................................21
Locks
Fuel Filler Door ..........................56
Doors..........................................3
Glove Bo
x ..................................39
Trunk Lid......................................4
Anti-theft Steering
Column
Lock.......................................58
Lumbar Support,Driver's .................7
Maintenace Schedule
and
Records......................................76
Manual Transmission Maximum Allowable Speeds
....................................................66
Oil........................................86
Recommended Shift
Speeds
....................................................66
Shifting.....................................65
Meters Gauges.......See
"Gauges"
Mirrors Power Mirrors ...........................29
Rear View Mirrors ....................29 Numbers, Identification................ 127
Octane Rating,
Gasoline
.......................................... See "Fuel"
Odometer ........................................20Oil
Engine Oil ...................................83
Fluid Locations ..........................82Transmission Oil/Fluid ..............86Oil Pressure Warning Light.......22
Power Steering Fluid ................97
Operation In
Foreign Countries
..........................................................56
Panel Brightness Control ...............33
Parking Brake.................................
39
Power
Mirrors .......................................29
Steering .....................................
97
Windows................................40
PGM-FI System............................131
Pressures, Tire Inflation...............105
Preventive Service.......................
112
(cont'd)
Radiator Coolant .............................88
Radio ................................................47
Rear View Mirrors ..........................29
Rear Window Defogger ..................28
Reminder Lights
..........................See "Warning lights"ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s