Technical Information
The diagrams in this section give
you the dimensions and capacities
of your Honda, and the locations of
the identification numbers. The explanations of several electronic
and mechanical systems on your Honda are for the more technically-
oriented owner. Identification Numbers............... 204
Specifications................................ 206
Anti-lock Brake System ............. 208
Supplemental Restraint
System........................................ 209
Four Wheel Steering ................... 210
Emission Controls......................... 211 The Clean Air Act.................... 211
Crankcase Emission Control
System.................................... 211
Evaporative Emission Control
System.................................... 211
Exhaust Emission Controls.... 212 PGM-FI System.................... 212
Ignition Timing Control
System................................ 212
Exhaust Gas
Recirculation..................... 212
Catalytic Converter............. 212
Replacement Parts................... 212
Catalytic Converter..................... 213
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Supplemental Restraint System
The Honda
Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS) is standard on all
Preludes sold in the U.S. and the
SR, SR 4WS sold in Canada.
The SRS includes the steering
wheel airbag assembly, sensors in the dashboard, and a control unit
with sensors behind the center
console.
(On Si 4WS model)
The system also has a dashboard-
mounted airbag assembly for the
passenger.
The sensors are decelerometers,
set to trigger in a frontal impact that generates more force than a 10
mile per hour barrier crash. For the
SRS to activate, at least two sen-
sors must trigger. This duplication
is to prevent accidental activation. When the control unit receives
trigger signals from at least two
sensors, it sends voltage to the
airbag. The control unit stores this
charge in capacitors to insure
reliability even if a severe impact damages the car's battery or
electrical connections.
The electrical charge sent to the
airbag assembly ignites its propel-
lant, which burns instantaneously.
The gas produced by the burning propellant inflates the airbag in
about 40 milliseconds (1/25 of a
second).
The airbag is vented so it stays inflated for only an instant and
does not block the driver's vision.
Smoke from the burned propellant
comes out of the airbag and into
the car's interior. This is normal
and does not mean there is a fire.
The airbag collapses onto the driver's lap. The airbag unit can inflate only one
time. After use, your Honda dealer
must check the complete Supple-
mental Restraint System and re-
place the airbag assembly.
To ensure long-term reliability, the
SRS uses gold-plated electrical
connections throughout. Exposed
components are sealed with epoxy.
The control unit monitors the SRS circuitry whenever the ignition is
ON (II). If the control unit senses
any faults, it turns on the SRS
indicator light on the instrument
panel. Take the car to your Honda
dealer to diagnose and repair the system as soon as possible.
The SRS needs no regular mainte-
nance other than an inspection by
your Honda dealer ten years after
manufacture.
Technical InformationProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Four Wheel Steering
The Si 4WS model in the U. S and
the SR 4WS model in Canada are
equipped with an electronic Four
Wheel Steering system.
As inputs, the 4WS system uses a
vehicle speed sensor and a sensor to measure how far the front
wheels are turned.
The electronic control unit for 4WS system uses these inputs to deter-
mine which direction to steer the
rear wheels, and at what angle. Depending on vehicle speed and the
angle of the front wheels, the rear
wheels will be "countersteered"
(steered in the opposite direction of
the front wheels) or "same-steered"
(steered in the same direction as
the front wheels). The 4WS electronic control unit
drives an electric motor built into
the rear steering box. Sensors for
rear wheel angle and speed provide
feedback. The electronic control
unit uses this feedback to compare
the actual rear wheel angle to the
desired angle.
When the driver turns the front
wheels with the car traveling less
than 18 mph (30 km/h), the rear
wheels are countersteered. The angle of countersteer increases as
the angle of the front wheels in-
creases, to a maximum counter-
steer angle of six degrees. This
improves response when parallel
parking or making sharp turns.
Above 18 mph (30 km/h), the rear
wheels are same-steered as the driver begins to turn the steering
wheel. The rear wheel angle for
any given steering wheel angle is
not fixed; it increases as vehicle speed increases. This improves
response in lane-changing maneu-
vers.
As the driver continues to turn the
steering wheel, the rear wheels are
steered back to the straight-ahead
position and then to countersteer
mode. As with same steer, the
angle of countersteer varies with
vehicle speed; increasing and then decreasing as the speed rises. This
gives improved handling in low, medium, and high speed curves.
The 4WS system's electronic
control unit monitors the sensors
whenever the ignition is ON. If it detects a problem anywhere in the
system, it lights the 4WS indicator
on the instrument panel and turns
the system off. With the system off,
the rear wheels remain pointed
straight ahead. Your car will then
drive like a conventional car
without 4WS.
Technical InformationProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Index
Accessories
Installation................................. 105
ACCESSORY
(Ignition Key Position).............. 48
Adding
Automatic Transmission
Fluid........................................ 144
Brake Fluid............................... 146 Clutch Fluid.............................. 147
Engine Oil...:.............................. 135
Manual Transmission Fluid... 145
Power Steering Fluid.............. 148
Radiator Coolant...................... 139
Windshield Washer fluid ........ 143
Additional Safety Information .... 16
Door Locks.................................. 16
Driving with Pets....................... 17
Seat-back Position..................... 16
Storing Cargo Safely................. 17
Additives, Engine Oil................... 136
Adjustments
Mirrors....................................... .
59
Seats............................................. 51
Steering Wheel..........................
43
Airbag (SRS).................................. 1
0
Air Conditioning............................. 68
Maintenance..............................
157
Usage............................................ 6 8
Ai
r Filter........................................
149
Air Outlet
s
(Vents)......................... 68
Air Pressure, Tires ......................
159
Alcohol an d
Drugs.......................... 24
Alcohol in Gasoline........................ 98
Antifreeze......................................
139
Anti-lock Brake s
(ABS)
Description................................
208
Indicator Light.................. .
34,
118
Operation................................... 117
Anti-theft Steerin
g
Column
Lock.............................................. 48
Appearance Care..........................
175
Ashtray............................................. 65
Audio System................................. .
75
Automatic Speed Control............. 44
Automatic Transmission............ 112
Capacity, Fluid........................
.
206
Checking Fluid Level.............. 144
Shifting
...................................... 113
Shift Leve r
Positions...............
112
Shift Lock Release................... 115
Battery
Charging System Light............. 33
Jump Starting............................ 191
Maintenance.............................. 152
Specifications............................ 207
Before Driving
................................ 97
Belts, Seat ......................................... 4
Body Repair
...................................
181
Brakes
Anti-lock Syste
m (ABS)..........
117
Break-in, Ne
w
Linings.............. 98
Fluid............................................
146
Light, Burned-out................... .
169
Parking......................................... 61
System Light.............................. .
33
Wear Indicators.....................
116
Brakes, AB S
Description...............................
.
208
Operation................................... 117
System Indicator...............
.
34,
118
Braking System...........................
.
116
Break-in, Ne
w
Car ......................... 98
CONTINUEDProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t
Index
5-Speed Transmission,
Shifting the ............................... 111
Flashers, Hazard
Warning ........... 56
Flat Tire, Changing a..................
185
Fluids Automatic Transmission.......
. 144
Brake.......................................... 146
Clutch......................................... 147
Manual Transmission.............. 145
Power Steering......................... 148
Windshield Washer..................
155
FM Stereo
Radio
Reception.............................. 75, 84
Folding Rear Seat.......................... 55
Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 99
Four-way Flashers......................... 56
Four Wheel Steering (4WS)
Description................................ 210
Indicator Light........................... 35
Operation...................................
118
Front End ,
Towing by Emergency
Wrecker..................................... 202
Fuel................................................... 9
8
Fille
r Door and Cap..................
100
Filter........................................... 150
Gauge............................................ 3
8
Octan
e Requirement................. 98
Oxygenated................................. 98
Tank, Filling the ...................... 100
Fuses, Checking the .................... 200
Gas Mileage, Improving.............. 104
Gasohol............................................ 98
Gasoline............................................ 98
Filter...........................................
150
Gauge............................................ 3 8
Octan
e Requirement................. 98
Tank, Filling the ......................
100
Gas Statio n
Procedures...............
100
Gauges
Engine Coolan
t Temperature.. 38
Fuel............................................... 38
Gearshift Lever Positions Automatic Transmission........
112
5-speed Transmission............. .
111
Glass Cleaning.............................
.
180
Glove Box........................................
.
62
Halogen Headlight Bulbs............ 164
Hazard Warning Flashers ............ 56
Headlights
Daytime Running Lights.......... 40
High Beam Indicator................. 35
High Beams, Turning on.......... 40
Low Beams, Turning on........... 40
Reminder Chime........................ 40
Replacing Halogen Bulbs ....... 164
Turning on.................................. 40
Heating and Cooling...................... 68
High Altitude, Starting at...........
110
High-Low Bea m
Switch ............... 40
Hood, Opening the........................
101
Horn.................................................. 4 7
Ho
t Coolant, Warning about......
139
Hydraulic Clutch.........................
.
147
Hydroplaning................................. 119
Identification Number
,
Vehicle......................................
.
204
If You
r
Car Has to be Towed ....
202
ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t
Index
Inflation...................................... 158
Inspection................................... 159
Replacing................................... 161
Rotating..................................... 160
Snow........................................... 163
Specifications............................
207
Tools, Tire
Changing ..................
185
Torn Seat
Belts................................. 9
Towing A Trailer....................................
121
Emergency Wrecher............... . 202
Transmission
Checking Flui
d Level,
Automatic..............................
144
Checking Flui d
Level,
5-speed....................................
145
Fluid Selection......................... .
144
Identification Number...........
.
204
Shifting th
e
Automatic ...........
112
Shifting th
e
5-speed.................
111
Treadwear..................................... 161
Trip Meter....................................... 37
Trunk
............................................... 50
Opening the................................ 50
Open Monito r
Light...................
35
Turn Signals.................................... 41
Underside, Cleaning...................
.
176
Unexpected, Takin
g
Care
of the...........................................
183
Uniform Tir e
Quality Grading.. 161
Unleaded Gasoline......................... 98
Upholstery Cleaning....................
179
Used Oil ,
How to Dispose of.......
138
Vanity Mirror.
................................ 64
Vehicle Capacit y
Load................
106
Vehicle Dimensions..................... 206
Vehicle Identification Number.. 204
Vehicle Storage...........................
.
173
Ventilation....................................... 7
1
VIN................................................
.
204
Vinyl Cleaning.............................
.
179
Viscosity, Oil................................
.
136
Warning Beepers
Key in Ignition...........................
. 47
Seat Belts..................................... 33
WARNING, Explanation of........... ii
Warning Labels, Location of........ 27
Warranty Coverages....................
216
Washer, Windshiel d
Checkin
g the Fluid Level.......
155
Operation..................................... 4
2
Washing.........................................
.
176
Waxing an
d
Polishing..................
177
Wheels
Adjusting th
e Steering.............. 43
Alignment and Balance........... 161 Compact Spare.......................... 184
Wrench.......................................
185
Windows Cleaning.....................................
180
Operating the
Power................. 57
Rear, Defogger........................... 56
Windshield
Cleaning....................................... 42
Defroster...................................... 74
Wipers, Windshield Changing Blades.......................
155
Operation..................................... 4 2
Wor
n Tires.....................................
159
Wrecker, Emergenc
y
Towing...
202
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