1992 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.
Contents
Owner's Identification Form
Introduction ........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safet y........................................................................\
.........................................ii
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
......................................3
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Controls........................................................................\
.........................................29
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
...................... 67
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
.......................................................... 97
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
......................................................................107
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................127
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Care........................................................................\
......................................................175
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
..............................183
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, and how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
.............................................203
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................215
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................221
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index ........................................................................\
........................ ......................................................
I
Gas Station Information
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the gas pump.
ProCarManuals.com
The Seat Belt System and How It Works
Seat Belt System Components
Your Honda has lap/shoulder seat
belts in all four seating positions.
Your seat belt system also includes a light on the instrument panel to
remind you to fasten your seat belt,
and to make sure your passengers
fasten theirs. This light comes on
when you turn on the ignition if
you have not fastened your seat
belt. A beeper also sounds for several seconds (see page 33).
The following pages cover more
about the seat belt components and
how they work.
Lap/Shoulder Belt
This style of seat belt has a single
belt that goes over your shoulder, across your chest, and across your
hips.
Each lap/shoulder belt has an
emergency locking retractor. This
lets you move freely in your seat
while keeping some tension on the
belt. During a collision or sudden stop, the retractor automatically
locks.
Wearing Seat Belts Properly
You can increase the effectiveness
of your seat belts if you take a little
time to read the following pages
and make sure you know how to
wear seat belts properly.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Not wearing a seat belt pro-
perly increases the chance of
serious injury or death in a
crash.
Be sure you and your passen-
gers always wear seat belts
and wear them properly.
LATCH
PLATE
BUCKLEProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Supplemental Restraint System
The passenger's airbag is stored
near the top of the dashboard,
under a lid marked SRS. Do not
place any objects on top of this lid. If the airbag inflates, those objects
can be propelled inside the car and possibly hurt someone.
How the SRS
Indicator Light Works
The purpose of the SRS light on
your instrument panel is to alert
you of a potential problem with
your supplemental restraint system.
Have the system checked if:
The light does not come on when
you turn the ignition ON (II). The light stays on after the
engine starts.
The light comes on or flashes
while you are driving.
System Service
Your supplemental restraint
system is virtually maintenance-
free. There are no parts you can
safely service.
You must have the system serviced
by an authorized Honda dealer in the following situations: If your airbag ever inflates. The
bag must be replaced. Do not try
to remove or discard the airbag
by yourself. This must be done by a Honda dealer.
If the SRS indicator light alerts
you of a problem. Have the
supplemental restraint system
checked as soon as possible.
Otherwise, your airbag might not
inflate when you need it. When the car is ten years old, get
the system inspected. The
production date is on the driver's
door jamb for your convenience.
Driver and Passenger Safety
SRS
ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Instruments and Controls
This section gives information
about the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your Honda. All the essential
controls are within easy reach.
Control Locations......................... 30
Indicator Lights.............................. 31
Gauges............................................. 37
Speedometer
.............................
37
Tachometer................................. 37
Odometer
.................................... 37
Trip Meter................................... 37
Fuel Gauge..................................
38
Temperature Gauge
..................
38
Controls Near the
Steering
Wheel
....................................... 39
Headlights................................... 40
Daytime Running Lights.......... 40
Instrument Panel Brightness... 41
Turn Signals................................ 41
Windshield Wipers.....................
42
Windshield Washers.................
42
Steering Wheel Adjustment ....
. 43
Steering Wheel Controls............... 44
Cruise Control............................ 44
Horn ............................................ 47
Keys and Locks.............................. 47
Keys.............................................. 47
Ignition Switch........................... 47
Door Locks.................................. 48
Power Door Locks ..................... 48
Trunk.......................................... 50
Seat Adjustments........................... 51
Rear Seat Access........................ 52
Additional Driver' s
Seat
Adjustments...........................
53
Seat Heaters.................................... 54
Folding Rea r
Seat.......................... 55
Hazard Warning............................ 56
Rear Window Defogger ................ 56
Power Windows.............................. 57
Sunroof ...........................................
58
Mirrors ........................................... 59
Parking Brake................................ .
61
Glove Box........................................
.
62
Digital Clock..................................
.
63
Center Console Compartment .... 64
Vanity
Mirror
..............................
64
Cigarette Lighter
..........................
.
65
Ashtray........................................... 65
Interior Lights...............................
.
66
Instruments an
d
ControlsProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t
Indicator Lights
The instrument panel has many
indicators to give you important
information about your car.
Lamp Check
Many of the indicator lights come
on when you turn the ignition
switch ON (II), allowing you to see
that they are working. The instru-
ment panel should look like the
illustration. If an indicator does not
light during this test, it cannot alert
you if that system develops a prob-
lem. Have the dealer check your
car for burned-out bulbs or other
problems.
CONTINUED
HIGH BEAM INDICATOR
FOUR WHEEL STEERING
SYSTEM (4WS) INDICATOR
Instruments and Controls
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM INDICATORProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Indicator Lights
* The U.S. instrument panel is
shown. Differences for the Canadi-
an model are noted in the text.
Instruments and Controls
CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR
LOW FUEL INDICATOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT*
BRAKE LAMP
INDICATOR
TRUNK-OPEN INDICATOR DOOR-OPEN INDICATOR
LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT
CHARGING SYSTEM LIGHT SEAT BELT
REMINDER
LIGHT PARKING BRAKE
AND BRAKE
SYSTEM LIGHT* ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATORProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
The two levers on the steering column contain controls for driving
features you use most often. The
left lever controls the turn signals,
headlights, and high beams. The
right lever controls the windshield
wipers.
The controls on the dashboard to
the left of the steering column are
for the sunroof, cruise control and instrument panel brightness.
The lever on the underside of the steering column allows you to tilt
the steering wheel.
Instruments and Controls
INSTRUMENT PANEL
BRIGHTNESS WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS
CRUISE
CONTROL
HEADLIGHTS/
TURN SIGNALS
TILT ADJUSTMENT
HAZARD WARNING LIGHTSProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Headlights
The rotating switch on the left
lever controls the lights. Turning this switch to the first position
turns on the parking lights, tail
lights, instrument panel lights, side-marker lights, and rear license
plate lights. Turning the switch to the second position turns on
the headlights. If you leave the lights on with the
ignition switch in ACCESSORY (I)
or LOCK (0), you will hear a
reminder chime when you open the
driver's door.
To change between low beams and
high beams, pull back on the turn signal lever until you hear a click,
then let go. The high beam indica-
tor will light (see page 35). To flash the high beams, pull back
and hold the turn signal lever.
Release the lever and the high
beams will go off.
The high beams will stay on for as
long as you hold the lever, no matter what position the headlight
switch is in.
Daytime Running Lights
(Canadian Models)
With the headlight switch off, the
high beam headlights come on with
reduced brightness when you turn
the ignition switch to ON (II) and
release the parking brake. They
remain on until you turn the
ignition off, even if you set the
parking brake.
The headlights revert to normal
operation when you turn them on
with the switch.
Instruments and ControlsProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t