1998 HONDA PRELUDE door lock

Indicator Lights

Seat Belt Reminder Light

This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch ON (II). It is a
reminder to you and your passengers
to protect yourselves by fastening
the seat belts. A beeper also sounds
if you have not fastened your seat

belt.

If you do not fasten your seat belt,
the beeper will stop after a few
seconds but the light stays on until
you do. Both the light and the beeper stay off if you fasten your seat belt
before turning on the ignition.

* The U.S. Type SH instrument panel is shown. Differences for the Canadian
model are noted in the text.
Instruments and Controls MALFUNCTION
INDICATOR LAMP
SUPPLEMENTAL
RESTRAINT
SYSTEM INDICATOR
TRUNK-OPEN
INDICATOR
DOOR-OPENINDICATOR PARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR*
ACTIVE TORQUE TRANSFER SYSTEM INDICATOR
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR*
IMMOBILIZER
SYSTEM INDICATOR
LOW OIL PRESSURE
INDICATOR
CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATOR SEAT BELT
REMINDER LIGHT
HIGH BEAM
INDICATOR LOW FUEL
INDICATOR
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Controls Near the Steering Wheel

Headlights

The rotating switch on the left lever controls the lights. Turning this switch to the position turns
on the parking lights, taillights,
instrument panel lights, side-marker
lights, and rear license plate lights. Turning the switch to the
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 the turn signal lever
until you hear a click, then let go.
The blue high beam indicator will light (see page 55). To flash the high beams, pull the
turn signal lever back lightly, then
release it. The high beams will comeon and go off.
The high beams will stay on for as long as you hold the lever back, nomatter what position the headlightswitch 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. Theyremain 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.
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Keys and Locks
Keys

Your vehicle comes with two kinds of keys: a master key and a valet key.
The master key fits all the locks on
your vehicle:
Ignition

Doors

Trunk Trunk release handle
Rear seat trunk access
Glove box The valet key works only in the
ignition and the door locks. You can
keep the trunk, trunk release handle,
rear seat trunk access and the glove
box locked when you leave your
vehicle and the valet key at a parking facility.
You should have received a key number plate with your keys. You
will need this key number if you ever have to get a lost key replaced. Keep the plate stored in a safe place. If you
need to replace a key, use only
Honda-approved key blanks.
These keys contain electronic circuits that are activated by the
Immobilizer System. They will not
work to start the engine if the circuits are damaged. Protect the keys from direct
sunlight, high temperature, and
high humidity. Do not drop the keys or set heavy
objects on them. Keep the keys away from liquids.
If they get wet, dry them immedi- ately with a soft cloth.
The keys do not contain batteries. Do not try to take them apart.
Instruments and Controls
LEARNING

KEY

(Red)

MASTER

KEY

(Black)

VALET

KEY

(Gray)

KEY

NUMBER

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Keys and Locks

LOCK (0) — You can insert or
remove the key only in this position.
To switch from ACCESSORY to LOCK, you must push the key in
slightly as you turn it. If your vehicle
has an automatic transmission, it must also be in Park. The anti-theft
lock will lock the steering column
when you remove the key. If the front wheels are turned, the
anti-theft lock may sometimes make
it difficult to turn the key from
LOCK to ACCESSORY. Firmly turn
the steering wheel to the left or to
the right as you turn the key. ACCESSORY (I) — In this position,
you can operate the audio systemand the accessory power socket.
ON (II) — This is the normal key
position when driving. All features and accessories on the vehicle are
usable. Several of the lights on the
instrument panel come on as a test
when you turn the ignition switch
from ACCESSORY to ON (see page
51).
START (III) — Use this position
only to start the engine. The switch
returns to ON (II) when you let go of
the key.
The engine will not start if the Immobilizer System does not
recognize the key's coding (see page 69).

You will hear a reminder beeper if
you leave the key in the ignition switch in the LOCK (0) or

ACCESSORY (I) position and open the driver's door. Remove the key to
turn off the beeper.

Instruments and Controls

Removing the key from the
ignition switch while driving

locks the steering. This can

cause you to lose control.

Remove the key from the
ignition switch only when

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Keys and Locks

Power Door Locks

Each door has a master door lock
switch. Either switch locks and
unlocks both doors. Push the switch down to lock both doors and up to

unlock them.
Each door has a lock tab next to the

inside door handle. When you push

in the lock tab on the driver's door,

both doors lock. Pulling out the lock

tab on the driver's door only unlocks

that door. The lock tab on the

passenger's door only locks and

unlocks that door.
To lock the passenger's door when
getting out of the vehicle, push the
lock tab in and close the door. To
lock the driver's door, remove the
key from the ignition switch and
push the lock tab in or push the
master switch down, then close the
door.

Both doors can be locked from the
outside by using the key in either

door.

To unlock only the driver's door from the outside, insert the key in
the driver's door lock, turn the key
and release it. If you turn the key
and hold it, both doors will unlock.
Both doors will unlock when you
unlock the passenger's door with the
key.
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Keys and Locks

Lockout Prevention

If you forget and leave the key in the
ignition switch, Lockout Prevention
will not allow you to lock the driver's door. With the driver's door open
and the key in the ignition, both
master door lock switches are
disabled.

However, if the driver's door is not open, the master door lock switches
are not disabled. Pushing the switch
down on the open passenger's door
will lock both doors. If you try to lock an open driver'sdoor by pushing in the lock tab, the
tabs on both doors pop out. Pushing
in the lock tab on the passenger's door only locks that door.
Trunk

You can open the trunk in two ways:
Pull the trunk release handle to
the left of the driver's seat. Use the master key to open the
trunk lock. The valet key does not
work in this lock.
To close the trunk, press down on

the trunk lid.

See page 129 for cargo loading and

weight limit information. Keep the

trunk lid closed at all times while
driving to avoid damaging the lid,
and to prevent exhaust gas from

getting into the interior. See Carbon
Monoxide Hazard on page 47.

Instruments and Controls
CONTINUED

TRUNK RELEASE
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Interior Lights

Turn on the spotlight by pushing the button next to each light. Push the
button again to turn it off. You can
use the spotlights at all times.
Courtesy Lights

Your car has a courtesy light in the
ignition switch. The ignition switch
light comes on whenever you open either door. It remains on, then fades
out in about 10 seconds after both
doors are closed tightly.
The ignition switch light and ceiling light (with the switch in the center
position) also comes on when you
unlock the door with the key, the
lock tab on the driver's door, or the master door lock switch. If you
relock the driver's door or close the driver's door with the key in the
ignition switch, the lights turns off immediately. Otherwise, the light
remains on, then fades out in about 10 seconds.
If you keep the door open, the ceiling
light (with the switch in the center
position) will turn off after three minutes when the key is not in the
ignition switch.

On Type SH

Your vehicle also has a courtesy light in each door. Each door light comes
on when the door is opened, and
goes out when the door is closed
tightly.

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Preparing to Drive

You should do the following checks and adjustments every day before
you drive your vehicle.
1. Make sure all windows, mirrors, and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove frost, snow, or ice.
2. Check that the hood and trunk are fully closed.
3. Visually check the tires. If a tire looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.
4. Check that any items you may be carrying with you inside are stored
properly or fastened down securely. 5. Check the adjustment of the seat
(see page 75).
6. Check the adjustment of the inside and outside mirrors (see
page 83).
7. Check the adjustment of the steering wheel (see page 64).
8. Make sure the doors are securely closed and locked.
9. Fasten your seat belt. Check that your passengers have fastenedtheir seat belts (see page 14). 10. Turn the ignition switch ON (II).
Check the indicator lights in the
instrument panel.
11. Start the engine (see page 133).
12. Check the gauges and indicator lights in the instrument panel (see
page 51).

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