1998 HONDA PRELUDE Owners Manual

Appearance Care

Regular cleaning and polishing of
your Honda helps to keep it "new" looking. This section gives you hintson how to clean your vehicle and
preserve its appearance: the paint,
brightwork, wheels and interior. Also included are several things you can
do to help prevent corrosion.
Exterior Care.................................. 220

Washing......................................220
Waxing........................................221

Aluminum Wheels.....................221
Paint Touch-up........................... 221
Interior Care................................... 222
Carpeting.................................... 222
Fabric.......................................... 222

Vinyl............................................ 222
Seat Belts.................................... 223
Windows..................................... 223
Air Fresheners........................... 224
Corrosion Protection..................... 224
Body Repairs.................................. 225
Appearance CareProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Exterior Care

Washing
Frequent washing helps preserve
your vehicle's beauty. Dirt and grit can scratch the paint, while tree sap
and bird droppings can permanently
ruin the finish.
Wash your vehicle in a shady area, not in direct sunlight. If the vehicle is
parked in the sun, move it into the shade and let the exterior cool down
before you start.
Only use the solvents and cleaners
recommended in this Owner's

Manual.

Chemical solvents and strong cleaners
can damage the paint, metal, and
plastic on your vehicle.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with
cool water to remove loose dirt. Fill a bucket with cool water. Mix
in a mild detergent, such as
dishwashing liquid or a product
made especially for vehicle

washing.

Wash the vehicle using the water and detergent solution and a soft-
bristle brush, sponge, or soft cloth. Start at the top and work your waydown. Rinse frequently.
Check the body for road tar, tree sap, etc. Remove these stains with
tar remover or turpentine. Rinse it off immediately so it does not
harm the finish. Remember to re-
wax these areas, even if the rest of the vehicle does not need waxing. When you have washed and rinsed
the whole exterior, dry it with achamois or soft towel. Letting it
air-dry will cause dulling and water
spots.

As you dry the vehicle, inspect it for chips and scratches that could allow
corrosion to start. Repair them with
touch-up paint (see page 221).
Appearance Care

NOTICEProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Exterior Care
Waxing
Always wash and dry the whole vehicle before waxing it. You should
wax your vehicle, including the metal
trim, whenever water sits on the surface in large patches. It should
form into beads or droplets after
waxing.
You should use a quality liquid or paste wax. Apply it according to theinstructions on the container. In
general, there are two types of
products:
Waxes — A wax coats the finish and protects it from damage by exposure
to sunlight, air pollution, etc. Youshould use a wax on your Honda
when it is new.
Polishes — Polishes and cleaner/
waxes can restore the shine to paint
that has oxidized and lost some of its shine. They normally contain mild
abrasives and solvents that remove the top layer of the finish. You
should use a polish on your Honda if
the finish does not have its original shine after using a wax.
Cleaning tar, insects, etc. with
removers also takes off the wax. Remember to re-wax those areas,
even if the rest of the vehicle does
not need waxing.
Aluminum Wheels Clean your Honda's aluminum alloy
wheels as you do the rest of the exterior. Wash them with the same
solution, and rinse them thoroughly.
The wheels have a protective clear- coat that keeps the aluminum from
corroding and tarnishing. Using
harsh chemicals, including some
commercial wheel cleaners, or stiff
brushes can damage this clear-coat. Only use a mild detergent and soft
brush or sponge to clean the wheels.
Paint Touch-up

Your dealer has touch-up paint to match your vehicle's color. The color
code is printed on a sticker on the
driver's doorjamb. Take this code to
your dealer so you are sure to get the correct color.
Inspect your vehicle frequently for
chips or scratches in the paint.
Repair them right away to prevent corrosion of the metal underneath.
Use the touch-up paint only on small
chips and scratches. More extensive
paint damage should be repaired by
a professional.

Appearance CareProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Interior Care

Carpeting
Vacuum the carpeting frequently to remove dirt. Ground-in dirt will make
the carpet wear out faster. Periodically shampoo the carpet to
keep it looking new. Use one of the
foam-type carpet cleaners on the market. Follow the instructions that
come with the cleaner, applying it
with a sponge or soft brush. Keep the carpeting as dry as possible bynot adding water to the foam. Fabric
Vacuum dirt and dust out of the material frequently. For generalcleaning, use a solution of mild soap
and lukewarm water, letting it air dry.
To clean off stubborn spots, use a commercially-available fabric cleaner.
Test it on a hidden area of the fabric first, to make sure it does not bleachor stain the fabric. Follow the
instructions that come with the
cleaner.
Vinyl

Remove dirt and dust with a vacuum
cleaner. Wipe the vinyl with a soft
cloth dampened in a solution of mildsoap and water. Use the same
solution with a soft-bristle brush on
more difficult spots. You can also use
commercially-available spray or
foam-type vinyl cleaners.

Appearance CareProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Interior Care
Seat Belts
If your seat belts get dirty, you can
use a soft brush with a mixture of
mild soap and warm water to clean
them. Do not use bleach, dye, or
cleaning solvents. They can weaken
the belt material. Let the belts air- dry before you use the vehicle. Dirt build-up in the loops of the seat
belt anchors can cause the belts to retract slowly. Wipe the insides of
the loops with a clean cloth dampened in mild soap and warm
water or isopropyl alcohol. Windows
Clean the windows, inside and out,
with a commercially-available glass cleaner. You can also use a mixture
of one part white vinegar to ten parts
water. This will remove the haze that builds up on the inside of the
windows. Use a soft cloth or paper
towels to clean all glass and clear plastic surfaces.

The rear window defogger and
antenna wires are bonded to the inside of the glass. Wiping vigorously up-and-
down can dislodge and break these wires. When cleaning the rear window,
use gentle pressure and wipe side-to-

side.

Appearance Care

LOOP

NOTICEProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Interior Care, Corrosion Protection

Air Fresheners If you want to use an air freshener/
deodorizer in the interior of your
vehicle, it is best to use a solid type. Some liquid air fresheners contain
chemicals that may cause parts of
the interior trim and fabric to crack or discolor.
If you use a liquid air freshener,
make sure you fasten it securely so it does not spill as you drive. Corrosion Protection
Two factors normally contribute to causing corrosion in your vehicle:
1. Moisture trapped in body cavities. Dirt and road salt that collects in
hollows on the underside of the
vehicle stays damp, promoting corrosion in that area.
2. Removal of paint and protective coatings from the exterior and
underside of the vehicle.
Many corrosion-preventive measures
are built into your Honda. You can
help keep your vehicle from corroding by performing somesimple periodic maintenance: Repair chips and scratches in the
paint as soon as you discover them.Inspect and clean out the drain
holes in the bottom of the doors and body.
Check the floor coverings for
dampness. Carpeting and floor
mats may remain damp for a long
time, especially in winter. This dampness can eventually cause
the floor panels to corrode.
Use a high-pressure spray to clean
the underside of your vehicle. This is especially important in areas
that use road salt in winter. It isalso a good idea in humid climates
and areas subject to salt air. Be
careful of the ABS wheel sensors
and wiring at each wheel.
Have the corrosion-preventive
coatings on the underside of your
vehicle inspected and repaired periodically.
Appearance CareProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Body Repairs

Body repairs can affect your vehicle's
resistance to corrosion. If your
vehicle needs repairs alter a collision, pay close attention to the parts used
in the repair and the quality of the
work.
Make sure the repair facility uses
Genuine Honda replacement body
parts. Some companies make sheet
metal pieces that seem to duplicate
the original Honda body parts, but are actually inferior in fit, finish, and
corrosion resistance. Once installed,
they do not give the same high- quality appearance.
When reporting your collision to the
insurance company, tell them you
want Genuine Honda parts used in the repair. Although most insurersrecognize the quality of original
parts, some may try to specify that
the repairs be done with other available parts. You should investi-
gate this before any repairs are
begun.

Take your vehicle to your authorized Honda dealer for inspection after the
repairs are completed. He can makesure that quality materials were used,
and that corrosion-preventive
coatings were applied to all repaired
and replaced parts.
Appearance CareProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Taking Care of the Unexpected

This section covers the more-
common problems that motorists

experience with their vehicles. It
gives you information about how to safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again. If not, you will also find instructions
on getting your vehicle towed.
Compact Spare Tire....................... 228
Changing a Flat Tire ..................... 229
If Your Engine Won't Start........... 234
Nothing Happens or theStarter Motor OperatesVery Slowly.............................235
The Starter Operates Normally................................. 236
Jump Starting................................. 236 If Your Engine Overheats............. 238
Low Oil Pressure Indicator.......... 240Charging System Indicator........... 241
Malfunction Indicator Lamp ........ 242
Brake System Indicator................ 243
Closing the Moonroof................... 244
Fuses............................................... 245
Checking and Replacing........... 246

Towing............................................ 250

Taking Care of the UnexpectedProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t