1998 HONDA PRELUDE key

Automatic Transmission

Park (P) — This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning off or
starting the engine. To shift out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your foot off the
accelerator pedal. Move the shift
lever to the right to shift out of the
Park position.
If you have done all of the above and still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see Shift Lock Release on page

143.
To avoid transmission damage, cometo a complete stop before shifting
into Park. The shift lever must be inPark before you can remove the key
from the ignition switch. Reverse (R) — To shift to Reverse
from Park, see the explanation under Park. To shift to Reverse from
Neutral, come to a complete stop and
then shift.
Your car has a reverse lockout so
you cannot accidentally shift to Reverse from Neutral or any other
driving position when the vehiclespeed exceeds 7 — 9 mph (12 — 14

km/h).

If you cannot shift to Reverse when
the car is stopped, press the brake pedal and slowly shift to Neutral
then to Reverse.
If there is a problem in the reverse
lockout system, or your vehicle's
battery is disconnected or goes dead,
you cannot shift to Reverse. In this
case, use the procedure of Shift Lock Release (see page 143).
DrivingProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Automatic Transmission

Shift Lock Release
This allows you to move the shift lever out of Park if the normalmethod of pushing on the brake
pedal does not work. This procedurealso releases the Reverse Lockout.
1. Set the Parking brake.
2. Make sure the key is in the ignition switch OFF (0) position.
To release the Reverse Lockout, make sure the key is in the
ACCESSORY (I) position.
3. Put a cloth on the edge of the shift lock release slot cover next to theshift lever.
Use a small flat-tipped screwdriver
or small metal plate (neither are
included in the tool kit) to remove
the cover. Carefully pry off the
edge of the cover. 4. Insert a screwdriver in the shift
lock release slot.
5. Push down on the screwdriver and move the shift lever out of Park to
Neutral.
To release the Reverse Lockout, move the shift lever from Neutral
to Reverse, then Park. 6. Remove the screwdriver from the
shift lock release slot, then install
a new cover.
Depress the brake pedal and
restart the engine.
If you need to use the Shift Lock Release, it means your vehicle is
developing a problem. Have the
vehicle checked by your Honda dealer.

Driving

COVER
SHIFT LOCK
RELEASE SLOTProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Changing a Flat Tire, If Your Engine Won't Start
19. Secure the flat tire by screwing the win

g bolt back into its hole.
20. Store the jack in its holder. Turn the jack's end bracket to lock it in
place.

Replace the cover. Store the
tool kit. 21. Stor
e the center cap in the trunk.
Make

sure it does not get scratch-
ed

or damaged.
22.
Lower the trunk floor, then close
the trunk lid.
Type SH only
If yo

u mount the compact spare on
either front or rear tire, it may cause
the

ATTS indicator light in the
instrument

panel to come on due to
the

difference in tire diameter. The
light

will go out when the proper tire

is installed.
If Your Engine Won't Start
Diagnosing

why your engine won't
start falls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III):
You hear nothing, or almostnothing. The engine's starter
motor does not operate at all, oroperates

very slowly. You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor
sounds like it is spinning
faster than normal, but the engine does

not start up and run.

Taking Car

e of the Unexpected

Loose items can fly around the

interior i

n a crash and could

seriously injure the occupants.

Store th

e wheel, jack and tools

securely before driving.
ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

If Your Engine Won't Start

Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
When you turn the ignition switch to START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying tostart. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all. Check these things: Your vehicle has the Immobilizer
System. You should use a
properly-coded master or valet key
to start the engine (see page 69).
A key that is not properly coded will cause the immobilizer systemindicator in the dash panel to blinkrapidly. Check the transmission interlock.
If you have a manual transmission,
the clutch pedal must be pushed all the way to the floor or the
starter will not operate. With an
automatic transmission, it must be
in Park or Neutral. Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Turn on the headlights and check
their brightness. If the headlightsare very dim or don't light at all,
the battery is discharged. See

Jump Starting on page 236.
Turn the ignition switch to START
(III). If the headlights do not dim,
check the condition of the fuses. If
the fuses are OK, there is proba-
bly something wrong with the electrical circuit for the ignitionswitch or starter motor. You will
need a qualified technician to
determine the problem. (See
Towing on page 250.) If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is dis-
charged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal connec- tions (see page 190). You can
then try jump starting the vehicle
from a booster battery (see page
236).

Taking Care of the UnexpectedProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Index
Accessories and Modifications.... 126 Accessories................................. 126
Additional Safety Precautions.. 127Modifications............................. 127
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key Position)........................................ 71
Accessory Power Socket................ 88
Active Torque Transfer System
(ATTS)
Indicator................................ 54, 149
Operation.................................... 149
Adding Automatic Transmission
Fluid........................................ 183
Brake Fluid................................. 185
Clutch Fluid................................ 186
Engine Coolant........................... 177
Engine Oil...................................173
Manual Transmission Fluid ..... 184
Power Steering Fluid................. 186
Windshield Washer Fluid......... 182
Additional Information About Your Seat Belts........................ 40
Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 40
Seat Belt Maintenance................ 42

Seat Belt System Components... 40

Additional Information About

YourSRS................................... 43

Additional Safety Precautions.... 46
How Your Airbags Work............ 43

How Your SRS Indicator Light
Works........................................45

SRS Components......................... 43

Additives, Engine Oil..................... 174

Adjustments
Headlights.................................. 205

Head Restraints........................... 77
Mirrors..........................................
83

Seats.............................................. 7 5

Steerin
g Wheel............................ 64

Airbag (SRS).................................... 43

Air Cleaner Element...................... 187
Air Conditioning............................... 92 Maintenance............................... 195

Usage.............................................92

Air Outlets (Vents).......................... 94
Air Pressure, Tires........................ 197 High Speed Driving................... 257
Normal Driving.......................... 198
Alcohol in Gasoline........................ 259 Antifreeze....................................... 177
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) Indicator Eight..................... 54, 148Operation.................................... 146
Anti-theft Steering Column

Lock............................................... 71

Appearance Care........................... 219 Ashtrays (Optional)......................... 89
Audio System................................. 100
Automatic Speed Control................ 65
Automatic Transmission............... 136
Capacity, Fluid........................... 254
Checking Fluid Level................ 183
Sequential SportShift Mode..... 139
Shifting........................................ 137
Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 136
Shift Lever Positions................. 137
Shift Lock Release..................... 143
CONTINUEDProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Index

Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 206
Hazard Warning Flashers............... 63

Headlights
Aiming......................................... 205

Daytime Running Lights............. 60
High Beam Indicator................... 60
High Beams, Turning on............ 60
Low Beams, Turning on ............. 60
Reminder Chime.......................... 60
Replacing Halogen Bulbs ......... 206

Turning on.................................... 60

Head Restraints............................... 77
Heating and Cooling........................ 92
High Altitude, Starting at.............. 133
High-Low Beam Switch .................. 60
High-mount Brake Light............... 213

Hood, Opening the ........................ 122

Horn................................................... 59

Hot Coolant, Warning About........ 177
Hydraulic Clutch............................ 186
Hydroplaning.................................. 151 Identification Number, Vehicle.... 252
If Your Car Has to be Towed....... 250
Ignition Keys............................................... 68
Switch............................................ 70
Timing Control System............. 262
Immobilizer System......................... 69
Indicator Lights, Instrument Panel.............................................. 51
Infant Restraint................................ 19 Inflation, Proper Tire ....................
197

High Speed
Driving................... 257
Normal Driving.......................... 198
Inside Mirror.................................... 83
Inspection, Tire.............................. 198
Instrument Panel............................. 50
Instrument Panel Brightness......... 61
Interior Cleaning............................ 222
Interior Lights.................................. 89
Introduction.........................................

i

Jacking up
the Car......................... 231
Jack, Tire........................................ 230

Jump Starting................................. 236

Keys................................................... 68

Label, Certification........................ 252
Lane Change, Signaling.................. 61
Lap/Shoulder Belts......................... 40Leaking of Exhaust into Car.......... 47
Learning Key.................................... 69
Lights Bulb Replacement..................... 206
Indicator........................................ 51

Parking.......................................... 60

Turn Signal................................... 61
Loading Cargo................................ 128
LOCK (Ignition Key Position)....... 71
CONTINUEDProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Index

Locks Anti-theft Steering Column........ 71
Fuel Fill Door............................. 121
Glove Box.....................................74

Power Door.................................. 72

Trunk............................................
73

Low Coolant
Level......................... 124
Lower Gear, Downshifting to a.... 134
Low Fuel Indicator.......................... 55
Low Oil Pressure Indicator.... 53, 240
Lubricant Specifications Chart........................................... 254
Luggage.......................................... 128
Maintenance................................... 159 Owner Maintenance Checks.... 171

Record................................. 169 - 170

Required Indicator....................... 58
Schedule............................. 162 -

168

Malfunction Indicator
Lamp ... 53,

242

Manual Transmission.....................
134

Manual Transmission

Fluid .......... 184
Maximum Allowable Shift
Speeds................................. 135, 142
Meters, Gauges................................ 56
Methanol in Gasoline.................... 259
Mirrors, Adjusting........................... 83

Moonroof.......................................... 82
Closing Manually....................... 244
Operation...................................... 82
Neutral Gear Position.................... 139
New Vehicle Break-in ................... 120
Normal Shift Speeds...................... 135
NOTICE, Explanation of.................... i Numbers, Identification................ 252
Octane Requirement, Gasoline.... 120Odometer.......................................... 56

Odometer, Trip................................ 56

Oil Change, How to ......................... 175
Change, When to....................... 164
Checking Engine....................... 123
Pressure Indicator............... 53, 240 Selecting Proper Viscosity
Chart....................................... 174
ON (Ignition Key Position) ............ 71
Opening the Hood ......................... 122
Opening the Trunk.......................... 73
Operation in Foreign Countries... 260 Outside Mirrors............................... 83
Overheating, Engine..................... 238
Panel Brightness Control............... 61
Park Gear Position......................... 138 Parking............................................ 144
Parking Brake.................................. 84
Parking Lights.................................. 60
Parking Over Things that Burn... 144
PGM-FI System.............................. 262
Polishing and Waxing ................... 221

Power
Door Locks................................... 72

Mirrors.......................................... 83

Steering.......................................186

Windows....................................... 80
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts.......... 17ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Index

Shift Lock Release......................... 143
Side Marker Lights, Bulb
Replacement in.......................... 209

Signaling Turns................................ 61

Snow Tires...................................... 202

Solvent-type Cleaners.................... 220
Sound System................................. 100

Spare Tire

Inflating.......................................228

Specifications............................. 255
Spark Plugs, Replacing................. 188
Specifications Charts ............ 254, 255

Speed Control................................... 65

Speedometer.................................... 56
SRS, Additional Information........... 43 Additional Safety Precautions.... 46How Your Airbags Work............ 43How Your SRS Indicator Light
Works........................................ 45

SRS Components......................... 43
SRS Service................................... 45
SRS Indicator.............................. 45, 53
START (Ignition Key Position) ..... 71
Starting the Engine........................ 133 In Cold Weather at HighAltitude................................... 133 With a Dead Battery ................. 236
Steam Coming from Engine......... 238
Steering Wheel Adjustment................................... 64
Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 71

Stereo Sound System.................... 100
Storing Your Car............................ 217

Supplemental Restraint System..... 43
Servicing....................................... 45

SRS Indicator.......................... 45, 53

Synthetic Oil................................... 174

Tachometer...................................... 56 Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 211
Taking Care of the Unexpected................................ 227
Tape Player..................................... 113
Technical Descriptions Emission Control Systems........ 261
Three Way Catalytic Converter................................ 263
Tire Information........................ 256
Temperature Gauge........................ 57
Tether Attachment Points.............. 38 Three Way Catalytic Converter... 263

Time, Setting the ............................. 85

Timing Belt..................................... 196
Tire Chains..................................... 202
Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 229
Tires................................................ 197
Air Pressure............................... 197Checking Wear.......................... 198
Compact Spare........................... 228
DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 257
Inflation....................................... 197
Inspection................................... 198
Maintenance............................... 199
Replacing.................................... 200 Rotating....................................... 200

Snow............................................202

Specifications............................. 255
Tire Chains................................. 202 Technical Information.............. 256
Winter Driving........................... 201
Tools, Tire Changing.................... 229
Towing A Trailer...................................... 152Emergency................................. 250ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t