1998 HONDA PRELUDE Owners Manual

Safety Labels

These labels are in the locations shown. They warn you of potential
hazards that could cause serious
injury. Read these labels carefully.
If a label comes off or becomes hard
to read, contact your Honda dealer
for a replacement.

Driver and Passenger Safety

HOOD
RADIATOR CAP
Canadian models

SUN VISOR

U.S. models

DASH BOARD

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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............................ 50

Indicator Lights................................ 51

Gauges.............................................. 56
Speedometer................................ 56
Tachometer.................................. 56

Odometer...................................... 56

Trip Meter.................................... 56

Fuel Gauge................................... 57
Temperature Gauge.................... 57 Maintenance Required Indicator.................................... 58
Controls Near the Steering

Wheel........................................ 59

Headlights.................................... 60
Daytime Running Lights............. 60
Instrument Panel Brightness..... 61
Turn Signals................................. 61
Windshield Wipers...................... 62
Windshield Washers................... 63
Hazard Warning........................... 63

Rear Window Defogger.............. 63
Steering Wheel Adjustment....... 64

Steering Wheel Controls ................ 65

Cruise Control.............................. 65
Keys and Locks................................ 68

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

Learning Key................................ 69
Immobilizer System..................... 69
Ignition Switch............................. 70
Power Door Locks....................... 72
Lockout Prevention..................... 73

Trunk............................................73
Glove Box.....................................74
Seat Adjustments............................. 75 Front Seat Adjustments.............. 75Driver's Seat Height Adjustment............................... 76

Rear Seat Access .........................
76

Head Restraints...........................
77
Seat Heaters..................................... 78
Folding Rear Seat............................ 79
Power Windows............................... 80

Moonroof..........................................82

Mirrors.............................................. 83
Adjusting the Power Mirrors.....

83

Parking Brake..................................
84

Digital Clock..................................... 85
Beverage Holder.............................. 86 Console Compartment.................... 87
Coin Box........................................... 88
Accessory Power Socket................ 88
Ashtrays............................................ 89
Interior Lights.................................. 89 Ceiling Lights............................... 89
Courtesy Lights........................... 90
Instruments and ControlsProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Control Locations

DOOR LOCK
SWITCHES
(P.72) DIGITAL CLOCK
(P.85)

MIRROR

CONTROLS
(P.83)

POWER

WINDOW

SWITCHES
(P.80)

FUEL FILL

DOOR RELEASE

(P.121) HEATING/
COOLING
CONTROLS
(P.92)

AUDIO SYSTEM

(P.100)

TRUNK RELEASE
HANDLE
(P.73) HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE

(P.122)

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Indicator Lights

The instrument panel has many indicators to give you important

information about your vehicle.

Lamp Chec

k

These indicator lights come on when you turn the ignition switch ON (II), allowin

g you to see that they are

working:
SRS
Indicator

Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Charging System Indicator Low Oil Pressure Indicator
Anti-lock Brake System Indicator
Seat Belt Reminder Light

D4 Lamp

Immobilizer System Indicator
Active Torque Transfer
System

Indicator

If an
indicator does not light during
this test, it cannot alert you if that system

develops a problem. Have the
dealer check your vehicle for
burned-ou

t bulbs or other problems.
* The
U.S. instrument panel is shown. Differences for the Canadian model

are

noted in the text.
Instruments
and Controls
MALFUNCTION
INDICATOR LAM
P
TRUNK-OPEN INDICATOR
SUPPLEMENTAL

RESTRAINT

SYSTEM

INDICATOR

DOOR-OPEN
INDICATOR
PARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR*
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR*
IMMOBILIZER
SYSTEM INDICATOR
LOW OIL PRESSURE

INDICATOR
SEAT BELT
REMINDER LIGHT LOW
FUEL

INDICATOR

CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR
HIGH

BEAM

INDICATOR
CRUISE CONTRO L

INDICATOR
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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
CRUISE CONTROL INDICATORProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Indicator Lights

Supplemental Restraint

System Indicator

This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch ON (II). If itcomes on at any other time, itindicates a problem in the

supplemental restraint system. For

complete information, see page 43.

Immobilizer System
Indicator
This indicator comes on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition
switch ON (II). It will then go off if
you have inserted a properly-coded ignition key. If it is not a properly-coded key, the indicator will blink
and the engine will not start (see

page 69).

This indicator also blinks several times when you turn the ignitionswitch OFF (II). Charging System
Indicator
If this light comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged. For complete
information, see page 241.

Low Oil Pressure
Indicator
The engine can be severely damaged if this light flashes or stays on when
the engine is running. For complete

information, see page 240.

Malfunction Indicator
Lamp

See page 242.

Cruise Control Indicator
This lights when you set the cruise
control. See page 65 for information

on operating the cruise control.
Parking Brake
and Brake

System

Indicator
This light has two functions:
1. It lights as a reminder that you have not released the parking
brake. Driving with the parking
brake applied can damage the brakes and tires.
2. If it remains lit after you release the parking brake while the engine
is running, or comes on whiledriving, it can indicate a problem
in the brake system. For complete information, see page 243.
Instruments and Controls
S R S

BRAKE

CRUISE

CONTROL
U.S.


Canada
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Indicator Lights

Anti-lock BrakeSystem (ABS)
Indicator
This light normally comes on for a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch ON (II), and when
the ignition switch is turned to
START (III). If this light comes on at
any other time, there is a problem in
the ABS. If this happens, take the
vehicle to your dealer to have it checked. With the light on, your
vehicle still has normal braking ability but no anti-lock. Active Torque Transfer
System (ATTS) Indicator

Type SH only

This indicator normally comes on for a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch ON (II).
If it comes on at any other time,
there is a problem in the Active
Torque Transfer System (ATTS). If this happens, take the vehicle to
your dealer to have it checked. With the indicator on, your vehicle willcorner normally, but you will not
have active torque transfer. Turn Signal and
Hazard Warning
Indicators
The left or right turn signal light blinks when you signal a lane changeor turn. If the light does not blink or
blinks rapidly, it usually means one of the turn signal bulbs is burned out (see page 210). Replace the bulb as
soon as possible, since other drivers
cannot see that you are signalling.
When you turn on the Hazard Warning switch, both turn signallights blink. All turn signals on the
outside of the vehicle should flash.
Instruments and Controls

ABS

ATTS

U.S.


CanadaProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Indicator Lights

Trunk-open Indicator

This light comes on if the trunk lid is not closed tightly.
Door-open Indicator
This light comes on if either door is not closed tightly.
High Beam Indicator
This light comes on with the high beam headlights. See page 60 forinformation on the headlight
controls.
On Canadian models, this indicator
comes on with reduced brightness
when the Daytime Running Lights (DRL) are on (see page 60). Low Fuel Indicator
This indicator is located in the fuel gauge. It comes on as a reminderthat you must refuel soon. "Daytime Running
Lights" Indicator

Canadian models only

This indicator lights when you turn the ignition to ON (II) with the
headlight switch off and the parkingbrake set. It should go off if you turnon the headlights or release the
parking brake. If it comes on at any
other time, it means there is a
problem with the DRL. There may also be a problem with the high
beam headlights.
Instruments and Controls

D
R
L

LOW FUEL INDICATORProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t