1998 HONDA PRELUDE light

Owner Maintenance Checks
You should check the following items at the specified intervals. If
you are unsure of how to perform any check, turn to the page given. Engine oil level — Check every
time you fill the fuel tank. See page 123. Engine coolant level — Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
you fill the fuel tank. See page 124.
Windshield washer fluid — Check
the level in the reservoir monthly.If weather conditions cause you to
use the washers frequently, check
the reservoir each time you stop
for fuel. See page 182. Automatic transmission — Check
the fluid level monthly. See page
183.
Brakes — Check the fluid level
monthly. See page 185. Tires — Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread for
wear and foreign objects. See page
197.

Lights — Check the operation of
the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light,
turn signals, brake lights, and
license plate lights monthly. See

page 203.

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Engine Oil

4. Install a new oil filter according to
instructions that come with it.
5. Put a new washer on the drain bolt,
then reinstall the drain bolt.
Tighten it to:
33 Ibf .
ft (44 N .
m , 4.5 kgf .
m)

6. Refill the engine with the recom-

mended oil.

Engine oil change capacity (including filter):

5.1 US qt(4.8 l ,4.2 Imp qt)

7. Replace the engine oil fill cap. Start the engine. The oil pressure
indicator light should go out within
five seconds. If it does not, turn off
the engine and reinspect your
work.
8. Let the engine run for several minutes and check the drain bolt
and oil filter for leaks. 9. Turn off the engine, let it sit for
several minutes, then check the oil
level. If necessary, add oil to bring
the level to the upper mark on the
dipstick.

Improper disposal of engine oil can be
harmful to the environment. If yon
change your own oil, please dispose of the used oil properly. Put it in a sealed
container and take it to a recycling
center. Do not discard it in a trash bin
or dump it on the ground.

Maintenance
OIL FILTER

Except Type SH

NOTICE
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Windshield Washers

Check the level in the windshield
washer reservoir at least monthly
during normal usage. In bad weather,

when you use the washers often,
check the level every time you stop

for fuel. The windshield washer reservoir is
located behind the driver's side
headlight. Check the reservoir's fluidlevel by removing the cap and
looking at the float. It should be up
to the top of the neck. If the float is at the bottom of the neck, the
reservoir is nearly empty.
Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer fluid. This increases the cleaning capability and
prevents freezing in cold weather.
Do not use engine antifreeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir.
Antifreeze can damage your vehicle's
paint, while a vinegar/water solution
can damage the windshield washer

pump.

Use only commercially-available
windshield washer fluid.

Maintenance
NOTICE

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Air Conditioning System
Your vehicle's air conditioning is a sealed system. Any major mainte-
nance, such as recharging, should be
done by a qualified mechanic. You
can do a couple of things to make
sure the air conditioning works
efficiently. Periodically check the engine's
radiator and air conditioning
condenser for leaves, insects, and
dirt stuck to the front surface. These
block the air flow and reduce cooling
efficiency. Use a light spray from a
hose or a soft brush to remove them.

The condenser and radiator fins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or soft-bristle brush to clean them.

Run the air conditioning at least once
a week during the cold weather
months. Run it for at least ten
minutes while you are driving at a steady speed with the engine at
normal operating temperature. This
circulates the lubricating oil con-
tained in the refrigerant. If the air conditioning does not get as
cold as before, have your dealer
check the system. Recharge the system with Refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a). (See Specifications on page 255.)

Whenever you have the air conditioning

system serviced, make sure the service

facility uses a refrigerant recycling
system. This system captures the
refrigerant for reuse. Releasing
refrigerant into the atmosphere can

damage the environment.

Maintenance

AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER

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Lights

Check the operation of your vehicle's
exterior lights at least once a month.
A burned out bulb can create an unsafe condition by reducing your
vehicle's visibility and the ability to signal your intentions to other
drivers.

CONTINUED

Maintenance
PARKING LIGHT
HEADLIGHT LOW BEAM
SIDE MARKER LIGHT
HEADLIGHT HIGH BEAM
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Lights

Check the following:
Headlights (low and high beam)
Parking lights Taillights
Brake lights
High-mount brake light
Turn signals
Back-up lights
Hazard light function
License plate light
Side marker lights
Daytime running lights
(Canadian models)
If you find any bulbs are burned out,

replace them as soon as possible.
Refer to the chart on page 255 to

determine what type of replacement

bulb is needed.

Maintenance TAILLIGHT/BRAKE LIGHT
HIGH-MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT

TAILLIGHT

BACK-UP LIGHT
LICENSE PLATE LIGHT
TURN SIGNAL
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Lights

Headlight Aiming
The headlights were properly aimed
when your vehicle was new. You should check their aim if you
regularly carry heavy items in the
trunk or pull a trailer. Each headlight
assembly has horizontal and vertical
adjustment indicators. These are set to their "0" positions after the
headlights are aimed at the factory.
To check these settings:
1. Make sure the fuel tank is full. Park the vehicle on level ground.
2. The driver or someone who weighs the same should be sitting
in the driver's seat for all checks
and adjustments.Load the trunk with the items you
normally carry. If you usually pull a trailer, load it as
you would normally and attach it to the vehicle. Push down on the frontand rear bumpers several times tomake sure the vehicle is sitting
normally.
3. Open the hood.
4. Check the horizontal angle gauge. The line on the adjustment screwindicator should line up with the"0" mark on the gauge. 5. Check the vertical angle gauge.
The bubble should be centeredunderneath the longest scribe
mark on the gauge.

CONTINUED

Maintenance
HORIZONTAL ANGLE GAUGE

BUBBLE

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Lights

6. If either indicator is not aligned
with its "0" mark as described, an adjustment ca

n be made using a
Phillips-head

screwdriver to
realign it with the "0" mark. Please
refer t
o the illustrations. 7. I
f you cannot get an indicator to
align,

have your Honda dealer
inspect the vehicle for body

damage or suspension problems.
Replacing a Headlight Bulb
Your ca

r has two bulbs on each side,
four in total. Make sure you are replacing
the bulb that is burned out.
Your ca

r uses halogen headlight
bulbs. When replacing a bulb, handle it by its plastic case and protect the
glass

from contact with your skin or
hard

objects. If you touch the glass,
clea

n it with denatured alcohol and a
clean

cloth.
The headlight bulbs in your car are H1 headlight bulbs for
longer life.
We recommend the use of Genuine Honda parts for replacing a
headlight bulb.

Halogen headlight bulbs get very hot when lit. Oil, perspiration, or a scratch
on the glass can
cause the bulb to
overheat and shatter.

Maintenance

HORIZONTAL ADJUSTMENT


VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT

NOTICE
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