2000 HONDA PRELUDE transmission

Automati
c Transmissio n

Neutra l (N ) — Use Neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop briefly with
the engine idling. Shift to Park posi-
tion if you need to leave the car for any reason. Press on the brake pedal
when you are moving the shift lever
from Neutral to another gear.
Driv e (D 4) — Use this position for
your normal driving. The transmis- sion automatically selects a suitable
gear for your speed and acceleration.
You may notice the transmission shifting up at higher speeds when
the engine is cold. This helps the engine warm up faster.
Sequential SportShift Mode — With

the shift lever in "D4" position, you can select the Sequential SportShift
mode to shift gears; much like a
manual transmission, but without a clutch pedal.
To enter the Sequential SportShift mode, slide the shift lever further to
the left. To return to "D4", slide theshift lever to the right.
In the Sequential SportShift mode, each time you push forward on theshift, lever, the transmission shifts to
a higher gear. Pull back on the lever
to downshift. The number of the
gear selected is displayed next to the "D4" indicator (see page 144).
If you slide the shift lever from "D4"
to the Sequential SportShift mode,
the display shows the selected gear.
If you selected "4", you will see /4/
next to "D4" in the display. The Shift
Lever Position Indicator will show the gear you selected while in the
sequential sportshift mode. If youselect the Sequential SportShift
while the car is stopped, the transmission automatically selects
first gear and the display shows /1/.
CONTINUED

Upshif
t

Downshift

Drivin g

Automati
c Transmissio n

When you accelerate away from a
stop, the transmission will be in first

gear. The transmission will not
automatically upshift. Watch the

tachometer and upshift manually

before the engine reaches redline.
The transmission remains in the
selected gear (4, 3, 2, or 1). There is
no automatic downshift when you
push the accelerator pedal to the

floor.

The transmission may automatically downshift from fourth gear to third"
gear under the following conditions: The car speeds drops below

20 mph (32 km/h).
If you drive uphill between

20 — 31 mph (32 — 50 km/h).

If you press the brake pedal as you

drive downhill.
Downshifting gives you more power
when climbing or provides engine
braking when going down a steep hill.
The transmission will also shift automatically as the car comes to a
complete stop. It will downshift to
first gear when the car speed is under 6 mph (10 km/h).
If you try to manually downshift at aspeed that would cause the engine to
exceed the redline in a lower gear,
the transmission will not downshift.
If you try to downshift from fourth
gear to third gear, the gear indicator
will flash /3/ several times, then
return to /4/; if yo
u try to downshift
from third gear to second gear, the
gear indicator will flash /2/ several
times, then return to third gear.

Drivin g

Automati
c Transmissio n

If the car speed slows to below the
redline of the selected lower gear
position while the indicator is

flashing, the transmission will

downshift and the display will show
the selected lower gear.
If the transmission temperature is
below 14°F ( — 10 °C), you may not be able to use the Sequential

SportShift mode.
The table shows the speed ranges
for upshifting and downshifting. Driv
e (D3) — This position is similar
to D4, except only
the first three
gears are selected. Use D3, when towing a trailer in hilly terrain, or to
provide engine braking when goingdown a steep hill. D3 can also keep
the transmission

from cycling
between
third and fourth gears in
stop-and-go driving.
For faster acceleration when in D3 or D4, you can get the transmission to
automatically downshift by pushing
the accelerator pedal to the floor.
The transmission will shift down one or two gears, depending on your
speed.

CONTINUED

Drivin g

Automati
c Transmissio n

Secon d (2 ) — This position locks
the transmission in second gear. It does not downshift to first gear
when you come to a stop. Second gives you more power when climbing,
and increased engine braking when
going down steep hills, Use second
gear when starting out on a slippery surface or in deep snow. It will help
reduce wheelspin. Firs
t (1 ) — With the lever in this
position, the transmission locks in
First gear.
If you shift into First position when
the car speed exceeds 31 mph (50
km/h), the transmission shifts into Second gear first to avoid the
application of the sudden engine
brake. Engin
e Spee d Limite r
If you exceed the maximum speed
for the gear you are in, the engine speed will enter into the tachometer's
red zone. If this occurs, you may feel
the engine cut in and out. This is caused by a limiter in the engine's
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
RPM below the red zone.

Drivin g

Parkin
g

Always use the parking brake when you park your car. The indicator onthe instrument panel shows that the
parking brake is not fully released; itdoes not indicate that the parking
brake is firmly set. Make sure the
parking brake is set firmly or your car may roll if it is parked on an

incline.

If your car has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake
before you put the transmission in Park. This keeps the car from
moving and putting pressure on the
parking mechanism in the
transmission — making it easier to
move the shift lever out of Park
when you want to drive away. If the car is facing uphill, turn the
front wheels away from the curb. If
you have a manual transmission, put it in first gear.
If the car is facing downhill, turn the
front wheels toward the curb. If you
have a manual transmission, put it in reverse gear.
Make sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes. Parkin
g Tip s
• Make sure the moonroof and the windows are closed.
Turn off the lights. Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the trunk or take them with you.
Lock the doors with the key or the
remote transmitter. Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other flammable materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on

fire.

Drivin g

Towing a Traile r
Drivin g Safel y Wit h a Traile r
The added weight, length, and height of a trailer will affect your
vehicle's handling and performance, so driving with a trailer requires
some special driving skills and
techniques.
For your safety and the safety of
others, take time to practice driving
maneuvers before heading for the open road, and follow the guidelines
discussed below.
Towing Speeds and Gears
Drive slower than normal in alldriving situations, and obey posted
speed limits for vehicles with trailers.
If you have an automatic
transmission, use D
4 position when
towing a trailer on level roads. D
3 is
the proper shift lever position to use
when towing a trailer in hilly terrain. (See "Driving on Hills" in the next
column for additional gear
information.)
Making Turns and Braking
Make turns more slowly and wider
than normal. The trailer tracks a smaller arc than your vehicle, and it
can hit or run over something the
vehicle misses. Allow more time and distance for braking. Do not brake or
turn suddenly as this could cause the
trailer to jackknife or turn over.
Driving on Hills
When climbing hills, closely watch
your temperature gauge. If it nears the red mark, turn the airconditioning off, reduce speed and, ifnecessary, pull to the side of the
road to let the engine cool.
If the automatic transmission shifts
frequently between 3rd and 4th
gears while going up a hill, shift to
D3.
If you must stop when facing uphill,
use the foot brake or parking brake.
Do not try to hold the vehicle in
place by pressing on the accelerator, as this can cause the automatic
transmission to overheat.
When driving down hills, reduce
your speed and shift down to 2nd gear. Do not "ride" the brakes, andremember it will take longer to slowdown and stop when towing a trailer.
Drivin g

Towin
g a Traile r

Handling Crosswinds and Buffeting

Crosswinds and air turbulence
caused by passing trucks can disrupt

your steering and cause trailer
swaying. When being passed by a

large vehicle, keep a constant speed
and steer straight ahead. Do not try
to make quick steering or braking
corrections.

Backing Up
Always drive slowly and have someone guide you when backing up.
Grip the bottom of the steering
wheel; then turn the wheel to the left to get the trailer to move to the left,and turn the wheel right to move the
trailer to the right.
Parking

Follow all normal precautions when
parking, including firmly setting the
parking brake and putting the
transmission in Park (automatic) or in 1 st or Reverse (manual). Also,
place wheel chocks at each of the trailer's tires.
Driving

Maintenanc
e

This section explains why it is important to keep your car well
maintained and to follow basic
maintenance safety precautions.
This section also includes Maintenance Schedules for normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions for simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself.
If you have the skills and tools to per-
form more complex maintenance
tasks on your Honda, you may want to purchase the Service Manual. See
page 279 for information on how toobtain a copy, or see your Honda

dealer.
Maintenance Safety....................... 168
Important Safety Precautions ..169
Maintenance Schedule.................. 170
Required Maintenance Record.... 177 Owner Maintenance Checks........ 17
9

Fluid Locations............................... 180

Engine Oil.......................................

181

Adding Oil...................................
181

Recommended Oil.....................
181

Synthetic Oil............................... 182

Additives.....................................182
Changing
the Oil and Filter...... 183
Cooling System.............................. 185 Adding Engine Coolant............. 185Replacing Engine Coolant........ 187
Windshield Washers..................... 190
Transmission Fluid........................ 19

1

Automatic Transmission.......................... 19

1

5-speed ManualTransmission.......................... 192
Brake an
d Clutch Fluid................. 193
Brake System............................. 193 Clutch System............................ 194
Power Steering............................... 194
Air Cleaner Element...................... 195
Hood Latch.....................................

196

Spark Plugs.....................................
196

Replacement...............................
196

Specifications.............................
198

Battery............................................
198

Wiper Blades.................................. 200
Air Conditionin g
System............... 202
Air Conditioning Filter.................. 203 Drive Belts...................................... 204
Timing Belt..................................... 204
Tires................................................ 205

Inflation.......................................205

Inspection................................... 206
Maintenance............................... 20

7

Tire Rotation.............................. 208
Replacing Tire s
and Wheels .... 208
Wheels and Tires....................... 209
Winter Driving...........................209
Snow Tires.............................. 210

Tire Chains............................. 210
Lights..............................................

211

Headlight Aimimg..................... 213
Replacing Bulbs........................ .
214
Storing Your Car............................ 225
Maintenance