2000 HONDA PRELUDE radiator cap

Coolin
g Syste m

Addin g Engin e Coolan t

If the coolant level in the reserve
tank is at or below the MIN line, add coolant to bring it up to the MAX line.
Inspect the cooling system for leaks.
This coolant should always be a mixture of 50 percent antifreeze and50 percent water. Never add straight
antifreeze or plain water. Always use Genuine Honda
Antifreeze/Coolant. If it is not available, you may use another
major-brand non-silicate coolant as a
temporary replacement. Make sure it
is a high-quality coolant
recommended for aluminum engines.
However, continued use of any non-
Honda coolant can result in
corrosion, causing the cooling system to malfunction or fail. Have
the cooling system flushed and refilled with Honda antifreeze/
coolant as soon as possible. If the reserve tank is completely
empty, you should also check the
coolant level in the radiator.
CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

RESERV
E TAN K
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.

Coolin
g Syste m

1. Make sure the engine and radiator are cool.
2. Turn the radiator cap counter- clockwise, without pressing down
on it, until it stops. This relieves
any pressure remaining in the

cooling system.
3. Remove the radiator cap by
pushing down and turning
counterclockwise.
4. The coolant level should be up to the base of the filler neck. Addcoolant if it is low.
5. Put the radiator cap back on.
Tighten it fully.

6. Pour coolant into the reserve tank.Fill it to halfway between the MAX
and MIN marks. Put the cap backon the reserve tank.
Maintenanc e
RADIATO
R CA P
RESERVE TAN K

Coolin
g Syste m

Do not add any rust inhibitors or other additives to your car's coolingsystem. They may not be compatible
with the coolant or engine compo-
nents.

Replacin g Engin e Coolan t
The cooling system should be completely drained and refilled with
new coolant according to the time
and distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule. Only use Genuine Honda Antifreeze/Coolant.
Draining the coolant requires access
to the underside of the car. Unless
you have the tools and knowledge,
you should have this maintenance done by a skilled mechanic. 1. Turn the ignition ON (II). Slide
the heater temperature controllever to maximum heat. Turn offthe ignition. Open the hood. Makesure the engine and radiator are
cool to the touch.
2. Remove the radiator cap. 3. Loosen the drain plug on the
bottom of the radiator. Thecoolant will come out through the
hole in the splash cover.

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e
DRAI
N PLU G
Typ e S H

Coolin
g Syste m

Except Type SH only
Remove the drain bolt and washer
from the engine block. 4. Remove the reserve tank from its
holder by pulling it straight up.
Drain the coolant, then put the
tank back in its holder.
5. When the coolant stops draining, tighten the drain plug at the
bottom of the radiator.
Except Type SH only

Apply non-hardening sealant to the
drain bolt threads, put a new washer
on the drain bolt, and reinstall the
bolt in the engine block. Tighten it
securely.

Tightening torque:
61 lbf.ft (83 N.m , 8.5 kgf.m)

6. Mix the recommended antifreez
e
with an equal amount of purified or distilled water in a clean
container. The cooling system
capacity is:

With 5-speed manual transmission:

(Except Type SH)

0.87 US gal (3.3 l , 0.73 Imp gal)

(Type SH)

0.85 US gal (3.2 l , 0.70 Imp gal)

With automatic transmission:

0.85 US gal (3.2 l ,0.70 Imp gal)

Maintenanc e
DRAI
N BOL T
Excep t
Typ e S H
DRAIN PLU G


HOLDER
RESERV
E TAN K


RESERVE
TAN K CA P

Cooling
System
7. Loosen the bleeder bolt on top of the engine.
Pour coolant into the radiator up
to the base of the filler neck.
Tighten the bleeder bolt when coolant comes out in a steady
stream with no bubbles.
8. Fill the reserve tank to the MAX mark. Install the reserve tank cap. 9. Check the level in the radiator,

add coolant if needed.

10. Install the radiator cap, and tighten it to the first stop.

11. Start the engine and let it run until
the radiator fan comes on two
times. Then stop the engine. 12. Remove the radiator cap. Fill the
radiator with coolant up to the
filler neck and the reserve tank up
to the MAX mark.

13. Start the engine and hold it at 1,500 rpm until the radiator fancomes on. Turn off the engine.Check the coolant level in the
radiator and add coolant if needed.
14. Install the radiator cap, and
tighten it fully.

15. If necessary, fill the reserve tank
to the MAX mark. Install the
reserve tank cap.
Maintenance
FILLE
R NEC K
Fill u p to her e BLEEDER
BOL T

Ai
r Conditionin g System , Ai r Conditionin g Filte r

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
265.)

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.
Ai
r Conditionin g Filte r
The air conditioning filter removes pollen and dust from the outside air
the climate control system brings
into the interior.
This filter should be replaced every 30,000 miles (48,000 km) under
normal conditions. It should be
replaced every 15,000 miles (24,000
km) if you drive primarily in urban areas that have high concentrations
of soot in the air from industry and
diesel-powered vehicles. Replace it
more often if air flow from the
heating and cooling system becomes
less than usual. Have the air conditioning filter replaced by your
Honda dealer.

Maintenance

NOTIC
E NOTIC
E

I
f You r Engin e Overheat s

6. Look for any obvious coolant leaks, such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot, so use caution. If you find a leak, it
must be repaired before you
continue driving (see Emergenc y
Towin g on page 258).
7. If you don't find an obvious leak, check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank (see page131). If the level is below the
MIN mark, add coolant to halfway
between the MIN and MAX marks.
8. If there was no coolant in the reserve tank, you may also have toadd coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the pointer
reaches the middle of the tempera-
ture gauge, or lower, before check- ing the radiator. 9. Using gloves or a large heavy
cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the first stop. This
releases any remaining pressure in
the cooling system. After the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap and turn it until it comes off. 10. Start the engine and set the
temperature control lever tomaximum. Add coolant to the
radiator up to the base of the filler
neck. If you do not have the
proper coolant mixture available,
you can add plain water. Remember to have the coolingsystem drained and refilled with
the proper mixture as soon as you
can.

11. Put the radiator cap back on tightly. Run the engine and watchthe temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair. (See Emergenc y
Towin g on page 258.)
12. If the temperature stays normal, check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the MAX mark. Put the cap back on

tightly.

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.