Honda Prelude (2000 year). Manual — part 18

Emissions Controls

The burning of gasoline in your car's

engine produces several byproducts.
Some of these are carbon monoxide

(CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and

hydrocarbons (HC). Gasoline
evaporating from the tank also
produces hydrocarbons. Controlling
the production of NOx, CO, and HC
is important to the environment.
Under certain conditions of sunlight
and climate, NOx and HC react to
form photochemical "smog." Carbon
monoxide does not contribute to
smog creation, but it is a poisonous
gas.

The Clean Air Act
The United States Clean Air Act*

sets standards for automobile
emissions. It also requires that
automobile manufacturers explain to
owners how their emissions controls
work and what to do to maintain
them. This section summarizes how
the emissions controls work.
Scheduled maintenance is on page

172

.

* In Canada, Honda vehicles comply

with the Canadian Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards (CMVSS) for
Emissions valid at the time they are
manufactured.

Crankcase Emissions Control

System

Your car has a Positive Crankcase
Ventilation System. This keeps
gasses that build up in the engine's

crankcase from going into the
atmosphere. The Positive Crankcase

Ventilation valve routes them from

the crankcase back to the intake
manifold. They are then drawn into
the engine and burned.

Evaporative Emissions Control

System

As gasoline evaporates in the fuel

tank, an evaporative emissions
control canister filled with charcoal
adsorbs the vapor. It is stored in this
canister while the engine is off. After
the engine is started and warmed up,
the vapor is drawn into the engine

and burned during driving.

Onboard Refueling Vapor

Recovery

The Onboard Refueling Vapor

Recovery (ORVR) system captures
the fuel vapors during refueling. The

vapors are adsorbed in a canister
filled with activated carbon. While

driving, the fuel vapors are drawn
into the engine and burned off.

Technical Information

Main Menu

Table of Contents

Emissions Controls

Exhaust Emissions Controls

The exhaust emissions controls

include four systems: PGM-FI,
Ignition Timing Control, Exhaust
Gas Recirculation and Three Way
Catalytic Converter. These four
systems work together to control the
engine's combustion and minimize

the amount of HC, CO, and NOx that
comes out the tailpipe. The exhaust

emissions control systems are
separate from the crankcase and
evaporative emissions control
systems.

PGM-FI System

The PGM-FI System uses sequential

multiport fuel injection.
It has three subsystems: Air Intake,
Engine Control, and Fuel Control.

The Engine Control Module (ECM)

uses various sensors to determine
how much air is going into the
engine. It then controls how much

fuel to inject under all operating
conditions.

Ignition Timing Control System

This system constantly adjusts the

ignition timing, reducing the amount
of HC, CO and NOx produced.

Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR)

System

The Exhaust Gas Recirculation

(EGR) system takes some of the

exhaust gas and routes it back into
the intake manifold. Adding exhaust
gas to the air/fuel mixture reduces
the amount of NOx produced when
the fuel is burned.

Three Way Catalytic Converter

The three way catalytic converter is

in the exhaust system. Through
chemical reactions, it converts HC,
CO, and NOx in the engine's exhaust
to carbon dioxide (CO

2

), dinitrogen

(N

2

), and water vapor.

Replacement Parts
The emissions control systems are

designed and certified to work to-

gether in reducing emissions to
levels that comply with the Clean Air
Act. To make sure the emissions

remain low, you should use only new
Genuine Honda replacement parts or
their equivalent for repairs. Using
lower quality parts may increase the
emissions from your car.

The emissions control systems are

covered by warranties separate from
the rest of your car. Read your
warranty manual for more informa-
tion.

Technical Information

Main Menu

Table of Contents

Three Way Catalytic Converter

The three way catalytic converter

contains precious metals that serve
as catalysts, promoting chemical
reactions to convert the exhaust
gasses without affecting the metals.

The catalytic converter is referred to

as a three-way catalyst, since it acts
on HC, CO, and NOx. A replacement
unit must be an original Honda part
or its equivalent.

The three way catalytic converter

must operate at a high temperature
for the chemical reactions to take
place. It can set on fire any com-
bustible materials that come near it.
Park your car away from high grass,
dry leaves, or other flammables.

A defective three way catalytic

converter contributes to air pollution,
and can impair your engine's per-

formance. Follow these guidelines to
protect your car's three way catalytic

converter.

Always use unleaded gasoline.

Even a small amount of leaded
gasoline can contaminate the
catalyst metals, making the three

way catalytic converter ineffective.

Keep the engine tuned-up.

Have your car diagnosed and
repaired if it is misfiring, back-
firing, stalling, or otherwise not
running properly.

Technical Information

THREE WAY CATALYTIC CONVERTER

Main Menu

Table of Contents

Warranty and Customer Relations

Customer Relations

Information. . . . . . . . .

274

U.S. Zone Office Map. . . . .

275

Canada Zone Office Map. . . ..

276

Warranty Coverages. . . . . .

277

Reporting Safety Defects

(U.S. Vehicles). . . . . . ...

278

Authorized Manuals. . . . . ..

279

Warranty and Customer Relations

Main Menu

Customer Relations Information

Honda dealership personnel are
trained professionals. They should
be able to answer all your questions.
If you encounter a problem that your
dealership does not solve to your
satisfaction, please discuss it with
the dealership's management. The
Service Manager or General
Manager can help. Almost all
problems are solved in this way.

If you are dissatisfied with the
decision made by the dealership's
management, contact your Honda
Customer Relations Zone Office.
Refer to the U.S. and Canadian Zone
Office maps on the following pages.

When you call or write, please give

us this information:

Vehicle Identification Number

(see page

262

)

Name and address of the dealer
who services your car
Date of purchase
Mileage on your car
Your name, address, and tele-
phone number
A detailed description of the
problem

Name of the dealer who sold the
car to you

Warranty and Customer Relations

Main Menu

Table of Contents

U.S. Zone Office Map

The addresses and telephone numbers are subject to change. If you cannot

reach your Zone office, ask your Honda dealer for the current information.

Western Zone

P.O. Box 2260

700 Van Ness Avenue

Torrance, California

90509-2260

(310) 781-4565

Northwestern Zone

P.O. Box 20186

12439 N.E. Airport Way

Portland, Oregon 97230

(503) 256-0943

(also includes Alaska and

Hawaii)

South Central Zone

4529 Royal Lane

Irving, Texas 75063

(972) 929-5481

Central Zone

101 South Stanfield Road

Troy, Ohio 45373

(937) 332-6250

Northeastern Zone

P.O. Box 337

Eastgate Industrial Park

115 Gaither Drive

Moorestown, New Jersey 08057

(609) 235-5533

Includes: NYC Metro area and

Fairfield County, CT area

Mid-Atlantic Zone

902 Wind River Ln., Suite 200

Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878

(301) 990-2020

Southeastern Zone

1500 Morrison Parkway

Alpharetta, Georgia 30004

(770) 442-2045

North Central Zone

601 Campus Drive, Suite A-9

Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004

(847) 870-5600

New England Zone

555 Old County Road

Windsor Locks, Connecticut 06096

(860)623-3310

See Zone 5 for:

NYC Metro area and

Fairfield County, CT area

West Central Zone

1600 South Abilene Street, Suite D

Aurora, Colorado 80012

(303) 696-3935

Puerto Rico and U.S. V.I.

Bella International

P.O. Box 190816

San Juan, PR 00919-0816

(787) 250-4318

Warranty and Customer Relations

Main Menu

Table of Contents

Canada Zone Office Map

CUSTOMER RELATIONS

RELATIONS AVEC LA CLIENTELE

Honda Canada Inc.
715 Milner Avenue

Toronto, ON

M1B 2K8

Tel: 1-888-9-HONDA-9

Fax: Toll-free 1-877-939-0909

Toronto (416) 287-4776

Honda Canada Inc.

National Office

Warranty and Customer Relations

Main Menu

Table of Contents

Warranty Coverages

U.S. Owners

Your new Honda is covered by these
warranties:

New Car Limited Warranty — covers

your new vehicle, except for the
battery, emissions control systems

and accessories, against defects in
materials and workmanship.

Emissions Control Systems Defects

Warranty and Emissions

Performance Warranty — these two

warranties cover your vehicle's emis-

sions control systems. Time, mileage,

and coverage are conditional. Please
read the warranty manual for exact
information.

Original Equipment Battery Limited
Warranty — this warranty gives up

to 100 percent credit toward a
replacement battery.

Seat Belt Limited Warranty — a seat

belt that fails to function properly is
covered for the useful life of the
vehicle.

Rust Perforation Limited Warranty

— all exterior body panels are

covered for rust-through from the
inside for the specified time period
with no mileage limit.

Accessory Limited Warranty —

Genuine Honda Accessories are
covered under this warranty. Time
and mileage limits depend on the

type of accessory and other factors.

Please read your warranty manual

for details.

Replacement Parts Limited

Warranty — covers all Genuine

Honda replacement parts against
defects in materials and workman-
ship.

Replacement Battery Limited

Warranty — provides prorated

coverage for a replacement battery
purchased from a Honda dealer.

Replacement Muffler Lifetime
Limited Warranty — provides
coverage for as long as the pur-
chaser of the muffler owns the car.

Restrictions and exclusions apply to
all these warranties. Please read the
2000 Honda Warranty Information
booklet that came with your car for
precise information on warranty
coverages. Your Honda's original
tires are covered by their
manufacturer. Tire warranty infor-
mation is in a separate booklet.

Canadian Owners
Please refer to the 2000 Warranty
Manual that came with your car.

Warranty and Customer Relations

Main Menu

Table of Contents

Reporting Safety Defects (U.S. Vehicles)

If you believe that your vehicle has a
defect which could cause a crash or
could cause injury or death, you

should immediately inform the
National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration (NHTSA) in addition

to notifying American Honda Motor
Co., Inc.

If NHTSA receives similar com-
plaints, it may open an investigation,
and if it finds that a safety defect
exists in a group of vehicles, it may
order a recall and remedy campaign.
However, NHTSA cannot become
involved in individual problems
between you, your dealer, or

American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

To contact NHTSA, you may either

call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free
at 1-800-424-9393 (or 366-0123 in

Washington D.C. area) or write to:

NHTSA, U.S. Department of

Transportation, Washington,

D.C. 20590. You can also obtain
other information about motor
vehicle safety from the Hotline.

Warranty and Customer Relations

Main Menu

Table of Contents

Authorized Manuals

Purchasing Factory Authorized Manuals

(U.S. only)

The following publications covering the operation and

servicing of your vehicle can be obtained from Helm
Incorporated, either by filling out the attached form or,

for credit card holders, calling the toll-free phone number

on the form. For manuals prior to the year shown below,
contact Helm Incorporated, P.O. Box 07280, Detroit,
Michigan 48207, or call 1-800-782-4356.

Valid only for sales within the U.S. Canadian owners should

contact their authorized Honda dealer.

By completing this form you can order the materials desired. You can

pay by check or money order, or charge to your credit card. Mail to

Helm Incorporated at the address shown on the back of the order form.

61S3003

61S3003EL

61S3030

31S30630

Main Menu

Table of Contents

Authorized Manuals

Service Manual:

This manual covers maintenance and recommended

procedures for repair to engine and chassis components.
It is written for the Journeyman mechanic, but is simple
enough for most mechanically-inclined owners to under-
stand.

Electrical Troubleshooting Manual:

This manual complements the Service Manual by

providing in-depth troubleshooting information for each
electrical circuit in your vehicle.

Body Repair Manual:

This manual describes the procedures involved in the

replacement of damaged body parts.

P.O. BOX 07280 DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48207 1 -800-782-4356

These Publications cannot be returned for credit without receiving advance authorization within 14
days of delivery. On returns, a restocking fee may be applied against the original order.

Main Menu

Table of Contents