UK Honda Prelude '95 '96 VTEC questions

Hello all.
Just getting to grips with my '96 registered 2.2 VTEC and could do with
some help on a few things.
1. Is there an on-line 'club' like the GT4OC rather than just a number
of sites run by individual owners ? I am looking for a site that would
be more specific than a general usenet site and has various forums
related to Honda or Preludes (or better still VTECs)
2. When I start the car, the door locks itself automatically after a
second or two. Sometimes I tend to de-ice the car by running it for a
while in the morning. The other day I shut the door fully and the car
locked me out. Is there a straightforward way to stop this happening ?
It'd be nice to prevent it but still be able to lock the doors myself
when I am inside. i.e. just stop the autolocking following starting the
car.
3. The manual suggests that (at least on the drivers side) the window
switch should be able to be pushed fully down and when released, the
window should go fully down - same in reverse. This doesn't happen. The
normal electrically operated bit works OK but I have to hold the button
down all the time. It might be my imagination, but I think I can feel a
click if I hold the switch down fully.
4. An imobiliser and alarm have been fitted. I was told this was an
Honda and it has 'Toad' stickers on the window. There is one thing
inside the car that I don't know what it does... on the center console,
where the mirror swich is, to the far left, is a small round knob that
does not turn but is knurled anyway. it has a small red light, offset
from the centre of the knob that flashes and in the centre has a small
button that can be pushed. Nothing seems to happen. Is this part of the
car (it's not in the manual) or is it part of the Honda/Toad
immobilser/alarm and if so what does, should the button do ?
5. Last of all (for now) there are switchces (sorry I forget what they
do) to the right of the steering column on the dash. I should really
look this up for you, but I think one has a picture of a car on it.
Anyway, only one of these lights up at night. It is almost as if the
bulb behiond the others do not work. Should they light up, and if so,
is it easy to 'pop out' the switches and replace whatever is behind.

The reason that I am going through all this is that the car is still
under warrenty but the place I bought it from is some distance away and
I don't want to drive all that way, only to find that there is nothing
wrong !

Many thanks to all

P.S. I've seen a few posts about people who haven't experienced the
kick when the VTEC comes into play. For what it is worth mine almost
feels like a turbo has been switched on. It does have a big bore SS
exhaust fitted and when the VTEC comes on it starts to hum/whine like a
racing car. (I exaggerate a little to make a point) The acceleration
once you are into the power band is quite something. Otherwise it
drives like a reasonbly performanced 2.2 as one would expect - still
pretty nifty.

 

---------------------------

A couple of questions I may have missed: What's the mileage, who sold it
to you, is the warranty with Honda, whose name is on the owner's manual
for the 'toad' alarm? (It sounds non-Honda)

'Curly'

 

Not sure that your questions are relevant Curly but the Toad is an
Honda supplied aftermarket. I can find more once I'v dug around under
the bonnet to find out which model and then try and get some fitting
details otherwise I have no information on it execpt to know that it is
an imobilser and alarm with panic button and also allows remote
locking. I was a bit surprised as I though that all that would be
standard but if it was it must have been upgraded, hence it being
supplied by Honda as a more secure system to the original (if there
ever was one).
It really the other questions that I'd like answering as a bit that
seems like something to do with the alarm probably is !
Cheers

 

I had one of these for 6 years in the UK.
I never found a club specifically for the 2.2 Prelude (doesn't mean there
aren’t any, just that I mustn't have looked hard enough).

The doors shouldn't lock them selves, this maybe something to do with the
alarm. The only time I was locked out of my Prelude was when I was Jet
Washing it (left the engine running) and water must have forced it's self
into the electric part of the lock and the doors all locked. Luckily it
was only a 2-mile walk home to get the spare keys!!

The driver’s window should have an auto open by pushing the switch all the
way down until a faint click is felt. If this isn't working it may be to do
with the alarm as well (especially if it is a full closure type).
My prelude had a genuine Honda alarm/immobiliser factory fitted (but it is
an optional extra,WHY an option on a car as desirable as a V-tec
Prelude???) from new. Toad alarms are very good systems but they are
aftermarket units and possibly may not be fitted by Honda dealers.

Quote: - " to the far left, is a small round knob that does not turn but
is knurled anyway ". No idea what that is for, mine never had one.

All the switches on mine lit up, I never has cause to change any bulbs so
can't help on the switch removal.

If it is under warranty take it back with a written list of the faults and
leave the dealer with a copy and keep a copy your self.

Some reasons that the V-tec will not cut in at 5500rpm: if the oil is not
hot enough, the oil pressure and volume of oil is outside the required
limit, or if the V-tec controller has stopped working.

The only thing that I had repeated trouble with was sticking rear
callipers. This appears to be not just a 2.2 Prelude problem 'cause I
have had the same reoccurring problem with a 1989 2.0i Prelude, 1999 Civic
1.6 Vti coupe and a 2000 Civic 1.8 Vti 5 door.

The 2.2 Prelude is a nice car, enjoy it.

 

I had one of these for 6 years in the UK.
I never found a club specifically for the 2.2 Prelude (doesn't mean there
aren’t any, just that I mustn't have looked hard enough).

The doors shouldn't lock them selves, this maybe something to do with the
alarm. The only time I was locked out of my Prelude was when I was Jet
Washing it (left the engine running) and water must have forced it's self
into the electric part of the lock and the doors all locked. Luckily it
was only a 2-mile walk home to get the spare keys!!

The driver’s window should have an auto open by pushing the switch all the
way down until a faint click is felt. If this isn't working it may be to do
with the alarm as well (especially if it is a full closure type).
My prelude had a genuine Honda alarm/immobiliser factory fitted (but it is
an optional extra,WHY an option on a car as desirable as a V-tec
Prelude???) from new. Toad alarms are very good systems but they are
aftermarket units and possibly may not be fitted by Honda dealers.

Quote: - " to the far left, is a small round knob that does not turn but
is knurled anyway ". No idea what that is for, mine never had one.

All the switches on mine lit up, I never has cause to change any bulbs so
can't help on the switch removal.

If it is under warranty take it back with a written list of the faults and
leave the dealer with a copy and keep a copy your self.

Some reasons that the V-tec will not cut in at 5500rpm: if the oil is not
hot enough, the oil pressure and volume of oil is outside the required
limit, or if the V-tec controller has stopped working.

The only thing that I had repeated trouble with was sticking rear
callipers. This appears to be not just a 2.2 Prelude problem 'cause I
have had the same reoccurring problem with a 1989 2.0i Prelude, 1999 Civic
1.6 Vti coupe and a 2000 Civic 1.8 Vti 5 door.

The 2.2 Prelude is a nice car, enjoy it.