Hi, I recently got a 2000 Honda Prelude S.

It's my first car, so I'm very inexperienced with cars and engines and stuff like that.

I've been reading alot on the internet about how engines work and stuff like that. So i guess i'm fairly proficient at understanding the engine dynamics.

However, I really want to know how to gain experience so i can mod my prelude without messing it up! I don't want to pop open the hood and pull out plugs and stuff without knowing what it does. So is there any websites or books that you can recoommend to help me learn? By the way, How do you guys know so much about cars and stuff? Is it just from the internet, or do you guys take courses (like at colleges)?

EDIT:
could somebody be kind enough to check the history for my car (i went to carfax and the cost is a bit too much $20?

the VIN is JHMBB6140YC801351




Modified by Newt at 2:01 AM 5/23/2003

 

my advice to you is get a manual, make friends with someone who knows how to work on cars. when you want to do something ask them for help and you will begin to catch on. IMO the best way to learn something is through practical application. also know your limitations, don't ry to rebuild your engine if you don't know what your doing. its more cost effective to pay someone to do work then to pay someone to fix your mistakes and then do the work. but don't be discouraged because you aren't a master mechanic, doing the work on your car is way more rewarding then paying someone. just use common sense.

 

yes i agree... knowing someone who knows about cars will really help you increase your knowledge. just keep searching the web to find out more about your car. and yes like 93preludevtec said... it is way more rewarding to do something yourself

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 93preludevtec &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">my advice to you is get a manual </TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah the Helm manual is awesome. It has the breakdown of pretty much everything in your car. oh and I got a quick question you get an SH prelude right ?

 

Here is a website that is pretty helpfull

http://www.howstuffworks.com

Doing internet research and reading will help you some but im with everyone else for you to really understand, find somone that knows about cars that will help you. Nothing beats "hands on" experience.

 

nope it is an S type prelude.

btw, i have a few other questions

Is there any way i can check the background of a used car? like using VIN number or something?

and is there anything bad that could happen because the owned before me added an air intake?

what is this helm guide i hear about? where can i find it?

 

you can use your vin to check vehicle history with carfax.com but it costs money to do it. maybe someone on here could help you if they have a subscription already. anyway the intake question, no the fact that aftermarket intake is on shouldn't be a problem as long as it was done right. the only problem i see with the previous owner doing aftermarket performance mods is thats a good indication the car was beat on (i.e. hard driving).

 

Hmm I appreciate the advice. Ill start reading when i have the time.

but first could somebody be kind enough to check the history for me car (i went to carfax and the cost is a bit too much $20?

the VIN is JHMBB6140YC801351

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

 

im lookin to buy a brand new prelude any suggestions. also i know that there is a company that makes functional body kits anyone know who it is?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slownlow_inc. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">im lookin to buy a brand new prelude any suggestions. also i know that there is a company that makes functional body kits anyone know who it is?</TD></TR></TABLE>

you should worry about buying the car before you think about buying a bodykit. also those functional bodykits are functional at high speeds, when they can create downforce. why not just buy a carbon fiber lip.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slownlow_inc. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">im lookin to buy a brand new prelude any suggestions. also i know that there is a company that makes functional body kits anyone know who it is?</TD></TR></TABLE>

All i have to say is DAMN THE STUPIDITY

 

Get a Helms, and start readin all u can here on honda-tech.
Search is awesome tool too.

 

NEWT- I believe you are the first on here with a type S. are you sure it is a type S???? and not a type S conversion? post some pics. use http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com if you need to host the pics. is it RHD?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slownlow_inc. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">im lookin to buy a brand new prelude any suggestions. also i know that there is a company that makes functional body kits anyone know who it is?</TD></TR></TABLE>

they dont make preludes anymore. but good luck finding a newer one.

 

I am not sure if it is type S.

What i meant was that it is not the SH type (the one with ATTS). It is the slightly cheaper version which i thought was called S?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Newt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I am not sure if it is type S.

What i meant was that it is not the SH type (the one with ATTS). It is the slightly cheaper version which i thought was called S?

</TD></TR></TABLE>

nah dude, the type S is the Japanese version of the SH. if your gauge cluster does not light up the ATTS light when you start the car, if you have the swirled rims, and no light in the door pannel then it is a Base model.

 

is your car manual or auto?

edit: here's the link to the Hlems manual http://www.helminc.com/helm/pr...K0Q49

 

.prelude's are sexy cars. .if u want to get chicks , get a manual cuz men dont drive auto.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by xdayx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">.prelude's are sexy cars. .if u want to get chicks , get a manual cuz men dont drive auto.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Helms Manual, IE, service manual, it's a BOOK

 

90% of the stuff I know is because something blew blew up so hold on for a fantastic voyage into car-land.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Boosted97Lude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Helms Manual, IE, service manual, it's a BOOK </TD></TR></TABLE>
ha ha, that rocks nads.

 

My advice to you...

1. Only mod the parts that will make the car faster or handles better. I don't do cosmetic mods becuz I think that's a waste of money. My car's exterior and interior are bone-stock.

2. Start with bolt-ons and move gradually into custom works. I/H/E --&gt; Suspension --&gt; Better tires (on stock wheels) --&gt; Pulley --&gt; VAFC --&gt; ECU --&gt; etc. etc.

3. Make sure you have a DEEP, DEEP pocket.

Edited: Just to emphasize that this is my opinion.....


Modified by s-silver at 4:44 PM 5/22/2003

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by s-silver &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">1. Only mod the parts that will make the car faster or handles better. I don't do cosmetic mods becuz I think that's a waste of money. My car's exterior and interior are bone-stock.</TD></TR></TABLE>
that's your opinion, not everyone feels the same way

 

*bump*

I really want to get the carfax

 

A good idea, one that I almost never follow but wish I did, is when you start doing something, record each step one at a time on a sheet of paper. That way, manual or no, you still can put it all back together by following your steps in reverse order.




Good luck!

http://www.helminc.com is a good place to look for the Helm's manual. You can also find it on ebay.

 

if you enter your vin at carfax.com they will tell you how many records they have for your car before you pay for a full report. If you have 5 or 6, or less, then it's a good chance your car is perfectly fine. Those will just be change of ownership records and stuff. The only time you have to worry is if you have an aweful lot of records.

For instance, if you have 6 records in a 3 year old car, that is an average of 2 per year. But if you have 12 records in a 2 year old car, you are looking at 6 per year! so then you might start to worry.

"VIN: JHMBB6140YC801351
Year/Make/Model: 2000 HONDA PRELUDE
Body Style: Coupe
Engine Type: 2.2L L4 DOHC PFI 16V
Manufactured In: JAPAN
Search Results: 3 records found in our database "

3 records in 3 years probably just means that you are the 2nd owner.