1998 Honda Prelude Owner's Manual - Page 140

Automatic Transmission 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 vehicle speeds drops below 20 mph (32km/h). If you drive uphill between 20 - 31mph(32 - 50km/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 vehicle comes to a complete stop. It will downshift to first gear when the vehicle speed is under 6 mph (10 km/h). If you try to manually downshift at a speed 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 you try to downshift from third gear to second gear, the gear indicator will flash / 2 / several times, then return to third gear. Driving