Honda 1998 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.
Driving
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.