Honda 1998 Prelude Owner's Manual page 142

Automatic Transmission
Second (2) — This position locks
the transmission in second gear. It
does not downshift to first gear
when you come to a stop. Second
gives you more power when climbing,
and increased engine braking when
going down steep hills. Use second
gear when starting out on a slippery
surface or in deep snow. It will help
reduce wheelspin.
Driving
First (1) With the lever in this
position, the transmission locks in
First gear.
If you shift into First position when
the vehicle speed exceeds 31 mph
(50 km/h), the transmission shifts
into Second gear first to avoid the
application of the sudden engine
brake.
Maximum Allowable Speeds
The speeds in this table are the
maximum allowable speeds in each
position. If you exceed these speeds,
the engine speed will enter into the
tachometer's red zone. If this occurs,
you will feel the engine cut in and
out. This is caused by a limiter in the
engine's computer controls. The
engine will run normally when you
reduce the RPM below the red zone.
Before downshifting, make sure the
vehicle will not exceed the maximum
allowable speed in the chart in the
lower gear to avoid engine damage.