1993 honda prelude si dash lights go off and engine dies. try to start but engine dies. if dash light comes on after fiddling with key, car can be kick started.

Your starter motor is either not getting power or in need of replacement. Otherwise, there is nothing wrong with your car.

Also check your battery connections for no corrosion there as well as by the starter motor. Low voltage circuits in a car are extremely vulnerable to poor contact issues.

sounds like the problem could be in the fuel pump first start out buy removing the back seet cushion and turn the key to the on position there is a fuel pump assess door under the back seat and with the key on you will be able to hear if the pump is staying on with the key on get back to me after you have preformed this step and well go from there

try key and tumbler

You need to check the tcm for codes too. The s3 light is like the check engine light for the tcm. The VSS code might be your problem.

if you can charge the battery and drive it for a while then sounds like the altenator has failed and is not re-charging the battery, good way to test is to charge the battery, start the car and turn the light on, if everything is dimm or the motor dies there is little to no charge voltage, and will require altenator work

Try changing the Transmission oil - can solve a host of problems, including rough changes.

Just fixed this myself. I found a used USDM meter/gauge out of a 1995 SI on EBAY for $200. However, I have a VTEC engine that redlines at 7500 RPM and the SI's redlines at 6500 RPM. Easy to fix by swapping the face plates inside of the meter/gauge. If your issue is the bulbs they cost a lot... around $250 each. But if your lights went out simultaneously then the bulbs are not the issue... it's the power supply where the bulbs plug into and that's located behind the drivers dash speaker (very easy to remove with only two screws holding it in). This part is more expensive at around $350, but cheaper than buying two bulbs. Scroll through every page of honda prelude listings on EBAY and you may just get lucky like I did. Hope this helps.

check your air intake, filters, throttle body etc

check for a blown ignition fuse in the fusebox. more info would help....Do the dash lights come on in the KEY-ON position?
Will it crank over? while its cranking is the engine light on?

Its probably the timing belt... mine did the same thing