maintenance Acura CL 2001 Owner's Manual

2001 CL Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com.
Contents
Introduction ........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safet y........................................................................\
.........................................ii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
............................................ .2
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
..................................... .5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Control s........................................................................\
........................................ .51
Instrume nt panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
..................... .121
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................159
What gasoline to use, how to break -in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
...................................................................... 173
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................203
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take you r vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Car e........................................................................\
..................................................... .263
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpecte d........................................................................\
..............................271
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, an d how to handle them.
Technical Informatio n........................................................................\
.............................................297
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................309
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manu als (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................315
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index........................................................................\
........................................................................\
...... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.
Owner's Identification Form

As you read this manual, you will
find information that is preceded by
asymbol. This
inf ormation is intended to help you
avoid damage to your Acura, other
property, or the environment.
Congratulations ! Your selection of a 2001 Acura 3.2 CL was a wise
investment. It will give you years of driving pleasure.
One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new Acura is to read
this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls and
convenience items. Af terwards, keep this owner’s manual in your car so you
can ref er to it at any time.
Several warranties protect your new Acura. Read the warranty booklet
thoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rights
and responsibilities.
Maintaining your car according to the schedules given in this manual helps
to keep your driving trouble-f ree while it preserves your investment. When
your car needs maintenance, keep in mind that your Acura dealer’s staf f is
specially trained in servicing the many systems unique to your Acura. Your
Acura dealer is dedicated to your satisf action and will be pleased to answer
any questions and concerns.
Introduction
i

This section gives you important
inf ormation about how to protect
yourself and your passengers. It
shows you how to use seat belts
properly. It explains your Supple-
mental Restraint System. And it tells
you how to properly restrain inf ants
andchildreninyourcar..........
Important Safety Precautions . 6
.............
Your Car’s Saf ety Features . 7
.......................................
Seat Belts . 8
...........................................
Airbags . 9
.....................
Seats & Seat-Backs . 10
..........................
Head Restraints . 10
..................................
Door Locks . 10
........
Pre-Drive Saf ety Checklist . 11
............................
Protecting Adults . 12
.....
1. Close and Lock the Doors . 12
...........
2. Adjust the Front Seats . 13
............
3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . 14
...
4. Adjust the Head Restraints . 15
5. Fasten and Position the Seat
.....................................
Belts . 15
....
6. Adjust the Steering Wheel . 17 7. Maintain a Proper Sitting
................................
Position . 17
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 18
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 19
........................
Protecting Children . 20
All Children Must Be ...............................
Restrained . 20
Children Should Sit in the Back ...........................................
Seat . 21
The Passenger’s Front Airbag Poses Serious Risks ...........................
to Children . 21
If You Must Drive with Several ...................................
Children . 23
If a Child Requires Close ..................................
Attention . 23
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 23
General Guidelines f or Using
...............................
Child Seats . 24
.......................
Protecting Inf ants . 28
.........
Protecting Small Children . 32
.......
Protecting Larger Children . 35
Using Child Seats with
.....................................
Tethers . 39Additional Inf ormation About Your
.................................
Seat Belts . 40
..
Seat Belt System Components . 40
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt . 40
Automatic Seat Belt ...............................
Tensioners . 41
...............
Seat Belt Maintenance . 42
Additional Inf ormation About Your ..........................
Front Airbags . 43
........................
SRS Components . 43
How Your Front Airbags .........................................
Work . 43
How the SRS Indicator Light .......................................
Works . 45
Additional Inf ormation About Your ............................
Side Airbags . 46
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 46
How The Side Airbag Indicator
............................
Light Works . 47
Additional Inf ormation About Your .....................................
Airbags . 48
.............................
Airbag Service . 48
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 48
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 49
...................................
Saf ety Labels . 50
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
5

You’ll f ind many saf ety
recommendations throughout this
section, and throughout this manual.
Therecommendationsonthispage
are the ones we consider to be the
most important.Excessive speed is a major f actor in
crash injuries and deaths. Generally,
the higher the speed the greater the
risk, but serious accidents can also
occur at lower speeds. Never drive
f aster than is saf e f or current
conditions, regardless of the
maximum speed posted.
A seat belt is your best protection in
all types of collisions. Airbags
supplement seat belts, but airbags
are designed to inf late only in a
moderate to severe f rontal collision.
So even though your car is equipped
with airbags, make sure you and
your passengers always wear your
seat belts, and wear them properly.
(See page .)
Children are saf est when they are
properly restrained in the back seat,
notthefrontseat.Achildwhoistoo
smallforaseatbeltmustbeproperly
restrained in a child saf ety seat. (See
page .) Having a tire blowout or a
mechanical f ailure can be extremely
hazardous. To reduce the possibility
of such problems, check your tire
pressures and condition f requently,
and perform all regularly scheduled
maintenance. (See page .)
Alcohol and driving don’t mix. Even
one drink can reduce your ability to
respond to changing conditions, and
your reaction time gets worse with
every additional drink. So don’t drink
and drive, and don’t let your f riends
drink and drive, either. While airbags can save lives, they
can cause serious or fatal injuries to
occupants who sit too close to them,
or are not properly restrained.
Inf ants, young children, and short
adults are at the greatest risk. Be
sure to f ollow all instructions and
warnings in this manual. (See page
.)
9
15
20 206
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Important Saf ety Precautions
Always Wear Your Seat Belt
Be Aware of Airbag Hazards Control Your Speed
K eep Your Car in Saf e Condition
Restrain All Children Don’t Drink and Drive
6

For saf ety, you should check the
condition of your seat belts regularly.
Pull each belt out f ully and look f or
f rays, cuts, burns, and wear. Check
that the latches work smoothly and
that the lap/shoulder belts retract
easily. Any belt not in good condition
or not working properly will not
provide good protection and should
be replaced as soon as possible.If a seat belt is worn during a crash,
you should have your dealer inspect
the belt, and replace it if necessary.
A belt that has been worn during a
crash may not provide the same level
of protection in a subsequent crash.
The dealer should also inspect the
anchors f or damage and replace
them if needed.
For inf ormation on how to clean your
seat belts, see page . Automatic seat belt tensioners that
deployed during a crash must be
replaced.
Acura provides a lif etime warranty
on seat belts. Acura will repair or
replace any seat belt component
that f ails to f unction properly
during normal use. Please see
your
booklet f or details. 267
Acura Warranty Inf ormation
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Additional Inf ormation About Your Seat Belts
Seat Belt Maintenance
U.S. Models
42
Not checking or maintaining
seat belts can result in serious
injury or death if the seat belts
do not work properly when
needed.
Check your seat belts regularly
and have any problem
corrected as soon as possible.

Your f ront and side airbag systems
are virtually maintenance-f ree, and
there are no parts you can saf ely
service. However, you must have
your car serviced if :Any
airbag that has deployed must be
replaced along with the control
unit and other related parts. Do
not try to remove or replace any
airbag by yourself . This must be
done by an Acura dealer or a
knowledgeable body shop.
Take your car to an
authorized Acura dealer as soon as
possible. If you ignore this
indication, the airbags might not
inf late when you need them. Together, airbags and
seat belts provide the best
protection.
Tampering could cause
the airbags to deploy, possibly
causing very serious injury. See page f or f urther inf ormation
and precautions relating to your
airbags.Improperly
replacing or covering f ront seat-
back covers can prevent your side
airbags f rom inf lating during a
collision.
If rain or spilled water
soaks into a seat-back, it can
prevent the side airbag system
f rom working properly. 168
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Airbag Service
Additional Saf ety Precautions
Your airbags ever inf late.
T he SRS indicat or light alert s yout o a problem. Donotattempttodeactivateyour
airbags.
Do not t amper wit h airbagcomponent s or wiring f or anyreason. Do not cover or replace f ront seat -
back covers wit hout consult ing anAcura dealer.
Do not expose t he f ront seat -backs to water.
Driver and Passenger Saf ety48

This section gives inf ormation about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your Acura. All the essential controls
are within easy reach............................
Control Locations . 52
...............................
Indicator Lights . 53
.............................................
Gauges . 60
...............................
Speedometer . 60
.................................
Tachometer . 60
.....................................
Odometer . 61
...................................
Trip Meter . 61
Outside Temperature ...................................
Indicator . 62
...................
Temperature Gauge . 62
..................................
Fuel Gauge . 62
Maintenance Required ...................................
Indicator . 63
Controls Near the Steering .......................................
Wheel . 64
...................................
Headlights . 65Automatic Lighting Off
.....................................
Feature . 66
............
Daytime Running Lights . 67
....
Instrument Panel Brightness . 67
................................
Turn Signals . 67
.....................
Windshield Wipers . 68
..................
Windshield Washers . 69
..........................
Hazard Warning . 70
.............
Rear Window Def ogger . 70
......
Steering Wheel Adjustment . 71
...............
Steering Wheel Controls . 73
.............................
Cruise Control . 73
.............
Remote Audio Controls . 76
...............................
Keys and Locks . 77
..............................................
Keys . 77
....................
Immobilizer System . 78
............................
Ignition Switch . 79
......................
Power Door Locks . 81
...................
Remote Transmitter . 82
...........................................
Trunk . 86
....................................
Glove Box . 88
......
Rear Console Compartment . 88
HomeLink Universal .................................
Transmitter . 89
............................
Seat Adjustments . 94
.........
Driver’s Seat Adjustments . 94 ...........
Driver’s Lumbar Support . 96
Front Passenger’s Seat
............................
Adjustments . 96
........................
Rear Seat Access . 97
..........................
Head Restraints . 98
............................................
Armrest . 99
...........................................
Mirrors . 101
..
Adjusting the Power Mirrors . 101
Driving Position Memory ........................................
System . 103
..................................
Seat Heaters . 106
............................
Power Windows . 107
.......................................
Moonroof . 109
...............................
Parking Brake . 110
..................................
Digital Clock . 110
........................
Sunglasses Holder . 111
...........................
Beverage Holder . 112
.................
Console Compartment . 113
........................................
Coin Box . 113
.............................
Console Pocket . 114
..................................
Storage Tray . 115
......................................
Coat Hook . 115
........................................
Sun Visor . 116
................................
Vanity Mirror . 116
............
Accessory Power Sockets . 117
...............................
Interior Lights . 118
Instruments and Controls
Inst rument s and Cont rols51

µYour dealer will reset this indicator
af ter completing the scheduled
maintenance. If this maintenance is
done by someone other than your
Acura dealer, reset the indicator as
f ollows.
Turn of f the engine.
For the f irst 6,000 miles (9,600 km)
af ter the Maintenance Required
Indicator is reset, it will come on f or
two seconds when you turn the
ignition switch ON (II). Between 6,000 miles (9,600 km) and
7,500 miles (12,000 km) this
indicator will light f or two seconds
when you first turn the ignition
switch ON (II), and then f lash f or
ten seconds.
Press and hold the select and reset
buttons next to the instrument pan-
el, then turn the ignition switch
ON (II).
Ref er to the Maintenance Schedules
f or Normal and Severe Driving
Conditions on pages . Hold the buttons for
approximately ten seconds until
the indicator resets.
This indicator reminds you that it is
time to take your car in for
scheduled maintenance.
If you exceed 7,500 miles (12,000
km) without having the scheduled
maintenance perf ormed, this
indicator will remain on as a constant
reminder.1.
2.
3.
208 212
Gauges
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Maintenance Required Indicator
63
S SE EL
LEE C
CT T
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N
R
RE ES
SE ET
T
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N
M
M
A
AI
INNT TE
EN
NA AN
NC CEE R
REEQ
QU UIIRRE ED
D I
INND DI
ICCA A T
TO
OR R

Look at the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it is
between the MAX and MIN lines. If
it is below the MIN line, seeon page f or
inf ormation on adding the proper
coolant. Refer to
on page f or inf ormation
on checking other items in your
Acura.
221 215
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving
Engine Coolant Check
A dding
Engine Coolant Owner Maintenance
Checks
165
R RE ES
SE ER
RV V E
E T
TA
A N
NK K
M
M I
INN M
M
A
AX
X

A cold engine uses more f uel than a
warm engine. It is not necessary to
‘‘warm-up’’ a cold engine by letting it
idle f or a long time. You can drive
away in about a minute, no matter
how cold it is outside. The engine
will warm up f aster, and you get
better f uel economy. To cut down on
the number of ‘‘cold starts,’’ try to
combine several short trips into one.
You can improve f uel economy by
driving moderately. Rapid acceler-
ation, abrupt cornering, and hard
braking use more f uel.
Always drive in the highest gear that
allows the engine to run and acceler-
ate smoothly.
An important part of that mainte-
nance is the (see page ). For
example, an underinf lated tire
causes more ‘‘rolling resistance,’’
which uses f uel. It also wears out
f aster, so check the tire pressure at
least monthly. The air conditioning puts an extra
load on the engine which makes it
usemorefuel.Turnoff theA/Cor
set the climate control to a higher
temperature to cut down on air
conditioning use. Use the flow-
through ventilation when the outside
air temperature is moderate.
The condition of your car and your
driving habits are the two most
important things that affect the fuel
mileage you get.
Always maintain your car according
to the maintenance schedule. This
will keep it in top operating condition.
In winter, the build-up of snow on
your car’s underside adds weight and
rolling resistance. Frequent cleaning
helps your f uel mileage and reduces
thechanceof corrosion.
Depending on traf f ic conditions, try
to maintain a constant speed. Every
time you slow down and speed up,
your car uses extra f uel. Use the
cruise control, when appropriate, to
increase f uel economy.
215 Driving Habits
Owner Maintenance
Checks Car Condition
Fuel Economy
Bef ore Driving166