maintenance schedule Acura CL 2002 Owner's Guide

The f luid level should be between
theMINandMAXmarksontheside
of the reservoir. If the level is at or
below the MIN mark, your brake
system needs attention. Have the
brake system inspected f or leaks or
worn brake pads.
Check the f luid level in the brake
f luid reservoir monthly.
The brake f luid should be replaced
according to the time recommenda-
tion in the maintenance schedule.
Always use Honda Heavy Duty
Brake Fluid DOT 3. If it is not
available, you should use only DOT 3
or DOT 4 f luid, f rom a sealed
container, as a temporary
replacement. However, the use of
any non-Honda brake fluid can cause
corrosion and decrease the lif e of the
system. Have the brake system
f lushed and ref illed with Honda
Heavy Duty Brake Fluid DOT 3 as
soon as possible.
Brake f luid marked DOT 5 is not
compatible with your car’s braking
system and can cause extensive
damage.
Insert the dipstick all the way back
into the transmission securely as
shown in the illustration.
The transmission should be drained
and ref illed with new f luid according
to the time and distance recommen-
dations in the maintenance schedule.
If you are not sure how to add f luid,
contact your Acura dealer. 6. Brake System
Brake Fluid
Maint enance
Automatic Transmission Fluid, Brake Fluid
231
M M I
INN
M
M
A
AX
X

CONT INUED
Clean the hood latch assembly with a
mild cleaner, then lubricate it with a
multipurpose grease. Lubricate all
the moving parts (as shown),
including the pivot. Follow the time
and distance recommendations in
the Maintenance Schedule. If you
are not sure how to clean and grease
the latch, contact your Acura dealer.The air cleaner element should be
cleaned or replaced according to the
time and distance recommendations
in the maintenance schedule.
Follow the replacement procedure
for removal and reinstallation.
The air cleaner element is inside the
air cleaner housing on the driver’s
side of the engine compartment.
To replace it:
Removethecruisecontrolcable
f rom its clip. Loosen the f our bolts by using a
Phillips-head screwdriver and
remove the air cleaner housing
cover.
Clean the air cleaner element by
blowing compressed air through it in
the opposite direction to normal air
f low. If you do not have access to
compressed air (such as a service
station), ask your Acura dealer to do
this service.
1. 2.
On Premium model
Premium model
Hood L atch
A ir Cleaner Element
Cleaning (Severe Condit ions)
Replacement
Hood L atch, A ir Cleaner Element
Maint enance233
L LAA T
TC
CH H A
AS
SSSEEM
M B
BLLYY B
BO
OL LTT S
S

CONT INUED
The spark plugs in your car are a
special platinum-tipped design f or
longer lif e. The spark plugs should
be replaced according to the time
and distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule.Loosen the two holding clips by
turning the heads one-quarter turn
counterclockwise with a f lat-tipped
screwdriver. Remove the cover on
the f ront cylinder bank by pulling
it straight up.
Clean up any dirt and oil that have
collected around the ignition coils.Disconnect the wire connector
f rom the ignition coil by pushing
on the lock tab and pulling on the
connector. Pull on the plastic
connector, not the wires.
1.
2. 3.
Replacement
Spark Plugs
Maint enance235
H H
O
OL LDD I
INNG G C
CLLIIPP I
IG
GN NIITT I
IOON N C
COOI ILL
C
CO
ON NNNEEC
CT TO
OR R
L
LO OC CKK
T
T A
A B
B

µµWe recommend that you visually
check your tires every day. If you
think a tire might be low, check it
immediately with a tire gauge.
To saf ely operate your car, your tires
must be the proper type and size, in
good condition with adequate tread,
and correctly inf lated. The f ollowing
pages give more detailed inf ormation
on how and when to check air
pressure, how to inspect your tires
for damage and wear, and what to do
when your tires need to be replaced.
Keeping the tires properly inf lated
provides the best combination of
handling, tread lif e and riding
comf ort. Underinf lated tires wear
unevenly, adversely affect handling
and f uel economy, and are more
likely to f ail f rom being overheated.
Overinf lated tires can make your car
ride more harshly, are more prone to
damage f rom road hazards, and wear
unevenly.
The timing belt should normally be
replaced at the intervals shown in
the maintenance schedule.
Replace this belt at 60,000 miles (U.S.)
or 100,000 km (Canada) if you
regularly drive your car in one or
more of these conditions:
In very high temperatures
(over 110°F, 43°C).
In very low temperatures
(under 20°F, 29°C).
CONT INUED
Inf lation
Tires
Timing Belt
Timing Belt, Tires
Maint enance245
Using tires that are excessively
worn or improperly inflated can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner’s manual regarding tire
inflation and maintenance.

Block the rear wheels.
Fill the f uel tank.
Change the engine oil and f ilter
(see page ).
Wash and dry the exterior
completely.
Cleantheinterior.Makesurethe
carpeting, floor mats, etc. are
completely dry.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Park.
If you need to park your car f or an
extended period (more than one
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it f or storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your car back on the road. If
possible, store your car indoors.
If the car is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are of f the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the car is being stored indoors).Coverthecarwitha‘‘breathable’’
cover, one made f rom a porous
material such as cotton.
Nonporous materials, such as
plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
Disconnect the battery.
Support the f ront wiper blade
arms with a f olded towel or rag so
they do not touch the windshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and trunk seals. Also, apply a
vehiclebodywaxtothepainted
surfaces that mate with the door
and trunk seals. If possible, run the engine f or a
while periodically (pref erably once
amonth).
If you store your car f or 12 months
or longer, have your Acura dealer
perf orm the inspections called f or in
the 24 months/30,000 miles (48,000
km) maintenance schedule (Normal
Conditions) as soon as you take it
out of storage (see page ). The
replacements called f or in the
maintenance schedule are not
needed unless the car has actually
reached that time or mileage.
221
210
Maint enance
St oring Your Car
263

Î
ÎThe United States Clean Air Act
sets standards f or automobile
emissions. It also requires that
automobile manufacturers explain to
owners how their emissions controls
workandwhattodotomaintain
them. This section summarizes how
the emissions controls work.
Scheduled maintenance is on page .
In Canada, Acura vehicles comply
with the Canadian Motor Vehicle
Saf ety Standards (CMVSS) f or
Emissions valid at the time they are
manuf actured.
The burning of gasoline in your car’s
engine produces several byproducts.
Some of these are carbon monoxide
(CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and
hydrocarbons (HC). Gasoline
evaporating from the tank also
produces hydrocarbons. Controlling
the production of NOx, CO, and HC
is important to the environment.
Under certain conditions of sunlight
and climate, NOx and HC react to
f orm photochemical ‘‘smog.’’ Carbon
monoxide does not contribute to
smog creation, but it is a poisonous
gas.
Your car has a Positive Crankcase
Ventilation System. This keeps
gasses that build up in the engine’s
crankcase from going into the
atmosphere. The Positive Crankcase
Ventilation valve routes them fromthe crankcase back to the intake
manif old. They are then drawn into
the engine and burned.
As gasoline evaporates in the f uel
tank, an evaporative emissions
control canister f illed with charcoal
adsorbs the vapor. It is stored in this
canister while the engine is of f . Af ter
the engine is started and warmed up,
the vapor is drawn into the engine
and burned during driving.
The Onboard Ref ueling Vapor
Recovery (ORVR) system captures
the f uel vapors during ref ueling. The
vapors are adsorbed in a canister
f illed with activated carbon. While
driving, the f uel vapors are drawn
into the engine and burned of f .
210
The Clean Air Act
Crankcase Emissions Control
System Evaporative Emissions Control
System
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor
Recovery
Emissions Cont rols
T echnical Inf ormation312

CONT INUED
.........
Indicators, Instrument Panel . 53
...............................
Inf ant Restraint .28
......................................
Inf ant Seats .29
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 39
...................
Inf lation, Proper Tire . 245
...................................
Inside Mirror .93
.............................
Inspection, Tire .247
............................
Instrument Panel .53
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 67
...........................
Interior Cleaning .268
...............................
Interior Lights .110
........................................
Introduction .i
........................
Jacking up the Car .277
.......................................
Jack, Tire .276
................................
Jump Starting .283
..................................................
Keys .73
.......................
Label, Certif ication .304 .................
Lane Change, Signaling . 67
..........................
Lap/Shoulder Belt .40
.........................
Leather, Cleaning .269
Lights ....................
Bulb Replacement .254
........................................
Ceiling .110
.....................................
Courtesy .111
.......................................
Indicator .53
.........................................
Parking .65
..................................
Turn Signal .67
.....................................
Load Limit .172
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) . 76
........................
Lockout Prevention .78
Locks .......
Anti-thef t Steering Column . 76
............................
Fuel Fill Door .163
....................................
Glove Box .85
.................................
Power Door .77
......
Rear Console Compartment . 85
...........................................
Trunk .82
........
Trunk Pass-through Cover . 92
........................
Low Coolant Level .167
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator .59
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 55,288
Lubricant Specif ications ..........................................
Chart .306 .........................................
Luggage .171
..................................
Maintenance .205
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 217
.................................
Record .215-216
......................
Required Indicator .63
..........................................
Saf ety .206
.............................
Schedule .210-214
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 55,290
.............
Memory, Driving Position . 95
...............................
Meters, Gauges .60
...................
Methanol in Gasoline . 310
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .93
.......................................
Moonroof .101
......................
Closing Manually .293
...................................
Operation .101
...................
Neutral Gear Position . 181
..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 162
...................
NOTICE, Explanation of . i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 304
Index
J
K
L M
N
V

...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 162
.........................................
Odometer .61
...............................
Odometer, Trip .61
Oil ........................
Change, How to .221
......................
Change, When to .210
......................
Checking Engine .165
..............
Pressure Indicator . 55,288
Selecting Proper Viscosity ......................................
Chart .220
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 76
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor ....................................
Recovery .312
..
Operation in Foreign Countries . 311
..............................
Outside Mirrors .93
....
Outside Temperature Indicator . 62
....................
Overheating, Engine .286
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 217
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels .310
..............................
Paint Touch-up .267
..............
Panel Brightness Control . 67........................
Park Gear Position .180
...........................................
Parking .186
...............................
Parking Brake .102
Parking Brake and Brake .................
System Indicator . 55,292
.................................
Parking Lights .65
..
Parking Over Things that Burn . 314
.............................
PGM-FI System .313
..................
Polishing and Waxing . 267
............
Pre-Drive Saf ety Checklist . 11
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . 18
............................
Protecting Adults .12
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 19
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 18
........................
Protecting Children .20
.......................
Protecting Inf ants .28
.......
Protecting Larger Children . 35
.........
Protecting Small Children . 32
Using Child Seats with .....................................
Tethers .39
...................
Radiator Overheating . 286
Radio/Cassette/CD Sound ........................................
System .127 ...........................
Readiness Codes .291
..........
Rear Console Compartment . 85
..
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement . 258
............................
Rear Seat Access .89
..........................
Rear Seat Armrest .91
............................
Rear View Mirror .93
.................
Rear Window Def ogger . 70
...............
Reclining the Seat Backs . 87
.............................
Reminder Lights .53
.......................
Remote Transmitter .78
Replacement Inf ormation .................
Air Cleaner Element . 233
..............
Dust and Pollen Filter . 244
..........................
Engine Coolant .225
................
Engine Oil and Filter . 221
..........................................
Fuses .295
................................
Light Bulbs .254
....................................
Schedule .208
................................
Spark Plugs .235
...........................................
Tires .249
.............................
Wiper Blades .241
Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a ............................................
Crash .42
...
Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant . 167
...............................
Restraint, Child .20
..................
Reverse Gear Position . 180
Index
O
P R
VI