wiper blades Acura CL 2003 Owner's Manual

µµBeing able to see
clearly in all directions and being
visible to other drivers are important
in all weather conditions. This is
more dif f icult in bad weather. To be
seen more clearly during daylight
hours, turn on your headlights. Check your tires
f requently f or wear and proper
pressure. Both are important in
preventing ‘‘hydroplaning’’ (loss of
traction on a wet surface). In the
winter, mount snow tires on all f our
wheels f or the best handling.
Watch road conditions caref ully,
they can change f rom moment to
moment. Wet leaves can be as slip-
pery as ice. ‘‘Clear’’ roads can have
patches of ice. Driving conditions
can be very hazardous when the
outside temperature is near f reezing.
The road surf ace can become
covered with areas of water puddles
mixed with areas of ice, so your
traction can change without warning.
Be caref ul when downshif ting. If
traction is low, you can lock up the
drive wheels f or a moment and cause
askid. Be very cautious when passing, or
beingpassedbyothervehicles.The
spray f rom large vehicles reduces
your visibility, and the wind buf f eting
can cause you to lose control.
Inspect your windshield wipers and
washers f requently. Keep the wind-
shield washer reservoir f ull of the
proper f luid. Have the windshield
wiper blades replaced if they start to
streak the windshield or leave parts
unwiped. Use the def roster and air
conditioning to keep the windows
f rom f ogging up on the inside (see
pages and ).
128 133
Visibility
Traction
Driving in Bad Weather
Driving216

If you have the skills and tools to per-
f orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your Acura, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Acura
dealer. This section also includes
Maintenance Schedules f or normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions f or simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself . This section explains why it is
important to keep your car well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.......................
Maintenance Saf ety .226
.
Important Safety Precautions . 227
.................
Maintenance Schedule . 228
...
Required Maintenance Record . 235
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 237
..............................
Fluid Locations .238
......................................
Engine Oil .239
..................................
Adding Oil .239
....................
Recommended Oil .239
..............................
Synthetic Oil .240
....................................
Additives .240
.....
Changing the Oil and Filter . 241
.............................
Cooling System .243
............
Adding Engine Coolant . 243
.......
Replacing Engine Coolant . 245
....................
Windshield Washers .249
.......................
Transmission Fluid .250
Automatic .........................
Transmission .250
5-speed Manual .........................
Transmission .251
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid . 252
............................
Brake System .252
...........................
Clutch System .253
..............................
Power Steering .253
....................................
Hood Latch .254 .....................
Air Cleaner Element .254
....................................
Spark Plugs .256
..............................
Replacement .256
............................
Specif ications .258
...........................................
Battery .259
.................................
Wiper Blades .262
..............
Air Conditioning System . 264
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 265
.....................................
Drive Belts .265
....................................
Timing Belt .266
...............................................
Tires .266
......................................
Inf lation .266
..................................
Inspection .268
..............................
Maintenance .269
.............................
Tire Rotation .269
...
Replacing Tires and Wheels . 270
......................
Wheels and Tires .271
..........................
Winter Driving .271
.............................
Snow Tires .272
............................
Tire Chains .272
.............................................
Lights .273
.....................
Headlight Aiming .275
........................
Replacing Bulbs .275
...........................
Storing Your Car .283
341
Maintenance
Maint enance225

Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer f luid. This
increases the cleaning capability and
prevents f reezing in cold weather.
Check the level in the windshield
washer reservoir at least monthly
during normal usage. In bad weather,
when you use the washers of ten,
check the level every time you stop
for fuel.
When you ref ill the reservoir, clean
the edges of the windshield wiper
blades with windshield washer f luid
on a clean cloth. This will help to
condition the blade edges.
The windshield washer reservoir is
located behind the passenger’s side
headlight.
The low washer level indicator will
light when the level is low (see page
). Check the reservoir’s f luid level by
removing the cap and looking at the
level gauge attached to the cap.
64
Windshield Washers
Maint enance
Canadian Models
249
L LE
E V
V E
EL
L G
GAAU
UG GEE
Do not use engine antif reeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir.
Antif reeze can damage your car’s paint,
while a vinegar/water solution can
damage the windshield washer pump.
Use only commercially-available
windshield washer f luid.

µ
Check the condition of the wiper
blades at least every six months.
Look f or signs of cracking in the
rubber, or areas that are getting
hard. Replace the blades if you f ind
these signs, or if they leave streaks
and unwiped areas when used.
Disconnect the blade assembly
fromthewiperarmbypushingin
the lock tab. Hold it in while you
push the blade assembly toward
thebaseof thearm.
To replace the blade: Turn the ignition ON (II), switch
the wipers to INT or (low
position), then turn the ignition
OFF when the wiper arm is
approximately midway in its travel. Raise the wiper arm of f the
windshield.
1. 2.
3.
Wiper Blades
Maint enance262
W WIIPP E
ER
R A
AR
RMM S
S L
LO
OC CKK
T
T A
A B
B

Remove the blade f rom its holder
by grasping the tabbed end of the
blade. Pull f irmly until the tabs
come out of the holder.Examine the new wiper blades. If
they have no plastic or metal rein-
f orcement along the back edge,
remove the metal reinf orcement
strips f rom the old wiper blade and
install them in the slots along the
edge of the new blade.Slide the new wiper blade into the
holder until the tabs lock.
Slide the wiper blade assembly
onto the wiper arm. Make sure it
locks in place.
Turn the ignition switch ON (II)
andreturnthewindshieldwipers
to their park position. Lower the wiper arm down against
the windshield.
4. 5. 6.
7.
8.
9.
WiperBlades,AirConditioningSystem
Maint enance263
B BL
LAA D
DE
E B
BLLA
A D
DE
E
R
RE EI
INNF FOOR RCCEEM
M E
EN
NT T

ÎÎ
CONT INUED
Replacement Inf ormation.................
Air Cleaner Element . 254
..............
Dust and Pollen Filter . 265
..........................
Engine Coolant .245
................
Engine Oil and Filter . 241
..........................................
Fuses .315
................................
Light Bulbs .275
....................................
Schedule .228
................................
Spark Plugs .256
...........................................
Tires .270
.............................
Wiper Blades .262
Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a ............................................
Crash .45
...
Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant . 183
...............................
Restraint, Child .20
..................
Reverse Gear Position . 199
................................
Rotation, Tire .269
........................................
Saf ety Belts .8
.........
Safety Defects, Reporting . 340
.................................
Saf ety Features .7
...........................................
Airbags .9
..................................
Door Locks .10
..........................
Head Restraints .10 .......................................
Seat Belts .8
.....................
Seats & Seat-Backs .10
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of . 53
...............................
Saf ety Messages . ii
.....................................
Seat Belts .8, 43
...............
Additional Information . 43
Automatic Seat Belt ...............................
Tensioners .44
.............
Child Seat Anchor Plate . 40
.....................................
Cleaning .289
................
Lap/Shoulder Belt . 15,43
................................
Maintenance .45
Reminder Light and ................................
Beeper .43, 60
...................
System Components . 43
...............
Use During Pregnancy . 18
..................................
Seat Heaters .103
..................
Seat Position Memory . 100
........................
Seats, Adjusting the .91
............................
Security System .158
........
Sequential SportShif t Mode . 200
...............................
Serial Number .324
...........................
Service Intervals .230
...........................
Service Manual .341
.........
Service Station Procedures . 179
..........................
Setting the Clock .109 .....
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 197
........................
Shif t Lock Release .204
....................................
Side Airbags .48
.........
Side Airbag Cutof f Indicator . 50
Side Marker Lights, Bulb ..............................
Replacement .277
...............................
Signaling Turns .72
.....................................
Snow Tires .272
...................
Solvent-type Cleaners . 286
................................
Sound System .135
Spare Tire ......................................
Inf lating .294
............................
Specif ications .327
................
Spark Plugs, Replacing . 256
....................
Specif ications Charts . 326
................................
Speed Control .159
...................................
Speedometer .65
.......................................
Spotlights .118
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation . 46
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 51
..
How the SRS Indicator Works . 49
.....
How Your Airbags Work . 46,48
........................
SRS Components .46
..................................
SRS Service .51
Index
S
VII

ÎÎ
....................................
Turn Signals .72
.....................
Underside, Cleaning .291
Unexpected, Taking Care ..........................................
of the .293
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 328
........................
Unleaded Gasoline .178
.....................
Upholstery Cleaning .288
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 242
................................
Vanity Mirror .116
.................
Vehicle Capacity Load . 188
......................
Vehicle Dimensions .326
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number . 324
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) ....................................
System .212
........
VSA System Indicator . 62,213
...
VSA Activation Indicator . 62,212
.........................
VSA Of f Switch .213
.............................
Vehicle Storage .283
.....................................
Ventilation .122
.................................................
VIN .324 ...............................
Vinyl Cleaning .289
..................................
Viscosity, Oil .240
.............
WARNING, Explanation of . ii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of . 53
..................
Warranty Coverages .339
Washer, Windshield ........
Checking the Fluid Level . 249
.......................................
Indicator .64
.....................................
Operation .74
.........................................
Washing .286
..................
Waxing and Polishing . 287
Wheels ...............
Adjusting the Steering . 76
............
Alignment and Balance . 270
......
Cleaning Aluminum Alloys . 287
..........................
Compact Spare .294
Windows .....................................
Cleaning .290
................
Operating the Power . 104
...........................
Rear, Def ogger .75
Windshield .......................................
Cleaning .73
...........................
Def roster .128, 133 .......................................
Washers .74
Wipers, Windshield .......................
Changing Blades .262
.....................................
Operation .73
....................................
Wood Trim .290
....................................
Worn Tires .268
.....
Wrecker, Emergency Towing . 320
U.S. and Canada only
Index
W
U
V
IX