transmission Acura RL 2000 3.5 User Guide

Owne
r Maintenanc e Check s
You should check the following items at the specified intervals. If
you are unsure of how to perform any check, turn to the page given. Engine oil level — Check every
time you fill the fuel tank. See
page 169.
Engine coolant level — Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
you fill the fuel tank. See page 170.

Windshield washer fluid — Check the level in the reservoir monthly.If weather conditions cause you to
use the washers frequently, check
the reservoir each time you stop
for fuel. See page 225 . Automatic transmission — Check
the fluid level monthly. See page
226.
Brakes — Check the fluid level
monthly. See page 22 8 . Tires —
Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread for
wear and foreign objects. See page
241.
Lights — Check the operation of
the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light,
turn signals, brake lights, and license plate lights monthly. See

page 248.

Maintenance

Engin
e Oi l
The oil container may also display the API Certification seal. Make sure
it says "For Gasoline Engines."
API CERTIFICATIO N SEA L The SAE numbers tell you the oil's
viscosity or weight. Select the oil for
your car according to this chart.
An oil with a viscosity of 5W-30 is preferred for improved fuel economyand year-round protection in your
Acura. You may use a 10W-30 oil if the temperature in your area never

goes below 20°F( — 7°C).
Syntheti
c Oi l
You may use a synthetic motor oil if it meets the same requirements
given for conventional motor oil:energy conserving, a service
classification of SJ, and the proper
weight as shown on the chart. When using synthetic oil, you must follow
the oil and filter change intervals
given in the maintenance schedule.
Additive s
Your Acura does not need any oil additives. Purchasing additives for
the engine or transmission will not
increase your car's performance or
longevity. It only increases the cost of operating your car.
Maintenanc e Ambien
t Temperatur e

Automati
c Transmissio n Flui d
Check the fluid level with the engine
at normal operating temperature.
1. Park the car on level ground. Shut off the engine.
2. Remove the dipstick (yellow loop) from the transmission and wipe it
with a clean cloth.
3. Insert the dipstick into the transmission. Make sure the notch
in the rubber cap fits in the dipstick guide and that you push
the dipstick in all the way.
4. Remove the dipstick and check
the fluid level. It should be
between the upper and lowermarks.
5. If the level is below the lower
mark, add fluid into the tube to
bring it to the upper mark. Always use Honda Premium Formula
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF). If it is not available, you
may use a DEXRON® III
automatic transmission fluid as a
temporary replacement. However,
continued use can affect shift quality. Have the transmission
drained and refilled with Honda
ATF as soon as it is convenient.
6. Insert the dipstick back in the transmission. Make sure the notch
fits in the dipstick guide and the dipstick is down all the way.
The transmission should be drained and refilled with new fluid according
to the time and distance recommen- dations in the maintenance schedule.

Maintenanc e UPPE
R MAR K
LOWE R MAR K

DIPSTIC
K

DIPSTIC K GUID E

Storin
g You r Ca r

If you need to park your car for an
extended period (more than one
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it for storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your car back on the road. If
possible, store your car indoors. Fill the fuel tank.
Change the engine oil and filter
(see page 217). Wash and dry the exterior
completely.
Clean the interior. Make sure the
carpeting, floor mats, etc. are
completely dry. Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Park. Block the rear wheels.
If the car is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be supported on jackstands so the
tires are off the ground. Leave one window open slightly (if
the car is being stored indoors). Disconnect the battery.
Support the front wiper blade
arms with a folded 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
vehicle body wax to the painted surfaces that mate with the door
and trunk seals. Cover the car with a "breathable"
cover, one made from a porous
material such as cotton.
Nonporous materials, such as
plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint. If possible, run the engine for a
while periodically (preferably once a month).
If you store your car for 12 months or longer, have your Acura dealer
perform the inspections called for 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 206). The
replacements called for in the
maintenance schedule are not
needed unless the car has actually
reached that time or mileage.

Maintenance

Changing
a Flat Tir e
If you have a flat tire while driving, stop in a safe place to change it.
Stopping in traffic or on the shoulder
of a busy road is dangerous. Drive
slowly along the shoulder until you
get to an exit or an area to stop that
is far away from the traffic lanes.
1. Park the car on firm, level, andnon-slippery ground away from
traffic. Put the transmission in Park. Apply the parking brake.
2. Turn on the hazard warning lights and turn the ignition switch to
LOCK (0). Have all the
passengers get out of the car while
you change the tire. 3. Open the trunk. Raise the trunk
floor by lifting up on the back edge.
To keep the trunk floor out of the way, attach the hook into the slotin the trunk lid.
4. Take the tool kit out of the trunk.
5. Unscrew the wing bolt and take the spare tire out of its well.

CONTINUED

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

The car can easily roll off the

jack, seriously injuring anyone
underneath.

Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and never get under the car when it
is supported only by the jack. TRUN
K FLOO R

HOO K
TOO L KI T
SPAR E TIR E
JAC K

Changin
g a Fla t Tire , I f You r Engin e Won' t Star t
19. Slip the hole at the top of the jack over the bracket in the trunk well.
Turn the jack's end bracket to lock
it in place. Store the tool kit back
in its place.
20. Unclip the hook from the trunk lid and lower the trunk floor.
21. Store the center cap and spacer
basket i
n the trunk. Make sure the
center cap will
not get scratched
or damaged.
22. Close th
e trunk lid. I
f You r
Engin
e Won' t Star t
Diagnosing why your engine won't start falls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III): You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine's starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly. You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
faster than normal, but the engine does not start up
and run. Nothin
g Happen s
o
r th e Starte r
Moto r Operate s Ver y Slowl y
When you turn the ignition switch to START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying to
start. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all.Check these things:
Your car has the ImmobilizerSystem. You should use a
properly-coded master or valet key
to start the engine (see page 78).
A key that is not properly coded will cause the immobilizer systemindicator in the dash panel to blinkrapidly. Check the transmission interlock.
The transmission must be in Park or Neutral or the starter will not

operate.

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Loose items can fly around the

interior in a crash and could

seriously injure the occupants.

Store the wheel, jack and tools

securely before driving.

Jum
p Startin g
If your car's battery has run down,
you may be able to start the engine by using a booster battery. Although
this seems like a simple procedure,
you should take several precautions.
You cannot start your Acura bypushing or pulling it. To jump start your car, follow these
directions closely:
1. Open the hood and check the physical condition of the battery
(see page 234). In very cold
weather, check the condition of
the electrolyte. If it seems slushy
or like ice, do not try jump starting
until it thaws.

If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can freeze.
Attempting to jump start with a frozen
battery can cause it to rupture.

2. Turn off all the electrical acces- sories: climate control, stereo
system, lights, etc.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park and set the parking brake.

Takin g Car e
o
f th e Unexpecte d
A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyone nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.
NOTICE

I
f You r Engin e Overheat s

The pointer of your car's tempera- ture gauge should stay in the mid-range under most conditions. It may
go higher if you are driving up a long steep hill on a very hot day. If it
climbs to the red mark, you should
determine the reason.

Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause serious damage to your engine. Your car can overheat for several
reasons, such as lack of coolant or a

mechanical problem. The only

indication may be the temperature

gauge climbing to or above the red mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming from under the hood.

In either case, you should take

immediate action.
1. Safely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park and set the parking brake.
Turn off the climate control and all
other accessories. Turn on the
hazard warning indicators.
2. If you see steam
and/or spray
coming from under the hood, turn
of

f the engine.
3. I

f you do not see steam
or spray,
leave the engine running and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading
(climbing a long, steep hill
on a
hot day with the A/C running, for
example), the engine should start
to cool down
almost immediately.
If it does, wait
until the tempera-
ture gauge comes down
to the mid-
point then continue driving.
Takin g Car e
o
f th e Unexpecte d

NOTIC
E

Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.

Emergenc
y Towin g

If your car needs to be towed, call a
professional towing service or, if you
belong to one, an organization that
provides roadside assistance. Never
tow your car behind another vehicle
with just a rope or chain. It is very
dangerous.

There are three popular types of professional towing equipment:
Flat-bed Equipment — The operator
loads your car on the back of a truck.

Thi s is th e bes t wa y to transpor t

you r Acura .
Wheel-Lift Equipment — The tow
truck uses two pivoting arms that go
under the tires (front or rear) and lift
them off the ground. The other two
tires remain on the ground. Thi s i s

a n acceptabl e wa y to to w you r

Acura .
Sling-type Equipment — The tow

truck uses metal cables with hooks on the ends. These hooks go around
parts of the frame or suspension and
the cables lift that end of the car off the ground. Your car's suspensionand body can be seriously damaged.
Thi s metho d o f towin g is
unacceptable .
If your Acura cannot be transported
by flat-bed, it should be towed by
wheel-lift equipment with the front
wheels off the ground. If, due to damage, your car must be towed
with the front wheels on the ground, do the following. Release the parking brake.
Shift the transmission to Neutral.
Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Follow the
above procedure exactly. If you cannot
shift the transmission or start theengine, your car must be transportedwith the front wheels off the ground.

With the front wheels on the ground, it is best to tow the car no farther
than 50 miles (80 km), and keep thespeed below 35 mph (55 km/h).
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
NOTIC
E

Identificatio
n Number s

The Engine Number is stamped into the engine block. It is on the front
left, below the valve cover.
The Transmission Number is on a label on top of the transmission.

Technical Informatio n
TRANSMISSIO
N NUMBE R

ENGIN E NUMBE R