wheel Acura RL 2000 3.5 User Guide

Control
s Nea r th e Steerin g Whee l

The two levers on the steering column contain controls for driving
features you use most often. The left
lever controls the turn signals,
headlights, and high beams. The
right lever controls the windshield
washers and wipers.
The switch for the hazard warning lights is on the dashboard to the
right of the steering column.
The controls under the left air vent are for the cruise control, instrument
panel brightness and the VSA

System.

The switches for the rear window defogger and fog lights are under
the audio system.
The steering wheel adjustment switch on the side of the steering
column allows you to tilt and
telescope the steering wheel.
Instrument s an d Control s WINDSHIEL
D
WIPERS/WASHER S
HAZAR
D WARNIN G
LIGHT S
HEADLIGHTS
/
TUR N SIGNAL S
VEHICL
E
STABILIT Y
ASSIS T SYSTE M
OF F SWITC H

CRUIS E
CONTRO L

REAR WINDO W
DEFOGGE R

FO
G
LIGHT S

HOR
N
INSTRUMEN
T

PANE L

BRIGHTNES S
STEERIN G WHEE L
ADJUSTMENT S

Control
s Nea r th e Steerin g Whee l
Rea r Windo w Defogge r
The rear window defogger will clear fog, frost, and thin ice from the
window. Push the defogger button to turn it on and off. The light in the
button lights to show the defogger is
on. If you do not turn it off, the
defogger will shut itself off after
about 25 minutes. It also shuts off
when you turn off the ignition. You have to turn it on again when you
restart the car.
Car
s wit h navigatio n syste m

Make sure the rear window is clear and you have good visibility before
starting to drive.
The defogger and antenna wires on the inside of the rear window can beaccidentally damaged. When
cleaning the glass, always wipe side
to side. Steerin
g Whee l Adjustment s

See page 17 for important safety
information about how to properly
position the steering wheel

Your Acura's steering wheel is electrically-adjustable for angle and
distance. The adjustment switch is
on the left side of the steering
column. Always adjust the steering
wheel before you begin driving.

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Instrument s an d Control s

Adjusting the steering wheel
position while driving may
cause you to lose control of the
car and be seriously injured in a
crash.
Adjust the steering wheel only
when the car is stopped.

Control
s Nea r th e Steerin g Whee l

1. Locate the adjustment switch on the left side of the steering column.Move the steering wheel, in, out,
up, or down by pushing and
holding the adjustment switch in
that direction. 2. Release the switch when the
steering wheel reaches thedesired position. Make sure the
steering wheel points towards
your chest, not toward your face, and that you can see the
instrument panel gauges and
warning lights.
Automatic Movement

AUTO SWITC H
The AUTO switch controls automat- ic movement of the steering wheel.
When this switch is in the ON posi- tion, the steering wheel automatical-
ly moves fully in and up when you re-move the key from the ignition
switch.

Instrument s an d Control s

Control
s Nea r th e Steerin g Wheel , Steerin g Whee l Control s

The steering wheel then returns to its original position when you insert
the key back in the ignition switch.
Steering wheel movement is also
controlled by the Driving Position
Memory System (see page 100). Cruis
e Contro l
Cruise control allows you to maintain
a set speed above 25 mph (40 km/h)
without keeping your foot on the accelerator pedal. It should be used
for cruising on straight, open highways. It is not recommended for
conditions such as city driving,
winding roads, slippery roads, heavy rain, or bad weather. You should
have full control of the car under
those conditions. Using the Cruise Control
CRUIS E CONTRO L MASTE R SWITC H
1. Push in the Cruise Control Master Switch to the left of the steering
column. The indicator in theswitch will light.
2. Accelerate to the desired cruising speed above 25 mph (40 km/h).
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Instrument s an d Control s

Improper use of the cruise
control can lead to a crash.
Use the cruise control only
when traveling on open highways in good weather.

Steerin
g Whee l Control s

3. Press and release the SET/decel button on the steering wheel. TheCRUISE CONTROL light on the
instrument panel comes on to show the system is now activated. The cruise control may not hold the
set speed when you are going up and
down hills. If your speed increases
going down a hill, use the brakes to slow down to the desired speed. This
will cancel the cruise control. To resume the set speed, press the
RESUME/accel button. The
CRUISE CONTROL light on the
instrument panel comes on.
When climbing a steep hill, the automatic transmission may
downshift to hold the set speed. Changing the Set Speed
You can increase the set cruising
speed in any of these ways: Press and hold the RESUME/
accel button. The car will acceler- ate. When you reach the desired
cruising speed, release the button. Push on the accelerator pedal. Ac-
celerate to the desired cruising
speed and press the SET/decel
button. To increase your speed in very
small amounts, tap the RESUME/
accel button repeatedly. Each time
you do this, your car will speed up about 1 mph (1.6 km/h).

Instrument s an d Control s

RESUME
/

acce l

BUTTO N

SET/dece l
BUTTO N

Steerin
g Whee l Control s

You can decrease the set cruising speed in any of these ways: Press and hold the SET/decel
button. The car will decelerate. Release the button when you
reach the desired speed. Tap the brake pedal lightly with
your foot. The CRUISE CONTROL light on the
instrument panel will go out.
When the car slows to the desired speed, press the SET/decel button.
The car will then maintain the desired speed.
To slow down in very small amounts, tap the SET/decel
button repeatedly. Each time you do this, your car will slow down
about 1 mph (1.6 km/h). Even with the cruise control turned
on, you can still use the accelerator
pedal to speed up for passing. After
completing the pass, take your foot
off the accelerator pedal. The car
will return to the set cruising speed.
Resting your foot on the brake pedal
will cause the cruise control to
cancel.
Cancelling the Cruise Control

CANCEL

BUTTO N

You can cancel the cruise control in any of these ways:
Tap the brake pedal. Push the CANCEL button on the

steering wheel.

Press the Cruise Control Master

Switch.

Instrument s an d Control s

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Steerin
g Whee l Control s

When you push the CANCEL button, or tap the brake pedal, the CRUISE
CONTROL light on the instrument
panel will go out and the car will
begin to slow down. You can use the accelerator pedal in the normal way.
The system remembers the previously-set cruising speed. To
return to that speed, accelerate toabove 25 mph (40 km/h) and then
press and release the RESUME/ accel button. The CRUISE
CONTROL light comes on. The car
will accelerate to the same cruising speed as before. Pressing the Cruise Control Master
Switch turns the system completely
off and erases the previous cruising
speed from memory. To use the
system again, refer to Using the

Cruise Control.
Remot
e Audi o Control s

AUDIO/C H

BUTTO N

These buttons let you control some functions of the audio system with-out removing your hands from the
wheel. Refer to page 161 for a com- plete explanation.
Instrument s an d Control s

Key
s an d Lock s

Ignitio n Switc h

The ignition switch is on the right side of the steering column. It has
four positions: LOCK (0)
ACCESSORY (I)
ON (II)
START (III) LOC
K (0 ) — You can insert or
remove the key only in this position.
To switch from ACCESSORY to LOCK, you must push the key inslightly as you turn it. The shift lever
must also be in Park. The anti-theft
lock will lock the steering column
when you remove the key.
If the front wheels are turned, the
anti-theft lock may sometimes make
it difficult to turn the key from
LOCK to ACCESSORY. Firmly turn
the steering wheel to the left or to
the right as you turn the key.
ACCESSOR Y (I ) — In this position,
you can operate the audio system and the cigarette lighter.
O N (II ) — This is the normal key
position when driving. All features
and accessories on the car are usable.
Several of the lights on the instru-
ment panel come on as a test when
you turn the ignition switch from ACCESSORY to ON.
STAR T (III ) — Use this position
only to start the engine. The switch
returns to ON (II) when you let go of
the key.
The engine will not start if the Immobilizer System does not
recognize the key's coding (see page 78).
You will hear a reminder beeper if you leave the key in the ignition switch in the LOCK (0) or
ACCESSORY (I) position and open the driver's door. Remove the key to
turn off the beeper.

Instrument s an d Control s

Drivin
g Positio n Memor y Syste m

Your Acura has a memory feature for the steering wheel, driver's seatand outside mirror positions.
Two seat, steering wheel, and outside mirror positions, for
different drivers or driving
conditions, can be stored in separate
memories. You select a memorized
position by pushing the appropriate

button.
Storing a Driving Position in Memory
Store a driving position as explained
in this section only when the car is

parked.

1. Turn the ignition switch ON (II). You cannot add a new drivingposition in the memory unless the
ignition switch is ON (II). You can
recall a memorized position with
the ignition switch in any position.
2. Adjust the seat to a comfortable position (see page 93). Adjust
the steering wheel to acomfortable position (see page 71).

Adjust the outside mirrors for best

visibility (see page 98).
MEM
O BUTTO N
3. Press and release the MEMO button on the control panel. You
will hear a beep. Immediatelypress and hold one of the memory
buttons (1 or 2) until you hear two
beeps. The indicator light in the
memory button will come on. Thecurrent positions of the driver's

seat, steering wheel, and outside

mirrors are now stored.
Instrument s an d Control s

Drivin
g Positio n Memor y Syste m

Doing any of the following after
pressing the MEMO button will cancel the storing procedure. Not pressing a memory button
within 5 seconds. Readjusting the seat or steering

position.

Readjusting the outside mirror

position.

Each memory button stores only one driving position. Storing a new
position erases the previous setting stored in that button's memory. If
you want to add a new position while retaining the current one, use theother memory button.
All stored driving positions will be lost if your car's battery goes dead or
is disconnected. Selecting a Memorized Position
You can select memorized positions as follows.
1. Make sure the parking brake is set and the shift lever is in Park.
2. Insert the key in the ignition switch. If you do not insert the key
in the ignition switch, the steering
wheel will not adjust to the memorized position until you do. 3. Press the desired memory button
(1 or 2) until you hear a beep, then
release the button.
The system will move the seat, steering wheel and outside mirrors
to the memorized positions. The
indicator light in the selected memory button will flash during
movement. When the adjustments are complete, you will hear two
beeps and the indicator light will
remain on.

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Instrument s an d Control s
MEMOR
Y BUTTON S