Acura RL 2000 3.5 Repair Manual

Gauge
s

The gauges illuminate when you turn the ignition switch ON (II).

Speedomete r

U.S. Models

This shows your speed in miles per hour (mph). The smaller inner
numbers are the speed in kilometers
per hour (km/h).

Canadian Models

This shows your speed in kilometers per hour (km/h). The smaller inner
numbers are the speed in miles per
hour (mph).

Tachomete r

The tachometer shows the engine speed in revolutions per minute (rpm). To protect the engine from

damage, never drive with the

tachometer needle in the red zone. MAINTENANC
E
REQUIRE D INDICATO RTRI
P METER/OUTSID E
TEMPERATUR E INDICATO R
RESE
T

BUTTO N
Instrument s an d Control s ODOMETE
R FUE
L GAUG E

TACHOMETE
R
SPEEDOMETE
R
TEMPERATUR
E
GAUG E
SELEC
T

BUTTO N

Gauge
s

Odomete r
The odometer shows the total dis- tance your car has been driven. It
measures miles in U.S. models and
kilometers in Canadian models.
It is illegal under U.S. federal law and Canadian provincial regulations to
disconnect, reset, or alter the
odometer with the intent to change
the number of miles or kilometers

indicated.
Tri
p Meter/Outsid e Temperatur e

Indicato r

SELECT

BUTTO N

RESE T

BUTTO N
The trip meter and the outside temperature indicator use the samedisplay. To switch the display
between the trip meter and the outside temperature, press the
Select button. When you turn the
ignition switch to ON (II), what you
last selected is displayed.
Trip Meter

The trip meter shows the number of
miles (U.S.) or kilometers (Canada)driven since you last reset it.
There are two trip meters, Trip A and Trip B. Switch between theseand the outside temperature display
by pressing the Select button
repeatedly. Each trip meter works
independently, so you can keep track
of two different distances.
To reset a trip meter, display it and then press the Reset button until you
hear a beep. Both trip meters will re- set if the car's battery goes dead or
is disconnected.
CONTINUED
Instrument s an d Control s

Gauge
s

Outside Temperature Indicator
This indicator displays the outside temperature in Fahrenheit in U.S.
models, and in Centigrade inCanadian models.
The temperature sensor is located in the front bumper. Therefore, the
temperature reading can be affected
by heat reflection from the road sur-
face, engine heat, and the exhaust
from the surrounding traffic. This can cause the temperature reading
not to be correct when your speed is
under 19 mph (30 km/h).
In certain weather conditions,
temperature readings near freezing (32°F, 0°C) could mean that ice is
forming on the road surface. Temperatur
e Gaug e
This shows the temperature of the engine's coolant. During normal
operation, the pointer should rise
from the bottom white mark to about
the middle of the gauge. In severe driving conditions, such as very hot
weather or a long period of uphill driving, the pointer may rise to near
the upper white mark. If it reaches
the red (Hot) mark, pull safely to the side of the road. Turn to page 280 for
instructions and precautions on checking the engine's cooling

system.
Fue
l Gaug e
This shows how much fuel you have. It is most accurate when the car is on
level ground. It may show slightly more or less than the actual amount
when you are driving on curvy or hilly roads.
The gauge stays at the same fuel level reading after you turn off theignition. When you add fuel, the
gauge slowly changes to the new
reading after you turn the ignitionswitch back ON (II).
Instrument s an d Control s

Gauge
s

Maintenanc e Require d Indicato r
This indicator reminds you that it is time to take your car in for
scheduled maintenance.

Refer to the Maintenance Schedules
for Normal and Severe Driving Conditions on pages 206 — 210.
For the first 6,000 miles (9,600 km)
after the Maintenance Required
Indicator is reset, it will come on for
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 for two seconds
when you first turn the ignition switch ON (II), and then flash for
ten seconds.
If you exceed 7,500 miles (12,000
km) without having the scheduled maintenance performed, this
indicator will remain on as a constant
reminder. Your dealer will reset this indicator
after completing the scheduled
maintenance. If this maintenance is done by someone other than your
Acura dealer, reset the indicator as follows.
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Press and hold the select and reset buttons next to the instrument pan-el, then turn the ignition switchON (II).
3. Hold the buttons for about ten sec- onds, until the indicator resets.
Instrument s an d Control s
MAINTENANC
E REQUIRE D INDICATO R
SELECT
BUTTO N
RESE T
BUTTO N

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

Headlight s

The rotating switch on the left lever controls the lights. Turning this switch to the position turns on
the parking lights, taillights, side
marker lights, and rear license plate
lights. Turning the switch to the position turns on the
headlights. If you leave the lights on with the
ignition switch in ACCESSORY (I)
or LOCK (0), you will hear a
reminder chime when you open the driver's door.

On cars with automatic lighting

When the light switch is in either of these positions, the Lights On
indicator comes on as a reminder.
This light remains on if you leave the light switch on and turn the ignitionswitch to ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK
(0).
To change between low beams andhigh beams, pull the turn signal lever
until you hear a click, then let go.
The blue high beam indicator will light (see page 57).

CONTINUED

Instrument s an d Control s

Control
s Nea r th e Steerin g Whee l

To flash the high beams, pull the turn signal lever back lightly, then
release it. The high beams will comeon and go off.
The high beams will stay on for as long as you hold the lever back, nomatter what position the headlightswitch is in. Automati
c Lightin g

On U.S. models

The Automatic Lighting feature turns on the headlights, all otherexterior lights, and the instrument
panel lights when it senses low ambient light.
To turn on automatic lighting, turn the light switch to AUTO at any time.
The lights will come on automatically when the outside light level becomes
low (at dusk, for example). The Lights On indicator comes on as a
reminder. The lights and indicator
will turn off automatically when the system senses high ambient light.
The lights will remain on when you turn off the ignition switch. They willturn off automatically when you open
the driver's door. To turn them onagain, either turn the ignition switch
to ON (II) or turn the light switch to Even with the automatic lighting
feature turned on, we recommend that you turn on the lights manually
when driving at night or in a dense
fog, or when you enter dark areas, such as long tunnels or parking
structures.
Instrument s an d Control s AUT
O POSITIO N

Control
s Nea r th e Steerin g Whee l

Do not leave the light switch in
AUTO if you will not be driving the car for an extended period (a week
or more). You should also turn off
the lights if you plan to leave the engine idling or the engine off for a
long time. This will prevent the
battery from discharging.
The automatic lighting feature iscontrolled by a sensor located on top
of the dashboard. Do not cover thissensor or spill liquids on it. Daytim
e Runnin g Light s
(Canadia n Models )
With the headlight switch off, the high beam headlights come on with
reduced brightness when you turn
the ignition switch to ON (II) andrelease the parking brake. They
remain on until you turn the ignition off, even if you set the parking brake.
The headlights revert to normal operation when you turn them on
with the switch.
Instrument s an d Control s

LIGH
T
SENSO R

Control
s Nea r th e Steerin g Whee l

Instrumen t Pane l Brightnes s
The dial on the dashboard to the left of the instrument panel is used to
adjust the brightness of the lights in
the controls and displays. Turn the dial to adjust the brightness. To reduce glare at night, the instru-
ment panel illumination dims when you turn the light switch to or
Turning the instrument panel
brightness control fully to the left, past the detent, will return the instru-
ment panel to its full brightness. Tur
n Signal s
Signal a turn or lane change with this
lever. Push down on the lever to signal a left turn, and up to signal a
right turn. If you push it up or down all the way, the turn signal continues
to blink even when you release the lever. It shuts off automatically as
you complete the turn.
Instrument s an d Control s TUR
N SIGNA L LEVE R
INSTRUMEN
T PANE L
BRIGHTNES S DIA L

Control
s Nea r th e Steerin g Whee l

To signal a lane change, push lightly on the turn signal lever in the proper
direction and hold it. The lever will
return to the center position as soon
as you release it.
Fo
g Light s

Turn the fog lights on and off by pressing the button. The indicator in
the button lights to show the fog
lights are on. You can use the fog lights only when
the headlights are on low beam.
They will go off when you turn the headlights off or onto high beam.

On cars with automatic lighting

With the light switch in the AUTO position, you can also use the fog
lights when the headlights turn onautomatically. They will go off when
the headlights turn off.
Instrument s an d Control s
Car
s wit h navigatio n syste m