climate control Acura RL 2000 3.5 Owner's Manual

2000 RL Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com.
Contents

Owner's Identification Form
Introduction ........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safety........................................................................\
........................................ .ii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
............................................ .2
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
..................................... .5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Controls........................................................................\
........................................ .51
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
..................... .119
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................165
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... .177
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................201
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Care........................................................................\
..................................................... .261
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
..............................269
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, a nd how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
............................................ .295
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................309
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................315
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index........................................................................\
........................................................................\
...... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

Carbo
n Monoxid e Hazar d
Your car's exhaust contains carbon monoxide gas. You should have no
problem with carbon monoxide
entering the car in normal driving if
you maintain your car properly. Have the exhaust system inspected
for leaks whenever:
The car is raised for an oil change. You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust. The car was in an accident that
may have damaged the underside. High levels of carbon monoxide can
collect rapidly in enclosed areas,
such as a garage. Do not run the
engine with the garage door closed.
Even with the door open, run the
engine only long enough to move the
vehicle out of the garage. With the trunk lid open, air flow can
pull exhaust gas into your car's
interior and create a hazardous
condition. If you must drive with the
trunk lid open, open all the windows and set the climate control system as
shown below.
If you must sit in your parked car,
even in an unconfined area, with the
engine running, adjust the climate
control system as follows:
1. Select the Fresh Air mode. 2. Select the mode.
3. Set the fan speed to high.
4. Set the temperature control to a
comfortable setting.

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and even kill
you.
Avoid any enclosed areas or
activities that expose you to
carbon monoxide.

Comfor
t an d Convenienc e Feature s

The climate control system in your

Acura provides a comfortable driving
environment in all weather condi-

tions.

The standard audio system has
many features. This section de-
scribes those features and how to

use them.

Your Acura has an anti-theft audio
system that requires a code number

to enable it.
The security system helps to dis-
courage vandalism and theft of your

Acura. Climate Control System................ 120

3.5 RL without Navigation System
Fully-automatic Operation........ 122
Semi-automatic Operation........ 123

3.5 RL with Navigation System
Fully-automatic Operation ........ 127
Semi-automatic Operation ........ 128
Rear Ventilation ......................... 132

Sunlight Sensor/ Temperature Sensor.............
133

Audio System ................................. 134

AM/FM/Cassette Stereo
Audio System......................... 134

3.5 RL without Navigation System
Operating the Radio.................. 135
Adjusting the Sound.................. 138
Audio System Lighting............. 139 Operating the Cassette Player...................................... 139
Tape Search Functions............. 140 Operating the CD Changer...... 142
3.5 RL with Navigation System

Operating the Radio.................. 145
Adjusting the Sound.................. 148
Audio System Lighting............. 149 Radio Frequencies..................... 149
Radio Reception......................... 149Operating the Cassette
Player...................................... 151
Tape Search Functions............. 151 Caring for the Cassette Player...................................... 154
Operating the CD Changer...... 155
Loading the CD Changer ......... 157
Protecting Compact Discs........ 159 CD Changer Error Indications.............................. 160
Remote Audio Controls ............ 161
Theft Protection........................ 162
Security System............................. 163

Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s

Climat
e Contro l Syste m

The automatic climate control system in your Acura picks the
proper combination of air condi-
tioning, heating, and ventilation to
maintain the interior temperature
you select. The system also adjusts the fan speed and air flow levels.
The direction of air flow from the vents in the center and each side ofthe dashboard is adjustable. Move
the tab in the center of each vent up- and-down and side-to-side.
The side vents can be opened and closed with the dials next to them.
In the rear seat, you can also adjust
the ventilation when the climate con-
trol system is on (see page 132 ).
CENTE
R VENT S

The climate control system draws air through the exterior vents at the
bottom of the windshield. Keep
these vents clear of leaves and other
debris.
SID
E VENT S
For the climate control system to
provide heating and cooling, the engine must be running.
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s

Climat
e Control System

3.5 RL without Navigation System

Fully-automati c Operatio n
To put the Automatic Climate Control in fully-automatic mode,
press the AUTO button and set the fan control dial to AUTO, then set
the desired temperature by turning
the temperature control dial. You willsee FULL AUTO in the system's
display. The light above either the or button also goes
on to show you which is selected.
The system automatically selects the proper mix of conditioned and/or
heated air that will, as quickly as
possible, raise or lower the interior
temperature from its current level to
the set temperature.
When you set the temperature to its lower limit (60°F/18°C) or its upper
limit (90°F/32°C), the system runs
at full cooling or heating only. It does
not regulate the interior temperature.
When the temperature is set between the lower and upper limits,
the system regulates the interior
temperature to the set value.
In cold weather, the fan will not
come on automatically until the car
has been driven for a short time and
the heater starts to develop warm air. Pressing the OFF button shuts the
climate control system completely
off. Keep the system completely off
only for short periods. To keep stale
air and mustiness from collecting,
you should have the fan running at all times.
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s
TEMPERATUR
E

CONTRO L DIA LFUL
L AUT O

DISPLA Y
FA
N CONTRO L

DIA L

AUT O
BUTTO NOF
F
BUTTO N

Climat
e Control System

Semi-automati c Operatio n
You can manually select various functions of the Climate Control system when it is in FULL AUTO.
All other features remain auto- matically controlled. Making any
manual selection causes the word
FULL to go out.
Air Conditioning (A/C) Button Press the A/C button to operate the
air conditioning. Each time you press
the A/C button, the display shows
the mode: A/C ECON, A/C OFF, or
A/C ON.
When you turn the A/C off, the sys-

tem cannot regulate the inside tem-
perature if you set the dial below theoutside temperature. With the A/C
on, use the temperature control dial
to adjust the temperature of the air
flow to a comfortable setting.
TEMPERATUR
E
CONTRO L DIA L
AI
R CONDITIONIN G
BUTTO N

RECIRCULATE D AI R

With the A/C in economy mode, you
will see A/C ECON in the system's display. Use this mode to get better
fuel economy.
In this mode, you may feel a slight re-

duction in cooling efficiency. If you

want more cooling, select A/C ON or FULL AUTO.
CONTINUED
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s

FRES
H AI R

Climat
e Control System

3.5 RL with Navigation System

Fully-automati c Operatio n
To put the Automatic Climate Control in fully-automatic mode,
press the AUTO button and set the
fan control dial to AUTO, then set
the desired temperature by turning
the temperature control dial. You will see FULL AUTO in the system's
display. The light above the button also shows you which
mode, Recirculation or Fresh Air, is
selected.

The system automatically selects the proper mix of conditioned and/or
heated air that will, as quickly as possible, raise or lower the interior
temperature from its current level to
the set temperature.
When you set the temperature to its
lower limit (60°F/18°C) or its upper limit (90°F/32°C), the system runsat full cooling or heating only. It does
not regulate the interior temperature. FA
N CONTRO L

DIA L
FUL
L AUT O

DISPLA Y

When the temperature is set between the lower and upper limits,
the system regulates the interior
temperature to the set value.
In cold weather, the fan will not
come on automatically until the car
has been driven for a short time and
the heater starts to develop warm air.
OF
F

BUTTO N
Pressing the OFF button shuts the
climate control system completely off. Keep the system completely off
only for short periods. To keep stale
air and mustiness from collecting,
you should have the fan running at all times.
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s
AUT
O
BUTTO N

TEMPERATUR
E

CONTRO L DIA L

Climat
e Control System

Semi-automati c Operatio n
You can manually select various functions of the Climate Control system when it is in FULL AUTO.
All other features remain auto- matically controlled. Making any
manual selection causes the word
FULL to go out.
Air Conditioning (A/C) Button Press the A/C button to operate the
air conditioning. Each time you press
the A/C button, the display shows
the mode: A/C ECON, A/C OFF, or
A/C ON.
When you turn the A/C off, the sys-

tem cannot regulate the inside tem-
perature if you set the dial below the outside temperature. With the A/C
on, use the temperature control dial
to adjust the temperature of the air
flow to a comfortable setting. AI
R CONDITIONIN G
BUTTO N
TEMPERATUR
E
CONTRO L DIA L
RECIRCULATIO N BUTTO N

With the A/C in economy mode, you
will see A/C ECON in the system's display. Use this mode to get better
fuel economy.
In this mode, you may feel a slight re-
duction in cooling efficiency. If you

want more cooling, select A/C ON or FULL AUTO.
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s

Climat
e Contro l Syste m

Rea r Ventilatio n
The air flow from the rear vents can
be adjusted when the climate control system is on. You can adjust the direction of the
air coming from the upper vents in
the center console by moving the tab in the center of each vent up-and-down and side-to-side.
You can also adjust the amount of the air flow by sliding the air flow
control lever under the upper vents.
Slide this lever upward to increase
the amount of air flow.
(Upper position): Maximum
(Center position): Moderate (Lower position): Off

Mode Control Lever

Use the mode control lever to select
the air flow level. Air flows into the rear seat at three levels. (Upper position):
Air flows from the upper vents in the back of the center console.
— (Center position):
Air flow is divided between the upper
vents and the lower vents in the back of the center console.
(Lower position):
Air flows from the lower vents.
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s
AI
R FLO W

CONTRO L
LEVE R
UPPE
R

VENT S
MOD E

CONTRO L

LEVE R

LOWE R
VENT S

Climat
e Contro l Syste m
Sunligh t Sensor/Temperatur e

Senso r

The climate control system has two sensors. A sunlight sensor is located
in the top of the dashboard and a
temperature sensor is next to the steering column. Do not cover the
sensors or spill any liquid on them.
Comfort an d Convenienc e Feature s
SUNLIGH
T SENSO R TEMPERATUR E SENSO R