fuel pressure Acura RL 2000 3.5 Owner's Manual

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s

Fillin g th e Fuel Tank
1. Because the fuel fill cap is on the
driver's side of the car, park with
that side closest to the service
station pumps.

2. Open the fuel fill door by pulling

on the handle to the left of the
driver's seat.

FUE L FIL L CA P 3. Remove the fuel fill cap slowly.

You may hear a hissing sound as
pressure inside the tank escapes.
Place the cap in the holder on the
fuel fill door.

4. Stop filling the tank after the fuel

nozzle automatically clicks off. Do
not try to "top off" the tank, leave
some room for the fuel to expand
with temperature changes.

Your car has an on-board refueling
vapor recovery system to help
keep fuel vapors from going into
the atmosphere. If the fuel pump
keeps clicking off even though thetank is not full, there may be a
problem with this system. Consult
your dealer.

CONTINUED

Befor e Drivin g

Pul
l
Gasoline is highly flammable

and explosive. You can be
burned or seriously injured

when handling fuel.

Stop the engine and keep

heat, sparks, and flame away.
Handle fuel only outdoors.

Wipe up spills immediately.

Fuel
Econom y

The condition of your car and your driving habits are the two most
important things that affect the fuel
mileage you get.
Ca r Conditio n
Always maintain your car according to the maintenance schedule. This
will keep it in top operating condition.
An important part of that mainte- nance is the Owne r Maintenanc e
Check s (see page 213 ). For
example, an underinflated tire
causes more "rolling resistance,"
which uses fuel. It also wears out
faster, so check the tire pressure at
least monthly.
In winter, the build-up of snow on
your car's underside adds weight and rolling resistance. Frequent cleaning
helps your fuel mileage and reduces
the chance of corrosion. Drivin
g Habit s
You can improve fuel economy by driving moderately. Rapid acceler-
ation, abrupt cornering, and hard
braking use more fuel.
Always drive in the highest gear that allows the engine to run and acceler-
ate smoothly.
Depending on traffic conditions, try
to maintain a constant speed. Every
time you slow down and speed up,
your car uses extra fuel. Use the cruise control, when appropriate, toincrease fuel economy. A cold engine uses more fuel than a
warm engine. It is not necessary to "warm-up" a cold engine by letting it
idle for a long time. You can drive
away in about a minute, no matter
how cold it is outside. The engine will warm up faster, and you get
better fuel economy. To cut down on
the number of "cold starts," try to combine several short trips into one.
The air conditioning puts an extra load on the engine which makes ituse more fuel. Turn off the A/C orset the climate control to a higher
temperature to cut down on air
conditioning use. Use the flow-
through ventilation when the outside
air temperature is moderate.

Before Drivin g

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

Timin
g Belt , Tire s
Timin g Bel t
The timing belt and balancer belt should normally be replaced at the
intervals shown in the maintenance

schedule.

Replace these belts at 60,000 miles (U.S.) or 100,000 km (Canada) if you
regularly drive your car in one or
more of these conditions:
In very high temperatures
(over 110°F,43°C).
In very low temperatures

(under —20°F, — 29°C). Tire
s
To safely operate your car, your tires must be the proper type and size, in
good condition with adequate tread, and correctly inflated. The following
pages give more detailed information on how and when to check air
pressure, how to inspect your tires
for damage and wear, and what to do
when your tires need to be replaced.
Inflatio
n

Keeping the tires properly inflated
provides the best combination of
handling, tread life and riding comfort. Underinflated tires wear
unevenly, adversely affect handling and fuel economy, and are more
likely to fail from being overheated. Overinflated tires can make your car
ride more harshly, are more prone to damage from road hazards, and wear

unevenly.

We recommend that you visually check your tires every day. If you
think a tire might be low, check it immediately with a tire gauge.

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

Using tires that are excessively
worn or improperly inflated can
cause a crash in which you can be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner's manual regarding tire inflation and maintenance.

Inde
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Driving............................................ 177
Economy..................................... 171

In Bad Weather.......................... 192

In Foreign Countries................. 304

Driving Position Memory
System......................................... 100

Economy, Fuel............................... 171

Emergencies on the Road............. 269
Battery, Jump Starting.............. 278

Brake System Indicator............ 285
Changing a Flat Tire................. 271

Charging System Indicator...... 283

Checking the Fuses................... 288

Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 282

Malfunction Indicator Lamp.... 284

Manually Closing Moonroof.... 286

Overheated Engine................... 280

Emergency Brake.......................... 108

Emergency Flashers....................... 70

Emergency Towing....................... 292

Emissions Controls........................ 305

Engine
Belts............................................. 240
Coolant Temperature Gauge ..... 60
Malfunction IndicatorLamp................................. 55, 284
Oil Pressure Indicator......... 54, 282
Oil, What Kind to Use............... 215
Overheating................................ 280
Specifications............................. 299
Speed Limiter............................. 182
Engine Speed Limiter.................... 182
Ethanol in Gasoline ....................... 303
Evaporative Emissions Controls.. 305
Exhaust Fumes................................ 49
Exhaust Gas Recirculation
System......................................... 306

Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat Belts by......................................... 18
Exterior, Cleaning the................... 262

Fabric, Cleaning............................. 264

Fan, Interior........................... 124, 129

Features, Comfort and
Convenience............................... 119

Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 167
Filters
Air Cleaner................................. 229
Air Conditioning........................ 240

Oil................................................ 217

First Gear, Shifting........................ 182
Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 70
Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 271

Fluids
Automatic Transmission........... 226
Brake........................................... 227
Differential................................. 227
Power Steering........................... 228
Windshield Washer................... 225
FM Stereo Radio
Reception............................ 135, 145
Fog Lights......................................... 67
Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 304
Four-way Flashers........................... 70
Front Airbags............................... 9, 43
Front End, Towing by Emergency Wrecker................. 292
Fuel.................................................. 166
Fill Door and Cap....................... 167

Gauge............................................ 60
Octane Requirement................. 166

Oxygenated................................ 303

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Jacking up the Car......................... 272

Jack, Tire........................................ 272

Jump Starting................................. 278
Keys................................................... 77
Label, Certification........................ 296
Lane Change, Signaling.................. 66
Lap/Shoulder Belt........................... 40
Leaking of Exhaust into Car.......... 49
Learning Key.................................... 78
Leather, Cleaning.......................... 264
Lights On Indicator......................... 55Lighter, Cigarette.......................... 115
Lights Bulb Replacement..................... 250
Ceiling......................................... 117
Courtesy...................................... 118

Indicator........................................ 53

Parking.......................................... 63 Turn Signal................................... 66Load Limit...................................... 175
LOCK (Ignition Key Position)....... 80
Locks
Anti-theft Steering Column........ 80
Childproof Door........................... 85
Fuel Fill Door............................. 167
Glove Box.....................................
87

Power Door.................................. 81

Trunk............................................ 86

Trunk Pass-through Cover......... 97
Low Coolant Level......................... 170
Low Fuel Indicator.......................... 57
Low Oil Pressure Indicator.... 54, 282
Lubricant Specifications
Chart........................................... 298

Luggage.......................................... 174

Maintenance................................... 201

Owner Maintenance Checks.... 213

Record.................................. 211- 212

Required Indicator....................... 61

Safety........................................... 202

Schedule.............................. 206- 210

Malfunction Indicator Lamp .. 55, 284

Memory, Driving Position............ 100

Meters, Gauges................................ 58

Methanol in Gasoline.................... 303

Mirrors, Adjusting........................... 98

Moonroof........................................ 106
Closing Manually....................... 286

Operation.................................... 106
Neutral Gear Position.................... 181 New Vehicle Break-in ................... 166
NOTICE, Explanation of.................... i
Numbers, Identification................ 296
Octane Requirement, Gasoline.... 166Odometer.......................................... 59
Odometer, Trip................................ 59
Oil
Change, How to......................... 217
Change, When to....................... 206

Checking Engine....................... 169
Pressure Indicator............... 54, 282

Inde
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Steering Wheel
Adjustments................................. 71

Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 80
Position Memory....................... 100

Stereo Sound System.................... 134

Storing Your Car............................ 259
Sun Visor......................................... 113

Sunglasses Holder......................... 110

Supplemental Restraint
System............................. 9
,
43, 4
6

Service Precautions..................... 48

Servicing....................................... 48

SRS Indicator.......................... 45, 55

System Components.................... 43

Tensioners, Seat Belts................ 41
Synthetic Oil................................... 216
Tachometer...................................... 58
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 254
Taking Care of the Unexpected .. 269
Tape Player ........................... 139, 154
Technical Descriptions
DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 301
Driving in Foreign Countries... 304 Emissions Control Systems...... 305
Oxygenated Fuels...................... 303
Three Way Catalytic Converter................................ 307
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System..................................... 300
Temperature Gauge........................ 60
Tensioners, Seat Belts .................... 41
Tether Anchorage Points............... 39
Theft Deterrent System................ 163
Theft Protection............................. 162
Three Way Catalytic Converter... 307
Time, Setting the........................... 108
Timing Belt..................................... 241
Tire Chains..................................... 247
Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 271
Tires................................................ 241 Air Pressure............................... 242Balancing.................................... 244
Checking Wear.......................... 243
Compact Spare........................... 270
DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 301
Inflation....................................... 241
Inspection................................... 243
Maintenance............................... 244
Replacing.................................... 245
Rotating....................................... 244

Snow............................................ 247

Specifications............................. 299

Tools, Tire Changing.................... 271

Torn Seat Belts................................ 42

Towing

A Trailer...................................... 194
By Emergency Wrecker........... 292

Transmission
Checkin g
Fluid Level,

Automatic............................... 226

Fluid Selection............................ 226

Identification Number............... 297

Shifting the Automatic.............. 180

Treadwear...................................... 301

Trip Meter........................................ 59

Trunk................................................. 86

Opening the.................................. 86

Open Monitor Light.................... 57

Turn Signals..................................... 66

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