sensor Acura RL 2000 3.5 Owner's Manual

Additiona
l Informatio n Abou t You r Fron t Airbag s
SR S Component s

Your Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) includes: Two front airbags. The driver's
airbag is stored in the center of
the steering wheel; the front
passenger's airbag is stored in the dashboard. Both are marked "SRS
AIRBAG." Automatic seat belt tensioners
(see page 41). Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe frontal

collision.

A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records information about thesensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, driver and
passenger seat belt use, and all
related wiring when the ignition is ON (II). An indicator light on the
instrument panel that alerts you to
a possible problem with thesystem (see page 45). Emergency backup power in case
your car's electrical system is disconnected in a crash. Ho
w You r Fron t Airbag s Wor k
If you ever have a moderate to severe frontal collision, the sensors
will detect the vehicle's rapid deceleration. If the rate ofdeceleration is high enough, the
control unit will instantly inflate the
front airbags.
CONTINUED
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Additiona
l Informatio n Abou t You r Fron t Airbag s

During a frontal crash, your seat
belts help restrain your lower body and torso. Your airbag provides a
cushion to help restrain and protect
your head and chest.
Since both airbags use the samesensors, both airbags normally
inflate at the same time. However, it
is possible for only one airbag to
inflate.
This can occur when the severity of a collision is at the margin, or
threshold, that determines whether or not the airbags will deploy. In
such cases, the seat belt will providesufficient protection, and the
supplemental protection offered by
the airbag would be minimal. After inflating, the front airbags
immediately deflate, so they won't
interfere with the driver's visibility,or the ability to steer or operate
other controls.
The total time for inflation and deflation is approximately one-tenth
of a second, so fast that most
occupants are not aware that the
airbags deployed until they see them
lying in their laps. After a crash, you may see what
looks like smoke. This is actuallypowder from the airbag's surface.
Although the powder is not harmful, people with respiratory problems
may experience some temporarydiscomfort. If this occurs, get out of
the car as soon as it is safe to do so.

U.S. Owners

For additional information on how

your airbags work, see the booklet
titled SRS: What You Need to Know

About Airbags that came with your

owner's manual.

Canadian Owners

For additional information on how

your airbags work, ask your dealer
for a copy of the booklet titled SRS:
What You Need to Know About Airbags.

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Additiona
l Informatio n Abou t You r Sid e Airbag s

Your car is equipped with side airbags for the driver and a front
seat passenger. The airbags are
stored in the outer edges of the front
seat-backs, and both are marked
"SIDE AIRBAG." Ho
w You r Sid e Airbag s Wor k

If you ever have a moderate to severe side impact, the sensors will
detect rapid deceleration and signal
the control unit to instantly inflate either the driver's or the passenger'sside airbag.
Only one airbag will deploy during a
side impact. If the impact is on the
passenger's side, the passenger's side airbag will deploy even if there
is no passenger. To get the best protection from the
side airbags, front seat occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

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

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

Sea
t Heaters , Sk i Sleev e
The HI or LO indicator lights and remains lit until you turn it off by
pushing the opposite side of the switch lightly. The indicator will turn

off.
In HI, the heater turns off when the
seat gets warm, and turns back on
after the seat's temperature drops. It
continues to cycle as long as you
leave it set on HI. The HI indicator
remains lit as a reminder that you
have the heater on.
In LO, the heater runs continuously.
It does not cycle with temperature
changes.
Because of the sensors for the side
airbag system, there is no heater in
the passenger's seat-back. Follow these precautions whenever
you use the seat heaters:
Use the HI setting only to heat the
seats quickly. Select the LO
setting when the seats feel warm.
The HI setting draws large amounts of current from the
battery.
Do not use the seat heaters, even
on the LO setting, if the engine is
left idling for an extended period.
They can weaken the battery, causing hard starting. Sk
i Sleev e
The ski sleeve allows you to cany skis or other long objects safely
without soiling or damaging the interior of your car. It attaches to the
trunk pass-through.
KNO B
To use the ski sleeve: 1. Pull down the rear seat armrest. Open the trunk pass-through
cover by sliding the knob down-
ward and pulling on the cover.

Instrument s an d Control s
LI
D

CONTINUED

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
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

Corrosion
Protectio n

Two factors normally contribute to causing corrosion in your car:
1. Moisture trapped in body cavities. Dirt and road salt that collects in
hollows on the underside of the
vehicle stays damp, promoting corrosion in that area.
2. Removal of paint and protective coatings from the exterior and
underside of the car. Many corrosion-preventive measures
are built into your Acura. You can
help keep your car from corroding
by performing some simple periodic

maintenance:
Repair chips and scratches in the
paint as soon as you discover them. Inspect and clean out the drain
holes in the bottom of the doors
and body. Check the floor coverings for
dampness. Carpeting and floor
mats may remain damp for a long
time, especially in winter. This dampness can eventually cause
the floor panels to corrode. Use a high-pressure spray to clean
the underside of your car. This is especially important in areas that
use road salt in winter. It is also a
good idea in humid climates and areas subject to salt air. Be carefulof the ABS wheel sensors and
wiring at each wheel. Have the corrosion-preventive
coatings on the underside of your
car inspected and repaired
periodically.

Appearanc e Car e

Vehicl
e Stabilit y Assis t (VSA ) Syste m

The Vehicle Stability Assist system (VSA) monitors the car's actions
during straight-line acceleration and
cornering behavior. It reduces
engine power and applies selective
braking if it senses any loss of
traction.
Controllin g Tractio n Durin g
Straight-lin e Acceleratio n
If one drive wheel is turning faster
than the other, or both drive wheels
are turning faster than the non- driven wheels, VSA senses
wheelspin. It reduces engine power and applies braking at the wheels as
necessary to increase traction.
To do this, VSA monitors the pulse frequencies from the wheel speed sensors. It also uses information
from the steering wheel angle sensor
and the lateral acceleration sensor to determine if the car is accelerating in
a straight line or if it is cornering.
VSA can then calculate how much wheelspin, if any, to allow. It signals
the ECU to reduce fuel flow andretard ignition timing. This reduces
available engine power. The ECU
will also apply braking at the wheels as necessary. When wheelspin has
been controlled, braking and engine
control return to normal.
Controllin g Tractio n Durin g
Cornerin g
VSA monitors steering input and the car's expected response to that input.
VSA's yaw rate sensor measures the car's actual cornering behavior. If VSA determines that the car is
turning more or less than expected,
the system reduces engine power
and applies braking at the
appropriate wheel to try and
maintain adequate traction during
cornering.
VSA uses the same wheel speed sensor assemblies as the ABS.
Additional sensors measure steering wheel angle, lateral acceleration, and
yaw rate.
The control unit monitors the VSA circuitry while driving. If it senses a
problem, it turns off the system and illuminates the VSA System
Indicator on the instrument panel.
Technica l Informatio n