spare tire Acura RL 2000 3.5 Owner's Manual

Vehicl
e Stabilit y Assis t (VSA ) Syste m

VSA is turned on every time you start the engine, even if you turned it
off the last time you drove the car. VS
A an d Tir e Size s
Driving with varying tire or wheel sizes may cause the VSA to
malfunction. When replacing tires,
make sure they are of the same size and type as your original tires (see
page 245).
Deactivate the VSA system if you
need to drive with the compact spare
tire installed (see page 270).If you install winter tires, make sure
they are the same size as those that
were originally supplied with your car. Exercise the same cautionduring winter driving as you would if
your car was not equipped with VSA.

Driving

Towin
g a Traile r

Additional Trailer Equipment Many states and Canadian provinces
require special outside mirrors when
towing a trailer. Even if they don't,
you should install special mirrors if
you cannot clearly see behind you, or if the trailer creates a blind spot.
Ask your trailer sales or rental agency if any other items are
recommended or required for your

towing situation.
Pre-To
w Checklis t
When preparing to tow, and before driving away, be sure to check the
following: The vehicle has been properly
serviced, and the tires, brakes,
suspension, and cooling system
are in good operating condition.
All weights and loads are within limits (see pages 194 and 195 ).
The hitch, safety chain, and any other attachments are secure. All items on and in the trailer are
properly secured and cannot shift
while you drive. The lights and brakes on your
vehicle and the trailer are working
properly. Your vehicle tires and spare are
properly inflated (see page 242 ),and the trailer tires and spare are
inflated as recommended by the
trailer maker.
Drivin g

Tire
s

Use a gauge to measure the air
pressure at least once a month. Even
tires that are in good condition may
lose one to two psi (10 to 20 kPa, 0.1
to 0.2 kgf/cm2) per month.
Remember t
o check the spare tire at
the same time you check all the other tires.
Check the pressure in the tires when
they are cold. This means the car
has been parked for at least three
hours. If you have to drive the car
before checking the tire pressure,
the tires can still be considered "cold" if you drive less than 1 mile
(1.6 km).
If you check the pressure when the
tires are hot (the car has been driven several miles), you will see readings
4 to 6 psi (30 to 40 kPa, 0.3 to 0.4
kgf/cm
2) higher than the cold
reading. Thi
s is normal. Do not let
air out to match the specified cold
pressure. The tire will be
underinflated.
You should get your own tire pressure gauge and use it whenever
you check your tire pressures. This will make it easier for you to tell if apressure loss is due to a tire problem
and not due to a variation between

gauges.
Recommended Tire Pressures for
Normal Driving

The following chart shows the recommended cold tire pressures formost normal driving conditions and
speeds. Tire pressures for high
speed driving are the same as for
normal driving.
The compact spare tire pressure is:
6 0 ps i (42 0 kP a , 4. 2 kgf/cm 2
)
These pressures are also given on
the tire information label on thedriver's doorjamb.

Maintenanc e

Takin
g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

This section covers the more- common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you information about how to safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again. If not, you will also find instructions
on getting your car towed.
Compact Spare Tire....................... 270

Changing a Flat Tire..................... 271
If Your Engine Won't Start........... 276 Nothing Happens or theStarter Motor OperatesVery Slowly......................... 276
The Starter Operates Normally................................. 277

Jump Starting................................. 278

If Your Engine Overheats............. 280
Low Oil Pressure Indicator.......... 282
Charging System Indicator........... 283
Malfunction Indicator Lamp ........ 284
Brake System Indicator................ 285
Closing the Moonroof................... 286
Fuses............................................... 287
Checking and Replacing........... 288

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

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Compac
t Spar e Tir e

Your car has a compact spare tire that takes up less space. Use this spare tire as a temporary replace-
ment only. Get your regular tire
repaired or replaced and put back on
your car as soon as you can.
Check the inflation pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be
inflated to:6 0 ps i (42 0 kP a , 4. 2 kgf/cm 2)

Follow these precautions whenever
you are using the compact spare tire: Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
under any circumstances.
This tire gives a harsher ride and less traction on some road sur-
faces than the regular tire. Use
greater caution while driving on
this tire. Do not mount snow chains on the
compact spare.
The wheel of the compact spare
tire is designed especially to fit
your car. Do not use your spare
tire on another vehicle unless it is
the same make and model.
Turn off the VSA system (see page 190).Driving with the compact spare
tire may activate the VSA system.
The compact spare tire has a shorter
tread life than a regular tire. Replace
it when you can see the tread wear
indicator bars. The replacementshould be the same size and design
tire, mounted on the same wheel.
The compact spare tire is not designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and the compact wheel is not designed for mounting a regular tire.
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d INDICATO
R LOCATIO N MAR K
TREA D WEA R INDICATO R BA R

Changing
a Flat Tir e
If you have a flat tire while driving, stop in a safe place to change it.
Stopping in traffic or on the shoulder
of a busy road is dangerous. Drive
slowly along the shoulder until you
get to an exit or an area to stop that
is far away from the traffic lanes.
1. Park the car on firm, level, andnon-slippery ground away from
traffic. Put the transmission in Park. Apply the parking brake.
2. Turn on the hazard warning lights and turn the ignition switch to
LOCK (0). Have all the
passengers get out of the car while
you change the tire. 3. Open the trunk. Raise the trunk
floor by lifting up on the back edge.
To keep the trunk floor out of the way, attach the hook into the slotin the trunk lid.
4. Take the tool kit out of the trunk.
5. Unscrew the wing bolt and take the spare tire out of its well.

CONTINUED

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

The car can easily roll off the

jack, seriously injuring anyone
underneath.

Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and never get under the car when it
is supported only by the jack. TRUN
K FLOO R

HOO K
TOO L KI T
SPAR E TIR E
JAC K

Changin
g a Fla t Tir e

9. Use the extension and wheel wrench as shown to raise the
vehicle until the flat tire is off the
ground.
10. Remove the wheel nuts and flat
tire. Temporarily place the flat tireon the ground with the outside
surface of the wheel facing up.
You could scratch the wheel if you put it face down. 11.Before mounting the spare tire,
wipe any dirt off the mountingsurface of the wheel and hub with
a clean cloth. Wipe the hub
carefully, it may be hot from driving.

CONTINUED

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

EXTENSIO
N
WHEE L
WRENC H

BRAK
E HU B

Changin
g a Fla t Tir e

12.Put on the spare tire. Put the wheel nuts back on finger-tight,then tighten them in a crisscross
pattern with the wheel wrench
until the wheel is firmly against
the hub. Do not try to tighten
them fully. 13.Lower the car to the ground and

remove the jack.
14.Tighten the wheel nuts securely in
the same crisscross pattern. Havethe wheel nut torque checked at
the nearest automotive service
facility.
Tighten the wheel nuts to: 80 lbf .
ft (108 N .
m , 11 kgf .
m)
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Changin
g a Fla t Tir e

15.Remove the spacer basket from the trunk well.
16.Remove the center cap before
storing the flat tire in the trunk
well. 17.Place the flat tire face down in the
spare tire well.
18.Wrap the spacer cone and spare tire wing bolt with cloth or paperand store them in the trunk well.

CONTINUED

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
SPACE
R BASKE T


CENTER CA P FLA
T TIR E

RIN
G

SPACE
R
CON E
WIN G BOL T

Inde
x

Differential Oil........................... 227

Drive Belts.................................. 240
Engine Coolant........................... 170

Engine Oil................................... 169

Fuses........................................... 288 Power Steering Fluid................. 228
Checklist, Before Driving............. 178
Childproof Door Locks................... 85
Cigarette Lighter........................... 115
Cleaner, Air.................................... 229
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels..................... 263
Carpeting.................................... 264
Exterior....................................... 262
Fabric.......................................... 264
Interior........................................ 264

Leather........................................ 264

Seat Belts.................................... 264
Vinyl............................................ 264
Windows..................................... 265

Wood Trim................................. 265

Climate Control System................ 120
Clock, Setting the.......................... 108
Code, Audio System...................... 162
CO in the Exhaust......................... 305
Coin Box......................................... 112 Cold Weather, Starting in............. 179
Compact Spare............................... 270
Console Compartment.................. 112
Consumer Information*................ 310
Controls, Instruments and.............. 51
Coolant
Adding......................................... 219
Checking..................................... 170
Proper Solution.......................... 219
Replacing.................................... 221
Temperature Gauge.................... 60
Corrosion Protection..................... 266
Courtesy Lights............................. 118 Crankcase Emissions Control System......................................... 305
Cruise Control Operation............... 73
Customer Relations Office........... 310
DANGER, Explanation of................. ii
Dashboard.................................... 2, 52
Daytime Running Lights................. 65
Dead Battery, What to Do............ 278
Defects, Reporting Safety............. 313
Defogger, Rear Window................. 71
Defrosting the Windows....... 126, 131

DEXRON
®
III Automatic

Transmission Fluid.................... 226

Differential Oil ............................... 227

Dimensions..................................... 298
Dimming the Headlights................ 63

Dipstick
Automatic Transmission........... 226

Engine Oil................................... 169

Directional Signals........................... 66

Disabled, Towing Your Car If...... 292

Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 185

Disposal of Used Oil...................... 218

Doors
Locking and Unlocking............... 81

Lockout Prevention..................... 82

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

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

DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 301

Drive Belts...................................... 240

Driver and Passenger Safety............ 5

CONTINUED