wiper blades Acura RL 2000 3.5 Owner's Manual

Drivin
g in Ba d Weathe r

Visibilit y — Being able to see
clearly in all directions and being
visible to other drivers are important in all weather conditions. This is
more difficult in bad weather. To be seen more clearly during daylight
hours, turn on your headlights.
Inspect your windshield wipers and
washers frequently. Keep the wind- shield washer reservoir full of the
proper fluid. Have the windshield
wiper blades replaced if they start to streak the windshield or leave parts
unwiped. Use the defroster and air conditioning to keep the windows
from fogging up on the inside (see
pages 126 and 131). Tractio
n — Check your tires
frequently for wear and proper pressure. Both are important in
preventing "hydroplaning" (loss of
traction on a wet surface). In the
winter, mount snow tires on all four
wheels for the best handling.
Watch road conditions carefully, they can change from moment to
moment. Wet leaves can be as slip-
pery as ice. "Clear" roads can have
patches of ice. Driving conditions can be very hazardous when the
outside temperature is near freezing.
The road surface can become covered with areas of water puddles
mixed with areas of ice, so your
traction can change without warning.
Be careful when downshifting. If
traction is low, you can lock up the drive wheels for a moment and cause
a skid. Be very cautious when passing, or
being passed by other vehicles. The spray from large vehicles reduces
your visibility, and the wind buffeting can cause you to lose control.

Driving

Maintenanc
e

This section explains why it is important to keep your car well
maintained and to follow basic
maintenance safety precautions.
This section also includes Maintenance Schedules for normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions for simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself.
If you have the skills and tools to per-
form more complex maintenance tasks on your Acura, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page 315 for information on how to obtain a copy, or see your Acura

dealer.
Maintenance Safety....................... 202
Important Safety Precautions.. 203
Maintenance Schedule.................. 204
Required Maintenance Record.... 211
Owner Maintenance Checks........ 213
Fluid Locations............................... 214

Engine Oil....................................... 215 Adding Oil................................... 215
Recommended Oil..................... 215
Synthetic Oil............................... 216

Additives..................................... 216 Changing the Oil and Filter...... 217
Cooling System.............................. 219 Adding Engine Coolant............. 219Replacing Engine Coolant........ 221
Windshield Washers..................... 225
Automatic Transmission Fluid..... 226

Differential Oil............................... 227
Brake Fluid..................................... 227
Brake System............................. 228
Power Steering............................... 228
Hood Latch..................................... 229
Air Cleaner Element...................... 229 Spark Plugs..................................... 231 Replacement............................... 231
Specifications............................. 234 Battery............................................ 234
Wiper Blades.................................. 237
Air Conditioning System............... 239
Air Conditioning Filter.................. 240
Drive Belts...................................... 240
Timing Belt..................................... 241 Tires................................................ 241 Inflation....................................... 241
Inspection................................... 243
Maintenance............................... 244
Tire Rotation.............................. 244
Replacing Tires and Wheels.... 245
Wheels and Tires....................... 246
Winter Driving........................... 246
Snow Tires.............................. 247
Tire Chains............................. 247
Lights.............................................. 248 Replacing Bulbs......................... 250
Storing Your Car............................ 259

Maintenance

Windshiel
d Washer s

Check the level in the windshield
washer reservoir at least monthly during normal usage. In bad weather,
when you use the washers often, check the level every time you stop

for fuel.

The windshield washer reservoir is located behind the driver's side

headlight.

Check the reservoir's fluid level by
removing the cap and looking at the
float. It should be up to the top of the
neck. If the float is at the bottom of
the neck, the reservoir is nearly empty. Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer fluid. This increases the cleaning capability and
prevents freezing in cold weather.

Do not use engine antifreeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the

windshield washer reservoir.

Antifreeze can damage your car's paint,
while a vinegar/water solution can

damage the windshield washer pump.

Use only commercially-available

windshield washer fluid.

When you refill the reservoir, clean the edges of the windshield wiper
blades with windshield washer fluid on a clean cloth. This will help to
condition the blade edges.

Maintenance

FLOA
T NOTIC
E

When you refill the reservoir, clean
the edges of the windshield wiper

blades with windshield washer fluid
on a clean cloth. This will help to

condition the blade edges.

Wipe
r Blade s

Check the condition of the wiper
blades at least every six months. Look for signs of cracking in the
rubber, or areas that are getting
hard. Replace the blades if you find
these signs, or they leave streaks and unwiped areas when used.
To replace the blade:
1. Turn the ignition ON (II), switch the wipers to INT or — (lowposition), then turn the ignitionOFF when the wiper arm is
approximately midway in its travel. 2. Disconnect the blade assembly
from the wiper arm by pushing inthe lock tab. Hold it in while you
push the blade assembly toward
the base of the arm.

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e
WIPE
R ARM S

LOCK
TA B

Wipe
r Blade s
Wipe r Blade s

3. Remove the blade from its holder by grasping the tabbed end of the
blade. Pull firmly until the tabs come out of the holder. 4. Examine the new wiper blades. If
they have no plastic or metal rein-
forcement along the back edge,
remove the metal reinforcement strips from the old wiper blade and
install them in the slots along the
edge of the new blade. 5. Slide the new wiper blade into the
holder until the tabs lock.
6. Slide the wiper blade assembly onto the wiper arm. Make sure itlocks in place.
7. Turn the ignition switch ON (II) and return the windshield wipersto their park position.

Maintenanc e

BLAD
E


BLADE

REINFORCEMEN T

Inde
x

Selecting Proper Viscosity Chart....................................... 216
ON (Ignition Key Position)............ 80
Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery..................................... 305
Opening the Hood......................... 168
Opening the Trunk.......................... 86
Operation in Foreign Countries... 304
Outside Mirrors............................... 98
Outside Temperature Indicator..... 59
Overheating, Engine..................... 280
Owner Maintenance Checks........ 213
Oxygenated Fuels.......................... 303

Paint Touch-up............................... 263

Panel Brightness Control............... 66
Park Gear Position......................... 181

Parking............................................ 184

Parking Brake................................ 108

Parking Brake and Brake System Indicator.................. 54, 285

Parking Lights.................................. 63

Parking Over Things that Burn... 307

PGM-FI System.............................. 306
Polishing and Waxing................... 263

Power

Door Locks................................... 81
Mirrors.......................................... 98

Seat Controls...............................
. 93
Steering....................................... 228

Steering Wheel............................ 71

Windows..................................... 105
Pre-Drive Safety Checklist............. 11
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts.......... 18
Protecting Adults............................. 12
Additional Safety Precautions.... 19
Advice for Pregnant Women...... 18
Protecting Children......................... 20
Protecting Infants........................ 28
Protecting Larger Children........ 35
Protecting Small Children.......... 32
Using Child Seats withTethers...................................... 39

Radiator Overheating.................... 280

Radio/Cassette Sound System .... 134

Rear End Towing........................... 292

Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement... 254
Rear Seat Armrest........................... 97

Rear Ventilation............................. 132

Rear View Mirror............................. 98
Rear Window Defogger.................. 71
Reclining the Seat Backs................ 94
Reminder Lights.............................. 53

Remote Transmitter........................ 82
Replacement Information Air Cleaner Element.................. 229
Air Conditioning Filter.............. 240 Engine Coolant........................... 221
Engine Oil and Filter................. 217

Fuses........................................... 288

Light Bulbs................................. 250

Schedule..................................... 204

Spark Plugs................................. 231

Tires............................................ 24
5

Wiper Blades.............................. 237
Replacing Seat Belts After a
Crash............................................. 42

Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant.... 170
Reverse Gear Position................... 181

Rotation, Tire................................. 244

CONTINUED

Inde
x

Underside, Cleaning...................... 266

Unexpected, Taking Care
of the........................................... 269

Uniform Tire Quality Grading..... 301

Unleaded Gasoline......................... 166

Upholstery Cleaning...................... 264

Used Oil, How to Dispose of........ 218
Vanity Mirror................................. 113
Vehicle Capacity Load .................. 175
Vehicle Dimensions....................... 298
Vehicle Identification Number..... 296
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System..................................... 189
Technical Description............... 300
VSA System Indicator........ 56, 190
VSA Activation Indicator... 56, 189
VSA Off Switch.......................... 190
Vehicle Storage.............................. 259
Ventilation...................................... 120

VIN.................................................. 296

Vinyl Cleaning................................ 264 Warning Beepers
Headlights on............................... 63
Key in Ignition.............................. 80
Seat Belts................................ 40, 54

WARNING, Explanation of.............. ii

Warning Labels, Location of.......... 50

Warranty Coverages*................... 312
Washer, Windshield Checking the Fluid Level......... 225Operation...................................... 70
Washing.......................................... 262
Waxing and Polishing................... 263

Wheels
Adjusting the Steering................ 71
Alignment and Balance............. 244
Cleaning Aluminum Alloys....... 263
Compact Spare........................... 270
Wrench....................................... 272
Windows Cleaning...................................... 265
Operating the Power................. 105
Rear, Defogger............................
71

Windshield Cleaning....................................... .
68
Defroster............................ 126,

131

Wipers, Windshiel
d
Changing Blades........................ 237
Operation...................................... 68

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

Worn Tires..................................... 243
Wrecker, Emergency Towing...... 292
* U.S. and Canada only

Viscosity, Oil................................... 216