Acura RL 2001 3.5 Owner's Manual

2001 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
Introduction ........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safet y........................................................................\
.........................................ii
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
..................................... .5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Control s........................................................................\
........................................ .51
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
..................... 121
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................167
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... .179
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................203
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Car e........................................................................\
..................................................... .263
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpecte d........................................................................\
..............................271
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, a nd how to handle them.
Technical Informatio n........................................................................\
.............................................299
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................313
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manu als (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................319
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.

Accord Value Package Audio System Owner's Identification Form

Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
............................................ 2

Owner's Identification
This Owner's Manual should be considereda permanent part of the car, and should
remain with the car when it i
s sold.
The information and specifications included in this publication were in affect at the time
of approval for printing. Honda Motor Co.,
Ltd. reserves the right, however, to
discontinue or change specifications or
design at any time without notice and
with out incurring any obligation whatsoever
.
OWNER
ADDRESSSTREET
CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE /POSTAL CODE
V. I. N.
DELIVERY DATE(Date sold to original retail purchaser)
DEALER NAME DEALER NO.
ADDRESSSTREET
CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/
POSTAL CODEOWNER'S SIGNATURE
DEALER'S SIGNATURE

Introduction

Congratulations on your selection of the 2001 Acura 3.5 RL. We are certain
you will be pleased with your purchase of one of the finest luxury cars in the
world.

One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new Acura is to read
this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls and
convenience items. Afterwards, keep this owner's manual in your car so you
can refer to it at any time.
Several warranties protect your new Acura. Read the warranty booklet
thoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rights and responsibilities.
Maintaining your car according to the schedules given in this manual helps
to keep your driving trouble-free while it preserves your investment. When
your car needs maintenance, keep in mind that your Acura dealer's staff is specially trained in servicing the many systems unique to your Acura. Your
Acura dealer is dedicated to your satisfaction and will be pleased to answer any questions and concerns.
California Proposition 65 Warning
WARNING: This product contains or emits chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
As you read this manual, you will

find information that is preceded by

symbol. This

information is intended to help you
avoid damage to your Acura, other

property, or the environment.
NOTICE
a

A Few Words About Safety

Your safety, and the safety of others,is very important. And operating this
car safely is an important
responsibility.
To help you make informed decisions about safety, we have
provided operating procedures and other information on labels and in
this manual. This information alerts
you to potential hazards that could hurt you or others.
Of course, it is not practical or
possible to warn you about all the
hazards associated with operating or maintaining your car. You must use
your own good judgement. You will find this important safety information in a variety of forms,

including:
Safety Labels — on the car.
Safety Messages — preceded by a safety alert symbol and one of
three signal words: DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION.

These signal words mean:

You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLYHURT if you don't follow instructions.
You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don't follow instructions.
You CAN be HURT if you don't follow
instructions.

Safety Headings — such as Important Safety Reminders or Important Safety Precautions. Safety Section — such as Driver and Passenger Safety.
Instructions — how to use this car correctly and safely.
This entire book is filled with important safety information — please read it carefully.

Your Car at a Glance
MIRROR CONTROLS

(P.99)
INSTRUMENT PANEL

(P.53)
DIGITAL CLOCK

(P.
109)

CLIMATE CONTROLSYSTEM

(P.122)

AUDIO SYSTEM
(P.136)

DRIVING POSITION

MEMORY

(P.101)

POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES (P.106)
TRUNK RELEASEBUTTON
(P.86) FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE
HANDLE

(P.169)
HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE

(P.170)

Your Car at a Glance
WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS
(P.
68, 70) HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS
(P. 70)
VEHICLE STABILITY
ASSIST SYSTEM OFF SWITCH

(P. 192)

CRUISE CONTROL
(P. 73)

INSTRUMENT PANEL BRIGHTNESS

(P. 66)
STEERING WHEEL

ADJUSTMENTS
(P. 71)

HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS

(P.
63, 66) FOG LIGHTS

(P.
67)REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER
(P. 71)

4

Driver and Passenger Safety

This section gives you important information about how to protect

yourself and your passengers. It
shows you how to use seat belts

properly. It explains your Supple-
mental Restraint System. And it tells

you how to properly restrain infants and children in your car.

Important Safety Precautions .......... 6
Your Car's Safety Features .............. 7

Seat Belts........................................ 8

Airbags............................................ 9
Seats & Seat-Backs...................... 10
Head Restraints........................... 10
Door Locks................................... 10
Pre-Drive Safety Checklist......... 11

Protecting Adults............................. 12
1. Close and Lock the Doors...... 12
2. Adjust the Front Seats............ 12

3. Adjust the Seat-Backs............. 13

4. Adjust the Head Restraints.... 14

5. Fasten and Position the Seat

Belts...................................... 15

6. Adjust the Steering Wheel..... 17
7. Maintain a Proper Sitting
Position................................. 17

Advice for Pregnant Women...... 18

Additional Safety Precautions.... 19

Protecting Children......................... 20
All Children Must Be
Restrained................................ 20
Children Should Sit in the Back
Seat............................................21

The Passenger's Front Airbag Poses Serious Risksto Children............................ 21
If You Must Drive with Several Children.................................... 23
If a Child Requires Close
Attention...................................23

Additional Safety Precautions.... 23 General Guidelines for Using Child Seats................................24
Protecting Infants........................ 28 Protecting Small Children.......... 32
Protecting Larger Children........ 35
Using Child Seats with

Tethers......................................39

Additional Information About Your
Seat Belts.................................. 40

Seat Belt System Components... 40
Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 40
Automatic Seat BeltTensioners................................ 41
Seat Belt Maintenance................ 42
Additional Information About Your
Airbags......................................43

SRS Components......................... 43

How Your Front Airbags
Work..........................................43

How Your Side Airbags Work.... 45 How the SRS Indicator Light
Works........................................46

How The Side Airbag Indicator Light Works............................. 47

Airbag Service.............................. 48

Additional Safety Precautions.... 48
Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 49
Safety Labels.................................... 50
Driver and Passenger Safety

Important Safety Precautions
You'll find many safely recommendations throughout this
section, and throughout this manual.
The recommendations on this page are the ones we consider to be the
most important.
Always Wear Your Seat Belt A seat belt is your best protection in all types of collisions. Airbags
supplement seat belts, but airbags
are designed to inflate only in a
moderate to severe frontal collision.
So even though your car is equipped
with airbags, make sure you and
your passengers always wear your seat belts, and wear them properly. (See page 15.)
Restrain All Children Children are safest when they are
properly restrained in the back seat,
not the front seat. A child who is too small for a seat belt must be properly
restrained in a child safety seat. (See
page 20.) Be Aware of Airbag Hazards
While airbags can save lives, they can cause serious or fatal injuries to
occupants who sit too close to them,
or are not properly restrained.
Infants, young children, and short
adults are at the greatest risk. Besure to follow all instructions and
warnings in this manual. (See page 9.)

Don't Drink and Drive

Alcohol and driving don't mix. Even one drink can reduce your ability to
respond to changing conditions, and
your reaction time gets worse with every additional drink. So don't drink
and drive, and don't let your friends
drink and drive, either. Control Your Speed
Excessive speed is a major factor in
crash injuries and deaths. Generally,
the higher the speed the greater the risk, but serious accidents can alsooccur at lower speeds. Never drive
faster than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the
maximum speed posted.
Keep Your Car in Safe Condition
Having a tire blowout or amechanical failure can be extremely
hazardous. To reduce the possibility of such problems, check your tire
pressures and condition frequently,and perform all regularly scheduled
maintenance. (See page 206.)

Driver and Passenger Safety

Your Car's Safety Features

(1) Safety Cage
(2) Crush Zones
(3) Seats & Seat-Backs
(4) Head Restraints
(5) Collapsible Steering Column
(6) Seat Belts
(7) Front Airbags
(8) Side Airbags
(9) Seat Belt Tensioners
(10) Door Locks Your car is equipped with many
features that work together toprotect you and your passengersduring a crash.
Some safety features do not require
any action on your part. These
include a strong steel framework
that forms a safety cage around the passenger compartment; front and
rear crush zones that are designed to
crumple and absorb energy during a
crash; a collapsible steering column;
and seat belt tensioners that
automatically tighten the front seat
belts in the event of a crash.

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger Safety