Acura RL 2001 3.5 Owner's Manual

Ceiling Lights

Both front and rear ceiling lights contain a main light as well as twospotlights.
The front ceiling light has a three- position switch. With the switch in
the OFF position (far left), the main
lights do not come on. In the center
position, the main lights come on
when you open any door. After all doors are closed tightly, they dim
slightly then fade out in about 10
seconds. In the ON position (far right), the main lights stay on
continuously.
Turn on the spotlights in the front and rear ceiling lights by pushing the
grey button next to each light. Push
the button again to turn it off. You
can use the front spotlights at all
times. The rear spotlights only light
when the parking lights or head-
lights are on.
On cars with automatic lighting

With the light switch in the AUTO
position, you can use the rearspotlights only when the headlights
turn on automatically.
Instruments and Controls
OFF
ON
FRONT

REAR

Courtesy Lights

In addition to the ceiling lights, your
Acura has courtesy lights in each door and the ignition switch.
The door courtesy lights come on whenever you open any door. After all doors are closed tightly, they dim
slightly then fade out in about 10

seconds.
Even if the door is open, the lights
will turn off after three minutes
when the key is not in the ignition switch or the ignition switch is in the
LOCK (0) or ACCESSORY (I)
position, and the light switch is in the
off position.
The door courtesy lights and ceiling lights (with the switch in the center
position) come on when you unlock
the door with the key, lock tab on
the driver's door, master door lockswitch, or remote transmitter (see
page 82). If you relock the driver's door or close the driver's door with
the key in the ignition switch, the lights turn off immediately.Otherwise, they remain on, then fade
out in about 10 seconds. The door courtesy lights and ceiling
lights (with the switch in the center
position) also come on when youremove the key from the ignitionswitch. If you do not open a door,
they stay on, then fade out in about
10 seconds.

The courtesy light in the ignition switch comes on when you open the
driver's door. It remains on about 10 seconds after the door is closed.

Instruments and Controls

120

Comfort and Convenience Features

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................ 122

3,5 RL without Navigation System
Fully-automatic Operation........ 124

Semi-automatic Operation........ 125

3.5 RL with Navigation System
Fully-automatic Operation........ 129
Semi-automatic Operation........ 130
Rear Ventilation......................... 134
Sunlight Sensor/ Temperature Sensor............. 135
Audio System................................. 136 AM/FM/Cassette Stereo Audio System......................... 136

3.5 RL without Navigation System
Operating the Radio.................. 137

Adjusting the Sound.................. 140

Audio System Lighting............. 141

Operating the Cassette
Player...................................... 141

Tape Search Functions............. 142
Operating the CD Changer...... 144
3.5 RL with Navigation System

Operating the Radio.................. 147
Adjusting the Sound.................. 150
Audio System Lighting............. 151 Radio Frequencies..................... 151
Radio Reception......................... 151Operating the Cassette Player...................................... 153
Tape Search Functions............. 153 Caring for the Cassette Player...................................... 156
Operating the CD Changer...... 157
Loading the CD Changer ......... 159
Protecting Compact Discs........ 161 CD Changer Error
Indications.............................. 162

Remote Audio Controls ............ 163
Theft Protection ........................ 164
Security System............................. 165

Comfort and Convenience Features

Climate Control System

The automatic climate control system in your Acura picks the
proper combination of air condi-
tioning, heating, and ventilation to
maintain the interior temperature
you select. The system also adjusts the fan speed and air flow levels.
The direction of air flow from the vents in the center and each side of
the dashboard is adjustable. Move
the tab in the center of each vent up-and-down and side-to-side.
The side vents can be opened and closed with the dials next to them.
In the rear seat, you can also adjust
the ventilation when the climate con-
trol system is on (see page 134).
CENTER VENTS

The climate control system draws air through the exterior vents at the
bottom of the windshield. Keep these vents clear of leaves and otherdebris. For the climate control system to
provide heating and cooling, the engine must be running.

Comfort and Convenience Features
SIDE VENTS

Climate Control System

Comfort and Convenience Features

Climate Control System

3.5 RL without Navigation System

Fully-automatic Operation

To put the Automatic Climate Control in fully-automatic mode,
press the AUTO button and set the
fan control dial to AUTO, then set
the desired temperature by turning the temperature control dial. You willsee FULL AUTO in the system's
display. The light above either the or button also goes
on to show you which is selected.
The system automatically selects the proper mix of conditioned and/or
heated air that will, as quickly as
possible, raise or lower the interior
temperature from its current level to
the set temperature.
When you set the temperature to its lower limit (60°F/18°C) or its upper
limit (90°F/32°C), the system runsat full cooling or heating only. It does
not regulate the interior temperature.
When the temperature is set between the lower and upper limits,
the system regulates the interior
temperature to the set value.
In cold weather, the fan will not
come on automatically until the car
has been driven for a short time and the heater starts to develop warm air. Pressing the OFF button shuts the
climate control system completely
off. Keep the system completely off
only for short periods. To keep stale
air and mustiness from collecting,
you should have the fan running at all times.

Comfort and Convenience Features
TEMPERATURE
CONTROL DIAL FULL AUTO
DISPLAY FAN CONTROL
DIAL

AUTO
BUTTON
OFF
BUTTON

Climate Control System

Semi-automatic Operation
You can manually select various functions of the Climate Controlsystem when it is in FULL AUTO.
All other features remain auto- matically controlled. Making any
manual selection causes the wordFULL to go out.

Air Conditioning (A/C) Button
Press the A/C button to operate the
air conditioning. Each time you press
the A/C button, the display shows
the mode: A/C ECON, A/C OFF, or

A/C ON.
When you turn the A/C off, the sys-
tem cannot regulate the inside tem-
perature if you set the dial below theoutside temperature. With the A/C
on, use the temperature control dial
to adjust the temperature of the air
flow to a comfortable setting. With the A/C in economy mode, you
will see A/C ECON in the system's
display. Use this mode to get better
fuel economy.
In this mode, you may feel a slight re-

duction in cooling efficiency. If you

want more cooling, select A/C ON or
FULL AUTO.
CONTINUED
Comfort and Convenience Features

TEMPERATURE

CONTROL DIAL AIR CONDITIONING
BUTTON

RECIRCULATED AIR

FRESH AIR

Climate Control System

Recirculated and Fresh Air

These two buttons control the source of the air going into the sys- tem. In Fresh Air mode ( )
air is brought in from outside the ve-
hicle. In Recirculation mode ( ) air from the car's interior
is sent through the system again.
You can, for example, manually put the system in recirculation mode
when driving through an area of smoke or fumes. When you press the or button, the
light in that button comes on.

Fan Control Dial

You can manually select the fan speed by turning the fan control dial.
When you turn the dial clockwise, the fan is taken out of automatic
mode and starts to run at its lowestspeed. Turning the dial fully
clockwise increases the fan's speed,
which increases air flow.
Mode Button

Use the MODE button to select the
vents the air flows from. Some air
will flow from the side vents and the dashboard corner vents in all modes.
Each time you press the MODE
button, the display shows the mode selected. Press the button four times
to see all the modes.
Comfort and Convenience Features MODE BUTTON


FAN CONTROL DIAL

RECIRCULATED AIR

FRESH AIR

Climate Control System

The main air flow is divided
between the floor vents and de-
froster vents at the base of the wind-
shield.
The main air flow comes
from the floor vents. The main air flow is divided
between the dashboard vents and the floor vents. The main air flow comes
from the dashboard vents.
CONTINUED
Comfort and Convenience Features