Acura RL 2001 3.5 Owner's Manual

Tires

The ABS and VSA system work by comparing the speed of the wheels.
When replacing tires, use the same size originally supplied with the car.
Tire size and construction can affect wheel speed and may cause the system to work inconsistently.
If you ever need to replace a wheel,
make sure you use an identical style
aluminum alloy wheel that originally
came on your Acura. Replacement
wheels are available at your Acura
dealer.
Wheels and Tires

Wheels:
16x7JJ

Tires:

P215/60R16 94V
See page 304 for information about
DOT Tire Quality Grading.
Winter Driving

Tires that are marked "M + S" or
"All Season" on the sidewall have an
all-weather tread design. They
should be suitable for most winter
driving conditions. Tires without
these markings are designed for optimum traction in dry conditions.
They may not provide adequate performance in winter driving.For the best performance in snowy
or icy conditions, you should installsnow tires or tire chains. They may
be required by local laws under certain conditions.

Maintenance

Tires

Snow Tires

If you mount snow tires on your
Acura, make sure they are radial tires of the same size and load rangeas the original tires. Mount snow
tires on all four wheels to balance
your car's handling in all weather conditions. Keep in mind the traction
provided by snow tires on dry roads
may not be as high as your car's
original equipment tires. You shoulddrive cautiously even when the roads
are clear. Check with the tire dealer
for maximum speed recommen-

dations.
Tire Chains

Because your Acura has limited tire
clearance, mount only SAE Class "S"
cable-type traction devices on the
front tires. Use traction devices only
when required by driving conditions or local laws. Make sure they are the
correct size for your tires.
Metal link-type "chains" should not
be used. No matter how tight they seem to be installed, they can come
into contact with the body and suspension, causing serious damage. When installing cables, follow the
manufacturer's instructions and
mount them as tightly as you can.
Drive slowly with them installed. If
you hear them coming in contact with the body or chassis, stop andinvestigate. Make sure the cables areinstalled tightly, and that they are
not contacting the brake lines or
suspension.

Remove them as soon as you begin driving on cleared roads.

Traction devices that are the wrong
size or improperly installed can damage your car's brake lines,
suspension, body, and wheels. Stop
driving if they are hitting any part ofthe car.

Maintenance

NOTICE

Lights

Check the operation of your car's
exterior lights at least once a month.
A burned out bulb can create an unsafe condition by reducing yourcar's visibility and the ability to
signal your intentions to other

drivers.

Maintenance
HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHT


LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT
FRONT FOG LIGHT
TURN SIGNAL/
PARKING LIGHT
SIDE MARKER LIGHT

Lights

Check the following: Headlights (low and high beam)
Fog lights
Parking lights
Taillights
Brake lights
Turn signals Back-up lights
Hazard light function License plate light
Side marker lights
High-mount brake light
Daytime running lights (Canadian

models)

If you find any bulbs are burned out,

replace them as soon as possible.

Refer to the chart on page 303 to

determine what type of replacement

bulb is needed.

Maintenance
HIGH-MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT
TURN SIGNAL LIGHT

LICENSE PLATE

LIGHTS

STOP/TAIL LIGHTS

BACK-UP LIGHT

Lights

Replacing a High Beam Headlight
Bulb
The low beam headlight bulbs are a type of high voltage discharge tube.
High voltage can remain in the
circuit even with the light switch off
and the key removed. Because of
this, you should not attempt to examine or change a low beam
headlight bulb yourself. If a low
beam headlight bulb fails, take the
car to your dealer to have it replaced. Halogen bulbs are used for the high
beam headlight bulbs. When replacing a high beam headlight bulb,
handle it by its base and protect the
glass from contact with your skin or
hard objects. If you touch the glass, clean it with denatured alcohol and a
clean cloth.

Halogen bulbs get very hot when lit. Oil,

perspiration, or a scratch on the glass
can cause the bulb to overheat and
shatter.
1. Open the hood.
2. Remove the electrical connector
from the bulb by pulling the connector straight back.

3. Remove the rubber weather seal

by pulling on the tab.

Maintenance
NOTICE

Lights

4. Unclip the end of the hold-down
wire from its slot. Pivot it out of
the way and remove the bulb.

5. Insert the new bulb into the hole,

making sure the bulb is right side
up and the nubs on the bulb base
fit in the indentations in the headlight assembly. Pivot the hold-
down wire back in place and clip
the end into the slot.

6. Install the rubber seal over the

back of the headlight assembly.
Make sure it is right side up; it is
marked

7. Push the electrical connector onto

the new bulb.
Turn on the headlights to test the new bulb.

Replacing a Fog Light Bulb
Your car uses halogen fog light bulbs. See page 252 for informationon replacing a halogen bulb.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

WEATHER SEAL
BULB
CONNECTOR

HOLD-DOWN WIRE

Lights

1. Use a wrench to loosen the light
assembly's mounting bolt.

2. Remove the light assembly from
the bumper.

3. Remove the electrical connector
from the bulb by pulling the
connector straight back.
4. Remove the rubber weather seal
by pulling on the tab.
5. Unclip the end of the hold-down wire from its slot. Pivot the wireout of the way and remove the

bulb.
6. Insert the new bulb into the hole,
making sure the bulb is right side
up and the nubs on the bulb base
fit in the indentations in the fog light assembly. Pivot the hold-down wire back in place and clip
the end into the slot.
7. Install the rubber seal over the back of the fog light assembly.
Make sure it is right side up; it is marked
8. Push the electrical connector onto the new bulb. Turn on the front
fog lights to test the new bulb.
9. Put the light assembly into the bumper. Tighten the mounting

bolt.

Maintenance
CONNECTOR
BOLT WEATHER SEAL
BULB
HOLD-DOWN
WIRE

Lights

Replacing Front Turn Signal/ Parking and Side Marker Light
Bulbs
1. If you are changing the bulb on the driver's side, start the engine,
turn the steering wheel all the way
to the right, and turn off theengine. If you are changing the
bulb on the passenger's side, turn
the steering wheel to the left. 2. Use a flat-tipped screwdriver to
remove the holding clip from the
inner fender.
3. Pull the inner fender cover back.
4. Remove the socket from the headlight assembly by turning itone-quarter turn counterclockwise. 5. To remove the front turn signal/
parking light bulb, push it inslightly and turn it
counterclockwise. To remove the side marker bulb, pull it straight
out of its socket.
6. Install the new bulb into the
socket.

7. Insert the socket back into the headlight assembly. Turn itclockwise to lock it in place.
8. Test the lights to make sure the new bulb is working.
9. Put the inner fender cover in place. Install the holding clip. Lock it in
place by pushing on the center.
Maintenance

HOLDING CLIP

Lights

Replacing Rear Bulbs

1. Open the trunk. Undo the fastener on the side of
the trunk lining by pushing on the
center of the fastener's head until
it pops in. Pull the lining back. 2. Determine which of the four bulbs
is burned out: stop/taillights, back-
up light, or turn signal.
3. Remove the socket by turning it one-quarter turn counterclockwise. 4. Pull the bulb straight out of its

socket.

Push the new bulb straight intothe socket until it bottoms.
5. Reinstall the socket into the light assembly by turning it clockwise
until it locks.
6. Test the lights to make sure the new bulb is working.
7. Reinstall the trunk lining. Make sure it is installed under the edgeof the trunk seal.

Maintenance
FASTENER

Lights

8. Reset the fastener by pushing on the pointed end until it pops backalmost flush with the fingers on
the housing.
9. Put the fastener in the hole in the side of the trunk lining and push
on the center until it locks (the
center is flush with the head). Replacing a High-mount Brake
Light Bulb
1. Open the trunk and remove the socket from the light assembly by
turning it one-quarter turn counter-
clockwise.
2. Remove the bulb by pushing it in slightly and turning it counter-
clockwise.
Install the new bulb in the socket. 3. Reinstall the socket. Turn it
clockwise until it locks.
4. Test the lights to make sure the new bulb is working.

Maintenance