ECU Acura RL 2001 3.5 Owner's Guide

Ski Sleeve

2. Open the trunk. Remove the ski sleeve from its storage bag.
3. Attach the ski sleeve to the trunk pass-through.
4. Load the skis into the ski sleeve from the trunk. Make sure the tipof the ski sleeve is resting on the
center console. 5. Use the strap on the ski sleeve to
secure it tightly to the rear seat
armrest. Follow these precautions when you
use the ski sleeve: Do not transport skis that are
longer or heavier than these limits: Maximum length: 84 in (215 cm)
Maximum weight: 55 Ibs (25 kg) After use, make sure the ski
sleeve is dry both inside and out
before folding it up for storage.
This will help to prevent mildew.

Instruments and Controls

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

Audio System

TMS — The Tape Music Search Function allows you to find the begin-
ning of a song or passage. To acti-
vate TMS, press the TMS button.
You will see TMS displayed. To find the beginning of the song or passagecurrently playing, push the REW but-
ton. You will see REW flashing in the
display as the tape rewinds. To find
the beginning of the next song, push
the FF button. You will see FF
flashing in the display as the tape
fast forwards. When the system
finds the beginning of a song or pas- sage, it goes back to PLAY mode.
Press the TMS button again to turn
it off.

CONTINUED

Comfort and Convenience Features

CASSETTE SLOT

PWR/VOL KNOB TMS INDICATOR

TAPE DIRECTION

INDICATOR
EJECT

BUTTON

REPEAT
INDICATOR

TMS BUTTON REPEAT
BUTTON
FAST FORWARD BUTTON
REWIND
BUTTON

Audio System

TMS — The Tape Music Search Function allows you to find the
beginning of a song or passage. To activate TMS, push either side of the
TMS bar (— or +). To find the beginning of the song or passagecurrently playing, push the bar on
the - side. You will see TMS indicator and the indicator in the
REW button flashing. To find the
beginning of the next song, push the bar on the + side. You will see TMS
indicator and the indicator in the FF
button flashing.

CD/TAPEBUTTON
TMS BAR

PROG/PLAY

BUTTON
FAST FORWARD

BUTTON

Comfort and Convenience Features
AM/FM

BUTTON REWIND
BUTTON
REPEAT

BUTTON

TAPE DIRECTION INDICATOR

CASSETTE SLOT

PWR/VOL KNOB

EJECT BUTTON

DOLBY
BUTTON

TMS INDICATOR

Security System

The security system helps to protect your car and valuables from theft.
The horn sounds and a combination of headlights, parking lights, side
marker lights and taillights flashes if someone attempts to break into your
car or remove the radio. This alarm
continues for two minutes, then the system resets. To reset an alarming
system before the two minutes have
elapsed, unlock either front door
with the key or the remote
transmitter.
The security system sets auto- matically fifteen seconds after you
lock the doors, hood, and trunk. For
the system to activate, you must lock
the doors from the outside with the
key, lock tab, door lock switch, or
remote transmitter. The security system light next to the driver's door
lock starts blinking immediately to show you the system is setting itself. Once the security system is set,
opening any door (without using the
key or the remote transmitter), or
the hood, will cause it to alarm. It also alarms if the radio is removed
from the dashboard or the wiring is

cut.
With the system set, you can still
open the trunk with the master key
or the remote transmitter without
triggering the alarm. The alarm will sound if the trunk lock is forced, or
the trunk is opened with the trunk
release button on the driver's door.
The security system will not set if the hood, trunk, or any door is not
fully closed. If the system will not set,check the Door and Brake Lamp
Monitor on the instrument panel (see page 57), to see if the doors
and trunk are fully closed. Since it is not part of the monitor display,
manually check the hood.
Do not attempt to alter this system
or add other devices to it.

Comfort and Convenience Features

SECURITY SYSTEM LIGHT

Service Station Procedures

If you can open the hood without
sliding the hood latch handle, or the
hood latch handle moves stiffly or does not spring back as before, the
mechanism should be cleaned and
lubricated (see page 231).
3. Lift the hood up most of the way.
The hydraulic supports will lift it up the rest of the way and hold it
up.

To close the hood, lower it to about a
foot (30 cm) above the fender, then
press down firmly with your hands.
After closing the hood, make sure it is securely latched. Oil Check
Check the engine oil level every time
you fill the vehicle with fuel. Wait a
few minutes after turning the engine off before you check the oil.
1. Remove the dipstick (orange

handle).

2. Wipe the dipstick with a clean cloth or paper towel.

CONTINUED

Before Driving

DIPSTICK

Carrying CargoLoad Limit
The maximum load for your car is

850 lbs (395 kg).

This figure includes the total weight of all occupants, cargo, accessories,
and the tongue weight if you are
towing a trailer.
To figure out how much cargo you can carry:
Add up the weight of all occupants. If you are towing a trailer, add the
tongue weight to the number

above.

Subtract the total from 850 Ibs
(395
kg).

The final number is the total weight
of cargo you can carry.
Carrying Items in the Passenger
Compartment Store or secure all items that could
be thrown around and hurt
someone during a crash.
Do not put any items on top of the
rear shelf. They can block your
view and be thrown around the car during a crash.
Be sure items placed on the floor
behind the front seats cannot roll under the seats and interfere with
the driver's ability to operate the
pedals, or with the properoperation of the seats.
Keep the glove box closed while
driving. If the lid is open, a
passenger could injure their knees during a crash or sudden stop.

Before Driving

Overloading or improper
loading can affect handling and
stability and cause a crash in
which you can be hurt or killed.

Follow all load limits and other

loading guidelines in this

manual.

Preparing to Drive

You should do the following checks and adjustments every day before
you drive your car.
1. Make sure all windows, mirrors, and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove frost, snow,or ice.
2. Check that the hood and trunk are
fully closed.

3. Visually check the tires. If a tire

looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.

4. Check that any items you may be

carrying with you inside are stored
properly or fastened down
securely.

5. Check the adjustment of the seat (see page 94 ).
6. Check the adjustment of the

inside and outside mirrors (see
page 99 ).

7. Check the adjustment of the

steering wheel (see page 7 1 ).

8. Make sure the doors are securely

closed and locked.

9. Fasten your seat belt. Check that

your passengers have fastened
their seat belts (see page 15 ).

10.Turn the ignition switch ON (II).

Check the indicator lights in the
instrument panel.

11.Start the engine (see page 181).
12.Check the gauges and indicator

lights in the instrument panel (see
page 53).

Driving

Parking

Always use the parking brake when
you park your car. The indicator on the instrument panel shows that the
parking brake is not fully released; itdoes not indicate that the parking
brake is firmly set. Make sure the
parking brake is set firmly or your car may roll if it is parked on an

incline.

Set the parking brake before you put
the transmission in Park. This keeps
the car from moving and putting pressure on the parking mechanism
in the transmission — making it
easier to move the shift lever out of
Park when you want to drive away. If the car is facing uphill, turn the
front wheels away from the curb.
If the car is facing downhill, turn the
front wheels toward the curb.
Make sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage the rear brakes. Parking Tips Make sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.
Turn off the lights.Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the trunk or take them with you.
Lock the doors with the key or the
remote transmitter. Check the
indicator on the driver's door to
verify that the security system is set.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other flammable
materials. The three way catalytic converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on

fire.

Driving

Towing a Trailer

Towing Equipment and
AccessoriesTowing can require a variety of equipment, depending on the size of
your trailer, how it will be used, and
how much load you are towing.
Discuss your needs with your trailer
sales or rental agency, and follow the
guidelines in the rest of this section.
Also make sure that all equipment is properly installed and that it meets
federal, state, province, and local regulations. Hitches
Any hitch used on your vehicle must be properly bolted to the underbody.
Safety Chains
Always use safety chains. Make sure they are secured to both the trailerand hitch, and that they cross under
the tongue so they can catch the
trailer if it becomes unhitched. Leave enough slack to allow the
trailer to turn corners easily, but do not let the chains drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes

Acura recommends that any trailer having a total weight of 1,000 Ibs (450 kg) or more be equipped with
its own electric or surge-type brakes.
If you choose electric brakes, besure they are electronically actuated.
Do not attempt to tap into your
vehicle's hydraulic system. No matter how successful it may seem,
any attempt to attach trailer brakes
to your vehicle's hydraulic system
will lower braking effectiveness and create a potential hazard.
Driving