key Acura RL 2001 3.5 Owner's Guide

Power Windows, Moonroof

The master control panel also con- tains these extra features:
AUTO — To open the driver's window fully, push the windowswitch firmly down and release it.
The window automatically goes all the way down. To stop the window
from going all the way down, pull back on the window switch briefly.
To open the driver's window only partially, push the window switchdown lightly and hold it. The window
will stop as soon as you release the
switch.

The AUTO function only works to lower the driver's window. To raise
the window, you must pull back on
the window switch and hold it until the window reaches the desired

position.
The MAIN switch controls power to
the passengers'windows. With thisswitch off, the passengers'windows
cannot be raised or lowered. The
MAIN switch does not affect the driv-
er's window. Keep the MAIN switch
off when you have children in the car
so they do not injure themselves by
operating the windows unintentional-
ly. The lights inside the switches
come on when you turn the parking
lights or headlights on.
The power window system has a key- off delay function. The windows willstill operate for up to ten minutes
after you turn off the ignition.
Opening either front door cancels
the delay function. You must turn
the ignition switch ON (II) again
before you can raise or lower the
windows. Moonroof
There are two switches on the ceiling near the front ceiling light.
The ignition switch must be ON (II).
To open the moonroof, pull the OPEN/CLOSE switch backward and
hold it until the moonroof reaches
the desired position.

CONTINUED

Instruments and Controls
OPEN/CLOSE
SWITCH

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

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

Starting the Engine

1. Apply the parking brake.
2. In cold weather, turn off all electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.
3. Make sure the shift lever is in Park. Press on the brake pedal.
4. Without touching the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition key to theSTART (III) position. If the engine
does not start right away, do not
hold the key in START (III) for
more than 15 seconds at a time.
Pause for at least 10 seconds
before trying again.
5. If the engine does not start within
15 seconds, or starts but stalls

right away, repeat step 4 with the
accelerator pedal pressed half-way
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal so the engine does not race. 6. If the engine still does not start,
press the accelerator pedal all the
way down and hold it there while starting in order to clear flooding.
As before, keep the ignition key in the START (III) position for nomore than 15 seconds. Return tostep 5 if the engine does not start.
If it starts, lift your foot off the
accelerator pedal so the engine
does not race.

Starting in Cold Weather at High
Altitude (Above 8,000 feet/ 2,400 meters)

An engine is harder to start in cold weather. The thinner air found at
high altitude above 8,000 feet (2,400meters) adds to the problem.
Use the following procedure:
1. Turn off all electrical accessories

to reduce the drain on the battery.

2. Push the accelerator pedal half-

way to the floor and hold it there
while starting the engine. Do nothold the ignition key in START (III) for more than 15 seconds.
When the engine starts, release the accelerator pedal gradually as
the engine speeds up and smoothsout.

3. If the engine fails to start in step 2,

push the accelerator pedal to the
floor and hold it there while you
try to start the engine for no more
than 15 seconds. If the enginedoes not start, return to step 2.

Driving

Automatic Transmission

Whenever you move the shift lever, slide it along the guide on the

console.

Park (P) — This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning off or
starting the engine. To shift out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your foot off the
accelerator pedal. Move the shift
lever to the right to shift out of the Park position.
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see Shift Lock Release on page
185.

To avoid transmission damage, come to a complete stop before shifting
into Park. The shift lever must be inPark before you can remove the key
from the ignition switch. Reverse (R) — To shift to Reverse
from Park, see the explanation under
Park. To shift to Reverse from
Neutral, come to a complete stop and
then shift. Push down on the shift
lever before shifting into Reverse
from Neutral.
Neutral (N) — Use Neutral if you need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop briefly with
the engine idling. Shift to Park posi-
tion if you need to leave the car for any reason. Press on the brake pedal
when you are moving the shift lever from Neutral to another gear.

CONTINUED

Driving

Automatic Transmission

Shift Lock Release
This allows you to move the shift lever out of Park if the normalmethod of pushing on the brake
pedal does not work.
1. Set the Parking brake.
2. Remove the key from the ignition
switch.
3. Put a cloth on the edge of the Shift

Lock Release slot cover next to

the shift lever.

Use a small flat-tipped screwdriver
or small metal plate (neither are
included in the tool kit) to remove

the cover. Carefully pry off the

edge of the cover. 4. Insert the key in the Shift Lock

Release slot.

5. Push down on the key and move

the shift lever out of Park to
Neutral.

SHIFT LOCK RELEASE SLOT
6. Remove the key from the Shift

Lock Release slot, then reinstall
the cover. Make sure the notch on
the cover is on the right side. Depress the brake pedal and
restart the engine.

If you need to use the Shift Lock
Release, it means your car is
developing a problem. Have the car
checked by your Acura dealer.

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

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

Changing a Flat Tire, If Your Engine Won't Start

19.Slip the hole at the top of the jack over the bracket in the trunk well.
Turn the jack's end bracket to lock it in place. Store the tool kit back
in its place.
20.Unclip the hook from the trunk lid and lower the trunk floor.
21.Store the center cap and spacer basket in the trunk. Make sure the
center cap will not get scratched
or damaged.
22.Close the trunk lid. If Your Engine Won't Start
Diagnosing why your engine won't
start falls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III): You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine's starter
motor does not operate at all, or operates very slowly.
You can hear the starter motor operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
faster than normal, but the engine does not start up and run. Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
When you turn the ignition switch to START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying tostart. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all.
Check these things:
Your car has the ImmobilizerSystem. You should use a
properly-coded master or valet key
to start the engine (see page 78).
A key that is not properly coded will cause the immobilizer system indicator in the dash panel to blink
rapidly.
Check the transmission interlock.
The transmission must be in Park or Neutral or the starter will not
operate.

Taking Care of the Unexpected

Loose items can fly around the

interior in a crash and could

seriously injure the occupants.

Store the wheel, jack and tools

securely before driving.

Index

Accessories and Modifications.... 174 Accessories................................. 174
Additional Safety Precautions.. 175Modifications............................. 175
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key
Position)........................................ 80
Accessory Power Socket.............. 115
Additives, Engine Oil..................... 218
Airbag (SRS).......................... 9, 43, 45
Air Cleaner Element...................... 231
Air Conditioning Filter.................. 242
Air Conditioning System............... 122 Maintenance............................... 241
Usage..................................124, 129
Air Outlets (Vents)........................ 122
Air Pressure, Tires........................ 243
Alarm, Anti-theft............................ 164
Alcohol in Gasoline........................ 306
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning........ 265
Antifreeze....................................... 221
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) Indicator................................ 56, 189Operation.................................... 188
Anti-theft, Audio System............... 164
Anti-theft Steering Column
Lock...............................................80

Anti-theft System........................... 165

Appearance Care........................... 263

Armrest............................................. 97

Ashtrays.......................................... 117

Audio Controls, Remote................ 163

Audio System................................. 136
Automatic Climate Control
System......................................... 122

Automatic Lighting.......................... 64
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners.................................... 41
Automatic Speed Control................ 73
Automatic Transmission............... 182
Capacity, Fluid........................... 302

Checking Fluid Level................228

Shifting........................................ 182

Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 182
Shift Lever Positions................. 182
Shift Lock Release..................... 185 Battery
Charging SystemIndicator............................ 54, 286
Jump Starting............................. 280 Maintenance............................... 236
Specifications............................. 303
Before Driving............................... 167
Belts, Seat..................................... 8, 40
Beverage Holder............................ 112
Body Repair.................................... 270

Brakes
Anti-lock System (ABS)............ 188
Break-in, New Linings .............. 168
Bulb Replacement..................... 256
Fluid............................................229

Parking........................................ 109
System Indicator.................. 54, 289
Wear Indicators......................... 187
Braking System.............................. 187
Break-in, New Car......................... 168
Brightness Control, Instruments... 66
Brights, Headlights......................... 63

CONTINUED