climate control 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

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)

Carbon Monoxide Hazard
Your car's exhaust contains carbon monoxide gas. You should have no
problem with carbon monoxide
entering the car in normal driving if
you maintain your car properly. Have the exhaust system inspected
for leaks whenever:
The car is raised for an oil change. You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust. The car was in an accident that
may have damaged the underside. High levels of carbon monoxide can
collect rapidly in enclosed areas,
such as a garage. Do not run the
engine with the garage door closed.
Even with the door open, run the
engine only long enough to move the
vehicle out of the garage. With the trunk lid open, air flow can
pull exhaust gas into your car'sinterior and create a hazardous
condition. If you must drive with the
trunk lid open, open all the windows and set the climate control system asshown below.
If you must sit in your parked car,
even in an unconfined area, with the engine running, adjust the climate
control system as follows:
1. Select the Fresh Air mode. 2. Select the mode.
3. Set the fan speed to high.
4. Set the temperature control to a
comfortable setting.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and even kill
you.
Avoid any enclosed areas or activities that expose you to
carbon monoxide.

Control Locations

Instruments and Controls
MIRROR
CONTROLS

(P. 99)
DIGITAL CLOCK

(P. 109)


CLIMATE CONTROL
SYSTEM

(P. 122)

AUDIO SYSTEM (P. 136)
DOOR LOCK
SWITCHES
(P.
81)
DRIVING POSITION
MEMORY

(P. 101)

POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES

(P. 106)

TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON

(P.
86)
FUEL FILL
DOOR RELEASE
HANDLE

(P. 169)

HOOD RELEASE HANDLE
(P. 170)

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