lights Acura RL 2001 3.5 Owner's Manual

Your Car at a Glance
WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS
(P.
68, 70) HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS
(P. 70)
VEHICLE STABILITY
ASSIST SYSTEM OFF SWITCH

(P. 192)

CRUISE CONTROL
(P. 73)

INSTRUMENT PANEL BRIGHTNESS

(P. 66)
STEERING WHEEL

ADJUSTMENTS
(P. 71)

HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS

(P.
63, 66) FOG LIGHTS

(P.
67)REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER
(P. 71)

Instruments and Controls

This section gives information about the controls and displays thatcontribute to the daily operation of
your Acura. All the essential controls are within easy reach.
Control Locations............................ 52
Indicator Lights................................ 53 Gauges.............................................. 58 Speedometer................................ 58

Tachometer.................................. 58
Odometer...................................... 59

Trip Meter/Outside Temperature Indicator............ 59
Temperature Gauge.................... 60 Fuel Gauge................................... 60
Maintenance Required Indicator.................................... 61

Controls Near the Steering Wheel........ 62

Headlights.................................... 63

Automatic Lighting..................... 64 Daytime Running Lights............. 65
Instrument Panel Brightness..... 66
Turn Signals................................. 66
Fog Lights.................................... 67
Windshield Wipers...................... 68 Windshield Washers................... 70
Hazard Warning........................... 70
Rear Window Defogger.............. 71
Steering Wheel Adjustments..... 71
Steering Wheel Controls ................ 73
Cruise Control.............................. 73
Remote Audio Controls .............. 76
Keys and Locks................................ 77
Keys...............................................77

Immobilizer System..................... 78
Ignition Switch............................. 80
Power Door Locks....................... 81
Remote Transmitter.................... 82
Childproof Door Locks............... 85

Trunk............................................ 86

Emergency Trunk Opener......... 87Glove Box..................................... 88

HomeLink Universal Transmitter......... 89

Customer Assistance.................. 89
Important Safety Precautions.... 89
Training the Transmitter............ 90
Training With a Rolling Code

System.......................................92

Erasing Codes.............................. 93
Seat Adjustments............................. 94 Driver's Seat Adjustments.......... 94
Driver's Lumbar Support............ 96
Front Passenger's SeatAdjustments............................. 96
Head Restraints........................... 96

Armrest............................................. 97
Mirrors.............................................. 99

Adjusting the Power Mirrors..... 99
Driving Position Memory

System......................................... 101

Seat Heaters................................... 103
Ski Sleeve........................................ 104

Power Windows............................. 106

Moonroof........................................ 107

Parking Brake................................ 109

Digital Clock................................... 109Sunglasses Holder......................... 111
Beverage Holder............................ 112Console Compartment.................. 113
Coin Box......................................... 113
Sun Visor......................................... 114
Vanity Mirror................................. 114
Accessory Power Socket.............. 115 Cigarette Lighter........................... 116
Ashtrays.......................................... 117 Ceiling Lights................................. 118
Courtesy Lights............................. 119

Instruments and Controls

Indicator Lights

*The U.S. instrunment panel is shown.Differences for the Canadian models are noted in the text.
Instruments and Controls

MALFUNCTION

INDICATOR
LAMP
(P.287)
LIGHTS ON
INDICATOR
(P.55) PARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE SYSTEM

INDICATOR*

(P.54)
VSA ACTIVATION

INDICATOR(P.56)
SIDEAIRBAG

INDICATOR (P.55) CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR

(P.55)

VEHICLE STABILITY ASSISTSYSTEM INDICATOR(P.56)
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE
SYSTEM INDICATOR*(P.56)
LOW OIL

PRESSURE

INDICATOR

(P-54)

CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR (P.54) IMMOBILIZER
SYSTEM INDICATOR
(P.55) HIGH BEAM
INDICATOR
(P.57) LOW FUEL
INDICATOR

(P.57)
DOOR AND BRAKE
LAMP MONITOR
(P.57) SEAT BELT
REMINDERLIGHT (P.54)
SUPPLEMENTAL
RESTRAINT SYSTEM
INDICATOR (P.55)

Indicator Lights

The instrument panel has many indicators to give you important
information about your car.
Seat Belt Reminder Light
This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch ON (II). It is a
reminder to you and your passengers
to protect yourselves by fastening
the seat belts. A beeper also sounds
if you have not fastened your seat

belt.

If you do not fasten your seat belt,
the beeper will stop after a few seconds but the light stays on until
you do. Both the light and the beeper stay off if you fasten your seat belt
before turning on the ignition. Low Oil Pressure
Indicator
The engine can be severely damaged if this light flashes or stays on when
the engine is running. For complete
information, see page 285.

Charging System
Indicator
If this light comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged. For complete
information, see page 286.
U.S.


Canada

Parking Brake and Brake System
Indicator
This light has two functions:
1. This indicator comes on when you turn the ignition switch ON (II). It
is a reminder to check the parking
brake. Driving with the parking
brake not fully released candamage the brakes and tires.
2. If the indicator remains lit after you have fully released theparking brake while the engine isrunning, or if it comes on whiledriving, it can indicate a problem
in the brake system. For complete
information, see page 289 .
Instruments and Controls
BRAKE

Indicator Lights

Lights On Indicator
(U.S. models only)

On cars with automatic lighting (see
page 64)

This indicator reminds you that the exterior lights are on. It comes on
when the light switch is in either the or position. If you turn the
ignition switch to ACCESSORY (I)
or LOCK (0) without turning off the
light switch, this indicator will
remain on. A reminder chime willalso sound when you open the driver's

door.

This indicator will also come on
when the light switch is in AUTO and the lights turn on automatically.
Cruise Control Indicator
This lights when you set the cruise control. See page 73 for information

on operating the cruise control.
Immobilizer System
Indicator
This indicator comes on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition
switch ON (II). It will then go off if
you have inserted a properly-coded ignition key. If it is not a properly-
coded key, the indicator will blink
and the engine will not start (see
page 78).
This indicator also blinks several times when you turn the ignitionswitch from ON (II) to ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0).
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp

See page 287.
Supplemental Restraint
System Indicator

This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch ON (II). If itcomes on at any other time, it
indicates a potential problem with
your front airbags. This light will also alert you to a potential problem
with your side airbags, passenger's side airbag automatic cutoff system
or automatic seat belt tensioners.
For complete information, see page
45.

Side Airbag Indicator
This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch ON (II). If itcomes on at any other time, it
indicates that the passenger's side airbag has automatically shut off.
For complete information, see page
47.

Instruments and Controls

SRS

SIDE
AIRBAG

CRUISE

CONTROL

Indicator Lights

Vehicle Stability Assist
(VSA) System Indicator
This indicator normally comes on for a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch ON (II).
If this light comes on and stays on at
any other time, or it does not come
on when you turn the ignition switch
ON (II), there is a problem with the
VSA system. Take the car to your dealer to have it checked. Without
VSA, your car still has normal driving ability, but will not have VSA
traction and stability enhancement. See page 191 for more informationon the VSA system. VSA Activation Indicator
This indicator has three functions:
1. It comes on as a reminder that you have turned off the VehicleStability Assist (VSA) system.
2. It flashes when VSA is active (see
page 191).
3. It comes on along with the VSA
system indicator if there is a
problem with the VSA system.
This indicator normally comes on for a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch ON (II). See page 191 for more information on the

VSA system.
U.S.


Canada

Anti-lock BrakeSystem (ABS)
Indicator

This light normally comes on for a few seconds when you turn theignition switch ON (II), and when
the ignition switch is turned to START (III). If this light comes on at
any other time, there is a problem in
the ABS. If this happens, take the car to your dealer to have it checked.
With the light on, your car still has normal braking ability but no anti-
lock. For complete information, see
page 189.

Instruments and Controls

VSA

A
B S

Indicator Lights

Door and Brake Lamp Monitor
The appropriate light comes on in this display if the trunk or any door
is not closed tightly. If a brake light
does not work, the BRAKE LAMP
indicator comes on when you push
the brake pedal with the ignition switch ON (II).
A burned out brake light is a hazard when drivers behind you cannot tell
you are braking. Have your brake lights repaired right away.
All the lights in the monitor display come on for a few seconds when you
turn the ignition switch ON (II). Turn Signal and
Hazard Warning
Indicators
The left or right turn signal light blinks when you signal a lane changeor turn. If the light does not blink or
blinks rapidly, it usually means one of the turn signal bulbs is burned out (see page 250 ). Replace the bulb as
soon as possible, since other drivers
cannot see that you are signalling.
When you turn on the Hazard
Warning switch, both turn signal lights blink. All turn signals on theoutside of the vehicle should flash.
Low Fuel Indicator
This light comes on as a reminder that you must refuel soon. High Beam Indicator
This light comes on with the high beam headlights. See page 63 forinformation on the headlight

controls.

On Canadian models, this indicator
comes on with reduced brightness
when the Daytime Running Lights (DRL) are on (see page 65 ).
"Daytime Running
Lights" Indicator

Canadian models only

This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch to ON (II) with
the headlight switch off and the
parking brake set. It should go off if
you turn on the headlights or release the parking brake. If it comes on at
any other time, it means there is a
problem with the DRL. There may also be a problem with the high
beam headlights.

Instruments and Controls
D R L

Controls Near the Steering Wheel

The two levers on the steering column contain controls for driving
features you use most often. The left
lever controls the turn signals, headlights, and high beams. The
right lever controls the windshield
washers and wipers.
The switch for the hazard warning lights is on the dashboard to the
right of the steering column.
The controls under the left air vent are for the cruise control, instrument
panel brightness and the VSA
System.

The switches for the rear window defogger and fog lights are under
the audio system.
The steering wheel adjustment switch on the side of the steering
column allows you to tilt and
telescope the steering wheel.

Instruments and Controls
VEHICLE
STABILITY

ASSIST SYSTEM
OFF SWITCH
HEADLIGHTS/
TURN SIGNALS HAZARD WARNING
LIGHTS WINDSHIELD
WIPERS/WASHERS

REAR WINDOW
DEFOGGER

HORN
FOG
LIGHTS

INSTRUMENT

PANEL

BRIGHTNESS

STEERING WHEEL

ADJUSTMENTS

CRUISE
CONTROL

Controls Near the Steering Wheel

Headlights

The rotating switch on the left lever controls the lights. Turning this switch to the position turns on
the parking lights, taillights, side marker lights, and rear license plate
lights. Turning the switch to the position turns on the
headlights. If you leave the lights on with the
ignition switch in ACCESSORY (I)
or LOCK (0), you will hear a
reminder chime when you open the driver's door.

On cars with automatic lighting

When the light switch is in either of these positions, the Lights Onindicator comes on as a reminder.
This light remains on if you leave the light switch on and turn the ignitionswitch to ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK
(0).
To change between low beams andhigh beams, pull the turn signal leveruntil you hear a click, then let go.
The blue high beam indicator will light (see page 57).
CONTINUED
Instruments and Controls

Controls Near the Steering Wheel

To flash the high beams, pull the turn signal lever back lightly, then
release it. The high beams will comeon and go off.
The high beams will stay on for as long as you hold the lever back, no
matter what position the headlightswitch is in. Automatic Lighting

On U.S. models

The Automatic Lighting feature turns on the headlights, all other
exterior lights, and the instrument
panel lights when it senses low ambient light.
To turn on automatic lighting, turn the light switch to AUTO at any time.
The lights will come on automatically when the outside light level becomeslow (at dusk, for example). The Lights On indicator comes on as a
reminder. The lights and indicator
will turn off automatically when the system senses high ambient light.
The lights will remain on when you turn off the ignition switch. They will
turn off automatically when you openthe driver's door. To turn them on
again, either turn the ignition switch
to ON (II) or turn the light switch to Even with the automatic lighting
feature turned on, we recommend that you turn on the lights manually
when driving at night or in a dense
fog, or when you enter dark areas, such as long tunnels or parking
structures.

Instruments and Controls
AUTO POSITION