spare wheel Acura RL 2001 3.5 Owner's Manual

Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System

VSA is turned on every time you start the engine, even if you turned it
off the last time you drove the car. VSA and Tire Sizes
Driving with varying tire or wheel
sizes may cause the VSA to
malfunction. When replacing tires,
make sure they are of the same size
and type as your original tires (see

page 247).

Deactivate the VSA system if you
need to drive with the compact spare
tire installed (see page 272 ).
If you install winter tires, make sure
they are the same size as those that
were originally supplied with your car. Exercise the same caution
during winter driving as you would if
your car was not equipped with VSA.

Driving

Compact Spare Tire

Your car has a compact spare tire that takes up less space. Use this spare tire as a temporary replace-
ment only. Get your regular tire
repaired or replaced and put it back on your car as soon as you can.
Check the inflation pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be
inflated to:
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm 2
)

Follow these precautions whenever
you are using the compact spare tire:
Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
under any circumstances. This tire gives a harsher ride and
less traction on some road sur-
faces than the regular tire. Use
greater caution while driving on
this tire.
Do not mount snow chains on the
compact spare.
The wheel of the compact spare tire is designed especially to fit
your car. Do not use your spare tire on another vehicle unless it is
the same make and model.
Turn off the VSA system (see
page 192 ).
Driving with the compact spare
tire may activate the VSA system. The compact spare tire has a shorter
tread life than a regular tire. Replaceit when you can see the tread wearindicator bars. The replacement
should be the same size and design
tire, mounted on the same wheel.
The compact spare tire is not designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and the compact wheel is not designed for mounting a regular tire.
Taking Care of the Unexpected INDICATOR LOCATION MARK
TREAD WEAR INDICATOR BAR

Changing a Flat Tire

9. Use the extension and wheel wrench as shown to raise the
vehicle until the flat tire is off the

ground.
10.Remove the wheel nuts and flat
tire. Temporarily place the flat tireon the ground with the outside
surface of the wheel facing up.
You could scratch the wheel if you put it face down. 11.Before mounting the spare tire,
wipe any dirt off the mountingsurface of the wheel and hub with
a clean cloth. Wipe the hub
carefully, it may be hot from driving.

CONTINUED

Taking Care of the Unexpected
EXTENSION
WHEEL
WRENCH BRAKE HUB

Changing a Flat Tire

12.Put on the spare tire. Put the wheel nuts back on finger-tight,then tighten them in a crisscross
pattern with the wheel wrench
until the wheel is firmly against
the hub. Do not try to tighten
them fully. 13.Lower the car to the ground and

remove the jack.
14.Tighten the wheel nuts securely in
the same crisscross pattern. Havethe wheel nut torque checked at
the nearest automotive service
facility.
Tighten the wheel nuts to:
80 lbf .
ft (108 N .
m , 11 kgf .
m)

Taking Care of the Unexpected

Index
Bulb Replacement
Back-up Lights........................... 256
Brake Lights............................... 256
Ceiling Lights............................. 259
Courtesy Lights......................... 259

Fog Lights.................................. 253

Front Side Marker Lights......... 255

Headlights.................................. 252

High-mount Brake Light.......... 257
License Plate Lights.................. 258

Specifications............................. 303

Trunk Light................................ 260
Tum Signal Lights..................... 255

Bulbs, Halogen............................... 252

Cancel Button................................... 75
Capacities Chart............................. 302

Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 49
Carrying, Cargo............................. 176

Cassette Player
Care............................................. 156

Operation............................ 141, 153

CAUTION, Explanation of............... ii
CD Changer................... 144, 157, 159

Ceiling Lights................................. 118
Certification Label......................... 300

Chains............................................. 249
Changing Oil
How to......................................... 219

When to....................................... 208

Changing a Flat Tire..................... 273
Changing Engine Coolant............. 223
Charging System Indicator.... 54, 287
Checklist, Before Driving............. 180

Child Safety...................................... 20
Child Seats........................................ 24
Tether Anchorage Point............. 39

Childproof Door Locks................... 85
Cigarette Lighter........................... 116

Cleaner. Air.................................... 231

Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels..................... 265

Carpeting.................................... 266

Exterior....................................... 264

Fabric.......................................... 266

Interior........................................ 266
Leather........................................ 266

Seat Belts.................................... 266

Vinyl............................................ 266
Windows..................................... 267

Wood Trim................................. 267

Climate Control System................ 122
Clock, Setting the.......................... 109
Code, Audio System...................... 164

CO in the Exhaust......................... 308

Coin Box......................................... 113

Cold Weather, Starting in............. 181

Compact Spare............................... 272

Console Compartment.................. 113
Consumer Information*................ 314
Controls, Instruments and.............. 51Coolant Adding......................................... 221
Checking..................................... 172

Proper Solution.......................... 221

Replacing.................................... 223

Temperature Gauge.................... 60
CoiTosion Protection..................... 269 Courtesy Lights............................. 119
Crankcase Emissions Control
System......................................... 308

Cruise Control Operation............... 73
Customer Relations Office........... 314

Index

SRS, Additional Information........... 43 Additional Safety Precautions.... 48
Automatic Seal Belt
Tensioners...................................41

How the SRS indicator Works... 46

How Your Airbags Work...... 43, 45

SRS Components......................... 43

SRS

Service.................................. .
48

SRS Indicator.............................. 46, 55
START (Ignition Key Position)..... 80 Starting the Engine........................ 181 In Cold Weather at HighAltitude................................... 181
With a Dead Battery................. 280
State Emissions Testing........... 311

Steam Coming from Engine......... 283
Steering Wheel Adjustments................................. 71

Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 80
Position Memory....................... 101

Stereo Sound System .................... 136

Storing Your Car............................ 261

Sun Visor......................................... 114

Sunglasses Holder......................... 114
Supplemental Restraint

System............................. 9, 43, 45

Service Precautions..................... 48

Servicing....................................... 48

SRS Indicator.......................... 46, 55

System Components.................... 43

Tensioners, Seat Belts................ 41

Synthetic Oil................................... 218

Tachometer...................................... 58

Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 256
Taking Care of the Unexpected ..271

Tape Player............................ 141, 156

Technical Descriptions DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 304
Emissions Control Systems...... 308

Oxygenated Fuels...................... 306

Three Way Catalytic
Converter................................ 310
Temperature Gauge........................ 60
Tensioners, Seat

Belts................... .... 41

Tether Anchorage Points............... 39
Theft Deterrent System................ 165
Theft Protection............................. 164 Three Way Catalytic Converter... 310
Time, Setting the........................... 109

Timing Belt..................................... 243

Tire Chains..................................... 249
Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 273

Tires................................................ 243

Air Pressure............................... 244Balancing.................................... 246
Checking Wear.......................... 245

Compact Spare........................... 272

DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 304

Inflation....................................... 243

Inspection................................... 245

Maintenance............................... 246

Replacing.................................... 247

Rotating....................................... 246

Snow............................................ 249

Specifications............................. 303

Tools,Tire Changing.................... 273

Tom Seat Belts................................ 42

Towing
A Trailer...................................... 196

By Emergency Wrecker ...........296

Transmission Checking Fluid Level,Automatic............................... 228

Index

Fluid Selection............................ 228

Identification Number............... 301
Shifting the Automatic.............. 182

Treadwear...................................... 304

Trip Meter........................................ 59

Trunk................................................. 86
Emergency Trunk Opener......... 87

Opening the.................................. 86

Open Monitor Light.................... 57
Turn Signals..................................... 66

Underside. Cleaning...................... 269

Unexpected, Taking Care
of the........................................... 271

Uniform Tire Quality Grading..... 304

Unleaded Gasoline......................... 168

Upholstery Cleaning...................... 267

Used Oil, How to Dispose of........ 220

Vanity Mirror................................. 114

Vehicle Capacity Load .................. 177

Vehicle Dimensions....................... 302
Vehicle Identification Number..... 300
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)
System..................................... 191

VSA System Indicator........ 56, 192
VSA
Activation Indicator.... 56, 191
VSA Off Switch.......................... 192

Vehicle Storage.............................. 261

Ventilation...................................... 122

VIN.................................................. 300

Vinyl Cleaning................................ 267
Viscosity, Oil................................... 218

WARNING, Explanation of.............. ii

Warning Labels, Location of.......... 50

Warranty Coverages*................... 316

Washer, Windshield Checking the Fluid Level......... 227
Operation...................................... 70

Washing.......................................... 264
Waxing and Polishing................... 265

Wheels Adjusting the Steering................ 71
Alignment and Balance............. 246

Cleaning Aluminum Alloys....... 265
Compact Spare........................... 272

Wrench....................................... 274

Windows
Cleaning...................................... 267

Operating the Power................. 106

Rear, Defogger............................ 71
Windshield Cleaning........................................ 68
Defroster............................ 128,
133

Washers........................................
70

Wipers, Windshield

Changing Blades........................ 239

Operation...................................... 68

Wood Trim..................................... 267
Worn Tires..................................... 245

Wrecker, Emergency Towing...... 296
* U.S. and Canada only