light Acura RL 2002 3.5 Owner's Guide

The dial on the dashboard to the lef t
of the instrument panel is used to
adjust the brightness of the lights in
the controls and displays. Turn the
dial to adjust the brightness.Signal a turn or lane change with this
lever. Push down on the lever to
signal a lef t turn, and up to signal a
right turn. If you push it up or down
all the way, the turn signal continues
to blink even when you release the
lever. It shuts off automatically as
you complete the turn.
To reduce glare at night, the instru-
ment panel illumination dims when
you turn the light switch to or
. Turning the instrument panel
brightness control f ully to the lef t,
past the detent, will return the instru-
ment panel to its f ull brightness.
Instrument Panel Brightness T urn Signals
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols66
T T
U
UR RNN S
SIIGGN NAAL
L L
LEE V
V E
ER
R
I
IN
NS STTR
RU UM M E
EN
NT T P
PA
A N
NE EL
L
B
BR RIIGGH HT
TN
NE ES
SS S D
DI
IAA L
L
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Turn the f og lights on and of f by
pressing the button. The indicator in
the button lights to show the f og
lights are on.
To signal a lane change, push lightly
on the turn signal lever in the proper
direction and hold it. The lever will
return to the center position as soon
as you release it.
You can use the f og lights only when
the headlights are on low beam.
They will go of f when you turn the
headlights of f or onto high beam.
With the light switch in the AUTO
position, you can also use the f og
lights when the headlights turn on
automatically. They will go of f when
the headlights turn of f .
U.S. models only
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Fog Lights
67
C Caarrss w
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attiioo n
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syys stteem m
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The right lever controls the wind-
shield wipers and washers. The
rotary switch at the end of the lever
has three positions:INT: intermittent : low speed
: high speed In intermittent, the wipers operate
every f ew seconds. The sweep
interval will change slightly with
speed; getting shorter as you drive
f aster. In low speed and high speed,
the wipers run continuously. You can vary how of ten the wipers
sweep the windshield by turning the
INT TIME ring next to the rotary
switch.
If you turn the INT TIME ring to the
shortest delay, the wipers will
change from intermittent to low
speed operation when vehicle speed
exceeds 12 mph (20 km/h).
Windshield Wipers
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols68
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Adjust the wiper arms to the winter
position by grasping either arm near
the pivot. Pull on the arm, parallel to
the windshield, until it locks in the
higher position. Push the arm in the
other direction to return the wipers
to the summer position.
To operate the wipers in mist mode,
push the control lever down. The
wipers run at high speed until you
release the lever. This gives you a
quick way to clear the windshield. The windshield wiper arms have two
parked positions: Winter and
Summer. In the winter position, the
arms sit slightly above the edge of
the hood. This reduces the possibili-
ty of damage to the wiper arms or
windshield wiper motor by a build-up
of snow and ice.
A heavy build-up of snow or ice on
the wiper arms will cause them to
automatically park in the winter
position.
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Wiper A rms Wint er Posit ion
Inst rument s and Cont rols69
W WIIPP E
ER
R A
AR
RMM S
S
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To clean the windshield, pull back on
the wiper control lever. The washers
spray until you release the lever. The
wipers run at low speed while you’re
pulling the lever, then complete one
more sweep of the windshield af ter
you release it.Pushtheredbuttontoturnonthe
hazard warning lights (f our-way
flashers). This causes all four
outside turn signals and both
indicators in the instrument panel to
f lash. Use the hazard warning lights
if you need to park in a dangerous
area near heavy traffic, or if your car
is disabled.
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Windshield Washers
Hazard Warning
70
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CONT INUED
See page f or important saf etyinf ormation about how to properlyposition the steering wheel. 17
Your Acura’s steering wheel is
electrically-adjustable f or angle and
distance. The adjustment switch is
on the lef t side of the steering
column. Always adjust the steering
wheel bef ore you begin driving.
Make sure the rear window is clear
and you have good visibility bef ore
starting to drive.
The def ogger and antenna wires on
the inside of the rear window can be
accidentally damaged. When
cleaning the glass, always wipe side
to side.
The rear window def ogger will clear
fog, frost, and thin ice from the
window. Push the def ogger button to
turn it on and of f . The light in the
button lights to show the def ogger is
on. If you do not turn it of f , the
def ogger will shut itself of f af ter
about25minutes.Italsoshutsoff
when you turn of f the ignition. You
have to turn it on again when you
restart the car.
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Steering Wheel A djustments
Rear Window Def ogger
71
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Adjusting the steering wheel
position while driving may
cause you to lose control of the
car and be seriously injured in a
crash.
Adjust the steering wheel only
when the car is stopped.
01/09/28 19:36:44 31SZ3660_074

The AUTO switch controls automat-
ic movement of the steering wheel.
When this switch is in the ON posi-
tion, the steering wheel automatical-
ly moves f ully in and up when you re-
move the key from the ignition
switch.
Release the switch when the
steering wheel reaches the
desired position. Make sure the
steering wheel points towards
your chest, not toward your f ace,
andthatyoucanseethe
instrument panel gauges and
warning lights.
Locate the adjustment switch on
the lef t side of the steering column.
Move the steering wheel, in, out,
up, or down by pushing and
holding the adjustment switch in
that direction.
2.
1.
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Automatic Movement
72
A A U
UT TO
O S
SWWI ITT C
CH H
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Your car comes with two master
keys and a valet key.Donotdropthekeysorsetheavy
objects on them.
These keys contain electronic
circuits that are activated by the
Immobilizer System. They will not
work to start the engine if the
circuits are damaged.
Protect the keys f rom direct
sunlight, high temperature, and
high humidity.
Keep the keys away f rom liquids.
If they get wet, dry them immedi-
ately with a soft cloth.
The keys do not contain batteries.
Do not try to take them apart.
The master key fits all the locks on
your car:
 Ignition
 Doors
 Trunk
 Trunk pass-through cover
Glovebox The valet key works only in the
ignition and the door locks. You can
keep the trunk, trunk pass-through
cover, and glove box locked when
you leave your car and the valet key
at a parking facility.
Youshouldhavereceivedakey
number plate with your keys. You
will need this key number if you ever
have to get a lost key replaced. Keep
the plate stored in a saf e place. If youneed to replace a key, use only an
Acura-approved key blank.
Keys
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols74
K KE
EY
Y
N
NU UMM B
BEER
R
P
P L
LAA T
TE
E V
V
A
AL
LEE T
T
K
KE EY
Y
(
( G
Gr raay y))
M
M
A
AS
STTE
ER
R
K
KE EY
YS S
(
( B
Bl laac ckk) )
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µ
µ
µ µ
The ignition switch is on the right
side of the steering column. It has
f our positions:
LOCK(0)
 ACCESSORY (I)
 ON (II)
 START (III) If the f ront wheels are turned, the
anti-thef t lock may sometimes make
it difficult to turn the key from
LOCK to ACCESSORY. Firmly turn
the steering wheel to the lef t or to
the right as you turn the key.
In this position,
you can operate the audio system
and the cigarette lighter. You can insert or
remove the key only in this position.
To switch f rom ACCESSORY to
LOCK, you must push the key in
slightly as you turn it. The shif t lever
must also be in Park. The anti-thef t
lock will lock the steering column
when you remove the key.
This is the normal key
position when driving. All f eatures
and accessories on the car are usable.
Several of the lights on the instru-
ment panel come on as a test when
you turn the ignition switch f rom ACCESSORY to ON.
Use this position
only to start the engine. The switch
returns to ON (II) when you let go of
the key.
The engine will not start if the
Immobilizer System does not
recognize the key’s coding (see page ).
You will hear a reminder beeper if
you leave the key LOCK (0) or
ACCESSORY (I) position and open
thedriver’sdoor.Removethekeyto
turn of f the beeper. 69
Ignition Switch
A CCESSORY (I) LOCK (0)
ON (II)ST A RT (III)
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols77
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If you f orget and leave the key in the
ignition switch, Lockout Prevention
will not allow you to lock the driver’s
door. With the driver’s door open
andthekeyintheignition,both
master door lock switches are
disabled. However, if the driver’s
door is not open, the master door
lock switches are not disabled.
Pushing the switch down on the
open passenger’s door will lock all
doors. If you try to lock an open
driver’s door by pushing in the lock
tab, the tabs on all doors pop out.
Pushinginthelocktabonthe
passenger’s door only locks that door.The ceiling lights (if the ceiling light
switch is in the center position) and
the door courtesy lights will come on
when you press the UNLOCK button.
If you do not open any door, the
lights stay on f or about 10 seconds,
then f ade out. If you relock the doors
with the remote transmitter before
10 seconds have elapsed, the lights
will go of f immediately.
You can lock and unlock your car
with the remote transmitter. When
you push the LOCK button, all doors
lock. You will hear a beep, and the
parking lights, taillights and license
plate lights will f lash once. When you push the UNLOCK button
once, only the driver’s door unlocks.
The remaining doors unlock when
you push the button a second time.
You will hear two beeps, and the
outside lights will f lash twice, each
time you push the button.
CONT INUED
Remote TransmitterL ockout Prevent ion
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols79
L LE
E D
D
U
UN NLLOOC CKK
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N L
LO
OC CKK
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N
T
T R
RU UN NKK
R
RE EL
LEE A
A S
SEE
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N
P
P A
A N
NI ICC
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N
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