climate control Acura RL 2002 3.5 Owner's Manual

2002 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.helminc.com.
Contents
Owner's Identification Form
Introduction........................................................................\
............................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safety ........................................................................\
..................................................ii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
.......................................................2
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
...............................................5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System.
Instruments and Controls........................................................................\
.................................................. .53
Instrument panel indica tor and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features........................................................................\
...............................115
How to operat e the climate control system,
the audio system, and other convenience features.
Before Driving ........................................................................\
.....................................................................179
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving........................................................................\
...................................................... .............................191
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
...................................................... ...................215
Th e Maintenance Schedule
shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Care........................................................................\
...................................................... ...........275
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Th ings
to look for if your car ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
.......................................283
This section covers several prob lems motorists sometimes experience, and how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
...................................................... .311
ID numbers, dimensions, capaciti es, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)......................................................................325
A summary of the warranties covering your new Honda, and how to contac t us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
.......................................329
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.

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.If you must sit in your parked car,
even in an unconf ined area, with the
engine running, adjust the climate
control system as f ollows:
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
f or leaks whenever:
The car is raised f or an oil change.
You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust.
Thecarwasinanaccidentthat
may have damaged the underside. Select the Fresh Air mode.
Select the mode.
Set the f an speed to high.
Set the temperature control to a
comfortable setting.
With the trunk lid open, air f low can
pull exhaust gas into your car’s
interior and create a hazardous
condition. If you must drive with the
trunk lid open, open all the windows
and set the climate control system as
shown below.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
Driver and Passenger Saf ety49
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.
01/09/28 19:32:59 31SZ3660_052

...............
Climate Control System .114
.......
Fully-automatic Operation .116
.......
Semi-automatic Operation .117
.......
Fully-automatic Operation .121
.......
Semi-automatic Operation .122
........................
Rear Ventilation .126
Sunlight Sensor/
............
Temperature Sensor .127
................................
Audio System .128
AM/FM/Cassette Stereo ........................
Audio System .128
.................
Operating the Radio .129
.................
Adjusting the Sound .132
............
Audio System Lighting .133
Operating the Cassette
.....................................
Player .133
............
Tape Search Functions .134
.....
Operating the CD Changer .136
.................
Operating the Radio .139
.................
Adjusting the Sound .142
............
Audio System Lighting .143
....................
Radio Frequencies .143 ........................
Radio Reception .143
Operating the Cassette
.....................................
Player .145
............
Tape Search Functions .145
Caring f or the Cassette
.....................................
Player .148
.....
Operating the CD Changer .149
........
Loading the CD Changer .151
.......
Protecting Compact Discs .153
CD Changer Error
.............................
Indications .154
...........
Remote Audio Controls .155
.......................
Thef t Protection .156
............................
Security System .157
...............................
Cruise Control .158
HomeLink Universal
...........................
Transceiver .162
...............
Customer Assistance .162
.
Important Safety Precautions .162
..................
Training HomeLink .163
Training with a Rolling Code
....................................
System .164
...........................
Erasing Codes .166
............................................
OnStar .167
3.5 RL without Navigation System
3.5 RL with Navigation System
3.5 RL without Navigation System3.5 RL with Navigation System
Comf ort and Convenience Features
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures113
01/09/28 19:43:18 31SZ3660_116

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 f low f rom 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.
Thesideventscanbeopenedand
closed with the dials next to them.The climate control system draws air
through the exterior vents at the
bottom of the windshield. Keep
these vents clear of leaves and other
debris.For the climate control system to
provide heating and cooling, the
engine must be running.
In the rear seat, you can also adjust
the ventilation when the climate con-
trol system is on (see page ). 126
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
114
C CEEN
NT TE
ER
R V
VE
EN
NT TS
S
O
Oppe
enn
C
Cl loo s
see
S
SI
IDD E
E V
VE
EN
NT TS
S
01/09/28 19:43:28 31SZ3660_117

Pressing the OFF button shuts the
climate control system completely
of f . Keep the system completely of f
only f or short periods. To keep stale
air and mustiness f rom collecting,
you should have the f an running at
all times.
When you set the temperature to its
lower limit (60°F/18°C) or its upper
limit (90°F/32°C), the system runs
at f ull 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.
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 f rom its current level to
the set temperature. To put the Automatic Climate
Control in f ully-automatic mode,
press the AUTO button and set the
f an control dial to AUTO, then set
the desired temperature by turning
the temperature control dial. You will
see FULL AUTO in the system’s
display. The light above either the
or button also goes
on to show you which is selected.
In cold weather, the fan will not
come on automatically until the car
has been driven f or a short time and
the heater starts to develop warm air.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Fully-automatic Operation
3.5 RL wit hout Navigat ion Syst em
116
T TE
EM
M P
PE
ER
RA A T
TU
UR REE
C
CO ON NTTR
RO OL L D
DI
IAA L
L F
FU
UL LLL A
AU
UT TO
O
D
D I
ISSP PL
LAA Y
Y F
FA
A N
N C
COON NTTR
RO OL L
D
D I
IAA L
L
A
A U
UT TO
O
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N O
OF
FFF
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N
01/09/28 19:43:42 31SZ3660_119

CONT INUED
You can manually select various
f unctions of the Climate Control
system when it is in FULL AUTO.
All other f eatures remain auto-
matically controlled. Making any
manual selection causes the word
FULL to go out.
When you turn the A/C of f , the sys-
tem cannot regulate the inside tem-
perature if you set the dial below the
outside 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
f uel economy.
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.
In this mode, you may f eel a slight re-
duction in cooling ef f iciency. If you
want more cooling, select A/C ON or
FULL AUTO.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Semi-automatic Operation
A ir Condit ioning (A /C) But t on
117
T TE
EM
M P
PE
ER
RA A T
TU
UR REE
C
CO ON NTTR
RO OL L D
DI
IAA L
L A
A
I
IRR C
COON NDDI
ITT I
IOON NIINNG G
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N
R
RE EC
CI IRRC CUUL LAA T
TE
ED
D A
AI
IRR F
FRRE ES
SH H A
AI
IRR
01/09/28 19:43:52 31SZ3660_120

To put the Automatic Climate
Control in f ully-automatic mode,
press the AUTO button and set the
f an control dial to AUTO, then set
the desired temperature by turning
the temperature control dial. You will
see FULL AUTO in the system’s
display. The light above thebuttonalsoshowsyouwhich
mode, Recirculation or Fresh Air, is
selected.
When you set the temperature to its
lower limit (60°F/18°C) or its upper
limit (90°F/32°C), the system runs
at f ull 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.
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 f rom its current level to
the set temperature.
In cold weather, the fan will not
come on automatically until the car
has been driven f or a short time and
the heater starts to develop warm air.Pressing the OFF button shuts the
climate control system completely
of f . Keep the system completely of f
only f or short periods. To keep stale
air and mustiness f rom collecting,
you should have the f an running at
all times.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Fully-automatic Operation
3.5 RL wit h Navigat ion Syst em
121
F FU
UL LLL A
AU
UT TO
O
D
D I
ISSP PL
LAA Y
Y
O
OF FFF
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N A
A
U
UT TO
O
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N
T
T
E
EM
M P
PE
ER
RA A T
TU
UR REE
C
CO ON NTTR
RO OL L D
DI
IAA L
L
F
FA
A N
N C
COON NTTR
RO OL L
D
D I
IAA L
L
01/09/28 19:44:25 31SZ3660_124

You can manually select various
f unctions of the Climate Control
system when it is in FULL AUTO.
All other f eatures remain auto-
matically controlled. Making any
manual selection causes the word
FULL to go out.
When you turn the A/C of f , the sys-
tem cannot regulate the inside tem-
perature if you set the dial below the
outside 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
f uel economy.
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.
In this mode, you may f eel a slight re-
duction in cooling ef f iciency. If you
want more cooling, select A/C ON or
FULL AUTO.
Semi-automatic Operation
A ir Condit ioning (A /C) But t on
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures122
R RE
EC
CI IRRC CUUL LAA T
TI
IOON N B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N T
T
E
EM
M P
PE
ER
RA A T
TU
UR REE
C
CO ON NTTR
RO OL L D
DI
IAA L
L
A
A
I
IRR C
COON NDDI
ITT I
IOON NIINNG G
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N
01/09/28 19:44:34 31SZ3660_125

Ó
µ
Ôµ
The air f low f rom the rear vents can
be adjusted when the climate control
system is on. (Upper position):
Air flows from the upper vents in the
back of the center console.
(Lower position):
Air f lows f rom the lower vents.
(Upper position): Maximum
(Center position): Moderate
(Lower position): Of f (Center position):
Air f low is divided between the upper
vents and the lower vents in the back
of the center console.
You can adjust the direction of the
air coming f rom the upper vents in
the center console by moving the tab
in the center of each vent up-and-
down and side-to-side.
You can also adjust the amount of
the air f low by sliding the air f low
control lever under the upper vents.
Slide this lever upward to increase
the amount of air f low.
Use the mode control lever to select
the air f low level. Air f lows into the
rear seat at three levels.
Rear Ventilation
Mode Cont rol L ever
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures126
M M
O
ODDE
E
C
CO ON NTTR
RO OL L
L
LE E V
V E
ER
R
L
LO OW WE ER
R
V
V E
EN
NT TS
S
A
A
I
IRR F
FLLOOW W
C
CO ON NTTR
RO OL L
L
LE E V
V E
ER
R U
UP
PP
PE
ER
R
V
V E
EN
NT TS
S
01/09/28 19:45:14 31SZ3660_129

Theclimatecontrolsystemhastwo
sensors. A sunlight sensor is located
in the top of the dashboard and a
temperature sensor is next to the
steering column. Do not cover the
sensors or spill any liquid on them. Sunlight Sensor/T emperature
Sensor
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures127
S SUUN NLLIIGGH HT
T S
SEEN
NS SOOR R T
T
E
EM
M P
PE
ER
RA A T
TU
UR REE S
SEEN
NS SOOR R
01/09/28 19:45:21 31SZ3660_130