dashboard Acura RL 2004 3.5 User Guide

Î
These labels are in the locations
shown. They warn you of potential
hazards that could cause serious
injury. Read these labels caref ully.
If a label comes of f or becomes hard
to read, contact your Acura dealer
f or a replacement.
U.S. models onlyU.S. models
Canadian models
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Saf ety L abels
54
RADIATOR CAP
SUN VISOR
HOOD DASHBOARD The U.S. car model

Thetwoleversonthesteering
column contain controls f or driving
f eatures you use most of ten. The lef t
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 lef t air vent
areforthecruisecontrol,instrument
panel brightness and the VSA
System.
The switches for the rear window
def ogger and f og 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.
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols67
VEHICLE
STABILITY
ASSIST SYSTEM
OFF SWITCH
CRUISE
CONTROLSTEERING WHEEL
ADJUSTMENTS
HEADLIGHTS/
TURN SIGNALS
HAZARD WARNING
LIGHTS
INSTRUMENT
PANEL
BRIGHTNESS WINDSHIELD
WIPERS/WASHERS
HORN REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER FOG LIGHTS

The automatic lighting f eature is
controlledbyasensorlocatedontop
of the dashboard. Do not cover this
sensor or spill liquids on it.With the headlight switch off, the
high beam headlights come on with
reduced brightness when you turn
the ignition switch to ON (II) and
release the parking brake. They
remain on until you turn the ignition
of f , even if you set the parking brake.
The headlights revert to normal
operation when you turn them on
with the switch.
Do not leave the light switch in
AUTO if you will not be driving the
vehicle f or an extended period (a
weekormore).Youshouldalsoturn
of f the lights if you plan to leave the
engine idling or the engine of f f or a
long time. This will prevent the
battery f rom discharging.
Daytime Running L ights
(Canadian Models)
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols70
LIGHT
SENSOR

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.
CONT INUED
Instrument Panel Brightness T urn Signals
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
71
TURN SIGNAL LEVER
INSTRUMENT PANEL
BRIGHTNESS DIAL

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 ). 132
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
120
SIDE VENTS
CENTER VENTS
Open
Close

You can manually select the f an
speedbyturningthefancontroldial.
When you turn the dial clockwise,
the fan is taken out of automatic
mode and starts to run at its lowest
speed. Turning the dial f ully
clockwise increases the f an’s speed,
which increases air flow.Use the MODE button to select the
vents the air flows from. Some air
will f low f rom 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.
These two buttons control the
source of the air going into the sys-
tem. In Fresh Air mode ( ),
air is brought in f rom outside the ve-
hicle. In Recirculation mode
( ), air f rom the vehicle’s inte-
rior is sent through the system again.
You can, f or example, manually put
the system in recirculation mode
when driving through an area of
smoke or f umes. When you press
the or button, the
light in that button comes on.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Mode Button
Recirculat ed and Fresh A ir
Fan Cont rol Dial
124
MODE BUTTON FAN CONTROL DIAL
RECIRCULATED AIR FRESH AIR

CONT INUED
The main air f low is divided
between the dashboard vents and
the f loor vents. The main air f low is divided
between the f loor vents and de-
froster vents at the base of the wind-
shield.
The main air flow comes
f rom the f loor vents.
The main air flow comes
f rom the dashboard vents.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures125

The button directs the main
air f low to the windshield f or f aster
def rosting. It also overrides any
MODE selection you may have made.
When you select , the A/C
turns on automatically and the
system selects Fresh Air mode. For
f aster def rosting, manually set the
fanspeedtohigh.Youcanalso
increase air f low to the windshield by
closing the side vents in the
dashboard.
When you turn of f by
pressing the button again, the
system returns to its former settings.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures126
DEFROST BUTTON

Use the MODE icons to select the
vents the air flows from. Some air
will f low f rom the dashboard corner
vents and the side vents in all modes.The main air flow comes
f rom the f loor vents.
The main air f low is divided
between the dashboard vents and
the f loor vents.
The main air flow comes
f rom the dashboard vents. The main air f low is divided
between the f loor vents and de-
froster vents at the base of the wind-
shield.
Mode Icons
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures130

The button directs the main
air f low to the windshield f or f aster
def rosting. It also overrides any
MODE selection you may have made.
When you turn of f by
pressing the button again, the
system returns to its former settings. When you select , the A/C
turns on automatically and the
system selects Fresh Air mode. For
f aster def rosting, manually set the
fanspeedtohigh.Youcanalso
increase air f low to the windshield by
closing the side vents in the
dashboard.
This button turns the rear window
def ogger on and of f (see page ).76
Rear Window Def ogger Button
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures131
DEFROST BUTTON
REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER BUTTON