ECU Acura RL 2004 3.5 Owner's Guide

µMake sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the trunk or take them with you. Turn of f the lights.
Lockthedoorswiththekeyorthe
remote transmitter. Check the
indicator on the driver’s door to
verify that the security system is
set.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on
fire.
Always use the parking brake when
you park your car. The indicator on
the instrument panel shows that the
parking brake is not f ully released; it
does not indicate that the parking
brakeisfirmlyset.Makesurethe
parking brake is set f irmly or your
car may roll if it is parked on an
incline.
Make sure the parking brake is f ully
released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes.
Set the parking brake bef ore you put
the transmission in Park. This keeps
the vehicle from moving and putting
pressure on the parking mechanism
in the transmission making it
easier to move the shif t lever out of
Park when you want to drive away. If the vehicle is f acing downhill, turn
the f ront wheels toward the curb. If the vehicle is f acing uphill, turn
the f ront wheels away f rom the curb.
Parking T ips
Driving
Parking
222

Towing can require a variety of
equipment, depending on the size of
your trailer, how it will be used, and
how much load you are towing.
Discuss your needs with your trailer
sales or rental agency, and f ollow the
guidelines in the rest of this section.
Also make sure that all equipment is
properly installed and that it meets
f ederal, state, province, and local
regulations.Acura recommends that any trailer
having a total weight of 1,000 lbs
(450 kg) or more be equipped with
its own electric or surge-type brakes.
Always use saf ety chains. Make sure
they are secured to both the trailer
and hitch, and that they cross under
the tongue so they can catch the
trailer if it becomes unhitched.
Leave enough slack to allow the
trailer to turn corners easily, but do
not let the chains drag on the ground. Any hitch used on your car must be
properly bolted to the underbody.
If you choose electric brakes, be
sure they are electronically actuated.
Do not attempt to tap into your car’s
hydraulic system. No matter how
successf ul it may seem, any attempt
to attach trailer brakes to your car’s
hydraulic system will lower braking
ef f ectiveness and create a potential
hazard.
Towing a Trailer
Driving
T owing Equipment and
A ccessoriesHit ches T railer Brakes
Saf et y Chains
234

When preparing to tow, and bef ore
driving away, be sure to check the
f ollowing:All weights and loads are within
limits (see pages and ).
Thehitch,safetychains,andany
other attachments are secure.
Allitemsonandinthetrailerare
properly secured and cannot shif t
while you drive.
Many states and Canadian provinces
require special outside mirrors when
towing a trailer. Even if they don’t,
you should install special mirrors if
you cannot clearly see behind you, or
if the trailer creates a blind spot.
Askyourtrailersalesorrental
agency if any other items are
recommended or required f or your
towing situation.
The lights and brakes on your car
and the trailer are working
properly.Your car tires and spare are
properly inf lated (see page ),
and the trailer tires and spare are
inflated as recommended by the
trailer maker.
The vehicle has been properly
serviced, and the tires, brakes,
suspension, and cooling system
are in good operating condition.
232 233 280
Towing a Trailer
Driving
Pre-T ow ChecklistAdditional Trailer Equipment
236

To add oil, unscrew and remove the
engine oil f ill cap on top of the lef t
valve cover. Pour in the oil, and
replace the engine oil f ill cap.
Tighten it securely. Wait a f ew
minutes and recheck the oil level. Do
not f ill above the upper mark; you
could damage the engine.Make sure the API Certif ication Seal
says ‘‘For Gasoline Engines.’’
Pour the oil slowly and caref ully so
you do not spill. Clean up any spills
immediately. Spilled oil could damage components in the engine
compartment.
Oil is major contributor to your
engine’s perf ormance and longevity.
Always use a premium-grade
detergent oil displaying the API
Certif ication Seal. This seal indicates
the oil is energy conserving, and that
it meets the American Petroleum
Institute’s latest requirements. It is
highly recommended that you use
Honda Motor Oil in your car f or as
long as you own it.
CONT INUED
A dding Oil
Recommended Oil
Engine Oil
Maint enance251
ENGINE OIL FILL CAP
API CERTIFICATION SEAL

Remove the reserve tank f rom its
holder by pulling it straight up.
Drain the coolant, then put the
tank back in its holder.When the coolant stops draining,
tightenthedrainplugatthe
bottom of the radiator.
Put the drain cap back in place
tightly, then reinstall the clip on
the drain cap securely.
On the right side of the engine
block, remove the clip with a plier,
andthenremovethedraincap. 5.
4. 6.
CONT INUED
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance259
CLIP
RESERVE TANK
HOLDER
RESERVE TANK CAP
DRAIN CAP

µµ
UseaSAE90orSAE80W-90
viscosity hypoid gear oil, API service
classif ied GL4 or GL5 only, in the
dif f erential.
The dif f erential oil should be drained
and ref illed with new oil according to
the time and distance recommenda-
tions in the maintenance schedule. Viscosity
If it is not, slowly add oil until it
starts to run out of the hole. Reinstall
the f iller plug and tighten it securely.
Insert the dipstick back in the
transmission. Make sure the notch
f its in the dipstick guide and the
dipstick is down all the way.
The transmission should be drained
and ref illed with new f luid according
to the time and distance recommen-
dations in the maintenance schedule.
Check the oil in the dif f erential with
the vehicle sitting level. Remove the
oil f iller plug and check that the oil
levelisuptotheedgeof thehole.
6.
Maint enance
Dif f erential Oil
Automatic Transmission Fluid, Dif f erential Oil
265
DRAIN PLUGFILLER PLUG
Correct
level
SAE 90: above 0°F ( 18°C)
SAE 80W-90: below 0°F ( 18°C)

Dirt build-up in the loops of the seat
belt anchors can cause the belts to
retract slowly. Wipe the insides of
the loops with a clean cloth
dampened in mild soap and warm
water or isopropyl alcohol.Clean the windows, inside and out,
with a commercially-available glass
cleaner. You can also use a mixture
of one part white vinegar to ten parts
water. This will remove the haze that
builds up on the inside of the
windows. Use a sof t cloth or paper
towels to clean all glass and clear
plastic surf aces.
If you use a liquid air f reshener,
make sure you f asten it securely so it
does not spill as you drive.
Clean the wood trim with a soft cloth
dipped in clear water and wipe it dry
with another sof t cloth. Soap may
leave a f ilm that dulls the f inish. If you want to use an air f reshener/
deodorizer in the interior of your car,
it is best to use a solid type. Some
liquid air f resheners contain chemi-
cals that may cause parts of the
interior trim and f abric to crack or
discolor.
Windows
A ir Fresheners
Wood T rim
Interior Care
Appearance Care304
The rear window def ogger and
antenna wires are bonded to the inside
of the glass. Wiping vigorously up-and-
down can dislodge and break these
wires. When cleaning the rear window,
use gentle pressure and wipe side-to-
side.

Put on the spare tire. Put the
wheel nuts back on f inger-tight,
then tighten them in a crisscross
pattern with the wheel wrench
until the wheel is f irmly against
the hub. Do not try to tighten
them f ully.Tighten the wheel nuts securely in
the same crisscross pattern. Have
the wheel nut torque checked at
the nearest automotive service
f acility.
Tighten the wheel nuts to:
Lower the vehicle to the ground
and remove the jack.
12.
13.14.
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Changing a Flat T ire
312
80 lbf·ft (108 N·m , 11 kgf·m)

Diagnosing why your engine won’t
start f alls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III):You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine’s starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly.
You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
f aster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run. When you turn the ignition switch to
START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying to
start. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all.
Check these things:
Check the transmission interlock.
The transmission must be in Park
orNeutralorthestarterwillnot
operate.
Sliptheholeatthetopof thejack
over the bracket in the trunk well.
Turn the jack’s end bracket to lock
it in place. Store the tool kit back
in its place.
Close the trunk lid. Store the center cap and spacer
basket in the trunk. Make sure the
center cap will not get scratched
or damaged. Unclip the hook f rom the trunk lid
and lower the trunk f loor.
Your car has the Immobilizer
System. You should use a
properly-coded master or valet key
to start the engine (see page ).
A key that is not properly coded
will cause the immobilizer system
indicator in the dash panel to blink
rapidly.
19.
20.
21.
22. 80
Changing a Flat Tire, If Your Engine Won’t Start
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
If Your Engine Won’t Start Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
314
Loose items can fly around the
interior in a crash and could
seriously injure the occupants.
Store the wheel, jack, and tools
securely before driving.

µ
µÎ
Î
Î
No. Amps. Circuits Protected
Circuits Protected
No. Amps.
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26 7.5 A
7.5 A
10 A
7.5 A 20 A
7.5 A 20 A
20 A
20 A
7.5 A 20 A
30 A Starter Signal
ACG
ACC Socket
Power Window MPCS
Front Right Power Window
Mirror
ECU (Body)
Rear Lef t Power Window
Fuel Pump
SRS
Rear Right Power Window
Ignition Coils
Not Used
Small Light
Not Used (OP)
Condenser Fan Relay,
Cooling Fan Relay
ACC, Radio
A/C Clutch, Front Heated
Seat
ECU (PCM)
SRS
Driver’s Power Seat
Reclining/Rear Height/
Power Lumber
Bose Audio System
Daytime Running Lights
Driver’s Power Seat Slide/
Front Height
Daytime Running Lights
Meter, Moonroof
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13 15 A
7.5 A 10 A
20 A
20 A
10 A
20 A
20 A
10 A
20 A
7.5 A
7.5 A
On Canadian models
1:
1
1
Fuses
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed331
INTERIOR FUSE BOX