climate control Acura RL 2004 3.5 Owner's Manual

2004 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........................................................................\
.................................................. .55
Instrument panel indica tor and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features........................................................................\
.............................. .119
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.
Before Driving ........................................................................\
...................................................... ...............203
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving........................................................................\
...................................................................................215
The proper way to start the engine, shift the tr ansmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
...................................................... ...................239
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Care........................................................................\
...................................................... ...........299
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your car ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
.......................................307
This section covers several problems motorists someti mes experience, and how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
...................................................... .335
ID numbers, dimensions, capaciti es, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada only).............................................................351
A summary of the warranties covering your new Honda, and how to contact us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only )........................................................................\
......................................
.355
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.

Your Car at a Glance
2
MIRROR CONTROLSINSTRUMENT PANEL
CLIMATE CONTROL
SYSTEM
AUDIO SYSTEM
DRIVING POSITION
MEMORY
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
TRUNK RELEASE
BUTTON FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE
HANDLE HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE
(P.88)
(P.103) (P.98) (P.96)
(P.57)
(P.120)
(P.134,151)
(P.205) (P.206)

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.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.
Your car’s exhaust contains carbon
monoxide gas. You should have no
problem with carbon monoxide
entering the vehicle in normal
driving if you maintain your car
properly.
Have the exhaust system inspected
f or leaks whenever:
The vehicle is raised f or an oil
change.
You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust.
The vehicle was in an accident
that may have damaged the under-
side. If you must sit in your parked vehicle,
even in an unconf ined area, with the
engine running, adjust the climate
control system as f ollows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
Driver and Passenger Saf ety53
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.

Control L ocations
Inst rument s and Cont rols56
TRUNK RELEASE
BUTTONHOOD RELEASE HANDLE AUDIO SYSTEMCLIMATE CONTROL
SYSTEM
DOOR LOCK
SWITCHES
DRIVING POSITION
MEMORY
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
FUEL FILL
DOOR RELEASE
HANDLE MIRROR CONTROLS
(P. 96)
(P. 83)
(P. 98)
(P. 103)
(P. 88)
(P. 205)
(P.206) (P.
120)
(P. 134, 151)

...............
Climate Control System . 120
.......
Fully-automatic Operation . 122
.......
Semi-automatic Operation . 123
.......
Fully-automatic Operation . 127
.......
Semi-automatic Operation . 128
........................
Rear Ventilation .132
Sunlight Sensor/ ............
Temperature Sensor . 133
................................
Audio System .134
AM/FM/Cassette/CD Changer ........................
Audio System .134
.................
Operating the Radio . 135
.................
Adjusting the Sound . 138
............
Audio System Lighting . 138
Operating the Cassette .....................................
Player .139
............
Tape Search Functions . 140
.....
Operating the CD Changer . 143
CD Changer Error .............................
Indications .150 AM/FM/Cassette/CD Changer/
Satellite Digital Radio Audio ................................
System .151
.................
Operating the Radio . 152
.................
Adjusting the Sound . 155
............
Audio System Lighting . 155
....................
Radio Frequencies . 156
........................
Radio Reception .156
..............................
Digital Clock .158
Operating the Cassette .....................................
Player .159
............
Tape Search Functions . 160
Caring f or the Cassette .....................................
Player .163
.....
Operating the CD Changer . 164
.......
Protecting Compact Discs . 171
CD Changer Error .............................
Indications .172
...............
Satellite Digital Radio . 173
.........
Operating Satellite Radio . 174
Receiving Satellite Radio ....................................
Service .177
...........
Remote Audio Controls . 178
.......................
Thef t Protection .180
............................
Security System .181 ...............................
Cruise Control .182
HomeLink Universal ...........................
Transceiver .186
...............
Customer Assistance . 186
.
Important Safety Precautions . 186
..................
Training HomeLink . 187
Training with a Rolling Code ....................................
System .189
...........................
Erasing Codes .191
............................................
OnStar .192
3.5 RL without Navigation System
U.S. 3.5 RL with Navigation System
3.5 RL without Navigation System U.S. 3.5 RL with Navigation System
Comf ort and Convenience Features
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures119

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

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 setbetween 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 f an will not
come on automatically until the
vehicle 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 of f . Keep the
system of f only f or short periods. To
keep stale air and mustiness from
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 hout Navigat ion Syst em
122
TEMPERATURE
CONTROL DIAL
FULL AUTO
DISPLAY FAN CONTROL
DIAL
AUTO
BUTTON OFF
BUTTON

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
123
RECIRCULATED AIR FRESH AIRAIR CONDITIONING
BUTTON
TEMPERATURE
CONTROL DIAL

Û
Ý
To put the Automatic Climate
Control in f ully-automatic mode,
press the AUTO button. Then set
the desired temperature by pressing
either side of the TEMP button:
to raise the temperature above the
displayed value, or to lower the
temperature.
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.
When you set the temperature to its
lower limit (57°F/14°C ‘‘ ’’)
or its upper limit (87°F/31°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.
In cold weather, the f an will not
come on automatically until the
vehicle 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 of f . Keep the
system of f only f or short periods. To
keep stale air and mustiness from
collecting, you should have the f an
running at all times. The f an is controlled until the heater
gets warm.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Fully-automatic Operation
U.S. 3.5 RL wit h Navigat ion Syst em
127
TEMPERATURE DISPLAY
RECIRCULATION BUTTON
OFF BUTTON
AUTO BUTTON
TEMPERATURE BUTTON

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. Some of these
f unctions appear in the Navigation
System display. With the Navigation
System, press the A/C-INFO button
next to the display to show these
functions.
UsetheA/Ciconsinthedisplayto
select the air conditioning mode. You
will see A/C ON, A/C OFF, or A/C
ECON activated in the display. Semi-automatic Operation
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
A ir Condit ioning (A /C) On/Of f /EconIcons
128
RECIRCULATION BUTTON
TEMPERATURE BUTTON
A/C-INFO
BUTTON
MODE ICONS
FAN SPEED ICONS
A/C ON/OFF/ECON ICONS