service 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.

This section gives you important
inf ormation about how to protect
yourself and your passengers. It
shows you how to use seat belts
properly. It explains your Supple-
mental Restraint System. And it tells
you how to properly restrain inf ants
andchildreninyourcar..........
Important Safety Precautions . 6
.............
Your Car’s Saf ety Features . 7
.......................................
Seat Belts .8
...........................................
Airbags .9
.....................
Seats & Seat-Backs .10
..........................
Head Restraints .10
..................................
Door Locks .10
........
Pre-Drive Saf ety Checklist . 11
............................
Protecting Adults .12
.....
1. Close and Lock the Doors . 12 ...........
2. Adjust the Front Seats . 12
............
3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . 13
...
4. Adjust the Head Restraints . 14
5. Fasten and Position the Seat .....................................
Belts .15
....
6. Adjust the Steering Wheel . 17
7. Maintain a Proper Sitting ................................
Position .17
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 18
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 19
........................
Protecting Children .20
All Children Must Be ...............................
Restrained .20
Children Should Sit in the Back ...........................................
Seat .21
The Passenger’s Front Airbag Poses Serious Risks ...........................
to Children .21
If You Must Drive with Several ...................................
Children .23
If a Child Requires Close ..................................
Attention .23
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 23
General Guidelines f or Using ...............................
Child Seats .24
.......................
Protecting Inf ants .28 .........
Protecting Small Children . 32
.......
Protecting Larger Children . 35
Using Child Seats with .....................................
Tethers .39
.............................
Using LATCH .40
Additional Inf ormation About Your .................................
Seat Belts .44
..
Seat Belt System Components . 44
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt .44
Automatic Seat Belt ...............................
Tensioners .45
...............
Seat Belt Maintenance . 46
Additional Inf ormation About Your .....................................
Airbags .47
........................
SRS Components .47
How Your Front Airbags .........................................
Work .47
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 49
How the SRS Indicator Light .......................................
Works .50
How the Side Airbag Cutof f ...........
Indicator Light Works . 51
.............................
Airbag Service .52
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 52
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 53
...................................
Saf ety Labels .54
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
5

Your f ront and side airbag systems
are virtually maintenance-f ree, and
there are no parts you can saf ely
service. However, you must have
your car serviced if :Any
airbag that has deployed must be
replaced along with the control
unit and other related parts. Do
not try to remove or replace any
airbag by yourself . This must be
done by an Acura dealer or a
knowledgeable body shop. Together, airbags and
seat belts provide the best
protection.
Tampering could cause
the airbags to deploy, possibly
causing very serious injury. See page f or f urther inf ormation
and precautions relating to your
airbags.Improperly
replacing or covering f ront seat-
back covers can prevent your side
airbags f rom inf lating during a
collision.
If rain or spilled water
soaks into a seat-back, it can
prevent the side airbag system
f rom working properly.
Take your car to an
authorized Acura dealer as soon as
possible. If you ignore this
indication, the airbags might not
inf late when you need them. 211
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Airbag Service
Additional Saf ety Precautions
Your airbags ever inf late.Donotattempttodeactivateyour
airbags.
Do not t amper wit h airbagcomponent s or wiring f or anyreason. Do not cover or replace f ront seat -
back covers wit hout consult ing anAcura dealer.
Do not expose t he f ront seat -backs to water.
T he SRS indicat or light alert s you t o a problem.
Driver and Passenger Saf ety52

...............
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

Depending on where you drive, you
may experience reception problems.
Interf erence can be caused by any of
these conditions:Driving on the south side of an
east/west mountain road If your XM Radio service has expired
or you purchased your car f rom a
previous owner, you can listen to a
sampling of the broadcasts available
on XM Satellite Radio. With the
ignition switch in the ACCESSORY
(I) or ON (II) position, push the
PWR/VOL knob to turn on the audio
system and press the SAT Radio
button. A variety of music types and
styles will play.
Driving on the north side of a
large commercial truck on an
east/west road
Driving in tunnels
Driving on a road beside a vertical
wall, steep clif f or hill to the south
of you
Driving on the lower level of a
multi-tiered road
Driving on a single lane road
alongside dense trees taller than
50 f t. (15 m) to the south of you
There may be other geographic
situations that could af f ect satellite
radio reception.As required by the FCC: Changes or modif ications not expresslyapproved by the party responsible f orcompliance could void the user’sauthority to operate the equipment.
CONT INUED
Audio System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Receiving Satellite Radio Service
177

Two controls f or the audio system
are mounted in the steering wheel
hub. These let you control basic
f unctions without removing your
hand f rom the wheel.
If you decide to purchase XM
Satellite Radio service, contact XM
Radio at www.xmradio.com, or at
1-800-852-9696. You will need to give
them your radio I.D. number and
your credit card number. To get your
radio I.D. number, turn the TUNE
knob until ‘‘0’’ appears in the display.
Your I.D. will appear in the display.
After you’ve registered with XM
Radio, keep your audio system in the
SAT Radio mode while you await
activation. This should take about 30
minutes.
While awaiting activation, make sure
your vehicle remains in an open area
with good reception. Once your
audio system is activated, ‘‘category’’
or ‘‘CH’’ will appear in the display
andyou’llbeabletolistentoXM
Radio broadcasts. XM Radio will
continue to send an activation signal
to your vehicle for at least 12 hours
from activation request. If the
service has not been activated after
36 hours, contact XM Radio.
Audio System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Remote Audio Controls
178
AUDIO/CH
BUTTON

Press this button to contact an
OnStar advisor. You will hear a
chime, f ollowed by the
announcement, ‘‘Connecting to
OnStar.’’ The connection should take
20 to 30 seconds. The advisor will
assist you with any of the services
included in your plan.
Depending on what service you
request, you may need to give your
Personal Identification Number
(PIN) to the advisor. Your PIN is a
number you make up and provide
when you establish your OnStar
service.
If cellular telephone service is not
available in the area you are driving
in, you will hear a f ast busy signal.
The system will retry the connection
several times bef ore returning to the
ready mode.
Personal Concierge Services.
The Luxury and Leisure Plan adds: Inf ormation and Convenience
Services. Ride Assist. Route Support.
The Directions and Connections
Plan provides these additional
f eatures: Online Concierge Services. Remote Door Locking/Unlocking. Accident Assist. Automatic Notif ication of Airbag
Deployment. Emergency Services. Roadside Assistance.
The Saf e and Sound Plan provides: The OnStar
system in your car
gives you access to a wide range of
services and information with the
touch of a button. An OnStar advisor
is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week.
Stolen Vehicle Tracking.
Misplaced Vehicle Assistance. The OnStar buttons and indicator
are located on the ceiling near the
f ront ceiling light.
U.S. models onlyOnStar Services Button
OnStar Control Panel
OnSt ar
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures192
CALL
ANSWER/END
BUTTON SYSTEM
STATUS LIGHT
OnStar BUTTON EMERGENCY
BUTTON

µµ
µ
µ
To cancel these retries, press the
Call Answer/End (DOT) button.
Press this button to contact an
OnStar advisor only if you have an
emergency situation. You will hear a
tone, f ollowed by the announcement,
‘‘Connecting to OnStar Emergency.’’
Your call is given highest priority.
Press this ‘‘DOT’’ button to end a call
to the OnStar advisor, or to cancel
the call if you should press one of
the other buttons accidentally. If the
OnStar center should call you, press
this button to answer the call.
This button is also used to initiate
the Personal Calling and Virtual
Advisor services, if you have
subscribed.This light shows you the status of
the system.
The system is ready
for use.
Acallisin
progress.
If you press this button accidentally,
do not cancel the call. Wait until the
OnStar advisor answers, then explain
your mistake. The advisor will ask about the nature
of the emergency, locate your car,
and notif y the appropriate
emergency service agencies.
There is a problem in
the system. Press the OnStar button
to contact an advisor. If the call
connects, the advisor will assist you
with verif ying the system’s operation.
If you are not able to contact an
advisor, take your car to an Acura
dealer to have the system diagnosed.
There is a problem
in the system with a call in progress.
A microphone is located in the base
of the OnStar control panel so you
can speak to the advisor without
taking your hands of f the steering
wheel or diverting your attention
from the road. The OnStar advisor’s
voice comes f rom the audio system’s
speakers. Use the volume control on
the audio system or on the steering
wheel to adjust the volume.
Emergency Button Call Answer/End ButtonSolid Green
Blinking Green System Status L ight
Solid Red
Blinking Red
OnSt ar
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures193

µ
µ µ
µµ
µ
Contact
the OnStar advisor if you need
assistance with a problem (f lat tire,
out of f uel, etc.) while traveling. The
advisor will contact an appropriate
agency to come and assist you.
Contact an
OnStar advisor if you have an
emergency situation. The advisor
will contact the nearest emergency
services provider (ambulance, f ire
department, etc.) and advise them of
your situation. The OnStar
advisor can help you if you are ever
in a minor accident by asking you f or
inf ormation about the accident.
Complete, detailed inf ormation will
make it easier to complete accident
reports and insurance claims.
The OnStar system uses the Global
Positioning System (GPS) to locate
your car whenever you place a call.
This allows the advisor to quickly
contact the nearest services without
requiring you to provide detailed
directions.
If you are ever in an
accident that causes the airbags to
deploy, the OnStar system
automatically places a call (provided
the OnStar system and your car’s
electrical system are still intact). The
advisor will attempt to speak to you
to evaluate the situation, and contact
the nearest emergency services
provider. By sending a signal to your car,
the advisor can lock or unlock your
car’s doors. This is helpf ul if you are
away from your car and realize you
f orgot to lock the doors, or if you
have locked the keys in your car. To
get OnStar’s assistance, call (888) 4-
ONSTAR (466-7827).
Using
GPS, OnStar can locate your car
almost anywhere. If your car is ever
stolen, contact OnStar at (888)
4-ONSTAR. The advisor will put you
in contact with the proper authorities,
and assist them with locating your
car.
Roadside Assistance
Emergency Services
A ccident A ssist
Saf e and Sound Plan Features Automatic Notif ication of Airbag
DeploymentRemote Door L ocking/Unlocking
Stolen Vehicle T racking
OnSt ar
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures194

µ
µ µ
µ
µ µ
The Luxury and Leisure plan
provides all the benef its of the other
plans, and adds:
An OnStar advisor can assist you
with purchasing theater tickets,
airline tickets, rental car reservations
for a vacation, and just about any
other purchase you desire.
The Directions and Connections
Plan provides these additional
f eatures.
The OnStar advisor can
give you inf ormation on nearby
hotels, restaurants, ATMs, hospitals,
gas stations, and many other
services in any area you are traveling
in. The advisor can also help you
with hotel or restaurant reservations. If you need a ride
(taxi, limousine service, etc.) the
OnStar advisor can make the
arrangements f or you. Use the
OnStar button or call (888)
4-ONSTAR. The OnStar
advisor can give you verbal
directions f rom your current location
to a desired destination.
From your computer, you can log
into www. myonstar.com to make
dinner reservations, purchase tickets
to events, send f lowers, etc. If you are unable to locate your car in
a large parking lot or parking
structure, contact OnStar at (888) 4-
ONSTAR. The advisor will remotely
activate the exterior lights and the
horn, allowing you to locate your car. Luxury and Leisure Plan
Features
Personal Concierge Services
Directions and Connections Plan
Features
Inf ormation and Convenience
Services Ride Assist Route Support
Online Concierge Services Misplaced Vehicle Assistance
OnSt ar
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures195