service indicator Acura RL 2004 3.5 Owner's Manual

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

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

During this period:Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration. If you are unable to f ind premium
unleaded gasoline, you may substi-
tute an unleaded regular gasoline.
The engine will compensate f or the
lower octane, but you may notice a
slight decrease in power as a result.
We recommend gasolines containing
detergent additives that help prevent
f uel system and engine deposits.
Avoidhardbraking.Newbrakes
need to be broken-in by moderate
use f or the f irst 200 miles (300
km). Your Acura is designed to operate on
premium unleaded gasoline with a
pump octane number of 91 or higher.
In Canada, some gasolines contain
an octane-enhancing additive called
MMT. If you use such gasolines,
your emissions control system
perf ormance may deteriorate and
the Malf unction Indicator Lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on.
If this happens, contact your
authorized Acura dealer f or service.
Help assure your car’s f uture
reliability and perf ormance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).
Using gasoline containing lead will
damage your car’s emissions
controls. This contributes to air
pollution.
Do not change the oil until the
recommended time or mileage
intervalshowninthemaintenance
schedule.
Youshouldfollowthesesamere-
commendations with an overhauled
or exchanged engine, or when the
brakes are relined.
Break-in Period, Gasoline
Bef ore Driving
Break-in Period Gasoline
204

Shift to Park or Neutral and set
the parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower lef t corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.
Push the f uel f ill door closed until
it latches.
Standing in f ront of the vehicle,
reach in between the hood and the
f ront bumper with your f inger.
Slide the latch handle.
Screw the f uel f ill cap back on,
tighten it until it clicks at least
three times. If you do not properly
tighten the cap, the Malfunction
Indicator Lamp may come on (see
page ).
1. 2.
5.
6.
323
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving
Opening the Hood
206
HOOD RELEASE HANDLE
LATCH HANDLE

By eliminating as much of the
electrical load as possible, you can
drive several miles (kilometers)
before the battery is too discharged
to keep the engine running. Drive to
a service station or garage where
you can get technical assistance.
Immediately turn of f all electrical
accessories: radio, climate control,
rear def ogger, cruise control, etc.
Try not to use other electrically-
operated controls such as the power
windows. Keep the engine running
and take extra care not to stall it.
Starting the engine will discharge
the battery rapidly.
This indicator should come on when
the ignition switch is ON (II), and go
out af ter the engine starts. If it
comes on brightly when the engine
is running, it indicates that the
charging system has stopped
charging the battery.
Charging System Indicator
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed322
CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATOR

Î
Î
The Brake System Indicator
normallycomesonwhenyouturn
the ignition switch ON (II). It is a
reminder to check the parking brake.
It comes on and stays lit if you do not
f ully release the parking brake. If it comes on at any other time, it
indicates a problem with the vehicle’s
brake system. In most cases, the
problem is a low f luid level in the
brake f luid reservoir. Press lightly on
the brake pedal to see if it f eels
normal. If it does, check the brake
f luid level the next time you stop at a
service station (see page ). If the
f luid level is low, take the vehicle to
your dealer and have the brake
system inspected f or leaks or worn
brake pads.
However, if the brake pedal does not
f eel normal, you should take
immediate action. Because of the
brake system’s dual-circuit design, a
problem in one part of the system
will still give you braking at two
wheels. You will f eel the brake pedal
go down much f arther bef ore the
vehicle begins to slow down, and you
will have to press harder on the
pedal. The distance needed to stop
will be much longer.Slow down by shif ting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is saf e. Because of the
longer distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the vehicle. You
should have it towed, and repaired as
soon as possible. (See
on page .)
If you must drive the vehicle a short
distance in this condition, drive
slowly and cautiously.
If the ABS indicator and the VSA
system indicator come on with this
indicator, have the vehicle inspected
by your dealer immediately.
266
332
Brake System Indicator
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Emergency
Towing
325
BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR
U.S. indicator shown

ÎÎ
CONT INUED
........................................
Saf ety Belts .8
.........
Safety Defects, Reporting . 354
.................................
Saf ety Features .7
...........................................
Airbags .9
..................................
Door Locks .10
..........................
Head Restraints .10
.......................................
Seat Belts .8
.....................
Seats & Seat-Backs .10
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of . 54
...............................
Saf ety Messages . ii
...................
Satellite Digital Radio . 173
.....................................
Seat Belts .8, 44
...............
Additional Information . 44
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 18
.
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioner . 45
.........
Child Seat Lower Anchors . 40
Child Seat Tether Anchorage ........................................
Points .39 .....................................
Cleaning .303
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt .44
................................
Maintenance .46
Reminder Light and ................................
Beeper .44, 58
................................
Replacement .46
...................
System Components . 44
...............
Use During Pregnancy . 18
...
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt . 15
..................................
Seat Heaters .100
....................
Seat Position Memory .98
........................
Seats, Adjusting the .91
................
Security Alarm System . 181
...............................
Serial Number .336
...........................
Service Intervals .244
...........................
Service Manual .355
.........
Service Station Procedures . 205
..................
Setting the Clock . 108,158
Shif ting the Automatic .............................
Transmission .218
.....
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 218
........................
Shif t Lock Release .221
...................
Radiator Overheating . 319
Radio/Cassette Sound ................................
System .134, 151
...........................
Readiness Codes .324
..
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement . 292
..........................
Rear Seat Armrest .95
............................
Rear Ventilation .132
............................
Rear View Mirror .96
.................
Rear Window Def ogger . 76
...............
Reclining the Seat Backs . 92
.............................
Reminder Lights .57
.......................
Remote Transmitter .84
Replacement Inf ormation .................
Air Cleaner Element . 267
..............
Dust and Pollen Filter . 278
..........................
Engine Coolant .258
................
Engine Oil and Filter . 253
..........................................
Fuses .328
................................
Light Bulbs .288
....................................
Schedule .242
................................
Spark Plugs .269
...........................................
Tires .283
.............................
Wiper Blades .275 Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a
............................................
Crash .46
...
Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant . 208
..................
Reverse Gear Position . 219
................................
Rotation, Tire .282
Index
S
R
VII

.....................................
Tachometer .63
......
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in . 292
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected . 307
...........................
Tape Player .139, 159
Technical Descriptions ......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 340
.....
Emissions Control Systems . 345
.....................
Oxygenated Fuels .343
Three Way Catalytic ...............................
Converter .347
.......................
Temperature Gauge .65
...................
Tensioners, Seat Belts . 45
..............
Tether Anchorage Points . 39
...............
Thef t Deterrent System . 181
............................
Thef t Protection .180
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 347
..................
Time, Setting the . 108,158
....................................
Timing Belt .279
....................................
Tire Chains .285
...........................
Tire Inf ormation .342
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 309
...............................................
Tires .279
..............................
Air Pressure .280
...................................
Balancing .282
....................................
Side Airbags .49
How the Side Airbag Cutof f ...........
Indicator Light Works . 51
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 49
Side Marker Lights, Bulb .........................
Replacement in .291
...............................
Signaling Turns .71
.......................................
Ski Sleeve .101
.....................................
Snow Tires .285
...................
Solvent-type Cleaners . 300
........................
Sound System .134, 151
Spare Tire ......................................
Inf lating .308
............................
Specif ications .339
................
Spark Plugs, Replacing . 269
....................
Specif ications Charts . 338
................................
Speed Control .182
...................................
Speedometer .63
.......................................
Spotlights .116
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation . 47
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 52
Automatic Seat Belt ...............................
Tensioners .45
How the SRS Indicator Light .......................................
Works .50
.....
How Your Airbags Work . 47,49 ........................
SRS Components .47
..................................
SRS Service .52
.............................
SRS Indicator .50 ,59
....
START (Ignition Key Position) . 82
.......................
Starting the Engine .217
In Cold Weather at High ..................................
Altitude .217
................
With a Dead Battery . 316
..........
State Emissions Testing . 348
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine . 319
Steering Wheel ................................
Adjustments .76
.............
Anti-theft Column Lock . 82
........................
Position Memory .98
...........
Stereo Sound System . 134,151
...........................
Storing Your Car .297
........................................
Sun Visor .112
........................
Sunglasses Holder .109
Supplemental Restraint ............................
System .9 ,47, 49
....................
Service Precautions .52
......................................
Servicing .52
.........................
SRS Indicator .50 ,59
...................
System Components . 47
...............
Tensioners, Seat Belts . 45
..................................
Synthetic Oil .252
Index
T
VIII