snow chains Acura RL 2004 3.5 Owner's Manual

If you have the skills and tools to per-
f orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your Acura, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Acura
dealer. This section also includes
Maintenance Schedules f or normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions f or simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself . This section explains why it is
important to keep your car well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.......................
Maintenance Saf ety .240
.
Important Safety Precautions . 241
.................
Maintenance Schedule . 242
...
Required Maintenance Record . 249
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 251
..............................
Fluid Locations .252
......................................
Engine Oil .253
..................................
Adding Oil .253
....................
Recommended Oil .253
..............................
Synthetic Oil .254
....................................
Additives .254
.....
Changing the Oil and Filter . 255
.............................
Cooling System .257
............
Adding Engine Coolant . 257
.......
Replacing Engine Coolant . 259
....................
Windshield Washers .263
....
Automatic Transmission Fluid . 264
..............................
Dif f erential Oil .265
....................................
Brake Fluid .266
............................
Brake System .266
..............................
Power Steering .266
....................................
Hood Latch .267
.....................
Air Cleaner Element .267
....................................
Spark Plugs .269
..............................
Replacement .269
............................
Specif ications .272 ...........................................
Battery .272
.................................
Wiper Blades .275
..............
Air Conditioning System . 277
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 278
.....................................
Drive Belts .278
....................................
Timing Belt .279
...............................................
Tires .279
......................................
Inf lation .279
..................................
Inspection .281
..............................
Maintenance .282
.............................
Tire Rotation .282
...
Replacing Tires and Wheels . 283
......................
Wheels and Tires .284
..........................
Winter Driving .284
.............................
Snow Tires .285
............................
Tire Chains .285
.............................................
Lights .286
........................
Replacing Bulbs .288
...........................
Storing Your Car .297
355
Maintenance
Maint enance239

´
Tires that are marked ‘‘M S’’ or
‘‘All Season’’ on the sidewall have an
all-weather tread design. They
should be suitable f or most winter
driving conditions. Tires without
these markings are designed f or
optimum traction in dry conditions.
They may not provide adequate
perf ormance in winter driving.
For the best perf ormance in snowy
or icy conditions, you should install
snow tires or tire chains. They may
be required by local laws under
certain conditions.
Wheels:
Tires:
See page f or inf ormation about
DOT Tire Quality Grading.
The ABS and VSA system work by
comparing the speed of the wheels.
When replacing tires, use the same
size originally supplied with the
vehicle. Tire size and construction
can af f ect wheel speed and may
cause the system to work
inconsistently.
If you ever need to replace a wheel,
make sure you use an identical style
aluminum alloy wheel that originally
came on your Acura. Replacement
wheels are available at your Acura
dealer. 340
Winter Driving
Wheels and T ires
Tires
Maint enance284
16x7JJ
P225/55R16 94V

If you mount snow tires on your
Acura, make sure they are radial
tires of the same size and load range
as the original tires. Mount snow
tiresonallfourwheelstobalance
your car’s handling in all weather
conditions. Keep in mind the traction
provided by snow tires on dry roads
may not be as high as your car’s
original equipment tires. You should
drive cautiously even when the roads
areclear.Checkwiththetiredealer
f or maximum speed recommen-
dations.Because your Acura has limited tire
clearance, mount only SAE Class ‘‘S’’
cable-type traction devices on the
front tires. Use traction devices only
when required by driving conditions
or local laws. Make sure they are the
correct size f or your tires.
Metal link-type ‘‘chains’’ should not
be used. No matter how tight they
seem to be installed, they can come
into contact with the body and
suspension, causing serious damage.When installing cables, f ollow the
manufacturer’s instructions and
mount them as tightly as you can.
Drive slowly with them installed. If
youhearthemcomingincontact
with the body or chassis, stop and
investigate. Make sure the cables are
installed tightly, and that they are
not contacting the brake lines or
suspension. Remove them as soon as
you begin driving on cleared roads.
Snow T ires
T ire Chains
Tires
Maint enance285
Traction devices that are the wrong
size or improperly installed can
damage your car’s brake lines,
suspension, body, and wheels. Stop
driving if they are hitting any part of
the vehicle.

Follow these precautions whenever
you are using the compact spare tire:Thecompactsparetirehasashorter
tread lif e than a regular tire. Replace
it when you can see the tread wear
indicator bars. The replacement
should be the same size and design
tire, mounted on the same wheel.
Thecompactsparetireisnot
designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and the compact wheel is not
designed f or mounting a regular tire.
Check the inf lation pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be
inf lated to:
Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
under any circumstances.
This tire gives a harsher ride and
less traction on some road sur-
f aces than the regular tire. Use
greater caution while driving on
this tire.
Do not mount snow chains on the
compact spare.
Your car has a compact spare tire
that takes up less space. Use this
sparetireasatemporaryreplace-
ment only. Get your regular tire
repaired or replaced and put it back
on your car as soon as you can.
Turn of f the VSA system (see
page ).
Driving with the compact spare
tiremayactivatetheVSAsystem. The wheel of the compact spare
tire is designed especially to f it
your car. Do not use your spare
tire on another vehicle unless it is
thesamemakeandmodel.228
Compact Spare Tire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed308
INDICATOR LOCATION MARK
TREAD WEAR INDICATOR BAR
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm)

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