maintenance Acura RL 2005 User Guide

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µ To set your AcuraLink pref erences
(thetypesof messagesyouwantto
receive, if any), visit the Owner Link
website at
www.owners.acura.com,
and choose what you would like to
receive. If you do not have internet
access, call Acura Client Services at
(800) 382-2238; they can set your
message pref erences f or you.
Select this button to
delete the current message.
Select this button to hear a
voice read the entire message. This
gives you more inf ormation than the
screen can display at one time. When
you select the Voice button, it
changes to a Stop Reading button.
Select the button again to stop the
voice.
Select this button to call a
phone number embedded in the
message. When you select , the
HandsFreeLink (HFL) dials the
number f or you.
To make a call, your Bluetooth
compatible phone must be paired to
your vehicle’s HandsFreeLink (see
page ).
Select this button to f ind the nearest
Acura dealer using the navigation
system. Select
this button to call the Acura dealer
you purchased your vehicle f rom.
AcuraLink also directs you to this
dealer so you can schedule a
maintenance appointment or receive
inf ormation about a message. If you
visit another dealer f or service two
times within a 14-month period,
AcuraLink will reset to call that
dealer.
Select this button to
get more inf ormation about the
current diagnostic message. To use
this option, your cell phone must be
linked to the HFL and have a
compatible data service available.
Access the Owner Link website to
f ind out which data services are
currently compatible with AcuraLink.
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AcuraLink
Message Pref erences
Delete
Voice
Call
Call
Find Nearest Acura Dealer Call Your A cura Dealer
More Inf o
Features
211

During the f irst 90 days of
ownership, one of 32 dif f erent
messages appears each day. These
messages help you to use and
understand the technological
f eatures of your vehicle.
These messages, based on updated
vehicle inf ormation and comments
f rom other RL owners, supplement
your Owner’s Manual and Quick
Start Guide. They provide you with
relevant information for a safe and
enjoyable ownership experience. For
additional inf ormation, call Acura
Client Services directly through the
HFL.
There are six message categories in
AcuraLink: Quick Tips, Feature
Guides, Maintenance Minders,
Recalls/Campaigns, Diagnostic Inf o,
and Dealer Appointment Reminders.
The system can store up to 256
messages.
Message categories can be added,
revised, or deleted through
broadcast messages f rom Acura.
AcuraLink
Feature Guide
Quick T ips
Message Categories
Features
213

If your vehicle is af f ected by a recall
or other important saf ety
inf ormation, a letter will be mailed to
you about the issue and how to f ix it.
If you don’t get your vehicle f ixed,
you will also receive a reminder
message through AcuraLink. You
can then use the message options to
call your dealer f or an appointment
or to f ind the nearest dealer.
You can then use the message
options to call your dealer f or an
appointment or to f ind the nearest
dealer.
These messages provide detailed
inf ormation about the service
needed f or your vehicle. When a
maintenance message appears on
the multi-information display, a list of
needed maintenance items also
appearsinanAcuraLinkmessage.
These messages tell you the exact
maintenance needed, helping you to
avoid unnecessary maintenance
costs.
AcuraLink
Recall/Campaigns
Maintenance Minder
214

Help assure your vehicle’s f uture
reliability and perf ormance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period:Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration.
Avoidhardbrakingforthefirst
200 miles (300 km).
Do not change the oil until the
scheduled maintenance time.
You should also f ollow these
recommendations with an
overhauled or exchanged engine, or
when the brakes are replaced. Do not tow a trailer. We recommend quality gasolines
containing detergent additives that
help prevent f uel system and engine
deposits.
In addition, in order to maintain good
perf ormance, f uel economy, and
emissions control, we strongly
recommend, in areas where it is
available, the use of gasoline that
does NOT contain manganese-based
f uel additives such as MMT.
Use of gasoline with these additives
may adversely af f ect perf ormance,
and cause the malfunction indicator
lamp on your instrument panel to
come on. If this happens, contact
your authorized dealer f or service.
Your vehicle is designed to operate
on premium unleaded gasoline with a
pump octane of 91 or higher. If this
octane grade is unavailable, regular
unleaded gasoline with a pump
octane of 86 or higher may be used
temporarily. The use of regular
unleaded gasoline can cause metallic
knocking noises in the engine and
will result in decreased engine
perf ormance. The long-term use of
regular-grade gasoline can lead to
engine damage.
Break-in Period
Fuel Recommendation
Break-in Period, Fuel Recommendation
248

Combine several short trips into
one.
The air conditioning puts an extra
load on the engine which makes it
usemorefuel.Usethefresh-air
ventilation when possible.
an underinf lated tire
causes more ‘‘rolling resistance,’’
which uses more f uel.
The build-up of snow or mud on
your vehicle’s underside adds
weight and rolling resistance.
Frequent cleaning helps your f uel
mileage and reduces the chance of
corrosion.
Always drive in the highest gear
possible.
Refer to
on page f or inf ormation
about checking other items on your
vehicle. Always maintain your vehicle
according to the maintenance
schedule. See
on page
.
Drive moderately. Rapid
acceleration, abrupt cornering,
and hard braking use more f uel. Try to maintain a constant speed.
Everytimeyouslowdownand
speed up, your vehicle uses extra
f uel. Use cruise control when
appropriate.
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For example,
Improving Fuel Economy
Owner’s Maintenance
Checks
Owner’s
Maintenance Checks
Service Station Procedures, Fuel Economy
254

This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
This section also includes
instructions on how to read the
maintenance messages in the multi-
inf ormation display, a maintenance
record, and instructions f or simple
maintenance tasks you may want to
take care of yourself .
If you have the skills and tools to
perf orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your vehicle, you may want
to purchase the service manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your dealer.......................
Maintenance Saf ety .290
....................
Maintenance Minder . 291
....................
Maintenance Record .301
..............................
Fluid Locations .303
......
Engine Compartment Covers . 304
........................
Adding Engine Oil .305
.........
Changing the Oil and Filter . 306
..............................
Engine Coolant .308
....................
Windshield Washers .310
....
Automatic Transmission Fluid . 310
....................................
Brake Fluid .311
....................
Power Steering Fluid . 312
....................................
Timing Belt .313
.............................................
Lights .314
................
Cleaning the Seat Belts . 321
.....................................
Floor Mats .322
.................................
Wiper Blades .323
...............................................
Tires .325
...................
Checking the Battery . 331
.............................
Vehicle Storage .333
381
Maintenance
Maint enance
289

To eliminate potential hazards, read
the instructions bef ore you begin,
and make sure you have the tools
and skills required.To clean parts, use a commercially
available degreaser or parts
cleaner, not gasoline. Be sure there is
adequate ventilation whenever you
operate the engine.
Let the
engine and exhaust system cool
bef ore touching any parts. Do
not run the engine unless
instructed to do so.
Some of the most important saf ety
precautions are given here. However,
we cannot warn you of every
conceivable hazard that can arise in
perf orming maintenance. Only you
can decide whether or not you
should perf orm a given task.
Make sure your vehicle is parked
on level ground, the parking brake
is set, and the engine is of f .
To reduce the possibility of f ire or
explosion, keep cigarettes, sparks,
and f lames away f rom the battery
and all f uel-related parts.
Wear eye protection and
protective clothing when working
with the battery or compressed air.
All service items not detailed in this
section should be perf ormed by a
certif ied technician or other qualif ied
mechanic.
Maintenance Saf ety
Important Saf ety Precautions
Potential Vehicle HazardsCarbon Monoxide poison f rom
engine exhaust.
Burns f rom hot parts. Injury f rom moving parts.
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Improperly maintaining this
vehicle, or failing to correct a
problem before driving can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection
and maintenance
recommendations and
schedules in this owner’s
manual.
Failure to properly follow
maintenance instructions and
precautions can cause you to
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures
and precautions in this owner’s
manual.

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One of the most convenient and
important f eatures of the multi-
inf ormation display on your vehicle
is the maintenance minder.
Based on engine operating
conditions and accumulated engine
revolutions, the onboard computer in
your vehicle calculates the remaining
engine oil lif e.
The system also displays the code
f or other scheduled maintenance
items needing service.
The remaining engine oil lif e is
displayed on the engine oil lif e
minder according to the table shown
below.
Calculated Engine Oil Lif e (%)
100% 91% 90% 81%
80% 71%
70% 61%
60% 51%
50% 41%
40% 31%
30% 21%
20% 16%
15% 11%10% 6% 5% 1% 0% Displayed
Engine Oil Lif e (%)
100% 90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
15%
10% 5%
0%
To see the remaining engine oil lif e
displayed on the lower right corner
on the multi-information display as a
percentage, turn the ignition switch
to ON (II), and press the SEL/
RESETbuttononthesteeringwheel
repeatedly until the engine oil lif e
minder appears (see page ).
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CONT INUED
Maintenance Minder
Engine Oil L if e Minder
Maint enance
291
REMAINING ENGINE OIL LIFE

ÝÛÝÛ
Press the SEL/RESET button on the
steering wheel repeatedly to select
the engine oil lif e minder, the
message ‘‘CHANGE OIL’’ along with
the percentage of oil lif e remaining,
and the maintenance item code, are
displayed on the lower part of the
multi-inf ormation display.
The message will be canceled if the
or buttononthesteeringwheel
is pressed. Press the or button
to see the message again.
When the remaining engine oil lif e is
15 to 6 percent, the multi-inf ormation
display shows a ‘‘SERVICE DUE
SOON’’ message along with the
maintenance schedule code
indicating the main and sub items
required at the time of the oil change.
Refer to page and for a
complete list of the maintenance
main items and sub items. 299 300
Maintenance Minder
292
MESSAGE
MAINTENANCE
CODE REMAINING
ENGINE OIL LIFT
MAINTENANCE
MAIN ITEM MAINTENANCE
SUB ITEMS

ÝÛÝÛ
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The message will be canceled if the
or buttononthesteeringwheel
is pressed. Press the or button
to see the message again.
When the remaining oil lif e is 1 to 5
percent, the multi-information
display shows a ‘‘SERVICE DUE
NOW’’ message with the same
maintenance items ‘‘SERVICE DUE
SOON’’ was displayed. When you
see this message have the indicated
maintenance perf ormed as soon as
possible. Press the SEL/RESET button on the
steering wheel repeatedly to select
the engine oil lif e minder, the
message ‘‘CHANGE OIL’’ along with
the percentage ‘‘5%,’’ and the
maintenance item code are displayed
on the lower part of the multi-
inf ormation display when the
calculated engine oil lif e is 1 5
percent (see page ).
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CONT INUED
Maintenance Minder
Maint enance
293