instrument panel Acura RL 2005 Owner's Guide

µThe automatic lighting f eature is
controlledbyasensorlocatedontop
of the dashboard. Do not cover this
sensor or spill liquids on it.
Even with the automatic lighting
f eature turned on, we recommend
thatyouturnonthelightsmanually
when driving at night or in a dense
f og, or when you enter dark areas
such as long tunnels or parking
structures.
To turn on automatic lighting, turn
the light switch to AUTO at any time.
The lights will come on automatically
when the outside light level becomes
low (at dusk, f or example). The
lights on indicator comes on as a
reminder. The lights and indicator
will turn of f automatically when the
system senses high ambient light. To change the ‘‘AUTO LIGHT
SENSITIVITY’’ setting, see page .
Do not leave the light switch in
AUTO if you will not be driving the
vehicle f or an extended period (a
weekormore).Youshouldalsoturn
of f the lights if you plan to leave the
engine idling or of f f or a long time.
The automatic lighting
f eature turns on the headlights, all
other exterior lights, and the
instrument panel lights when it
senses low ambient light.
The lights will remain on when you
turn of f the ignition switch. They will
turn of f automatically when you open
and close the driver’s door. To turn
them on again, either turn the
ignition switch to ON (II) or turn the
light switch to . 93
Headlights
AUTO
Inst rument s and Cont rols
105
LIGHT
SENSOR

Turn the f og lights on and of f by
turning the switch next to the
headlight switch.
You can use the f og lights only when
the headlights are on low beam.
The headlights revert to normal
operation when you turn them on
with the switch. With the light switch in the AUTO
position, you can also use the f og
lights when the headlights turn on
automatically. They will go of f when
the headlights turn of f .
With the headlight switch off, the
high beam headlights come on with
reduced brightness when you turn
the ignition switch to ON (II) and
release the parking brake. They
remain on until you turn the ignition
switch of f , even if you set the
parking brake.This f eature turns of f the headlights,
all other exterior lights, and the
instrument panel lights within 15
seconds after you turn the ignition
switch to LOCK (0) and close the
driver’s door.
To change the ‘‘HEADLIGHT AUTO
OFF TIMER’’ setting, see page . If you see a ‘‘CHECK DRL
SYSTEM’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display, there is a
problem with the daytime running
light system. Take your vehicle to a
dealer to have it checked.
When the multi-information display
shows a ‘‘DRL OFF’’ message, the
daytime running lights are of f .
Follow the procedure in the lef t
column to turn them on.The automatic lighting of f f eature
activates if you leave the headlight
switch in the ‘‘ ’’ or ‘‘ ’’
position or if the lights are turned on
by setting the switch in the ‘‘AUTO’’
position, turn the ignition switch to
LOCK (0), then open and close the
driver’s door.
If you turn the ignition switch to
LOCK (0) with the headlight switch
on, but do not open the door and get
out, the lights turn off after 10
minutes (3 minutes, if the switch is
in the ‘‘AUTO’’ position).
The lights turn on again when you
unlock or open the driver’s door.
If you unlock the door, but do not
open it within 15 seconds, the lights
go of f . With the driver’s door open,
you will hear a lights-on reminder
chime.
92
Headlights
Fog Lights
Daytime Running Lights Automatic Lighting Of f Feature
106

´
µ´ µ
Push the button between the center
vents to turn on the hazard warning
lights (f our-way f lashers). This
causes all f our outside turn signals
and both indicators in the instrument
panel to f lash. Use the hazard
warning lights if you need to park in
a dangerous area near heavy traffic,
or if your vehicle is disabled. Adjust the brightness of the
instrument panel by pressing the
or button. Press the button to
increase the brightness and the
button to decrease it. You can adjust
the brightness with the headlight
switch on or of f .
The level of brightness is shown on
the multi-information display while
you adjust it. It goes out 5 seconds
af ter you f inish adjusting.
CONT INUED
Instrument Panel Brightness
Hazard Warning Button
Hazard Warning Button, Instrument Panel Brightness
Inst rument s and Cont rols
109
ADJUSTMENT BUTTON
U.S.
CANADA

´The rear window def ogger clears f og,
frost,andthinicefromthewindow.
Push the def ogger button to turn it
onandoff.Pushingthisbuttonalso
turns the mirror heaters on and of f .
The indicator in the button comes on
to show the def ogger is on. If you do
not turn it of f , the def ogger will shut
itself of f af ter 5 to 40 minutes
(depending on the ambient
temperature). It also shuts of f when
you turn of f the ignition switch. You have to turn it on again when you
restart the vehicle.
Make sure the rear window is clear
and you have good visibility bef ore
starting to drive.
The def ogger and antenna wires on
the inside of the rear window can be
accidentally damaged. When
cleaning the glass, always wipe side
to side.
To reduce glare at night, the
instrument panel illumination dims
when you turn the light switch to
or . To cancel the glare
reduction f unction, set the
brightness to the highest level, then
press the button. You will hear a
beep when it is canceled. Rear Window Def ogger
Instrument Panel Brightness, Rear Window Def ogger
110
REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER BUTTON

Make any steering wheel adjustment
bef ore you start driving.Move the steering wheel in, out, up,
or down by pushing and holding the
adjustment switch in that direction.Release the switch when the
steering wheel reaches the desired
position. Make sure the steering
wheel points towards your chest, not
toward your face, and that you can
see the instrument panel gauges and
indicators.
CONT INUED
Steering Wheel A djustments
Inst rument s and Cont rols
111
Adjusting the steering wheel
position while driving may
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle and be seriously injured
inacrash.
Adjust the steering wheel only
when the vehicle is stopped.

µµ
µ µ
The ignition switch has f our
positions: LOCK (0), ACCESSORY
(I), ON (II), and START (III). You can insert or
remove the built-in key only in this
position. To turn the ignition switch,
the shift lever must be in Park, and
you must push the knob or built-in
key in slightly.
If the f ront wheels are turned, the
anti-theft lock may make it difficult
to turn the ignition switch. Firmly
turn the steering wheel to the left or
right as you turn the ignition switch.
You can
operate the audio system and the
accessory power socket in this
position.
This is the normal
ignition switch position when driving.
Several of the indicators on the
instrument panel come on as a test
when you turn the ignition switch
f rom ACCESSORY (I) to ON (II). Use this position
only to start the engine. The switch
returns to ON (II) when you let go of
the ignition switch.
You will hear a reminder beeper if
you do not turn the ignition switch to
LOCK (0) or leave the built-in key in
the ignition switch in the LOCK (0)
or ACCESSORY (I) position and
open the driver’s door. Remove the
built-in key to turn of f the beeper.
TheshiftlevermustbeinPark
bef ore you turn the ignition switch
knob to LOCK (0) or remove the
built-in key f rom the ignition switch.
To use the built-in key, you have to
remove the cover (see page ). 138
Ignition Switch
LOCK (0)
A CCESSORY (I)
ON (II) ST A RT (III)
Inst rument s and Cont rols
115
IGNITION SWITCH
COVER BUILT-IN KEY

To apply the parking brake, push the
parking brake pedal down with your
f oot. To release the parking brake,
push on the pedal again. The parking
brake indicator on the instrument
panel should go out when the
parking brake is f ully released with
the engine running (see page ).61
Parking Brake
Inst rument s and Cont rols
151
PARKING BRAKE PEDAL
Driving the vehicle with the parking
brake applied can damage the rear
brakes, axles, and tires. A beeper will
sound if the vehicle is put into gear
with the parking brake on.

The security system will not set if
the hood, trunk, or any door is not
f ully closed. If the system will not set,
check the Door and Trunk Open
monitor on the instrument panel (see
page ) to see if the doors and
trunk are f ully closed. Since it is not
part of the monitor display, manually
check the hood.
Do not attempt to alter this system
or add other devices to it.
The security system helps to protect
your vehicle and valuables f rom thef t.
The horn sounds and a combination
of headlights, position/side marker
lights, and taillights f lash if someone
attempts to break into your vehicle
or remove the radio. This alarm
continues f or 2 minutes, then the
system resets. To reset an alarming
system bef ore the 2 minutes have
elapsed, unlock either f ront door
with the remote or the built-in key.
With the system set, you can still
open the trunk with the remote
without triggering the alarm. The
alarm will sound if the trunk lock is
f orced, or the trunk is opened with
the trunk release button on the
driver’s door or the emergency trunk
opener.
Once the security system is set,
opening any door or the hood
without using the built-in key or the
remote will cause it to sound. It also
sounds if the radio is removed f rom
the dashboard or the audio system
wiring is cut.
The security system automatically
sets 15 seconds after you lock the
doors, close the hood, and close the
trunk. For the system to activate,
you must lock the doors f rom the
outside with the remote, built-in key,
lock tab, or door lock switch. The
security system indicator on the
instrument panel starts blinking
immediately to show you the system
is setting itself . 13
Security System
200
SECURITY SYSTEM INDICATOR

Cruise control allows you to maintain
asetspeedabove25mph(40km/h)
without keeping your f oot on the
accelerator pedal. It should be used
f or cruising on straight, open
highways. It is not recommended f or
city driving, winding roads, slippery
roads, heavy rain, or bad weather.Press and release the DECEL/
SET button on the steering wheel.
The CRUISE CONTROL icon
appears on the multi-inf ormation
display to show the system is now
activated.
Accelerate to the desired cruising
speedabove25mph(40km/h). Push in the CRUISE button on the
steering wheel. The CRUISE
MAIN indicator on the instrument
panel comes on. When cruise control is on while
driving, the SH-AWD torque
distribution monitor and the tire
pressure monitor are not shown
on the multi-information display.
1.
2. 3.
CONT INUED
Cruise Control
Using Cruise Control
Features
201
RES/
ACCEL
BUTTON
DECEL/SET BUTTON
CRUISE BUTTON
Improper use of the cruise
control can lead to a crash.
Use the cruise control only
when traveling on open
highways in good weather.

When climbing a steep hill, the
automatic transmission may
downshif t to hold the set speed.You can increase the set cruising
speed in any of these ways:
You can decrease the set cruising
speed in any of these ways:
Press and hold the RES/ACCEL
button. When you reach the
desired cruising speed, release the
button.
Push on the accelerator pedal.
Accelerate to the desired cruising
speed, and press the DECEL/SET
button. Press and hold the DECEL/SET
button. Release the button when
you reach the desired speed.
Tap the brake pedal lightly with
your f oot. The CRUISE
CONTROL indicator on the
instrument panel will go out.
When the vehicle slows to the
desired speed, press the DECEL/
SET button.
Cruise control may not hold the set
speed when you are going up and
down hills. If your speed increases
going down a hill, use the brakes to
slow down. This cancels cruise
control. To resume the set speed,
press the RES/ACCEL button. The
CRUISECONTROLicononthe
multi-inf ormation display will come
back on.
To increase your speed in very
small amounts, tap the RES/
ACCEL button. Each time you do
this, the vehicle speeds up about 1
mph (1.6 km/h).To slow down in very small
amounts, tap the DECEL/SET
button. Each time you do this,
your vehicle slows down about
1
mph (1.6 km/h).
Changing the Set Speed
Cruise Control
202