manual transmission Acura RL 2005 Owner's Manual

2005 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.h\
elminc.com.
Contents


Owner's Identification Form
Introduction ........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safet y........................................................................\
.........................................ii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
............................................ .4
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
..................................... .7
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Controls........................................................................\
........................................ .57
Instrume nt panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Features ........................................................................\
................................................................... .161
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................247
What gasoline to use, how to break -in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
......................................................................261
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................289
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take you r vehicle to the dealer.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
..............................335
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, an d how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
............................................ .363
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................377
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................381
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.

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With the shif t lever in ‘‘D’’ position,
you can select the Sequential
SportShift mode to shift gears much
like a manual transmission, but
without a clutch pedal. To enter the Sequential SportShif t
mode, move the shif t lever f urther to
the driver’s side. To return to ‘‘D,’’
move the shift lever to the
passenger’s side.
In Sequential SportShif t mode, each
time you push f orward on the shif t
lever, the transmission shifts to a
higher gear. Pull back on the lever to
downshif t. The number of the gear
selected is displayed on the
instrument panel.
When you move the shif t lever f rom
‘‘D’’ to ‘‘M’’ position, the display
shows the selected gear. While in the Sequential SportShif t
Mode, you can also shif t up or down
using the (right side) or (lef t
side) paddle shif ters on the right and
lef t side of the steering wheel.
For up shif t, press the right side ( )
paddle shif ter.
For down shif t, press the lef t side
( ) paddle shif ter.
CONT INUED
Sequent ial Sport Shif t Mode
Automatic Transmission
Driving
267
SELECTED GEAR( ) DOWN SHIFT
( ) UP SHIFT PADDLE SHIFTER

à
à
à
à
The transmission may automatically
downshif t f rom the higher gear to
the lower gear under these
conditions:
Driving on level roads and downhill
Driving uphill
Downshif ting gives you more power
when climbing, and provides engine
braking when going down a steep hill.
Thegearindicatorwillflashthe
numberof thelowergearseveral
times, then return to the higher gear.
To shift from
43
54
To shift from 43
54
The transmission remains in the
selectedgear(5,4,3,2,or1).There
is no automatic downshif t when you
push the accelerator pedal to the
f loor.
Speed range
under 17 mph
(27 km/h)
under 38 mph
(60 km/h)
When you accelerate away f rom a
stop, the transmission starts in f irst
gear. You have to manually upshif t
between first and fifth gears. Make
sure you upshif t bef ore the engine
speed reaches the tachometer’s red
zone.
The transmission also shif ts
automatically as the vehicle comes to
a complete stop. It downshif ts to f irst
gear when the vehicle speed is under
8mph(13km/h).
If you try to manually downshif t at a
speed that would cause the engine to
exceed the redline in a lower gear,
the transmission does not downshif t.
If the vehicle speed slows to below
the redline of the selected lower gear
position while the indicator is
f lashing, the transmission
downshif ts, and the display shows
the selected lower gear.
Speed range
under 41 mph
(65 km/h)
under 47 mph
(75 km/h)
Automatic Transmission
268

à
à
à
àà
à
à
The table shows the speed ranges
f or upshif ting and downshif ting.
When you are in Sequential
SportShif t mode, and the vehicle is
stopped, push f orward on the shif t
lever to shif t to second gear. You
will see ‘‘2’’ in the display. Starting
out in second gear will help to
reduce wheelspin in deep snow or
on a slippery surf ace.
If you start out in second gear, the
transmission will be f ixed in that
gear.
To shift from
12
23
34
45 To shift from
32
43
54
The transmission will not
automatically downshif t to f irst gear
even when the vehicle speed is
under 8 mph (13 km/h). You need to
shif t down to f irst gear manually.
Speed range
over 0 mph
(0 km/h)
over 8 mph
(13 km/h)
over 17 mph
(27 km/h)
over 37 mph
(60 km/h) Speed range
under 56 mph
(90 km/h)
under 93 mph
(150 km/h)
under 130 mph
(209 km/h)
CONT INUED
St art ing in Second Gear
Automatic Transmission
Driving
269

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

CONT INUED
Dipstick..........
Automatic Transmission . 310
..................................
Engine Oil .253
........................
Directional Signals .104
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 274
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .307
Doors ............
Locking and Unlocking . 116
..................
Lockout Prevention . 116
.......................
Monitor Indicator .60
....................
Power Door Locks . 116
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 368
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 7
.......................................
Driver’s ID .86
...........................................
Driving .261
....................................
Economy .254
Driving Position Memory ........................................
System .124
..............................
Economy, Fuel .254
..................................
Emergencies .335
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 343
...........
Brake System Indicator . 350
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 337 .....
Charging System Indicator . 348
..................
Checking the Fuses . 354
.......
Hazard Warning Flashers . 109
............................
Jump Starting .343
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 348
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 349
Opening the Fuel Fill Door ................................
Manually .351
..................
Overheated Engine . 345
.......................................
Towing .360
.........................
Emergency Brake .151
....................
Emergency Flashers .109
......................
Emergency Towing .360
..........
Emergency Trunk Opener . 118
.......................
Emissions Controls .371
.............
Emissions Testing, State . 374
Engine ............
Check Starting System . 264
...............
Compartment Covers . 304
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 68
.........................
If It Won’t Start .341
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp .60, 349
.........................................
Oil lif e .291
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 60,348
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 305...............................
Overheating .345
............................
Specif ications .367
............................
Speed Limiter .270
.......................................
Starting .263
...................
Engine Speed Limiter . 270
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .248
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 371
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .54
Exhaust Gas Recirculation ........................................
System .372
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .19
...................................
Fan, Interior .164
.........................................
Features .161
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 249
Filters ...............................................
Oil .306
...........
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 109
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 337
.....................................
Floor Mats .322
Index
E F
INDEX
III

ÎÎ
Fluids..........
Automatic Transmission . 310
..........................................
Brake .311
..........................
Power Steering .312
..................
Windshield Washer . 310
.....................................
Fog Lights .106
........................
Four-way Flashers .109
............................
Front Airbags .11, 27
......................................
Front Seat .119
....................................
Adjusting .119
.......................................
Heaters .142
...................................
Airbags .11, 27
...........................
Air Ventilation .143
.................................................
Fuel .248
.........................
Check Fuel Cap .250
......................
Fill Door and Cap .249
...........................................
Gauge .68
.....................
Low Fuel Indicator .64
................
Octane Requirement . 248
Opening the Fuel Fill Door ................................
Manually .351
...............................
Oxygenated .248
........................
Tank, Ref ueling .249
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .354 ................
Gas Mileage Improving . 254
.........................................
Gasoline .248
...........................................
Gauge .68
.....................
Low Fuel Indicator .64
................
Octane Requirement . 248
........................
Tank, Ref ueling .249
................
Gas Station Procedures . 249
.............................................
Gauges .68
...
Engine Coolant Temperature . 68
...............................................
Fuel .68
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight .......................................
Rating) .284
............
Gearshif t Lever Positions . 265
......................................
Glove Box .153
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight .......................................
Rating) .284
.............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs . 314
........................
Hands Free Link .231
............
Hazard Warning Flashers . 109Headlights
Adaptive Front Lighting System ......................................
(AFS) .107
........................................
Aiming .314
..................
Automatic Lighting . 105
.........
Daytime Running Lights . 106
..................
High Beam Indicator . 64
....................
Lights On Indicator .62
..........
Low Beams, Turning on . 104
.......................
Reminder Chime .104
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs . 314
..........
High beams, Turning on . 104
...................................
Washer .102
............................
Head Restraints .120
...............................
Heated Mirror .123
...................................
Heater, Seat .142
.............
High Altitude, Starting at . 264
HomeLink Universal ................................
Transceiver .204
.......................
Hood, Opening the .251
................................................
Horn .101
...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle . 364
Index
G
H
I
IV
TM