service indicator 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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This section gives you important
inf ormation about how to protect
yourself and your passengers. It
shows you how to use seat belts. It
explains how your airbags work. And
it tells you how to properly restrain
inf ants and children in your vehicle.
.........
Important Safety Precautions . 8
.......
Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features . 9
.........
Protecting Adults and Teens . 13
.....
1. Close and Lock the Doors . 13
...........
2. Adjust the Front Seats . 14
............
3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . 15
...
4. Adjust the Head Restraints . 16
5. Fasten and Position the Seat .....................................
Belts .17
6. Maintain a Proper Sitting ................................
Position .18
.........
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 19
.......
Additional Safety Precautions . 20Additional Inf ormation About
.......................
Your Seat Belts .21
..
Seat Belt System Components . 21
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt .21
Automatic Seat Belt ...............................
Tensioners .22
...............
Seat Belt Maintenance . 23
Additional Inf ormation About ...........................
Your Airbags .24
......
Airbag System Components . 24
How Your Front Airbags .........................................
Work .27
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 30
How Your Side Curtain ..........................
Airbags Work .32
..
How the SRS Indicator Works . 32
How the Side Airbag Of f ......................
Indicator Works .33
How the Passenger Airbag ...............
Of f Indicator Works . 33
.............................
Airbag Service .34
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 35
Protecting Children General ................................
Guidelines .36
All Children Must Be ...............................
Restrained .36 All Children Should Sit in a
.................................
Back Seat .37
The Passenger’s Front Airbag .........
Can Pose Serious Risks . 37
If You Must Drive with Several ...................................
Children .39
If a Child Requires Close ..................................
Attention .39
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 40
Protecting Inf ants and Small ...................................
Children .41
.......................
Protecting Inf ants .41
.........
Protecting Small Children . 42
.....................
Selecting a Child Seat .43
....................
Installing a Child Seat .44
...............................
With LATCH .45
..........................
With a Seat Belt .47
..............................
With a Tether .49
...........
Protecting Larger Children . 50
...............
Checking Seat Belt Fit . 50
..................
Using a Booster Seat . 51
When Can a Larger Child Sit in .........................................
Front .52
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 53
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 54
...................................
Saf ety Labels .55
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
7

Even if your
airbags do not inflate, your dealer
should inspect the driver’s seat
position sensor and the f ront
passenger’s weight sensors to
make sure they are operating
properly.
If no one is riding in the f ront seat,
the airbag will be automatically shut
of f . However, the indicator will not
come on.
Your airbag systems are virtually
maintenance f ree, and there are no
parts you can saf ely service.
However, you must have your
vehicle serviced if:
Any airbag
that has deployed must be
replaced along with the control
unit and other related parts. If a
f ront airbag inf lates, the seat belt
tensioners must also be replaced.
Do not try to remove or replace
anyairbagbyyourself.Thismust
be done by your dealer or a
knowledgeable body shop. Take your vehicle to an
authorized dealer as soon as
possible. If you ignore this
indication, your airbags may not
operate properly.
If the indicator comes on with no
passenger in the f ront, or with an
adult in the seat, there may be a
problem with the advanced airbag
system. Have the vehicle checked by
your dealer as soon as possible.
The Passenger Airbag Of f indicator
may also come on and of f repeatedly
if total weight on the seat is near the
airbag cutof f threshold.
If this happens, have the passenger
ride properly restrained in a back
seat. If the passenger must ride in
front, move the seat as far to the
rear as possible, have the passenger
sit upright and wear the seat belt
properly.
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
If your vehicle has a moderat e t o
severe impact .
An airbag ever inf lates. T he SRS indicat or alert s you t o a
problem.
Airbag Service
34

If this happens, pull to the side of the
road when it is saf e, check which tire
has lost the pressure on the multi-
inf ormation display, and determine
the cause. If it is because of a flat tire,
replace the flat tire with the compact
spare (see page ), and have the
f lat tire repaired as soon as possible.
If two or more tires are underinf lated,
call a prof essional towing service.
For more inf ormation, see page .
Pull to the side of the road when it is
saf e, shif t to Park, and let the engine
idle until the indicator goes out.
This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to ON (II).
If it comes on while driving, it
indicates that one or more of your
vehicle’s tires are extremely low on
pressure.
This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to ON (II). If this
indicator comes on at any other time,
there is a problem in the SH-AWD
system. You will also see a ‘‘CHECK
SH-AWD SYSTEM’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display (see page
). Take your vehicle to a dealer to
have it checked. For more
inf ormation, see page .
You will also see a ‘‘CHECK TIRE
PRESSURE’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display (see page ).
If it comes on while driving, it
indicates the dif f erential
temperature is too high.
You will also see a ‘‘SH-AWD DIFF
TEMP. HIGH’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display (see page
).
If the indicator blinks while driving,
pull to the side of the road when it is
saf e, shif t to Park, and let the engine
idle until the indicator goes out. 336
360
76
272
77
76 SH-A WD Indicator
Low Tire Pressure
Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
Inst rument s and Cont rols
65
Continuing to drive with the SH-AWD
indicator blinking may cause serious
damage to the system.

The indicator stays on while you
are driving.
The indicator comes on with the
ignition switch in the ON (II)
position.
The indicator comes on f or several
seconds when you turn the ignition
switch to ON (II). Have your vehicle
checked by your dealer if : If you lose or drop your remote, and
the beeper sounds, contact Acura
Client Services at (800) 382-2238
(U.S. models)
The multi-inf ormation display
shows ‘‘CHECK KEYLESS
ACCESS SYSTEM.’’
In this case, use the built-in key to
lock/unlock the doors and start the
engine.
K eyless A ccess System
Check K eyless A ccess Syst em
140
KEYLESS ACCESS SYSTEM
INDICATOR

U.S. models only
The OnStarsystem in your vehicle
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.
The Saf e and Sound Plan provides
these f eatures: Roadside Assistance
Emergency Services
Automatic Notif ication of Airbag
Deployment
Accident Assistance
Remote Door Locking/Unlocking
Stolen Vehicle Tracking
Misplaced Vehicle Assistance
Online Concierge Services The Directions and Connections
Plan provides these additional
f eatures:
Route Support
Ride Assist
Inf ormation and Convenience
Services
The OnStar buttons and indicator
are located on the ceiling near the
f ront ceiling light.
OnSt ar
OnStar Control Panel
Features
217
VOICE
ACTIVATED
KEY PAD
BUTTON
SYSTEM
STATUS
INDICATOR
EMERGENCY
BUTTON
OnStar SERVICES
BUTTON
CALL ANSWER/
CALL END
(WHITE PHONE)
BUTTON

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If you are ever in an
accident that causes the airbags to
deploy, the OnStar system
automatically places a call (provided
the OnStar system and your vehicle’s
electrical system are still intact). The
advisor will attempt to speak to you
to evaluate the situation, and contact
the nearest emergency services
provider.
The OnStar system uses the global
positioning system (GPS) to locate
your vehicle whenever you place a
call. This allows the advisor to
quickly contact the nearest services
without requiring you to provide
detailed directions.
Contact
the OnStar advisor if you need
assistance with a problem (f lat tire,
out of f uel, etc.) while traveling. The
advisor will contact an appropriate
agency to come and assist you.
Contact an
OnStar advisor if you have an
emergency situation. The advisor
will contact the nearest emergency
services provider (ambulance, f ire
department, etc.) and advise them of
your situation.
This indicator shows you the status
of the system.
The system is ready
for use.
Acallisin
progress.
There is a problem
with the system. Press the OnStar
button to contact an advisor. If the
call connects, the advisor will assist
you with verif ying the system’s
operation. If you are not able to
contact an advisor, take your vehicle
to an Acura dealer to have the
system diagnosed.
There is a problem
with the system while a call is in
progress. The
OnStar advisor can help you if you
are ever in a minor accident by
asking you f or inf ormation about the
accident. Complete, detailed
inf ormation will make it easier to
complete accident reports and
insurance claims.
OnSt ar
A utomatic Notif ication of A irbag
Deployment
Saf e and Sound Plan Features
Roadside Assistance
Emergency Services
System Status Indicator
Solid Green
Blinking Green
Solid Red
Blinking Red
Accident Assistance
220

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

Remove the f uel f ill cap slowly.
You may hear a hissing sound as
pressure inside the tank escapes.
Place the cap in the holder on the
fuel fill door.
Stop f illing the tank af ter the f uel
nozzle automatically clicks of f . Do
not try to ‘‘top off’’ the tank. Leave
some room f or the f uel to expand
with temperature changes.
even though the tank is not f ull,
there may be a problem with your
vehicle’s fuel vapor recovery
system. The system helps keep
f uel vapors f rom going into the
atmosphere. Consult your dealer.Screw the f uel f ill cap back on
until it clicks at least once. If you
do not properly tighten the cap,
you will see ‘‘CHECK FUEL CAP’’
on the multi-information display
(see right column on this page),
and the malf unction indicator lamp
mayalsocomeon(seepage ).
Push the f uel f ill door closed until
it latches.
If your f uel cap is loose or missing, a
‘‘CHECK FUEL CAP’’ message
appears on the multi-inf ormation
display af ter you turn the ignition
switch to ON (II), after you start the
engine or while you are driving. Turn
the ignition switch of f and conf irm
the f uel cap is installed. If it is,
loosen the cap, then retighten until it
clicks at least once.
3.
4.
5.
6.
349
If the f uel nozzle keeps clicking of f
Service Station Procedures
Check Fuel Cap Message
250

The CHECK FUEL CAP message
that is displayed after you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position or start the engine, should
go of f af ter tightening the f uel cap,
turning the ignition switch of f and on,
then driving over 12 mph (US) or 20
km/h (Canada) for at least 10
minutes. Due to dif f erent driving
conditions,itmaytakeafewdrive
trips to make the message go of f .
The CHECK FUEL CAP message
displayed while driving should go of f
af ter tightening the f uel cap, turning
the ignition switch of f and on, then
driving over 30 mph (US) or 48
km/h (Canada) for at least 45
seconds. Due to dif f erent driving
conditions,itmaytakeafewdrive
trips to make the message go of f .Park the vehicle, and set the
parking brake. Pull the hood
release lever located under the
lower lef t corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.
If the system still detects a loose or
missing f uel cap, the malf unction
indicator lamp (MIL) comes on. If a
loose or missing f uel cap was not the
cause of the CHECK FUEL CAP
message coming on, the MIL will
also come on. When the MIL comes
on, the message goes of f .
Turn the engine of f , and check or
retighten the f uel cap until it clicks at
least once. The MIL goes out af ter 3
days of normal driving once the cap
is tightened or replaced. If it does
not go out, have your dealer inspect
the vehicle. For more inf ormation,
see page .
1.
349
CONT INUED
Opening and Closing the Hood
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving
251
HOOD RELEASE LEVER