towing Acura RL 2007 User Guide

Crosswinds and air turbulence
caused by passing trucks can disrupt
your steering and cause trailer to
sway. When being passed by a large
vehicle, keep a constant speed, and
steer straight ahead. Do not try to
make quick steering or braking
corrections.
Follow all normal precautions when
parking, including firmly setting the
parking brake and putting the
tran smission in Park. Also, place
wheel chocks at each of the trailer’s
tires.
When
driving down hills, reduce
your speed, and shift down to second
gear. Do not ‘‘ride’’ the brakes, and
remember, it will take longer to slow
downandstopwhentowingatrailer. If you must stop when facing uphill,
use the foot brake or parking brake.
Do not try to hold the vehicle in
placebypressingontheaccelerator,
as this can cause the automatic
transmission to overheat.
When
climbing hills, closely watch
your temperature gauge. If it nears
the red (Hot) mark, turn the air
conditioning off, reduce speed and, if
necessary, pull to the side of the
ro ad to let the engine cool.
If the automatic transmission shifts
frequently while going up a hill, shift
to D .
Always drive slowly and have
someone guide you when backing up.
Grip the of the steering
wheel; turn the wheel to the left to
get the trailer to move to the left,
andturnthewheelrighttomovethe
trailer to the right. Your vehicle is not designed to be
towed behind a motor home. If your
vehicle needs to be towed in an
emergency, see page .
455
3
bottom
Backing Up
Handling Crosswinds and Buf f et ing
Parking
Driving on Hills
Towing a Trailer, Towing Your Vehicle
Towing Your Vehicle
378
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µµ
Maintenance Minder
390
Maintenance Sub Items
Replace rear differential fluid Driving in mountainous areas at very low vehicle
speeds or trailer towing results in higher level of
mechanical (shear) stress to fluid This requires
differential fluid changes more frequently than
recommended by the Maintenance Minder. If you
regularly drive your vehicle under these conditions,
have the differential fluid changed at 7,500 miles
(12,000 km), then every 15,000 miles (24,000 km).
Maintenance Sub Items
Rotate tires
Replace air cleaner element If you drive in dusty conditions, replace every 15,000
miles (24,000 km).
Replace dust and pollen filter If you drive primarily in urban areas that have high
concentrations of soot in the air from industry and
from diesel-powered vehicles, replace every 15,000
miles (24,000 km).
Inspect drive belt
Replace transmission and transfer fluid Driving in mountainous areas at very low vehicle
speeds or trailer towing results in higher
transmission and transfer temperatures.
This requires transmission and transfer fluid changes
more frequently than recommended by the
Maintenance Minder. If you regularly drive your
vehicle under these conditions, have the transmission
and transfer fluid changed at 60,000 miles
(100,000 km), then every 30,000 miles (48,000 km).
Replace spark plugs
Replace timing belt and inspect water pump If you drive regularly in very high temperatures (over
110°F, 43°C), or in very low temperatures (under20°F, 29°C), replace every 60,000 mile (U.S.)/
100,000 km (Canada)
Inspect valve clearance
Replace engine coolant
Symbol
1
2
3
4
5 Symbol
6
Maintenance Minder
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This section covers the more
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you inf ormation about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also f ind instructions
on getting your vehicle towed................
Driving with a Flat Tire .428
......................
Compact Spare Tire .431
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .432
.............
If the Engine Won’t Start . 436
................................
Jump Starting .437
..............
If the Engine Overheats . 440
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 443
..........
Charging System Indicator . 443
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 444
...............
Brake System Indicator . 445
Opening the Fuel Fill Door ....................................
Manually .446
..............................................
Fuses .447
..............................
Fuse Locations .452
......................
Emergency Towing .455
..........
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck . 455
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
427
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If you see the above message on the
multi-inf ormation display, you have
reached the limit of run f lat driving,
and you should stop driving
immediately. Be aware that if you
continue to drive, the noise and
vibration level f rom the tire will
increase signif icantly, and the tire
may no longer be repairable.Stop driving immediately when
you see a ‘‘RUN FLAT LIMIT
STOP DRIVING’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display.
Continuous driving af ter this
message will make it impossible to
repair the tire.
Call a prof essional towing service
who can transport your vehicle on
f lat-bed equipment. Never tow your vehicle behind another vehicle with a
rope or chain. Flat-bed equipment is
the only way to transport your
vehicle.
Do not drive f aster than 50 mph
(80 km/h).
Drive caref ully. Your vehicle may
handle dif f erently f rom when the
tires are properly inf lated,
especially when cornering.
In its run f lat mode, a PAX system
tire is somewhat noisier than when
it is f ully inf lated, this is normal.
Although your vehicle is capable of
runflatdriving,youshouldalways
observe the f ollowing:
If you cannot f ind an Acura dealer or
an authorized Michelin PAX system
dealer where you are driving, call the
PAX help hotline at 1-877-PAXTIRE
(1-877-729-8473).
Driving With a Flat Tire
Important Saf ety Precautions
430
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Take the tool case out of the spare
tire. Open the trunk, and fold the trunk
floor forward.
Unscrew the wing bolt, and
remove the spacer cone. Then
take the spare tire out of its well.
If you have a f lat tire while driving,
stop in a saf e place to change it.
Drive slowly along the shoulder until
you get to an exit or an area to stop
that is far away from the traffic lanes.
Park the vehicle on f irm, level, and
non-slippery ground. Put the
transmission in Park. Apply the
parking brake.
If you are towing a trailer, unhitch
it.
Turn on the hazard warning lights,
and turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK (0) position. Have all
passengers get out of the vehicle
while you change the tire.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Models without Michelin PAX System
Changing a Flat Tire
432
SPARE TIRE
TRUNK FLOOR
TOOL CASE JACK
The vehicle can easily roll off
the jack, seriously injuring
anyone underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the vehicle
when it is supported only by the
jack.
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In this case, the starter motor’s
speed sounds normal, or even faster
than normal, when you turn the
ignition switch to the START (III)
position, but the engine does not run.
Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Refer to
on page . There
may be an electrical
problem, such as no power to the
fuel pump. Check all the fuses
(see page ).
Ifyoufindnothingwrong,youwill
need a qualified technician to find
the problem. See
on page .
Are you using a properly coded
built-in key or remote? An
improperly coded built-in key or
remote will cause the immobilizer
system indicator in the instrument
panel to blink rapidly (see page
).
Do you have f uel? Check the f uel
gauge; the low f uel indicator may
not be working. Although this seems like a simple
procedure, you should take several
precautions.
You cannot start your vehicle by
pushing or pulling it.
64 341
449
455
T he Starter Operates Normally
Starting the
Engine Emergency
Towing Jump Starting
If the Engine Won’t Start, Jump Starting
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
437
A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyone
nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.
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The pointer of the vehicle’s
temperature gauge should stay in
the midrange. If it climbs to the red
mark, you should determine the
reason (hot day, driving up a steep
hill, etc.).
If your vehicle overheats, you should
take immediate action. The only
indicationmaybethetemperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming from under the hood. If
you do not see steam or spray,
leave the engine running, and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading,
the engine should start to cool
down almost immediately. If it
does, wait until the temperature
gauge comes down to the midpoint,
then continue driving.
If the temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn off the engine.
Look for any obvious coolant leaks,
such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you f ind a leak, it
must be repaired bef ore you
continue driving (see on page ).
If you see steam and/or spray
coming f rom under the hood,
turn of f the engine. Wait until
you see no more signs of steam
or spray, then open the hood. Saf ely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in Park, and
set the parking brake. Turn of f all
accessories, and turn on the
hazard warning lights.
1.
2. 3.
4.
5.
455Emergency
Towing
If theEngineOverheats
440
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause
serious damage to the engine.
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If you do not find an obvious leak,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Add coolant
if the level is below the MIN mark.
If there was no coolant in the
reserve tank, you may need to add
coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the pointer
reaches the middle of the tempera-
ture gauge, or lower, before check-
ing the radiator. Using
gloves or a large heavy
cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the first stop. After the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap, and turn it until it comes
off. Put
the radiator cap back on
tightly. Run the engine, and check
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair (see on page ).
If the temperature stays normal,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the
MAX mark. Put the cap back on
tightly.
Start the engine, and set the
interior temperature to maximum
(climate control to FULL AUTO at
‘‘ ’’). Add coolant to the
radiator up to the base of the f iller
neck. If you do not have the
proper coolant mixture available,
you can add plain water.
Remember to have the cooling
system drained and ref illed with
the proper mixture as soon as you
can.
6.
7.
8.
9.10.
11. 455
Emergency
Towing
If theEngineOverheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
441
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.
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However, if the brake pedal does not
feel normal, you should take
immediate action. A problem in one
part of the system’s dual circuit
design will still give you braking at
two wheels. You will feel the brake
pedal go down much farther before
the vehicle begins to slow down, and
you will have to press harder on the
pedal. Slow
down by shifting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is safe. Because of the long
distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the vehicle. You
should have it to wed and repaired as
soon as possible (see
on page ).
If
the fluid level is low, take your
vehicle to a dealer, and have the
brake system inspected for leaks or
worn brake pads.
You will also see a ‘‘CHECK BRAKE
SYSTEM’’ message on the multi-
information display.
If
the brake system indicator comes
on while driving, the brake fluid level
is probably low. You will see a
‘‘BRAKE FLUID LOW’’ message on
the multi-information display. Press
lightly on the brake pedal to see if it
feels normal. If it does, check the
brake fluid level the next time you
stop at a service station (see page
). The brake system
indicator normally
comes on when
you turn the ignition switch to the
ON (II) position and as a reminder to
check the parking brake. If you do
not release the parking brake, the
indicator will stay on, and you will
see a ‘‘RELEASE PARKING
BRAKE’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display.
402 455
Emergency
Towing
Brake System Indicator
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
445
U.S. Canada
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To use the towing hook:Remove the cover f rom the f ront
bumper by pushing the right
corner edge of the cover with a
f inger until the cover comes out as
shown in the illustration.
The operator will load
your vehicle on the back of a truck.
Any other method of towing will
damage the drive system. When you
contact the towing agency, inf orm
them a f lat-bed is required. If your vehicle needs to be towed,
call a prof essional towing service or
organization. Never tow your vehicle
with just a rope or chain. It is very
dangerous. If your vehicle gets stuck in sand,
mud, or snow, call a towing service
to pull it out (see the previous
column).
For very short distances, such as
f reeing the vehicle, you can use the
detachable towing hook that mounts
on the anchor in the f ront bumper.
1.
Emergency Towing, If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
The only way you can saf ely tow
your vehicle is with f lat-bed
equipment. Emergency T owing If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
455
Push
COVER
Towing with only two tires on the
ground will damage parts of the
all-wheel-drive system. Your vehicle
should be transported on a f lat-bed
truck or trailer.
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