trailer 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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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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If you f requently tow a trailer. In very high temperatures
(over 110°F, 43°C).
In very low temperatures
(under 20°F, 29°C).
The timing belt should be replaced
at the intervals shown on the
maintenance minder. Replace the
belt at 60,000 miles (100,000 km) if
you regularly drive your vehicle in
one or more of these conditions:
Pour the f luid slowly and caref ully so
you do not spill any. Clean up any
spill immediately; it could damage
components in the engine
compartment.
Always use Honda Power Steering
Fluid. You may use another power
steering f luid as an emergency
replacement, but have the power
steering system f lushed and ref illed
with Honda PSF as soon as possible.
A low power steering f luid level can
indicate a leak in the system. Check
the f luid level f requently, and have
the system inspected as soon as
possible.
Power Steering Fluid, Timing Belt
Timing Belt
Maint enance
403
Turning the steering wheel to f ull lef t
or right lock and holding it there can
damage the power steering pump.
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The low beam headlight bulbs are a
type of high voltage discharge tube.
High voltage can remain in the
ci rcuit even with the light switch off
and the key removed. Because of
this, you should not attempt to
examine or change a low beam
headlight bulb yourself. If a low
beam headlight bulb fails, take the
vehicle to your dealer to have it
replaced. Your
vehicle has halogen high beam
headlight bulbs which are also used
for the daytime running light.
Handle it by its base and protect the
glass from contact with your skin or
hard objects. If you touch the glass,
clean it with denatured alcohol and a
clean cloth.
Your
vehicle is equipped with an
automatic headlight adjusting
system that adjusts the vertical angle
of the headlights automatically.
Refer to page for more
inf ormation.
Theheadlightswereproperlyaimed
when your vehicle was new. If you
regularly carry heavy items in the
trunk or pull a trailer (if applicable),
readjustment may be required.
Adjustmentsshouldbedonebyyour
dealer or other qualif ied technician. 144
Lights
Headlight A iming
Replacing a Headlight/Daytime
Running L ight Bulb
404
Halogen bulbs get very hot when lit. Oil,
perspiration, or a scratch on the glass
can cause the bulb to overheat and
shatter.
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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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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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CONT INUED
....................
Temperature, Outside .73
..............
Tether Anchorage Points .51
Three Way Catalytic
.................................
Converters .470
Tilt/Telescopic Steering .........................................
Wheel .147
....................................
Timing Belt .403
....................................
Tire Chains .420
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat .432
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
..................................
(TPMS) .368
Monitoring Tire Pressure ..................................
Reading .415
...........
TPMS System Warning .365
...............................................
Tires .415
..............................
Air Pressure .417
........................................
Chains .420
.........................
Checking Wear .417
..........................
Compact Spare .431
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading .462
......................................
Inf lation .415
..................................
Inspection .417
.............................
Labeling . 464, 465
Low Tire Pressure ...........................
Indicator . 67, 365
..............
Michelin PAX System . 422......................
Pressure Monitor .367
........
Pressure Monitor System . 365
...................................
Replacing .419
......................................
Rotating .418
...........................................
Snow .420
............................
Specif ications .461
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 432
Torque Distribution Monitor .................................
(SH-AWD) .350
Towing .....................................
A Trailer .373
....
Equipment and Accessories . 374
.............................
Weight Limit .373
TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring ..................................
System) .365
Required Federal ............................
Explanation .466
.....................
Warning Message .369
.............................
Trailer Loading .373
......................
Trailer Towing Tips .377
Transmission Checking Fluid Level, ..............................
Automatic .400
...........................
Fluid Selection .401
..............
Identif ication Number . 458
.............
Shif ting the Automatic . 343.............................
Treadwear . 418, 431
.......................................
Trip Meter .72
..............................................
Trunk .153
..................
Emergency Opener . 154
...............................
Opening the .153
.......
Open Monitor Indicator . 13, 79
..................................
Turn Signals .140
Unexpected, Taking Care ..........................................
of the .427
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 462
........................
Unleaded Gasoline .326
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 397
.................
Vehicle Capacity Load . 336
......................
Vehicle Dimensions .460
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number . 458
Index
INDEX
V U
IX
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