flat tire Acura RL 2007 Owner's Manual

Pull to the side of the road when it is
safe, shift to Park, and let the engine
idle until the indicator goes out.
This indicator normally comes on for
a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. 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-information
display(seepage ).Takeyour
vehicle to a dealer to have it checked.
For more information, see page .
If it comes on while driving, it
indicates the differential
temperature is too high.
You will also see a ‘‘SH-AWD DIFF
TEMP. HIGH’’ message on the
multi-info rmation display (see page
).
If
the indicator blinks while driving,
pull to the side of the road when it is
safe, shift to Park, and let the engine
idle until the indicator goes out. This
indicator normally comes on for
a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position.
You will also see a ‘‘CHECK TIRE
PRESSURE’’ message on the multi-
information display (see page ).
If
it comes on while driving, it
indicates that one or more of your
vehicl e’s tires are extremely low on
pressure. Check
the tire pressure monitor on
the multi -information display and
determine the cause (see page ).
If this happens, pull to the side of the
road when it is safe, check which tire
has lost pressure on the multi-
info rmation display, and determine
the cause. If it is because of a flat tire,
have the flat tire repaired as soon as
possible. If two or more tires are
underinflated, call a professional
towing service. For more
info rmation, see page .
Your vehicle has Michelin PAX tires.
Repair or replacement of PAX tires
must be done by an Acura dealer or
an authorized Michelin PAX system
dealer. For more information, see
page .
78
78 79
350
455
422 367
If equipped
SH-A WD Indicator
Low Tire Pressure
Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
Inst rument s and Cont rols
67
Continuing to drive with the SH-AWD
indicator blinking may cause serious
damage to the system.
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This monitor shows how much
to rque is being delivered to each
wheel. For more information, see
page . Whenthetirepressuremonitoris
shown
on the multi-info rmation
display, press the SEL/RESET
button. The display changes as
shown.
You can see the pressure of each tire
in this monitor. If one or more tires
are low, inflate them to the correct
pressure. For more information, see
page . You can receive or make phone calls
f rom your cell phone through your
vehicle’s HandsFreeLink (HFL)
system without touching your cell
phone.
365
350
Multi-Inf ormation Display
SH-AWD T orque Distribution
Monitor
Tire Pressure Monitor
HandsFreeLink
76
U.S.
Canada
TM
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Your vehicle is equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
that turns on every time you start the
engine and monitors the pressure in
your tires while driving.
Each tire has its own pressure
sensor. If the air pressure of a tire
becomes significantly low, the
sensor in that tire immediately sends
a signal that causes the low tire
pressure indicator in the
instrumental panel and the
appropriate tire position indicator on
thetirepressuremonitoronthe
multi-info rmation display (see page
)tocomeon. For
example, if you check and fill
your tires in a warm area, then drive
in extremely cold weather, the tire
pressure will be lower than
measured and could be underinflated
and cause the low tire pressure
indicator to come on. Or, if you
check and adjust your tire pressure
in cooler conditions, and drive into
extremely hot conditions, the tire
maybecomeoverinflated.However,
the low tire pressure indicator will
not come on if the tires are
overinflated.
When
the low tire pressure indicator
is on, one or more of your tires is
signifi cantly underinflated. The
multi-information display also shows
a ‘‘CHECK TIRE PRESSURE’’
message (see page ). You should
stop and check your tires as soon as
possible, and inflate them to the
proper pressu re as indicated on the
vehicl e’s tire information placard.
Driving on a significantly under-
inflated tire causes the tire to
ov erheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-infl ation also reduces fuel
efficiency and tire tread life, and may
affect the vehicle’s handling and
stopping ability.
Becausetirepressure variesby
temperature and other conditions,
the low tire pressure indicator may
come on unexpectedly. Refer to page for tire inflation
guidelines.
367 367
415
CONT INUED
Low Tire Pressure
Indicator
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Driving
365
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Although your tire pressure is
monitored, you must manually check
thetirepressuresmonthly. If
you have a flat tire, the low tire
pressu re and tire monitor indicators
will come on. Replace the indicated
flat tire with the compact spare tire
(see page ).
Each
tire, including the spare, should
be checked monthly when the
vehicle is cold, and set to the
recommended inflation pressure as
sp ecified on the vehicle placard and
intheowner’smanual(seepage ). After you replace the flat tire with
the spare, the low tire pressure
indicator stays on. This is normal;
the system is not monitoring the
spare tire pressure. Manually check
the spare tire pressure to be sure it
is correct.
Never use a puncture-repairing agent
in a f lat tire. If used, you will have to
replace the tire pressure sensor.
Havetheflattirerepairedbyyour
dealer as soon as possible. Each wheel is equipped with a tire
pressure sensor mounted inside the
tire behind the valve stem. You must
use TPMS specif ic wheels. It is
recommended that you always have
your tires serviced by your dealer or
a qualif ied technician.
If the tire is f lat, or if the tire
pressure is too low to continue
driving, replace the tire with the
compact spare tire. If you think you can saf ely drive a
short distance to a service station,
proceed slowly to the station, then
inflate the tire to the recommended
pressure. 415
432
Changing a T ire with T PMS
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
366
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Many states and Canadian provinces
require special outside mirrors when
towing a trailer. Even if they don’t,
you should install special mirrors if
you cannot clearly see behind you, or
if the trailer creates a blind spot.
Askyourtrailersalesorrental
agency if any other items are
recommended or required f or your
towing situation.When preparing to tow, and bef ore
driving away, be sure to check the
f ollowing:
The vehicle has been properly
serviced, and the tires, brakes,
suspension, cooling system, and
lights are in good operating
condition.
All items in or on the trailer are
properly secured and cannot shif t
while you drive. Thehitch,safetychains,andany
other attachments are secure. All weights and loads are within
limits. The trailer has been properly
serviced and is in good condition,
and the lights and brakes on the
trailer are working properly. Your vehicle tires and spare are
properly inf lated, and the trailer
tires and spare are inflated as
recommended by the trailer
maker.
Pre-T ow Checklist
Towing a Trailer
A ddit ional T owing Equipment
376
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CONTINUED
Keeping the tires properly inflated
provides the best combination of
handling, tread life, and riding
comfort.
Underinflated tires wear unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel
economy, and are more likely to
fail from being overheated.
Overinflated tires can make your
vehicleridemoreharshly,are
more prone to damage from road
ha zards, and wear unevenly.
Thetirepressuremonitoringsystem
(TPMS)will warnyouwhenatire
pressu re is low. See page for
inf ormation on the TPMS.
The f ollowing pages give more
detailed inf ormation on how to take
care of your tires and what to do
when they need to be replaced. To saf ely operate your vehicle, your
tires must be the proper type and
size, in good condition with adequate
tread, and correctly inf lated.
Clean the wheels as you would the
rest of the exterior. Wash them with
thesamesolution,andrinsethem
thoroughly.
Aluminum alloy wheels have a
protective clear-coat that keeps the
aluminum f rom corroding and
tarnishing. Cleaning the wheels with
harsh chemicals (including some
commercial wheel cleaners) or a stif f
brush can damage the clear-coat. To
clean the wheels, use a mild
detergent and a sof t brush or sponge.
365
Inf lation Guidelines
Tires
Wheels
Wheels, Tires
Maint enance
415
Using tires that are excessively
worn or improperly inflated can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner’s manual regarding tire
inflation and maintenance.
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If you check the pressure when the
tires are hot [driven for several miles
(kilometers)], you will see readings 4
to6psi(30to40kPa,0.3to
0.4 kgf/cm ) higher than the cold
reading. This is normal; do not
release air to match the cold
pressure. The tires will be
underinflated.
Youshouldgetyourowntire
pressure gauge and use it whenever
you check your tire pressures. This
will make it easier for you to tell if a
pressu re loss is due to a tire problem
and not due to a variation between
gauges. While
tubeless tires have some
ability to self-seal if they are
punctured, you should look closely
for punctures if a tire starts losing
pressure.
Even
though your vehicle is
equipped with TPMS, we
recommend that you visually check
your tires every day. If you think a
tire might be low, check it
immediately with a tire gauge.
Use a gauge to measure the air
pressure in each tire at least once a
month. Even tires that are in good
condition may lose one to two psi (10
to 20 kPa, 0.1 to 0.2 kgf/cm ) per
month. Remember to check the
sparetireatthesametime.
Check the pressure in the tires when
they are cold. This means the vehicle
has been parked f or at least three
hours, or driven less than 1 mile (1.6
km).
Add or release air, if needed, to
match the recommended cold tire
pressures on page . 417
Tires
416
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´
Tires marked ‘‘M S’’ or ‘‘All
Season’’ on the sidewall have an all-
weather tread design suitable for
most winter driving conditions.
For the best performance in snowy
or icy conditions, you should install
snow tires or tire chains. They may
be required by local laws under
certain conditions. Mount
tire chains on your tires when
required by driving conditions or
local laws. Install them only on the
front tires.
If
you mount snow tires on your
vehicle, make sure they are radial
tires of the same size and load range
as the original tires. Mount snow
tires on all four wheels. The traction
provided by snow tires on dry roads
maybelowerthanyouroriginaltires.
Check with the tire dealer for
maximum speed recommendations. Because
your vehicle has limited tire
cl earance, Acura strongly
recommends using the chain listed
below, made by Security Chain
Company (SCC).
Tire chains cannot be used with a
flat front tire. If a front tire goes flat
when a tire chain is installed on it,
remove the chain, and f ollow the
precautions described under
Michelin PAX System (see page ).
Cable-type: SCC Radial Chain
CH2612T
422
Winter Driving
T ire Chains
Snow T ires
Tires
420
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There are no snow tires compatible
with the PAX system, and not all tire
ch ains are suitable for use on the
PAX system tires. To prevent tire
chain damage to the PAX system
tires or wheels, ensure that no part
of the chain contacts the PAX
system.
If you must continue driving with a
flat tire, follow all the pro cedures
and precautions described on page
.
Never
use a tire repair agent in a
PAX system tire, and never repair
a PAX system tire by yourself.
Repair or replacement must be
done by an Acura dealer or an
authorized Michelin PAX system
dealer.
Your
vehicle is equipped with the
Michelin PAX system which,
together with the tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS), enables
you to continue driving even if one or
more of your tires loses its pressure.
The tires and wheels on your vehicle
are speci ally designed for the PAX
system, and the PAX system is
specifically designed and fine-tuned
foryourvehicle.
Because of these reasons, use only
the wheels and tires designated in
this owner’s manual. Never mix PAX
system wheels or tires with
conventional wheels or tires. Do
not replace the PAX system tires
and wheels with conventional tires
andwheels.Doingsowoulddisable
the PAX system and the tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS),
and may void your new vehicle
warranty. If you mount snow chains on you
tires, use the chains recommended
by Acura (see page ). 420
428
If equipped
MichelinPAX SystemImport ant Precaut ions
Tires
422
TM
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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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