Acura RL 2008 Owner's Manual

The low beam headlight bulbs are a
type of high voltage discharge tube.
High voltage can remain in the
circuit even with the light switch of f
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
f or 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
408
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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Remove the electrical connector
f rom the bulb by pushing on the
tab and pulling the connector
down.
Remove the bulb by turning it one-
quarter turn counterclockwise.
Remove the left or right side
engine compartment cover f rom
thesideyouareworkingonby
caref ully pulling the cover out (see
page ).
If youarereplacingthebulbon
the driver’s side, remove the
battery cover (see page ), then
remove the battery hold-down by
removing the two nuts with a 10
mm wrench. Then caref ully slide
the battery toward the engine to
access the bulb.2.
3.
1.
398
428
Lights
Maint enance
409
NUTSBULB
BATTERY HOLD-DOWN CONNECTOR
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Insert the new bulb into the hole,
and turn it one-quarter turn
clockwise to lock it in place.
Turn on the headlights to test the
new bulb.
(Driver’s side)
Reinstall the engine compartment
side cover.
Push the electrical connector back
onto the bulb. Make sure it is on
all the way.Remove the socket from the
headlight assembly by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise.
Push the bulb in slightly, and turn
it counterclockwise.
Reinstall the battery in the reverse
order of removal, and reinstall the
cover on the battery. Remove the left or right side
engine compartment cover f rom
thesideyouareworkingonby
caref ully pulling the cover out (see
page ).
If you are replacing a driver’s side
bulb, slide the battery toward the
engine to get more clearance (see
page ).
2.
1.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
3.
398
428
Lights
Replacing a Front T urn Signal/
FrontParkingLightBulb
410
SOCKET
BULB
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If you are replacing a driver’s side
bulb, slide the battery toward the
engine to get more clearance (see
page ).
Use a f lat-tipped screwdriver to
remove the holding clip f rom the
windshield washer reservoir.
(Passenger’s side)
Remove the left or right side
engine compartment cover (see
page ).
Pull the bulb straight out of its
socket. Install the new bulb into the
socket.
Insert the socket back into the
headlight assembly. Turn it
clockwise to lock it in place.
Turn on the lights to make sure
the new bulb is working.
(Driver’s side)
Reinstall the battery and the
battery cover.
Reinstall the engine compartment
side cover.
1.
2.
5.
6.
7.
8.
4.
398
428
On model without adaptive f ront lighting system
Lights
Replacing a Front Position/Side
Marker L ight Bulb
Maint enance
411
SOCKET
BULB
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Your vehicle uses halogen light
bulbs. When replacing a bulb, handle
it by its plastic case, 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.
Install the new bulb into the
socket.
Insert the socket back into the
headlight assembly. Turn it
clockwise to lock it in place.
Turn on the lights to make sure
the new bulb is working.
(Driver’s side)
Reinstall the battery and the
battery cover.
(Passenger’s side)
Reinstall the windshield washer
reservoir.
Reinstall the engine compartment
side cover.
Remove the socket from the
headlight assembly by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise.
Pull the bulb straight out of its
socket. 5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
3.
4.
Lights
ReplacingaFogLightBulb
412
SOCKET
HOLDING CLIP
BULB
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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Insert the new bulb into the hole,
and turn it one-quarter turn
clockwise to lock it in place.
Push the electrical connector back
onto the bulb. Make sure it is on
all the way.
Turn on the f og lights to test the
new bulb.
Reinstall the two undercover bolts
onthesideundercoverand
tighten them securely. Put the
holding clip back on the side
under cover and push on the
center until it locks (the center is
flushwiththehead).
Remove the electrical connector
f rom the bulb by pushing on the
tab and pulling the connector
down.
Remove the bulb by turning it one-
quarter turn counterclockwise.
Caref ully push up the side under
cover into the bumper.
Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to
remove the two undercover bolts,
and remove the holding clip with a
f lat-tipped screwdriver. 3.
4. 5.
6.
8.
7.
1.
2.
Lights
Maint enance
413
CLIP CONNECTORBULB
BOLTS
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Determine which of the two bulbs
is burned out: turn signal or back-
up light.
Remove the socket by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise.
Remove the burned out bulb by
pulling it straight out of its socket.
Open the trunk lid, and remove
the lef t or right maintenance lid.
Remove the mounting nut with an
8mmwrench.
Carefully pry in the top or bottom
edge of the trim with a small f lat-
tipped screwdriver, and pull the
trim straight back.
Remove the two mounting bolts
with an 8 mm wrench.
Pull the taillight assembly straight
back out of the body.
2.
1. 3.
4.
5.6.
7.
8.
Lights
Replacing Rear Bulbs
414
MOUNTING NUT
MAINTENANCE LID BOLTS
BULBS
TAIL LIGHT TRIM SOCKETS
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Install the new bulb in the socket
by pushing it straight in the socket
until it bottoms.
Reinstall the socket into the light
assembly. Turn it clockwise to
lock it in place.
Testthelightstomakesurethe
new bulb is working.
Tighten the mounting nut securely,
and reinstall the maintenance lid.
When reinstalling the taillight
assembly, align and pop the snap
f asteners in place. Tighten the two
mounting bolts and reinstall the
trim in place.If your seat belts get dirty, use a sof t
brush with a mixture of mild soap
and warm water to clean them. Do
not use bleach, dye, or cleaning
solvents. Let the belts air-dry bef ore
you use the vehicle.
Dirt build-up in the loops of the seat
belt anchors can cause the belts to
retract slowly. Wipe the insides of
the loops with a clean cloth
dampened in mild soap and warm
water or isopropyl alcohol.
This f ilter removes the dust and
pollenthatisbroughtinfromthe
outside through the climate control
system.
Have your dealer replace the filter
when this service is indicated by a
maintenance message on the multi-
inf ormation display. It should be
replaced every 15,000 miles (24,000
km) if you drive primarily in urban
areas that have high concentrations
of soot in the air, or if the f low f rom
theclimatecontrolsystembecomes
less than usual.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13. Cleaning the Seat Belts
Dust and Pollen Filter
Lights, Dust and Pollen Filter, Cleaning the Seat Belts
Maint enance
415
LOOP
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The floor mats that came with your
vehicle hook over the f loor mat
anchors. This keeps the f loor mats
f rom sliding f orward, possibly
interf ering with the pedals, or
backwards, making the f ront
passenger’s weight sensors
inef f ective.
If you remove a f loor mat, make sure
tore-anchoritwhenyouputitback
in your vehicle.If you use a non-Acura f loor mat,
make sure it f its properly and that it
canbeusedwiththefloormat
anchors. Do not put additional f loor
mats on top of the anchored mats.
Make sure the rear f loor mats are
properly hooked to the f loor mat
anchors. Your vehicle is equipped
with front passenger’s seat weight
sensors. If the rear passenger’s f loor
mat is on the seat rail of the front
passenger’s seat, the sensors will
detect the decreased weight on the
seat, and they may not work properly.
Floor Mat s
416
HOOK
HOOK HOOK
Front
Front Front
DRIVER’S SIDE FLOOR MAT FRONT PASSENGER’S
SIDE FLOOR MATREAR PASSENGER’S FLOOR MAT
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Push the end of the cover on the
blade assembly until the other end
is pivoted out, and remove the
cover.
Disconnect the blade assembly
f rom the wiper arm by removing
the two screws from the arm.
Adjust the windshield wiper arms
to the winter position by holding
bothwiperarmsasshowninthe
illustration at the same time (see
page ). Raise the wiper arms
of f the windshield.
Check the condition of the wiper
blades at least every 6 months.
Replace them if you f ind signs of
cracking in the rubber, areas that are
getting hard, or if they leave streaks
and unwiped areas when used.
2.
1.
3.
139
CONT INUED
Wiper Blades
Maint enance
417
COVER
SCREWS
WIPER ARMS
HOLDING LOCATIONS
BLADE
Do not open the hood when the wiper
arms are raised, or you will damage
the hood and the wiper arms.
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