instrument panel Acura RL 2008 Owner's Manual

One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new vehicle is to
read this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls and
convenience items. Af terwards, keep this owner’s manual in your vehicle so
youcanrefertoitatanytime.
Several warranties protect your new vehicle. Read the warranty booklet
thoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rights
and responsibilities.As you read this manual, you will
f ind inf ormation that is preceded by
a symbol. This
inf ormation is intended to help you
avoid damage to your vehicle, other
property, or the environment.
Maintaining your vehicle according to the maintenance minder shown in the
instrument panel helps to keep your driving trouble-f ree while it preserves
your investment. When your vehicle needs maintenance, keep in mind that
your dealer’s staf f is specially trained in servicing the many systems unique
to your vehicle. Your dealer is dedicated to your satisf action and will be
pleased to answer any questions and concerns.
Congratulations on your selection of the 2008 Acura RL. We are certain you
will be pleased with your purchase of one of the f inest luxury vehicles in the
world.
Introduction
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A convenient ref erence to the
sections in this manual.
A quick ref erence to the main
controls in your vehicle.
Explains the purpose of each
instrument panel indicator and gauge,
and how to use the controls on the
dashboard and steering column.What gasoline to use, how to break-
in your new vehicle, and how to load
luggage and other cargo.
The proper way to start the engine,
shif t the transmission, and park; plus
what you need to know if you’re
planning to tow a trailer.
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities,
and technical information.
How to operate the climate control
system, the audio system, and other
convenience f eatures. The maintenance minder shows you
when you need to take your vehicle
to the dealer for maintenance service.
There is also a list of things to check
and instructions on how to check
them.
This section covers several problems
motorists sometimes experience,
and details how to handle them.
Important inf ormation about the
proper use and care of your vehicle’s
seat belts, an overview of the
supplemental restraint system, and
valuable inf ormation on how to
protect children with child restraints.
A summary of the warranties
covering your new vehicle, and how
to contact us for any reason. Refer to
your warranty manual f or detailed
inf ormation.
How to order manuals and other
technical literature.
A summary of the inf ormation you
need when you pull up to the f uel
pump.
Overview of Contents
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Instruments and Controls
FeaturesBef ore Driving
Driving
Maintenance
T echnical Inf ormation
Contents
T aking Care of the UnexpectedWarranty and Client Relations
(U.S. and Canada only)
Authorized Manuals
(U.S. only)
Index
Service Inf ormation Summary
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Your Vehicle at a Glance
4
POWER DOOR
LOCK MASTER
SWITCH
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
DRIVING POSITION
MEMORY SYSTEM
(P.11,26)PASSENGER’S FRONT AIRBAG
(P.160)
(P.152) (P.181) (P.198)
(P.207)
AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
INTERFACE DIAL
COMPASS SYSTEM
ACCESSORY
POWER SOCKETS
(P.192)
AUDIO SYSTEM
CLIMATE CONTROL
SYSTEM
1:
2: RL models MIRROR CONTROL
AUTO BUTTON
DRIVER’S FRONT
AIRBAG INSTRUMENT PANEL
INDICATORS
(P.62)
(P.11,26) CEILING
CONSOLE
TRUNK RELEASE
BUTTON
(P.153)
FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE
BUTTON HOOD RELEASE LEVER
(P.329) (P.331) (P.242)
(P.199,207,243)
POWER REAR
SUNSHADE BUTTON (P.194)
REAR HEAD RESTRAINT
TILT BUTTON
HOMELINK
BUTTONS (P.295) (P.184)
MOONROOF SWITCH
(P.157) (P.349)
(P.158)
2
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To use the horn, press the center pad of the steering wheel.
If equipped.
1:
2:
3:
4: Canadian models only
Ref er to the navigation system manual.
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Your Vehicle at a Glance
5
VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA)
SYSTEM OFF SWITCH
STEERING WHEEL AUDIO
CONTROLS
COLLISION MITIGATION
BRAKE SYSTEM (CMBS)
OFF SWITCH
ADAPTIVE FRONT LIGHTING
SYSTEM (AFS) OFF SWITCH HORN
VOICE CONTROL
BUTTONS
STEERING WHEEL
ADJUSTMENTS
HEADLIGHT WASHER
SWITCH
MIRROR CONTROLS
HEADLIGHTS/
TURN SIGNAL/
FOG LIGHTS
(P.140,142)
(P.138) (P.147) DISTANCE
BUTTONPASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF INDICATOR
(P.35)
REAR WINDOW
DEFOGGER BUTTON
(P.146)/
HEATED MIRROR
BUTTON
CRUISE CONTROL
BUTTONS
ADAPTIVE CRUISE
CONTROL (ACC)
BUTTONS
MULTI-INFORMATION
BUTTONS
SEAT HEATER
SWITCHES
SEAT HEATER AND
SEAT VENTILATION
BUTTONS
(P.159)
(P.71)(P.178)/
(P.179)
(P.144) INSTRUMENT
PANEL BRIGHTNESS
HAZARD WARNING
BUTTON
PADDLE SHIFTERS
(P.145)(P.137) (P.145) WINDSHIELD
WIPER/WASHER
(P.351)
(P.364)
(P.378)
(P.159) (P.239)(P.289,294)
(P.265) (P.281,285)
(P.277)/
(P.309)
BLUETOOTH
HANDSFREELINKBUTTONS
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4
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Your vehicle is equipped with seat
belts in all seating positions.
Seat belts are the single most
effectivesafetydeviceforadultsand
larger children. (Inf ants and smaller
children must be properly restrained
in child seats.)
Not wearing a seat belt properly
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
though your vehicle has airbags.
In addition, most states and all
Canadian provinces require you to
wear seat belts.When properly worn, seat belts:
Keep you connected to the vehicle
so you can take advantage of the
vehicle’s built-in saf ety f eatures.
Help protect you in almost every
type of crash, including f rontal,
side, and rear impacts and
rollovers. Help keep you f rom being thrown
against the inside of the vehicle
and against other occupants.
Keep you f rom being thrown out
of the vehicle.
Help keep you in a good position
should the airbags ever deploy. A
good position reduces the risk of
injury f rom an inf lating airbag and
allows you to get the best
advantage f rom the airbag.
Of course, seat belts cannot
completely protect you in every
crash.Butinmostcases,seatbelts
can reduce your risk of serious
injury.
Always wear your seat belt, and
make sure you wear it properly.
Your seat belt system also includes
an indicator on the instrument panel
and a beeper to remind you and your
passengers to f asten your seat belts.
Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features
Seat Belts
Why Wear Seat Belt s
What You Should Do:
10
Not wearing a seat belt properly
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
though your vehicle has airbags.
Be sure you and your
passengers always wear seat
belts and wear them properly.
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CONT INUED
Your seat belt system includes lap/
shoulder belts in all f ive seating
positions. The f ront seat belts are
also equipped with automatic seat
belt tensioners and, on models with
collision mitigation brake system
(CMBS), seat belt e-pretensioners.The seat belt system
includes an indicator on the
instrument panel and a beeper to
remind you and your passengers to
f asten your seat belts.
This system monitors the f ront seat
belts. If you turn the ignition switch
to the ON (II) position bef ore your
seat belt is f astened, the beeper will
sound and the indicator will f lash. If
your seat belt is not f astened bef ore
the beeper stops, the indicator will
stop f lashing but remain on.
If a f ront passenger does not f asten
their seat belt, the indicator will
come on about 6 seconds af ter the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
(II) position. You will also see a ‘‘FASTEN SEAT
BELT’’ or ‘‘FASTEN PASSENGER
SEAT BELT’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display (see page ).
When no one is sitting in the f ront
passenger’s seat, or a child or small
adult is riding there, the indicator
should not come on and the beeper
should not sound.
This system uses the same sensors
as the front airbags to monitor
whether the f ront seat belts are
latched or unlatched, and how much
weight is on the f ront passenger’s
seat (see pages and ). If either the driver or a f ront
passenger does not f asten their seat
belt while driving, the beeper will
sound and the indicator will f lash
again at regular intervals.
3132 79
Seat Belt System Components
Additional Inf ormation About Your Seat Belts
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
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The e-pretensioners do not activate
when the seat belts are not worn or
when the vehicle stability assist
(VSA) of f indicator on the
instrument panel is on.
For added saf ety, the f ront seat belts
are equipped with e-pretensioners
that work in combination with the
collision mitigation brake system
(CMBS) (see page ) and the
brake pedal assist f unction (see page ). If your vehicle gets too close to the
vehicle ahead of it in your lane, the
driver’s e-pretensioner slightly
retracts the seat belt to alert the
driver of the approaching vehicle. If
a collision with the vehicle in f ront of
you is likely, the e-pretensioners on
both front seats retract the seat belts
with enough f orce to properly
restrain you and your f ront
passenger. After they activate, the
e-pretensioners release the retracted
seat belts.
To get the f ull benef it of the
e-pretensioners, you and your f ront
passenger must sit normally in your
seats and wear your seat belts
properly (see page ).
In addition, the f ront passenger’s
e-pretensioner does not activate
when the passenger’s airbag is
automatically turned off because the
weight sensor detects a child in the
f ront passenger’s seat.
If the automatic seat belt tensioners
are activated by a collision, both
f ront seat belts and all related
components must be
replaced (see page ). If only the
e-pretensioners were activated, no
components need to be replaced.
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361
358
On models with Collision Mitigation Brake System
Seat Belt e-pretensioners
Additional Inf ormation About Your Seat Belts
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Automatic front seat belt
tensioners (see page ).
Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe front impact or
side impact.
Sensors that can detect whether a
child is in the passenger’s side
airbag path and signal the control
unit to turn the airbag of f (see
page ).
On models with CMBS, f ront seat
belt e-pretensioners (see page ).An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you to a possible
problem with your airbags,
sensors, seat belt tensioners (see
page ), or, on models with
CMBS, seat belt e-pretensioners
(see page ).
An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you that the
passenger’s side airbag has been
turned of f (see page ).
An indicator on the dashboard that
alerts you that the passenger’s
f ront airbag has been turned of f
(see page ).
Emergency backup power in case
your vehicle’s electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.
A driver’s seat position sensor that
monitors the distance of the seat
from the front airbag. If the seat is
too f ar f orward, the airbag will
inf late with less f orce (see page
).
A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records inf ormation about the
sensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, the seat belt
tensioners, and driver and f ront
passenger seat belt use when the
ignition switch is in the ON (II)
position.
Sensors that can detect whether
the driver’s seat belt and the f ront
passenger’s seat belt are latched
or unlatched (see page ). Weight sensors that monitor the
weight on the f ront passenger’s
seat. If the weight is about 65 lbs
(29 kg) or less (the weight of an
inf ant or small child), the
passenger’s f ront airbag will be
turned of f (see page ).
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35
35
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Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
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This section gives inf ormation about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your vehicle. All the essential
controls are within easy reach............................
Control Locations .60
............................
Instrument Panel .61
..........
Instrument Panel Indicators .62
.............................................
Gauges .70
...................
Temperature Gauge .70
..................................
Fuel Gauge .70
.............
Multi-Inf ormation Display .71
Controls Near the Steering
.........................................
Wheel .136
Windshield Wipers and .....................................
Washers .137
.......
Turn Signals and Headlights .140
.................................
Fog Lights .142
.........
Daytime Running Lights .142
Automatic Lighting Off
...................................
Feature .142
Adaptive Front Lighting System
..........................................
(AFS) .143
...............
Hazard Warning Button .145
......
Instrument Panel Brightness .145
...............
Rear Window Def ogger .146
......
Steering Wheel Adjustments .147
.............................
Keys and Locks .149
......................
Immobilizer System .150
..............................
Ignition Switch .151
....................................
Door Locks .152 ..............................................
Trunk .153
......
Emergency Trunk Opener .154
................
Childproof Door Locks .154
...............................................
Seats .155
...........................................
Mirrors .159
Driving Position Memory
........................................
System .160
................
Keyless Access System .163
..................................
Seat Heaters .178
Seat Heaters and Seat
.................................
Ventilation .179
............................
Power Windows .181
.......................................
Moonroof .184
...............................
Parking Brake .187
.........
Interior Convenience Items .188
..................................
Glove Box .189
.....................
Beverage Holders .190
.............
Console Compartment .191
..................................
Sun Visors .192
........
Accessory Power Sockets .192
...........................
Rear Ashtrays .193
..................
Front Door Pockets .193
..............
Power Rear Sunshade .194
..............
Integrated Sunshades .195
...............................
Interior Lights .196
Instruments and Controls
Inst rument s and Cont rols
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Control L ocations
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AUDIO SYSTEM
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES INSTRUMENT PANEL
INDICATORS
GAUGES
CLIMATE CONTROL
SYSTEM
TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON HOOD RELEASE LEVER
DRIVING POSITION
MEMORY SYSTEM
FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE
BUTTON
POWER DOOR LOCK
MASTER SWITCH
MOONROOF SWITCH MIRROR CONTROL
AUTO BUTTON
AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
ACCESSORY POWER
SOCKETS
(P.62)
(P.70)
INTERFACE DIAL
1: 2: CEILING CONSOLE
(P.160)
(P.152) (P.181)
(P.194)(P.153) (P.192)
COMPASS SYSTEM
(P.199) (P.207) (P.198)
RL models (P.184)
(P.157) (P.329) (P.331) (P.349)
(P.242)
(P.158)
HOMELINK
BUTTONS
POWER REAR
SUNSHADE BUTTON
REAR HEAD RESTRAINT
TILT BUTTON (P.295)
1
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