Acura RL 2009 Owner's Manual

µPull back
and hold the wiper control lever.
The washers spray until you
release the lever. The wipers run
at low speed, then complete one
more sweep af ter you release the
lever.
When you activate the windshield
washer with the headlights turned
on, the headlight washer will be
activated under certain conditions.
For more inf ormation, see sectioninthenextcolumn.
The headlight washers can be
operated at any time by pressing the
headlight washer button located next
to the steering wheel column. The
headlights must be turned on to use
this button. In addition, the headlight
washer operates without pressing
the button at the first time you turn
on the windshield washers af ter you
turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position. The headlight washers use the same
f luid reservoir as the windshield
washers.
Windshield Wipers and Washers
Windshield Washer Headlight Washers
Canadian models only
Headlight
Washers
138
HEADLIGHT WASHER SWITCH
2009 RL

The windshield wiper arms have two
parked positions: winter and summer.
In the winter position, the arms sit
slightly above the edge of the hood.
This reduces the possibility of
damage to the wiper arms or
windshield wiper motor by a build-up
of snow and ice.A heavy build-up of snow or ice on
the wiper arms will cause them to
automatically park in the winter
position.
Adjust the wiper arms to the winter
position by holding both arms as
shown in the illustration at the same
time. Pull on the arm, parallel to the
windshield, until it locks in the
higher position.To return to the summer position,
pushthesameareaof botharmsthe
other direction.
Windshield Wipers and Washers
Wiper A rm Positions
Inst rument s and Cont rols
139
WIPER ARMS
Winter position WIPER ARMS
Summer position
HOLDING
LOCATIONS HOLDING
LOCATIONS
2009 RL

µ
µ µ
Push down on the
lever to signal a lef t turn and up to
signal a right turn. To signal a lane
change, push lightly on the lever,
and hold it. The lever will return to
center when you release it or
complete a turn.
Turn signal
Of f
Parking and indicator lights
AUTO
Headlights on
High beams
Flashhighbeams
Fog lights of f
Fog lights on The rotating switch
on the lef t lever controls the lights.
Turning this switch to the ‘‘ ’’
position turns on the parking lights,
taillights, instrument panel lights,
side-marker lights, and rear license
plate lights.
Turning the switch to the ‘‘ ’’
position turns on the headlights. If
you leave the lights on with the
ignition switch released af ter turned
to the LOCK (0) position or when
the built-in key is removed f rom the
ignition switch, you will hear a
reminder chime when you open the
driver’s door. When the light switch is in the
‘‘ ’’ or ‘‘ ’’ position, the
lights on indicator comes on as a
reminder. This indicator stays on if
you leave the light switch on and
turn the ignition switch to the
ACCESSORY (I) or the LOCK (0)
position.
To switch f rom low
beams to high beams, push the lef t
lever f orward until you hear a click.
The blue high beam indicator will
come on (see page ). Pull it back
to return to low beams. To flash the
high beams, pull the lever back
lightly, then release it. The high
beamsstayonaslongasyouhold
the lever back.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. 65
Turn Signal
Headlights
High Beams
Turn Signals and Headlights
140
2009 RL

µThe automatic lighting f eature is
controlledbyasensorlocatedontop
of the dashboard. Do not cover this
sensor or spill liquids on it.
Even with the automatic lighting
f eature turned on, we recommend
thatyouturnonthelightsmanually
when driving at night or in a dense
f og, or when you enter dark areas
such as long tunnels or parking
f acilities.
To turn on automatic lighting, turn
the light switch to AUTO. The lights
will come on automatically when the
outside light level becomes low (at
dusk, f or example). The lights on
indicator comes on as a reminder.
The lights and indicator will turn of f
automatically when the system
senses high ambient light. To change the ‘‘AUTO LIGHT
SENSITIVITY’’ setting, see page
.
The automatic lighting
f eature turns on the headlights, all
other exterior lights, and the
instrument panel lights when it
senses low ambient light.
The lights will remain on when you
turn of f the ignition switch. They will
turn of f automatically when you open
and close the driver’s door. To turn
them on again, either turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position or turn the light switch to
the position. Do not leave the light switch in
AUTO if you will not be driving the
vehicle f or an extended period (a
weekormore).Youshouldalsoturn
of f the lights if you plan to leave the
engine idling or of f f or a long time.
120
AUTO
Turn Signals and Headlights
Inst rument s and Cont rols
141
LIGHT SENSOR
2009 RL

When the multi-information display
shows a ‘‘DRL OFF’’ message, the
daytime running lights are of f .
Follow the procedure in the lef t
column to turn them on.
With the headlight switch off, the
high beam headlights come on with
reduced brightness when you turn
the ignition switch to the ON (II)
position and release the parking
brake. They remain on until you turn
the ignition switch of f , even if you
set the parking brake.
The headlights revert to normal
operation when you turn them on
with the switch.
If you see a ‘‘CHECK DRL
SYSTEM’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display, there is a
problem with the daytime running
light system. Take your vehicle to a
dealer to have it checked.
Turn the f og lights on and of f by
turning the switch next to the
headlight switch.
You can use the f og lights only when
the headlights are on low beam.
With the light switch in the AUTO
position, you can also use the f og
lights when the headlights turn on
automatically. They will go of f when
the headlights turn of f .
Fog L ights Daytime Running L ights
Turn Signals and Headlights
142
2009 RL

This f eature turns of f the headlights,
all other exterior lights, and the
instrument panel lights within 15
seconds after you turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK (0) position and
close the driver’s door.
To change the ‘‘HEADLIGHT AUTO
OFF TIMER’’ setting, see page .
The automatic lighting of f f eature
activates if you leave the headlight
switch in the ‘‘ ’’ or ‘‘ ’’
position or if the lights are turned on
by setting the switch in the ‘‘AUTO’’
position, turn the ignition switch to
the LOCK (0) position, then open
and close the driver’s door.If you turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK (0) position with the
headlight switch on, but do not open
the door and get out, the lights turn
of f af ter 10 minutes (3 minutes, if
the switch is in the ‘‘AUTO’’
position).
If you unlock the door, but do not
open it within 15 seconds, the lights
go of f . With the driver’s door open,
you will hear a lights-on reminder
chime.
The lights turn on again when you
unlock or open the driver’s door.
118
Automatic Lighting Of f Feature
Turn Signals and Headlights
Inst rument s and Cont rols
143
2009 RL

If the AFS indicator comes on and
starts blinking while driving, pull to
the side of the road when it is saf e,
andturnoff theengine.If theAFS
indicator keeps blinking, or starts
blinking again while driving af ter
turning the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position, the AFS is not working
properly (see page ). Have the
AFS inspected by your dealer.
When the AFS indicator comes on,
you will also see a ‘‘CHECK
ADAPTIVE FRONT LIGHTING
SYSTEM’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display (see page ).
Without AFS, your vehicle still has
normal lighting ability to continue
driving.
The adaptive f ront lighting system
(AFS) helps to improve visibility
during nighttime driving. The AFS
controls the aiming direction and
lighting distribution of the low
beams according to the amount of
turn applied to the steering wheel
during cornering or turning. Press
the AFS OFF switch to turn the AFS
on and off when the ignition switch
is in the ON (II) position and the
headlights are turned on.
69
78
If equippedAFS Indicator
A daptive Front L ighting System (A FS)
144
2009 RL

This switch is at the right side of the
left vent. Press it to turn the AFS on
and off. When AFS is off, the AFS
indicator comes on as a reminder
whenyouturnontheheadlights.Here are some operating
characteristics of the AFS:
The system requires an
initialization period. It does not
begin to operate until you have
driven the vehicle a short distance.
At a stop, the right headlight turns
right when you turn the steering
wheel to the right. But the left
headlight does not turn lef t when
you turn the steering wheel to the
left.Thispreventstheleft
headlight f rom pointing at
oncoming traf f ic.
AFS is turned of f when the shif t
lever is in the R position. The AFS works with the automatic
headlight adjusting system to sense
changes in vehicle height due to
driving and loading conditions of
passengers and luggage, and adjusts
the vertical aim of the low beam
headlights automatically to
compensate f or load.
If the headlights do not seem to be
properly aimed, have the automatic
headlight adjusting system inspected
by your dealer.
When you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, the AFS is
turned on if it was on previously.
AFS Of f Switch Automatic Headlight Adjusting System
A daptive Front L ighting System (A FS)
Inst rument s and Cont rols
145
AFS OFF SWITCH
2009 RL

´
µ´ µ
Push the button between the center
vents to turn on the hazard warning
lights (f our-way f lashers). This
causes all f our outside turn signals
and both indicators in the instrument
panel to f lash. Use the hazard
warning lights if you need to park in
a dangerous area near heavy traffic,
or if your vehicle is disabled. Adjust the brightness of the
instrument panel by pressing the
or button. Press the button to
increase the brightness and the
button to decrease it. The brightness
can be set differently for when the
headlights are on, and when they are
off.
The level of brightness is shown on
the multi-information display while
you adjust it. It goes out 5 seconds
af ter you f inish adjusting.
Instrument Panel Brightness
Hazard Warning Button
Hazard Warning Button, Instrument Panel Brightness
146
ADJUSTMENT BUTTON
CANADA
U.S.
2009 RL

´The rear window def ogger clears f og,
frost,andthinicefromthewindow.
Push the def ogger button to turn it
onandoff.Pushingthisbuttonalso
turns the mirror heaters on and of f .
The indicator in the button comes on
to show the def ogger is on. If you do
not turn it of f , the def ogger will shut
itself of f af ter 5 to 40 minutes
(depending on the ambient
temperature). It also shuts of f when
you turn of f the ignition switch. You have to turn it on again when you
restart the vehicle.
Make sure the rear window is clear
and you have good visibility bef ore
starting to drive.
The def ogger and antenna wires on
the inside of the rear window can be
accidentally damaged. When
cleaning the glass, always wipe side
to side.
To reduce glare at night, the
instrument panel illumination dims
when you turn the light switch to
or . To cancel the glare
reduction f unction, set the
brightness to the highest level, then
press the button. You will hear a
beep when it is canceled. Rear Window Def ogger
Instrument Panel Brightness, Rear Window Def ogger
Inst rument s and Cont rols
147
REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER BUTTON
2009 RL