brake Acura RL 2009 Owner's Guide

The set speed can be decreased
using the SET/DECEL button or the
brake pedal.
To decrease the set speed with the
SET/DECEL button, do this:
Press and hold the SET/DECEL
button. Release the button when you
reach the speed you want.
To slow down in small amounts, tap
the SET/DECEL button repeatedly.Each time you do this, your vehicle
slows down about 1 mph (1 km/h).
When the system detects a vehicle
ahead of you, a beeper sounds once
and a solid-line vehicle icon appears
on the multi-information display.
The set cruising speed will be shown
on the multi-information display.
On a steep downhill, the vehicle
speed may exceed the set cruising
speed.
To decrease the set speed with the
brake pedal, do this:
Tap the brake pedal. When the
vehicle slows down to the speed you
want, press the SET/DECEL button.
The set speed will be shown on the
multi-inf ormation display. If you use
the brake pedal to decrease speed,
andthenpresstheRES/ACCEL
button, your vehicle will return to the
previously set speed.
CONT INUED
Decreasing the Set Speed Detecting a Vehicle A head of You
A daptive Cruise Control (A CC)
Features
327
SET/DECEL BUTTON
U.S.
CANADA
2009 RL

Press the ACC button. The ACC
indicator in the instrument panel
goes off.
Tap the brake pedal.
Push the CANCEL button on the
steering wheel.If you cancel ACC by pressing the
ACC button, the previously set
cruising speed is erased f rom
memory.
The distance you select is also
shown on the multi-inf ormation
display.
ACC is canceled whenever you do
any of these actions:When you push the CANCEL button
or tap the brake pedal to cancel ACC,
the set cruising speed stays in
memory. When you turn on ACC
again, the speed is shown on the
multi-inf ormation display. To return
to that speed, accelerate to over 25
mph (40 km/h), then press the RES/
ACCEL button.
Canceling the A CC
A daptive Cruise Control (A CC)
Features
329
LONG
RANGE
MIDDLE
RANGE
SHORT
RANGE CANCEL BUTTON
U.S.
CANADA
U.S. CANADA
U.S.
CANADA
2009 RL

Message Message DescriptionDescription
Apply the brakes immediately.
Your vehicle is too close to the vehicle
ahead of it.
You will hear a continuous beep.
ACC needs to be checked.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer.
ACC has automatically cancelled
because its radar sensor in the f ront
grill is dirty.
You will hear a beep about 1 second.
ACC has automatically cancelled
because of bad weather or other
conditions.
You will hear a beep about 1 second.
A daptive Cruise Control (A CC)
332
2009 RL

Help assure your vehicle’s f uture
reliability and perf ormance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period:Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration.
Avoidhardbrakingforthefirst
200 miles (300 km).
Do not change the oil until the
scheduled maintenance time.
You should also f ollow these
recommendations with an
overhauled or exchanged engine, or
when the brakes are replaced. Do not tow a trailer. We recommend quality gasolines
containing detergent additives that
help prevent f uel system and engine
deposits.
In addition, in order to maintain good
perf ormance, f uel economy, and
emissions control, we strongly
recommend, in areas where it is
available, the use of gasoline that
does NOT contain manganese-based
f uel additives such as MMT.
Use of gasoline with these additives
may adversely af f ect perf ormance,
and cause the malfunction indicator
lamp on your instrument panel to
come on. If this happens, contact
your authorized dealer f or service.
Your vehicle is designed to operate
on premium unleaded gasoline with a
pump octane of 91 or higher. If this
octane grade is unavailable, regular
unleaded gasoline with a pump
octane of 87 or higher may be used
temporarily. The use of regular
unleaded gasoline can cause metallic
knocking noises in the engine and
will result in decreased engine
perf ormance. The long-term use of
regular-grade gasoline can lead to
engine damage.
Break-in Period Fuel Recommendation
Break-in Period, Fuel Recommendation
384
2009 RL

Park the vehicle, and set the
parking brake. Pull the hood
release lever located under the
lower lef t corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.
Your vehicle’s on board diagnostic
system will detect a loose or missing
f uel f ill cap as an evaporative system
leak. The f irst time a leak is detected
a ‘‘TIGHTEN FUEL CAP’’ message
appears on the multi-inf ormation
display. Turn the engine of f , and
conf irm the f uel f ill cap is installed. If
it is, loosen it, then retighten it until
it clicks at least once. The message
should go of f af ter several days of
normal driving once you tighten or replace the f uel f ill cap. To scroll to
another message, press the INFO
button. The ‘‘TIGHTEN FUEL CAP’’
message will appear each time you
restart the engine until the system
turns the message of f .
If the system still detects a leak in
the vehicle’s evaporative emissions
system, the malf unction indicator
lamp (MIL) comes on. If the f uel f ill
cap was not already tightened, turn
the engine of f , and check or
retighten the f uel f ill cap until it
clicks at least once. The MIL should
go off after several days of normal
driving once the cap is tightened or
replaced. If the MIL does not go of f ,
have your vehicle inspected by a
dealer. For more inf ormation, see
page .
1.
507
CONT INUED
Opening and Closing the Hood
Tighten Fuel Cap Message
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving
387
HOOD RELEASE LEVER
2009 RL

Bef ore installing any accessory:Make sure the accessory does not
obscure any lights, or interf ere
with proper vehicle operation or
perf ormance.
Modif ying your vehicle, or installing
some non-Acura accessories, can
make your vehicle unsaf e. Bef ore
you make any modif ications or add
anyaccessories,besuretoreadthe
f ollowing inf ormation.
Your dealer has Acura accessories
that allow you to personalize your
vehicle. These accessories have
been designed and approved f or your
vehicle, and are covered by warranty.
Bef ore installing any electronic
accessory, have the installer
contact your dealer. If possible,
have your dealer inspect the f inal
installation.
Be sure electronic accessories do
not overload electrical circuits
(see page ) or interf ere with
the proper operation of your
vehicle.
Do not install accessories on the
side pillars or across the rear
windows. Accessories installed in
theseareasmayinterferewith
proper operation of the side
curtain airbags.
Although non-Acura accessories may
f it on your vehicle, they may not
meet f actory specif ications, and
could adversely af f ect your vehicle’s
handling and stability.
When properly installed, cellular
phones, alarms, two-way radios, and
low-powered audio systems should
not interf ere with your vehicle’s
computer controlled systems, such
as your airbags, anti-lock brakes, and
tire pressure monitoring system. 510
A ccessories
A ccessories and Modif ications
Bef ore Driving
393
Improper accessories or
modifications can affect your
vehicle’s handling, stability, and
performance, and cause a
crash in which you can be hurt
or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner’s manual regarding
accessories and modifications.
2009 RL

Larger or smaller wheels and tires
can interf ere with the operation of
your vehicle’s anti-lock brakes and
other systems.
Modif ying your steering wheel or
any other part of your vehicle’s
saf ety systems could make the
systems inef f ective.
If you plan to modif y your vehicle,
consult your dealer.
Raising your vehicle with a non-
Acura suspension kit can af f ect
the handling and stability.
Lowering the vehicle with a non-
Acura suspension kit that
signif icantly reduces ground
clearance can allow the
undercarriage to hit speed bumps
or other raised objects, which
could cause the airbags to deploy.
Removing parts f rom your vehicle,
or replacing components with non-
Acura components could seriously
af f ect your vehicle’s handling,
stability, and reliability.
Herearesomeexamples:
Non-Acura wheels, because they
are a universal design, can cause
excessive stress on suspension
components and will not be
compatible with the tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS).
Modif ying Your Vehicle
A ccessories and Modif ications
394
2009 RL

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
automatic transmission. It also
includes important inf ormation on
parking your vehicle, the braking
system, the Super Handling-All
Wheel Drive (SH-AWD
)system,
the vehicle stability assist (VSA)
system, the tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS), the collision
mitigation brake system (CMBS),
and f acts you need if you are
planning to tow a trailer. ........................
Preparing to Drive .402
.......................
Starting the Engine .403
Check Starting System .................................
Message .404
..............
Automatic Transmission .405
Driving with the Paddle
...................................
Shif ters .409
................
D-Paddle Shif t Mode .409
..............
Sequential Shif t Mode .411
Super Handling-All Wheel Drive .................
(SH-AWD
) System .413
...........................................
Parking .415
.............................
Braking System .416
...............
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) .417
Collision Mitigation Brake
........................
System (CMBS) .419
Tire Pressure Monitoring ........................
System (TPMS) .429
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA
),
aka Electronic Stability ........
Control (ESC), System .435
...........................
Towing a Trailer .437
...................
Towing Your Vehicle .442
Driving
Driving
401
TM
TM
2009 RL

If theenginedoesnotstartwithin
15 seconds, or starts but stalls
right away, repeat step 4 with the
accelerator pedal pressed halfway
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal
so the engine does not race.
If the engine fails to start, press
the accelerator pedal all the way
down, and hold it there while
starting to clear flooding. If the
engine still does not start, return
to step 5.
Apply the parking brake.
In cold weather, turn of f all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.
Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal.
Your vehicle’s starting system has an
auto control mode. When you turn
the ignition switch to the START
(III) position, this f eature keeps the
engine’s starter motor running until
the engine starts. Follow these
instructions to start the engine:
Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition switch to
the START (III) position, then
release the ignition switch. You do
not need to hold the ignition
switch in the START (III) position
to start the engine. Depending on
the outside temperature, the
starter motor runs f or about 6 to 9 seconds until the engine starts.
If you hold the ignition switch in
the START (III) position f or more
than 7 seconds, the starter motor,
depending on the outside
temperature, runs f or about 10 to
25 seconds until the engine starts.
If the engine does not start, wait at
least 10 seconds bef ore trying
again.
1.
2.
3.
4. 5.
6.
Starting the Engine
Driving
403
The engine is harder to start in cold
weather. Also, the thinner air f ound at
altitudes above 8,000 f eet (2,400
meters) adds to this problem.
T he immobilizer system protects your
vehicle f rom thef t. If an improperly
coded key (or other device) is used, the
engine’s f uel system is disabled. For
more inf ormation, see page .
151
2009 RL

The ‘‘D’’ indicator comes on f or a
f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. If it f lashes while driving (in
any shif t position), it indicates a
possible problem in the transmission.
If the malf unction indicator lamp
comes on along with the ‘‘D’’
indicator, there is a problem with the
automatic transmission control
system. Avoid rapid acceleration, and
have the transmission checked by
your dealer as soon as possible.
When the ‘‘D’’ indicator warns of a
possible problem with the
transmission, you will see a ‘‘CHECK
TRANSMISSION’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display (see page).
These indicators between the
tachometer and speedometer show
which position the shif t lever is in.
To shif t f rom Park to any position,
pressfirmlyonthebrakepedal,and
press the release button on the top
of the shift lever, then move the
lever. You cannot shift out of Park
when the ignition switch is in the
LOCK (0) or ACCESSORY (I)
position.
79
CONT INUED
Shif t L ever Position Indicators Shif ting
Automatic Transmission
Driving
405
2009 RL