ACURA RL 2011 Owners Manual

In addition to your regular
inspections and inf lation pressure
maintenance, it is recommended that
you have annual inspections
perf ormed once the tires reach f ive
years old. It is also recommended
that all tires, including the spare, be
removed from service after 10 years
from the date of manufacture,
regardless of their condition or state
of wear.
The last f our digits of the TIN (tire
identif ication number) are f ound on
the sidewall of the tire and indicate
the date of manufacture (Seeon page ). In addition to proper inf lation,
correct wheel alignment helps to
decrease tire wear. If you f ind a tire
is worn unevenly, have your dealer
check the wheel alignment.
Have your dealer check the tires if
you f eel a consistent vibration while
driving. A tire should always be
rebalanced if it is removed f rom the
wheel. When you have new tires
installed, make sure they are
balanced. This increases riding
comf ort and tire lif e. For best results,
have the installer perform a dynamic
balance.
530
Tires
Tire
Labeling T ire Maintenance
Maint enance
485
Improper wheel weights can damage
your vehicle’s aluminum wheels. Use
only Acura wheel weights f or balancing.
10/08/04 20:06:59 31SJA660_490
ProCarManuals.com

Replace your tires with radial tires of
the same size, load range, speed
rating, and maximum cold tire
pressure rating (as shown on the
tire’s sidewall).
Mixing radial and bias-ply tires on
your vehicle can reduce braking
ability, traction, and steering
accuracy. Using tires of a dif f erent
size or construction can cause the
ABS and vehicle stability assist
system (VSA) to work inconsistently.
The ABS and VSA system work by
comparing the speed of each wheel.
When replacing tires, use the same
size originally supplied with the
vehicle. Tire size and construction
can af f ect wheel speed and may
cause the system to activate.
To help increase tire lif e and
distribute wear more evenly, rotate
the tires according to the
maintenance messages displayed on
the multi-information display. Move
the tires to the positions shown in
the illustration each time they are
rotated. If you purchase directional
tires, rotate only front-to-back. When the tires are rotated, make
sure the air pressures are checked.
Replacing T ires and Wheels
Tire Rotation
Tires
486
(For Non-directional
Tires and Wheels) (For Directional
Tires and Wheels)
Front Front
10/08/04 20:07:09 31SJA660_491
ProCarManuals.com

It is best to replace all f our tires at
thesametime.If thatisnotpossible
or necessary, replace the two f ront
tires or two rear tires as a pair.
Replacing just one tire can seriously
af f ect your vehicle’s handling.Wheels:
Tires:
See page f or DOT tire quality
grading inf ormation, and page
f or tire size explanation.
If you ever replace a wheel, make
sure that the wheel’s specif ications
match those of the original wheels.
Also be sure you use only TPMS
specif ic wheels. If you do not, the
tire pressure monitoring system will
notworkonthattire.
Replacement wheels are available at
your dealer. 528
530
Wheel and T ire Specif ications
Tires
Maint enance
487
18x8.0JAL(TPMS)
P245/45R18 96V
Installing improper tires on your
vehicle can affect handling and
stability. This can cause a crash
in which you can be seriously
hurt or killed.
Always use the size and type of
tires recommended in this
owner’s manual.
10/08/04 20:07:20 31SJA660_492
ProCarManuals.com

´
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 perf ormance in snowy
or icy conditions, you should install
snow tires or tire chains. They may
be required by local laws under
certain conditions. 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 f our wheels. The traction
provided by snow tires on dry roads
maybelowerthanyouroriginaltires.
Check with the tire dealer f or
maximum speed recommendations.
Mount tire chains on your tires when
required by driving conditions or
local laws. Install them only on the
f ront tires.
Because your vehicle has limited tire
clearance, Acura strongly
recommends using the chain listed
below, made by Security Chain
Company (SCC).
Cable-type: SCC Radial Chain
SC1040
Winter Driving
Snow T ires
T ire Chains
Tires
488
10/09/08 21:20:35 31SJA660_493
ProCarManuals.com

When installing cables, f ollow the
manuf acturer’s instructions, and
mount them as tight as you can.
Make sure they are not contacting
the brake lines or suspension. Drive
slowly with them installed. If you
hear them coming into contact with
the body or chassis, stop and
investigate. Remove them as soon as
you begin driving on cleared roads.
Tires
Maint enance
489
Using the wrong chains, or not
properly installing chains, can
damage the brake lines and
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously injured or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner’s manual regarding the
selection and use of tire chains.Traction devices that are the wrong
size or improperly installed can
damage your vehicle’s brake lines,
suspension, body, and wheels. Stop
driving if they are hitting any part of
the vehicle.
10/08/04 20:07:35 31SJA660_494
ProCarManuals.com

µ
Check the condition of the battery
monthlybylookingatthetest
indicator window. The label on the
battery explains the test indicator’s
colors. Battery posts,
terminals, and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds. Check the terminals f or corrosion (a
white or yellowish powder). To
remove it, cover the terminals with a
solution of baking soda and water. It
will bubble up and turn brown. When
this stops, wash it of f with plain
water. Dry off the battery with a
cloth or paper towel. Coat the
terminals with grease to help prevent
f uture corrosion.
If additional battery maintenance is
needed, see your dealer or a
qualif ied technician. If you need to connect the battery to
a charger, disconnect both cables to
prevent damaging your vehicle’s
electrical system. Always disconnect
the negative ( ) cable first, and
reconnect it last.
To see the label, remove the battery
cover (see page ). 492 WARNING:
Wash your hands af ter handling.
Checking the Battery
490
TEST INDICATOR WINDOW
The battery gives off explosive
hydrogen gas during normal
operation.
A spark or flame can cause the
battery to explode with enough
force to kill or seriously hurt you.
Wear protective clothing and a
face shield, or have a skilled
technician do the battery
maintenance.
10/08/04 20:07:44 31SJA660_495
ProCarManuals.com

If your vehicle’s battery is
disconnected or goes dead, all stored
driving positions will be lost. To
store the driving positions again, see
the storing procedure on page .
The navigation system will also
disableitself.Thenexttimeyouturn
on the ignition switch, the system
will require you to enter a PIN
bef ore it can be used. Ref er to the
navigation system manual.If your vehicle’s battery is
disconnected or goes dead, the audio
system may disable itself . The next
timeyouturnontheradioyouwill
see ‘‘ ’’ in the f requency
display. Use the preset buttons to
enter the code (see page ).
If your vehicle’s battery is
disconnected or goes dead, the
power tilt and telescopic steering
wheel system will be disabled. The
system needs to be reset af ter
reconnecting the battery (see page
).
The compass system will also disable
itself.Thenexttimeyouturnonthe
ignition switch, the system will
require you to enter a PIN bef ore it
can be used. Enter the f our-digit anti-
theftsecuritycode(seepage ).
You will also need to reset the clock
according to the instruction of
setting the clock (see page ).
298
313 280
149
164
On vehicles with navigation system
On vehicles without navigation system
Checking the Battery
Maint enance
491
10/08/04 20:07:54 31SJA660_496
ProCarManuals.com

To reinstall the cover, reinstall the
two holding clips and secure them
bypushingonthecenterof each
f astener head.
Turn the knob of the cover to
LOCK position as shown in the
illustration.
Turn the knob of the battery cover
toUNLOCKasshowninthe
illustration. Remove the holding clips by
pushingonthecenterof each
f astener head.
2. 3.
4.
1.
:
:
Removing the Battery Cover
Checking the Battery
492
KNOB CLIPS
Push to reset/install clip Push to remove clip
Unlock
Lock
10/08/04 20:08:04 31SJA660_497
ProCarManuals.com

Cover the vehicle with a
‘‘breathable’’ cover, one made
f rom a porous material such as
cotton. Non-porous materials, such
as plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
If possible, periodically run the
engine until it reaches f ull
operating temperature (the
cooling f ans cycle on and of f
twice). Pref erably, do this once a
month.
If you need to park your vehicle f or
an extended period (more than 1
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it f or storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your vehicle back on the road. If
possible, store your vehicle indoors.
Fill the f uel tank.
Wash and dry the exterior
completely.
Cleantheinterior.Makesurethe
carpeting, floor mats, etc., are
completely dry.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Park. Block the rear wheels.
If the vehicle is to be stored f or a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are of f the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the vehicle is being stored
indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Support the f ront wiper blade
arms with a f olded towel or rag so
they do not touch the windshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and trunk seals. Also, apply a
vehiclebodywaxtothepainted
surfaces that mate with the door
and trunk seals.
Vehicle Storage
Maint enance
493
10/08/04 20:08:17 31SJA660_498
ProCarManuals.com

Vacuum dirt and dust f rom the
leather f requently. Pay close
attention to the pleats and seams.
Clean the leather with a sof t cloth
dampened with a 90% water and 10%
neutral wool detergent solution.
Then buf f it with a clean, dry cloth.
Remove any dust or dirt on leather
surf aces immediately.
Interior Care
Leather
494
10/08/04 20:08:21 31SJA660_499
ProCarManuals.com