towing ACURA RL 2012 User Guide

This section covers the more
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you inf ormation about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also f ind instructions
on getting your vehicle towed....................... Compact Spare Tire . 496
.................... Changing a Flat Tire . 497
............. If the Engine Won’t Start . 501
................................ Jump Starting . 502
.............. If the Engine Overheats . 505
......... Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 508
.......... Charging System Indicator . 508
....... Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 509
............... Brake System Indicator . 510
Opening the Fuel Fill Door
.................................... Manually . 511
.............................................. Fuses . 512
.............................. Fuse Locations . 518
...................... Emergency Towing . 521
.......... If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck . 521
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
495
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Take the tool case out of the spare
tire. Open the trunk, and fold the trunk
floor forward.
Unscrew the wing bolt, and
remove the spacer cone. Then
take the spare tire out of its well. Park the vehicle on f irm, level, and
non-slippery ground. Put the
transmission in Park. Apply the
parking brake.
If you are towing a trailer, unhitch
it.
Turn on the hazard warning lights,
and turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK (0) position. Have all
passengers get out of the vehicle
while you change the tire. If you have a f lat tire while driving,
pull over saf ely. Drive slowly along
the shoulder until you get to an area
far away from traffic lanes.1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
CONT INUED
Changing a Flat T ire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
497
TRUNK FLOOR
TOOL CASEJACK SPARE TIRE
The vehicle can easily roll off
the jack, seriously injuring
anyone underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the vehicle
when it is supported only by the
jack.
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In this case, the starter motor’s
speed sounds normal, or even f aster
than normal, when you turn the
ignition switch to the START (III)
position, but the engine does not run.
Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Ref er to
on page .There may be an electrical
problem, such as no power to the
f uel pump. Check all the f uses
(see page ).
If youfindnothingwrong,youwill
need a qualif ied technician to f ind
the problem. See
on page .
Are you using a properly coded
built-in key or remote? An
improperly coded built-in key or
remote will cause the immobilizer
system indicator in the instrument
panel to blink rapidly (see page
).
Do you have f uel? Check the f uel
gauge; the low f uel indicator may
not be working.Although this seems like a simple
procedure, you should take several
precautions.
You cannot start your vehicle by
pushing or pulling it. 401521 512
150 T he Starter Operates Normally
Starting the
EngineEmergency
TowingJump Starting
If the Engine Won’t Start, Jump Starting
502
A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyone
nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.
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The pointer of the vehicle’s
temperature gauge should stay in
the midrange. If it climbs to the red
mark, you should determine the
reason (hot day, driving up a steep
hill, etc.).
If your vehicle overheats, you should
take immediate action. The only
indicationmaybethetemperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming f rom under the hood.If you do not see steam or spray,
leave the engine running and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading,
the engine should start to cool
down almost immediately. If it
does, wait until the temperature
gauge comes down to the midpoint,
then continue driving.
If the temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn of f the engine.
Look f or any obvious coolant leaks,
such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you f ind a leak, it
must be repaired bef ore you
continue driving (see
on page ). If you see steam and/or spray
coming f rom under the hood,
turn of f the engine. Wait until
you see no more signs of steam
or spray, then open the hood. Saf ely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in Park, and
set the parking brake. Turn of f all
the accessories, and turn on the
hazard warning lights. 1.
2.3.
4.
5.
521
CONT INUED
Emergency
Towing
If theEngineOverheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
505
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause
serious damage to the engine.
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If you do not f ind an obvious leak,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Add coolant
if the level is below the MIN mark.
If there was no coolant in the
reserve tank, you may need to add
coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the pointer
reaches the middle of the tempera-
ture gauge, or lower, bef ore check-
ing the radiator.Using gloves or a large heavy
cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the f irst stop. Af ter the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap, and turn it until it comes
off.Put the radiator cap back on
tightly. Run the engine, and check
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair (see
on page ).
If the temperature stays normal,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the
MAX mark. Put the cap back on
tightly. Start the engine, and set the
temperature to maximum heat
(climate control to AUTO at
‘‘ ’’). Add coolant to the
radiator up to the base of the f iller
neck. If you do not have the
proper coolant mixture available,
you can add plain water.
Remember to have the cooling
system drained and ref illed with
the proper mixture as soon as you
can. 6.
7.8.
9.10.
11.521Emergency
Towing
If theEngineOverheats
506
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.
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However, if the brake pedal does not
f eel normal, you should take
immediate action. A problem in one
part of the system’s dual circuit
design will still give you braking at
two wheels. You will f eel the brake
pedal go down much f arther bef ore
the vehicle begins to slow down, and
you will have to press harder on the
pedal.Slow down by shif ting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is saf e. Because of the long
distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the vehicle. You
should have it towed and repaired as
soon as possible (see
on page ). If the f luid level is low, take your
vehicle to a dealer, and have the
brake system inspected f or leaks or
worn brake pads.
You will also see a ‘‘CHECK BRAKE
SYSTEM’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display. If the brake system indicator comes
on while driving, the brake f luid level
is probably low. You will see a
‘‘BRAKE FLUID LOW’’ message on
the multi-information display. Press
lightly on the brake pedal to see if it
f eels normal. If it does, check the
brake f luid level the next time you
stop at a service station (see page
).The brake system
indicator normally
comes on when
you turn the ignition switch to the
ON (II) position and as a reminder to
check the parking brake. If you do
not release the parking brake, the
indicator will stay on, and you will
see a ‘‘RELEASE PARKING
BRAKE’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display.
466521Emergency
Towing
Brake System Indicator
510
U.S. Canada
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To use the towing hook:
Remove the cover f rom the f ront
bumper by pushing the right
corner edge of the cover with a
f inger until the cover comes out as
shown in the illustration. The operator will load
your vehicle on the back of a truck.
Any other method of towing will
damage the drive system. When you
contact the towing agency, inf orm
them a f lat-bed is required. If your vehicle needs to be towed,
call a prof essional towing service or
organization. Never tow your vehicle
with just a rope or chain. It is very
dangerous.If your vehicle gets stuck in sand,
mud, or snow, call a towing service
to pull it out (see the previous
column).
For very short distances, such as
f reeing the vehicle, you can use the
detachable towing hook that mounts
on the anchor in the f ront bumper.
1.
CONT INUED
The only way you can saf ely tow
your vehicle is with f lat-bed
equipment. Emergency T owing If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
Emergency Towing, If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
521
COVER
Towing with only two tires on the
ground will damage parts of the
all-wheel-drive system. Y our vehicle
should be transported on a f lat-bed
truck or trailer.
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Screw the towing hook into the
hole, and tighten it with the wheel
nut wrench. Remove the towing hook and
wheel nut wrench f rom the tool
case in the spare tire. The cover is attached to the bumper
with a tether.2.
3.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
522
WHEEL NUT WRENCH
COVER
TETHER
To avoid damage to your vehicle, use
the towing hook f or straight, f lat
ground towing only. Do not tow at an
angle. The tow hook should not be used
to tow the vehicle onto a f lat bed. Do
not use it as a tie down.
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Î
CONT INUED
............... DANGER, Explanation of . iii
................................... Dashboard . 4, 60
.............. Daytime Running Lights . 142
................................. Dead Battery . 502
............ Def ects, Reporting Saf ety . 542
.............. Def ogger, Rear Window . 147
.............. Def rosting the Windows . 210
.......................... Dif f erential Fluid . 526
.................................... Dimensions . 526
............. Dimming the Headlights . 140
Dipstick
.......... Automatic Transmission . 464
.................................. Engine Oil . 387
........................ Directional Signals . 140........ Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 415
..................... Disposal of Used Oil . 460
Doors
............ Locking and Unlocking . 153
.................. Lockout Prevention . 153
....................... Monitor Indicator . 13
.................... Power Door Locks . 153
........ DOT Tire Quality Grading . 528
........... Driver and Passenger Safety . 7
....................................... Driver’s ID . 81
........................................... Driving . 399
.................................... Economy . 388
Driving Position Memory
........................................ System . 164
.................. Dust and Pollen Filter . 476
.............................. Economy, Fuel . 388
.................................. Emergencies . 495
............. Battery, Jump Starting . 502
........... Brake System Indicator . 510
................ Changing a Flat Tire . 497
..... Charging System Indicator . 508
.................. Checking the Fuses . 512
....... Hazard Warning Flashers . 146............................ Jump Starting . 502
..... Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 508
... Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 509
Opening the Fuel Fill Door
................................ Manually . 511
.................. Overheated Engine . 505
....................................... Towing . 521
......................... Emergency Brake . 191
.................... Emergency Flashers . 146
...................... Emergency Towing . 521
.......... Emergency Trunk Opener . 155
....................... Emissions Controls . 534
........................ Emissions Testing . 537 ....................... Customized Settings . 81
................................... ACC Setup . 89
................ Door/Window Setup . 122
....... KEYLESS ACCESS Setup . 108
........................... Lighting Setup . 115
................................. Meter Setup . 94
........................... Position Setup . 103
........................ Setting to Def ault . 85
............................... Wiper Setup . 133
Index
E D
INDEX
III
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Torque Distribution Monitor
............................... (SH-AWD
) . 412
Towing
..................................... A Trailer . 437
.... Equipment and Accessories . 438
............................. Weight Limit . 437
TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring
.................................. System) . 429
Required Federal
............................ Explanation . 532
..................... Warning Message . 433
............................. Trailer Loading . 438
...................... Trailer Towing Tips . 441
Transmission
Checking Fluid Level,
.............................. Automatic . 464
........................... Fluid Selection . 465
.............. Identif ication Number . 525
............. Shif ting the Automatic . 403
............................. Treadwear . 484, 496
....................................... Trip Meter . 72
.............................................. Trunk . 154
.................. Emergency Opener . 155
............................... Opening the . 154
............. Open Monitor Indicator . 13
.................................. Turn Signals . 140Unexpected, Taking Care
.......................................... of the . 495
.... Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 528
........................ Unleaded Gasoline . 382
.............. USB Adapter Cable . 249, 259
....... Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 460............ WARNING, Explanation of . iii
......... Warning Labels, Location of . 57
.................... Warranty Coverages . 541
Washer, Windshield
........ Checking the Fluid Level . 463
................................... Operation . 137
Wheels
............. Adjusting the Steering . 148
............ Alignment and Balance . 485
.......................... Compact Spare . 496
............................... Nut Wrench . 498
Windows
............................. Auto Reverse . 187
................ Operating the Power . 186
......................... Rear, Def ogger . 147
Windshield
..................................... Cleaning . 137
................................... Def roster . 207
..................................... Washers . 137
Wipers, Windshield
....................... Changing Blades . 478
................................... Operation . 137
........ Summer/Winter Position . 139
...................................... WMA . 243, 257 ................. Vehicle Capacity Load . 394
...................... Vehicle Dimensions . 526
.... Vehicle Identif ication Number . 524
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA
)
.................................... System . 435
............. VSA OFF Indicator . 65, 435
....................... VSA OFF Switch . 436
........ VSA System Indicator . 65, 435
............................. Vehicle Storage . 493
................................................. VIN . 524
.................................. Viscosity, Oil . 458
Voice Control System (U.S. model
..... without navigation system) . 304
Index
W U
V
X
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