Acura RLX 2015 Owner's Manual

340Driving
When DrivingStarting the Engine
1.Make sure the parking brake is applied.
u The electric parking brake indicator
comes on for 15 seconds when you pull
up the electric parking brake switch.
2. Check that the shift lever is in
(P
, then
depress the brake pedal.
u Although it is possible to start the vehicle
in
(N
, it is safer to start it in
(P
.
1Starting the Engine
Keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal when
starting the engine.
The engine is harder to start in cold weather and in
thinner air found at altitudes above 8,000 feet (2,400
meters).
When starting the engine in cold weather, turn off all
electrical accessories such as the lights, climate
control system, and rear defogger in order to reduce
battery drain.
If you live in a region where winter is extremely cold,
an engine block heater will improve starting and
warming of the engine. If temperatures consistently
below -22°F (-30°C) are expected, the coolant
mixture should be changed to a higher concentration
to prevent freezing. Consult a dealer for details.
If exhaust system sounds abnormal or you can smell
exhaust gas inside the vehicle, have your vehicle
checked by a dealer. There may be a problem with
the engine or exhaust system.
The immobilizer system protects your vehicle from
theft.
If an improperly coded device is used, the engine’s
fuel system is disabled.
2 Immobilizer System P. 128
Electric Parking
Brake SwitchBrake Pedal

Continued
341
uuWhen Driving uStarting the Engine
Driving
3. Press the ENGINE START/STOP button
without depressing the accelerator pedal.
You can turn the engine off when the vehicle is completely stopped.
1. Shift to
(P
.
2. Press the ENGINE START/STOP button.
1. Keeping your right foot on the brake pedal, put the shift lever in
(D
. Select
(R

when reversing.
2. With the parking brake applied, release the brake pedal and gently depress the
accelerator pedal.
u Make sure the electric parking brake indicator goes off.
2 Parking Brake P. 385
1Starting the Engine
Bring the keyless access remote close to the ENGINE
START/STOP button if the battery in the keyless
access remote is weak. 2 If the Keyless Access Remote Battery is
Weak P. 475
The engine may not start if the keyless access remote
is subjected to strong radio waves.
Do not hold the ENGINE START/STOP button to
start the engine.
If the engine does not start, wait at least 10 seconds
before trying again.
■
Stopping the Engine
■
Starting to Drive
1 Starting to Drive
You can also release the parking brake by pressing
the electric parking brake switch while depressing the
brake pedal.
When facing downhill, you can start your vehicle
more smoothly by manually releasing it with the
electric parking brake switch than by releasing it with
the accelerator pedal.

uuWhen Driving uStarting the Engine
342Driving
■Hill Start Assist System
Hill start assist keeps the brake engaged briefly to help prevent the vehicle from
rolling on inclines as you move your foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator.
Move the shift lever to
(D
when facing uphill, or
(R
when facing downhill, then
release the brake pedal.
1 Starting the Engine
Hill start assist may not prevent the vehicle from
rolling downhill on a very steep or slippery slope, and
does not operate on small inclines.
Hill start assist is not a replacement for the parking
brake.

343
uuWhen Driving uPrecautions While Driving
Continued
Driving
Precautions While DrivingAvoid driving in deep water and on flooded roads. This can damage the engine,
driveline, or cause electrical component failure.■
In Rain
1Precautions While DrivingNOTICEDo not operate the shift lever while pressing the
accelerator pedal. You could damage the
transmission.NOTICEThe following can damage the under spoiler:•Parking the vehicle by a parking block•Parallel parking along the road shoulder•Driving toward the bottom of a hill•Driving up or down to a different surface level
(such as a road shoulder)•Driving on a rutted or bumpy road•Driving on a road with potholes.NOTICEIf you repeatedly turn the steering wheel at an
extremely low speed, or hold the steering wheel on
the full left or right position for a while, the electric
power steering (EPS) system heats up. The system
goes into a protective mode, and limits its
performance. The steering wheel becomes harder
and harder to operate. Once the system cools down,
the EPS system is restored.
Repeated operation under these conditions can
eventually damage the system.
If the power mode is set to ACCESSORY or VEHICLE
OFF (LOCK) while driving, the engine will shut down
and all steering and brake power assist functions will
stop, making it difficult to control the vehicle.

uuWhen Driving uAutomatic Transmission
344Driving
If there is a strong impact with something under the vehicle, stop in a safe location.
Check the underside of the vehicle for damage or any fluid leaks.Automatic TransmissionThe engine runs at a higher idle speed and creeping increases.
Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed when stopped.
Quickly depressing the accelerator pedal while driving uphill may cause the
transmission to drop to a lower gear, unexpectedly increasing vehicle speed. Depress
the accelerator pedal carefully, especially on slippery roads and curves.■
Other Precautions
■
Creeping
■
Kickdown
1Precautions While Driving
Do not put the shift lever in
(N, as you will lose
engine braking (and acceleration) performance.
During the first 600 miles (1,000 km) of operation,
avoid sudden acceleration or full throttle operation so
as to not damage the engine or powertrain.
Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles (300 km).
You should also follow this when the brake pads are
replaced.

345
uuWhen Driving uShifting
Continued
Driving
ShiftingChange the shift position in accordance with your driving needs.■Shift lever positions
1Shifting
You cannot change the power mode from ON to
VEHICLE OFF (LOCK) unless the shift lever is in
(P.
The vehicle may move forward very slightly even in
( N while the engine is cold.
Depress the brake pedal firmly and, when necessary,
apply the parking brake.
When shifting gears in extremely low temperatures
(-22°F/-30°C), there may be a short delay before the
shift is indicated in the display. Always confirm you
are in the correct gear before driving.
Park
Used when parking or starting the engine
Reverse
Used when reversing
Neutral
Used when idling
Drive
Used for:●Normal driving (gears change between 1st
and 6th automatically)●Temporarily driving in the sequential shift
mode●Driving in the sequential shift mode (when
driving in SPORT mode)
Release Button

uuWhen Driving uShifting
346Driving
■
Shift Lever Operation
1Shift Lever OperationNOTICEWhen you change the shift lever from
(D to
(R and
vice versa, come to a complete stop and keep the
brake pedal depressed.
Operating the shift lever before the vehicle has come
to a complete standstill can damage the transmission.
Use the shift lever position indicator to check the
lever position before pulling away.
If the transmission indicator blinks when driving, in
any shift position, there is a problem with the
transmission.
Avoid sudden acceleration and have the transmission
checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
The fuel supply may be cut off if you drive at engine
speeds in or over the tachometer’s red zone (engine
speed limit). If this happens, you may experience a
slight jolt.
When the engine speed is increased while the shift
lever is in
( N, (P or
(R, the fuel supply may be cut
off even without the engine speed entering the
tachometer’s red zone.
It may not be possible to operate the shift lever if the
brake pedal is applied while the shift lever release
button is held down.
Depress the brake pedal first.
Shift Lever Position Indicator
Depress the brake pedal
and press the shift lever
release button to shift.
Shift without pressing the
shift lever release button.
Press the shift lever
release button and
shift.Tachometer’s red zone
Models without
navigation
system

347
uuWhen Driving uShifting
Continued
Driving
Use the paddle shifters to change between 1st and 6th gears without removing your
hands from the steering wheel. The transmission will switch to the sequential shift
mode.■When the shift lever is in
(D
:
The vehicle will go into the sequential shift mode momentarily, and the gear position
indicator will come on.
Once you start traveling at a constant speed, the sequential shift mode will
automatically switch off, and the gear position indicator will go off.
Hold the
(+
paddle shifter for two seconds to return to normal drive.
■When the shift lever is in
(D
with SPORT mode:
The vehicle will go into the sequential shift mode, and the M (sequential shift)
indicator and gear position indicator will come on. At speeds of 6 mph (10 km/h) or
less, the vehicle automatically shifts down into 1st gear. If you do not operate the
paddle shifters while in 1st gear, the transmission automatically shifts up to 2nd
gear.
If the vehicle speed increases and the engine speed reaches near the tachometer’s
red zone, the transmission automatically shifts up to 6th.
You can cancel this mode by pressing SPORT button, or pulling the
(+
paddle
shifter for a few seconds. When the sequential shift mode is canceled, the sequential
shift mode indicator and shift indicator go off.
■
Sequential Shift Mode

uuWhen Driving uShifting
348Driving
■Second gear lock mode
If you pull the
(+
paddle shifter while stopped or driving at 6 mph (10 km/h) or less,
the gear position will be locked in 2nd gear. This makes it easier to pull away on
slippery surfaces such as snow covered roads.
To cancel the 2nd gear lock mode, pull the
(-
paddle shifter.
■
Sequential Shift Mode Operation
1 Sequential Shift Mode Operation
Each paddle shift operation makes a single gear
change.
To change gears continuously, release the paddle
shifter before pulling it again for the next gear.
Recommended Shift Points
Use this table as a guideline for efficient fuel
economy and effective emission control.
If the gear posit ion indicator blinks when you try to
shift up or down, this means your vehicle speed is not
in its allowable gear range.
Slightly accelerate to shift up and decelerate to shift
down while the indicator is blinking.
In sport mode, to prioritize the engine performance
enhancement, the transmission may not allow for
shifting up while the engine speed is low. Shift Up Normal Acceleration
1st to 2nd
17 mph (28 km/h)
2nd to 3rd 27 mph (44 km/h)
3rd to 4th
36 mph (57 km/h)
4th to 5th 41 mph (66 km/h)
5th to 6th
44 mph (71 km/h)
Downshifting when pulling
the paddle shifter.
(Changes to a lower gear)
Upshifting when pulling
the paddle shifter.
(Changes to a higher gear)
Paddle Shifter
(Shift down) Paddle Shifter
(Shift up)

349
uuWhen Driving uSPORT Mode
Driving
SPORT ModeTo turn the SPORT mode on and off, press the SPORT button.
The SPORT mode increases engine performance and handling.
This mode is suitable for driving on hills or through curves on mountain roads.
The SPORT mode is turned off every time you start the engine, even if you turned it
on the last time you drove the vehicle.
SPORT Button
SPORT
Mode
Indicator
Models with
navigation
system
Models without
navigation
system