headlights Acura RSX 2002 User Guide

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Engine oil level Check every
time you fill the fuel tank. See
page .
Engine coolant level Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
youfillthefueltank.Seepage . Tires Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread f or
wear and foreign objects. See page
.
Windshield washer f luid Check
the level in the reservoir monthly.
If weather conditions cause you to
use the washers f requently, check
the reservoir each time you stop
f or f uel. See page .
Automatic transmission Check
the f luid level monthly. See page .
Youshouldcheckthefollowing
items at the specif ied intervals. If
you are unsure of how to perf orm
any check, turn to the page given.
Brakes Check the f luid level
monthly. See page .Lights Check the operation of
the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light,
turn signals, brake lights, and
license plate lights monthly. See
page .
159
216
217 219 235
244
160
Owner Maintenance Checks
Maint enance205

Check the f ollowing:Headlights (low and high beam)
Parking lights
Taillights
Brake lights
High-mount brake light
Turn signals
Back-up lights
Hazard light f unction
License plate light
Side marker lights
Daytime running lights
(Canadian models)
If youfindanybulbsareburnedout,
replace them as soon as possible.
Refer to the chart on page to
determinewhattypeof replacement
bulb is needed. 290
Lights
Maint enance243
T T
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LIIGGH HT
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SI IDD E
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LIIGGH HT
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Open the hood.
Your car has two bulbs on each side,
four in total. Make sure you are
replacing the bulb that is burned out.
Your car uses halogen headlight
bulbs. When replacing a bulb, handle
it by its plastic case and protect the
glass from contact with your skin or
hard objects. If you touch the glass,
clean it with denatured alcohol and a
clean cloth.
(Passenger’s side)
Theheadlightswereproperlyaimed
when your car was new. If you
regularly carry heavy items in the
cargo area or pull a trailer,
readjustment may be required.
Adjustment of the headlights should
be perf ormed by an Acura technician
or other qualif ied mechanic.
Remove the power steering
reservoir f rom the bracket.
1.
2.
Replacing a Headlight Bulb
Headlight A iming
Lights
Maint enance244
P P O
OW WE ER
R S
STTE
EE
ER
RI INNG G R
REES
SE ER
RV V O
OI IRR
P
P
a
asssseen n g
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err’’ss s
siidd e
e
Halogen headlight bulbs get very hot
when lit. Oil, perspiration, or a scratch
on the glass can cause the bulb to
overheat and shatter.

Remove the electrical connector
f rom the bulb by pulling the
connector straight back.
Remove the rubber weather seal
by pulling on the tab.
Unclip the end of the hold-down
wire f rom its slot. Pivot it out of
the way and remove the bulb.Insert the new bulb into the hole,
making sure the tabs are in their
slots. Pivot the hold-down wire
back in place and clip the end into
the slot.
Install the rubber seal over the
back of the headlight assembly.
Make sure it is right side up; it is
marked ‘‘TOP.’’
Push the electrical connector onto
the tabs of the new bulb. Make
sure it locks in place.
Turn on the headlights to test the
new bulb.
(Passenger’s side)
Install the power steering
reservoir on the bracket.
3.
4.
5. 6.
7.
8.
9.
Lights
Maint enance245
H H
O
OL LDD
D
D O
OW WN N W
WIIRRE E B
BU
UL LBB
W
WE EA
A T
TH
H E
ER
R
S
SE EA
A L
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C
CO ON NNNEEC
CT TO
OR R

When you turn the ignition switch to
START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying to
start. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all.
Check these things:
Diagnosing why your engine won’t
start f alls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III):
You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine’s starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly.
You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
f aster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run.
Store the tool kit.
Store the wheel cover or center
cap in the cargo area. Make sure it
will not get scratched or damaged.
Reinstall the f loor mat and spare
tire cover, then close the hatch.
Check the transmission interlock.
If you have a manual transmission,
the clutch pedal must be pushed
all the way to the f loor or the
starter will not operate. With an
automatic transmission, it must be
in Park or Neutral.
Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Turn on the headlights and check
their brightness. If the headlights
are very dim or don’t light at all,
the battery is discharged. See
on page .
22.
23.
24.
270
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
If Your Engine Won’t Start
Jump Starting
Changing a Flat Tire, If Your Engine Won’t Start
268
Loose items can fly around the
interior in a crash and could
seriously injure the occupants.
Store the wheel, jack, and tools
securely before driving.

Turn the ignition switch to START
(III). If the headlights do not dim,
check the condition of the f uses. If
thefusesareOK,thereisproba-
bly something wrong with the
electrical circuit for the ignition
switch or starter motor. You will
need a qualif ied technician to
determine the problem. (Seeon page .)
If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is dis-
charged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal connec-
tions (see page ). You can
then try jump starting the car from
a booster battery (see page ). In this case, the starter motor’s
speed sounds normal, or even f aster
than normal, when you turn the
ignition switch to START (III), but
the engine does not run.
Your car has the Immobilizer
System. You should use a
properly-coded master or valet key
to start the engine (see page ).
A key that is not properly coded
will cause the immobilizer system
indicator in the dash panel to blink
rapidly.
Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Ref er to on page .
Do you have f uel? Turn the
ignition switch to ON (II) for a
minute and watch the f uel gauge.
The low f uel level warning light
may not be working, so you were
not reminded to f ill the tank. 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 .280
285
285
226 270 16975
If Your Engine Won’t Start
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Emergency T owing T he Starter Operates Normally
Starting the
Engine Emergency
Towing
269

If something electrical in your car
stops working, the f irst thing you
should check f or is a blown f use.
Determine f rom the chart on pagesand , or the diagram on the
fuse box lid, which fuse or fuses
control that component. Check those
f uses f irst, but check all the f uses
bef ore deciding that a blown f use is
not the cause. Replace any blown
f uses and check the component’s
operation.
Turn the ignition switch to LOCK
(0). Make sure the headlights and
all other accessories are off.
Remove the cover f rom the f use
box. Check each of the large f uses in
the under-hood f use box by
looking through the top at the wire
inside. Removing these f uses
requires a Phillips-head screw-
driver.
Check the smaller f uses in the
under-hood f use box and all the
fuses in the interior fuse box by
pulling out each f use with the f use
puller provided in the interior f use
box.
3.
1.
2. 4.
283 284
CONT INUED
Checking and Replacing Fuses
Fuses
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed281
B BL
LOOW WN N F
FU
US SEE P
PU
UL LLLEE R
R
F
FU
US SEE

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Specif ications
T echnical Inf ormation291
Fuses
Capacities
Lights
Battery Alignment
Tires
0.0in(0mm)
0.08 in (2.0 mm) 0°00’
Interior
Under-hood
1.8 US qt (1.7
, 1.5 Imp qt)
1.6 US qt (1.5, 1.3 Imp qt)
2.9 US qt (2.7
, 2.4 Imp qt)
6.9 US qt (6.5, 5.7 Imp qt)
2.6 US qt (2.5, 2.2 Imp qt)
4.8 US qt (4.5, 4.0 Imp qt)
Manual
transmission
fluid
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V55 W
55 W
21 W
21 W
21 W/5 W
21 W
5W
21 W
5W
8W
5W
8W See page
283or the fuse label
attached to the inside of the fuse
box door under the dashboard.
See page 284or the fuse box
cover.
12 V 5 W (Amber)
Headlights
Front turn signal
Front position lights
Rear turn signal lights
Stop/Taillights
High-mount brake light
Rear side marker lights
Back-up lights
License plate lights
Ceiling light
Cargo area light
Spotlights
Glove Box light
Capacity
12 V 36 AH/5 HR3.4 W
12 V 0°45’
1°30’
Toe-in
Camber
Caster
Size
Pressure
P205/55R16 89V
T135/70D15 99M
T125/70D16 96M P195/65R15 89H
33 psi (230 kPa , 2.3 kgf/cm
)
31 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm)
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.20 kgf/cm)
Change
Total
Change
Total
U.S. cars
Canadian cars
Front/Rear
Spare
Front
Rear
Spare
High
Low
1:
2:
3:
4:Front
Rear
Front
Rear
Front
Canadian RSX
U.S. RSX
Canadian Premium
Type-S
Automatic trans-
mission fluid
Windshield
washer reservoir
1
2, 3, 4
1, 2, 3
4

CONT INUED
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 162
................................
Accessories .162
...
Additional Safety Precaution . 163
............................
Modif ications .163
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) .78
...............
Accessory Power Socket . 99
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 209
.............................
Airbag (SRS) .10, 48
.....................
Air Cleaner Element .222
..............
Air Conditioning System . 102
..............................
Maintenance .231
.........................................
Usage .102
.......................
Air Outlets (Vents) .102
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .235
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline .294
......................................
Antif reeze .212
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) ...............................
Indicator .61, 183
...................................
Operation .182
Anti-thef t Steering Column ..............................................
Lock .78
..........................
Appearance Care .253
................................
Audio System .109 .............
Automatic Speed Control . 149
..............
Automatic Transmission . 173
..........................
Capacity,Fluid .290
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 217
.......................................
Shif ting .173
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 173
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 173
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 179
Battery Charging System ...........................
Indicator .61, 275
............................
Jump Starting .269
..............................
Maintenance .226
............................
Specif ications .291
..............................
Bef ore Driving .153
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,44
.............................
Beverage Holder .97
...................................
Body Repair .260
Brakes ...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 182
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 155
....................
Bulb Replacement .249
...........................................
Fluid .219 .........................................
Parking .95
.................
System Indicator . 60,278
........................
Wear Indicators .181
.............................
Braking System .181
........................
Break-in, New Car .155
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 70
........................
Brights, Headlights .69
Bulb Replacement ..........................
Back-up Lights .249
..............................
Brake Lights .249
......................
Cargo Area Light .250
..............................
Ceiling Light .250
................
Front Parking Lights . 247
.........
Front Turn Signal Lights . 246
.................................
Headlights .244
.........
High-mount Brake Light . 247
...................
License Plate Light . 248
.........
Rear Side Marker Lights . 249
............................
Specif ications .291
...................................
Spotlights .251
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .244
Index
A
B
I

Î
................
DANGER, Explanation of . ii
...................................
Dashboard .2, 58
................
Daytime Running Lights . 69
............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety . 304
........................
Def og and Def rost .105
................
Def ogger, Rear Window . 72
....................................
Dimensions .290
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 69
Dipstick ..........
Automatic Transmission . 217
..................................
Engine Oil .159
..........................
Directional Signals .70
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 181
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .211
Doors ..............
Locking and Unlocking . 79
......................
Power Door Locks .80
...................
Capacities Chart . 290,291
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 54
...........................
Cargo Area Cover .89
.............................
Carrying Cargo .164
Cassette Player ............................................
Care .137
...................................
Operation .133
..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
...................................
CD Changer .139
............................................
Care .145
...................................
Operation .141
........................
Certif ication Label .288
............................................
Chains .241
Changing Oil ........................................
How to .209
......................................
When to .196
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .263
............
Changing Engine Coolant . 214
...
Charging System Indicator . 61,275
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 168
.....................................
Child Saf ety .21
.......................................
Child Seats .26
.........................................
LATCH .42
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 41....................
Cleaner Element, Air . 222
Cleaning ....................
Aluminum Wheels .255
...................................
Carpeting .256
......................................
Exterior .254
.........................................
Fabric .258
......................
Instrument Panel .258
.......................................
Interior .256
.......................................
Leather .257
...................................
Seat Belts .257
...........................................
Vinyl .257
....................................
Windows .258
.........................
Clock, Setting the .114
...................................
Clutch Fluid .219
.....................
Code, Audio System .147
........................
CO in the Exhaust .296
............
Cold Weather, Starting in . 169
..............................
Compact Spare .262
...................
Console Compartment . 98
...............
Consumer Inf ormation . 302
.............
Controls, Instruments and . 57
Coolant ........................................
Adding .212
....................................
Checking .160
.........................
Proper Solution .212
...................................
Replacing .214 ...................
Temperature Gauge . 67
....................
Corrosion Protection .259
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System .296
............
Cruise Control Operation . 149
..........
Customer Relations Of f ice . 302
Index
C
D
II