spare tire Acura RSX 2002 Owner's Manual

Many states and Canadian provinces
require special outside mirrors when
towing a trailer. Even if they don’t,
you should install special mirrors if
you cannot clearly see behind you, or
if the trailer creates a blind spot.
Askyourtrailersalesorrental
agency if any other items are
recommended or required f or your
towing situation.When preparing to tow, and bef ore
driving away, be sure to check the
f ollowing:
The vehicle has been properly
serviced, and the tires, brakes,
suspension, and cooling system
are in good operating condition.
Allitemsonandinthetrailerare
properly secured and cannot shif t
while you drive.
The lights and brakes on your
vehicle and the trailer are working
properly. Your vehicle tires and spare are
properly inf lated (see page ),
and the trailer tires and spare are
inflated as recommended by the
trailer maker.
Thehitch,safetychains,andany
other attachments are secure. All weights and loads are within
limits (see page ). 235
187
Pre-T ow Checklist
Additional Trailer Equipment
Towing a Trailer
Driving190

We recommend that you visually
check your tires every day. If you
think a tire might be low, check it
immediately with a tire gauge.
Use a gauge to measure the air
pressure at least once a month. Even
tires that are in good condition may
lose one to two psi (10 to 20 kPa, 0.1
to 0.2 kgf /cm ) per month.
Remember to check the spare tire at
thesametimeyoucheckallthe
other tires.
To saf ely operate your car, your tires
must be the proper type and size, in
good condition with adequate tread,
and correctly inf lated. The f ollowing
pages give more detailed inf ormation
on how and when to check air
pressure, how to inspect your tires
for damage and wear, and what to do
when your tires need to be replaced.
Keeping the tires properly inf lated
provides the best combination of
handling, tread lif e and riding
comf ort. Underinf lated tires wear
unevenly, adversely af f ect handling
and f uel economy, and are more
likely to f ail f rom being overheated.
Overinf lated tires can make your car
ride more harshly, are more prone to
damage f rom road hazards, and wear
unevenly.Check the pressure in the tires when
they are cold. This means the car
has been parked f or at least three
hours. If you have to drive the car
bef ore checking the tire pressure,
the tires can still be considered
‘‘cold’’ if you drive less than 1 mile
(1.6 km).
If you check the pressure when the
tires are hot (the car has been driven
several miles), you will see readings
4 to 6 psi (30 to 40 kPa, 0.3 to 0.4
kgf /cm ) higher than the cold
reading. This is normal. Do not let
air out to match the specified cold
pressure. The tire will be
underinf lated.
Youshouldgetyourowntire
pressure gauge and use it whenever
you check your tire pressures. This
will make it easier f or you to tell if a
pressure loss is due to a tire problem
and not due to a variation between
gauges.
CONT INUED
Inf lation
Tires
Maint enance235
Using tires that are excessively
worn or improperly inflated can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner’s manual regarding tire
inflation and maintenance.

Every time you check inf lation, you
should also examine the tires f or
damage, f oreign objects, and wear.
Youshouldlookfor:Bumpsorbulgesinthetreador
side of the tire. Replace the tire if
youfindeitherof theseconditions.
Cuts, splits, or cracks in the side
of the tire. Replace the tire if you
can see f abric or cord.
Excessive tread wear.
The following chart shows the
recommended cold tire pressures f or
most normal driving conditions and
speeds. Tire pressures f or high
speed driving are the same as f or
normal driving.
Thecompactsparetirepressureis:
These pressures are also given on
thetireinformationlabelonthe
driver’s doorjamb.
Tubeless tires have some ability to
self -seal if they are punctured.
However, because leakage is of ten
very slow, you should look closely
for punctures if a tire starts losing
pressure.
Tire Size Cold Tire Pressure for
Normal Driving
Front:
Rear:
InspectionRecommended T ire Pressures f orNormal Driving
Tires
Maint enance236
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.20 kgf/cm)
P195/65R15 89H
P205/55R16 89V 33 psi (230 kPa ,
2.3 kgf/cm)
31 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm
)

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 car towed.......................
Compact Spare Tire .262
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .263
..........
If Your Engine Won’t Start . 268
Nothing Happens or the Starter Motor Operates ............................
Very Slowly .268
The Starter Operates ................................
Normally .269
................................
Jump Starting .270
............
If Your Engine Overheats . 272
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 274
..........
Charging System Indicator . 275
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 276
...............
Brake System Indicator . 278
..................
Closing the Moonroof . 279
..............................................
Fuses .280
..........
Checking and Replacing . 281
......................
Emergency Towing .285
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed261

Thecompactsparetirehasashorter
tread lif e than a regular tire. Replace
it when you can see the tread wear
indicator bars. The replacement
should be the same size and design
tire, mounted on the same wheel.
Thecompactsparetireisnot
designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and the compact wheel is not
designed f or mounting a regular tire.
Check the inf lation pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be
inf lated to:
Follow these precautions whenever
you are using the compact spare tire:
Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
under any circumstances.
This tire gives a harsher ride and
less traction on some road sur-
f aces than the regular tire. Use
greater caution while driving on
this tire. Do not mount snow chains on the
compact spare.
Your car has a compact spare tire
that takes up less space. Use this
sparetireasatemporaryreplace-
ment only. Get your regular tire
repaired or replaced and put it back
on your car as soon as you can. The wheel of the compact spare
tire is designed especially to f it
your car. Do not use your spare
tire on another vehicle unless it is
thesamemakeandmodel.
Compact Spare Tire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed262
I IN
ND DI
ICCA A T
TO
OR R L
LOOC CAA T
TI
IOON N M
MA
AR
RKK
T
T R
RE EA
A D
D W
WE EA
A R
R I
INND DI
ICCA A T
TO
OR R B
BAA R
R
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.20 kgf/cm)

If you have a f lat tire while driving,
stop in a saf e place to change it.
Stopping in traf f ic or on the shoulder
of a busy road is dangerous. Drive
slowly along the shoulder until you
gettoanexitoranareatostopthat
is far away from the traffic lanes.Park the car on f irm, level and
non-slippery ground away f rom
traf f ic. Put the transmission in
Park (automatic) or Reverse
(manual). Apply the parking brake.Open the hatch. Pull up the f loor
mat and remove the spare tire
cover. Turn on the hazard warning lights
andturntheignitionswitchto
LOCK (0). Have all the
passengers get out of the car while
you change the tire.
If you are towing a trailer, unhitch
the trailer. Unscrew the wing bolt.
1. 2.
3.
4.
CONT INUED
Changing a Flat T ire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed263
J JA
A C
CKK T
T
O
OO OLL K
KIITTThe car can easily roll off the
jack, seriously injuring anyone
underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the car when it
is supported only by the jack.

Turn the jack’s end bracket
counterclockwise to loosen it, then
remove the jack.Loosen the f ive wheel nuts 1/2
turn with the wheel wrench.
Take the spare tire out of its well. Lift the bass speaker out of the
spare tire and set it aside. Do not
pull on the wiring harness going to
the speaker.
5.
6. 7.
8.
Type-S only:
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Changing a Flat T ire
264
J JA A C
CKK
W
WHHE
EE
EL
L W
WR REEN
NC CHH
B
BA
A S
SSS S
SPPE
EA
A K
KEER
R
(
( T
T y
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CONT INUED
Use the extension and wheel
wrench as shown to raise the
vehicle until the f lat tire is of f the
ground.
Remove the wheel nuts and f lat
tire. Temporarily place the flat tire
on the ground with the outside
surf ace of the wheel f acing up.
You could scratch the wheel if you
putitfacedown.
Find the jacking point nearest the
wheel you are removing. Place the
jack under the jacking point. Turn
the end bracket clockwise until
the top of the jack contacts the
jacking point. Make sure the
jacking point tab is resting in the
jack notch. Bef ore mounting the spare tire,
wipe any dirt of f the mounting
surface of the wheel and hub with
a clean cloth. Wipe the hub
carefully,itmaybehotfrom
driving.
9. 10.
11. 12.
Changing a Flat T ire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed265
E E
X
X T
TE
EN
NS SIIOON N
W
WH HE
EE
EL
L W
WR REEN
NC CHH
J
JA
A C
CKKIINNG G P
PO
OI INNT T

Put on the spare tire. Put the
wheel nuts back on f inger-tight,
then tighten them in a crisscross
pattern with the wheel wrench
until the wheel is f irmly against
the hub. Do not try to tighten
them f ully.Tighten the wheel nuts securely in
the same crisscross pattern. Have
the wheel nut torque checked at
the nearest automotive service
f acility.
Tighten the wheel nuts to:
Lower the car to the ground and
remove the jack.
13.
14.15.
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Changing a Flat T ire
266
( (E
E x
xcceep p t
t T
Ty
ypp e
e--R
R) )
80 lbf·ft (108 N·m , 11 kgf·m)

Remove the wheel cover or center
cap.
Place the flat tire face down in the
spare tire well.
Store the jack in its holder. Turn
the jack’s end bracket clockwise to
raisethejackandlockitinplace.
Screw the adapter into the hole in
the spare tire well.
Remove the spacer cone from the
wing bolt, turn it over, and put it
back on the bolt.Secure the f lat tire with the wing
bolt. Set the bass speaker inside the
wheel.
18.
19.
16.
17.
20.
21.
Type-S only:
All except Type-S:Type-S only:
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Changing a Flat T ire
267
A A
D
DA
AP
PT
TE
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R (
(T
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S
SPPA
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W
WI
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