heating Acura RSX 2003 User Guide

Theheatingandcoolingsystemhas
temperature sensors located next to
the steering column and in the top of
the dashboard. Do not cover the
sensors or spill any liquid on them. T emperature Sensors
Heating and Cooling
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures108

The manual transmission is syn-
chronizedinallforwardgearsfor
smooth operation. It has a lockout so
you cannot shift directly from Fifth
to Reverse. When shif ting up or
down,makesureyoupushtheclutch
pedal down all the way, shift to the
next gear, and let the pedal up
gradually. When you are not shif ting,
do not rest your f oot on the clutch
pedal. This can cause your clutch to
wear out faster.When slowing down, you can get
extra braking f rom the engine by
shifting to a lower gear. This extra
braking can help you maintain a safe
speed and prevent your brakes f rom
overheating while going down a
steep hill. Bef ore downshif ting,
make sure engine speed will not go
into the tachometer’s red zone in the
lower gear. Come to a full stop before you shift
into Reverse. You can damage the
transmission by trying to shif t into
Reverse with the car moving. Push
down the clutch pedal, and pause f or
a f ew seconds bef ore shif ting into
Reverse, or shif t into one of the
f orward gears f or a moment. This
stops the gears so they won’t ‘‘grind.’’
Driving
5-speed and 6-speed Manual T ransmissions
170
Rapid slowing or speeding-up
can cause loss of control on
slippery surfaces. If you crash,
you can be injured.
Use extra care when driving on
slippery surfaces.

To replace it:Open the glove box. Remove the
hooks on the side panels by pulling
out on the tabs. Pivot the glove
box out of the way.
The dust and pollen f ilter is located
behind the glove box.
This f ilter should be replaced every
30,000 miles (48,000 km) under
normal conditions. It should be
replaced every 15,000 miles (24,000
km) if you drive primarily in urban
areas that have high concentrations
of soot in the air f rom industry and
diesel-powered vehicles. Replace it
more of ten if air f low f rom the
heating and cooling system becomes
less than usual. The dust and pollen f ilter removes
pollen and dust that is brought in
f rom the outside through the heating
andcoolingsystem.
Remove the dust and pollen f ilter
cover by pushing up on the lock
tab, then pivoting up the cover.
1. 2.
U.S. : All models
Canada : Premium and Type-S Optional on RSX Replacement
Dust and Pollen Filter
Maint enance232
HOOKS
TABCOVER

If you see steam and/or spray
coming f rom under the hood, turn
of f the engine.
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
(climbing a long, steep hill on a
hot day with the A/C running, for
example), the engine should start
to cool down almost immediately.
If it does, wait until the tempera-
ture gauge comes down to the mid-
point then continue driving.
Saf ely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park, and set the parking brake.
Turn of f the heating and cooling
system and all other accessories.
Turn on the hazard warning
indicators. If the temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn of f the engine.
Wait until you see no more signs
of steam or spray, then open the
hood.
The pointer of your car’s tempera-
ture gauge should stay in the mid-
range under most conditions. It may
go higher if you are driving up a long
steep hill on a very hot day. If it
climbs to the red mark, you should
determine the reason.
Your car can overheat f or several
reasons, such as lack of coolant or a
mechanical problem. The only
indication may be the temperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming f rom under the hood.
In either case, you should take
immediate action.
1. 2.
3.
4.
5.
If Your Engine Overheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed272
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 your engine.

CONT INUED
..............................
Economy, Fuel .161
............
Emergencies on the Road . 261
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 270
...........
Brake System Indicator . 278
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 263
.....
Charging System Indicator . 275
..................
Checking the Fuses . 281
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 274
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 276
...
Manually Closing Moonroof . 279
..................
Overheated Engine . 272
...........................
Emergency Brake .95
......................
Emergency Flashers .73
......................
Emergency Towing .285 .......................
Emissions Controls .296
.............
Emissions Testing, State . 299
Engine ....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 67
.................................
Drive Belts .234
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp .61, 276
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 61,274
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 207
...............................
Overheating .272
............................
Specif ications .290
.......................................
Starting .169
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .294
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 296
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .54
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .25
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 254
............................
Fabric, Cleaning .257
...................................
Fan, Interior .102
Features, Comfort and ..............................
Convenience .101
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 156Filters
................................
Air Cleaner .222
...............................................
Oil .209
Manual Transmission ...............
Checking Fluid Level . 219
................................
Shif ting the .170
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 73
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 263
Fluids ..........
Automatic Transmission . 217
..........................................
Brake .219
.........................................
Clutch .220
..............
Manual Transmission . 219
..........................
Power Steering .221
..................
Windshield Washer . 216
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception .126
...........................
Folding Rear Seat .87
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 295
..........................
Four-way Flashers .73
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 292
Downshif ting, 5-speed and 6-speed ..............
Manual Transmission . 170
.....................................
Drive Belts .234
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5
...........................................
Driving .167
....................................
Economy .161
.........................
In Bad Weather .184
................
In Foreign Countries . 295
Index
E
F
III

.................................................
Fuel .155
......................
Fill Door and Cap .156
...........................................
Gauge .67
................
Octane Requirement . 155
...............................
Oxygenated .294
........................
Reserve Indicator .62
........................
Tank, Filling the .156
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .280 ...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle . 288
Ignition ..............................................
Keys .75
...........................................
Switch .77
............
Timing Control System . 297
........................
Immobilizer System .76
.........
Important Safety Precautions . 6
Indicators, Instrument .............................................
Panel .59
...............................
Inf ant Restraint .21
......................................
Inf ant Seats .30
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 41
.........................................
LATCH .42
...................
Inf lation, Proper Tire . 235
...................................
Inside Mirror .94
.............................
Inspection, Tire .236
........................
Instrument Panel .2 ,58
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 70
...........................
Interior Cleaning .256
.................................
Interior Lights .99
.............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs . 244
................................................
Hatch .80
.................................
Opening the .80
...................
Open Monitor Light . 62
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers . 73
Headlights ........................................
Aiming .244
............
Daytime Running Lights . 69
..................
High Beam Indicator . 62
.........................
Reminder Chime .69
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs . 244
...................................
Turning on .69
..............................
Head Restraints .11
.....................
Heating and Cooling .102
.............
High Altitude, Starting at . 169
.................
High-Low Beam Switch . 69
..............
High-mount Brake Light . 247
....................................
Hood Latch .224
.......................
Hood, Opening the .157 ..................................................
Horn .68
...........................
Hydraulic Clutch .220
.................................
Hydroplaning .185
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 161
..........................................
Gasohol .294
.........................................
Gasoline .155
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 62
...........................................
Gauge .66
................
Octane Requirement . 155
........................
Tank, Filling the .156
................
Gas Station Procedures . 156
Gauges ...
Engine Coolant Temperature . 67
...............................................
Fuel .67
...............................
Speedometer .66
.................................
Tachometer .66
Gearshif t Lever Positions ..........
Automatic Transmission . 1735-speed and 6-speed Manual
.........................
Transmission .170
..............................
Glass Cleaning .258
........................................
Glove Box .84
Index
G H
I
IV

Oil........................
Change, How to .209
......................
Change, When to .198
......................
Checking Engine .159
..............
Pressure Indicator . 61,274
Selecting Proper Viscosity ......................................
Chart .208
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 78
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor ....................................
Recovery .297
..
Operation in Foreign Countries . 287
..............................
Outside Mirrors .94
....................
Overheating, Engine .272
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels .294
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 205
..............................
Paint Touch-up .255
..............
Panel Brightness Control . 70
........................
Park Gear Position .174
...........................................
Parking .180
.................................
Parking Brake .95
........................
Parking Lights .69, 247
..
Parking Over Things that Burn . 180
.............................
PGM-FI System .297 ..................
Polishing and Waxing . 255
............
Pre-Drive Saf ety Checklist . 12
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . 19
............................
Protecting Adults .13
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 19
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 19
........................
Protecting Children .21
.......................
Protecting Inf ants .30
.......
Protecting Larger Children . 37
.........
Protecting Small Children . 34
Using Child Seats with .....................................
Tethers .41
.............................
Using LATCH .42
...................
Radiator Overheating . 272
.............
Radio/CD Sound System . 125
...........................
Readiness Codes .299
..
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement . 249
............................
Rear Seat Access .86
..........................
Rear Seat, Folding .87
............................
Rear View Mirror .94
.................
Rear Window Def ogger . 73
....................
Rear Window Washer .72
.......................
Rear Window Wiper .72 ...............
Reclining the Seat Backs . 85
.......
Recommended Shif t Speeds . 171
.............................
Reminder Lights .59
Replacement Inf ormation .................
Air Cleaner Element . 222
.......................................
Coolant .214
................
Engine Oil and Filter . 209
..........................................
Fuses .280
................................
Light Bulbs .244
....................................
Schedule .198
................................
Spark Plugs .224
...........................................
Tires .235
.............................
Wiper Blades .229
Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a ............................................
Crash .46
...
Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant . 212
...............................
Restraint, Child .21
..................
Reverse Gear Position . 174
................................
Rotation, Tire .238
..................................
Saf ety Belts .8, 48
.................................
Saf ety Features .7
.........................................
Airbags .10
..................................
Door Locks .11
Index
P R
S
VI