lights Acura RSX 2003 Service Manual

Insert the socket back into the
headlight assembly. Turn it
clockwise to lock it in place.
Testthelightstomakesurethe
new bulb is working.
Install the power steering
reservoir on the bracket.
Open the hood.
(Passenger’s side)
Remove the power steering
reservoir f rom the bracket. Remove the socket from the
headlight assembly by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise.
Pull the bulb straight out of its
socket.
Push the new bulb straight into
the socket until it bottoms.
1.
2.
3.
4.5.
6.
7. (Passenger’s side)
Lights
Maint enance
Replacing a Front T urn Signal
Light Bulb
246
Passenger’s side
POWER STEERING RESERVOIR
BULB

Open the hood. The f ront parking
light is next to the headlight bulb.
Remove the socket from the
headlight assembly by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise.Pull the bulb straight out of its
socket.
Push the new bulb straight into
the socket until it bottoms.
Insert the socket back into the
headlight assembly. Turn it
clockwise to lock it in place.
Turn on the parking lights and
check that the new bulb is
working.
Open the hatch.
Remove the high-mount brake
light cover by pivoting it toward
the back of the car.
Remove the socket by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise.
1.
3.
2. 3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
CONT INUED
Lights
Maint enance
Replacing a High-mount Brake
Light Bulb
Replacing a Front Parking L ight
Bulb
247
BULB
BULB
COVER

Pull the bulb straight out of its
socket.
Push the new bulb straight into
the socket until it bottoms.
Insert the socket back into the
light assembly. Turn it clockwise
to lock it in place.
Testthelightstomakesurethe
new bulb is working.
Reinstall the high-mount brake
light cover.Insert a flat-tipped screwdriver
between the lef t edge of the lens
and the housing. The lens will
come down.Pull the bulb straight out of its
socket. Push the new bulb in until
it bottoms in the socket.
Testthelightstomakesurethe
new bulb is working.
Put the lens back into the light
assembly, right side f irst. Push on
the lef t edge until it snaps into
place.
4.
5.
6.
7.
1.2.
3.
4.
Lights
Maint enance
Replacing a Rear License Plate
Bulb
248
BULB

Remove the socket by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise.
Pull the bulb straight out of its
socket.
Push the new bulb straight into
the socket until it bottoms.Reinstall the socket into the light
assembly by turning it clockwise
until it locks.
Install the light assembly cover.
Make sure it locks in place. Testthelightstomakesurethe
new bulb is working.
Open the hatch. Remove the light
assembly cover by pulling on the
tabontheoutsideedge. Determinewhichof thefivebulbs
is burned out: brake/taillight, turn
signal light, side marker light,
back-up light, or taillight.
2.
3.
1.
4.5.
6.
7.
Lights
Maint enance
Replacing Rear Bulbs
249
COVER

Removethelensbycarefully
prying on the edge of the lens with
a f ingernail f ile or a small f lat-tip
screwdriver. Do not pry on the
edge of the housing around the
lens.Remove the bulb by pulling it
straight out of its metal tabs.
Push the new bulb into the metal
tabs. Snap the lens back in place.
Remove the cargo area light
assembly by caref ully prying on
the lef t edge of the lens with a f lat-
tip screwdriver and pulling the
assembly out. Open the hatch.
1. 2.
3.
1.
2.
Lights
Maint enance
Replacing a Ceiling L ight Bulb Replacing a Cargo A rea L ight
Bulb
250
BULB
BULB

Remove the bulb by pulling it
straight out of the bulb holder.
Push the new bulb into the bulb
holder.
Reinstall the lens by inserting the
outside edge first, then pushing on
the inside edge.
Remove the lens of the burned out
bulb by caref ully prying on the
edge between the lenses with a
f ingernail f ile or a small f lat-tipped
screwdriver.
Pull the bulb straight out of its
socket.
Push the new bulb straight into
the socket until it bottoms.
Testthelightstomakesurethe
new bulb is working.
Slide the right side of the light
assembly into the hole. Push on
theleftsidetolatchtheassembly
into place.
1. 2.
3.
4.
5.
3.
4.
Lights
Maint enance
Replacing the Spotlight Bulbs
251
BULB

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
traffic. 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,
and turn the ignition switch to
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
TOOL KIT
JACK
The 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.

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.
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 .
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. Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Ref er to on page .
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. 280
285
285
226 270 75
169
If Your Engine Won’t Start
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Emergency T owing T he Starter Operates Normally
Emergency
Towing
Starting the
Engine
269

´´
To jump start your car, f ollow these
directions closely:
Open the hood and check the
physical condition of the battery
(see page ). In very cold
weather, check the condition of
the electrolyte. If it seems slushy
or like ice, do not try jump starting
until it thaws.
Turn of f all the electrical acces-
sories: heater, A/C, stereo system,
lights, etc.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park, and set the parking brake. Connect one jumper cable to the
positive ( ) terminal on your
Acura’s battery. Connect the other
end to the positive ( ) terminal
on the booster battery.
If your car’s battery has run down,
you may be able to start the engine
by using a booster battery. Although
this seems like a simple procedure,
you should take several precautions.
You cannot start an Acura with an
automatic transmission by pushing
or pulling it. 1.
2.
3.
191
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Jump Starting
270
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.
If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can f reeze.
Attempting to jump start with a f rozen
battery can cause it to rupture.