warning Acura RSX 2004 User Guide

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See pages f or important saf ety
inf ormation and warnings about how toproperly position seats and seat-backs. 11 13
Make all seat adjustments bef ore
you start driving.
To adjust the seat forward and
backward, pull up on the bar under
the seat cushion’s f ront edge. Then
trytomovetheseattomakesureit
is locked in position.To change the seat-back angle, pull
up on the lever on the outside of the
seat bottom.
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols
FrontSeatAdjustments
72

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If additional battery maintenance is
needed, see your Acura dealer or a
qualif ied technician. Battery posts,
terminals, and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds. If you need to connect the battery to
a charger, disconnect both cables to
prevent damaging your vehicle’s
electrical system. Always disconnect
the negative ( ) cable first, and
reconnect it last.
Check the terminals f or corrosion (a
white or yellowish powder). To
remove it, cover the terminals with a
solution of baking soda and water. It
will bubble up and turn brown. When
this stops, wash it of f with plain
water. Dry off the battery with a
cloth or paper towel. Coat the
terminals with grease to help prevent
f urther corrosion.
WARNING:
Wash your hands af ter handling.
Maint enance
Checking the Battery
189
The battery gives off explosive
hydrogen gas during normal
operation.
A spark or flame can cause the
battery to explode with enough
force to kill or seriously hurt you.
Wear protective clothing and a
face shield, or have a skilled
mechanic do the battery
maintenance.

CONT INUED
If you have a f lat tire while driving,
stop in a saf e place to change it.
Drive slowly along the shoulder until
you get to an exit or an area to stop
that is far away from the traffic lanes.Park the vehicle on f irm, level, and
non-slippery ground. Put the
transmission in Park (automatic)
or Reverse (manual). Apply the
parking brake. If you are towing a
trailer, unhitch the trailer.Turn on the hazard warning lights,
andturntheignitionswitchto
LOCK (0). Have all the
passengers get out of the vehicle
while you change the tire.
Open the hatch. Pull up the f loor
mat and remove the spare tire
cover.
Unscrew the wing bolt.
1. 2.
3.
4.
Changing a Flat T ire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed193
TOOL KIT
JACK
The vehicle can easily roll off
the jack, seriously injuring
anyone underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the vehicle
when it is supported only by the
jack.

The pointer of your vehicle’s
temperature gauge should stay in
the midrange. If it climbs to the red
mark, you should determine the
reason (hot day, driving up a steep
hill, etc.).If your vehicle overheats, you should
take immediate action. 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.
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 all accessories, and
turn on the hazard warning
indicators. If you see steam and/or spray
coming f rom under the hood, turn
of f the engine. Wait until you see
no more signs of steam or spray,
then open the hood.
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,
the engine should start to cool
down almost immediately. If it
does, wait until the temperature
gauge comes down to the midpoint,
then continue driving.
If the temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn of f the engine.
1. 2.
3.
4.
If theEngineOverheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed202
NOTICE: 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.

Start the engine, and watch the oil
pressure indicator. If it does not go
out within 10 seconds, turn of f the
engine. There is a mechanical
problem that needs to be repaired
bef ore you can continue driving
(seeon page
).
Saf ely pull of f the road, and shut
of f the engine. Turn on the hazard
warning indicators.
Let the vehicle sit f or a minute.
Open the hood, and check the oil
level (see page ). An engine
very low on oil can lose pressure
during cornering and other driving
maneuvers.
If necessary, add oil to bring the
level back to the full mark on the
dipstick (see page ).
This indicator should never
come on when the engine is
running. If it starts f lashing or stays
on, the oil pressure has dropped very
low or lost pressure. Serious engine
damage is possible and you should
take immediate action. 1.
2.
3. 4.
125 164 215
L ow Oil Pressure Indicator
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Emergency T owing
204
NOTICE:
Running the engine with low
oil pressure can cause serious
mechanical damage almost immediately.
Turn of f the engine as soon as you can
saf ely get the vehicle stopped.

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The tires on your car meet all U.S.
Federal Saf ety Requirements. All
tires are also graded for treadwear,
traction, and temperature perform-
ance according to Department of
Transportation (DOT) standards.
The f ollowing explains these
gradings.
Quality grades can be f ound where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between the tread shoulder and the
maximum section width. For
example:
All passenger vehicle tires must
conf orm to Federal Saf ety
Requirements in addition to these
grades. The treadwear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specif ied government
test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one-
half (1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded
100. The relative perf ormance of
tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may
depart signif icantly f rom the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and dif f erences in
road characteristics and climate.
The traction grades, f rom highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those
grades represent the tire’s ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on
specif ied government test surf aces
of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction
perf ormance.
Warning: The traction grade
assignedtothistireisbasedon
straight-ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.
DOT T ire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
T echnical Inf ormation
Unif orm T ire Quality Grading
T readwear 200
Traction AA
Temperature A
DOT Quality Grades Treadwear
Traction AA, A, B, C
222

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The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled
conditions on a specif ied indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high
temperature can cause the material
of the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire f ailure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of
perf ormance, which all passenger
vehicle tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Saf ety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of
perf ormance on the laboratory test
wheel than the minimum required by
law. Warning: The temperature grade f or
this tire is established f or a tire that
is properly inf lated and not over-
loaded. Excessive speed, underinf la-
tion, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can
cause heat buildup and possible tire
f ailure.
DOT T ire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
T echnical Inf ormation
Temperature A,B,C
223

CONT INUED
Dipstick..........
Automatic Transmission . 169
..................................
Engine Oil .125
..........................
Directional Signals .60
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 146
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .167
Doors ..............
Locking and Unlocking . 67
......................
Power Door Locks .67
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 222
Downshif ting, 5-speed and6-speed
.............
Manual Transmissions . 136
.....................................
Drive Belts .172
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5
...........................................
Driving .133
....................................
Economy .126 .....................................
Fan, Interior .90
Features, Comfort and ................................
Convenience .87
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 122
Filters ...............................................
Oil .165
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 61
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 193
Fluids ..........
Automatic Transmission . 169
..........................................
Brake .171
.........................................
Clutch .172
..............
Manual Transmission . 170
..........................
Power Steering .173
..................
Windshield Washer . 167
FM Stereo Radio .....................................
Reception .93
...........................
Folding Rear Seat .74
..........................
Four-way Flashers .61
..............................
Economy, Fuel .126
Emergencies ............................
Jump Starting .200
.......................................
Towing .215
.........
Hazard Warning Flashers . 61
............
Emergencies on the Road . 191
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 200 ...........
Brake System Indicator . 208
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 193
.....
Charging System Indicator . 205
..................
Checking the Fuses . 211
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 204
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 206
...
Manually Closing Moonroof . 209
..................
Overheated Engine . 202
......................
Emergency Flashers .61
......................
Emergency Towing .215
.......................
Emissions Controls .225
.............
Emissions Testing, State . 228
Engine ....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 57
.................................
Drive Belts .172
......
Engine Speed Limiter . 137,143
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp .51, 206
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 51,204
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 164
...............................
Overheating .202
............................
Specif ications .220
.......................................
Starting .135
...................
Engine, .135
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 225
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .45 Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by .17
if it won’t start
Index
F
E
III

............................
Front Airbags .10, 22
Front Seat ......................................
Adjusting .72
.........................................
Heaters .75
...................................
Airbags .10, 22
.................................................
Fuel .121
......................
Fill Door and Cap .122
...........................................
Gauge .57
................
Octane Requirement . 121
........................
Reserve Indicator .52
........................
Tank, Filling the .122
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .211
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 126
.........................................
Gasoline .121
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 52
...........................................
Gauge .57
................
Octane Requirement . 121
........................
Tank, Filling the .122
................
Gas Station Procedures . 122
Gauges ...
Engine Coolant Temperature . 57
...............................................
Fuel .57 Gearshif t Lever Positions
..........
Automatic Transmission . 139
5-speed and 6-speed Manual
.......................
Transmissions .136
........................................
Glove Box .71
.............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs . 174
................................................
Hatch .68
.................................
Opening the .68
............................
Open Indicator .52
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers . 61
Headlights ........................................
Aiming .174
............
Daytime Running Lights . 60
..................
High Beam Indicator . 52
........................
Reminder Beeper .60
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs . 174
...................................
Turning on .60
.....................................
Heater, Seat .75
.......................
Heating and Cooling .88
.............
High Altitude, Starting at . 135
.................
High-Low Beam Switch . 60
..............
High-mount Brake Light . 178
....................................
Hood Latch .173 .......................
Hood, Opening the .123
..................................................
Horn .58
...........................
Hydraulic Clutch .172
...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle . 218
Ignition ..............................................
Keys .63
...........................................
Switch .65
............
Timing Control System . 226
........................
Immobilizer System .64
.........
Important Safety Precautions . 6
Indicators ...............
ABS (Anti-lock Brake) . 51
Brake (Parking and Brake ....................................
System) .51
................
Charging System . 51,205
.............................
Cruise Control .52
....................................
Door-open .52
DRL (Daytime Running ......................................
Lights) .53
...................................
High Beam .52
........
Key (Immobilizer System) . 53
......................................
Low Fuel .52
................
Low Oil Pressure . 51,204
Index
G H
I
IV

CONT INUED
...........................
Side Airbag Of f .50
...............................................
SRS .50
Turn Signal and Hazard ...................................
Warning .52
..............................
Washer Level .53
.........
Indicators, Instrument Panel . 49
...............................
Inf ant Restraint .33
Inf ant Seats .........................................
LATCH .37
...........................
Lower Anchors .37
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 40
...................
Inf lation, Proper Tire . 183
...................................
Inside Mirror .80
.............................
Inspection, Tire .185
........................
Instrument Panel .2 ,49
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 61
..........
Instrument Panel Indicators . 50
.................................
Interior Lights .83
........................................
Introduction . i
.................
Jacking up the Vehicle . 195
.......................................
Jack, Tire .194
................................
Jump Starting .200 ..................................................
Keys .63
.......................
Label, Certif ication .218
.................
Lane Change, Signaling . 60
..................
Lap/Shoulder Belts . 14,19
...........
LATCH Anchorage System . 37
Lights ....................
Bulb Replacement .174
.....................................
Load Limit .130
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) . 65
Locks .......
Anti-thef t Steering Column . 65
............................
Fuel Fill Door .122
....................................
Glove Box .71
............................................
Hatch .68
..............
Power Door and Hatch . 67
........................
Low Coolant Level .125
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator .52
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 51,204
.................................
Lower Anchor .37
...
Lower Gear, Downshif ting to a . 136Lubricant Specif ications
..................................
Chart .220, 221
..............
Luggage, .129
.....
Luggage Cover (Cargo Cover) . 76
..................................
Maintenance .155
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 158
........................................
Record .161
......................
Required Indicator .54
..........................................
Saf ety .156
.............................
Schedule .159-160
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 51,206
...................
Manual Transmission . 136
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 170
................................
Shif ting the .136
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 170
...............................
Meters, Gauges .56
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .81
...............
Modif ying Your Vehicle . 128
.........................................
Moonroof .80
......................
Closing Manually .209
.....................................
Operation .80
Storing (Cargo)
Index
J K
L
M
V