maintenance Acura RSX 2004 Owner's Manual

2004 RSX Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com.
Contents


Owner's Identification Form
Introduction ........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safet y........................................................................\
.........................................ii
Your Vehicle at a Glanc e........................................................................\
.............................................2
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
......................................5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Control s........................................................................\
.........................................47
Instrume nt panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
........................87
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................119
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
......................................................................133
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
............................................................ .155
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Taking Care of the Unexpecte d........................................................................\
..............................191
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, and how to handle them.
Technical Informatio n........................................................................\
.............................................217
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................231
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manu als (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................236
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index........................................................................\
........................................................................\
...... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

Congratulations! Your selection of a 2004 Acura RSX was a wise investment.
It will give you years of driving pleasure.
One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new Acura is to read
this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls and
convenience items. Af terwards, keep this owner’s manual in your vehicle so
youcanrefertoitatanytime.
Several warranties protect your new Acura. Read the warranty booklet
thoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rights
and responsibilities.
Maintaining your vehicle according to the schedules given in this manual
helps to keep your driving trouble-f ree while it preserves your investment.
When your vehicle needs maintenance, keep in mind that your Acura dealer’s
staf f is specially trained in servicing the many systems unique to your Acura.
Your Acura dealer is dedicated to your satisf action and will be pleased to
answer any questions and concerns.
Calif ornia Proposition 65 WarningThis product contains or emits chemicals known to the State of
Calif ornia to cause cancer and birth def ects or other reproductive harm. As you read this manual, you will
f ind inf ormation that is preceded by
a
symbol. This
inf ormation is intended to help you
avoid damage to your Acura, other
property, or the environment.
Introduction
WARNING:
i

µµ
This section gives you important
inf ormation about how to protect
yourself and your passengers. It
shows you how to use seat belts
properly. It explains how your
airbags work. And it tells you how to
properly restrain infants and
children in your vehicle.
.........
Important Safety Precautions . 6
.......
Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features . 7
.......................................
Seat Belts .8
.........................................
Airbags .10
.........
Protecting Adults and Teens . 11
.....
1. Close and Lock the Doors . 11
...........
2. Adjust the Front Seats . 11
............
3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . 13
4. Fasten and Position the ...
Lap/Shoulder Seat Belts . 14
....
5. Adjust the Steering Wheel . 156. Maintain a Proper Sitting
................................
Position .16
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 17
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 17
Additional Inf ormation About Your .................................
Seat Belts .19
..
Seat Belt System Components . 19
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt .19
Automatic Seat Belt ...............................
Tensioners .20
...............
Seat Belt Maintenance . 21
Additional Inf ormation About ...........................
Your Airbags .22
......
Airbag System Components . 22
How Your Front Airbags .........................................
Work .22
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 25
..
How the SRS Indicator Works . 26
How the Side Airbag Cutof f ......................
Indicator Works .27
.............................
Airbag Service .28
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 28
Protecting Children General ................................
Guidelines .29
All Children Must Be ...............................
Restrained .29 All Children Should Sit in the
.................................
Back Seat .30
The Passenger’s Front Airbag .........
Can Pose Serious Risks . 30
If You Must Drive with Several ...................................
Children .31
If a Child Requires Close ..................................
Attention .32
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 32
...........................
Protecting Inf ants .33
.............
Protecting Small Children . 34
.....................
Selecting a Child Seat .35
....................
Installing a Child Seat .36
Installing a Child Seat Using .....................................
LATCH .37
Installing a Child Seat with a ..................
Lap/shoulder Belt . 39
Installing a Child Seat with a ......................................
Tether .40
...........
Protecting Larger Children . 41
...............
Checking Seat Belt Fit . 42
..................
Using a Booster Seat . 42
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 44
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 45
...................................
Saf ety Labels .46
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Driver and Passenger Saf ety5

You’ll f ind many saf ety
recommendations throughout this
section, and throughout this manual.
Therecommendationsonthispage
are the ones we consider to be the
most important.
A seat belt is your best protection in
all types of collisions. Airbags
supplement seat belts, but airbags
are designed to inf late only in a
moderate to severe f rontal collision.
So even though your vehicle is
equipped with airbags, make sure
you and your passengers always
wear your seat belts, and wear them
properly. (See page .)
Children age 12 and under should
ride properly restrained in a back
seat. Infants and small children
should be restrained in a child seat.
Larger children should use a booster
and a lap/shoulder belt until theycanusethebeltproperlywithouta
booster (see page ).
Alcohol and driving don’t mix. Even
one drink can reduce your ability to
respond to changing conditions, and
your reaction time gets worse with
every additional drink. So don’t drink
and drive, and don’t let your f riends
drink and drive, either. While airbags can save lives, they
can cause serious or fatal injuries to
occupants who sit too close to them,
or are not properly restrained.
Inf ants, young children, and short
adults are at the greatest risk. Be
sure to f ollow all instructions and
warnings in this manual (see page
). Excessive speed is a major f actor in
crash injuries and deaths. Generally,
the higher the speed, the greater the
risk, but serious injuries can also
occur at lower speeds. Never drive
f aster than is saf e f or current
conditions, regardless of the
maximum speed posted.
Having a tire blowout or a
mechanical f ailure can be extremely
hazardous. To reduce the possibility
of such problems, check your tire
pressures and condition f requently,
and perform all regularly scheduled
maintenance (see page ).
14 1041
159
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Important Saf ety Precautions
Always Wear Your Seat Belt
Restrain All ChildrenDon’t Drink and Drive Be Aware of Airbag Hazards
Control Your Speed
K eep Your Vehicle in Saf e
Condition
6

For saf ety, you should check the
condition of your seat belts regularly.
Acura provides a lif etime warranty
on seat belts f or U.S. models. See
your
booklet f or details.If a seat belt is worn during a crash,
it must be replaced by the dealer. A
belt that has been worn during a
crash may not provide the same level
of protection in a subsequent crash.
The dealer should also inspect the
anchors f or damage and replace
them if needed. If the automatic seat
belt tensioners activate during a
crash, they must be replaced.
For inf ormation on how to clean your
seat belts, see page .
Pull each belt out f ully and look f or
f rays, cuts, burns, and wear. Check
that the latches work smoothly and
the belts retract easily. Any belt that
is not in good condition or not
working properly will not provide
good protection and should be
replaced as soon as possible.
180
Acura Warranty Inf ormation
Additional Inf ormation About Your Seat Belts
Seat Belt Maintenance
Driver and Passenger Saf ety21
Not checking or maintaining
seat belts can result in serious
injury or death if the seat belts
do not work properly when
needed.
Check your seat belts regularly
and have any problem
corrected as soon as possible.

Your airbag systems are virtually
maintenance-f ree, and there are no
parts you can saf ely service.
However, you must have your
vehicle serviced if:Any airbag
that has deployed must be
replaced along with the control
unit. If a front airbag inflates, the
seat belt tensioners must also be
replaced. Do not try to remove or
replace any airbag by yourself.
This must be done by an Acura
dealer or a knowledgeable body
shop.
Take your vehicle to an
authorized Acura dealer as soon as
possible. If you ignore this
indication, your airbags may not
operate properly. Together, airbags and
seat belts provide the best
protection.
Tampering could cause
the airbags to deploy, possibly
causing very serious injury.
If water or another liquid
soaks into a seat-back, it can
prevent the side airbag cutof f
system f rom working properly. Improperly
replacing or covering f ront seat-
back covers can prevent your side
airbags f rom inf lating during a
side impact.
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Airbag Service Additional Saf ety Precautions
An airbag ever inf lates.
T he SRS indicat or alert s you t o aproblem. Donotattempttodeactivateyour
airbags.
Do not t amper wit h airbagcomponent s or wiring f or anyreason.
Do not expose t he f ront seat -backsto liquid. Do not cover or replace f ront seat -
back covers wit hout consult ing anAcura dealer.
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
28

...........................
Control Locations .48
............................
Instrument Panel .49
..........
Instrument Panel Indicators . 50
Maintenance Required ...................................
Indicator .54
.........
Security System Indicator . 55
.............................................
Gauges .56
.....................................
Odometer .56
...................................
Trip Meter .56
..................................
Fuel Gauge .57
...................
Temperature Gauge . 57
Controls Near the Steering ...........................................
Wheel .58 ......................
Wipers and Washers .59
...........
Turn Signal and Headlights . 60
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 61
.................
Hazard Warning Button . 61
.................
Rear Window Def ogger . 61
..........
Steering Wheel Adjustment . 62
...............................
Keys and Locks .63
........................
Immobilizer System .64
................................
Ignition Switch .65
......................................
Door Locks .67
.........
Power Door/Hatch Locks . 67
............................................
Hatch .68
.......................
Remote Transmitter .69
........................................
Glove Box .71
.................................................
Seats .72
....................................
Seat Heaters .75
...........................
Cargo Area Cover .76
..............................
Power Windows .78
.........................................
Moonroof .80
.............................................
Mirrors .80
.................................
Parking Brake .82
.................................
Interior Lights .83
...........
Interior Convenience Items . 84
.......................
Beverage Holders .85
..........
Accessory Power Sockets . 85
...............
Console Compartment . 86
This section gives inf ormation about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your Acura. All the essential controls
are within easy reach.
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Instruments and Controls
47

ÎÎ
ÎThe U.S. instrument panel is shown. Dif f erences f or the Canadian models are noted in the text.
Instrument Panel
Inst rument s and Cont rols49
HIGH BEAM INDICATORSUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM INDICATORSIDE AIRBAG CUT-OFF INDICATOR TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD
WARNING INDICATOR
LOW FUEL INDICATOR DOOR-OPEN INDICATOR
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR
CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR
PARKING BRAKE AND BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP
LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR
CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATOR MAINTENANCE REQUIRED
INDICATOR
IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM
INDICATOR
SECURITY SYSTEM
INDICATOR
SEAT BELT REMINDER INDICATOR
(P.
206)
(P. 51, 204)
(P. 51, 205) (P.
52)
(P. 51)
(P. 52)
(P. 54)
(P. 53)
(P. 55) (P.
50)
(P. 50)
(P.52)
(P. 52)
(P.52)
(P. 50)
(P.
51)

This indicator reminds you that it is
time to take your vehicle in for
scheduled maintenance.For the f irst 8,000 miles (12,800 km)
af ter the Maintenance Required
Indicator is reset, it will come on f or
two seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to ON (II).
Between 8,000 miles (12,800 km)
and 10,000 miles (16,000 km), it will
come on f or two seconds when you
f irst turn the ignition switch to ON
(II), and then f lash f or 10 seconds.
If you exceed 10,000 miles (16,000
km) without having the scheduled
maintenance perf ormed, this
indicator will remain on as a constant
reminder.
Ref er to the Maintenance Schedules
f or Normal and Severe Driving
Conditions on pages and . 159 160
Instrument Panel Indicators
Maintenance Required Indicator
Inst rument s and Cont rols54
MAINTENANCE REQUIRED INDICATOR

Your dealer will reset this indicator
af ter completing the scheduled
maintenance. If this maintenance is
done by someone other than your
Acura dealer, reset the indicator as
f ollows.Turn of f the engine.
Press and hold the select/reset
button in the instrument panel,
then turn the ignition switch to
ON (II).
Hold the button for about 10
seconds until the indicator goes
off.This indicator comes on when the
security system is set. See page
f or more inf ormation on the
security system.
1.
2.
3. 114
Instrument Panel Indicators
Security System Indicator
Inst rument s and Cont rols55
SELECT/RESET BUTTON
SECURITY SYSTEM INDICATOR