warning Acura RSX 2005 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. 13 15
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.
FrontSeatAdjustments
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols
71

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Check the condition of the battery
monthlybylookingatthetest
indicator window. The label on the
battery explains the test indicator’s
colors.
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.
If additional battery maintenance is
needed, see your dealer or a
qualif ied technician.
Battery posts,
terminals, and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds.
If your vehicle’s battery is
disconnected or goes dead, your
driver’s power window loses its
calibration and must be
reprogrammed (see page ), and
your audio system will disable itself .
Thenexttimeyouturnontheradio
youwillsee‘‘ ’’inthe
f requency display. Use the Preset
buttons to enter the five-digit code
(see page ). 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.
78
112
Checking the Battery
WARNING:
Wash your hands af ter handling.
188
TEST INDICATOR WINDOW
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 ed
193
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.

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. Serious engine damage is
possible and you should take
immediate action. 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 ).
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
(see
on page
). If the charging system
indicator comes on brightly
when the engine is running, the
battery is not being charged.
Immediately turn of f all electrical
accessories. Try not to use other
electrically operated controls such as
the power windows. Keep the engine
running; starting the engine will
discharge the battery rapidly.
Go to a service station or garage
where you can get technical
assistance.
1.
2.
3.
4.
125
162
213
L ow Oil Pressure Indicator, Charging System Indicator
L ow Oil Pressure Indicator
Emergency T owingCharging System Indicator
204
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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Quality grades can be f ound where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between the tread shoulder and the
maximum section width. For
example: 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.
All passenger vehicle tires must
conf orm to Federal Saf ety
Requirements in addition to these
grades. The tires on your vehicle meet all
U.S. Federal Saf ety Requirements.
All tires are also graded f or
treadwear, traction, and temperature
perf ormance according to
Department of Transportation
(DOT) standards. The f ollowing
explains these gradings.
DOT T ire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
Unif orm T ire Quality Grading
T readwear 200
Traction AA
Temperature A Treadwear
Traction AA, A, B, C
220

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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)
Temperature A,B,C
T echnical Inf ormation
221

CONT INUED
Dipstick..........
Automatic Transmission . 167
..................................
Engine Oil .125
..........................
Directional Signals .61
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 146
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .165
Doors ..............
Locking and Unlocking . 67
......................
Power Door Locks .67
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 220
Downshif ting, 5-speed and6-speed
.............
Manual Transmissions . 136
.....................................
Drive Belts .170
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 7
...........................................
Driving .133
....................................
Economy .126
..............................
Economy, Fuel .126
Emergencies ............................
Jump Starting .200
.......................................
Towing .213
.........
Hazard Warning Flashers . 62
............
Emergencies on the Road . 191
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 200 ...........
Brake System Indicator . 206
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 193
.....
Charging System Indicator . 204
..................
Checking the Fuses . 208
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 204
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 205
...
Manually Closing Moonroof . 207
..................
Overheated Engine . 202
......................
Emergency Flashers .62
......................
Emergency Towing .213
.......................
Emissions Controls .223
.............
Emissions Testing, State . 226
Engine ....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 58
.................................
Drive Belts .170
......
Engine Speed Limiter . 137,143
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp .53, 205
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 53,204
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 162
...............................
Overheating .202
............................
Specif ications .218
.......................................
Starting .135
...................
Engine, .198
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 223
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .45 Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by .17
.....................................
Fan, Interior .88
...........................................
Features .87
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 122
Filters ...............................................
Oil .163
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 62
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 193
Fluids ..........
Automatic Transmission . 167
..........................................
Brake .169
.........................................
Clutch .169
..........................
Power Steering .171
..................
Windshield Washer . 167
FM Stereo Radio .....................................
Reception .96
...........................
Folding Rear Seat .73
..........................
Four-way Flashers .62
............................
Front Airbags .11, 22
if it won’t start
Index
F
E
INDEX
III

Front Seat......................................
Adjusting .71
.........................................
Heaters .74
...................................
Airbags .11, 22
.................................................
Fuel .121
......................
Fill Door and Cap .122
...........................................
Gauge .58
................
Octane Requirement . 121
........................
Reserve Indicator .54
........................
Tank, Filling the .122
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .208
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 126
.........................................
Gasoline .121
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 54
...........................................
Gauge .58
................
Octane Requirement . 121
........................
Tank, Filling the .122
................
Gas Station Procedures . 122
Gauges ...
Engine Coolant Temperature . 58
...............................................
Fuel .58
Gearshif t Lever Positions ..........
Automatic Transmission . 1395-speed and
6-speed Manual
.......................
Transmissions .136
........................................
Glove Box .84
.............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs . 172
................................................
Hatch .68
.................................
Opening the .68
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers . 62
Headlights ........................................
Aiming .172
............
Daytime Running Lights . 61
..................
High Beam Indicator . 54
........................
Reminder Beeper .61
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs . 172
...................................
Turning on .61
.....................................
Heater, Seat .74
.......................
Heating and Cooling .88
.............
High Altitude, Starting at . 135
.................
High-Low Beam Switch . 61
..............
High-mount Brake Light . 177
.......................
Hood, Opening the .123
..................................................
Horn .59
...........................
Hydraulic Clutch .169 ...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle . 216
Ignition ..............................................
Keys .64
...........................................
Switch .66
............
Timing Control System . 224
........................
Immobilizer System .65
.........
Important Safety Precautions . 8
Indicators .......
ABS (Anti-lock Brake) . 53,147
Brake (Parking and Brake ............................
System) .53, 206
................
Charging System . 53,204
.............................
Cruise Control .54
....................................
Door-open .54
DRL (Daytime Running ......................................
Lights) .55
...................................
High Beam .54
........
Key (Immobilizer System) . 54
......................................
Low Fuel .54
................
Low Oil Pressure . 53,204
...........................
Side Airbag Of f .52
...............................................
SRS .52
Turn Signal and Hazard ...................................
Warning .54
Index
G H
I
IV

Î
.................................................
VIN .216
..................................
Viscosity, Oil .162
.............
WARNING, Explanation of . ii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of . 46
..................
Warranty Coverages .229
Washer, Windshield ........
Checking the Fluid Level . 167
.......................................
Indicator .55
.....................................
Operation .60
Wheels ...............
Adjusting the Steering . 63
............
Alignment and Balance . 185
..........................
Compact Spare .192
......................................
Wrench .195
Windows ..................
Operating the Power . 77
...........................
Rear, Def ogger .62
Windshield .......................................
Cleaning .60
.....................................
Def roster .90
.......................................
Washers .60
Wipers, Windshield .......................
Changing Blades .180 .....................................
Operation .60
....................................
Worn Tires .184
.....
Wrecker, Emergency Towing . 213
: U.S. and Canada only
Index
W
INDEX
IX