lights Acura RSX 2005 Owner's Guide

Theheadlightswereproperlyaimed
when your vehicle was new. If you
regularly carry heavy items in the
cargo area or pull a trailer,
readjustment may be required.
Adjustment should be done by your
dealer or other qualif ied mechanic.Your vehicle uses halogen headlight
bulbs. When replacing a bulb, handle
it by its plastic case and protect the
glass from contact with your skin or
hard objects. If you touch the glass,
clean it with denatured alcohol and a
clean cloth.
If you need to change the low
beam headlight bulb on the driver’s
side, remove the neck of the
windshield washer reservoir f rom
the bracket by sliding it to the lef t.
1.
Lights
Headlight A iming
Replacing a Headlight BulbReplacing a Low Beam Headlight
Bulb
172
Driver’s side
Halogen headlight bulbs get very hot
when lit. Oil, perspiration, or a scratch
on the glass can cause the bulb to
overheat and shatter.

Insert the new bulb into the hole,
making sure the tabs are in their
slots. Pivot the hold-down wire
back in place, and clip the end into
the slot.
Install the rubber seal and make
sure it is right side up; it is marked
‘‘TOP.’’
Pull the battery back to its original
position, then install the bolt in the
hold-down, and tighten it securely. Push the electrical connector onto
the tabs of the new bulb. Make
sureitlocksinplace.Turnonthe
headlights to test the new bulb.
Install the neck of the windshield
washer reservoir on the bracket.
Then remove the bolt f rom the
battery hold-down, and caref ully
push the battery toward the
windshield to obtain enough
working space.
Unclip the end of the hold-down
wire f rom its slot. Pivot it out of
the way, and remove the bulb. Remove the rubber weather seal
by pulling on the tab. Remove the electrical connector
f rom the bulb by pulling the
connector straight back.
3.
4. 5.
6.
7.
8.
2.
Lights
Driver’s Side
Maint enance
173
HOLD DOWN
WIRE
BULB
WEATHER SEAL
CONNECTOR

To change a high beam headlight
bulb, remove the electrical
connector f rom the bulb by
pushing on the tab and pulling the
connector down.
Remove the bulb by turning it one-
quarter turn counterclockwise.Insert the new bulb into the hole
and turn it one-quarter turn clock-
wise to lock it in place.
Push the electrical connector back
onto the bulb. Make sure it is on
all the way.
Turn on the headlights to test the
new 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.
3.
4.
5.
2. 1. 2. 1.
Lights
Replacing a Front T urn Signal
BulbReplacing a High Beam HeadlightBulb
174

Insert the socket into the
headlight assembly. Turn it
clockwise to lock it in place.
Testthelightstomakesurethe
new bulb is working.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.
The f ront parking light bulb is
above the high beam headlight
bulb.
3.
4.
1.2.
3.
4.
Lights
Replacing a Front Parking Light
Bulb
Maint enance
175

The f ront side marker light bulb is
above the low beam 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 lights to make sure
the new bulb is working.
2.
3.
1. 4.
Lights
Replacing a Front Side Marker
Light Bulb
176

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.
Open the hatch.
Remove the high-mount brake
light cover by pivoting it toward
the back of the vehicle.
Remove the socket by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise. Open the hatch. Remove the light
assembly cover by pulling on the
tabontheoutsideedge.
2.
3. 1. 4.
5.
6.
7.
1.
CONT INUED
Replacing Rear Bulbs
Replacing a High-mount Brake
Light Bulb
Lights
Maint enance
177
COVER
COVER BULB

Reinstall the socket into the light
assembly by turning it clockwise
until it locks.
Testthelightstomakesurethe
new bulb is working.
Install the light assembly cover.
Make sure it locks in place.
Pull the bulb straight out of its
socket. Push the new bulb straight
into the socket until it bottoms. Remove the socket by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise. Determine which of the f our bulbs
is burned out: brake/taillight, turn
signal light, side marker light, or
back-up light.
2.
3.
4. 5.
6.
7.
Lights
178

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.

Store the tool kit.
Store the wheel cover or center
cap in the cargo area. Make sure it
will not get scratched or damaged.Diagnosing why the 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. 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:
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
areverydimordonotcomeonat
all, the battery is discharged. See on page .
Reinstall the f loor mat and spare
tire cover, then close the hatch.
22.
23.
24.
200
Changing a Flat Tire, If the Engine Won’t Start
If the Engine Won’t StartNothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
Jump Starting
198
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,thereis
probably something wrong with
the electrical circuit f or the
ignition switch or starter motor.
You will need a qualif ied
technician to determine the
problem (see
on 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.
Are you using a properly coded
key? An improperly coded key will
cause the immobilizer system
indicator in the instrument panel
to blink rapidly (see page ).
Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Ref er to on page .
Do you have f uel? Check the f uel
gauge; the low f uel indicator may
not be working. 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 .
If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is
discharged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal
connections (see page ). You
canthentryjumpstartingthe
vehicle from a booster battery
(see page ). 200 188 135
213
65208
213
If theEngineWon’tStart
Emergency T owing T he Starter Operates Normally
Starting the
Engine Emergency
Towing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
199