instrument panel Acura RSX 2005 Owner's Manual

2005 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 Glance........................................................................\
.............................................4
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
..................................... .7
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Control s........................................................................\
........................................ .49
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
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 brea k-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........................................................................\
.............................................................153
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........................................................................\
.............................................215
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................227
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manu als (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................231
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.

Î
Î
To use the horn, press the center pad of the steering wheel.
:
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Your Vehicle at a Glance
5
TILT ADJUSTMENT INSTRUMENT PANEL
BRIGHTNESS WINDSHIELD WIPERS/
WASHERS
REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER
CRUISE CONTROL
MOONROOF
HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS HAZARD WARNING BUTTON
(P. 115) (P.
62) (P.62)
(P. 60)
(P. 62)
(P. 63)
(P. 61)
(P.
79)
HORN

Your vehicle is equipped with seat
belts in all seating positions.
Your seat belt system also includes
an indicator on the instrument panel
to remind you and your passengers
to f asten your seat belts.
However, you and your passengers
can’t take f ull advantage of these
f eatures unless you remain sitting in
a proper position and
. In f act, some saf ety
f eatures can contribute to injuries if
they are not used properly.
The f ollowing pages explain how you
cantakeanactiveroleinprotecting
yourself and your passengers. Seat belts are the single most ef f ective saf ety device f or adults and
larger children. (Inf ants and smaller
children must be properly restrained
in child seats.)
Not wearing a seat belt properly
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
though your vehicle has airbags.
In addition, most states and all
Canadian provinces require you to
wear seat belts.When properly worn, seat belts:
Keep you connected to the vehicle
so you can take advantage of the
vehicle’s built-in saf ety f eatures.
Help protect you in almost every
type of crash, including f rontal,
side, and rear impacts and
rollovers.
Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features
Seat Belts
always wear
your seat belt s
Why Wear Seat Belt s
10
Not wearing a seat belt properly
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
though your vehicle has airbags.
Be sure you and your
passengers always wear seat
belts and wear them properly.

µAf ter everyone has entered the
vehicle, be sure the doors are closed
and locked.
Adjust the driver’s seat as far to the
rear as possible while allowing you to
maintain f ull control of the vehicle.
Have a f ront passenger adjust their
seat as far to the rear as possible.
If you sit too close to the steering
wheel or dashboard, you can be
seriously injured by an inf lating f ront
airbag, or by striking the steering
wheel or dashboard.
See pages f or important
guidelines on how to properly
protect inf ants, small children, and
larger children who ride in your
vehicle.
Locking the doors also helps prevent
an outsider f rom unexpectedly
opening a door when you come to a
stop.Your vehicle has a door
monitor indicator on the
instrument panel to indicate when a
specif ic door is not tightly closed.
Locking the doors reduces the
chance of someone being thrown out
of the vehicle during a crash, and it
helps prevent passengers f rom
accidentally opening a door and
f alling out.
See page f or how to lock the
doors, and page f or how the door
monitor indicator works.
The f ollowing pages provide
instructions on how to properly
protect the driver, adult passengers
and teenage children who are large
enough and mature enough to drive
or ride in the f ront seat.
44
67
32
54
CONT INUED
IntroductionClose and L ock the DoorsA djust the Front Seats
1. 2.
Protecting A dults and Teens
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
13

CONT INUED
The lap and shoulder belt goes over
your shoulder, across your chest,
and across your hips.
To fasten the belt, insert the latch
plate into the buckle, then tug on the
belt to make sure the buckle is
latched (see page f or how to
properly position the belt).
To unlock the belt, push the red
PRESSbuttononthebuckle.Guide
the belt across your body so that it
retracts completely. Af ter exiting the
vehicle, be sure the belt is out of the
way and will not get closed in the
door.All seat belts have an emergency
locking retractor. In normal driving,
the retractor lets you move f reely in
your seat while it keeps some
tension on the belt. During a collision
or sudden stop, the retractor
automatically locks the belt to help
restrain your body.
The seat belts in all positions except
the driver’s have an additional
locking mechanism that must be
activated to secure a child seat (see
page ).
If the shoulder part of the belt is
pulled all the way out, the locking
mechanism will activate. The belt
will retract, but it will not allow the
passenger to move f reely.
Your seat belt system includes lap/
shoulder belts in all f our seating
positions. The f ront seat belts are
also equipped with automatic seat
belt tensioners.
The seat belt system
includes an indicator on the
instrument panel to remind you and
your passengers to f asten your belts.
If you turn the ignition switch to ON
(II) without f astening your belt, a
beeper will sound and the indicator
will blink. The beeper will stop af ter
a f ew seconds, but the indicator will
stay on until the driver’s seat belt is
f astened. 15
38
Additional Inf ormation About Your Seat Belts
Seat Belt System Components L ap/Shoulder Belt
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
19

Your airbag system includes:Two side airbags, one f or the
driver and one f or a f ront
passenger. The airbags are stored
in the outer edges of the seat-
backs. Both are marked ‘‘SIDE
AIRBAG’’ (see page ).
Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe frontal or side
impact. Two SRS (Supplemental Restraint
System) f ront airbags. The driver’s
airbag is stored in the center of
the steering wheel; the f ront
passenger’sairbagisstoredinthe
dashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRS
AIRBAG’’ (see page ).
Automatic front seat belt
tensioners (see page ). Emergency backup power in case
your vehicle’s electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.
An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you that the
passenger’s side airbag has been
turned of f (see page ). Sensors that can detect whether a
child is in the passenger’s side
airbag path and automatically turn
the airbag of f (see page ).
An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you to a possible
problem with your airbags,
sensors, or seat belt tensioners
(see page ). A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records inf ormation about the
sensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, the seat belt
tensioners, and driver and f ront
passenger seat belt use when the
ignition is in the ON (II) position.
23
20 26
27
25 25
A irbag System Components
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
22

This section gives inf ormation about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your vehicle. All the essential
controls are within easy reach............................
Control Locations .50
............................
Instrument Panel .51
..........
Instrument Panel Indicators . 52
.............................................
Gauges .57
.....................................
Odometer .57
...................................
Trip Meter .57
..................................
Fuel Gauge .58
...................
Temperature Gauge . 58
..........
Check Fuel Cap Indicator . 58
Controls Near the Steering ...........................................
Wheel .59
.
Windshield Wipers and Washers . 60
...........
Turn Signal and Headlights . 61
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 62
.................
Hazard Warning Button . 62
.................
Rear Window Def ogger . 62
..........
Steering Wheel Adjustment . 63
...............................
Keys and Locks .64
........................
Immobilizer System .65
................................
Ignition Switch .66
......................................
Door Locks .67
.........
Power Door/Hatch Locks . 67
............................................
Hatch .68
.......................
Remote Transmitter .69
.................................................
Seats .71
....................................
Seat Heaters .74 ...........................
Cargo Area Cover .75
..............................
Power Windows .77
.........................................
Moonroof .79
.............................................
Mirrors .79
.................................
Parking Brake .81
...........
Interior Convenience Items . 82
.......................
Beverage Holders .83
..........
Accessory Power Sockets . 83
...............
Console Compartment . 84
....................................
Glove Box .84
..............................
Vanity Mirror .85
....................................
Coat Hook .85
.................................
Interior Lights .86
Instruments and Controls
Inst rument s and Cont rols
49

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 rols
51
HIGH BEAM 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 (P.
54)
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR (P. 53)
(P. 54)
(P. 54)
(P. 56)
(P.
55)
(P.53)
(P. 205)
(P. 53, 204)
(P. 53, 204) SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM INDICATOR
(P.
52)
SIDE AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR (P. 52)
TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD
WARNING INDICATOR (P.
54)
(P. 52)
SEAT BELT REMINDER
INDICATOR
(P. 54) SELECT/RESET
BUTTON
DOOR-OPEN INDICATOR
LOW FUEL INDICATOR (P.
54)

The instrument panel has many
indicators to give you important
inf ormation about your vehicle.
This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch to ON (II). It
reminds you and your passengers to
f asten your seat belts. A beeper also
sounds if you have not f astened your
seat belt.
If you do not f asten your seat belt,
the beeper will stop af ter a f ew
seconds but the indicator stays on
until you do. Both the indicator and
the beeper stay of f if you f asten your
seat belt bef ore turning on the
ignition.This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch to ON (II). If
it comes on at any other time, it
indicates a potential problem with
your f ront airbags. This indicator will
also alert you to a potential problem
with your side airbags, passenger’s
side airbag automatic cutoff system,
or automatic seat belt tensioners.
For more inf ormation, see page .
This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch to ON (II). If
it comes on at any other time, it
indicates that the passenger’s side
airbag has automatically shut off.
For more inf ormation, see page .
26 27
Instrument Panel Indicators
Supplemental Restraint
System Indicator
Seat Belt Reminder
Indicator Side A irbag Of f
Indicator
52
U.S.
Canada

This indicator has two f unctions:Itcomesonwhenyouturnthe
ignition switch to ON (II). It is a
reminder to check the parking
brake. Driving with the parking
brake not f ully released can
damage the brakes and tires.
If it remains lit af ter you f ully
release the parking brake while
the engine is running, or if it
comes on while driving, there
could be a problem with the brake
system. For more inf ormation, see
page . If this indicator comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged. For more inf ormation,
see page .
The engine can be severely damaged
if this indicator f lashes or stays on
when the engine is running. For
more inf ormation, see page .
See page .
This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to ON (II), and when
the ignition switch is turned to
START (III). If it comes on at any
other time, there is a problem with
theABS.If thishappens,haveyour
vehicle checked at a dealer. With
this on, your vehicle still has normal
braking ability but no anti-lock
brakes. For more inf ormation, see
page .
1.
2.
204
147
206 204
205
Parking Brake
and Brake
System
Indicator
Charging System
Indicator
L ow Oil Pressure
Indicator
Malf unction Indicator
Lamp
Anti-lock Brake System
(A BS) Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
Inst rument s and Cont rols
53
U.S. Canada