lock Acura RSX 2006 Owner's Guide

Air conditioning places an extra load
on the engine. Watch the engine
coolant temperature gauge (see page) when using the A/C in heavy
traf f ic or driving up long hills. If it
moves near the red zone, turn of f the
air conditioning until the gauge
reads normally. The main air flow comes out
of the dashboard vents.
Airf low is divided between
the vents in the dashboard and the
f loor vents.
The main air f low is directed
to the floor vents.
The main air f low is divided
between the f loor vents and
defroster vents at the base of the
windshield.
The main air f low is directed
to the windshield for faster
def rosting or def ogging. To def rost
or defog, turn the temperature
control dial to maximum. Select , and set the f an speed to
high.
This button controls the source of air
going into the system. When the
indicator in this button is on, the
system is recirculating the interior
air (recirculation mode). When the
indicator is of f , f resh air is brought
in f rom outside the vehicle (f resh air
mode). Push the button to change
between recirculated and f resh air.
Use recirculation mode to heat or
cool the interior more quickly or to
keep out smoke and dust. Leaving
the system in the recirculation mode
with the A/C off can cause the
windows to f og up. Switch to f resh air mode as soon as the interior
reaches a comf ortable temperature
or the outside smoky, dusty
condition clears.
When the dial is set to AUTO, the
system controls the f an speed
automatically. You can manually select the f an
speed by turning the f an speed
control dial. Turning this dial
clockwise increases the f an speed,
which increases air flow.
In AUTO mode, the system controls
the airf low direction automatically
between the dashboard vents and
the f loor vents. Some air will come out of the side
vents in all modes. Use this dial to select the direction of
airf low coming out of the system.
58
Vents, Heating, and A/C
Recirculat ion But t on
Fan Speed
Mode Cont rol Dial
90

If your vehicle’s battery is
disconnected or goes dead, you will
need to set the clock.
Press and hold the CLOCK button.
ChangethehourbypressingtheH
button until the numbers advance to
the desired time. Change the
minutes by pressing the M button
until the numbers advance to the
desired time. When you are f inished,
release the CLOCK button.
You can quickly set the time to the
nearest hour. If the displayed time is
bef ore the half hour, pressing and
holding the CLOCK button, then
pressing the R (RESET) button sets
the clock back to the previous hour.
If the displayed time is after the half
hour, the clock sets f orward to the
beginning of the next hour.
For example: 1:06 will reset to 1:001:52 will reset to 2:00
Setting the Clock
Features
105
CLOCK BUTTON
All models except Type-S
HOUR BUTTONRESET BUTTON
MINUTE BUTTON

If your vehicle’s battery is
disconnected or goes dead, you will
need to set the clock.
Press and hold the CLOCK button.
ChangethehourbypressingtheH
button until the numbers advance to
the desired time. Change the
minutes by pressing the M button
until the numbers advance to the
desired time. When you are f inished,
release the CLOCK button.
You can quickly set the time to the
nearest hour. If the displayed time is
bef ore the half hour, pressing and
holding the CLOCK button, then
pressing the R (RESET) button sets
the clock back to the previous hour.
If the displayed time is after the half
hour, the clock sets f orward to the
beginning of the next hour.
For example: 1:06 will reset to 1:001:52 will reset to 2:00
Setting the Clock
120
Type-S model
CLOCK BUTTON HOUR BUTTON MINUTE BUTTON RESET BUTTON

The security system helps to protect
your vehicle and valuables f rom thef t.
The horn sounds and a combination
of headlights, parking lights, side
marker lights, and taillights f lash if
someone attempts to break into your
vehicle. This alarm continues for 2
minutes, then the alarm stops. To
reset an alarming system bef ore the
2 minutes have elapsed, unlock
either door with the key or the
remote transmitter.
The security system sets
automatically, 15 seconds after you
lock the doors, hood, and hatch. The
security system indicator starts
blinking immediately to show you
the system is setting itself.Once the security system is set,
opening either door (without using
the key or the remote transmitter),
or the hood, will cause it to alarm. It
also alarms if the radio is removed
f rom the dashboard or the wiring is
cut.Do not attempt to alter this system
or add other devices to it. The security system will not set if
the hood, hatch, or either door is not
f ully closed. If the system will not set,
check the Door and Hatch Open
Indicator on the instrument panel
(see page ), to see if the doors
and the hatch are f ully closed. Since
it is not part of the monitor display,
manually check the hood.
54
Security System
126
SECURITY SYSTEM INDICATOR

Your dealer has Acura accessories
that allow you to personalize your
vehicle. These accessories have
been designed and approved f or your
vehicle, and are covered by warranty. Modif ying your vehicle, or installing
some non-Acura accessories, can
make it unsaf e. Bef ore you make any
modif ications or add any accessories,
be sure to read the f ollowing
inf ormation.When properly installed, cellular
phones, alarms, two-way radios, and
low-powered audio systems should
not interf ere with your vehicle’s
computer controlled systems, such
as your airbags and anti-lock brakes.Bef ore installing any accessory:
Make sure the accessory does not
obscure any lights, or interf ere
with proper vehicle operation or
perf ormance.
Although non-Acura accessories may
f it on your vehicle, they may not
meet f actory specif ications, and
could adversely af f ect your vehicle’s
handling and stability. Be sure electronic accessories do
not overload electrical circuits
(see page ) or interf ere with
proper operation of your vehicle.
Bef ore installing any electronic
accessory, have the installer
contact your dealer for assistance.
If possible, have your dealer
inspect the f inal installation.
220
A ccessories
A ccessories and Modif ications
Bef ore Driving
139
Improper accessories or
modifications can affect your
vehicle’s handling, stability, and
performance, and cause a
crash in which you can be hurt
or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner’s manual regarding
accessories and modifications.

Some examples are:Larger or smaller wheels and tires
can interf ere with the operation of
your vehicle’s anti-lock brakes and
other systems.
Modif ying your steering wheel or
any other part of your vehicle’s
safety features can make the
systems inef f ective.
If you plan to modif y your vehicle,
consult your dealer.
Removing parts f rom your vehicle,
or replacing components with non-
Acura components could seriously
af f ect your vehicle’s handling,
stability, and reliability.
Lowering your vehicle with a
non-Acura suspension kit that
signif icantly reduces ground
clearance can allow the
undercarriage to hit speed bumps
or other raised objects, which
could cause the airbags to deploy.
Raising your vehicle with a non-
Acura suspension kit can af f ect
the handling and stability.
Non-Acura wheels, because they
are a universal design, can cause
excessive stress on suspension
components.
Modif ying Your Vehicle
A ccessories and Modif ications
140

Store or secure all items that could
be thrown around and hurt
someone during a crash.If you carry large items that
prevent you f rom closing the
hatch, exhaust gas can enter the
passenger area. To avoid the
possibility of
, f ollow the instructions
on page .
Distribute cargo evenly on the
f loor of the cargo area, placing the
heaviest items on the bottom and
as far forward as possible.
If youfolddownthebackseat,tie
down items that could be thrown
about the vehicle during a crash or
sudden stop.
Do not place items on the cargo
area cover, or stack objects higher
than the top of the back seat. They
could block your view and be
thrown about the vehicle during a
crash or sudden stop.
Be sure items placed on the f loor
behind the f ront seats cannot roll
under the seats and interf ere with
the driver’s ability to operate the
pedals or the proper operation of
the seats.
Keep the glove box closed while
driving. If it is open, a passenger
could injure their knees during a
crash or sudden stop.
45
Carrying Items in the Passenger
Compartment
carbon monoxide
poisoning
Carrying Cargo in the Cargo A rea
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving
143

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
manual and automatic transmissions.
It also includes important
information on parking your vehicle,
the braking system, and f acts you
need if you are planning to tow a
trailer.........................
Preparing to Drive .146
.......................
Starting the Engine .147
.................
Manual Transmissions .148
..............
Automatic Transmission .151
...........................................
Parking .157
.............................
Braking System .158
...............
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) .159
...........................
Towing a Trailer .160
Driving
Driving
145

Youshoulddothefollowingchecks
and adjustments every day bef ore
you drive your vehicle.Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove f rost, snow,
or ice. Check the seat adjustment (see
page ).
Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page ).
Check the steering wheel
adjustment (see page ).
Make sure the doors and the
hatch are securely closed and
locked.When you start the engine, check
the gauges and indicators in the
instrument panel (see page ).
Check that the hood is f ully closed. Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have f astened
their seat belts (see page ).
Check that the hatch is f ully
closed.
Check that any items you may be
carrying are stored properly or
f astened down securely. Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.
1.
2.
3.
9. 8. 7. 6.
5. 4. 10. 11.
71
79 63
15 51
Preparing to Drive
146

The manual transmission is
synchronized in all f orward gears f or
smooth operation. It has a lockout so
you cannot shift directly from fifth to
reverse. When shif ting up or down,
make sure you push the clutch pedal
down all the way, shift to the next
gear, and let the pedal up gradually.
Do not skip gears. When you are not
shif ting, do not rest your f oot on the
clutch pedal. This can cause your
clutch to wear out f aster.Come to a full stop before you shift
into reverse. You can damage the
transmission by trying to shif t into
reverse with the vehicle moving.
Push down the clutch pedal, and
pause f or a f ew seconds bef ore
shif ting into reverse, or shif t into one
of the f orward gears f or a moment.
This stops the gears so they won’t
‘‘grind.’’
When slowing down, you can get
extra braking f rom the engine by
shifting to a lower gear. This extra
braking can help you maintain a safe
speed and prevent your brakes f rom
overheating while going down a
steep hill. To prevent serious engine
and transmission damage, do not
skip gears when downshif ting, and
do not let the engine speed go into
the red zone of the tachometer.
Manual T ransmissions
148
Rapid slowing or speeding-up
can cause loss of control on
slippery surfaces. If you crash,
you can be injured.
Use extra care when driving on
slippery surfaces.