climate control Acura CL 2003 Owner's Manual

2003 CL 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
Intro duction ........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safety ........................................................................\
......................................... ii
Your Car at a Glance ........................................................................\
................................................... 2
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
...................................... 5
Proper use and care of your car's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint\
System.
Instruments and Controls ........................................................................\
......................................... 55
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
...................... 121
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
.......................................................... 177
What gasoline to use, how to break -in your new car, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
...................................................................... 191
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance ........................................................................\
............................................................. 225
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your car to the\
dealer.
Appearance Care ........................................................................\
...................................................... 285
Tips on cle aning and protecting your car. Things to look for if your car ever needs\
body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected ........................................................................\
.............................. 293
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, and\
how to handle them.
Technical Information ........................................................................\
............................................. 323
ID numbers, dime nsions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada) ................................................................337
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
.............................. 341
How to order manuals and other technical lit erature.
Index........................................................................\
.............................................................................. I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

High levels of carbon monoxide can
collect rapidly in enclosed areas,
such as a garage. Do not run the
engine with the garage door closed.
Even with the door open, run the
engine only long enough to move the
vehicle out of the garage.If you must sit in your parked car,
even in an unconf ined area, with the
engine running, adjust the climate
control system as f ollows:
Your car’s exhaust contains carbon
monoxide gas. You should have no
problem with carbon monoxide
entering the car in normal driving if
you maintain your car properly.
Have the exhaust system inspected
f or leaks whenever:
The car is raised f or an oil change.
You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust.
Thecarwasinanaccidentthat
may have damaged the underside. Select the Fresh Air mode.
Select the mode.
Set the f an speed to high.
Set the temperature control to a
comfortable setting.
With the trunk lid open, air f low can
pull exhaust gas into your car’s
interior and create a hazardous
condition. If you must drive with the
trunk lid open, open all the windows
and set the climate control system as
shown below.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
Driver and Passenger Saf ety52
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and even kill
you.
Avoid any enclosed areas or
activities that expose you to
carbon monoxide.

...............
Climate Control System . 122
.......
Fully-automatic Operation . 124
.......
Semi-automatic Operation . 125
.......
Fully-automatic Operation . 129
.......
Semi-automatic Operation . 130
Sunlight Sensor/ ............
Temperature Sensor . 134................................
Audio System .135
.................
Operating the Radio . 136
.................
Adjusting the Sound . 139
............
Audio System Lighting . 140
....................
Radio Frequencies . 140
........................
Radio Reception .140
Operating the Cassette .....................................
Player .142
............
Tape Search Functions . 143
Caring f or the Cassette .....................................
Player .146
.....
Operating the CD Changer . 147
..
Loading CDs in the Changer . 148
...................................
Operation .150
Removing CDs from the .................................
Changer .152
.......
Protecting Compact Discs . 154
CD Changer Error .............................
Indications .155
...........
Remote Audio Controls . 156
.......................
Thef t Protection .157
............................
Security System .158
...............................
Cruise Control .159
HomeLink Universal ................................
Transceiver .163
............................................
OnStar .168
3.2 CL without Navigation System
3.2 CL with Navigation System
Comf ort and Convenience Features
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures121

The automatic climate control
system in your Acura picks the
proper combination of air condi-
tioning, heating, and ventilation to
maintain the interior temperature
you select. The system also adjusts
the fan speed and air flow levels.
The direction of air f low f rom the
vents in the center and each side of
the dashboard is adjustable. Move
the tab in the center of each vent up-
and-down and side-to-side.The climate control system draws air
through the exterior vents at the
bottom of the windshield. Keep
these vents clear of leaves and other
debris.For the climate control system to
provide heating and cooling, the
engine must be running.
Thesideventscanbeopenedand
closed with the dials underneath
them.
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
122
O Op
pe
enn
C
Cl loo s
see
C
CE
EN
NT TE
ER
R V
VE
EN
NT T D
DR
RIIVV E
ER
R’ ’SS- -S
SI IDD E
E V
VE
EN
NT T

Pressing the OFF button shuts the
climate control system completely
of f . Keep the system completely of f
only f or short periods. To keep stale
air and mustiness f rom collecting,
you should have the f an running at
all times.
To put the Automatic Climate
Control in f ully-automatic mode,
press the AUTO button and set the
f an control dial to AUTO, then set
the desired temperature by turning
the temperature control dial. You will
see FULL AUTO in the system’s
display. The light in the
buttonalsoshowsyouwhich
mode, Recirculation or Fresh Air, is
selected.
When you set the temperature to its
lower limit (60°F/18°C) or its upper
limit (90°F/32°C), the system runs
at f ull cooling or heating only. It does
not regulate the interior temperature. When the temperature is set
between the lower and upper limits,
the system regulates the interior
temperature to the set value.
The system automatically selects the
proper mix of conditioned and/or
heated air that will, as quickly as
possible, raise or lower the interior
temperature f rom its current level to
the set temperature.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Fully-automatic Operation
3.2 CL wit hout Navigat ion Syst em
124
T T
E
EM
M P
PE
ER
RA A T
TU
UR REE
C
CO ON NTTR
RO OL L D
DI
IAA L
L
O
OFFFF B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N
A
A U
UT TO
O B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N F
FU
UL LL
L A
AU
UT TO
O D
DI
ISSP PL
LAA Y
Y F
FA
A N
N C
COON NTTR
RO OL L
D
D I
IAA L
L

CONT INUED
You can manually select various
f unctions of the Climate Control
system when it is in FULL AUTO.
All other f eatures remain auto-
matically controlled. Making any
manual selection causes the word
FULL to go out.
Press the A/C button to turn the air
conditioningonandoff.Youwillsee
A/C ON or A/C OFF in the display.
When you turn the A/C of f , the sys-
tem cannot regulate the inside tem-
perature if you set the dial below the
outside temperature. With the A/C
on, use the temperature control dial
to adjust the temperature of the air
flow to a comfortable setting.This button controls the source of
the air going into the system. When
the indicator in this button is lit, air
from the car’s interior is sent
through the system again
(Recirculation mode). When the
indicator is of f , air is brought in f rom
outside the car (Fresh Air mode).You can, f or example, manually put
the system in recirculation mode
when driving through an area of
smoke or f umes.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Semi-automatic Operation
A ir Condit ioning (A /C) But t on
Recirculat ion But t on
125
R REEC
CI IRRC CUUL LA
A T
TI
IOON N B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N
A
A
I
IRR C
COON NDDI
ITT I
IOON NIINNG G B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N
T
T E
EM
M P
PE
ER
RA A T
TU
UR REE
C
CO ON NTTR
RO OL L D
DI
IAA L
L

ÛÝ
To put the Automatic Climate
Control in f ully-automatic mode,
press the AUTO button. The
indicator in the button will light.
Then set the desired temperature by
pressing either side of the TEMP
button: to raise the temperature
above the displayed value, or to
lower the temperature. The light in
the button also shows you
which mode, Recirculation or Fresh
Air, is selected.
When you set the temperature to its
lower limit (60°F/18°C) or its upper
limit (90°F/32°C), the system runs
at f ull cooling or heating only. It does not regulate the interior temperature.
When the temperature is set
between the lower and upper limits,
the system regulates the interior
temperature to the set value.
The system automatically selects the
proper mix of conditioned and/or
heated air that will, as quickly as
possible, raise or lower the interior
temperature f rom its current level to
the set temperature.
Pressing the OFF button shuts the
climate control system completely
of f . Keep the system completely of f
only f or short periods. To keep stale
air and mustiness f rom collecting,
you should have the f an running at
all times.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Fully-automatic Operation
3.2 CL wit h Navigat ion Syst em
129
O OF
FF
F B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N
A
A U
UT TO
O B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N
T
T
E
EM
M P
PE
ER
RA A T
TU
UR REE B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N
T
T E
EM
M P
PE
ER
RA A T
TU
UR REE D
DI
ISSP PL
LAA Y
Y
R
RE
EC
CI IRRC CUUL LA
A T
TI
IOON N B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N

You can manually select various
f unctions of the Climate Control
system when it is in FULL AUTO.
All other f eatures remain
automatically controlled. Some of
these functions appear in the
Navigation System display. Press the
A/C button next to the display to
show these f unctions. Making any
manual selection causes the
indicator in the AUTO button to go
out.
Pressing ‘‘ON’’ or ‘‘OFF’’ in the
display turns the air conditioning on
andoff.YouwillseeA/CONorA/C
OFF activated in the display.When you turn the A/C of f , the
system cannot regulate the inside
temperature if you set it below the
outside temperature. With the A/C
of f , use the temperature buttons to
adjust the temperature of the air
flow to a comfortable setting.
Semi-automatic Operation
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
A /C (A ir Condit ioning) On/Of f Icons
130
T T
E
EM
M P
PE
ER
RA A T
TU
UR REE B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N
A
A
/
/C
C O
ONN//O
OF FFF I
ICCO ON NSS
A
A/
/C
C B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N
R
RE EC
CI IRRC CUUL LAA T
TI
IOON N B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N

Theclimatecontrolsystemhastwo
sensors. A sunlight sensor is located
in the top of the dashboard and a
temperature sensor is next to the
steering column. Do not cover the
sensors or spill any liquid on them. Sunlight Sensor/T emperature
Sensor
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures134
T TE
EM
M P
PE
ER
RA A T
TU
UR REE S
SEEN
NS SOOR R
S
SU UN NLLI
IGGH HT
T S
SEEN
NS SOOR R

A cold engine uses more f uel than a
warm engine. It is not necessary to
‘‘warm-up’’ a cold engine by letting it
idle f or a long time. You can drive
away in about a minute, no matter
how cold it is outside. The engine
will warm up f aster, and you get
better f uel economy. To cut down on
the number of ‘‘cold starts,’’ try to
combine several short trips into one.
You can improve f uel economy by
driving moderately. Rapid acceler-
ation, abrupt cornering, and hard
braking use more f uel.
Always drive in the highest gear that
allows the engine to run and acceler-
ate smoothly.
An important part of that mainte-
nance is the (see page ). For
example, an underinf lated tire
causes more ‘‘rolling resistance,’’
which uses f uel. It also wears out
f aster, so check the tire pressure at
least monthly. The air conditioning puts an extra
load on the engine which makes it
usemorefuel.Turnoff theA/Cor
set the climate control to a higher
temperature to cut down on air
conditioning use. Use the f low-
through ventilation when the outside
air temperature is moderate.
The condition of your car and your
driving habits are the two most
important things that affect the fuel
mileage you get.
Always maintain your car according
to the maintenance schedule. This
will keep it in top operating condition.
In winter, the build-up of snow on
your car’s underside adds weight and
rolling resistance. Frequent cleaning
helps your f uel mileage and reduces
thechanceof corrosion.
Depending on traf f ic conditions, try
to maintain a constant speed. Every
time you slow down and speed up,
your car uses extra f uel. Use the
cruise control, when appropriate, to
increase f uel economy.
237 Driving Habits
Owner Maintenance
Checks Car Condition
Fuel Economy
Bef ore Driving184