dashboard Acura RL 2000 3.5 User Guide

Control
s Nea r th e Steerin g Whee l

The two levers on the steering column contain controls for driving
features you use most often. The left
lever controls the turn signals,
headlights, and high beams. The
right lever controls the windshield
washers and wipers.
The switch for the hazard warning lights is on the dashboard to the
right of the steering column.
The controls under the left air vent are for the cruise control, instrument
panel brightness and the VSA

System.

The switches for the rear window defogger and fog lights are under
the audio system.
The steering wheel adjustment switch on the side of the steering
column allows you to tilt and
telescope the steering wheel.
Instrument s an d Control s WINDSHIEL
D
WIPERS/WASHER S
HAZAR
D WARNIN G
LIGHT S
HEADLIGHTS
/
TUR N SIGNAL S
VEHICL
E
STABILIT Y
ASSIS T SYSTE M
OF F SWITC H

CRUIS E
CONTRO L

REAR WINDO W
DEFOGGE R

FO
G
LIGHT S

HOR
N
INSTRUMEN
T

PANE L

BRIGHTNES S
STEERIN G WHEE L
ADJUSTMENT S

Control
s Nea r th e Steerin g Whee l

Do not leave the light switch in
AUTO if you will not be driving the car for an extended period (a week
or more). You should also turn off
the lights if you plan to leave the engine idling or the engine off for a
long time. This will prevent the
battery from discharging.
The automatic lighting feature iscontrolled by a sensor located on top
of the dashboard. Do not cover thissensor or spill liquids on it. Daytim
e Runnin g Light s
(Canadia n Models )
With the headlight switch off, the high beam headlights come on with
reduced brightness when you turn
the ignition switch to ON (II) andrelease the parking brake. They
remain on until you turn the ignition off, even if you set the parking brake.
The headlights revert to normal operation when you turn them on
with the switch.
Instrument s an d Control s

LIGH
T
SENSO R

Control
s Nea r th e Steerin g Whee l

Instrumen t Pane l Brightnes s
The dial on the dashboard to the left of the instrument panel is used to
adjust the brightness of the lights in
the controls and displays. Turn the dial to adjust the brightness. To reduce glare at night, the instru-
ment panel illumination dims when you turn the light switch to or
Turning the instrument panel
brightness control fully to the left, past the detent, will return the instru-
ment panel to its full brightness. Tur
n Signal s
Signal a turn or lane change with this
lever. Push down on the lever to signal a left turn, and up to signal a
right turn. If you push it up or down all the way, the turn signal continues
to blink even when you release the lever. It shuts off automatically as
you complete the turn.
Instrument s an d Control s TUR
N SIGNA L LEVE R
INSTRUMEN
T PANE L
BRIGHTNES S DIA L

Climat
e Contro l Syste m

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 flow from the vents in the center and each side ofthe dashboard is adjustable. Move
the tab in the center of each vent up- and-down and side-to-side.
The side vents can be opened and closed with the dials next to them.
In the rear seat, you can also adjust
the ventilation when the climate con-
trol system is on (see page 132 ).
CENTE
R VENT S

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.
SID
E VENT S
For the climate control system to
provide heating and cooling, the engine must be running.
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s

Climat
e Control System

Recirculated and Fresh Air

These two buttons control the source of the air going into the sys- tem. In Fresh Air mode ( )
air is brought in from outside the ve-
hicle. In Recirculation mode ( ) air from the car's interior
is sent through the system again.
You can, for example, manually put the system in recirculation mode
when driving through an area of smoke or fumes. When you press the or button, the
light in that button comes on.

Fan Control Dial

You can manually select the fan speed by turning the fan control dial.
When you turn the dial clockwise, the fan is taken out of automatic
mode and starts to run at its lowestspeed. Turning the dial fully
clockwise increases the fan's speed,
which increases air flow. MOD
E BUTTO N

FA
N CONTRO L DIA L

RECIRCULATE D AI R

Mode Button

Use the MODE button to select the vents the air flows from. Some air
will flow from the side vents and thedashboard corner vents in all modes.
Each time you press the MODE
button, the display shows the mode selected. Press the button four times
to see all the modes.
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s
FRES
H AI R

Climat
e Control System

The main air flow is divided
between the floor vents and de-
froster vents at the base of the wind-
shield.

The main air flow comes
from the floor vents.
The main air flow is divided
between the dashboard vents and the floor vents.
The main air flow comes
from the dashboard vents.

CONTINUED

Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s

Climat
e Contro l Syste m
The button directs the main
air flow to the windshield for faster
defrosting. It also overrides any
MODE selection you may have made. When you select the A/C
turns on automatically and thesystem selects Fresh Air mode. For
faster defrosting, manually set the
fan speed to high. You can also
increase air flow to the windshield by closing the side vents in the

dashboard.
When you turn off by
pressing the button again, thesystem returns to its former settings.

Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s

Climat
e Control System

Recirculation Button
This button controls the source of the air going into the system. When
the indicator above this button is lit,air from the car's interior is sent
through the system again (Recircula-
tion mode). When the indicator is off, air is brought in from outside the car (Fresh Air mode).
You can, for example, manually put the system in recirculation mode
when driving through an area of smoke or fumes.

Fan Control Dial

You can manually select the fan speed by turning the fan control dial.
When you turn the dial clockwise, the fan is taken out of automatic
mode and starts to run at its lowestspeed. Turning the dial fully
clockwise increases the fan's speed,
which increases air flow. FA
N CONTRO L DIA L MOD
E BUTTO N

RECIRCULATIO N BUTTO N

Mode Button

Use the MODE button to select the
vents the air flows from. Some air
will flow from the side vents and the dashboard corner vents in all modes.
Each time you press the MODE
button, the display shows the mode selected. Press the button four times
to see all the modes.
CONTINUED

Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s

Climat
e Control System
The main air flow is divided
between the floor vents and de-
froster vents at the base of the wind-
shield.

The main air flow comes
from the floor vents.
The main air flow is divided
between the dashboard vents and
the floor vents.
The main air flow comes
from the dashboard vents.
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s

Climat
e Contro l Syste m
The button directs the main
air flow to the windshield for faster
defrosting. It also overrides any
MODE selection you may have made. When you select the A/C
turns on automatically and the system selects Fresh Air mode. For
faster defrosting, manually set the
fan speed to high. You can also
increase air flow to the windshield by closing the side vents in the

dashboard.
When you turn off by
pressing the button again, the system returns to its former settings.
Rea r Windo w Defogge r Butto n
This button turns the rear window defogger on and off (see page 71).
REAR WINDO W DEFOGGE R BUTTO N
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s