Acura RL 2000 3.5 Owner's Manual

Light
s

Check the operation of your car's
exterior lights at least once a month.
A burned out bulb can create an unsafe condition by reducing your
car's visibility and the ability tosignal your intentions to other
drivers.
Maintenanc e HIG
H BEA M

HEADLIGH T
LO
W BEA M HEADLIGH T
FRON T FO G LIGH T TUR
N SIGNAL /
PARKIN G LIGH T SID
E MARKE R LIGH T

Light
s
Check the following:
Headlights (low and high beam)
Fog lights
Parking lights Taillights
Brake lights Turn signals
Back-up lights
Hazard light function
License plate light
Side marker lights
High-mount brake light
Daytime running lights (Canadian
models)

If you find any bulbs are burned out,
replace them as soon as possible.
Refer to the chart on page 299 to
determine what type of replacement
bulb is needed.
Maintenance
HIGH-MOUN
T BRAK E LIGH T
TURN SIGNA L LIGH T

LICENS E PLAT E

LIGHT S

BACK-U P LIGH T

STOP/TAIL LIGHT S

Replacin
g a Hig h Bea m Headligh t
Bul b
The low beam headlight bulbs are a type of high voltage discharge tube.
High voltage can remain in the
circuit even with the light switch off
and the key removed. Because of
this, you should not attempt to
examine or change a low beam
headlight bulb yourself. If a low
beam headlight bulb fails, take the car to your dealer to have it replaced. Halogen bulbs are used for the high
beam headlight bulbs. When replacing a high beam headlight bulb,
handle it by its base 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.

Halogen bulbs get very hot when lit. Oil,
perspiration, or a scratch on the glass
can cause the bulb to overheat and

shatter.
1. Open the hood.
2. Remove the electrical connector from the bulb by pulling theconnector straight back.
3. Remove the rubber weather seal by pulling on the tab.

Maintenanc e
NOTIC
E

Light
s

4. Unclip the end of the hold-down wire from its slot. Pivot it out of
the way and remove the bulb.
5. Insert the new bulb into the hole, making sure the bulb is right side
up and the nubs on the bulb base
fit in the indentations in the
headlight assembly. Pivot the hold- down wire back in place and clip
the end into the slot. 6. Install the rubber seal over the
back of the headlight assembly.Make sure it is right side up; it is marked
7. Push the electrical connector onto the new bulb.
Turn on the headlights to test the
new bulb. Replacin
g a Fo g Ligh t Bul b
Your car uses halogen fog light bulbs. See page 250 for informationon replacing a halogen bulb.

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e
WEATHE
R SEA L

BULB

CONNECTO R
HOLD-DOW
N WIR E

Light
s

1. Use a wrench to loosen the light
assembly's mounting bolt.

2. Remove the light assembly from
the bumper.

3. Remove the electrical connector
from the bulb by pulling the
connector straight back.
4. Remove the rubber weather seal
by pulling on the tab.
5. Unclip the end of the hold-down wire from its slot. Pivot the wireout of the way and remove the

bulb.
6. Insert the new bulb into the hole,
making sure the bulb is right side
up and the nubs on the bulb base
fit in the indentations in the fog
light assembly. Pivot the hold- down wire back in place and clip
the end into the slot.
7. Install the rubber seal over the back of the fog light assembly.Make sure it is right side up; it is
marked

8. Push the electrical connector onto the new bulb. Turn on the front
fog lights to test the new bulb.
9. Put the light assembly into the bumper. Tighten the mounting

bolt.

Maintenanc e
WEATHE
R SEA L

BUL B
HOLD-DOW
N
WIR E

CONNECTO
R

BOL T

Light
s

Replacin g Fron t Tur n Signal/
Parkin g an d Sid e Marker Light
Bulb s
1. If you are changing the bulb on the driver's side, start the engine,
turn the steering wheel all the way
to the right, and turn off the engine. If you are changing the
bulb on the passenger's side, turn
the steering wheel to the left. 2. Use a flat-tipped screwdriver to
remove the holding clip from the
inner fender.
3. Pull the inner fender cover back.
4. Remove the socket from the headlight assembly by turning itone-quarter turn counterclockwise. 5. To remove the front turn signal/
parking light bulb, push it inslightly and turn it
counterclockwise. To remove the side marker bulb, pull it straight
out of its socket.
6. Install the new bulb in the socket.
7. Insert the socket back into the headlight assembly. Turn itclockwise to lock it in place.
8. Test the lights to make sure the new bulb is working.
9. Put the inner fender cover in place. Install the holding clip. Lock it in
place by pushing on the center.
Maintenance

HOLDIN
G CLI P

Light
s

Replacin g Rea r Bulb s

1. Open the trunk. Undo the fastener on the side of
the trunk lining by pushing on the
center of the fastener's head until
it pops in. Pull the lining back. 2. Determine which of the four bulbs
is burned out: stop/taillights, back-
up light, or turn signal.
3. Remove the socket by turning it one-quarter turn counterclockwise. 4. Pull the bulb straight out of its

socket.

Push the new bulb straight into
the socket until it bottoms.
5. Reinstall the socket into the light assembly by turning it clockwise
until it locks.
6. Test the lights to make sure the new bulb is working.
7. Reinstall the trunk lining. Make sure it is installed under the edge
of the trunk seal.
Maintenanc e
FASTENE
R

Light
s

8. Reset the fastener by pushing on the pointed end until it pops backalmost flush with the fingers on
the housing.
9. Put the fastener in the hole in the side of the trunk lining and push
on the center until it locks (the
center is flush with the head). Replacin
g a High-moun t Brak e
Ligh t Bul b
1. Open the trunk and remove the socket from the light assembly by
turning it one-quarter turn counter-
clockwise.

2. Remove the bulb by pushing it in slightly and turning it counter-

clockwise.

Install the new bulb in the socket. 3. Reinstall the socket. Turn it
clockwise until it locks.
4. Test the lights to make sure the new bulb is working.

Maintenance

Light
s

Replacing a Rea r License Bulb

1. Remove the license light assembly
by carefully prying on the left
edge of the lens with a flat-tip

screwdriver and pulling the
assembly out.
2. Remove the lens from the bulb
holder by pulling the lens whilesqueezing the tabs on both sides
of the holder. 3. Pull the bulb straight out of its
socket. Push the new bulb in until
it bottoms in the socket.
4. Turn on the parking lights and check that the new bulb is

working.

5. Put the lens back on the bulb holder and push it until it latches.
6. Slide the right side of the light assembly into the hole. Push on
the left side to latch the assembly into place.
Maintenanc e
LIGH
T ASSEMBL Y


BULB HOLDE R
BUL B

LENS

Light
s

Replacin g Bulb s i n th e Interio r
Courtesy Light s
The courtesy lights in the doors and roof come apart the same way. Theydo not use the same type of bulb.
1. Remove the lens by carefully prying on the edge of the lens witha fingernail file or a small flat-tip
screwdriver. Do not pry on the
edge of the housing around the

lens.
Door light:

Pry on the top middle of the lens.

Front ceiling light:
Pry on the front edge of the lens

in the middle. Rear ceiling light:
Pry on the rear edge of the lens
in the middle. Remove the bulbcover by pulling it straight down.

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

DOO
R LIGH T
FRONT
REA
R