run flat Acura RL 2000 3.5 Owner's Manual

Fuel
Econom y

The condition of your car and your driving habits are the two most
important things that affect the fuel
mileage you get.
Ca r Conditio n
Always maintain your car according to the maintenance schedule. This
will keep it in top operating condition.
An important part of that mainte- nance is the Owne r Maintenanc e
Check s (see page 213 ). For
example, an underinflated tire
causes more "rolling resistance,"
which uses fuel. It also wears out
faster, so check the tire pressure at
least monthly.
In winter, the build-up of snow on
your car's underside adds weight and rolling resistance. Frequent cleaning
helps your fuel mileage and reduces
the chance of corrosion. Drivin
g Habit s
You can improve fuel economy by driving moderately. Rapid acceler-
ation, abrupt cornering, and hard
braking use more fuel.
Always drive in the highest gear that allows the engine to run and acceler-
ate smoothly.
Depending on traffic conditions, try
to maintain a constant speed. Every
time you slow down and speed up,
your car uses extra fuel. Use the cruise control, when appropriate, toincrease fuel economy. A cold engine uses more fuel than a
warm engine. It is not necessary to "warm-up" a cold engine by letting it
idle for a long time. You can drive
away in about a minute, no matter
how cold it is outside. The engine will warm up faster, and you get
better fuel economy. To cut down on
the number of "cold starts," try to combine several short trips into one.
The air conditioning puts an extra load on the engine which makes ituse more fuel. Turn off the A/C orset the climate control to a higher
temperature to cut down on air
conditioning use. Use the flow-
through ventilation when the outside
air temperature is moderate.

Before Drivin g

Tire
s
Tubeless tires have some ability to self-seal if they are punctured.
However, because leakage is often
very slow, you should look closely
for punctures if a tire starts losing
pressure. Inspectio
n
Every time you check inflation, you
should also examine the tires for
damage, foreign objects, and wear.
You should look for: Bumps or bulges in the tread or
side of the tire. Replace the tire if
you find either of these conditions. Cuts, splits, or cracks in the side
of the tire. Replace the tire if you
can see fabric or cord. Excessive tread wear.
Your car's tires have wear indicators
molded into the tread. When thetread wears down to that point, you
will see a 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) wide
band running across the tread. This shows there is less than 1
/16 inch
(1.6 mm) of tread left on the tire. A
tire that is this worn gives very little
traction on wet roads. You should
replace the tire if you can see the
tread wear indicator in three or more
places around the tire.

Maintenance

INDICATO
R LOCATIO N MARK S
TREA D WEA R INDICATOR S

Light
s

2. Remove the bulb by pulling it straight out of its metal tabs.
3. Push the new bulb into the metal tabs. Snap the lens back in place. Replacin
g th e Trun k Ligh t Bul b
1. Remove the lens by carefully prying on the edge of the lens in
the middle with a fingernail file ora small flat-tip screwdriver. Do not
pry on the edge of the housing
around the lens. 2. Remove the bulb by pulling it
straight out of its metal tabs.
3. Push the new bulb into the metal tabs. Snap the lens back in place.

Maintenanc e

VANIT
Y MIRRO R LIGH T
TRUN
K

Changing
a Flat Tir e
If you have a flat tire while driving, stop in a safe place to change it.
Stopping in traffic or on the shoulder
of a busy road is dangerous. Drive
slowly along the shoulder until you
get to an exit or an area to stop that
is far away from the traffic lanes.
1. Park the car on firm, level, andnon-slippery ground away from
traffic. Put the transmission in Park. Apply the parking brake.
2. Turn on the hazard warning lights and turn the ignition switch to
LOCK (0). Have all the
passengers get out of the car while
you change the tire. 3. Open the trunk. Raise the trunk
floor by lifting up on the back edge.
To keep the trunk floor out of the way, attach the hook into the slotin the trunk lid.
4. Take the tool kit out of the trunk.
5. Unscrew the wing bolt and take the spare tire out of its well.

CONTINUED

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

The car can easily roll off the

jack, seriously injuring anyone
underneath.

Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and never get under the car when it
is supported only by the jack. TRUN
K FLOO R

HOO K
TOO L KI T
SPAR E TIR E
JAC K

Changin
g a Fla t Tir e

15.Remove the spacer basket from the trunk well.
16.Remove the center cap before
storing the flat tire in the trunk
well. 17.Place the flat tire face down in the
spare tire well.
18.Wrap the spacer cone and spare tire wing bolt with cloth or paperand store them in the trunk well.

CONTINUED

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
SPACE
R BASKE T


CENTER CA P FLA
T TIR E

RIN
G

SPACE
R
CON E
WIN G BOL T

Inde
x

Automatic Speed Control................ 73

Automatic Transmission............... 180
Capacity, Fluid........................... 298

Checking Fluid Level................ 226

Shifting........................................ 180

Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 180

Shift Lever Positions................. 180

Shift Lock Release..................... 183

Battery
Charging System
Indicator............................ 54, 283

Jump Starting............................. 278

Maintenance............................... 234
Specifications............................. 299
Before Driving............................... 165
Belts, Seat..................................... 8, 40
Beverage Holder............................ 111
Body Repair.................................... 267

Brakes
Anti-lock System (ABS)............ 186
Break-in, New Linings .............. 166
Fluid............................................ 227
Light, Burned-out...................... 254 Parking........................................ 108
System Indicator.................. 54, 285
Wear Indicators......................... 185
Brakes, ABS Operation.................................... 186System Indicator.................. 56, 187
Braking System.............................
. 185
Break-in, New Car......................... 166
Brightness Control, Instruments... 66
Brights, Headlights......................... 63
Bulb Replacement Back-up Lights........................... 254
Brake Lights............................... 254
Ceiling Lights............................. 257
Courtesy Lights......................... 257
Fog Lights.................................. 251 Front Side Marker Lights......... 253
Headlights.................................. 250
High-mount Brake Light.......... 255
License Plate Lights.................. 256
Specifications............................. 299
Trunk Light................................ 258
Turn Signal Lights..................... 253
Bulbs, Halogen............................... 250
Cables, Jump Starting With.......... 278

Cancel Button................................... 75

Capacities Chart............................. 298

Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 49

Carrying, Cargo............................. 174

Cassette Player

Care............................................. 154

Operation........................... 139, 151

CAUTION, Explanation of............... ii

CD Changer................. 142, 155, 157

Ceiling Lights................................. 117

Certification Label......................... 296

Chains............................................. 247

Change Oil
How to......................................... 217

When to....................................... 206

Changing a Flat Tire..................... 271

Changing Engine Coolant............. 221

Charging System Indicator.... 54, 283

Checking Automatic Transmission

Fluid........................................ 226

Battery Condition...................... 234

Brake Fluid................................. 227

Inde
x

Reserve Indicator......................... 57

Tank, Filling the......................... 167

Fuel Mileage, Improving............... 171

Fuses, Checking the...................... 288

Gasohol........................................... 303

Gasoline.......................................... 166

Fuel Reserv

e Indicator................ 57

Gauge............................................
60

Octane Requirement................

. 166

Tank, Fillin

g the......................... 167

Gas Statio

n Procedures................. 167

Gauges..............................................
58

Engine Coolan

t Temperature .... 60

Fuel................................................
60

Maintenance Require

d

Indicator.................................... 61

GAWR (Gross Axle Weight

Rating) ........................................ 195

Gearshift Lever Positions .............180

Glass Cleaning............................... 265

Glove Box......................................... 87

GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight

Rating) ........................................ 195

Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 250
Hazard Warning Flashers............... 70

Headlights
Automatic Lighting..................... 64
Daytime Running Lights............. 65
High Beam Indicator................... 57

High Beams, Turning on............ 63

Lights On Indicator..................... 55

Low Beams, Turning on............. 63

Reminder Chime.......................... 63
Replacing Halogen Bulbs ......... 250

Turning on.................................... 63

Head Restraints............................... 95

Heating and Cooling...................... 120
High Altitude, Starting at.............. 179
High-Low Beam Switch .................. 63

High-mount Brake Light............... 255
HomeLink Universal
Transmitter.................................. 88

Hood Latch..................................... 229

Hood, Opening the ........................ 168

Horn................................................... 62

Hot Coolant, Warning about........ 219
Hydroplaning.................................. 193 Identification Number, Vehicle.... 296
If Your Car Has to be Towed....... 292
Ignition

Keys............................................... 77

Switch............................................ 80
Timing Control System............. 306
Immobilizer System......................... 78
Important Safety Precautions .......... 6
Indicator Lights, Instrument Panel.............................................. 53
Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 241
Inside Mirror.................................... 98

Inspection, Tire.............................. 243

Instrument Panel............................. 53
Instrument Panel Brightness......... 66
Interior Cleaning............................ 264
Introduction......................................... i
CONTINUED

Inde
x

Steering Wheel
Adjustments................................. 71

Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 80
Position Memory....................... 100

Stereo Sound System.................... 134

Storing Your Car............................ 259
Sun Visor......................................... 113

Sunglasses Holder......................... 110

Supplemental Restraint
System............................. 9
,
43, 4
6

Service Precautions..................... 48

Servicing....................................... 48

SRS Indicator.......................... 45, 55

System Components.................... 43

Tensioners, Seat Belts................ 41
Synthetic Oil................................... 216
Tachometer...................................... 58
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 254
Taking Care of the Unexpected .. 269
Tape Player ........................... 139, 154
Technical Descriptions
DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 301
Driving in Foreign Countries... 304 Emissions Control Systems...... 305
Oxygenated Fuels...................... 303
Three Way Catalytic Converter................................ 307
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System..................................... 300
Temperature Gauge........................ 60
Tensioners, Seat Belts .................... 41
Tether Anchorage Points............... 39
Theft Deterrent System................ 163
Theft Protection............................. 162
Three Way Catalytic Converter... 307
Time, Setting the........................... 108
Timing Belt..................................... 241
Tire Chains..................................... 247
Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 271
Tires................................................ 241 Air Pressure............................... 242Balancing.................................... 244
Checking Wear.......................... 243
Compact Spare........................... 270
DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 301
Inflation....................................... 241
Inspection................................... 243
Maintenance............................... 244
Replacing.................................... 245
Rotating....................................... 244

Snow............................................ 247

Specifications............................. 299

Tools, Tire Changing.................... 271

Torn Seat Belts................................ 42

Towing

A Trailer...................................... 194
By Emergency Wrecker........... 292

Transmission
Checkin g
Fluid Level,

Automatic............................... 226

Fluid Selection............................ 226

Identification Number............... 297

Shifting the Automatic.............. 180

Treadwear...................................... 301

Trip Meter........................................ 59

Trunk................................................. 86

Opening the.................................. 86

Open Monitor Light.................... 57

Turn Signals..................................... 66

CONTINUED