Acura RL 2001 3.5 Owner's Manual

Lights

Replacing a Rear License Plate
Bulb
1. Remove the license light assembly by carefully prying on the left
edge of the lens with a flat-tipscrewdriver 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.
Maintenance
LIGHT ASSEMBLY

BULBBULB HOLDER

LENS

Lights

Replacing Bulbs in the Interior Courtesy Lights
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 lensin the middle. Remove the bulb
cover by pulling it straight down.

CONTINUED

Maintenance
DOOR LIGHT
FRONT

REAR

Lights
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. Replacing the Trunk Light Bulb
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.

Maintenance

VANITY MIRROR LIGHT

TRUNK

Storing Your Car

If you need to park your car for an extended period (more than one
month), there are several things you should do to prepare it for storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent deterioration and makes it easier to
get your car back on the road. If
possible, store your car indoors. Fill the fuel tank.
Change the engine oil and filter
(see page 219).
Wash and dry the exterior
completely.
Clean the interior. Make sure the
carpeting, floor mats, etc. are
completely dry.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Park. Block the rear wheels.
If the car is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be supported on jackstands so the
tires are off the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the car is being stored indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Support the front wiper blade
arms with a folded towel or rag so
they do not touch the windshield. To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and trunk seals. Also, apply a vehicle body wax to the painted
surfaces that mate with the door
and trunk seals. Cover the car with a "breathable"
cover, one made from a porous
material such as cotton. Nonporous materials, such as
plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint. If possible, run the engine for a
while periodically (preferably once
a month).
If you store your car for 12 months or longer, have your Acura dealer
perform the inspections called for in
the 24 months/30,000 miles (48,000
km) maintenance schedule (Normal Conditions) as soon as you take it
out of storage (see page 208). The
replacements called for in the
maintenance schedule are not
needed unless the car has actually
reached that time or mileage.

Maintenance

262

Appearance Care

Regular cleaning and polishing of
your Acura helps to keep it "new" looking. This section gives you hintson how to clean your car and
preserve its appearance: the paint,
brightwork, wheels and interior. Also included are several things you cando to help prevent corrosion. Exterior Care.................................. 264
Washing...................................... 264

Waxing........................................265

Aluminum Wheels..................... 265Paint Touch-up........................... 265
Interior Care................................... 266 Carpeting.................................... 266
Floor Mats.................................. 266

Fabric.......................................... 267

Vinyl............................................ 267
Leather........................................ 267

Seat Belts.................................... 267

Wood Trim................................. 268

Windows..................................... 268
Air Fresheners........................... 268
Corrosion Protection..................... 269
Body Repairs.................................. 270

Appearance Care

Exterior Care

Washing
Frequent washing helps preserve
your car's beauty. Dirt and grit can
scratch the paint, while tree sap and
bir

d droppings can permanently ruin
th

e finish.
Wash your car in a shad
y area, not in
direc
t sunlight. If the car is parked in
the sun, move it into the shade and
le

t the exterior cool down before you
start.
Only use the solvents and cleaners
recommended

in this Owner's

Manual

.

Chemical solvents and strong cleaners

can damage the paint, metal, and
plastic on
your car.
Rinse the
car thoroughly with cool
water to remove loose dirt. Fill a bucket with cool water. Mix
i

n a mild detergent, such as
dishwashin

g liquid or a product
made especially for car washing. Wash the car using the water and
detergen

t solution and a soft-
bristle brush, sponge, or soft cloth. Star

t at the top and work your way
down. Rinse frequently. Check the body for road tar, tree
sap

, etc. Remove these stains with
tar
remover or turpentine. Rinse it
off immediately so it does
not
har
m the finish. Remember to re-
wa

x these areas, even if the rest of
the car does not need waxing. When you have washed and rinsed
th

e whole exterior, dry it with a
chamoi
s or soft towel. Letting it
air-dry will cause dulling and water

spots

.

As you dry the car, inspect it for
chip

s and scratches that could allow
corrosion to start. Repair them with
touch-up paint (see page 265 ).
Appearance Care

NOTICE

Exterior Care
Waxing
Always wash and dry the whole car before waxing it. You should wax
your car, including the metal trim,
whenever water sits on the surface in large patches. It should form into
beads or droplets after waxing.
You should use a quality liquid or paste wax. Apply it according to the
instructions on the container. In
general, there are two types of
products:
Waxes — A wax coats the finish and protects it from damage by exposure
to sunlight, air pollution, etc. Youshould use a wax on your Acura
when it is new.
Polishes — Polishes and cleaner/
waxes can restore the shine to paint
that has oxidized and lost some of its shine. They normally contain mild
abrasives and solvents that remove
the top layer of the finish. You should use a polish on your Acura if
the finish does not have its original shine after using a wax.
Cleaning tar, insects, etc. with
removers also takes off the wax.
Remember to re-wax those areas, even if the rest of the car does not

need waxing.

Aluminum Wheels Clean your Acura's aluminum alloy
wheels as you do the rest of the exterior. Wash them with the samesolution, and rinse them thoroughly.
The wheels have a protective clear- coat that keeps the aluminum from
corroding and tarnishing. Using
harsh chemicals, including some commercial wheel cleaners, or stiff
brushes can damage this clear-coat. Only use a mild detergent and soft
brush or sponge to clean the wheels. Paint Touch-up
Your dealer has touch-up paint to match your vehicle's color. The color
code is printed on a sticker on thedriver's doorjamb. Take this code to
your dealer so you are sure to get the correct color.
Inspect your car frequently for chipsor scratches in the paint. Repair
them right away to prevent corrosion of the metal underneath. Use the
touch-up paint only on small chips and scratches. More extensive paint
damage should be repaired by a
professional.

Appearance Care

Interior Care

Carpeting

Vacuum the carpeting frequently to remove dirt. Ground-in dirt will make
the carpet wear out faster. Periodically shampoo the carpet to
keep it looking new. Use one of the
foam-type carpet cleaners on the market. Follow the instructions that
come with the cleaner, applying it
with a sponge or soft brush. Keep the carpeting as dry as possible by
not adding water to the foam. Floor Mats
The Genuine Acura driver's floor mat that came with your car wasdesigned to be hooked over the floor
mat anchor. This keeps the floor mat
from sliding forward and possibly
interfering with the pedals. If you remove the floor mat, make
sure to re-anchor it when you put it
back in your car.
If you replace it, use a genuine Acura
floor mat that is designed to be used
with the floor mat anchor in your car.
If you use a non-Acura floor mat in
the driver's footwell, make sure it
fits properly and that it can be used
with the floor mat anchor.
Do not put additional floor mats on
top of the anchored mat, otherwise
the additional mats may slide
forward and interfere with the pedals.

Appearance Care

Interior Care
Fabric
Vacuum dirt and dust out of the material frequently. For general
cleaning, use a solution of mild soap and lukewarm water, letting it air dry.
To clean off stubborn spots, use a commercially-available fabric cleaner.
Test it on a hidden area of the fabric first, to make sure it does not bleachor stain the fabric. Follow the
instructions that come with the
cleaner.
Vinyl

Remove dirt and dust with a vacuum
cleaner. Wipe the vinyl with a soft
cloth dampened in a solution of mildsoap and water. Use the same
solution with a soft-bristle brush on
more difficult spots. You can also use
commercially-available spray or
foam-type vinyl cleaners.

Leather

Vacuum dirt and dust from the leather frequently. Pay particularattention to the pleats and seams.Clean the leather with a soft cloth
dampened with clear water, then
buff it with a clean, dry cloth. If
further cleaning is needed, use a soap specifically for leather, such as
saddle soap. Apply this soap with a
damp, soft cloth. Wipe down and
buff as described above. Seat Belts
If your seat belts get dirty, you can
use a soft brush with a mixture of
mild soap and warm water to clean
them. Do not use bleach, dye, or cleaning solvents. They can weaken
the belt material. Let the belts air- dry before you use the car.

CONTINUED

Appearance Care
LOOP