dashboard Acura RL 2001 3.5 Owner's Guide

Climate Control System

The button directs the main
air flow to the windshield for fasterdefrosting. 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.
Rear Window Defogger Button
This button turns the rear window defogger on and off (see page 71).
REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER BUTTONComfort and Convenience Features

Climate Control System

Sunlight Sensor/Temperature

Sensor
SUNLIGHT SENSOR
The climate control system has two 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. TEMPERATURE SENSOR
Comfort and Convenience Features

Security System

The security system helps to protect your car and valuables from theft.
The horn sounds and a combination of headlights, parking lights, side
marker lights and taillights flashes if someone attempts to break into your
car or remove the radio. This alarm
continues for two minutes, then the system resets. To reset an alarming
system before the two minutes have
elapsed, unlock either front door
with the key or the remote
transmitter.
The security system sets auto- matically fifteen seconds after you
lock the doors, hood, and trunk. For
the system to activate, you must lock
the doors from the outside with the
key, lock tab, door lock switch, or
remote transmitter. The security system light next to the driver's door
lock starts blinking immediately to show you the system is setting itself. Once the security system is set,
opening any door (without using the
key or the remote transmitter), or
the hood, will cause it to alarm. It also alarms if the radio is removed
from the dashboard or the wiring is

cut.
With the system set, you can still
open the trunk with the master key
or the remote transmitter without
triggering the alarm. The alarm will sound if the trunk lock is forced, or
the trunk is opened with the trunk
release button on the driver's door.
The security system will not set if the hood, trunk, or any door is not
fully closed. If the system will not set,check the Door and Brake Lamp
Monitor on the instrument panel (see page 57), to see if the doors
and trunk are fully closed. Since it is not part of the monitor display,
manually check the hood.
Do not attempt to alter this system
or add other devices to it.

Comfort and Convenience Features

SECURITY SYSTEM LIGHT

Service Station Procedures

5. Screw the fuel fill cap back on,
tighten it until it clicks several
times. If you do not properly tighten the cap, the MalfunctionIndicator Lamp may come on (see
page 287).

6. Push the fuel fill door closed until

it latches.

Opening the Hood
1. Shift to Park or Neutral and set

the parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower left corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.

2. Standing in front of the car, reach

in between the hood and the front
bumper with your finger. Slide the
latch handle.

Before Driving
HOOD RELEASE HANDLE

LATCH HANDLE

Accessories and Modifications

Modifications Do not remove any original
equipment or modify your car in any
way that would alter its design or operation. This could make your car
unsafe and illegal to drive.
For example, do not make any
modifications that would change the
ride height of your car, or install
wheels and tires with a different overall diameter.
Such modifications can adversely
affect handling, and interfere with
the operation of the car's anti-lock
brakes and other systems.
In addition, any modifications that
decrease ground clearance increase
the chance of undercarriage parts striking a curb, speed bump, or other
raised object, which could cause
your airbags to deploy. Do not modify your steering wheel
or any other part of your
Supplemental Restraint System.
Modifications could make the
system ineffective.
Additional Safety Precautions
Do not attach or place objects on

the front airbag covers. Any object

attached to or placed on the covers
marked "SRS AIRBAG," in the
center of the steering wheel and
on top of the dashboard, could
interfere with the proper operation of the airbags. Or, if the airbags
inflate, the objects could be
propelled inside the car and hurt
someone.
Do not attach hard objects on or

near a front door. If a side airbag
inflates, a cup holder or other hard
object attached on or near the door could be propelled inside the
car and hurt someone.
Do not place any objects over theoutside edge of a front seat-back.
Covering the outside edge of a
front seat-back, with a non-Acura seat cover for example, could
prevent the airbag from inflating
properly.

Before Driving

Fuses

All the electrical circuits in your car have fuses to protect them from ashort circuit or overload. These
fuses are located in two fuse boxes.
The interior fuse box is underneaththe dashboard on the driver's side.
To open it, turn the knob as shown. The under-hood fuse box is located
in the engine compartment next to
the battery. To open it, push the tab
as shown.

Taking Care of the Unexpected

INTERIOR
KNOB
UNDER-HOOD

TAB

Identification Numbers

Your car has several identifying numbers located in various places.
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is the 17-digit number your
Acura dealer uses to register your car for warranty purposes. It is also
necessary for licensing and insuring
your car. The easiest place to find the VIN is on a plate fastened to the
top of the dashboard. You can see it
by looking through the windshield on the driver's side. It is also on theCertification label attached to the
driver's doorjamb, and is stamped on
the engine compartment bulkhead.
The VIN is also provided in bar code on the Certification label. VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

CERTIFICATION LABEL

Technical Information

Index

DANGER, Explanation of................. ii

Dashboard.................................... 2, 52
Daytime Running Lights................. 65
Defects, Reporting Safety............. 317
Defogger, Rear Window................. 71
Defrosting the Windows.......128,
132

Differential
Oil............................... 229

Dimensions..................................... 302

Dimming the Headlights................ 63

Dipstick
Automatic Transmission........... 228

Engine Oil................................... 171

Directional Signals........................... 66

Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 187
Disposal of Used Oil...................... 220

Doors
Locking and Unlocking............... 81
Lockout Prevention..................... 82
Monitor Light............................... 57
Power Door Locks....................... 81
DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 304
Drive Belts...................................... 242
Driver and Passenger Safety............ 5
Driving............................................ 179

Economy..................................... 173
In Bad Weather.......................... 194
In Foreign Countries................. 307

Driving Position Memory
System......................................... 101

Economy, Fuel............................... 173
Emergencies on the Road............. 271 Battery, Jump Starting.............. 280
Brake System Indicator............ 289Changing a Flat Tire................. 273
Charging System Indicator...... 286
Checking the Fuses................... 292
Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 285
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.... 287
Manually Closing Moonroof.... 290

Overheated Engine................... 283

Emergency Brake.......................... 109
Emergency Flashers....................... 70
Emergency Towing....................... 296
Emissions Controls........................ 308
Emissions Testing,State............... 311 Engine

Belts............................................. 242

Coolant Temperature Gauge ..... 60

Malfunction Indicator
Lamp................................. 55, 287

Oil Pressure Indicator......... 54, 285
Oil. What Kind to Use............... 217
Overheating................................ 283

Specifications............................. 303

Speed Limiter............................. 184

Starting........................................ 181

Engine Speed Limiter.................... 184

Ethanol in Gasoline....................... 306

Evaporative Emissions Controls.. 308
Exhaust Fumes................................ 49
Exhaust Gas Recirculation
System......................................... 309

Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
Belts by.........................................18

Exterior, Cleaning the................... 264
Fabric, Cleaning............................. 266

CONTINUED