dashboard Acura RL 2002 3.5 User Guide

Î
These labels are in the locations
shown. They warn you of potential
hazards that could cause serious
injury. Read these labels caref ully.
If a label comes of f or becomes hard
to read, contact your Acura dealer
f or a replacement.
U.S. models onlyU.S. models Canadian models
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Saf ety L abels
50
RADIATOR CAP
SUN VISOR
HOOD DASHBOARD The U.S. car model
01/09/28 19:33:16 31SZ3660_053

Thetwoleversonthesteering
column contain controls f or driving
f eatures you use most of ten. The lef t
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 lef t air vent
areforthecruisecontrol,instrument
panel brightness and the VSA
System.
The switches for the rear window
def ogger and f og 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.
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols62
C CRRUUI ISSE E
C
CO ON NTTR
RO OL L H
H
E
EA
A D
DL
LIIGGH HT
TS
S/ /
T
T U
UR RNN S
SIIGGN NAAL
LSS
I
IN NS STTR
RU UM M E
EN
NT T
P
P A
A N
NE EL
L
B
BR RIIGGH HT
TN
NE ES
SS S H
H
A
AZ
ZA
A R
RDD W
WA AR
RNNI INNG G
L
LI IGGH HT
TS
S W
WI
INND DS
SHH I
IEE L
LDD
W
WI IPP E
ER
RS S//W
WA AS
SHH E
ER
RS S
F
FO OG G
L
LI IGGH HT
TS
S
R
REEA
A R
R W
WI INND DO
OW W
D
D E
EF
FOOG GGGEER
R
V
V
E
EH
H I
ICCL LEE
S
ST TA
A B
BIILLI ITT Y
Y
A
A S
SSSIISST T S
SYYSSTTE
EM
M
O
OF FFF S
SWWI ITT C
CH H
S
STTE
EE
ER
RI INNG G W
WHHE
EE
EL
L
A
A D
DJ
JUUS STTM
M E
EN
NT TS
S H
H
O
OR RNN
01/09/28 19:35:25 31SZ3660_065

The automatic lighting f eature is
controlledbyasensorlocatedontop
of the dashboard. Do not cover this
sensor or spill liquids on it.With the headlight switch off, the
high beam headlights come on with
reduced brightness when you turn
the ignition switch to ON (II) and
release the parking brake. They
remain on until you turn the ignition
of f , even if you set the parking brake.
The headlights revert to normal
operation when you turn them on
with the switch.
Do not leave the light switch in
AUTO if you will not be driving the
car f or an extended period (a week
ormore).Youshouldalsoturnoff
the lights if you plan to leave the
engine idling or the engine of f f or a
long time. This will prevent the
battery f rom discharging.
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Daytime Running L ights
(Canadian Models)
65
L LI
IGGH HT
T
S
SE EN
NS SOOR R
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The dial on the dashboard to the lef t
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.Signal a turn or lane change with this
lever. Push down on the lever to
signal a lef t 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.
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 f ully to the lef t,
past the detent, will return the instru-
ment panel to its f ull brightness.
Instrument Panel Brightness T urn Signals
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols66
T T
U
UR RNN S
SIIGGN NAAL
L L
LEE V
V E
ER
R
I
IN
NS STTR
RU UM M E
EN
NT T P
PA
A N
NE EL
L
B
BR RIIGGH HT
TN
NE ES
SS S D
DI
IAA L
L
01/09/28 19:36:01 31SZ3660_069

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 f low f rom the
vents in the center and each side of
the dashboard is adjustable. Move
the tab in the center of each vent up-
and-down and side-to-side.
Thesideventscanbeopenedand
closed with the dials next to them.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.For the climate control system to
provide heating and cooling, the
engine must be running.
In the rear seat, you can also adjust
the ventilation when the climate con-
trol system is on (see page ). 126
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
114
C CEEN
NT TE
ER
R V
VE
EN
NT TS
S
O
Oppe
enn
C
Cl loo s
see
S
SI
IDD E
E V
VE
EN
NT TS
S
01/09/28 19:43:28 31SZ3660_117

You can manually select the f an
speedbyturningthefancontroldial.
When you turn the dial clockwise,
the fan is taken out of automatic
mode and starts to run at its lowest
speed. Turning the dial f ully
clockwise increases the f an’s speed,
which increases air flow.Use the MODE button to select the
vents the air flows from. Some air
will f low f rom 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.
These two buttons control the
source of the air going into the sys-
tem. In Fresh Air mode ( ),
air is brought in f rom outside the ve-
hicle. In Recirculation mode
( ), air f rom the car’s interior
is sent through the system again.
You can, f or example, manually put
the system in recirculation mode
when driving through an area of
smoke or f umes. When you press
the or button, the
light in that button comes on.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Mode Button
Recirculat ed and Fresh A ir
Fan Cont rol Dial
118
M MO
ODDE
E B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N F
FAA N
N C
COON NTTR
RO OL L D
DI
IAA L
L
R
RE EC
CI IRRC CUUL LAA T
TE
ED
D A
AI
IRR F
FRRE ES
SH H A
AI
IRR
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CONT INUED
The main air f low is divided
between the dashboard vents and
the f loor vents. The main air f low is divided
between the f loor vents and de-
froster vents at the base of the wind-
shield.
The main air flow comes
f rom the f loor vents.
The main air flow comes
f rom the dashboard vents.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures119
01/09/28 19:44:09 31SZ3660_122

The button directs the main
air f low to the windshield f or f aster
def rosting. 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
f aster def rosting, manually set the
fanspeedtohigh.Youcanalso
increase air f low to the windshield by
closing the side vents in the
dashboard.
When you turn of f by
pressing the button again, the
system returns to its former settings.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures120
01/09/28 19:44:16 31SZ3660_123

CONT INUED
This button controls the source of
the air going into the system. When
the indicator above this button is lit,
air f rom the car’s interior is sent
through the system again (Recircula-
tion mode). When the indicator is off,
air is brought in f rom outside the car
(Fresh Air mode).
You can, f or example, manually put
the system in recirculation mode
when driving through an area of
smoke or f umes.
You can manually select the f an
speedbyturningthefancontroldial.
When you turn the dial clockwise,
the fan is taken out of automatic
mode and starts to run at its lowest
speed. Turning the dial f ully
clockwise increases the f an’s speed,
which increases air flow.Use the MODE button to select the
vents the air flows from. Some air
will f low f rom 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.
Mode Button
Recirculat ion But t on
Fan Cont rol Dial
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures123
R REEC
CI IRRC CUUL LAA T
TI
IOON N B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N
F
FA
A N
N C
COON NTTR
RO OL L D
DI
IAA L
L M
MO
ODDE
E B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N
01/09/28 19:44:45 31SZ3660_126

The main air f low is divided
between the dashboard vents and
the f loor vents. The main air f low is divided
between the f loor vents and de-
froster vents at the base of the wind-
shield.
The main air flow comes
f rom the f loor vents.
The main air flow comes
f rom the dashboard vents.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures124
01/09/28 19:44:52 31SZ3660_127