key Acura RL 2002 3.5 Owner's Guide

There are two switches on the
ceiling near the f ront ceiling light.
The ignition switch must be ON (II).
To open the moonroof , pull the
OPEN/CLOSE switch backward and
hold it until the moonroof reaches
the desired position.
If your car’s battery is disconnected
or goes dead, or the driver’s window
f use is removed, the AUTO f unction
will be disabled. The power window
system needs to be reset af ter
reconnecting the battery or installing
the f use. You should do the f ollowing.
Pull back on the driver’s window
switch to close the window
completely then hold the switch
forafurthersecondortwomore. Start the engine. Push down on
the driver’s window switch until
the window is f ully open.
If the power windows do not operate
properly af ter resetting, have your
car checked by an Acura dealer. The power window system has a key-
of f delay f unction. The windows will
stilloperateforuptotenminutes
after you turn off the ignition.
Opening either f ront door cancels
the delay function. You must turn
the ignition switch ON (II) again
bef ore you can raise or lower the
windows.
1.
2. Moonroof
Power Windows, Moonroof
Inst rument s and Cont rols100
O OP
PE
EN
N/ /C
CL LOOS SEE
S
SW WI ITT C
CH H
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In addition to the ceiling lights, your
Acura has courtesy lights in each
door and the ignition switch.Even if the door is open, the lights
will turn off after three minutes
when the key is not in the ignition
switch or the ignition switch is in the
LOCK (0) or ACCESSORY (I)
position, and the light switch is in the
of f position.
The door courtesy lights and ceiling
lights (with the switch in the center
position) come on when you unlock
the door with the key, lock tab on
the driver’s door, master door lock
switch,orremotetransmitter(see
page ). If you relock the driver’s
door or close the driver’s door with
the key in the ignition switch, the
lights turn of f immediately.
Otherwise, they remain on, then f ade
out in about 10 seconds.
The door courtesy lights come on
whenever you open any door. Af ter
all doors are closed tightly, they dim
slightly then f ade out in about 10
seconds. Thecourtesylightintheignition
switchcomesonwhenyouopenthe
driver’s door. It remains on about 10
seconds af ter the door is closed. The door courtesy lights and ceiling
lights (with the switch in the center
position) also come on when you
remove the key from the ignition
switch. If you do not open a door,
they stay on, then fade out in about
10 seconds.
79
Courtesy Lights
Inst rument s and Cont rols112
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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
f rom 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 f orced, or
the trunk is opened with the trunk
releasebuttononthedriver’sdoor.
The security system will not set if
the hood, trunk, or any door is not
f ully closed. If the system will not set,
check the Door and Brake Lamp
Monitor on the instrument panel
(see page ), to see if the doors
and trunk are f ully closed. Since it is
notpartofthemonitordisplay,
manually check the hood.
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 f rom 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 . Do not attempt to alter this system
or add other devices to it.
The security system helps to protect
your car and valuables f rom thef t.
The horn sounds and a combination
of headlights, parking lights, side
marker lights and taillights f lashes if
someone attempts to break into your
carorremovetheradio.Thisalarm
continues f or two minutes, then the
system resets. To reset an alarming
system bef ore the two minutes have
elapsed, unlock either f ront door
with the key or the remote
transmitter.
57
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Security System
157
S SEEC
CU UR RIITT Y
Y S
SYYSSTTE
EM
M L
LIIGGH HT
T
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The OnStar system uses the Global
Positioning System (GPS) to locate
your vehicle whenever you place a
call. This allows the advisor to
quickly contact the nearest services
without requiring you to provide
detailed directions.
Contact
the OnStar advisor if you need
assistance with a problem (f lat tire,
out of f uel, etc.) while traveling. The
advisor will contact an appropriate
agency to come and assist you.
Contact an
OnStar advisor if you have an
emergency situation. The advisor
will contact the nearest emergency
services provider (ambulance, f ire
department, etc.) and advise them of
your situation. If you are ever in an
accident that causes the airbags to
deploy, the OnStar system
automatically places a call (provided
the OnStar system and your vehicle’s
electrical system are still intact). The
advisor will attempt to speak to you
to evaluate the situation, and contact
the nearest emergency services
provider.
The OnStar
advisor can help you if you are ever
in a minor accident by giving you a
list of inf ormation you should collect
at the accident scene.Complete,
detailed inf ormation will make it
easier to complete accident reports
and insurance claims.
By sending a signal to your
vehicle, the advisor can lock or
unlock your vehicle’s doors. This is
helpfulif youareawayfromyour vehicle and realize you f orgot to lock
the doors, or if you have locked the
keys in your vehicle. To get OnStar’s
assistance, call (888) 4-ONSTAR
(466-7827).
Using
GPS, OnStar can locate your vehicle
almost anywhere. If your vehicle is
ever stolen, contact OnStar at (888)
4-ONSTAR. The advisor will put you
in contact with the proper authorities,
and assist them with locating your
vehicle.
If you are unable to locate your
vehicleinalargeparkinglotor
parking structure, contact OnStar at
(888) 4-ONSTAR. The advisor will
remotely activate the exterior lights
and the horn, allowing you to locate
your vehicle.
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
OnStar System
Saf ety and Security Plan Features
Roadside Assistance
Emergency Services A utomatic Notif ication of A irbag
Deployment
A ccident A ssist
Remote Door L ocking/Unlocking
Stolen Vehicle T racking
Misplaced Vehicle Assistance
169
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Push the accelerator pedal half-
way to the f loor and hold it there
while starting the engine. Do not
hold the ignition key in START
(III) f or more than 15 seconds.
When the engine starts, release
the accelerator pedal gradually as
the engine speeds up and smooths
out.
If the engine fails to start in step 2,
push the accelerator pedal to the
f loor and hold it there while you
try to start the engine for no more
than 15 seconds. If the engine
does not start, return to step 2.
If the engine still does not start,
press the accelerator pedal all the
way down and hold it there while
starting in order to clear f looding.
As bef ore, keep the ignition key in
the START (III) position f or no
more than 15 seconds. Return to
step 5 if the engine does not start.
If it starts, lif t your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal so the engine
does not race.
An engine is harder to start in cold
weather. The thinner air f ound at
high altitude above 8,000 f eet (2,400
meters) adds to the problem.
Use the f ollowing procedure: Turn of f all electrical accessories
to reduce the drain on the battery.
Apply the parking brake.
In cold weather, turn of f all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.
Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal.
Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to the
START (III) position. If the engine
does not start right away, do not
hold the key in START (III) f or
more than 15 seconds at a time.
Pause f or at least 10 seconds
bef ore trying again.
If the engine does not start within
15 seconds, or starts but stalls
right away, repeat step 4 with the
accelerator pedal pressed half-way
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal
so the engine does not race.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1.2.
3.
Starting in Cold Weather at High
A ltitude (A bove 8,000 f eet/
2,400 meters)
Driving
Starting the Engine
191
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CONT INUED
Whenever you move the shif t lever,
slide it along the guide on the
console. This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning of f or
starting the engine. To shif t out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal. Move the shif t
lever to the right to shif t out of the Park position.
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see Shif t Lock Release on page
.
To avoid transmission damage, come
to a complete stop bef ore shif ting
into Park. The shif t lever must be in
Park bef ore you can remove the key
from the ignition switch. To shif t to Reverse
f rom Park, see the explanation under
Park. To shif t to Reverse f rom
Neutral, come to a complete stop and
then shift. Push down on the shift
lever bef ore shif ting into Reverse
from Neutral.
Use Neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop brief ly with
the engine idling. Shif t to Park posi-
tion if you need to leave the car for
any reason. Press on the brake pedal
when you are moving the shif t lever
f rom Neutral to another gear.
195
To shift from:
PtoR
NtoR 2to1
1to2
2toD
DtoD DtoN
DtoD Dto2
NtoD RtoNRtoP Do this:
Press the brake pedal.
Push down on the shif t lever.
Move the lever.
3
34 4
43 3 4
Driving
Automatic Transmission
Park (P) Reverse (R)
Neutral (N)
193
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This allows you to move the shif t
lever out of Park if the normal
method of pushing on the brake
pedal does not work.Set the Parking brake.
Remove the key from the ignition
switch.
Put a cloth on the edge of the Shif t
Lock Release slot cover next to
the shift lever.
Use a small flat-tipped screwdriver
or small metal plate (neither are
included in the tool kit) to remove
the cover. Caref ully pry on the
edge of the cover. Push down on the key and move
the shift lever out of Park to
Neutral. Insert the key in the Shift Lock
Release slot.
If you need to use the Shif t Lock
Release, it means your car is
developing a problem. Have the car
checked by your Acura dealer.Remove the key from the Shift
Lock Release slot, then reinstall
thecover.Makesurethenotchon
the cover is on the right side.
Depress the brake pedal and
restart the engine.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.6.
Driving
Automatic Transmission
Shif t L ock Release
195
S SH
H I
IFFT T L
LOOC CKK R
REEL
LEE A
A S
SEE S
SLLOOT T
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µMake sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the trunk or take them with you. Turn of f the lights.
Lockthedoorswiththekeyorthe
remote transmitter. Check the
indicator on the driver’s door to
verify that the security system is
set.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on
fire.
Always use the parking brake when
you park your car. The indicator on
the instrument panel shows that the
parking brake is not f ully released; it
does not indicate that the parking
brakeisfirmlyset.Makesurethe
parking brake is set f irmly or your
car may roll if it is parked on an
incline.
Set the parking brake bef ore you put
the transmission in Park. This keeps
the car from moving and putting
pressure on the parking mechanism
in the transmission making it
easier to move the shif t lever out of
Park when you want to drive away.
If the car is f acing uphill, turn the
f ront wheels away f rom the curb.
Make sure the parking brake is f ully
released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes. If the car is f acing downhill, turn the
f ront wheels toward the curb.
Parking T ips
Driving
Parking
196
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Halogen bulbs are used f or 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.Open the hood.
Remove the electrical connector
f rom the bulb by pulling the
connector straight back.
Remove the rubber weather seal
by pulling on the tab.
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 of f
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
cartoyourdealertohaveitreplaced. Theheadlightswereproperlyaimed
when your car was new. If you
regularly carry heavy items in the
trunk or pull a trailer, readjustment
may be required. Adjustment of the
headlights should be perf ormed by
an Acura technician or other
qualif ied mechanic. 1.
2.
3.
Lights
Maint enance
Headlight A iming
Replacing a High Beam Headlight
Bulb
262
Halogen bulbs get very hot when lit. Oil,
perspiration, or a scratch on the glass
can cause the bulb to overheat and
shatter.
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Make sure the repair f acility uses
genuine Acura replacement body
parts. Some companies make sheet
metal pieces that seem to duplicate
the original Acura body parts, but
are actually inf erior in f it, f inish, and
corrosion resistance. Once installed,
they do not give the same high-
quality appearance.Takeyourcartoyourauthorized
Acura dealer f or inspection af ter the
repairs are completed. Your dealer
can make sure that quality materials
were used, and that corrosion-
preventive coatings were applied to
all repaired and replaced parts. When reporting your collision to the
insurance company, tell them you
want genuine Acura parts used in the
repair. Although most insurers
recognize the quality of original
parts, some may try to specif y that
the repairs be done with other
available parts. You should investi-
gate this before any repairs have
begun.
Body repairs can af f ect your car’s
resistance to corrosion. If your car
needs repairs af ter a collision, pay
close attention to the parts used in
the repair and the quality of the
work.
Body Repairs
Appearance Care280
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