lights Acura RL 2002 3.5 Owner's Guide

Both f ront and rear ceiling lights
contain a main light as well as two
spotlights.With the light switch in the AUTO
position, you can use the rear
spotlights only when the headlights
turn on automatically.
The f ront ceiling light has a three-
position switch. With the switch in
the OFF position (f ar lef t), the main
lights do not come on. In the center
position, the main lights come on
when you open any door. Af ter all
doors are closed tightly, they dim
slightly then f ade out in about 10
seconds. In the ON position (f ar right), the main lights stay on
continuously.
Turn on the spotlights in the f ront
and rear ceiling lights by pushing the
grey button next to each light. Push
the button again to turn it off. You
can use the f ront spotlights at all
times. The rear spotlights only light
when the parking lights or head-
lights are on.U.S. models only
Ceiling L ights
Inst rument s and Cont rols111
F FR
RO ON NTT
O
OF FFF
O
ONN R
RE
EA
A R
R
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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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ÛWhen the system reaches the end of
the tape, it will automatically reverse
direction and play the other side. If
you want to remove the cassette
f rom the drive, press the EJECT
button.
If you turn the system of f while a
tape is playing, either with the PWR/
VOL knob or by turning of f the
ignition, the cassette will remain in
the drive. When you turn the system
back on, the tape will begin playing
where it lef t of f .
To switch to the radio or CD
changer while listening to a tape,
press the AM/FM or CD/TAPE but-
ton. To change back to the cassette
player, press the CD/TAPE button.
Make sure the tape opening on the
cassette is facing to the right, then
insert the cassette most of the way
into the slot. The system will pull it
in the rest of the way, and begin to
play. The ignition switch must be in
ACCESSORY (I) or ON (II).
The tape direction indicator will light
to show you which side of the
cassette is playing. The indicates
thesideyouinsertedfacingupward
is now playing. If you want to play
the other side, press the PROG/
PLAY button.
Dolby noise reduction turns on when
you insert a cassette. If the tape was
not recorded with Dolby noise reduc-
tion, turn it of f by pressing the
button.
You can use the instrument panel
brightness control dial to adjust the il-
lumination of the audio system (see
page ). The audio system
illuminates when the parking lights
are on, even if the radio is turned of f .
For inf ormation, See page .
66
141
Audio System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Operating the Cassette Player
A udio System L ighting
Radio Frequencies and Reception
133
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You can use the instrument panel
brightness control dial to adjust the il-
lumination of the audio system (see
page ). The audio system
illuminates when the parking lights
are on, even if the radio is turned of f .
Your Acura’s radio can receive the
complete AM and FM bands.
Those bands cover these f requen-
cies:
AM band:
530 to 1,710 kilohertz
FM band:
87.7 to 107.9 megahertz
Radio stations on the AM band are
assigned f requencies at least ten
kilohertz apart (530, 540, 550).
Stations on the FM band are
assigned f requencies at least 0.2
megahertz apart (87.9, 88.1, 88.3).Stations must use these exact
f requencies. It is f airly common f or
stations to round-of f the f requency in
their advertising, so your radio could
display a f requency of 100.9 even
though the announcer may identif y
the station as ‘‘FM101.’’
How well your Acura’s radio receives
stations is dependent on many
f actors, such as the distance f rom
the station’s transmitter, nearby
large objects, and atmospheric
conditions.
A radio station’s signal gets weaker
as you get f arther away f rom its
transmitter. If you are listening to an
AM station, you will notice the sound
volume becoming weaker, and the
stationdriftinginandout.If youare
listening to an FM station, you will
see the stereo indicator f lickering of f
and on as the signal weakens.
Eventually, the stereo indicator willgo of f and the sound will f ade
completely as you get out of range of
the station’s signal.
Driving very near the transmitter of
a station that is broadcasting on a
f requency close to the f requency of
the station you are listening to can
also af f ect your radio’s reception.
You may temporarily hear both
stations,orhearonlythestationyou
are close to.
66
CONT INUED
A udio System L ighting
Radio Frequencies Radio Reception
Audio System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures143
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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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µ
µ µ
µ
µ µ
µ
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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Modif ying your car, or installing
some non-Acura accessories, can
make your car unsaf e. Bef ore you
make any modif ications or add any
accessories,besuretoreadthe
f ollowing inf ormation.
Your dealer has Genuine Acura
accessories that allow you to
personalize your car. These
accessories have been designed and
approved f or your car, and are
covered by warranty.
Non-Acura accessories are usually
designed f or universal applications.
Although aftermarket accessories
may f it on your car, they may not
meet f actory specif ications, and
could adversely af f ect your car’s
handling and stability. (See
‘‘Modif ications’’ on page f or
additional information.)When properly installed, cellular
phones, alarms, two-way radios, and
low-powered audio systems should
not interf ere with your car’s
computer-controlled systems, such
as the SRS and anti-lock brake
system.
If possible, have your dealer inspect
the f inal installation.Have the installer contact your
Acura dealer f or assistance bef ore
installing any electronic accessory. Be sure electronic accessories do
not overload electrical circuits
(see page ). Make sure the accessory does not
obscure any lights, or interf ere
with proper car operation or
perf ormance.
Bef ore installing any accessory: However, if electronic accessories
are improperly installed, or exceed
your car’s electrical system capacity,
they can interfere with the operation
of your car, or even cause the
airbags to deploy.
302
185
A ccessories
A ccessories and Modif ications
Bef ore Driving184
Improper accessories or
modifications can affect your
car’s handling, stability and
performance, and cause a
crash in which you can be hurt
or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner’s manual regarding
accessories and modifications.
01/10/11 11:46:25 31SZ3660_187

Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove f rost, snow,
or ice.
Check that the hood and trunk are
f ully closed.Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page ).
Check the adjustment of the
steering wheel (see page ).
Make sure the doors are securely
closed and locked.
Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have f astened
their seat belts (see page ).Turn the ignition switch ON (II).
Check the indicator lights in the
instrument panel.
Start the engine (see page ).
Check the gauges and indicator
lights in the instrument panel (see
page ).
Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.
Check that any items you may be
carrying with you inside are stored
properly or f astened down
securely.
Youshoulddothefollowingchecks
and adjustments every day bef ore
you drive your car.
Check the adjustment of the seat
(see page ).
1.
2.
3.
4. 5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11. 12. 53
15
86
91 191
71
Preparing to Drive
Driving190
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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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Your Acura is equipped with disc
brakes at all f our wheels. A power
assist helps reduce the ef f ort needed
on the brake pedal. The ABS helps
you retain steering control when
braking very hard.
Put your f oot on the brake pedal only
when you intend to brake. Resting
your f oot on the pedal keeps the
brakes applied lightly, causing them
to build up heat. Heat build-up can
reduce how well your brakes work. It
also keeps your brake lights on all
the time, conf using drivers behind
you.Constant application of the brakes
when going down a long hill builds
up heat and reduces their ef f ective-
ness. Use the engine to assist the
brakes by downshif ting to a lower
gear and taking your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal.
Check your brakes af ter driving
through deep water. Apply the
brakes moderately to see if they f eel
normal. If not, apply them gently and
f requently until they do. Since a
longer distance is needed to stop
with wet brakes, be extra cautious
and alert in your driving.
All f our brakes have audible brake
wear indicators.
When the brake pads need replacing,
you will hear a distinctive metallic
‘‘screeching’’ sound when you apply
the brakes. If you do not have the
brake pads replaced, they will begin
screeching all the time.
Your brakes may sometimes squeal
or squeak when you apply them
lightly. Do not conf use this with the
brake wear indicators. They make a
very audible ‘‘screeching.’’ Brake Wear Indicators
The Braking System
Driving197
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