audio Acura RL 2002 3.5 Owner's Manual

2002 RL Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.helminc.com.
Contents
Owner's Identification Form
Introduction........................................................................\
............................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safety ........................................................................\
..................................................ii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
.......................................................2
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
...............................................5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System.
Instruments and Controls........................................................................\
.................................................. .53
Instrument panel indica tor and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features........................................................................\
...............................115
How to operat e the climate control system,
the audio system, and other convenience features.
Before Driving ........................................................................\
.....................................................................179
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving........................................................................\
...................................................... .............................191
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
...................................................... ...................215
Th e Maintenance Schedule
shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Care........................................................................\
...................................................... ...........275
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Th ings
to look for if your car ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
.......................................283
This section covers several prob lems motorists sometimes experience, and how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
...................................................... .311
ID numbers, dimensions, capaciti es, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)......................................................................325
A summary of the warranties covering your new Honda, and how to contac t us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
.......................................329
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index ........................................................................\
......................................................................................... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

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
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01/09/28 19:35:25 31SZ3660_065

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The ignition switch is on the right
side of the steering column. It has
f our positions:
LOCK(0)
 ACCESSORY (I)
 ON (II)
 START (III) If the f ront wheels are turned, the
anti-thef t lock may sometimes make
it difficult to turn the key from
LOCK to ACCESSORY. Firmly turn
the steering wheel to the lef t or to
the right as you turn the key.
In this position,
you can operate the audio system
and the cigarette lighter. You can insert or
remove the key only in this position.
To switch f rom ACCESSORY to
LOCK, you must push the key in
slightly as you turn it. The shif t lever
must also be in Park. The anti-thef t
lock will lock the steering column
when you remove the key.
This is the normal key
position when driving. All f eatures
and accessories on the car are usable.
Several of the lights on the instru-
ment panel come on as a test when
you turn the ignition switch f rom ACCESSORY to ON.
Use this position
only to start the engine. The switch
returns to ON (II) when you let go of
the key.
The engine will not start if the
Immobilizer System does not
recognize the key’s coding (see page ).
You will hear a reminder beeper if
you leave the key LOCK (0) or
ACCESSORY (I) position and open
thedriver’sdoor.Removethekeyto
turn of f the beeper. 69
Ignition Switch
A CCESSORY (I) LOCK (0)
ON (II)ST A RT (III)
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols77
01/09/28 19:37:41 31SZ3660_080

...............
Climate Control System .114
.......
Fully-automatic Operation .116
.......
Semi-automatic Operation .117
.......
Fully-automatic Operation .121
.......
Semi-automatic Operation .122
........................
Rear Ventilation .126
Sunlight Sensor/
............
Temperature Sensor .127
................................
Audio System .128
AM/FM/Cassette Stereo ........................
Audio System .128
.................
Operating the Radio .129
.................
Adjusting the Sound .132
............
Audio System Lighting .133
Operating the Cassette
.....................................
Player .133
............
Tape Search Functions .134
.....
Operating the CD Changer .136
.................
Operating the Radio .139
.................
Adjusting the Sound .142
............
Audio System Lighting .143
....................
Radio Frequencies .143 ........................
Radio Reception .143
Operating the Cassette
.....................................
Player .145
............
Tape Search Functions .145
Caring f or the Cassette
.....................................
Player .148
.....
Operating the CD Changer .149
........
Loading the CD Changer .151
.......
Protecting Compact Discs .153
CD Changer Error
.............................
Indications .154
...........
Remote Audio Controls .155
.......................
Thef t Protection .156
............................
Security System .157
...............................
Cruise Control .158
HomeLink Universal
...........................
Transceiver .162
...............
Customer Assistance .162
.
Important Safety Precautions .162
..................
Training HomeLink .163
Training with a Rolling Code
....................................
System .164
...........................
Erasing Codes .166
............................................
OnStar .167
3.5 RL without Navigation System
3.5 RL with Navigation System
3.5 RL without Navigation System3.5 RL with Navigation System
Comf ort and Convenience Features
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures113
01/09/28 19:43:18 31SZ3660_116

Î
Î
Your Acura’s audio system provides
clear reception on both AM and FM
bands, while the preset buttons allow
you to easily select your f avorite
stations.
The cassette system f eatures Dolby
noise reduction, automatic sensing of
chromium-dioxide (CrO ) tape, and
auto-reverse f or continuous play.
The anti-thef t f eature will disable the
system if it is disconnected f rom the
car’s battery. To get the system
working again, you must enter a
code number (see page ).156
2
Dolby noise reduction manuf actured under
license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corpo-
ration. ‘‘DOLBY’’ and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories
Licensing Corporation.
A M/FM/Cassette Stereo A udio
System3.5 RL wit hout Navigat ion Syst em
3.5 RL wit h Navigat ion Syst em
Audio System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures128
01/09/28 19:45:31 31SZ3660_131

µµ
µ
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You can use any of three methods to
f ind radio stations on the selected
band: TUNE, SEEK, or the Preset
buttons.
Use the TUNE knob to
tune the radio to a desired f requency.
Turn the TUNE knob to the right to
tune to a higher f requency, or to the
lef t to tune to a lower f requency.
Turn the knob right or lef t until the
display reaches the desired
f requency. You can store the
f requencies of your f avorite radio
stations in the six preset buttons.
Each button will store one f requency
on the AM band, and two
f requencies on the FM band.
The SEEK f unction
searches the band for a station with
a strong signal. To activate it, push ei-
ther side of the SEEK/SKIP buttons
( or ). Push the button to
scan up f rom the current f requency,
andthe buttontoscandown.It
stops when it finds a station with a
strong signal.
The band and f requency that the ra-
dio was last tuned to is displayed. To
change bands, press the AM/FM but-
ton. On the FM band, ST will be dis-
played if the station is broadcasting
in stereo. ST will flash if you are driv-
inginanareawheretheradiosignal
is weak. Stereo reproduction on AM
is not available. The ignition switch must be in
ACCESSORY (I) or ON (II) to
operate the audio system. Turn the
system on by pushing the PWR/
VOL knob or the AM/FM button.
Adjust the volume by turning the
knob.
CONT INUED
TUNE
Preset
SEEK
Operating the Radio
Audio System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
3.5 RL wit hout Navigat ion Syst em
129
01/09/28 19:45:42 31SZ3660_132

To store a f requency:Select the desired band, AM or
FM. FM1 and FM2 let you store
two f requencies with each Preset
button.
Use the TUNE or SEEK f unction
to tune the radio to a desired
station.
Pick the Preset button you want
for that station. Press the button
and hold it until you hear a beep.
Repeat steps 1 to 3 to store a total
of six stations on AM and twelve
on FM.
Once a station’s f requency is stored,
simply press and release the proper
Preset button to tune to it.
The preset f requencies will be lost if
your car’s battery goes dead, is
disconnected, or the radio f use is
removed. 1.
2.
3.
4.
Audio System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures130
P P W
WR R//V
V O
OL L
K
KN NO OBB A
A
M
M /
/F
FM M
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N S
ST
TE
ER
RE EO
O
I
IN ND DI
ICCA A T
TO
OR R T
T
U
UN NEE
K
KN NO OBB
S
SEEE
EK
K/ /S
SK KIIPP
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON NSS
P
P R
RE ES
SE ET
T B
BUUT TT
TO
ON NSS
01/09/28 19:45:52 31SZ3660_133

µIf you are
traveling far from home and can no
longer receive the stations you
preset, you can use the Auto Select
feature to find stations in the local
area.
To activate Auto Select, press the
A. SELECT button. A. SELECT will
appear in the display, and the system
will go into scan mode f or several
seconds. It automatically scans both
bands, looking f or stations with
strong signals. It stores the f requen-
cies of six AM stations and twelve
FM stations in the preset buttons.
You can then use the preset buttons
to select those stations.
If you are in a remote area, Auto
Select may not f ind six strong AM
stations or twelve strong FM stations.
If this happens, you will see a ‘‘0’’
displayed when you press any preset
button that does not have a station
stored. With Auto Select on, you cannot
manually store any f requencies in
the preset buttons. If you do not like
the stations found by Auto Select,
you can use the TUNE and SEEK
f unctions to f ind other stations.
Auto Select does not erase the
f requencies that you preset pre-
viously. When you return home, turn
of f Auto Select by pressing the
A. SELECT button. The preset
buttons will then select the fre-
quencies you originally set.
AUTO SELECT
Audio System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures131
A A
M
M /
/F
FM M B
BUUT TT
TO
ON NA
A
U
UT TO
O S
SEEL
LEE C
CT T I
INND DI
ICCA A T
TO
OR R
A
A U
UT TO
O S
SEEL
LEE C
CT T B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N
P
P R
RE ES
SE ET
T B
BUUT TT
TO
ON NSS T
T
U
UN NEE
K
KN NO OBB
S
SE EE
EK
K/ /S
SK KIIPP
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON NSS
01/09/28 19:46:00 31SZ3660_134

µµ
These two
controls adjust the strength of the
sound coming f rom each speaker.
The Balance control adjusts the side-
to-side strength, while the Fader
control adjusts the f ront-to-back
strength.
To adjust the fader, push on the
BASS/FADER control knob to get it
to pop out. Pull it out slightly f arther,
and adjust the f ront-to-back sound to
your liking. Push the knob back in
when you are done so you cannot
change the setting by accidentally
bumping it.
To adjust the balance, push on the
TREBLE/BALANCE control knob
to get it to pop out. Pull it out slightly
f arther, and adjust the side-to-side
sound to your liking. Push the knob
back in when you are done so you
cannot change the setting by
accidentally bumping it. Use these controls
to adjust the tone to your liking.
To adjust the Treble level, push on
the TREBLE/BALANCE control
knob to get it to pop out. Without
pulling it out f arther, turn the knob
to adjust the treble level. Push the
knob back in when you are done so
you cannot change the setting by
accidentally bumping it. To adjust the Bass level, push on the
BASS/FADER control knob to get it
to pop out. Without pulling it out
f arther, turn the knob to adjust the
bass level. Push the knob back in
when you are done so you cannot
change the setting by accidentally
bumping it.
Adjusting the Sound
Balance/Fader
Treble/Bass
Audio System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures132
B BAA S
SSS//F
FA A D
DE
ER
R
C
CO ON NTTR
RO OL L T
T
R
RE EB
BL LEE /
/B
BA A L
LAA N
NC CEE
C
CO ON NTTR
RO OL L
01/09/28 19:46:10 31SZ3660_135

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
01/09/28 19:46:23 31SZ3660_136