service indicator Acura RL 2002 3.5 Owner's Manual
Page 8 of 343
This section gives you important
inf ormation about how to protect
yourself and your passengers. It
shows you how to use seat belts
properly. It explains your Supple-
mental Restraint System. And it tells
you how to properly restrain inf ants
andchildreninyourcar..........
Important Safety Precautions .6
.............
Your Car’s Saf ety Features .7
.......................................
Seat Belts .8
...........................................
Airbags .9
.....................
Seats & Seat-Backs .10
..........................
Head Restraints .10
..................................
Door Locks .10
........
Pre-Drive Saf ety Checklist .11
............................
Protecting Adults .12
.....
1. Close and Lock the Doors .12 ...........
2. Adjust the Front Seats .12
............
3. Adjust the Seat-Backs .13
...
4. Adjust the Head Restraints .14
5. Fasten and Position the Seat
.....................................
Belts .15
....
6. Adjust the Steering Wheel .17
7. Maintain a Proper Sitting
................................
Position .17
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women .18
...
Additional Safety Precautions .19
........................
Protecting Children .20
All Children Must Be ...............................
Restrained .20
Children Should Sit in the Back ...........................................
Seat .21
The Passenger’s Front Airbag Poses Serious Risks ...........................
to Children .21
If You Must Drive with Several ...................................
Children .23
If a Child Requires Close ..................................
Attention .23
...
Additional Safety Precautions .23
General Guidelines f or Using
...............................
Child Seats .24
.......................
Protecting Inf ants .28 .........
Protecting Small Children .32
.......
Protecting Larger Children .35
Using Child Seats with
.....................................
Tethers .39
Additional Inf ormation About Your .................................
Seat Belts .40
..
Seat Belt System Components .40
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt .40
Automatic Seat Belt
...............................
Tensioners .41
...............
Seat Belt Maintenance .42
Additional Inf ormation About Your .....................................
Airbags .43
........................
SRS Components .43
How Your Front Airbags
.........................................
Work .43
...
How Your Side Airbags Work .45
How the SRS Indicator Light
.......................................
Works .46
How The Side Airbag Indicator ............................
Light Works .47
.............................
Airbag Service .48
...
Additional Safety Precautions .48
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard .49
...................................
Saf ety Labels .50
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
5
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Page 170 of 343
The OnStarsystem in your vehicle
gives you immediate access to a wide
range of services and inf ormation
with the touch of a button. An
OnStar advisor is available 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week.
The basic Saf ety & Security Plan
provides: Press this button to contact an
OnStar advisor. You will hear a
chime, f ollowed by the
announcement, ‘‘Connecting to
OnStar.’’ The connection should take
20 to 30 seconds. The advisor will
assist you with any of the services
included in your plan.
Depending on what service you
request, you may need to give your
Personal Identification Number
(PIN) to the advisor. Your PIN is a
number you make up and provide
when you establish your OnStar
service.
If cellular telephone service is not
available in the area you are driving
in, you will hear a f ast busy signal.
The system will retry the connection
several times bef ore returning to the
ready mode.
Roadside Assistance.
Emergency Services.
Automatic Notif ication of Airbag
Deployment.
Accident Assist.
Remote Door Locking/Unlocking.
Stolen Vehicle Tracking.
Misplaced Vehicle Assistance.
The Premium Service Plan provides
these additional f eatures: Route Support.
Ride Assist.
Inf ormation and Convenience
Services.
Concierge Services. The OnStar control buttons and
indicator are located in the base of
the rear view mirror.
CONT INUED
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
OnStar System
OnStar Services Button
OnStar Control Panel
167
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Page 181 of 343
During this period:Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration. If you are unable to f ind premium
unleaded gasoline, you may substi-
tute an unleaded regular gasoline.
The engine will compensate f or the
lower octane, but you may notice a
slight decrease in power as a result.
We recommend gasolines containing
detergent additives that help prevent
f uel system and engine deposits.
Avoidhardbraking.Newbrakes
need to be broken-in by moderate
use f or the f irst 200 miles (300
km). Your Acura is designed to operate on
premium unleaded gasoline with a
pump octane number of 91 or higher.
In Canada, some gasolines contain
an octane-enhancing additive called
MMT. If you use such gasolines,
your emissions control system
perf ormance may deteriorate and
the Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on.
If this happens, contact your
authorized Acura dealer f or service.
Help assure your car’s f uture
reliability and perf ormance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).
Using gasoline containing lead will
damage your car’s emissions
controls. This contributes to air
pollution.
Do not change the oil until the
recommended time or mileage
intervalshowninthemaintenance
schedule.
Youshouldfollowthesesamere-
commendations with an overhauled
or exchanged engine, or when the
brakes are relined.
Break-in Period, Gasoline
Bef ore Driving
Break-in Period Gasoline
178
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Page 183 of 343
Standing in f ront of the car, reach
in between the hood and the f ront
bumper with your f inger. Slide the
latch handle.
Shift to Park or Neutral and set
the parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower lef t corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.
Screw the f uel f ill cap back on,
tighten it until it clicks several
times. If you do not properly
tighten the cap, the Malfunction
Indicator Lamp may come on (see
page ).
Push the f uel f ill door closed until
it latches.
1. 2.
5.
6.
297
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving
Opening the Hood
180
H H
O
OO ODD R
REEL
LEE A
A S
SEE H
HA
AN
ND DL
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L
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CH H H
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LEE
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Page 299 of 343
By eliminating as much of the
electrical load as possible, you can
drive several miles (kilometers)
before the battery is too discharged
to keep the engine running. Drive to
a service station or garage where
you can get technical assistance.
Immediately turn of f all electrical
accessories: radio, climate control,
rear def ogger, cruise control, etc.
Try not to use other electrically-
operated controls such as the power
windows. Keep the engine running
and take extra care not to stall it.
Starting the engine will discharge
the battery rapidly.
This indicator should come on when
the ignition switch is ON (II), and go
out af ter the engine starts. If it
comes on brightly when the engine
is running, it indicates that the
charging system has stopped
charging the battery.
Charging System Indicator
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed296
C CH H A
AR
RGGI INNG G S
SYYSSTTE
EM
M I
INND DI
ICCA A T
TO
OR R
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Page 302 of 343
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If you must drive the car a short
distance in this condition, drive
slowly and cautiously.
If it comes on at any other time, it
indicates a problem with the car’s
brake system. In most cases, the
problem is a low f luid level in the
brake f luid reservoir. Press lightly on
the brake pedal to see if it f eels
normal. If it does, check the brake
f luid level the next time you stop at a
service station (see page ). If the
fluid level is low, take the car to your
dealer and have the brake system
inspected f or leaks or worn brake
pads. Slow down by shif ting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is saf e. Because of the
longer distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the car. You
should have it towed, and repaired as
soon as possible. (See
on page .)
However, if the brake pedal does not
f eel normal, you should take
immediate action. Because of the
brake system’s dual-circuit design, a
problem in one part of the system
will still give you braking at two
wheels. You will f eel the brake pedal
go down much f arther bef ore the car
begins to slow down, and you will
have to press harder on the pedal.
The distance needed to stop will be
much longer. If the ABS indicator and the VSA
system indicator come on with this
indicator, have the car inspected by
your dealer immediately.
The Brake System Indicator
normallycomesonwhenyouturn
the ignition switch ON (II). It is a
reminder to check the parking brake.
It comes on and stays lit if you do not
f ully release the parking brake. 240
306
Brake System Indicator
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Emergency
Towing
299
B BR RAA K
KEE S
SYYSSTTE
EM
M I
INND DI
ICCA A T
TO
OR R
U
U. .SS. .i
inn d
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icca at too r
r s
shh o
ow
wn n
01/09/28 20:14:02 31SZ3660_302
Page 340 of 343
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CONT INUED
..........................
Engine Coolant .233
................
Engine Oil and Filter .229
..........................................
Fuses .302
................................
Light Bulbs .262
....................................
Schedule .216
................................
Spark Plugs .243
...........................................
Tires .257
.............................
Wiper Blades .249
Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a ............................................
Crash .42
...
Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant .182
..................
Reverse Gear Position .193
................................
Rotation, Tire .256
........................................
Saf ety Belts .8
.........
Safety Defects, Reporting .327
.................................
Saf ety Features .7
...........................................
Airbags .9
..................................
Door Locks .10
..........................
Head Restraints .10
.......................................
Seat Belts .8
.....................
Seats & Seat-Backs .10
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of .50
...............................
Saf ety Messages .ii .....................................
Seat Belts .8,40
...............
Additional Information .40
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women .18
.
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioner .41
.............
Child Seat Anchor Plate .39
.....................................
Cleaning .277
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt .40
................................
Maintenance .42
Reminder Light and
................................
Beeper .40,54
................................
Replacement .42
...................
System Components .40
...............
Use During Pregnancy .18
...
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt .15
....................................
Seat Heaters .95
....................
Seat Position Memory .93
........................
Seats, Adjusting the .86
................
Security Alarm System .157
...............................
Serial Number .310
...........................
Service Intervals .218
...........................
Service Manual .329
.........
Service Station Procedures .179
..........................
Setting the Clock .102
Shif ting the Automatic
.............................
Transmission .192
.....
Shif t Lever Position Indicator .192 ........................
Shif t Lock Release .195
....................................
Side Airbags .45
How The Side Airbag Indicator ............................
Light Works .47
...
How Your Side Airbags Work .45
Side Marker Lights, Bulb .........................
Replacement in .265
...............................
Signaling Turns .66
.........................................
Ski Sleeve .96
.....................................
Snow Tires .259
...................
Solvent-type Cleaners .274
................................
Sound System .128
Spare Tire
......................................
Inf lating .282
............................
Specif ications .313
................
Spark Plugs, Replacing .243
....................
Specif ications Charts .312
................................
Speed Control .158
...................................
Speedometer .58
.......................................
Spotlights .111
Index
S
VII
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Page 341 of 343
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation .43
...
Additional Safety Precautions .48
Automatic Seat Belt
...............................
Tensioners .41
..
How the SRS Indicator Works .46
.....
How Your Airbags Work .43,45
........................
SRS Components .43
..................................
SRS Service .48
.............................
SRS Indicator .46,55
....
START (Ignition Key Position) .77
.......................
Starting the Engine .191
In Cold Weather at High ..................................
Altitude .191
................
With a Dead Battery .290
..........
State Emissions Testing .322
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine .293
Steering Wheel
................................
Adjustments .71
.............
Anti-theft Column Lock .77
........................
Position Memory .93
...................
Stereo Sound System .128
...........................
Storing Your Car .272
........................................
Sun Visor .107
........................
Sunglasses Holder .107 Supplemental Restraint
............................
System .9,43,45
....................
Service Precautions .48
......................................
Servicing .48
.........................
SRS Indicator .46,55
...................
System Components .43
...............
Tensioners, Seat Belts .41
..................................
Synthetic Oil .228
.....................................
Tachometer .58
......
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in .266
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected .281
...........................
Tape Player .133,148
Technical Descriptions
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading .314
.....
Emissions Control Systems .318
.....................
Oxygenated Fuels .316
Three Way Catalytic
...............................
Converter .320
.......................
Temperature Gauge .60
...................
Tensioners, Seat Belts .41
..............
Tether Anchorage Points .39
...............
Thef t Deterrent System .157
............................
Thef t Protection .156 ..
Three Way Catalytic Converter .320
..........................
Time, Setting the .102
....................................
Timing Belt .253
....................................
Tire Chains .259
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat .283
...............................................
Tires .253
..............................
Air Pressure .254
...................................
Balancing .256
.........................
Checking Wear .255
..........................
Compact Spare .282
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading .314
......................................
Inf lation .253
..................................
Inspection .255
..............................
Maintenance .256
...................................
Replacing .257
......................................
Rotating .256
...........................................
Snow .259
............................
Specif ications .313
...................
Tools, Tire Changing .283
...............................
Torn Seat Belts .42
Towing
.....................................
A Trailer .206
..........
By Emergency Wrecker .306
Transmission Checking Fluid Level, ..............................
Automatic .238
Index
T
VIII
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