windshield wipers Acura RL 2002 3.5 Owner's Manual

This section gives inf ormation about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your Acura. All the essential controls
are within easy reach............................
Control Locations .52
...............................
Indicator Lights .53
.............................................
Gauges .58
...............................
Speedometer .58
.................................
Tachometer .58
.....................................
Odometer .59
Trip Meter/Outside
...........
Temperature Indicator .59
...................
Temperature Gauge .60
..................................
Fuel Gauge .60
Maintenance Required
...................................
Indicator .61 Controls Near the Steering
.......................................
Wheel .62
...................................
Headlights .63
....................
Automatic Lighting .64
............
Daytime Running Lights .65
....
Instrument Panel Brightness .66
................................
Turn Signals .66
...................................
Fog Lights .67
.....................
Windshield Wipers .68
..................
Windshield Washers .70
..........................
Hazard Warning .70
.............
Rear Window Def ogger .71
....
Steering Wheel Adjustments .71
...............................
Keys and Locks .74
..............................................
Keys .74
....................
Immobilizer System .75
............................
Ignition Switch .77
......................
Power Door Locks .78
...................
Remote Transmitter .79
..............
Childproof Door Locks .82
...........................................
Trunk .83
........
Emergency Trunk Opener .84
....................................
Glove Box .85
............................
Seat Adjustments .86
.........
Driver’s Seat Adjustments .86
...........
Driver’s Lumbar Support .88 Front Passenger’s Seat
............................
Adjustments .88
..........................
Head Restraints .88
............................................
Armrest .89
.............................................
Mirrors .91
....
Adjusting the Power Mirrors .91
Driving Position Memory ..........................................
System .93
....................................
Seat Heaters .95
.........................................
Ski Sleeve .96
..............................
Power Windows .98
.......................................
Moonroof .100
...............................
Parking Brake .102
..................................
Digital Clock .102
........................
Sunglasses Holder .104
...........................
Beverage Holder .105
.................
Console Compartment .106
........................................
Coin Box .106
........................................
Sun Visor .107
................................
Vanity Mirror .107
.............
Accessory Power Socket .108
..........................
Cigarette Lighter .109
.........................................
Ashtrays .110
................................
Ceiling Lights .111
............................
Courtesy Lights .112
Instruments and Controls
Inst rument s and Cont rols51
01/09/28 19:33:22 31SZ3660_054

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
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RO OL L H
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ER
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01/09/28 19:35:25 31SZ3660_065

The right lever controls the wind-
shield wipers and washers. The
rotary switch at the end of the lever
has three positions:INT: intermittent : low speed
: high speed In intermittent, the wipers operate
every f ew seconds. The sweep
interval will change slightly with
speed; getting shorter as you drive
f aster. In low speed and high speed,
the wipers run continuously. You can vary how of ten the wipers
sweep the windshield by turning the
INT TIME ring next to the rotary
switch.
If you turn the INT TIME ring to the
shortest delay, the wipers will
change from intermittent to low
speed operation when vehicle speed
exceeds 12 mph (20 km/h).
Windshield Wipers
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols68
01/09/28 19:36:18 31SZ3660_071

Adjust the wiper arms to the winter
position by grasping either arm near
the pivot. Pull on the arm, parallel to
the windshield, until it locks in the
higher position. Push the arm in the
other direction to return the wipers
to the summer position.
To operate the wipers in mist mode,
push the control lever down. The
wipers run at high speed until you
release the lever. This gives you a
quick way to clear the windshield. The windshield wiper arms have two
parked positions: Winter and
Summer. In the winter position, the
arms sit slightly above the edge of
the hood. This reduces the possibili-
ty of damage to the wiper arms or
windshield wiper motor by a build-up
of snow and ice.
A heavy build-up of snow or ice on
the wiper arms will cause them to
automatically park in the winter
position.
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Wiper A rms Wint er Posit ion
Inst rument s and Cont rols69
W WIIPP E
ER
R A
AR
RMM S
S
01/09/28 19:36:26 31SZ3660_072

To clean the windshield, pull back on
the wiper control lever. The washers
spray until you release the lever. The
wipers run at low speed while you’re
pulling the lever, then complete one
more sweep of the windshield af ter
you release it.Pushtheredbuttontoturnonthe
hazard warning lights (f our-way
flashers). This causes all four
outside turn signals and both
indicators in the instrument panel to
f lash. Use the hazard warning lights
if you need to park in a dangerous
area near heavy traffic, or if your car
is disabled.
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Windshield Washers
Hazard Warning
70
C Caarrss w
wi itth h n
na
avviigg a
attiioo n
n s
syys stteem m
01/09/28 19:36:34 31SZ3660_073

µµBeing able to see
clearly in all directions and being
visible to other drivers are important
in all weather conditions. This is
more dif f icult in bad weather. To be
seen more clearly during daylight
hours, turn on your headlights. Check your tires
f requently f or wear and proper
pressure. Both are important in
preventing ‘‘hydroplaning’’ (loss of
traction on a wet surface). In the
winter, mount snow tires on all f our
wheels f or the best handling.
Watch road conditions caref ully,
they can change f rom moment to
moment. Wet leaves can be as slip-
pery as ice. ‘‘Clear’’ roads can have
patches of ice. Driving conditions
can be very hazardous when the
outside temperature is near f reezing.
The road surf ace can become
covered with areas of water puddles
mixed with areas of ice, so your
traction can change without warning.
Be caref ul when downshif ting. If
traction is low, you can lock up the
drive wheels f or a moment and cause
askid. Be very cautious when passing, or
beingpassedbyothervehicles.The
spray f rom large vehicles reduces
your visibility, and the wind buf f eting
can cause you to lose control.
Inspect your windshield wipers and
washers f requently. Keep the wind-
shield washer reservoir f ull of the
proper f luid. Have the windshield
wiper blades replaced if they start to
streak the windshield or leave parts
unwiped. Use the def roster and air
conditioning to keep the windows
f rom f ogging up on the inside (see
pages and ).
120 125
Visibility Traction
Driving in Bad Weather
Driving205
01/09/28 19:59:00 31SZ3660_208

Remove the blade f rom its holder
by grasping the tabbed end of the
blade. Pull f irmly until the tabs
come out of the holder.Examine the new wiper blades. If
they have no plastic or metal rein-
f orcement along the back edge,
remove the metal reinf orcement
strips f rom the old wiper blade and
install them in the slots along the
edge of the new blade.Slide the new wiper blade into the
holder until the tabs lock.
Slide the wiper blade assembly
onto the wiper arm. Make sure it
locks in place.
Turn the ignition switch ON (II)
and return the windshield wipers
to their park position.
3. 4. 5.
6.
7.
Wiper Blades
Maint enance250
B BL
LAA D
DE
E B
BLLAA D
DE
E
R
RE EI
INNF FOOR RCCEEM
M E
EN
NT T
01/09/28 20:06:18 31SZ3660_253

Î
Î
...........................
Fluid Selection .238
..............
Identif ication Number .311
.............
Shif ting the Automatic .192
.....................................
Treadwear .314
.......................................
Trip Meter .59
................................................
Trunk .83
........
Emergency Trunk Opener .84
.................................
Opening the .83
...................
Open Monitor Light .57
....................................
Turn Signals .66
.....................
Underside, Cleaning .279
Unexpected, Taking Care
..........................................
of the .281
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading .314
........................
Unleaded Gasoline .178
.....................
Upholstery Cleaning .277
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of .230
................................
Vanity Mirror .107
.................
Vehicle Capacity Load .187
......................
Vehicle Dimensions .312 ....
Vehicle Identif ication Number .310
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)
....................................
System .201
........
VSA System Indicator .56,202
...
VSA Activation Indicator .56,201
.........................
VSA Of f Switch .202
.............................
Vehicle Storage .271
.....................................
Ventilation .116
.................................................
VIN .310
...............................
Vinyl Cleaning .277
..................................
Viscosity, Oil .228
.............
WARNING, Explanation of . ii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of .50
..................
Warranty Coverages .326
Washer, Windshield
........
Checking the Fluid Level .237
.....................................
Operation .70
.........................................
Washing .274
..................
Waxing and Polishing .275
Wheels
...............
Adjusting the Steering .71
............
Alignment and Balance .256
......
Cleaning Aluminum Alloys .275 ..........................
Compact Spare .282
......................................
Wrench .284
Windows .....................................
Cleaning .277
..................
Operating the Power .98
...........................
Rear, Def ogger .71
Windshield .......................................
Cleaning .68
...........................
Def roster .120,125
.......................................
Washers .70
Wipers, Windshield .......................
Changing Blades .249
.....................................
Operation .68
....................................
Wood Trim .277
....................................
Worn Tires .255
.....
Wrecker, Emergency Towing .306
U.S. and Canada only
Index
U
V W
IX
01/09/28 20:19:34 31SZ3660_342