flat tire Acura RL 2004 3.5 User Guide

CONT INUED
Remove the center cap before
storing the f lat tire in the trunk
well.
Remove the spacer basket from
the trunk well.
Wrap the spacer cone and spare
tire wing bolt with cloth or paper
and store them in the trunk well. Place the flat tire face down in the
spare tire well.
15.
16.17.
18.
Changing a Flat T ire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed313
SPACER BASKET FLAT TIRE RING SPACER
CONE
WING BOLT
CENTER CAP

Diagnosing why your engine won’t
start f alls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III):You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine’s starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly.
You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
f aster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run. When you turn the ignition switch to
START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying to
start. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all.
Check these things:
Check the transmission interlock.
The transmission must be in Park
orNeutralorthestarterwillnot
operate.
Sliptheholeatthetopof thejack
over the bracket in the trunk well.
Turn the jack’s end bracket to lock
it in place. Store the tool kit back
in its place.
Close the trunk lid. Store the center cap and spacer
basket in the trunk. Make sure the
center cap will not get scratched
or damaged. Unclip the hook f rom the trunk lid
and lower the trunk f loor.
Your car has the Immobilizer
System. You should use a
properly-coded master or valet key
to start the engine (see page ).
A key that is not properly coded
will cause the immobilizer system
indicator in the dash panel to blink
rapidly.
19.
20.
21.
22. 80
Changing a Flat Tire, If Your Engine Won’t Start
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
If Your Engine Won’t Start Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
314
Loose items can fly around the
interior in a crash and could
seriously injure the occupants.
Store the wheel, jack, and tools
securely before driving.

µµ µ
There are three popular types of
prof essional towing equipment. If your car needs to be towed, call a
prof essional towing service or, if you
belong to one, an organization that
provides roadside assistance. Never
tow your car behind another vehicle
with just a rope or chain. It is very
dangerous. The operator
loads your car on the back of a truck.
The tow
truck uses two pivoting arms that go
under the tires (f ront or rear) and lif t
them of f the ground. The other two
tires remain on the ground. If your Acura cannot be transported
by f lat-bed, it should be towed by
wheel-lif t equipment with the f ront
wheels of f the ground. If , due to
damage, your car must be towed
with the f ront wheels on the ground,
do the f ollowing.
Release the parking brake.
Shif t the transmission to Neutral. With the f ront wheels on the ground,
it is best to tow the vehicle no farther
than 50 miles (80 km), and keep the
speedbelow35mph(55km/h).
The tow
truck uses metal cables with hooks
on the ends. These hooks go around
parts of the f rame or suspension and
the cables lif t that end of the vehicle
of f the ground. Your car’s sus-
pension and body can be seriously
damaged.Flat -bed Equipment
Wheel-lif t Equipment Sling-t ype Equipment
This is the best way to transport
your A cura.
T his is
an acceptable way to tow your
Acura. T his method of towing
is unacceptable.
Emergency T owing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed332
Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Follow the
above procedure exactly. If you cannot
shif t the transmission or start the
engine, your car must be transported
with the f ront wheels of f the ground.

Î
Bulb Replacement..........................
Back-up Lights .292
..............................
Brake Lights .292
............................
Ceiling Lights .295
........................
Courtesy Lights .295
.................................
Fog Lights .289
........
Front Side Marker Lights . 291
.................................
Headlights .288
.........
High-mount Brake Light . 293
.................
License Plate Lights . 294
............................
Specif ications .339
...............................
Trunk Light .296
....................
Turn Signal Lights . 291
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .288
................................
Cancel Button .184
............................
Capacities Chart .338
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 53
............................
Carrying, Cargo .212
Cassette Player ............................................
Care .163
...........................
Operation .139, 159
..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
..........................
CD Changer .143, 164 ................................
Ceiling Lights .116
........................
Certif ication Label .336
............................................
Chains .285
Changing Oil ........................................
How to .253
......................................
When to .244
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .309
............
Changing Engine Coolant . 258
...
Charging System Indicator . 58,322
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 216
.....................................
Child Saf ety .20
.......................................
Child Seats .24
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 39
.............................
Using LATCH .40
..................
Childproof Door Locks . 87
..........................
Cigarette Lighter .114
...................................
Cleaner, Air .267
Cleaning ....................
Aluminum Wheels .301
...................................
Carpeting .302
......................................
Exterior .300
.........................................
Fabric .303
.................................
Floor Mats .302
.......................................
Interior .302
.......................................
Leather .303
...................................
Seat Belts .303 ...........................................
Vinyl .303
....................................
Windows .304
................................
Wood Trim .304
...............
Climate Control System . 120
.................
Clock, Setting the . 108,158
.....................
Code, Audio System .180
........................
CO in the Exhaust .345
........................................
Coin Box .111
............
Cold Weather, Starting in . 217
..............................
Compact Spare .308
.................
Console Compartment . 111
...............
Consumer Inf ormation . 352
.............
Controls, Instruments and . 55
Coolant ........................................
Adding .256
....................................
Checking .208
.........................
Proper Solution .256
...................................
Replacing .258
...................
Temperature Gauge . 65
....................
Corrosion Protection .305
............................
Courtesy Lights .117
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System .345
............
Cruise Control Operation . 182
..........
Customer Relations Of f ice . 352
Index
C
II

CONT INUED
................
DANGER, Explanation of . ii
...................................
Dashboard .2, 56
................
Daytime Running Lights . 70
............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety . 354
................
Def ogger, Rear Window . 76
......
Def rosting the Windows . 126,131
..............................
Dif f erential Oil .265
....................................
Dimensions .338
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 68
Dipstick ..........
Automatic Transmission . 264
..................................
Engine Oil .207
..........................
Directional Signals .71
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 223
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .255
Doors ..............
Locking and Unlocking . 83
....................
Lockout Prevention . 84
..............................
Monitor Light .61
......................
Power Door Locks .83
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 340
.....................................
Drive Belts .278
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5...........................................
Driving .215
....................................
Economy .209
.........................
In Bad Weather .230
................
In Foreign Countries . 344
Driving Position Memory ..........................................
System .98
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 278
..............................
Economy, Fuel .209
............
Emergencies on the Road . 307
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 316
...........
Brake System Indicator . 325
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 309
.....
Charging System Indicator . 322
..................
Checking the Fuses . 328
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 321
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 323
...
Manually Closing Moonroof . 326
..................
Overheated Engine . 319
.........................
Emergency Brake .107
......................
Emergency Flashers .75
......................
Emergency Towing .332
............
Emergency Trunk Opener . 89
.......................
Emissions Controls .345 .............
Emissions Testing, State . 348
Engine ............................................
Belts .278
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 65
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp .59, 323
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 58,321
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 251
...............................
Overheating .319
............................
Specif ications .339
............................
Speed Limiter .220
.......................................
Starting .217
...................
Engine Speed Limiter . 220
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .343
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 345
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .53
Exhaust Gas Recirculation ........................................
System .346
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .18
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 300
Index
D
E
III

.............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs . 288
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers . 75
Headlights ........................................
Aiming .288
....................
Automatic Lighting .69
............
Daytime Running Lights . 70
..................
High Beam Indicator . 62
....................
Lights On Indicator .59
.........................
Reminder Chime .68
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs . 288
...................................
Turning on .68
..............................
Head Restraints .94
.............
High Altitude, Starting at . 217
.................
High-Low Beam Switch . 68
..............
High-mount Brake Light . 293
............................
Fabric, Cleaning .303
..........................
Fan, Interior .124, 129
Features, Comfort and ..............................
Convenience .119
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 205
Filters ................................
Air Cleaner .267
.........................
Dust and Pollen .278
...............................................
Oil .255
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 75
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 309
.....................................
Floor Mats .302
Fluids ..........
Automatic Transmission . 264
..........................................
Brake .266
................................
Differential .265
..........................
Power Steering .266
..................
Windshield Washer . 263
FM Stereo Radio ...........................
Reception .135, 152
........................................
Fog Lights .72
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 344
..........................
Four-way Flashers .75
..............................
Front Airbags .9 ,47 .................................................
Fuel .204
......................
Fill Door and Cap .205
...........................................
Gauge .65
................
Octane Requirement . 204
...............................
Oxygenated .343
........................
Reserve Indicator .62
........................
Tank, Filling the .205
..............
Fuel Mileage, Improving . 209
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .328
................
Gas Mileage Improving . 209
..........................................
Gasohol .343
.........................................
Gasoline .204
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 62
...........................................
Gauge .65
................
Octane Requirement . 204
........................
Tank, Filling the .205
................
Gas Station Procedures . 205
.............................................
Gauges .63
...
Engine Coolant Temperature . 65
...............................................
Fuel .65
...............................
Speedometer .63
.................................
Tachometer .63 GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
.......................................
Rating) .233
............
Gearshif t Lever Positions . 218
..............................
Glass Cleaning .304
........................................
Glove Box .90
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight .......................................
Rating) .233
Index
G H
F
IV

.....................................
Tachometer .63
......
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in . 292
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected . 307
...........................
Tape Player .139, 159
Technical Descriptions ......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 340
.....
Emissions Control Systems . 345
.....................
Oxygenated Fuels .343
Three Way Catalytic ...............................
Converter .347
.......................
Temperature Gauge .65
...................
Tensioners, Seat Belts . 45
..............
Tether Anchorage Points . 39
...............
Thef t Deterrent System . 181
............................
Thef t Protection .180
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 347
..................
Time, Setting the . 108,158
....................................
Timing Belt .279
....................................
Tire Chains .285
...........................
Tire Inf ormation .342
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 309
...............................................
Tires .279
..............................
Air Pressure .280
...................................
Balancing .282
....................................
Side Airbags .49
How the Side Airbag Cutof f ...........
Indicator Light Works . 51
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 49
Side Marker Lights, Bulb .........................
Replacement in .291
...............................
Signaling Turns .71
.......................................
Ski Sleeve .101
.....................................
Snow Tires .285
...................
Solvent-type Cleaners . 300
........................
Sound System .134, 151
Spare Tire ......................................
Inf lating .308
............................
Specif ications .339
................
Spark Plugs, Replacing . 269
....................
Specif ications Charts . 338
................................
Speed Control .182
...................................
Speedometer .63
.......................................
Spotlights .116
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation . 47
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 52
Automatic Seat Belt ...............................
Tensioners .45
How the SRS Indicator Light .......................................
Works .50
.....
How Your Airbags Work . 47,49 ........................
SRS Components .47
..................................
SRS Service .52
.............................
SRS Indicator .50 ,59
....
START (Ignition Key Position) . 82
.......................
Starting the Engine .217
In Cold Weather at High ..................................
Altitude .217
................
With a Dead Battery . 316
..........
State Emissions Testing . 348
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine . 319
Steering Wheel ................................
Adjustments .76
.............
Anti-theft Column Lock . 82
........................
Position Memory .98
...........
Stereo Sound System . 134,151
...........................
Storing Your Car .297
........................................
Sun Visor .112
........................
Sunglasses Holder .109
Supplemental Restraint ............................
System .9 ,47, 49
....................
Service Precautions .52
......................................
Servicing .52
.........................
SRS Indicator .50 ,59
...................
System Components . 47
...............
Tensioners, Seat Belts . 45
..................................
Synthetic Oil .252
Index
T
VIII