ACURA RL 2011 Owners Manual
Page 401 of 562
In addition, the total weight of the
vehicle, all occupants, accessories,
cargo, and trailer tongue load must
not exceed the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) or the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). Both
areonalabelonthedriver’s
doorjamb.
Example 2 Example 1
Example 3
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving
395
Passenger Weight
150lbsx4=600lbs
(68kgx4=272kg)
Passenger Weight
150lbsx5=750lbs
(68kgx5=340kg)
Max Load 850 lbs
(385 kg)
Max Load 850 lbs
(385 kg) Passenger Weight
150lbsx2=300lbs
(68kgx2=136kg) Cargo Weight
550 lbs
(249 kg)
Cargo Weight
250 lbs
(113 kg)
Cargo Weight
100 lbs
(45 kg)
Max Load 850 lbs
(385 kg)
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Store or secure all items that could
be thrown around and hurt
someone during a crash.
Do not put any items on top of the
rear shelf . They can block your
view and be thrown around the
vehicle during a crash.
Be sure items placed on the f loor
behind the f ront seats cannot roll
underneath and interf ere with the
proper operation of the seats, the
sensors under the seats, or the
driver’s ability to operate the
pedals.Distribute cargo evenly on the
f loor of the trunk, placing the
heaviest items on the bottom and
as far forward as possible.
If you carry large items that
prevent you f rom closing the trunk
lid, exhaust gas can enter the
passenger area. To avoid the
possibility of
, f ollow the instructions
on page .
If you carry any items on a roof
rack,besurethetotalweightof
the rack and the items does not
exceed 121 lbs (55 kg).
If you use an accessory roof rack,
the roof rack weight limit may be
lower. Ref er to the inf ormation
that came with your roof rack.
Keep the glove box closed while
driving. If it is open, a passenger
could injure their knees during a
crash or sudden stop.
Keep all cargo below the bottom
of the windows. If it is higher, it
could interf ere with the proper
operation of the side curtain
airbags. 56
Carrying Items in the Passenger
Compartment
Carrying Cargo in the T runk or on
a Roof Rack
carbon monoxide
poisoning
Carrying Cargo
396
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The cargo f loor hooks can also be
used to tie down and secure items on
the f loor.
There are hooks on the f loor and
both sides of the trunk. They can be
used to install the cargo net f or
securing items. The side cargo
hooks are designed to hold light
items (maximum load: 6 lbs or 3 kgs
for each hook). Heavy objects may
damage the side hooks.
If you carry any items extending
through the trunk pass-through,
tie down or secure all items that
could be thrown around the
vehicle and hurt someone during a
crash or sudden stop.
Carrying Cargo
Cargo Hooks
Bef ore Driving
397
SIDE CARGO HOOKS
CARGO FLOOR HOOKS
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398
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This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
automatic transmission. It also
includes important inf ormation on
parking your vehicle, the braking
system, the Super Handling-All
Wheel Drive (SH-AWD
)system,
the vehicle stability assist (VSA
)
system, the tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS), the Collision
mitigation braking system
(CMBS ), and f acts you need if you
are planning to tow a trailer. ........................
Preparing to Drive . 400
.......................
Starting the Engine . 401
Check Starting System .................................
Message . 402
..............
Automatic Transmission . 403
Driving with the Paddle
...................................
Shif ters . 407
................
D-Paddle Shif t Mode . 407
..............
Sequential Shif t Mode . 409
Super Handling-All Wheel Drive .................
(SH-AWD
) System . 412
...........................................
Parking . 414
.............................
Braking System . 415
...............
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) . 416
Collision Mitigation Braking
..................
System (CMBS ) . 418
Tire Pressure Monitoring ........................
System (TPMS) . 429
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA
),
aka Electronic Stability ........
Control (ESC), System . 435
...........................
Towing a Trailer . 437
...................
Towing Your Vehicle . 442
Driving
Driving
399
TM
TM
TM TM
TM TM
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Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove f rost, snow,
or ice.
Check that the hood is f ully closed.
Check that any items you may be
carrying are stored properly or
f astened down securely.Check the seat adjustment (see
page ).
Check the steering wheel
adjustment (see page ).
Make sure the doors and the
trunk are securely closed and
locked.
Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have f astened
their seat belts (see page ).
Youshoulddothefollowingchecks
and adjustments bef ore you drive
your vehicle.
When you start the engine, check
the gauges and indicators in the
instrument panel, and the
messages on the multi-inf ormation
display (see pages , and).
Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page ).
Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.
1.
2.
3.
4. 5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10. 17
78 61 70
156
148
161
Preparing to Drive
400
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Apply the parking brake.
In cold weather, turn of f all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.
Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal.
Your vehicle’s starting system has an
auto control mode. When you turn
the ignition switch to the START
(III) position, this f eature keeps the
engine’s starter motor running until
the engine starts. Follow these
instructions to start the engine:
Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition switch to
the START (III) position, then
release the ignition switch. You do
not need to hold the ignition
switch in the START (III) position
to start the engine. Depending on
the outside temperature, the
starter motor runs f or about 6 to 9
seconds until the engine starts.
If you hold the ignition switch in
the START (III) position f or more
than 7 seconds, the starter motor,
depending on the outside
temperature, runs f or about 10 to
25 seconds until the engine starts.
If the engine does not start, wait at
least 10 seconds bef ore trying
again.
1.
2.
3. 4.
Starting the Engine
Driving
401
T he immobilizer system protects your
vehicle f rom thef t. If an improperly
coded key (or other device) is used, the
engine’s f uel system is disabled. For
more inf ormation, see page .
The engine is harder to start in cold
weather. Also, the thinner air f ound at
altitudes above 8,000 f eet (2,400
meters) adds to this problem.
150
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If there is a problem with the
starting system, you will see a
‘‘CHECK STARTING SYSTEM’’
message on the multi-inf ormation
display when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON (II) position. You
will also see this message when the
auto control mode of the starting
system has a problem.If this message is on, the ignition
switchhastobeheldinthe
START (III) position manually
until the engine starts. The
ignitionswitchcanbeheldinthat
position up to 15 seconds.
Even though you may be able to
start the engine manually without
the auto control mode of the starting
system, have your dealer inspect
your vehicle.
Starting the Engine
Check Starting System Message
402
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The ‘‘D’’ indicator comes on f or a
f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. If it f lashes while driving (in
any shif t position), it indicates a
possible problem in the transmission.
If the malf unction indicator lamp
comes on along with the ‘‘D’’
indicator, there is a problem with the
automatic transmission control
system. Avoid rapid acceleration, and
have the transmission checked by
your dealer as soon as possible.
When the ‘‘D’’ indicator warns of a
possible problem with the
transmission, you will see a ‘‘CHECK
TRANSMISSION’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display.
Using a paddle shif t mode, the gear
position indicator shows you the
selected gear number (see page
).
These indicators in the tachometer
show which position the shif t lever is
in.
407
Automatic Transmission
Shif t L ever Position Indicators
Driving
403
GEAR POSITION INDICATOR on
PADDLE SHIFT MODE
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µ
µ If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see on
page .
To avoid transmission damage, come
to a complete stop bef ore shif ting
into Park. You must also press the
release button to shift into Park. The
shif t lever must be in Park bef ore
you can turn the ignition switch to
the LOCK (0) position, or remove
the built-in key f rom the ignition
switch.
Press the brake
pedal and press the release button to
shif t f rom Park to reverse. To shif t
f rom reverse to neutral, come to a
completestopandthenshift.Press
the release button bef ore shif ting
into reverse f rom neutral.
To shif t f rom Park to any position,
pressfirmlyonthebrakepedal,and
press the release button on the top
of the shift lever, then move the
lever. You cannot shift out of Park
when the ignition switch is in the
LOCK (0) or ACCESSORY (I)
position. This position
mechanically locks the transmission.
Use Park whenever you are turning
of f or starting the engine. To shif t
outofPark,youmustpressonthe
brake pedal and have your foot off
the accelerator pedal. Press the
release button on the top of the shift
lever to move it. 405
To shift from:
PtoR
RtoP
NtoR DtoS
StoD
DtoN
NtoD RtoN Do this:
Press the brake pedal, and
press the shift lever release
button.
Press the shift lever release
button.
Move the shift lever.
Automatic Transmission
Shif t L ock Release
Reverse (R)
Shif ting
Park (P)
404
RELEASE BUTTON
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