ACURA RL 2012 Owners Manual

The exhaust emissions controls
include f our systems: PGM-FI,
ignition timing control, exhaust gas
recirculation, and three way catalytic
converter. These f our systems work
together to control the engine’s
combustion and minimize the
amount of HC, CO, and NOx that
come out the tailpipe. The exhaust
emissions control systems are
separate f rom the crankcase and
evaporative emissions control
systems.
The PGM-FI system uses sequential
multiport f uel injection.
It has three subsystems: air intake,
engine control, and f uel control. The
powertrain control module (PCM)
uses various sensors to determine
how much air is going into the
engine. It then controls how much
f uel to inject under all operating
conditions.This system constantly adjusts the
ignition timing, reducing the amount
of HC, CO, and NOx produced.
The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR)
system takes some of the exhaust
gas and routes it back into the intake
manif old. Adding exhaust gas to the
air/f uel mixture reduces the amount
of NOx produced when the f uel is
burned.The emissions control systems are
designed and certif ied to work
together in reducing emissions to
levels that comply with the Clean Air
Act. To make sure the emissions
remain low, you should use only new
Acura replacement parts or their
equivalent f or repairs. Using lower
quality parts may increase the
emissions f rom your vehicle.
The emissions control systems are
covered by warranties separate from
the rest of your vehicle. Read your
warranty manual for more inf orma-
tion. The three way catalytic converters
are in the exhaust system. Through
chemical reactions, they convert HC,
CO, and NOx in the engine’s exhaust
to carbon dioxide (CO ), nitrogen
(N ), and water vapor.
2
2
Exhaust Emissions Controls Replacement Parts
PGM-FI Syst emIgnit ion T iming Cont rol Syst em
Exhaust Gas Recirculat ion (EGR)
Syst em
Three Way Catalytic Converter
Emissions Cont rols
T echnical Inf ormation
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The three way catalytic converters
contain precious metals that serve as
catalysts, promoting chemical
reactions to convert the exhaust
gasses without af f ecting the metals.
The catalytic converters are ref erred
to as three-way catalysts, since they
act on HC, CO, and NOx.
Replacement units must be original
Acura parts or their equivalent.
The three way catalytic converters
must operate at a high temperature
for the chemical reactions to take
place. They can set on f ire any
combustible materials that come
near them. Park your vehicle away
f rom high grass, dry leaves, or other
f lammables.A defective three way catalytic
converter contributes to air pollution,
and can impair your engine’s per-
f ormance. Follow these guidelines to
protect your vehicle’s three way
catalytic converters.
Always use unleaded gasoline.
Even a small amount of leaded
gasoline can contaminate the
catalyst metals, making the three
way catalytic converters
inef f ective.
Have your vehicle diagnosed and
repaired if it is misf iring, back-
f iring, stalling, or otherwise not
running properly. Keep the engine well maintained.
Three Way Catalytic Converters
536
THREE WAY CATALYTIC CONVERTERS
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If you take your vehicle f or an
emissions test shortly af ter the
battery has been disconnected or
gone dead, it may not pass the test.
This is because of certain ‘‘readiness
codes’’ that must be set in the on-
board diagnostics f or the emissions
systems. These codes are erased
when the battery is disconnected,
and set again only after several days
of driving under a variety of
conditions.If the testing f acility determines that
the readiness codes are not set, you
will be requested to return at a later
date to complete the test. If you must
get the vehicle retested within the
next two or three days, you can
condition the vehicle f or retesting by
doing the f ollowing.
Make sure the gas tank is nearly,
but not completely, f ull (around
3/4).Without touching the accelerator
pedal, start the engine, and let it
idle f or 20 seconds.
Keep the vehicle in Park. Increase
the engine speed to 2,000 rpm, and
hold it there until the temperature
gauge rises to at least 1/4 of the
scale (about 3 minutes).
Make sure the vehicle has been
parked with the engine of f f or 6
hours or more.
Make sure the ambient
temperature is between 40° and
95°F (4° and 35°C).Without touching the accelerator
pedal, let the engine idle f or 20
seconds. 1.
2.
3.4.
5.
6.
CONT INUED
T esting of Readiness Codes
Emissions T est ing
T echnical Inf ormation
537
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Then drive in city/suburban
traffic for at least 10 minutes.
When traf f ic conditions allow, let
the vehicle coast f or several
seconds without using the
accelerator pedal or the brake
pedal.
Stop the vehicle, turn of f the
ignition switch, and leave it of f f or
30 minutes.
If the testing f acility determines the
readiness codes are still not set, see
your dealer. Select a nearby lightly traveled
major highway where you can
maintain a speed of 50 to 60 mph
f or at least 20 minutes. Drive on
the highway in D. Do not use the
cruise control. When traf f ic allows,
drive f or 90 seconds without
moving the accelerator pedal.
(Vehicle speed may vary slightly;
this is okay.) If you cannot do this
f or a continuous 90 seconds
because of traf f ic conditions, drive
f or at least 30 seconds, then repeat
it two more times (f or a total of 90
seconds). 7. 8.
9.
Emissions T est ing
538
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.......... Client Service Inf ormation . 540
.................... Warranty Coverages . 541
............. Reporting Saf ety Def ects . 542
..................... Authorized Manuals . 543
Warranty and Client Relations
Warrant y and Client Relat ions
539
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If you are dissatisf ied with the
decision made by the dealership’s
management, contact Acura Client
RelationsU.S. Owners:
Canadian Owners:In Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands:
When you call or write, please give
us this inf ormation: Acura dealership personnel are
trained prof essionals. They should
be able to answer all your questions.
If you encounter a problem that your
dealership does not solve to your
satisf action, please discuss it with
the dealership’s management. The
service manager or general manager
can help. Almost all problems are
solved in this way.
Vehicle identif ication number
(see page )
Name and address of the dealer
who services your vehicle
Date of purchase
Odometer reading of your vehicle
Your name, address, and tele-
phone number
A detailed description of the
problem
Name of the dealer who sold the
vehicle to you524
Client Service Inf ormation
540
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Acura Client Relations
Mail Stop 500-2N-7E
1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501-2746
Tel: (800) 382-2238Vortex Motor Corp.
Bella International
P.O. Box 190816
San Juan, PR 00919-0816
Tel: (787) 620-7546
Honda Canada Inc.
Acura Client Services
180 Honda Boulevard
Markham, ON
L6C 0H9
Tel: 1-888-9-ACURA-9
Fax: 1-877-939-0909
E-Mail: acura_cr@ch.honda.com
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µ µ µ
µµ µ µ
µprovides
coverageforaslongasthepur-
chaser of the muf f ler owns the
vehicle. Your new vehicle is covered by these
warranties:provides prorated
coverage f or a replacement battery
purchased f rom your dealer. a seat
belt that f ails to f unction properly is
covered by a limited warranty.
Please read your warranty booklet
f or details.
covers all Acura
replacement parts against defects in
materials and workmanship. Acura accessories are covered under
this warranty. Time and mileage
limits depend on the type of
accessory and other factors. Please
read your warranty manual f or
details.all exterior body panels are
covered f or rust-through f rom the
inside f or the specif ied time period
with no mileage limit. covers your new vehicle, except f or
the emissions control systems and
accessories, against def ects in
materials and workmanship.
these two
warranties cover your vehicle’s
emissions control systems. Time,
mileage, and coverage are
conditional. Please read your
warranty booklet f or exact
inf ormation.Restrictions and exclusions apply to
all these warranties. Please read the
2012 Acura Warranty Inf ormation
booklet that came with your vehicle
f or precise inf ormation on warranty
coverages. Your vehicle’s original
tires are covered by their
manuf acturer. Tire warranty
inf ormation is in a separate booklet.
Please ref er to the 2012 warranty
manual that came with your vehicle.
Warranty Coverages
U.S. Owners
Canadian Owners
Replacement Muf f ler L if et ime
Limited Warranty Replacement Bat t ery L imit ed
Warranty Seat Belt Limited Warranty
Replacement Part s L imit ed
Warranty Accessory Limited Warranty Rust Perf orat ion L imit ed Warrant y New Vehicle L imit ed Warrant y
Emissions Cont rol Syst ems Def ect s
Warrant y and Emissions
Perf ormance WarrantyWarrant y and Client Relat ions
541
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If you believe that your vehicle has a def ect which
could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you
should immediately inf orm the National Highway
Traf f ic Saf ety Administration (NHTSA), in addition to
notif ying American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an
investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in
a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy
campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved
in individual problems between you, your dealer, or
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle Safety
Hotline toll-f ree at 1-888-327-4236
(TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go to
; or write to: Administrator,
NHTSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington,
DC 20590.
You can also obtain other inf ormation about motor
vehicle safety from .If you believe that your vehicle has a def ect which could
cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should
immediately inf orm Honda Canada Inc. and you may also
inform Transport Canada.
To contact Transport Canada’s Def ect Investigations and
Recalls Division, you may call 1-800-333-0510. For more
inf ormation on reporting saf ety def ects or about motor
vehicle saf ety, go to . If Transport Canada receives similar complaints, it may
open an investigation, and if it f inds that a saf ety def ect
exists in a group of vehicles, it may lead to a recall and
remedy campaign. However, Transport Canada cannot
become involved in individual problems between you,
your dealer, or Honda Canada Inc.
Reporting Saf ety Def ects
In the US In Canada
542
http://www.saf ercar.gov
http://www.saf ercar.govhttp://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsaf ety
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T he publications shown below can be purchased f rom Helm
Incorporated. You can order by phone or online:
Call Helm Inc. at 1-800-782-4356 (credit card orders only)
Go online at
If you are interested in other years or models, contact Helm Inc.
at 1-800-782-4356.Covers maintenance and recommended procedures f or
repair to engine and chassis components. It is written
f or the journeyman mechanic, but it is simple enough
f or most mechanically inclined owners to understand.
Complements the Service Manual by providing in-depth
troubleshooting inf ormation f or each electrical circuit
in your vehicle.
Describes the procedures involved in the replacement
of damaged body parts.
Authorized Manuals
(U.S. only) Purchasing Factory Authorized Manuals Service Manual:
Electrical T roubleshooting Manual:
Body Repair Manual:
Authorized Manuals
543
Form Description
2009-2012 Acura RL Service Manual
2012 Acura RL
Electrical Troubleshooting Manual
2005 Model Series Acura RL Body Repair Manual
2009 Acura RL Body Repair Manual Supplement
2012 Acura RL Owner’s Manual
2012 Acura RL Navigation System Manual
2012 Acura RL Maintenance Journal
2012 Acura RL Advanced Technology Guide
Order Form for Previous Years
Indicate Year and Model Desired Publication
Form Number
61SJA07
61SJA07EL
61SJA30
61SJA31
31SJA670
31SJA850
31SJAM70
31SJAQ70
ACU-R
www.helminc.com
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544
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