dashboard ACURA RL 2012 Owners Manual
Page 7 of 562
(f luid capacities and tire pressures) (main controls)
(seat belts, SRS, and child protection)
(indicators, gauges, multi-inf ormation display, dashboard, and steering column)
()
(fuel, vehicle break-in, and cargo loading)
(engine and transmission operation)
(minders, f luid checking, minor services, and vehicle storage)
(vehicle specif ications, tires, and emissions controls)
(warranty and contact inf ormation)
(how to order) (f lat tire, jump starting, overheating, and f uses)
climate control, audio, steering wheel, security, cruise control, HomeLink, and other convenience items
Contents
................................................................................................................................................ Index.I
.................................................. Service Inf ormation Summary. last page ............................................................................................... Your Vehicle at a Glance.4
............................................................ Driver and Passenger Saf ety.7
....... Instruments and Controls.59
.............. Features. 203
....................................................................... Bef ore Driving. 381
......................................................................................... Driving. 399
............................................... Maintenance. 443
............................................. T echnical Inf ormation. 523
....................... Warranty and Client Relations (U.S. and Canada only) . 539
.................................................................................. A uthorized Manuals (U.S. only). 543 ........................................ T aking Care of the Unexpected. 495INDEX
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A convenient ref erence to the
sections in this manual.
A quick ref erence to the main
controls in your vehicle.What gasoline to use, how to break-
in your new vehicle, and how to load
luggage and other cargo.
The proper way to start the engine,
shif t the transmission, and park; plus
what you need to know if you’re
planning to tow a trailer.ID numbers, dimensions, capacities,
and technical information.
The Maintenance Minder shows
you when you need to take your
vehicle to the dealer for maintenance
service. There is also a list of things
to check and instructions on how to
check them.
This section covers several problems
motorists sometimes experience,
and details how to handle them. Important inf ormation about the
proper use and care of your vehicle’s
seat belts, an overview of the
supplemental restraint system, and
valuable inf ormation on how to
protect children with child restraints.A summary of the warranties
covering your new vehicle, and how
to contact us for any reason. Refer to
your warranty manual f or detailed
inf ormation.
How to order manuals and other
technical literature.
A summary of the inf ormation you
need when you pull up to the f uel
pump. Explains the purpose of each
instrument panel indicator and gauge,
the multi-information display, and
how to use the controls on the
dashboard and steering column.
How to operate the climate control
system, the audio system, and other
convenience f eatures.
Overview of Contents
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Instruments and ControlsBef ore Driving
Driving
MaintenanceT echnical Inf ormation Contents
T aking Care of the UnexpectedWarranty and Client Relations
(U.S. and Canada only)
Authorized Manuals
(U.S. only)
Index
Service Inf ormation Summary
Features
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The most important things you need
to know about your airbags are:Always wear
your seat belt properly, and sit
upright and as f ar back f rom the
steering wheel as possible while
allowing f ull control of the vehicle. A
f ront passenger should move their
seat as far back from the dashboard
as possible.The rest of this section gives more
detailed inf ormation about how you
can maximize your saf ety.
Remember, however, that no saf ety
system can prevent all injuries or
deaths that can occur in a severe
crash, even when seat belts are
properly worn and the airbags deploy. They are designed to supplement
the seat belts.
To do their job, airbags must
inf late with tremendous f orce. So
while airbags help save lives, they
can cause minor injuries or more
serious or even fatal injuries if
occupants are not properly
restrained or sitting properly.
Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features
What you should do:
Airbags do not replace seat belts.
A irbags of f er no prot ect ion in rear
collisions, or minor f ront al or side
collisions.
Airbags can pose serious hazards.
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See page f or how to adjust the
f ront seats. If you sit too close to the steering
wheel or dashboard, you can be
seriously injured by an inf lating f ront
airbag, or by striking the steering
wheel or dashboard.
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that drivers
allow at least 10 inches (25 cm)
between the center of the steering
wheel and the chest. In addition to
adjusting the seat, you can adjust the
steering wheel up and down, and in
and out (see page ).
If you cannot get f ar enough away
f rom the steering wheel and still
reach the controls, we recommend
that you investigate whether some
type of adaptive equipment may help. Adjust the driver’s seat as far to the
rear as possible while allowing you to
maintain f ull control of the vehicle.
Have a f ront passenger adjust their
seat as far to the rear as possible.148156
Protecting A dults and Teens
Adjust the Front Seats 2.
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
15
Sitting too close to a front
airbag can result in serious
injury or death if the front
airbags inflate.
Always sit as far back from the
front airbags as possible.
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Your airbag system includes:
Two SRS (supplemental restraint
system) f ront airbags. The driver’s
airbag is stored in the center of
the steering wheel; the f ront
passenger’sairbagisstoredinthe
dashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRS
AIRBAG’’ (see page ).
Two side airbags, one f or the
driver and one f or a f ront
passenger. The airbags are stored
in the outer edges of the seat-
backs. Both are marked ‘‘SIDE
AIRBAG’’ (see page ).
Two side curtain airbags, one f or
each side of the vehicle. The
airbags are stored in the ceiling,
above the side windows. The f ront
and rear pillars are marked ‘‘SIDE
CURTAIN AIRBAG’’ (see page
).A driver’s seat position sensor that
monitors the distance of the seat
from the front airbag. If the seat is
too far forward, the airbag will
inf late with less f orce (see page
).
Weight sensors that monitor the
weight on the f ront passenger’s
seat. If the weight is about 65 lbs
(29 kg) or less (the weight of an
inf ant or small child), the
passenger’s f ront airbag will be
turned of f (see page ).
A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records inf ormation about the
sensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, the seat belt
tensioners, and driver and f ront
passenger seat belt use when the
ignition switch is in the ON (II)
position. On models with CMBS , f ront
seat belt e-pretensioners (see page
).
Automatic front seat belt
tensioners (see page ).
Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe front impact or
side impact.
Sensors that can detect whether a
child is in the passenger’s side
airbag path and signal the control
unit to turn the airbag of f (see
page ).
Sensors that can detect whether
the driver’s seat belt and the f ront
passenger’s seat belt are latched
or unlatched (see page ). 28
32
3330
31 24
23
33
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Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
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An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you to a possible
problem with your airbag system
components (see page ).
An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you that the
passenger’s side airbag has been
turned of f (see page ).
An indicator on the dashboard that
alerts you that the passenger’s
f ront airbag has been turned of f
(see page ).
Emergency backup power in case
your vehicle’s electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.During a f rontal crash, your seat belt
restrains your lower body and torso,
and the f ront airbag helps protect
your head and chest.
Although both airbags normally
inf late within a split second of each
other, it is possible f or only one
airbag to deploy.
This can happen if the severity of a
collision is at the margin, or
threshold, that determines whether
or not the airbags will deploy. In
such cases, the seat belt will provide
suf f icient protection, and the
supplemental protection of f ered by
the airbag would be minimal.
Only the driver’s airbag will deploy if
there is no passenger in the f ront
seat, or if the advanced airbag
system has turned the passenger’s
airbag off (see page ). If the rate of deceleration is high
enough, the control unit will inf late
the driver’s and f ront passenger’s
airbags, at the time and with the
f orce needed. If you ever have a moderate to
severe f rontal collision, sensors will
detect the vehicle’s rapid
deceleration. 34
35
35
30
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
How Your Front Airbags Work
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CONT INUED
The passenger’s advanced f ront
airbag system has weight sensors
under the seat. Although Acura does
not encourage carrying an inf ant or
small child in f ront, if the sensors
detect the weight of an inf ant or
small child (up to about 65 lbs or 29
kg), the system will automatically
turn the passenger’s f ront airbag of f .Be aware that objects placed on the
passenger’s seat can also cause the
airbag to be turned of f .
When the passenger airbag gets
turned of f by the weight sensors, a
‘‘passenger airbag of f ’’ indicator in
the center of the dashboard comes
on (see page ).
If the weight sensors detect there is
no passenger in the f ront seat, the
airbag is automatically turned off.
However, the passenger airbag of f
indicator in this situation will not
come on.To ensure that the passenger’s
advanced front airbag system will
work properly,
This includes:
Hanging heavy items on the f ront
passenger seat, or placing heavy
items in the seat-back pocket. Moving the f ront seat f orcibly
back against cargo on the seat or
f loor behind it. A rear passenger pushing or
pulling on the back of the f ront
passenger’s seat.
Back seat passengers should not
wedge objects or intentionally
f orce their f eet under the f ront
passenger seat. 35
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
do not do anyt hing
t hat would increase or decrease t he
weight on t he f ront passenger’s seat .Driver and Passenger Saf ety
31
PASSENGER’S SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR
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µ
To remind you of the passenger’s
f ront airbag hazards, and that
children must be properly restrained
in a back seat, your vehicle has
warninglabelsonthedashboard
(U.S. models) and on the f ront visors.
Please read and follow the
instructions on these labels.
Protecting Children General Guidelines
U.S. Models
Canadian Models
40
DASHBOARD
SUN VISORS SUN VISORS
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µ
Many parents say they pref er to put
an inf ant or a small child in the f ront
passenger seat so they can watch the
child, or because the child requires
attention.
Placing a child in the f ront seat
exposes the child to hazards in a
f rontal collision, and paying close
attention to a child distracts the
driver from the important tasks of
driving, placing both of you at risk. Your vehicle has a back seat where
children can be properly restrained.
If you ever have to carry a group of
children, and a child must ride in
front:
Move the vehicle seat as far to the
rear as possible (see page ).
Have the child sit upright and well
backintheseat(seepage ).
Make sure the seat belt is properly
positioned and secured (see page
).If a child requires close physical
attention or f requent visual contact,
we strongly recommend that another
adult ride with the child in a back
seat. The back seat is far safer for a
child than the front. Place the largest child in the f ront
seat, provided the child is large
enough to wear the lap/shoulder
belt properly (see page ).
During a crash, the
belt could press deep into the child
and cause serious or fatal injuries.
If they do, they
couldbeveryseriouslyinjuredina
crash.If you are not wearing a
seat belt in a crash, you could be
thrown f orward and crush the
child against the dashboard or a
seat-back. If you are wearing a
seat belt, the child can be torn
from your arms and be seriously
hurt or killed.
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156
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CONT INUED
Protecting Children General Guidelines
If You Must Drive with Several
ChildrenIf a Child Requires Close
AttentionAdditional Saf ety Precautions
Never put a seat belt over yourself
and a child.
Never let two children use the
same seat belt . Neverholdaninfantorchildon
your lap.
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
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CONT INUED
These labels are in the locations
shown. They warn you of potential
hazards that could cause serious
injury or death. Read these labels
caref ully.
If a label comes of f or becomes hard
to read (except for the U.S.
dashboard label which may be
removed by the owner), contact your
dealer f or a replacement.U.S. models only
Saf ety L abels
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
57
RADIATOR CAPDASHBOARD
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