automatic transmission Acura RSX 2002 Owner's Guide

If you have a f lat tire while driving,
stop in a saf e place to change it.
Stopping in traf f ic or on the shoulder
of a busy road is dangerous. Drive
slowly along the shoulder until you
gettoanexitoranareatostopthat
is far away from the traffic lanes.Park the car on f irm, level and
non-slippery ground away f rom
traf f ic. Put the transmission in
Park (automatic) or Reverse
(manual). Apply the parking brake.Open the hatch. Pull up the f loor
mat and remove the spare tire
cover. Turn on the hazard warning lights
andturntheignitionswitchto
LOCK (0). Have all the
passengers get out of the car while
you change the tire.
If you are towing a trailer, unhitch
the trailer. Unscrew the wing bolt.
1. 2.
3.
4.
CONT INUED
Changing a Flat T ire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed263
J JA
A C
CKK T
T
O
OO OLL K
KIITTThe car can easily roll off the
jack, seriously injuring anyone
underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the car when it
is supported only by the jack.

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:
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.
Store the tool kit.
Store the wheel cover or center
cap in the cargo area. Make sure it
will not get scratched or damaged.
Reinstall the f loor mat and spare
tire cover, then close the hatch.
Check the transmission interlock.
If you have a manual transmission,
the clutch pedal must be pushed
all the way to the f loor or the
starter will not operate. With an
automatic transmission, it must be
in Park or Neutral.
Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Turn on the headlights and check
their brightness. If the headlights
are very dim or don’t light at all,
the battery is discharged. See
on page .
22.
23.
24.
270
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
If Your Engine Won’t Start
Jump Starting
Changing a Flat Tire, If Your Engine Won’t Start
268
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.

´´
If your car’s battery has run down,
you may be able to start the engine
by using a booster battery. Although
this seems like a simple procedure,
you should take several precautions.
You cannot start an Acura with an
automatic transmission by pushing
or pulling it. To jump start your car, f ollow these
directions closely:
Open the hood and check the
physical condition of the battery
(see page ). In very cold
weather, check the condition of
the electrolyte. If it seems slushy
or like ice, do not try jump starting
until it thaws.
Turn of f all the electrical acces-
sories: heater, A/C, stereo system,
lights, etc.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park, and set the parking brake. Connect one jumper cable to the
positive ( ) terminal on your
Acura’s battery. Connect the other
end to the positive ( ) terminal
on the booster battery.
1.
2.
3.
191
Jump Starting
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Jump Starting
270
A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyone
nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.
If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can f reeze.
Attempting to jump start with a f rozen
battery can cause it to rupture.

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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).
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 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 car of f
the ground. Your car’s suspension
and body can be seriously damaged. Release the parking brake.
Start the engine.
ShifttoD,thentoN.
Turn of f the engine.
Automatic Transmission
Manual Transmission:
CONT INUED
Wheel-lif t Equipment
Flat -bed Equipment Sling-t ype Equipment
T his is
an acceptable way to tow your
Acura. This is the best way to transport
your A cura. T his method of towing is
unacceptable.
Emergency T owing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed285
Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Follow the
above procedure exactly. If you cannot
shif t the transmission or start the
engine (automatic transmission), your
car must be transported with the f ront
wheels of f the ground.

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Specif ications
T echnical Inf ormation291
Fuses
Capacities
Lights
Battery Alignment
Tires
0.0in(0mm)
0.08 in (2.0 mm) 0°00’
Interior
Under-hood
1.8 US qt (1.7
, 1.5 Imp qt)
1.6 US qt (1.5, 1.3 Imp qt)
2.9 US qt (2.7
, 2.4 Imp qt)
6.9 US qt (6.5, 5.7 Imp qt)
2.6 US qt (2.5, 2.2 Imp qt)
4.8 US qt (4.5, 4.0 Imp qt)
Manual
transmission
fluid
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V55 W
55 W
21 W
21 W
21 W/5 W
21 W
5W
21 W
5W
8W
5W
8W See page
283or the fuse label
attached to the inside of the fuse
box door under the dashboard.
See page 284or the fuse box
cover.
12 V 5 W (Amber)
Headlights
Front turn signal
Front position lights
Rear turn signal lights
Stop/Taillights
High-mount brake light
Rear side marker lights
Back-up lights
License plate lights
Ceiling light
Cargo area light
Spotlights
Glove Box light
Capacity
12 V 36 AH/5 HR3.4 W
12 V 0°45’
1°30’
Toe-in
Camber
Caster
Size
Pressure
P205/55R16 89V
T135/70D15 99M
T125/70D16 96M P195/65R15 89H
33 psi (230 kPa , 2.3 kgf/cm
)
31 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm)
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.20 kgf/cm)
Change
Total
Change
Total
U.S. cars
Canadian cars
Front/Rear
Spare
Front
Rear
Spare
High
Low
1:
2:
3:
4:Front
Rear
Front
Rear
Front
Canadian RSX
U.S. RSX
Canadian Premium
Type-S
Automatic trans-
mission fluid
Windshield
washer reservoir
1
2, 3, 4
1, 2, 3
4

CONT INUED
If you take your vehicle f or a state
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 re-tested within the
next two or three days, you can
condition the vehicle for re-testing
by doing the f ollowing.
Make sure the gas tank is nearly,
but not completely, f ull (around
3/4).
Make sure the vehicle has been
parked with the engine of f f or 8
hours or more.
Make sure the ambient
temperature is between 20° and
95°F. Without touching the accelerator
pedal, start the engine and let it
idle f or 20 seconds.
Keep the vehicle in Park
(automatic transmission) or
Neutral (manual transmission).
Increase the engine speed to 2,000
rpm and hold it there until the
temperature gauge rises to at least
1/4of thescale(approximately3
minutes).
St at e Emissions T est ing
T echnical Inf ormation
T esting of Readiness Codes
299

CONT INUED
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 162
................................
Accessories .162
...
Additional Safety Precaution . 163
............................
Modif ications .163
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) .78
...............
Accessory Power Socket . 99
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 209
.............................
Airbag (SRS) .10, 48
.....................
Air Cleaner Element .222
..............
Air Conditioning System . 102
..............................
Maintenance .231
.........................................
Usage .102
.......................
Air Outlets (Vents) .102
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .235
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline .294
......................................
Antif reeze .212
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) ...............................
Indicator .61, 183
...................................
Operation .182
Anti-thef t Steering Column ..............................................
Lock .78
..........................
Appearance Care .253
................................
Audio System .109 .............
Automatic Speed Control . 149
..............
Automatic Transmission . 173
..........................
Capacity,Fluid .290
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 217
.......................................
Shif ting .173
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 173
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 173
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 179
Battery Charging System ...........................
Indicator .61, 275
............................
Jump Starting .269
..............................
Maintenance .226
............................
Specif ications .291
..............................
Bef ore Driving .153
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,44
.............................
Beverage Holder .97
...................................
Body Repair .260
Brakes ...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 182
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 155
....................
Bulb Replacement .249
...........................................
Fluid .219 .........................................
Parking .95
.................
System Indicator . 60,278
........................
Wear Indicators .181
.............................
Braking System .181
........................
Break-in, New Car .155
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 70
........................
Brights, Headlights .69
Bulb Replacement ..........................
Back-up Lights .249
..............................
Brake Lights .249
......................
Cargo Area Light .250
..............................
Ceiling Light .250
................
Front Parking Lights . 247
.........
Front Turn Signal Lights . 246
.................................
Headlights .244
.........
High-mount Brake Light . 247
...................
License Plate Light . 248
.........
Rear Side Marker Lights . 249
............................
Specif ications .291
...................................
Spotlights .251
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .244
Index
A
B
I

Î
................
DANGER, Explanation of . ii
...................................
Dashboard .2, 58
................
Daytime Running Lights . 69
............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety . 304
........................
Def og and Def rost .105
................
Def ogger, Rear Window . 72
....................................
Dimensions .290
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 69
Dipstick ..........
Automatic Transmission . 217
..................................
Engine Oil .159
..........................
Directional Signals .70
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 181
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .211
Doors ..............
Locking and Unlocking . 79
......................
Power Door Locks .80
...................
Capacities Chart . 290,291
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 54
...........................
Cargo Area Cover .89
.............................
Carrying Cargo .164
Cassette Player ............................................
Care .137
...................................
Operation .133
..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
...................................
CD Changer .139
............................................
Care .145
...................................
Operation .141
........................
Certif ication Label .288
............................................
Chains .241
Changing Oil ........................................
How to .209
......................................
When to .196
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .263
............
Changing Engine Coolant . 214
...
Charging System Indicator . 61,275
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 168
.....................................
Child Saf ety .21
.......................................
Child Seats .26
.........................................
LATCH .42
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 41....................
Cleaner Element, Air . 222
Cleaning ....................
Aluminum Wheels .255
...................................
Carpeting .256
......................................
Exterior .254
.........................................
Fabric .258
......................
Instrument Panel .258
.......................................
Interior .256
.......................................
Leather .257
...................................
Seat Belts .257
...........................................
Vinyl .257
....................................
Windows .258
.........................
Clock, Setting the .114
...................................
Clutch Fluid .219
.....................
Code, Audio System .147
........................
CO in the Exhaust .296
............
Cold Weather, Starting in . 169
..............................
Compact Spare .262
...................
Console Compartment . 98
...............
Consumer Inf ormation . 302
.............
Controls, Instruments and . 57
Coolant ........................................
Adding .212
....................................
Checking .160
.........................
Proper Solution .212
...................................
Replacing .214 ...................
Temperature Gauge . 67
....................
Corrosion Protection .259
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System .296
............
Cruise Control Operation . 149
..........
Customer Relations Of f ice . 302
Index
C
D
II

CONT INUED
..............................
Economy, Fuel .161
............
Emergencies on the Road . 261
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 270
...........
Brake System Indicator . 278
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 263
.....
Charging System Indicator . 275
..................
Checking the Fuses . 281
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 274
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 276
...
Manually Closing Moonroof . 279
..................
Overheated Engine . 272
...........................
Emergency Brake .95
......................
Emergency Flashers .73
......................
Emergency Towing .285 .......................
Emissions Controls .296
.............
Emissions Testing, State . 299
Engine ....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 67
.................................
Drive Belts .234
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp .61, 276
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 61,274
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 207
...............................
Overheating .272
............................
Specif ications .290
.......................................
Starting .169
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .294
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 296
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .54
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .25
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 254
............................
Fabric, Cleaning .257
...................................
Fan, Interior .102
Features, Comfort and ..............................
Convenience .101
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 156Filters
................................
Air Cleaner .222
...............................................
Oil .209
Manual Transmission ...............
Checking Fluid Level . 219
................................
Shif ting the .170
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 73
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 263
Fluids ..........
Automatic Transmission . 217
..........................................
Brake .219
.........................................
Clutch .220
..............
Manual Transmission . 219
..........................
Power Steering .221
..................
Windshield Washer . 216
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception .126
...........................
Folding Rear Seat .87
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 295
..........................
Four-way Flashers .73
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 292
Downshif ting, 5-speed and 6-speed ..............
Manual Transmission . 170
.....................................
Drive Belts .234
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5
...........................................
Driving .167
....................................
Economy .161
.........................
In Bad Weather .184
................
In Foreign Countries . 295
Index
E
F
III

.................................................
Fuel .155
......................
Fill Door and Cap .156
...........................................
Gauge .67
................
Octane Requirement . 155
...............................
Oxygenated .294
........................
Reserve Indicator .62
........................
Tank, Filling the .156
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .280
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 161
..........................................
Gasohol .294
.........................................
Gasoline .155
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 62
...........................................
Gauge .66
................
Octane Requirement . 155
........................
Tank, Filling the .156
................
Gas Station Procedures . 156
Gauges ...
Engine Coolant Temperature . 67
...............................................
Fuel .67
...............................
Speedometer .66
.................................
Tachometer .66
Gearshif t Lever Positions ..........
Automatic Transmission . 1735-speed and 6-speed Manual
.........................
Transmission .170
..............................
Glass Cleaning .258
........................................
Glove Box .84
...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle . 288
Ignition ..............................................
Keys .75
...........................................
Switch .77
............
Timing Control System . 297
........................
Immobilizer System .76
.........
Important Safety Precautions . 6
Indicators, Instrument .............................................
Panel .59
...............................
Inf ant Restraint .21
......................................
Inf ant Seats .30
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 41
.........................................
LATCH .42
...................
Inf lation, Proper Tire . 235
...................................
Inside Mirror .94
.............................
Inspection, Tire .236
........................
Instrument Panel .2, 58
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 70
...........................
Interior Cleaning .256
.................................
Interior Lights .99
.............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs . 244
................................................
Hatch .80
.................................
Opening the .80
...................
Open Monitor Light . 62
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers . 73
Headlights ........................................
Aiming .244
............
Daytime Running Lights . 69
..................
High Beam Indicator . 62
.........................
Reminder Chime .69
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs . 244
...................................
Turning on .69
..............................
Head Restraints .11
.....................
Heating and Cooling .102
.............
High Altitude, Starting at . 169
.................
High-Low Beam Switch . 69
..............
High-mount Brake Light . 247
....................................
Hood Latch .224
.......................
Hood, Opening the .157 ..................................................
Horn .68
...........................
Hydraulic Clutch .220
.................................
Hydroplaning .185
Index
G H
I
IV