ignition Acura RSX 2002 Owner's Manual

Leaving children without
adult supervision is illegal in most
states and Canadian provinces,
and can be very hazardous. For
example, inf ants and small
childrenleftinavehicleonahot
day can die f rom heatstroke. And
children lef t alone with the key in
the ignition can accidentally set
the vehicle in motion, possibly
injuring themselves or others. Children who play in cars can
accidentally get trapped inside the
car. Teach your children not to
play in or around cars.
Even very young
children learn how to unlock
vehicle doors, turn on the ignition,
and open the hatch, which can
lead to accidental injury or death.
Protecting Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Additional Saf ety Precautions
Do not leave children alone in your
vehicle. Lock both doors and the hatch
when your vehicle is not in use. K eep car keys and remot e
transmitters out of the reach ofchildren.
25

This seat belt has a single belt that
goes over your shoulder, across your
chest and across your hips.
The seat belt system also
includes a light on the
instrument panel to remind you and
your passengers to f asten your belts.
If the driver’s seat belt is not
fastened before the ignition is turned
ON (II), the light will come on and a
beeper will also sound. The beeper
will stop af ter a f ew seconds, but the
light will stay on until the driver’s
seat belt is f astened. The seat belts in all seating positions
except the driver’s have an additional
locking mechanism that must be
activated to secure a child seat. (See
pages and f or instructions on
how to secure child seats with this
type of seat belt.) All seat belts have an emergency
locking retractor. In normal driving,
the retractor lets you move f reely in
your seat while it keeps some
tension on the belt. During a collision
or sudden stop, the retractor
automatically locks the belt to help
restrain your body. Guide the belt across your body to
the door pillar. Af ter exiting the car,
be sure the belt is out of the way and
will not get closed in the door. To unlock the belt, push the red
PRESSbuttononthebuckle.
To fasten the belt, insert the latch
plate into the buckle, then tug on the
belt to make sure the buckle is
latched.
Your seat belt system includes lap/
shoulder belts in all f our seating
positions.
31 35
Seat Belt System Components L ap/Shoulder Belt
Additional Inf ormation About Your Seat Belts
Driver and Passenger Saf ety44

Your Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) includes:Two 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.’’
If you ever have a moderate to
severe f rontal collision, the sensors
will detect the vehicle’s rapid
deceleration. If the rate of
deceleration is high enough, the
control unit will instantly inf late the
f ront airbags.
A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records inf ormation about the
sensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, and driver and
passenger seat belt use when the
ignition is ON (II).
Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe frontal
collision. Automatic seat belt tensioners
(see page ). An indicator light on the
instrument panel that alerts you to
a possible problem with the
system (see page ).
Emergency backup power in case
your car’s electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.
45
51
SRS Components
How Your Front A irbags Work
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety48

If the light comes on at any other
time, or does not come on at all, you
should have the system checked by
your dealer. For example:If the SRS indicator light does not
come on after you turn the ignition
ON (II).
If the light stays on after the
engine starts.
If the light comes on or f lashes on
andoff whileyoudrive.
The SRS indicator light
alerts you to a potential
problem with your f ront airbags and
automatic seat belt tensioners.
When you turn the ignition ON (II),
this indicator will light brief ly then
go out. This tells you that the system
is working properly. This light will also alert you to a
potential problem with your side
airbags or passenger’s side airbag
automatic cutoff system (see page ).
If you see any of these indications,
your f ront or side airbags may not
deploy, your passenger’s side airbag
automatic cutoff system may not
work properly, or your seat belt
tensioners may not work when you
need them. See your Acura dealer as
soon as possible.
52
How the SRS Indicator L ight
Works
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety51
Ignoring the SRS indicator light
can result in serious injury or
death if the airbags, cutoff
system, or tensioners do not
work properly.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
theSRSlightalertsyoutoa
potential problem.

A f ront seat passenger should not
use a cushion or other object as a
backrest. It may prevent the cutof f
system f rom working properly.
When you turn the ignition ON (II),
the indicator should light brief ly and
goout(seepage ).Ifitdoesn’t
light, stays on, or comes on while
driving without a passenger in the
f ront seat, have the system checked.
If a small-statured adult leans
sideways, or larger adult slouches
and leans sideways into the
deployment path of the side airbag,
the system may also shut of f the side
airbag.
If the side airbag indicator light
comes on, you should have the
passenger sit upright. Once the
passenger is out of the deployment
path of the side airbag, the system
will turn the airbag back on and the
light will go out.
This light alerts you that
the passenger’s side airbag
has been automatically shut off.
Although Acura does not encourage
children to ride in the f ront seat, this
system is designed to shut of f the
side airbag if a child leans sideways
and the child’s head is in the side
airbag deployment path. It does not mean there is a problem
with your side airbags. It means that
thesideairbagcutoff systemhas
activated to prevent the side airbag
f rom deploying.
To reduce the risk of injury f rom an
inf lating side airbag, your car has an
automatic cutoff system for the
passenger’s side airbag. 60
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
How the Side A irbag Cut-of f
Indicator L ight Works
52

This section gives inf ormation about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your Acura. All the essential controls
are within easy reach............................
Control Locations .58
...............................
Indicator Lights .59
Maintenance Required ...................................
Indicator .64 .........
Security System Indicator . 65
.............................................
Gauges .66
...............................
Speedometer .66
.................................
Tachometer .66
.....................................
Odometer .66
...................................
Trip Meter .67
..................................
Fuel Gauge .67
...................
Temperature Gauge . 67
Controls Near the Steering .......................................
Wheel .68
...................................
Headlights .69
............
Daytime Running Lights . 69
....
Instrument Panel Brightness . 70
................................
Turn Signals .70
.....................
Windshield Wipers .71
..................
Windshield Washers . 72
Rear Window Wiper and .....................................
Washer .72
..........................
Hazard Warning .73
.............
Rear Window Def ogger . 73
......
Steering Wheel Adjustment . 74
...............................
Keys and Locks .75
..............................................
Keys .75
....................
Immobilizer System . 76
............................
Ignition Switch .77
..................................
Door Locks .79 .........
Power Door/Hatch Locks . 80
............................................
Hatch .80
...................
Remote Transmitter . 81
....................................
Glove Box .84
............................
Seat Adjustments .85
.............
Front Seat Adjustments . 85
Driver’s Seat Height ..............................
Adjustment .86
...........
Driver’s Lumbar Support . 86
........................
Rear Seat Access .86
...........................
Folding Rear Seat .87
....................................
Seat Heaters .88
...........................
Cargo Area Cover .89
..............................
Power Windows .90
.........................................
Moonroof .93
.............................................
Mirrors .94
....
Adjusting the Power Mirrors . 94
.................................
Parking Brake .95
..................................
Vanity Mirror .96
........................................
Coat Hook .96
.............................
Beverage Holder .97
...................
Console Compartment . 98
...............
Accessory Power Socket . 99
.................................
Interior Lights .99
Instruments and Controls
Inst rument s and Cont rols57

The instrument panel has many
indicators to give you important
inf ormation about your car.
This indicator lights when you turn
the ignition switch ON (II). It is a
reminder to you and your passengers
to protect yourselves by f astening
the seat belts. A beeper also sounds
if you have not fastened your seat
belt.
If you do not f asten your seat belt,
the beeper will stop af ter a f ew
seconds but the light stays on until
you do. Both the light and the beeper
stay of f if you f asten your seat belt
bef ore turning on the ignition.This indicator lights when you turn
the ignition switch ON (II). If it
comes on at any other time, it
indicates a potential problem with
your f ront airbags. This light will
also alert you to a potential problem
with your side airbags, passenger’s
side airbag automatic cutoff system
or automatic seat belt tensioners.
For complete inf ormation, see page
. This indicator lights when you turn
the ignition switch ON (II). If it
comes on at any other time, it
indicates that the passenger’s side
airbag has automatically shut off.
For complete inf ormation, see page
.
51 52
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Indicator L ights
Seat Belt Reminder L ight Supplemental Restraint
System Indicator
Side A irbag Cut-of f
Indicator
60

This light has two f unctions:This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch ON (II). It
is a reminder to check the parking
brake. Driving with the parking
brake not f ully released can
damage the brakes and tires.
If the indicator remains lit after
you have f ully released the
parking brake while the engine is
running, or if it comes on while
driving, it can indicate a problem
in the brake system. For complete
inf ormation, see page . If this light comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged. For complete
inf ormation, see page .
The engine can be severely damaged
if this light f lashes or stays on when
the engine is running. For complete
inf ormation, see page .
See page .
This light normally comes on f or a
f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch ON (II), and when
the ignition switch is turned to
START (III).
If this light comes on at any other
time, there is a problem in the ABS.
If this happens, take the car to your
dealer to have it checked. With the
light on, your car still has normal
braking ability but no anti-lock. For
complete inf ormation, see page .
1.
2.
278 183275
274
276
Only on models equipped with ABS (see page ) 181
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Indicator L ights
Parking Brake
and Brake
System
Indicator Anti-lock Brake
System (A BS)
Indicator
Charging System
Indicator
L ow Oil Pressure
Indicator
Malf unction Indicator
Lamp
61
U.S. Canada
U.S. Canada

This indicator comes on f or a f ew
seconds when you turn the ignition
switch ON (II). It will then go of f if
you have inserted a properly-coded
ignition key. If it is not a properly-
coded key, the indicator will blink
and the engine will not start (see
page ).
This indicator also blinks several
times when you turn the ignition
switch f rom ON (II) to ACCESSORY
(I) or LOCK (0).This indicator lights when you turn
the ignition switch to ON (II) with
the headlight switch of f and the
parking brake set. It should go of f if
youturnontheheadlightsorrelease
the parking brake. If it comes on at
any other time, it means there is a
problem with the DRL. There may
also be a problem with the high
beam headlights.
This light comes on when the
washer f luid level is low. Add washer
f luid when you see this light come on
(see page ).
76 216Canadian models only
Canadian models only
Indicator L ights
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Immobilizer System
Indicator Washer Level Indicator
‘‘Daytime Running
Lights’’ Indicator
63

µ
This indicator reminds you that it is
time to take your car in for
scheduled maintenance.
Ref er to the Maintenance Schedules
f or Normal and Severe Driving
Conditions on pages
.For the f irst 8,000 miles (12,800 km)
af ter the Maintenance Required
Indicator is reset, it will come on f or
two seconds when you turn the
ignition switch ON (II).
Between 8,000 miles (12,800 km)
and 10,000 miles (16,000 km) this
indicator will light f or two seconds
when you f irst turn the ignition
switch ON (II), and then f lash f or
ten seconds.
If you exceed 10,000 miles (16,000
km) without having the scheduled
maintenance perf ormed, this
indicator will remain on as a constant
reminder.
198 202
Indicator L ights
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Maintenance Required Indicator
64
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