automatic transmission Acura RSX 2004 Owner's Manual

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
5-speed and 6-speed manual
transmissions and automatic
transmission. It also includes
important inf ormation on parking
your vehicle, the braking system,
and f acts you need if you are
planning to tow a trailer.........................
Preparing to Drive .134
.......................
Starting the Engine .135
5-speed and 6-speed
.............
Manual Transmissions . 136
..............
Automatic Transmission . 139
...........................................
Parking .145
.............................
Braking System .146
...............
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) . 147
...........................
Towing a Trailer .149
Driving
Driving133

Apply the parking brake.
In cold weather, turn of f all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.
Push the clutch pedal down all the
way. START (III) does not
f unction unless the clutch pedal is
pressed.
Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal.
Turn the ignition key to the
START (III) position. Do not hold
the key in START for more than
15 seconds at a time. If the engine
does not start right away, pause
f or at least 10 seconds bef ore
trying again.If the engine does not start within
15 seconds, or starts but stalls
right away, repeat step 4 with the
accelerator pedal pressed halfway
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal
so the engine does not race.
If the engine fails to start, press
the accelerator pedal all the way
downandholdittherewhile
starting to clear flooding. If the
engine still does not start, return
to step 5.
1.
2.
3.
4. 5.
6.
Manual Transmission:
Automatic Transmission:
Starting the Engine
Driving135
NOTICE: 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.

These indicators on the instrument
panel show which position the shif t
lever is in.
The ‘‘D’’ indicator comes on f or a
f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to ON (II). If it
f lashes at any time (in any shif t
position), it indicates a possible
problem in the transmission. Avoid
rapid acceleration, and have the
transmission checked by an Acura
dealer as soon as possible.To shif t f rom any position, move the
shif t lever. You cannot shif t out of
Park when the ignition switch is in
LOCK (0) or ACCESSORY (I)
position.
CONT INUED
To shift from:
PtoR
RtoN
NtoD
DtoD
DtoD DtoNNtoR RtoP Do this:
Press the brake pedal, then
move the shift lever.
Move the lever.
3
3
Shif t L ever Position Indicators Shif ting
Driving
Automatic Transmission
139
SHIFT LEVER

µµµµµ
This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning of f or
starting the engine. To shif t out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal.
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. The shif t lever must be in
Park bef ore you can remove the key
from the ignition switch. Press the brake
pedal, and move the shif t lever f rom
Park to Reverse. To shif t f rom
Reverse to Neutral, come to a
completestop,andthenshift.
Your vehicle has a reverse lockout so
you cannot accidentally shif t to
Reverse when the vehicle speed
exceeds 5 mph (8 km/h). Use Neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop brief ly with
the engine idling. Shif t to the Park
position if you need to leave your
vehicle for any reason. Press on the
brake pedal when you are moving
the shift lever from Neutral to
another gear.
Use this position f or
your normal driving. The
transmission automatically selects a
suitable gear f or acceleration.
This position is simi-
lartoD,exceptonlythefirstthree
gears are selected. Use D when
towing a trailer in hilly terrain, or to
provide engine braking when going
down a steep hill. D can also keep
the transmission f rom cycling third,
f ourth and f if th gears in stop-and-go
driving.
If you cannot shif t to Reverse when
the vehicle is stopped, press the
brake pedal and slowly shift to
Neutral, and then to Reverse.
If there is a problem in the reverse
lockout system, or your vehicle’s
battery is disconnected or goes dead,
you cannot shif t to Reverse. (Ref er
to Shif t Lock Release on page ).
144
144
3
3
Automatic Transmission
Park (P)
Shif t L ock Release Reverse (R)
Neutral (N)
Drive (D)
Drive (D )
3
Driving140

µ
´µ
With
the shif t lever in ‘‘D’’ position, you
can select the Sequential SportShif t
Mode to shif t gears; much like a
manual transmission, but without a
clutch pedal.
To enter the Sequential SportShif t
Mode, move the shif t lever f urther to
the driver’s side. To return to ‘‘D’’,
move the shift lever to the
passenger’s side.
When you move the shif t lever f rom
‘‘D’’ to the Sequential SportShift
mode, the display shows the selected
gear. In Sequential SportShif t mode, each
time you push f orward on the shif t
lever, the transmission will shif t to a
higher gear. Pull back on the lever to
downshif t. The number of the gear
selected is displayed on the
instrument panel (see page ).When you accelerate away f rom a
stop, the transmission will be in f irst
gear. The transmission will not
automatically upshift. Watch the
tachometer and upshif t manually
bef ore the engine reaches redline.
The transmission remains in the
selectedgear(5,4,3,2,or1).There
is no automatic downshif t when you
push the accelerator pedal to the
f loor.
139
CONT INUED
Automatic Transmission
Driving
Sequent ial Sport Shif t Mode
141
Up shift
Down shift

à
à
൵
ൠµ à
à
à
à
The transmission may automatically
downshif t f rom the higher gear to
the lower gear under the f ollowing
conditions:
The vehicle speeds drops below5 4:33mph(52km/h)
4 3:20mph(32km/h)
If you drive uphill between 54:4533mph
(72 52 km/h)
43:3320mph
(52 32 km/h)
If you press the brake pedal as you
drive downhill. Downshif ting gives you more power
when climbing or provides engine
braking when going down a steep hill.
The transmission will also shif t
automatically as the vehicle comes to
a complete stop. It will downshif t to
f irst gear when the vehicle speed is
under 6 mph (10 km/h).
If you try to manually downshif t at a
speed that would cause the engine to
exceed the redline in a lower gear,
the transmission will not downshif t.
Thegearindicatorwillflashthe
numberof thelowergearseveral
times, then return to the higher gear. If the vehicle speed slows to below
the redline of the selected lower gear
position while the indicator is
f lashing, the transmission will
downshif t and the display will show
the selected lower gear.
The table shows the speed ranges
f or upshif ting and downshif ting.
To shift from 12
23
34
45 Speed range
over 0 mph (0 km/h)
over 6 mph (10 km/h)
over 20 mph (32 km/h)
over 33 mph (52 km/h)
Automatic Transmission
Driving142

à
à
à
à
To shift from
21
32
43
54 Speed range
under 31 mph (50 km/h)
under 63 mph (100 km/h)
under 94 mph (150 km/h)
under 131 mph (210 km/h) When you are in Sequential
Sportshif t mode, and the vehicle is
stopped, push f orward on the shif t
lever to shif t to second gear. You will
see ‘‘2’’ in the display. Starting out in
second gear will help to reduce
wheelspin in deep snow or on a
slippery surf ace.
If you exceed the maximum speed
f or the gear you are in, the engine
speed will enter into the
tachometer’s red zone. If this
occurs,youmayfeeltheengine
cut in and out. This is caused by a
limiter in the engine’s computer
controls. The engine will run
normally when you reduce the
rpm below the red zone.
Automatic Transmission
Starting in Second Gear
Engine Speed L imiter
Driving143

Do this if pushing on the brake pedal
does not shif t the transmission out of
Park:Set the Parking brake.
Make sure the ignition switch is in
the LOCK (0) position.
Put a cloth on the edge of the Shif t
Lock Release slot cover next to
the shif t lever. Using a small f lat-
tipped screwdriver or a metal
f ingernail f ile, caref ully pry on the
edge of the cover. Insert the key in the Shift Lock
Release slot.
Push down on the key while you
move the shift lever out of Park to
Neutral.Remove the key from the shift
lock release slot, then install a new
cover.
Press the brake pedal and restart
the engine.
If you need to use the Shif t Lock
Release, it means your vehicle is
developing a problem. Have it
checked by your Acura dealer.
5. 4.
3.
2. 1.
6.
Automatic Transmission
Driving
Shif t L ock Release
144
SHIFT LOCK
RELEASE SLOT

Many states and Canadian provinces
require special outside mirrors when
towing a trailer. Even if they don’t,
you should install special mirrors if
you cannot clearly see behind you, or
if the trailer creates a blind spot.
Askyourtrailersalesorrental
agency if any other items are
recommended or required f or your
towing situation.The added weight, length, and
height of a trailer will af f ect your
vehicle’s handling and perf ormance,
so driving with a trailer requires
some special driving skills and
techniques.
Foryoursafetyandthesafetyof
others,taketimetopracticedriving
maneuvers bef ore heading f or the
open road, and f ollow the guidelines
discussed below.
Drive slower than normal in all
driving situations, and obey posted
speed limits f or vehicles with trailers.
If you have an automatic
transmission, use D position when
towing a trailer on level roads. D is
the proper shif t lever position to use
when towing a trailer in hilly terrain.
(See ‘‘
’’ in the next
column f or additional gear
inf ormation.) Maketurnsmoreslowlyandwider
than normal. The trailer tracks a
smaller arc than your vehicle, and it
canhitorrunoversomethingthe
vehicle misses. Allow more time and
distance f or braking. Do not brake or
turn suddenly as this could cause the
trailer to jackknif e or turn over.
When climbing hills, closely watch
your temperature gauge. If it nears
the red (Hot) mark, turn the air
conditioning of f , reduce speed and, if
necessary, pull to the side of the
road to let the engine cool.
If the automatic transmission shifts
f requently between 3rd and 4th
gears while going up a hill, shif t to
D.
3
3
CONT INUED
Towing a Trailer
Additional Trailer Equipment
T owing Speeds and GearsDriving on Hills Making T urns and Braking
Driving on HillsDriving Saf ely With a T railer
Driving153

If you must stop when f acing uphill,
use the f oot brake or parking brake.
Do not try to hold the vehicle in
placebypressingontheaccelerator,
as this can cause the automatic
transmission to overheat.
When driving down hills, reduce
your speed and shif t down to 2nd
gear. Do not ‘‘ride’’ the brakes, and
remember it will take longer to slow
downandstopwhentowingatrailer.Crosswinds and air turbulence
caused by passing trucks can disrupt
your steering and cause trailer
swaying. When being passed by a
large vehicle, keep a constant speed
and steer straight ahead. Do not try
to make quick steering or braking
corrections.
Always drive slowly and have
someone guide you when backing up.
Grip the of the steering
wheel; then turn the wheel to the lef t
to get the trailer to move to the lef t,
andturnthewheelrighttomovethe
trailer to the right.Follow all normal precautions when
parking, including f irmly setting the
parking brake and putting the
transmission in Park (automatic) or
in 1st or Reverse (manual). Also,
place wheel chocks at each of the
trailer’s tires.
bottom
Towing a Trailer
Handling Crosswinds and Buf f et ing
Backing Up Parking
Driving154