2000 Acura RL light

Jum
p Startin g
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 your Acura bypushing or pulling it. To jump start your car, follow these
directions closely:
1. Open the hood and check the physical condition of the battery
(see page 234). 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.

If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can freeze.
Attempting to jump start with a frozen
battery can cause it to rupture.

2. Turn off all the electrical acces- sories: climate control, stereo
system, lights, etc.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park and set the parking brake.

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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.
NOTICE

Lo
w Oi l Pressur e Indicato r

This indicator should light when the ignition switch is ON (II), and go outafter the engine starts. It should
never come on when the engine is
running. If it starts flashing, it
indicates that the oil pressure
dropped very low for a moment, then
recovered. If the indicator stays on
with the engine running, it shows that the engine has lost oil pressure
and serious engine damage is
possible
. I
n either case, you should
take immediate action.
Running the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanical
damage almost immediately. Turn off
the engine as soon as you can safely get
the car stopped.

1.

Safely pull off the road and shut

off the engine. Turn on the hazard

warning indicators.
2. Let the car sit for a minute. Open the hood and check the oil level
(see page
169). Although oil level
and oil pressure are not directly connected, a
n engine that is very
low on oil can lose pressure during cornering and other driving

maneuvers.

3. If necessary, add oil to bring the level back to the full mark on the
dipstick (see page
215). 4. Start the engine and watch the oil
pressure indicator. If the light
does not go out within ten seconds,
turn off the engine. There is a
mechanical problem that needs tob

e repaired before you can
continue driving. (See Emergenc y
Towin g o

n page 29
2.)
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NOTIC
E

LO W OI L PRESSUR E INDICATO R

Brak
e Syste m Indicato r

The Brake System Indicator comes on when you turn the ignition ON (II). If the parking brake is not set, it
goes off after you start the engine. If
the parking brake is set, it goes off
when you fully release the parking brake with the engine running. If it comes on at any other time, it
indicates a problem with the car's
brake system. In most cases, the
problem is a low fluid level in the
brake fluid reservoir. Press lightly on
the brake pedal to see if it feels
normal. If it does, check the brake
fluid level the next time you stop at a service station (see page 228). If the
fluid level is low, take the car to your dealer and have the brake system
inspected for leaks or worn brake

pads.

However, if the brake pedal does not
feel normal, you should take immediate action. Because of the
brake system's dual-circuit design, a
problem in one part of the system
will still give you braking at two
wheels. You will feel the brake pedal
go down much farther before the car
begins to slow down, and you will
have to press harder on the pedal.
The distance needed to stop will be much longer. Slow down by shifting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is safe. Because of the
longer distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the car. You should have it towed, and repaired as
soon as possible. (See Emergenc y
Towin g on page 292.)
If you must drive the car a short distance in this condition, drive
slowly and cautiously.
If the ABS indicator and the VSA system indicator come on with this
indicator, have the car inspected by
your dealer immediately.
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*U.S
. indicato r show n
BRAK
E SYSTE M INDICATOR *

Closin
g th e Moonroo f

If the electric motor will not close
the moonroof, do the following:
1.
Check the
fuse for the moonroof
motor (see page
287). If the fuse
is blown,
replace it with one of the
same or lower rating.
2. Try closing the moonroof. If the new fuse blows immediately or the
moonroof motor still does not
operate,

you can close the
moonroof manually.
3. Get the
moonroof wrench out of
the tool kit in the trunk.
4. Remove the
lens from the rear
ceiling light (see page
257). 5. Remove the

plug in the center of
the rear ceiling light. 6. Insert the moonroof wrench into
the socket behind this plug. Turn
the wrench until the moonroof is

fully closed.

7. Remove the wrench. Replace the
plu

g and lens.

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PLU
G SOCKE
T

Fuse
s

Checkin g an d Replacin g Fuse s

If something electrical in your car stops working, the first thing you
should check for is a blown fuse.
Determine from the chart on pages 290 and 291, or the diagram on the
fuse box lid, which fuse or fuses
control that component. Check those
fuses first, but check all the fuses
before deciding that a blown fuse is
not the cause. Replace any blown
fuses and check the component's
operation.

1. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK (0). Make sure the headlights and
all other accessories are off.
2. Remove the
cover from the fuse
box.
FUS
E

3.
Check each

of the large fuses in
the under-hoo
d fuse box by
looking through the top at the wire
inside. Removing these fuses
requires a Phillips-head screw- driver. 4. Check the

smaller fuses in the
under-hood fuse box and all the
fuses in the interior fuse box by
pulling out each fuse with the fuse
puller provided in the door of
the
interior fuse box.

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BLOW
N
FUS
E
PULLE R

Fuse
s

5. Look for a burned wire inside the fuse. If it is burned, replace it withone of the spare fuses of the same
rating or lower. If you cannot drive the car without
fixing the problem, and you do not have a spare fuse, take a fuse of the
same rating or a lower rating from
one of the other circuits. Make sure
you can do without that circuit temporarily (such as the cigarette
lighter or radio).
If you replace the blown fuse with aspare fuse that has a lowe r rating, it
might blo
w out again. This does not
indicate anything wrong. Replace the
fuse with one of the correct rating as soon as you can.
Replacing a fuse with one that has a
higher rating greatly increases the
chances of damaging the electrical
system. If you do not have a replace-
ment fuse with the proper rating for the circuit, install one with a lower rating.

6. If the replacement fuse of the same rating blows in a short time,
there is probably a serious
electrical proble

m in your car.
Leave the

blown fuse in that
circuit and have your car checked
b

y a
qualified mechanic.
If th
e radio fuse is removed, the
audio system will disable itself. The
next time you turn on the radio you
will see "Code" i
n the frequency
display. Us
e the Preset buttons to
enter the five-digit code (see page
162).

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BLOW
N

CONTINUED

NOTIC
E

Emission
s Control s

The burning of gasoline in your car's engine produces several byproducts.
Some of these are carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and
hydrocarbons (HC). Gasoline evaporating from the tank also
produces hydrocarbons. Controlling
the production of NOx, CO, and HC
is important to the environment.
Under certain conditions of sunlight
and climate, NOx and HC react to
form photochemical "smog." Carbon
monoxide does not contribute to smog creation, but it is a poisonous

gas.
Th
e Clea n Ai r Ac t

The United States Clean Air Act*
sets standards for automobile

emissions. It also requires that

automobile manufacturers explain to owners how their emissions controls

work and what to do to maintain
them. This section summarizes how

the emissions controls work.

Scheduled maintenance is on page
206.

* In Canada, Acura vehicles comply

with the Canadian Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards (CMVSS) for

Emissions valid at the time they are

manufactured.

Crankcas e Emission s Contro l
Syste m
Your car has a Positive Crankcase
Ventilation System. This keeps gasses that build up in the engine'scrankcase from going into the
atmosphere. The Positive Crankcase
Ventilation valve routes them from the crankcase back to the intake
manifold. They are then drawn into
the engine and burned.
Evaporativ e Emission s Contro l
Syste m
As gasoline evaporates in the fuel tank, an evaporative emissionscontrol canister filled with charcoal
adsorbs the vapor. It is stored in this
canister while the engine is off. After
the engine is started and warmed up,
the vapor is drawn into the engine and burned during driving.
Onboar d Refuelin g Vapo r
Recover y
The Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery (ORVR) system captures
the fuel vapors during refueling. The
vapors are adsorbed in a canister
filled with activated carbon. While driving, the fuel vapors are drawn
into the engine and burned off.

Technical Informatio n

Inde
x

Accessories and Modifications.... 174 Accessories................................. 174
Additional Safety Precautions.. 175Modifications............................. 175
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key Position)........................................ 80
Accessory Power Socket.............. 114
Adding Automatic Transmission

Fluid........................................ 226

Brake Fluid................................. 227

Differential Oil........................... 227

Engine Coolant........................... 219

Engine Oil................................... 215

Power Steering Fluid................. 228
Windshield Washer Fluid......... 225
Additional Information About Your Airbags............................ 48
Additional Safety Precautions.... 48
Airbag Service.............................. 48
Additional Information About Your Front Airbags................. 43
How the SRS Indicator Works... 45
How Your Front Airbags

Work.......................................... 43

SRS Components......................... 43
Additional Information About Your Seat Belts........................ 40
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners................................ 41
Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 40
Seat Belt Maintenance................ 42
Seat Belt System Components... 40
Additional Information About
Your Side Airbags.................... 46
How The Side Airbag Indicator Light Works............................. 47
How Your Side Airbags Work.... 46
Additives, Engine Oil..................... 216
Adjustments Head Restraints........................... 95
Mirrors.......................................... 98

Seats.............................................. 93

Steering Wheel............................ 71

Airbag (SRS).......................... 9, 43, 46

Air Cleaner Element...................... 229
Air Conditioning Filter.................. 240
Air Conditioning System............... 120
Maintenance............................... 239
Usage.................................. 122, 127
Air Outlet
s (Vents)........................ 120
Air Pressure, Tires........................ 242
Alarm, Anti-theft............................ 162
Alcohol in Gasoline........................ 303
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning........ 263
Antifreeze....................................... 219
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
Indicator Light..................... 56, 187
Operation.................................... 18
6
Anti-theft, Audio System............... 162
Anti-theft Steering Column

Lock............................................... 80

Anti-theft System........................... 163

Appearance Care........................... 261

Armrest............................................. 96

Ashtrays.......................................... 116 Audio Controls, Remote................ 161

Audio System................................. 134
Automatic Climate Control System......................................... 120
Automatic Lighting.......................... 64
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners.................................... 41
CONTINUED