2000 Acura RL brake

Parkin
g Brake , Digita l Cloc k

Parkin g Brak e
To apply the parking brake, depress the pedal fully. To release it, pull therelease lever. The parking brake
light on the instrument panel should
go out when the parking brake is
fully released with the engine running (see page 54). If you try to
drive the car without releasing the
parking brake, the ABS indicator may come on, and the ABS may not
work properly. The VSA system indicator will also come on along
with the ABS indicator (see page

187).

Driving the car with the parking brake applied can damage the rear brakes
and axles.
Digita
l Cloc k

3.5 RL without Navigation System

The digital clock displays the time with the ignition switch ON (II). To see the time with the ignition off,
press and hold the wide button to the right of the clock.
Instrument s an d Control s

RELEAS
E LEVE R
PARKIN G

BRAK E PEDA L
NOTIC
E

Securit
y Syste m

The security system helps to protect your car and valuables from theft.
The horn sounds and a combination of headlights, parking lights, side
marker lights and taillights flashes if
someone attempts to break into your
car or remove the radio. This alarm continues for two minutes, then the
system resets. To reset an alarming
system before the two minutes have
elapsed, unlock either front door
with the key or the remote
transmitter.
The security system sets auto- matically fifteen seconds after you
lock the doors, hood, and trunk. For
the system to activate, you must lock
the doors from the outside with the key, lock tab, door lock switch, or
remote transmitter. The security
system light next to the driver's door
lock starts blinking immediately to show you the system is setting itself. SECURIT
Y SYSTE M LIGH T
Once the security system is set,
opening any door (without using the
key or the remote transmitter), or the hood, will cause it to alarm. It
also alarms if the radio is removed
from the dashboard or the wiring is
cut.
With the system set, you can still
open the trunk with the master key
or the remote transmitter without
triggering the alarm. The alarm will sound if the trunk lock is forced, or
the trunk is opened with the trunk
release button on the driver's door.
The security system will not set if the hood, trunk, or any door is not
fully closed. If the system will not set,check the Door and Brake Lamp
Monitor on the instrument panel (see page 57 ), to see if the doors
and trunk are fully closed. Since it is
not part of the monitor display,
manually check the hood.
Do not attempt to alter this system
or add other devices to it.
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s

Break-i
n Period , Gasolin e

Break-i n Perio d
Help assure your car's future
reliability and performance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the first 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period:
Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid

acceleration.

Avoid hard braking. New brakesneed to be broken-in by moderate
use for the first 200 miles (300

km).

You should follow these same re- commendations with an overhauled
or exchanged engine, or when the
brakes are relined.

Gasolin e

Your Acura is designed to operate on premium unleaded gasoline with apump octane number of 91 or higher.
If you are unable to find premium
unleaded gasoline, you may substi-
tute an unleaded regular gasoline.
The engine will compensate for the lower octane, but you may notice aslight decrease in power as a result.
We recommend gasolines containing detergent additives that help prevent
fuel system and engine deposits.
Using gasoline containing lead will
damage your car's emissions
controls. This contributes to air
pollution. In Canada, some gasolines contain
an octane-enhancing additive called
MMT. If you use such gasolines,
your emissions control system performance may deteriorate andthe Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on. If this happens, contact your
authorized Acura dealer for service.

Befor e Drivin g

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s

5. Screw the fuel fill cap back on,
tighten it until it clicks several
times. If you do not properly
tighten the cap, the Malfunction Indicator Lamp may come on (see
page 284).

6. Push the fuel fill door closed until

it latches.

Openin g th e Hoo d

1. Shift to Park or Neutral and set

the parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower left corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.
LATC
H HANDL E

2. Standing in front of the car, reach
in between the hood and the front bumper with your finger. Slide the
latch handle.

Befor e Drivin g
HOO
D RELEAS E HANDL E

Accessorie
s an d Modification s
Modifying your car, or installing
some non-Acura accessories, can
make your car unsafe. Before you
make any modifications or add any accessories, be sure to read the
following information.

Accessorie s

Your dealer has Genuine Acura accessories that allow you to
personalize your car. These accessories have been designed and
approved for your car, and are
covered by warranty.
Non-Acura accessories are usuallydesigned for universal applications.
Although aftermarket accessories may fit on your car, they may not
meet factory specifications, and
could adversely affect your car's
handling and stability. (See "Modifications" on the page 173 for
additional information.) When properly installed, cellular
phones, alarms, two-way radios, and
low-powered audio systems shouldnot interfere with your car's
computer-controlled systems, such
as the SRS and anti-lock brake
system. However, if electronic accessories
are improperly installed, or exceed
your car's electrical system capacity, they can interfere with the operationof your car, or even cause the
airbags to deploy.
Before installing any accessory: Make sure the accessory does not
obscure any lights, or interfere
with proper car operation or performance.
Be sure electronic accessories do
not overload electrical circuits (see page 287).
Have the installer contact yourAcura dealer for assistance before
installing any electronic accessory.
If possible, have your dealer inspect
the final installation.

Befor e Drivin g
Improper accessories or
modifications can affect your
car's handling, stability and performance, and cause a

crash in which you can be hurt

or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner's manual regarding
accessories and modifications.

Accessorie
s an d Modification s

Modification s
Do not remove any original
equipment or modify your car in any
way that would alter its design or operation. This could make your car
unsafe and illegal to drive.
For example, do not make any
modifications that would change the
ride height of your car, or install
wheels and tires with a different overall diameter.
Such modifications can adversely
affect handling, and interfere with
the operation of the car's anti-lock
brakes and other systems.
In addition, any modifications that
decrease ground clearance increase
the chance of undercarriage parts striking a curb, speed bump, or other
raised object, which could cause
your airbags to deploy. Do not modify your steering wheel
or any other part of your
Supplemental Restraint System.
Modifications could make the system ineffective.
Additiona l Safet y Precaution s
Do not attach or place objects on

the front airbag covers. Any object

attached to or placed on the covers
marked "SRS AIRBAG," in the center of the steering wheel and
on top of the dashboard, could
interfere with the proper operation of the airbags. Or, if the airbags
inflate, the objects could be
propelled inside the car and hurt
someone.
Do not attach hard objects on or

near a front door. If a side airbag
inflates, a cup holder or other hard object attached on or near the
door could be propelled inside the
car and hurt someone. Do not place any objects over the
outside edge of a front seat-back.
Covering the outside edge of a
front seat-back, with a non-Acura seat cover for example, could
prevent the airbag from inflating
properly.

Before Drivin g

Drivin
g

This section gives you tips on starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
automatic transmission. It also
includes important information on
parking your car, the braking system,
the Vehicle Stability Assist System, and facts you need if you are
planning to tow a trailer. Preparing to Drive......................... 178
Starting the Engine........................ 179
Starting in Cold Weather at High Altitude ..................... 179
Automatic Transmission............... 180 Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 180
Shift Lever Positions................. 180
Engine Speed Limiter............... 182
Shift Lock Release..................... 183

Parking............................................ 184

The Braking System...................... 185 Brake Wear Indicators.............. 185
Brake System Design................ 186
Anti-lock Brakes........................ 186 Important Safety
Reminders.......................... 187

ABS Indicator......................... 187
Vehicle Stability Assist System.... 189 Driving in Bad Weather................ 192
Towing a Trailer............................ 194

Driving

Startin
g th e Engin e

1. Apply the parking brake.
2. In cold weather, turn off all electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.

3. Make sure the shift lever is in

Park. Press on the brake pedal.

4. Without touching the accelerator

pedal, turn the ignition key to theSTART (III) position. If the enginedoes not start right away, do not
hold the key in START (III) for
more than 15 seconds at a time.
Pause for at least 10 seconds
before trying again.

5. If the engine does not start within
15 seconds, or starts but stalls

right away, repeat step 4 with the
accelerator pedal pressed half-way
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal so the engine does not race.

6. If the engine still does not start,

press the accelerator pedal all the
way down and hold it there whilestarting in order to clear flooding.
As before, keep the ignition key in the START (III) position for nomore than 15 seconds. Return tostep 5 if the engine does not start.
If it starts, lift your foot off the
accelerator pedal so the engine
does not race.

Startin g in Col d Weathe r a t Hig h
Altitud e (Abov e 8,000 feet/
2,400 meters )

An engine is harder to start in cold weather. The thinner air found athigh altitude above 8,000 feet (2,400meters) adds to the problem.
Use the following procedure:
1. Turn off all electrical accessories

to reduce the drain on the battery.

2. Push the accelerator pedal half-

way to the floor and hold it there
while starting the engine. Do nothold the ignition key in START (III) for more than 15 seconds.
When the engine starts, release the accelerator pedal gradually as
the engine speeds up and smoothsout.

3. If the engine fails to start in step 2,

push the accelerator pedal to the
floor and hold it there while youtry to start the engine for no more
than 15 seconds. If the engine does not start, return to step 2.

Drivin g