2000 Acura RL cooling

Coolin
g Syste m
Addin g Engin e Coolan t
If the coolant level in the reserve
tank is at or below the MIN line, add coolant to bring it up to the MAX line.
Inspect the cooling system for leaks.
This coolant should always be a mixture of 50 percent antifreeze and
50 percent water. Never add straight
antifreeze or plain water. Always use Genuine Honda
Antifreeze/Coolant. If it is not
available, you may use another
major-brand non-silicate coolant as a
temporary replacement. Make sure it is a high-quality coolant
recommended for aluminum engines.However, continued use of any non-
Honda coolant can result in
corrosion, causing the cooling system to malfunction or fail. Have
the cooling system flushed and
refilled with Honda antifreeze/
coolant as soon as possible. If the reserve tank is completely
empty, you should also check the
coolant level in the radiator.
1. Make sure the engine and radiator
are cool.

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

RESERV
E TAN K
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.

Coolin
g Syste m

2. Turn the radiator cap counter-
clockwise, without pressing down
on it, until it stops. This relieves
any pressure remaining in the
cooling system.

3. Remove the radiator cap by

pushing down and turning
counterclockwise.

4. The coolant level should be up to

the base of the filler neck. Add
coolant if it is low.

5. Put the radiator cap back on.

Tighten it fully.

6. Pour coolant into the reserve tank.

Fill it to halfway between the MAX
and MIN marks. Put the cap back
on the reserve tank.

Do not add any rust inhibitors or
other additives to your car's cooling
system. They may not be compatible
with the coolant or engine compo-
nents.

Maintenanc e
RADIATO
R CA P
RESERVE TAN K

Coolin
g Syste m

Replacin g Engin e Coolan t
The cooling system should be completely drained and refilled with
new coolant according to the time and distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule. Only use Genuine Honda Antifreeze/Coolant.
Draining the coolant requires access
to the underside of the car. Unless
you have the tools and knowledge,
you should have this maintenance done by a skilled mechanic.

1. Turn the ignition ON (II). Turn
the heater temperature controldial to maximum heat (climate

control to 90°F/32°C). Turn off

the ignition. Open the hood. Make
sure the engine and radiator are

cool to the touch.

2. Remove the radiator cap.
DRAI
N PLU G
3. Loosen the drain plug on the bottom of the radiator. Thecoolant will come out through the
hole in the splash cover.

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

Coolin
g Syste m

4. On the right side of the engine block, remove the clip with a plier,
and then remove the drain cap. 5. Remove the reserve tank from its
holder by pulling it straight up.
Drain the coolant, then put the
tank back in its holder. 6. When the coolant stops draining,
tighten the drain plug at the
bottom of the radiator.
Put the drain cap back in place
tightly, then reinstall the clip on
the drain cap securely.
7. Mix the recommended antifreeze with an equal amount of purifiedor distilled water in a clean
container. The cooling system
capacity is:
1.61 US gal (6.1 l ,1.34 Imp gal)

Maintenanc e

CLI
P
DRAI N CA P RESERV
E TAN K
HOLDER
RESERV E TAN K CA P

Cooling
Syste m

12.Install the engine cover. First tighten the two bolts on the frontof the engine cover, then tighten
the three nuts on the engine cover.

Tightening torque:
7 lbf .
ft (10 N .
m,1.0 kgf.m)

13.Install the radiator cap, and

tighten it to the first stop.
14.Start the engine and let it run until the radiator cooling fan comes onat least twice. Then stop the

engine.
15.Remove the radiator cap. Pour
coolant into the radiator up to the
base of the filler neck and into the
reserve tank up to the MAX mark.
16.Start the engine and hold it at 1,500 rpm until the cooling fancomes on. Turn off the engine.Check the coolant level in the
radiator and add coolant if needed.
17.Install the radiator cap, and tighten it fully.
18. If necessary, fill the reserve tank

to the MAX mark. Install the
reserve tank cap.

Maintenanc e
RESERV
E TAN K

Batter
y

If your car's battery is disconnected
or goes dead, the engine's computer
needs to "relearn" the idle control.
After replacing or recharging the battery:
1. Make sure the climate control sys- tem is off.
2. Start the engine and let it run until it warms up (the radiator cooling
fan comes on at least twice), and
let it idle for five more minutes.
Your audio system will also disable it-

self when the battery is disconnected

or goes dead. The next time you turn

on the radio you will see "Code" in

the frequency display. Use the Pre-
set buttons to enter the five-digit

code (see page 162 ).
Charging the battery with the cables
connected can seriously damage your
car's electronic controls. Detach the
battery cables before connecting the

battey' to a charger.

Maintenanc e
NOTIC
E

Ai
r Conditionin g Syste m

Your car's air conditioning is a sealed system. Any major maintenance,
such as recharging, should be done
by a qualified mechanic. You can do a couple of things to make sure the
air conditioning works efficiently.
Periodically check the engine's
radiator and air conditioning
condenser for leaves, insects, and dirt stuck to the front surface. These
block the air flow and reduce cooling efficiency. Use a light spray from a
hose or a soft brush to remove them.

The condenser and radiator fins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or soft-bristle brush to clean them.
Run the air conditioning at least once
a week during the cold weather
months. Run it for at least ten
minutes while you are driving at a
steady speed with the engine at
normal operating temperature. This
circulates the lubricating oil con-
tained in the refrigerant.
If the air conditioning does not get as

cold as before, have your dealer

check the system. Recharge the
system with Refrigerant HFC-134a
(R-134a). (See Specifications on page 298.)

Whenever you have the air conditioning

system serviced, make sure the service

facility uses a refrigerant recycling
system. This system captures the
refrigerant for reuse. Releasing
refrigerant into the atmosphere can

damage the environment.

Maintenance

AI
R CONDITIONIN G CONDENSE R
NOTIC
E
NOTIC E

I
f You r Engin e Overheat s
4. If the temperature gauge stays at the red mark, turn off the engine.
5. Wait until you see no more signs of steam or spray, then open the

hood.

6. Look for any obvious coolant leaks, such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you find a leak, it
must be repaired before you continue driving (see Emergenc y
Towin g on page 292).
7. If you don't find an obvious leak, check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank (see page170). If the level is below the
MIN mark, add coolant to halfway
between the MIN and MAX marks.
8. If there was no coolant in the reserve tank, you may also have to
add coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the pointer reaches the middle of the tempera-
ture gauge, or lower, before check- ing the radiator.
9. Using gloves or a large heavy cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the first stop. This
releases any remaining pressure in
the cooling system. After the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap and turn it until it comes off. 10. Start the engine and set the
temperature control dial to
maximum (climate control to
FULL AUTO at 90° F/32° C). Add
coolant to the radiator up to the
base of the filler neck. If you do
not have the proper coolant
mixture available, you can add
plai
n water. Remember to have
the cooling system drained and
refilled with the proper mixture as
soon as you can.
11. Put the radiator cap back
on
tightly. Run the engine and watch
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back t

o the red mark, the engine
needs repair. (See Emergenc y
Towin g o

n page 29
2.)
12. If the temperature stays normal, check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the
MAX mark. Put the cap back
on

tightly.

Takin g Car e
o
f th e Unexpecte d

Removing the radiator cap

while the engine is hot can

cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.