2000 Acura RL mirror

Towin
g a Traile r

Additional Trailer Equipment 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.
Ask your trailer sales or rental agency if any other items are
recommended or required for your

towing situation.
Pre-To
w Checklis t
When preparing to tow, and before driving away, be sure to check the
following: The vehicle has been properly
serviced, and the tires, brakes,
suspension, and cooling system
are in good operating condition.
All weights and loads are within limits (see pages 194 and 195 ).
The hitch, safety chain, and any other attachments are secure. All items on and in the trailer are
properly secured and cannot shift
while you drive. The lights and brakes on your
vehicle and the trailer are working
properly. Your vehicle tires and spare are
properly inflated (see page 242 ),and the trailer tires and spare are
inflated as recommended by the
trailer maker.
Drivin g

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

Inde
x

Reserve Indicator......................... 57

Tank, Filling the......................... 167

Fuel Mileage, Improving............... 171

Fuses, Checking the...................... 288

Gasohol........................................... 303

Gasoline.......................................... 166

Fuel Reserv

e Indicator................ 57

Gauge............................................
60

Octane Requirement................

. 166

Tank, Fillin

g the......................... 167

Gas Statio

n Procedures................. 167

Gauges..............................................
58

Engine Coolan

t Temperature .... 60

Fuel................................................
60

Maintenance Require

d

Indicator.................................... 61

GAWR (Gross Axle Weight

Rating) ........................................ 195

Gearshift Lever Positions .............180

Glass Cleaning............................... 265

Glove Box......................................... 87

GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight

Rating) ........................................ 195

Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 250
Hazard Warning Flashers............... 70

Headlights
Automatic Lighting..................... 64
Daytime Running Lights............. 65
High Beam Indicator................... 57

High Beams, Turning on............ 63

Lights On Indicator..................... 55

Low Beams, Turning on............. 63

Reminder Chime.......................... 63
Replacing Halogen Bulbs ......... 250

Turning on.................................... 63

Head Restraints............................... 95

Heating and Cooling...................... 120
High Altitude, Starting at.............. 179
High-Low Beam Switch .................. 63

High-mount Brake Light............... 255
HomeLink Universal
Transmitter.................................. 88

Hood Latch..................................... 229

Hood, Opening the ........................ 168

Horn................................................... 62

Hot Coolant, Warning about........ 219
Hydroplaning.................................. 193 Identification Number, Vehicle.... 296
If Your Car Has to be Towed....... 292
Ignition

Keys............................................... 77

Switch............................................ 80
Timing Control System............. 306
Immobilizer System......................... 78
Important Safety Precautions .......... 6
Indicator Lights, Instrument Panel.............................................. 53
Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 241
Inside Mirror.................................... 98

Inspection, Tire.............................. 243

Instrument Panel............................. 53
Instrument Panel Brightness......... 66
Interior Cleaning............................ 264
Introduction......................................... i
CONTINUED

Inde
x

Jacking up the Car......................... 272

Jack, Tire........................................ 272

Jump Starting................................. 278
Keys................................................... 77
Label, Certification........................ 296
Lane Change, Signaling.................. 66
Lap/Shoulder Belt........................... 40
Leaking of Exhaust into Car.......... 49
Learning Key.................................... 78
Leather, Cleaning.......................... 264
Lights On Indicator......................... 55Lighter, Cigarette.......................... 115
Lights Bulb Replacement..................... 250
Ceiling......................................... 117
Courtesy...................................... 118

Indicator........................................ 53

Parking.......................................... 63 Turn Signal................................... 66Load Limit...................................... 175
LOCK (Ignition Key Position)....... 80
Locks
Anti-theft Steering Column........ 80
Childproof Door........................... 85
Fuel Fill Door............................. 167
Glove Box.....................................
87

Power Door.................................. 81

Trunk............................................ 86

Trunk Pass-through Cover......... 97
Low Coolant Level......................... 170
Low Fuel Indicator.......................... 57
Low Oil Pressure Indicator.... 54, 282
Lubricant Specifications
Chart........................................... 298

Luggage.......................................... 174

Maintenance................................... 201

Owner Maintenance Checks.... 213

Record.................................. 211- 212

Required Indicator....................... 61

Safety........................................... 202

Schedule.............................. 206- 210

Malfunction Indicator Lamp .. 55, 284

Memory, Driving Position............ 100

Meters, Gauges................................ 58

Methanol in Gasoline.................... 303

Mirrors, Adjusting........................... 98

Moonroof........................................ 106
Closing Manually....................... 286

Operation.................................... 106
Neutral Gear Position.................... 181 New Vehicle Break-in ................... 166
NOTICE, Explanation of.................... i
Numbers, Identification................ 296
Octane Requirement, Gasoline.... 166Odometer.......................................... 59
Odometer, Trip................................ 59
Oil
Change, How to......................... 217
Change, When to....................... 206

Checking Engine....................... 169
Pressure Indicator............... 54, 282

Inde
x

Selecting Proper Viscosity Chart....................................... 216
ON (Ignition Key Position)............ 80
Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery..................................... 305
Opening the Hood......................... 168
Opening the Trunk.......................... 86
Operation in Foreign Countries... 304
Outside Mirrors............................... 98
Outside Temperature Indicator..... 59
Overheating, Engine..................... 280
Owner Maintenance Checks........ 213
Oxygenated Fuels.......................... 303

Paint Touch-up............................... 263

Panel Brightness Control............... 66
Park Gear Position......................... 181

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

Parking Brake................................ 108

Parking Brake and Brake System Indicator.................. 54, 285

Parking Lights.................................. 63

Parking Over Things that Burn... 307

PGM-FI System.............................. 306
Polishing and Waxing................... 263

Power

Door Locks................................... 81
Mirrors.......................................... 98

Seat Controls...............................
. 93
Steering....................................... 228

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

Windows..................................... 105
Pre-Drive Safety Checklist............. 11
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts.......... 18
Protecting Adults............................. 12
Additional Safety Precautions.... 19
Advice for Pregnant Women...... 18
Protecting Children......................... 20
Protecting Infants........................ 28
Protecting Larger Children........ 35
Protecting Small Children.......... 32
Using Child Seats withTethers...................................... 39

Radiator Overheating.................... 280

Radio/Cassette Sound System .... 134

Rear End Towing........................... 292

Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement... 254
Rear Seat Armrest........................... 97

Rear Ventilation............................. 132

Rear View Mirror............................. 98
Rear Window Defogger.................. 71
Reclining the Seat Backs................ 94
Reminder Lights.............................. 53

Remote Transmitter........................ 82
Replacement Information Air Cleaner Element.................. 229
Air Conditioning Filter.............. 240 Engine Coolant........................... 221
Engine Oil and Filter................. 217

Fuses........................................... 288

Light Bulbs................................. 250

Schedule..................................... 204

Spark Plugs................................. 231

Tires............................................ 24
5

Wiper Blades.............................. 237
Replacing Seat Belts After a
Crash............................................. 42

Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant.... 170
Reverse Gear Position................... 181

Rotation, Tire................................. 244

CONTINUED

Inde
x

Underside, Cleaning...................... 266

Unexpected, Taking Care
of the........................................... 269

Uniform Tire Quality Grading..... 301

Unleaded Gasoline......................... 166

Upholstery Cleaning...................... 264

Used Oil, How to Dispose of........ 218
Vanity Mirror................................. 113
Vehicle Capacity Load .................. 175
Vehicle Dimensions....................... 298
Vehicle Identification Number..... 296
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System..................................... 189
Technical Description............... 300
VSA System Indicator........ 56, 190
VSA Activation Indicator... 56, 189
VSA Off Switch.......................... 190
Vehicle Storage.............................. 259
Ventilation...................................... 120

VIN.................................................. 296

Vinyl Cleaning................................ 264 Warning Beepers
Headlights on............................... 63
Key in Ignition.............................. 80
Seat Belts................................ 40, 54

WARNING, Explanation of.............. ii

Warning Labels, Location of.......... 50

Warranty Coverages*................... 312
Washer, Windshield Checking the Fluid Level......... 225Operation...................................... 70
Washing.......................................... 262
Waxing and Polishing................... 263

Wheels
Adjusting the Steering................ 71
Alignment and Balance............. 244
Cleaning Aluminum Alloys....... 263
Compact Spare........................... 270
Wrench....................................... 272
Windows Cleaning...................................... 265
Operating the Power................. 105
Rear, Defogger............................
71

Windshield Cleaning....................................... .
68
Defroster............................ 126,

131

Wipers, Windshiel
d
Changing Blades........................ 237
Operation...................................... 68

Wood Trim..................................... 265

Worn Tires..................................... 243
Wrecker, Emergency Towing...... 292
* U.S. and Canada only

Viscosity, Oil................................... 216