2000 Acura RL steering

Protectin
g Adult s

Remember, to get the best
protection from your car's airbags and other safety features, you must
sit properly and wear your seat belt
properly. Advic
e fo r Pregnan t Wome n
Because protecting the mother is the
best way to protect her unborn child, a pregnant woman should always
wear a seat belt whenever she drives or rides in a car.
Remember to keep the lap portion of
the belt as low as possible across
your hips. Pregnant women should also sit
upright and as far back as possible
from the steering wheel or dashboard. This will reduce the risk
of injuries to both the mother and
her unborn child that can be caused by a crash or an inflating airbag.
Each time you have a check-up, ask
your doctor if it's okay for you to drive.
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Adult s

Additiona l Safet y Precaution sTwo people should never use the
same seat belt. If they do, they
could be very seriously injured in a

crash.
Do not put any accessories on seat

belts. Devices intended to improve
occupant comfort or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can
severely compromise the
protective capability of the seat
belt and increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.
Do not place hard or sharp objects
between yourself and a front

airbag. Carrying hard or sharp
objects on your lap, or driving with
a pipe or other sharp object in
your mouth, can result in injuries if your front airbag inflates.
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.
Keep your hands and arms away

from the airbag covers. If your

hands or arms are close to the airbag cover in the center of the
steering wheel or on top of the
dashboard, they could be injured if
the front airbags inflate.

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Additiona
l Informatio n Abou t You r Fron t Airbag s
SR S Component s

Your Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) includes: Two front airbags. The driver's
airbag is stored in the center of
the steering wheel; the front
passenger's airbag is stored in the dashboard. Both are marked "SRS
AIRBAG." Automatic seat belt tensioners
(see page 41). Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe frontal

collision.

A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records information about thesensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, driver and
passenger seat belt use, and all
related wiring when the ignition is ON (II). An indicator light on the
instrument panel that alerts you to
a possible problem with thesystem (see page 45). Emergency backup power in case
your car's electrical system is disconnected in a crash. Ho
w You r Fron t Airbag s Wor k
If you ever have a moderate to severe frontal collision, the sensors
will detect the vehicle's rapid deceleration. If the rate ofdeceleration is high enough, the
control unit will instantly inflate the
front airbags.
CONTINUED
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Instrument
s an d Control s

This section gives information about the controls and displays thatcontribute to the daily operation of
your Acura. All the essential controls are within easy reach.
Control Locations............................ 52
Indicator Lights................................ 53
Gauges.............................................. 58
Speedometer................................ 58

Tachometer.................................. 58
Odometer...................................... 59

Trip Meter/Outside Temperature Indicator............ 59
Temperature Gauge.................... 60 Fuel Gauge................................... 60
Maintenance Required Indicator.................................... 61
Controls Near the Steering Wheel........................................ 62

Headlights.................................... 63

Automatic Lighting..................... 64
Daytime Running Lights............. 65

Instrument Panel Brightness..... 66

Turn Signals................................. 66

Fog Lights.................................... 67 Windshield Wipers...................... 68
Windshield Washers................... 70

Hazard Warning........................... 70

Rear Window Defogger.............. 71
Steering Wheel Adjustments..... 71
Steering Wheel Controls ................ 73 Cruise Control.............................. 73
Remote Audio Controls .............. 76
Keys and Locks................................ 77 Keys............................................... 77
Immobilizer System..................... 78
Ignition Switch............................. 80
Power Door Locks....................... 81
Remote Transmitter.................... 82
Childproof Door Locks............... 85

Trunk............................................86
Glove Box..................................... 87

HomeLink Universal Transmitter......... 88
Customer Assistance.................. 88

Important Safety Precautions.... 88

Training the Transmitter............ 89
Training With a Rolling Code System....................................... 91
Erasing Codes.............................. 92

Seat Adjustments............................. 93
Driver's Seat Adjustments.......... 93
Driver's Lumbar Support............ 95

Front Passenger's Seat

Adjustments............................. 95

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

Armrest............................................. 96
Mirrors.............................................. 98

Adjusting the Power Mirrors..... 98

Driving Position Memory

System......................................... 100

Seat Heaters................................... 102

Ski Sleeve........................................ 103

Power Windows............................. 105

Moonroof........................................ 106

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

Digital Clock................................... 108
Sunglasses Holder......................... 110
Beverage Holder............................111

Console Compartment.................. 112

Coin Box......................................... 112
Sun Visor......................................... 113
Vanity Mirror................................. 113
Accessory Power Socket.............. 114 Cigarette Lighter........................... 115

Ashtrays.......................................... 116
Ceiling Lights................................. 117
Courtesy Lights............................. 118

Instrument s an d Control s

Control
s Nea r th e Steerin g Whee l

The two levers on the steering column contain controls for driving
features you use most often. The left
lever controls the turn signals,
headlights, and high beams. The
right lever controls the windshield
washers and wipers.
The switch for the hazard warning lights is on the dashboard to the
right of the steering column.
The controls under the left air vent are for the cruise control, instrument
panel brightness and the VSA

System.

The switches for the rear window defogger and fog lights are under
the audio system.
The steering wheel adjustment switch on the side of the steering
column allows you to tilt and
telescope the steering wheel.
Instrument s an d Control s WINDSHIEL
D
WIPERS/WASHER S
HAZAR
D WARNIN G
LIGHT S
HEADLIGHTS
/
TUR N SIGNAL S
VEHICL
E
STABILIT Y
ASSIS T SYSTE M
OF F SWITC H

CRUIS E
CONTRO L

REAR WINDO W
DEFOGGE R

FO
G
LIGHT S

HOR
N
INSTRUMEN
T

PANE L

BRIGHTNES S
STEERIN G WHEE L
ADJUSTMENT S

Control
s Nea r th e Steerin g Whee l
Rea r Windo w Defogge r
The rear window defogger will clear fog, frost, and thin ice from the
window. Push the defogger button to turn it on and off. The light in the
button lights to show the defogger is
on. If you do not turn it off, the
defogger will shut itself off after
about 25 minutes. It also shuts off
when you turn off the ignition. You have to turn it on again when you
restart the car.
Car
s wit h navigatio n syste m

Make sure the rear window is clear and you have good visibility before
starting to drive.
The defogger and antenna wires on the inside of the rear window can beaccidentally damaged. When
cleaning the glass, always wipe side
to side. Steerin
g Whee l Adjustment s

See page 17 for important safety
information about how to properly
position the steering wheel

Your Acura's steering wheel is electrically-adjustable for angle and
distance. The adjustment switch is
on the left side of the steering
column. Always adjust the steering
wheel before you begin driving.

CONTINUED

Instrument s an d Control s

Adjusting the steering wheel
position while driving may
cause you to lose control of the
car and be seriously injured in a
crash.
Adjust the steering wheel only
when the car is stopped.

Control
s Nea r th e Steerin g Whee l

1. Locate the adjustment switch on the left side of the steering column.Move the steering wheel, in, out,
up, or down by pushing and
holding the adjustment switch in
that direction. 2. Release the switch when the
steering wheel reaches thedesired position. Make sure the
steering wheel points towards
your chest, not toward your face, and that you can see the
instrument panel gauges and
warning lights.
Automatic Movement

AUTO SWITC H
The AUTO switch controls automat- ic movement of the steering wheel.
When this switch is in the ON posi- tion, the steering wheel automatical-
ly moves fully in and up when you re-move the key from the ignition
switch.

Instrument s an d Control s

Control
s Nea r th e Steerin g Wheel , Steerin g Whee l Control s

The steering wheel then returns to its original position when you insert
the key back in the ignition switch.
Steering wheel movement is also
controlled by the Driving Position
Memory System (see page 100). Cruis
e Contro l
Cruise control allows you to maintain
a set speed above 25 mph (40 km/h)
without keeping your foot on the accelerator pedal. It should be used
for cruising on straight, open highways. It is not recommended for
conditions such as city driving,
winding roads, slippery roads, heavy rain, or bad weather. You should
have full control of the car under
those conditions. Using the Cruise Control
CRUIS E CONTRO L MASTE R SWITC H
1. Push in the Cruise Control Master Switch to the left of the steering
column. The indicator in theswitch will light.
2. Accelerate to the desired cruising speed above 25 mph (40 km/h).
CONTINUED
Instrument s an d Control s

Improper use of the cruise
control can lead to a crash.
Use the cruise control only
when traveling on open highways in good weather.