2000 Acura RL engine

Climat
e Contro l Syste m

The automatic climate control system in your Acura picks the
proper combination of air condi-
tioning, heating, and ventilation to
maintain the interior temperature
you select. The system also adjusts the fan speed and air flow levels.
The direction of air flow from the vents in the center and each side ofthe dashboard is adjustable. Move
the tab in the center of each vent up- and-down and side-to-side.
The side vents can be opened and closed with the dials next to them.
In the rear seat, you can also adjust
the ventilation when the climate con-
trol system is on (see page 132 ).
CENTE
R VENT S

The climate control system draws air through the exterior vents at the
bottom of the windshield. Keep
these vents clear of leaves and other
debris.
SID
E VENT S
For the climate control system to
provide heating and cooling, the engine must be running.
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s

Before
Driving
Before you begin driving your Acura,
you should know what gasoline to use, and how to check the levels of
important fluids. You also need to
know how to properly store luggage or packages. The information in this
section will help you. If you plan to
add any accessories to your car,
please read the information in this section first. Break-in Period.............................. 166
Gasoline.......................................... 166
Service Station Procedures .......... 167 Filling the Fuel Tank................. 167Opening the Hood..................... 168
Oil Check................................ 169
Engine Coolant Check.......... 170
Fuel Economy................................ 171 Car Condition............................. 171
Driving Habits............................ 171
Accessories and Modifications.... 172 Carrying Cargo.............................. 174

Before Drivin g

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

Fillin g th e Fuel Tank
1. Because the fuel fill cap is on the
driver's side of the car, park with
that side closest to the service
station pumps.

2. Open the fuel fill door by pulling

on the handle to the left of the
driver's seat.

FUE L FIL L CA P 3. Remove the fuel fill cap slowly.

You may hear a hissing sound as
pressure inside the tank escapes.
Place the cap in the holder on the
fuel fill door.

4. Stop filling the tank after the fuel

nozzle automatically clicks off. Do
not try to "top off" the tank, leave
some room for the fuel to expand
with temperature changes.

Your car has an on-board refueling
vapor recovery system to help
keep fuel vapors from going into
the atmosphere. If the fuel pump
keeps clicking off even though thetank is not full, there may be a
problem with this system. Consult
your dealer.

CONTINUED

Befor e Drivin g

Pul
l
Gasoline is highly flammable

and explosive. You can be
burned or seriously injured

when handling fuel.

Stop the engine and keep

heat, sparks, and flame away.
Handle fuel only outdoors.

Wipe up spills immediately.

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s

If you can open the hood without
sliding the hood latch handle, or the
hood latch handle moves stiffly or does not spring back as before, the
mechanism should be cleaned and
lubricated (see page 229 ).
3. Lift the hood up most of the way.
The hydraulic supports will lift it up the rest of the way and hold it
up .

To close the hood, lower it to about a
foot (30 cm) above the fender, thenpress down firmly with your hands.
After closing the hood, make sure it is securely latched. Oil Check
Check the engine oil level every time
you fill the vehicle with fuel. Wait a
few minutes after turning the engine off before you check the oil.
1. Remove the dipstick (orange

handle).

2. Wipe the dipstick with a clean

cloth or paper towel.

CONTINUED

Befor e Drivin g

DIPSTIC
K

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s

3. Insert it all the way back in its tube.

4. Remove the dipstick again and
check the level. It should be
between the upper and lower marks.

If it is near or below the lower mark,
see Addin g Oi l on page 215 . Engine Coolant Check
Look at the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it is
between the MAX and MIN lines. If
it is below the MIN line, see Addin g
Engin e Coolan t on page 219 for
information on adding the proper

coolant.

Refer to Owne r Maintenanc e
Check s on page 213 for information
on checking other items in your
Acura.
Befor e Drivin g
RESERV
E TAN K

UPPE R MAR K
LOWE R MAR K
MA
X
MI N

Fuel
Econom y

The condition of your car and your driving habits are the two most
important things that affect the fuel
mileage you get.
Ca r Conditio n
Always maintain your car according to the maintenance schedule. This
will keep it in top operating condition.
An important part of that mainte- nance is the Owne r Maintenanc e
Check s (see page 213 ). For
example, an underinflated tire
causes more "rolling resistance,"
which uses fuel. It also wears out
faster, so check the tire pressure at
least monthly.
In winter, the build-up of snow on
your car's underside adds weight and rolling resistance. Frequent cleaning
helps your fuel mileage and reduces
the chance of corrosion. Drivin
g Habit s
You can improve fuel economy by driving moderately. Rapid acceler-
ation, abrupt cornering, and hard
braking use more fuel.
Always drive in the highest gear that allows the engine to run and acceler-
ate smoothly.
Depending on traffic conditions, try
to maintain a constant speed. Every
time you slow down and speed up,
your car uses extra fuel. Use the cruise control, when appropriate, toincrease fuel economy. A cold engine uses more fuel than a
warm engine. It is not necessary to "warm-up" a cold engine by letting it
idle for a long time. You can drive
away in about a minute, no matter
how cold it is outside. The engine will warm up faster, and you get
better fuel economy. To cut down on
the number of "cold starts," try to combine several short trips into one.
The air conditioning puts an extra load on the engine which makes ituse more fuel. Turn off the A/C orset the climate control to a higher
temperature to cut down on air
conditioning use. Use the flow-
through ventilation when the outside
air temperature is moderate.

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