2000 Acura RL trunk

Towin
g a Traile r

Trailer Lights

Your vehicle has a trailer lighting connector located in the trunk by the
left taillight. To use the connector, undo the fastener on the left side of
the trunk lining. Refer to the drawing in this page for the wiring
color code and purpose of each pin.
If you use a converter, you can get
the connector and pins that mate
with the connector in your vehicle
from your Acura dealer.
Since lighting and wiring vary with
trailer type and brand, you should also have a qualified technician
install a suitable connector between
the vehicle and the trailer.

CONTINUED
Drivin g

GROUN
D
(BLACK )
BACK-U
P LIGH T
(GREEN/BLACK )
LEF
T TUR N SIGNA L

(PINK/BLUE )

RIGH T TUR N SIGNA L

(GREEN/YELLOW )
BRAK
E LIGH T
(GREEN/WHITE )
TAILLIGH
T
(RED/BLACK )

Light
s

Replacin g Rea r Bulb s

1. Open the trunk. Undo the fastener on the side of
the trunk lining by pushing on the
center of the fastener's head until
it pops in. Pull the lining back. 2. Determine which of the four bulbs
is burned out: stop/taillights, back-
up light, or turn signal.
3. Remove the socket by turning it one-quarter turn counterclockwise. 4. Pull the bulb straight out of its

socket.

Push the new bulb straight into
the socket until it bottoms.
5. Reinstall the socket into the light assembly by turning it clockwise
until it locks.
6. Test the lights to make sure the new bulb is working.
7. Reinstall the trunk lining. Make sure it is installed under the edge
of the trunk seal.
Maintenanc e
FASTENE
R

Light
s

8. Reset the fastener by pushing on the pointed end until it pops backalmost flush with the fingers on
the housing.
9. Put the fastener in the hole in the side of the trunk lining and push
on the center until it locks (the
center is flush with the head). Replacin
g a High-moun t Brak e
Ligh t Bul b
1. Open the trunk and remove the socket from the light assembly by
turning it one-quarter turn counter-
clockwise.

2. Remove the bulb by pushing it in slightly and turning it counter-

clockwise.

Install the new bulb in the socket. 3. Reinstall the socket. Turn it
clockwise until it locks.
4. Test the lights to make sure the new bulb is working.

Maintenance

Storin
g You r Ca r

If you need to park your car for an
extended period (more than one
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it for storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your car back on the road. If
possible, store your car indoors. Fill the fuel tank.
Change the engine oil and filter
(see page 217). Wash and dry the exterior
completely.
Clean the interior. Make sure the
carpeting, floor mats, etc. are
completely dry. Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Park. Block the rear wheels.
If the car is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be supported on jackstands so the
tires are off the ground. Leave one window open slightly (if
the car is being stored indoors). Disconnect the battery.
Support the front wiper blade
arms with a folded towel or rag so
they do not touch the windshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a silicone spray lubricant to all door
and trunk seals. Also, apply a
vehicle body wax to the painted surfaces that mate with the door
and trunk seals. Cover the car with a "breathable"
cover, one made from a porous
material such as cotton.
Nonporous materials, such as
plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint. If possible, run the engine for a
while periodically (preferably once a month).
If you store your car for 12 months or longer, have your Acura dealer
perform the inspections called for in
the 24 months/30,000 miles (48,000
km) maintenance schedule (Normal Conditions) as soon as you take it
out of storage (see page 206). The
replacements called for in the
maintenance schedule are not
needed unless the car has actually
reached that time or mileage.

Maintenance

Changing
a Flat Tir e
If you have a flat tire while driving, stop in a safe place to change it.
Stopping in traffic or on the shoulder
of a busy road is dangerous. Drive
slowly along the shoulder until you
get to an exit or an area to stop that
is far away from the traffic lanes.
1. Park the car on firm, level, andnon-slippery ground away from
traffic. Put the transmission in Park. Apply the parking brake.
2. Turn on the hazard warning lights and turn the ignition switch to
LOCK (0). Have all the
passengers get out of the car while
you change the tire. 3. Open the trunk. Raise the trunk
floor by lifting up on the back edge.
To keep the trunk floor out of the way, attach the hook into the slotin the trunk lid.
4. Take the tool kit out of the trunk.
5. Unscrew the wing bolt and take the spare tire out of its well.

CONTINUED

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

The car can easily roll off the

jack, seriously injuring anyone
underneath.

Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and never get under the car when it
is supported only by the jack. TRUN
K FLOO R

HOO K
TOO L KI T
SPAR E TIR E
JAC K

Changin
g a Fla t Tir e

15.Remove the spacer basket from the trunk well.
16.Remove the center cap before
storing the flat tire in the trunk
well. 17.Place the flat tire face down in the
spare tire well.
18.Wrap the spacer cone and spare tire wing bolt with cloth or paperand store them in the trunk well.

CONTINUED

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
SPACE
R BASKE T


CENTER CA P FLA
T TIR E

RIN
G

SPACE
R
CON E
WIN G BOL T

Changin
g a Fla t Tire , I f You r Engin e Won' t Star t
19. Slip the hole at the top of the jack over the bracket in the trunk well.
Turn the jack's end bracket to lock
it in place. Store the tool kit back
in its place.
20. Unclip the hook from the trunk lid and lower the trunk floor.
21. Store the center cap and spacer
basket i
n the trunk. Make sure the
center cap will
not get scratched
or damaged.
22. Close th
e trunk lid. I
f You r
Engin
e Won' t Star t
Diagnosing why your engine won't start falls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III): You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine's starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly. You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
faster than normal, but the engine does not start up
and run. Nothin
g Happen s
o
r th e Starte r
Moto r Operate s Ver y Slowl y
When you turn the ignition switch to START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying to
start. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all.Check these things:
Your car has the ImmobilizerSystem. You should use a
properly-coded master or valet key
to start the engine (see page 78).
A key that is not properly coded will cause the immobilizer systemindicator in the dash panel to blinkrapidly. Check the transmission interlock.
The transmission must be in Park or Neutral or the starter will not

operate.

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Loose items can fly around the

interior in a crash and could

seriously injure the occupants.

Store the wheel, jack and tools

securely before driving.

Closin
g th e Moonroo f

If the electric motor will not close
the moonroof, do the following:
1.
Check the
fuse for the moonroof
motor (see page
287). If the fuse
is blown,
replace it with one of the
same or lower rating.
2. Try closing the moonroof. If the new fuse blows immediately or the
moonroof motor still does not
operate,

you can close the
moonroof manually.
3. Get the
moonroof wrench out of
the tool kit in the trunk.
4. Remove the
lens from the rear
ceiling light (see page
257). 5. Remove the

plug in the center of
the rear ceiling light. 6. Insert the moonroof wrench into
the socket behind this plug. Turn
the wrench until the moonroof is

fully closed.

7. Remove the wrench. Replace the
plu

g and lens.

Takin g Car e
o
f th e Unexpecte d
PLU
G SOCKE
T