2000 Acura RL fuel cap

2000 RL Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com.
Contents

Owner's Identification Form
Introduction ........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safety........................................................................\
........................................ .ii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
............................................ .2
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
..................................... .5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Controls........................................................................\
........................................ .51
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
..................... .119
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................165
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... .177
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................201
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Care........................................................................\
..................................................... .261
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
..............................269
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, a nd how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
............................................ .295
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................309
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................315
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index........................................................................\
........................................................................\
...... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

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

5. Screw the fuel fill cap back on,
tighten it until it clicks several
times. If you do not properly
tighten the cap, the Malfunction Indicator Lamp may come on (see
page 284).

6. Push the fuel fill door closed until

it latches.

Openin g th e Hoo d

1. Shift to Park or Neutral and set

the parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower left corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.
LATC
H HANDL E

2. Standing in front of the car, reach
in between the hood and the front bumper with your finger. Slide the
latch handle.

Befor e Drivin g
HOO
D RELEAS E HANDL E

Engin
e Oil

Addin g Oi l
To add oil, unscrew and remove the engine oil fill cap on top of the left
valve cover. Pour in the oil, and replace the engine oil fill cap.
Tighten it securely. Wait a few minutes and recheck the oil level. Do
not fill above the upper mark; you
could damage the engine. Recommende
d Oi l
Oil is a major contributor to your
engine's performance and longevity.
Always use a premium-grade deter- gent oil. It is highly recommended
that you use Genuine Honda Motor Oil in your vehicle for as long as you
own it.
You can determine an oil's SAE
viscosity and Service Classification
from the API Service label on the oil container.
A fuel-efficient oil is recommended for your Acura. This is shown on the
API Service label by the words "Energy Conserving." This oil is
formulated to help your engine use
less fuel. The API Service label also tells you
the service classification of the oil.
Always use an oil that is labeled "API Service SJ." This service rating may
include other classifications, such as
CD. These additional classifications

are not a problem, as long as the
label also carries the SJ classification.
API SERVIC E LABE L
CONTINUED
Maintenanc e
ENGIN
E OI L FIL L CA P

Windshiel
d Washer s

Check the level in the windshield
washer reservoir at least monthly during normal usage. In bad weather,
when you use the washers often, check the level every time you stop

for fuel.

The windshield washer reservoir is located behind the driver's side

headlight.

Check the reservoir's fluid level by
removing the cap and looking at the
float. It should be up to the top of the
neck. If the float is at the bottom of
the neck, the reservoir is nearly empty. Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer fluid. This increases the cleaning capability and
prevents freezing in cold weather.

Do not use engine antifreeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the

windshield washer reservoir.

Antifreeze can damage your car's paint,
while a vinegar/water solution can

damage the windshield washer pump.

Use only commercially-available

windshield washer fluid.

When you refill the reservoir, clean the edges of the windshield wiper
blades with windshield washer fluid on a clean cloth. This will help to
condition the blade edges.

Maintenance

FLOA
T NOTIC
E

When you refill the reservoir, clean
the edges of the windshield wiper

blades with windshield washer fluid
on a clean cloth. This will help to

condition the blade edges.

Malfunctio
n Indicato r Lam p
This indicator comes on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition
switch ON (II). If it comes on at any
other time, it indicates one of the
engine's emissions control systems
may have a problem. Even though
you may feel no difference in your car's performance, it can reduce
your fuel economy and cause your car to put out excessive emissions.
Continued operation may cause
serious damage.
If you have recently refueled your
car, the cause of this indicator
coming on could be a loose or
missing
fuel
fill cap. Check

the cap
and tighte
n it until it clicks several
times. Replace the fuel fill cap if
it is
missing. Tightening
the cap will

not
make the
indicator turn off
immediately; it takes three
driving

trips
.

If
the indicator remains on past three
driving trips, or the fuel cap was not
loose or missing, have
the car
checked by
the dealer as

soon as
possible.
Drive
moderately until the
dealer has inspected the problem.
Avoid full-throttle acceleration and driving at high speed.
You should also have
the dealer
inspect you
r car if this indicator
comes on repeatedly, even
though it
may tur
n off as you continue driving.
If you keep driving with the
malfunction indicator lamp on, you can
damage your car's emissions controls
and engine. Those repairs may not be
covered by your car's warranties.

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
MALFUNCTIO
N INDICATO R LAM P
NOTIC
E

Technica
l Informatio n

The diagrams in this section give you the dimensions and capacities of
your Acura, and the locations of theidentification numbers. The explana-
tions of several electronic and
mechanical systems on your Acura are for the more technically-oriented
owner. Identification Numbers................. 296
Specifications................................. 298
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System......................................... 300
DOT Tire Quality Grading
(U.S. Cars).............................. 301
Treadwear.................................. 301
Traction....................................... 301
Temperature.............................. 302
Oxygenated Fuels.......................... 303
Driving in Foreign Countries....... 304 Emissions Controls........................ 305
The Clean Air Act...................... 305
Crankcase Emissions Control System..................................... 305
Evaporative Emissions Control System..................................... 305
Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery................................. 305
Exhaust Emissions Controls.... 306 PGM-FI System..................... 306
Ignition Timing ControlSystem................................. 306
Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) System.................... 306
Three Way Catalytic Converter............................ 306
Replacement Parts..................... 306
Three Way Catalytic Converter... 307

Technical Informatio n

Emission
s Control s

The burning of gasoline in your car's engine produces several byproducts.
Some of these are carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and
hydrocarbons (HC). Gasoline evaporating from the tank also
produces hydrocarbons. Controlling
the production of NOx, CO, and HC
is important to the environment.
Under certain conditions of sunlight
and climate, NOx and HC react to
form photochemical "smog." Carbon
monoxide does not contribute to smog creation, but it is a poisonous

gas.
Th
e Clea n Ai r Ac t

The United States Clean Air Act*
sets standards for automobile

emissions. It also requires that

automobile manufacturers explain to owners how their emissions controls

work and what to do to maintain
them. This section summarizes how

the emissions controls work.

Scheduled maintenance is on page
206.

* In Canada, Acura vehicles comply

with the Canadian Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards (CMVSS) for

Emissions valid at the time they are

manufactured.

Crankcas e Emission s Contro l
Syste m
Your car has a Positive Crankcase
Ventilation System. This keeps gasses that build up in the engine'scrankcase from going into the
atmosphere. The Positive Crankcase
Ventilation valve routes them from the crankcase back to the intake
manifold. They are then drawn into
the engine and burned.
Evaporativ e Emission s Contro l
Syste m
As gasoline evaporates in the fuel tank, an evaporative emissionscontrol canister filled with charcoal
adsorbs the vapor. It is stored in this
canister while the engine is off. After
the engine is started and warmed up,
the vapor is drawn into the engine and burned during driving.
Onboar d Refuelin g Vapo r
Recover y
The Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery (ORVR) system captures
the fuel vapors during refueling. The
vapors are adsorbed in a canister
filled with activated carbon. While driving, the fuel vapors are drawn
into the engine and burned off.

Technical Informatio n