2001 Acura CL manual transmission

2001 CL 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
Introduction ........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safet y........................................................................\
.........................................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 Control s........................................................................\
........................................ .51
Instrume nt panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
..................... .121
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................159
What gasoline to use, how to break -in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
...................................................................... 173
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................203
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take you r vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Car e........................................................................\
..................................................... .263
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpecte d........................................................................\
..............................271
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, an d how to handle them.
Technical Informatio n........................................................................\
.............................................297
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 Manu als (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.
Owner's Identification Form

CONT INUED
The shif t lever has nine positions. It
must be in Park or Neutral to start
the engine. When you are stopped in
D,D,D,2,1,N,R,orthe
Sequential SportShif t mode, press
f irmly on the brake pedal and keep
your f oot of f the accelerator pedal.To select the Sequential SportShif t
mode, slide the shif t lever toward the
lef t f rom the ‘‘D ’’ position.
In this mode the shif t lever allows
youtoshiftupanddownmanually.
YoucannotshiftoutofParkwiththe
brake pedal depressed when the
ignition switch is in LOCK (0) or
ACCESSORY (I). Whenever you move the shif t lever,
slide it along the guide on the
console.
543 5
To shift from:
PtoR
RtoN
NtoD
DtoD
DtoD Dto22to1
1to2
2toD
DtoD
DtoD DtoN NtoRRtoP Do this:
Press the brake pedal, then
move the shift lever.
Move the lever.
5
54
43 3
3
34
45 5
Automatic Transmission
Driving
Shif t L ever Positions
177
S SH H I
IFFT T L
LEE V
V E
ER
R
S
SE EQ
QU UEEN
NT TI
IAA L
L
S
SP PO
OR RTTS
SH H I
IFFT T
M
M O
ODDE
E
P
P O
OS SIITT I
IOON N

µ
µ µ
´
´
µ
µ
CONT INUED
Use Neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop brief ly with
the engine idling. Shif t to Park posi-
tion if you need to leave the car for
any reason. Press on the brake pedal
when you are moving the shif t lever
f rom Neutral to another gear.
Use this position f or
your normal driving. The
transmission automatically selects a
suitable gear for your speed and
acceleration. You may notice the
transmission shif ting up at higher
speeds when the engine is cold. This
helps the engine warm up f aster. With
the shif t lever in ‘‘D ’’ position, you
can select the Sequential SportShif t
mode to shif t gears; much like a
manual transmission, but without a
clutch pedal.
Even with the Sequential SportShift
Mode selected, the transmission will
automatically upshif t and downshif t
between f irst and second gear.
To enter the Sequential SportShif t
mode, move the shif t lever to the lef t.
To return to ‘‘D ’’, move the shif t
lever to the right.
When you move the shif t lever f rom
‘‘D ’’ to the Sequential SportShift
mode, the display shows the selected
gear.
In the Sequential SportShif t mode,
each time you push f orward on the
shif t lever, the transmission shif ts to
a higher gear. Pull back on the lever
to downshif t. The number of the
gear selected is displayed next to the
‘‘D ’’ indicator (see page ).
176
5
5
5
5
Automatic Transmission
Driving
Neutral (N)
Drive (D )
5
Sequent ial Sport Shif t Mode
179
D D o
ow
wn ns
shh i
iff t
t
U
Up
ps
shh i
iff t
t

à
à
à
à
When you accelerate away f rom a
stop, the transmission will start in
first gear and then automatically
upshif t to second gear. You have to
manually upshif t between second
and f if th gears. Make sure you
upshif t bef ore the engine speed
reaches the tachometer’s red zone.
The transmission remains in the
selected gear (5, 4, 3). There is no
automatic downshif t when you push
the accelerator pedal to the floor.
The transmission may automatically
downshif t f rom the higher gear to
the lower gear under the f ollowing
conditions:
To shift from 43
54 Speed range
under 18 mph
(29 km/h)
under 34 mph
(55 km/h)
To shift from 43
54 Speed range
under 34 mph
(55 km/h)
under 47 mph
(75 km/h) Downshif ting gives you more power
when climbing or provides engine
brakingwhengoingdownasteephill.
The transmission will also shif t
automatically as the vehicle comes to
a complete stop. It will downshif t to
f irst gear when the vehicle speed is
under 9 mph (15 km/h).
If you try to manually downshif t at a
speed that would cause the engine to
exceed the redline in a lower gear,
the transmission will not downshif t.
Thegearindicatorwillflashthe
numberof thelowergearseveral
times, then return to the higher gear.
Driving uphill Driving on level roads and downhill
Automatic Transmission
Driving180

If you have the skills and tools to per-
f orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your Acura, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Acura
dealer. This section also includes
Maintenance Schedules f or normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions f or simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself . This section explains why it is
important to keep your car well
maintained and to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.......................
Maintenance Saf ety . 204
.
Important Safety Precautions . 205
.................
Maintenance Schedule . 206
...
Required Maintenance Record . 213
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 215
..............................
Fluid Locations . 216
......................................
Engine Oil . 217
..................................
Adding Oil . 217
....................
Recommended Oil . 217
..............................
Synthetic Oil . 218
....................................
Additives . 218
.....
Changing the Oil and Filter . 219
.............................
Cooling System . 221
............
Adding Engine Coolant . 221
.......
Replacing Engine Coolant . 223
....................
Windshield Washers . 227
....
Automatic Transmission Fluid . 228
....................................
Brake Fluid . 229
............................
Brake System . 229
..............................
Power Steering . 230
....................................
Hood Latch . 231
.....................
Air Cleaner Element . 231
....................................
Spark Plugs . 233
..............................
Replacement . 233
............................
Specif ications . 235
...........................................
Battery . 236.................................
Wiper Blades . 239
..............
Air Conditioning System . 241
.................
Air Conditioning Filter . 242
.....................................
Drive Belts . 242
....................................
Timing Belt . 243
...............................................
Tires . 243
......................................
Inf lation . 243
..................................
Inspection . 245
..............................
Maintenance . 246
.............................
Tire Rotation . 246
...
Replacing Tires and Wheels . 247
......................
Wheels and Tires . 248
..........................
Winter Driving . 248
.............................
Snow Tires . 249
............................
Tire Chains . 249
.............................................
Lights . 250
........................
Replacing Bulbs . 252
...........................
Storing Your Car . 261
315
Maintenance
Maint enance203

..............................
Economy, Fuel . 166
............
Emergencies on the Road . 271
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 280
...........
Brake System Indicator . 287
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 273
.....
Charging System Indicator . 285
..................
Checking the Fuses . 290
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 284
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 286
...
Manually Closing Moonroof . 288
..................
Overheated Engine . 282
.........................
Emergency Brake . 110
......................
Emergency Flashers . 70
......................
Emergency Towing . 295
.......................
Emissions Controls . 306
Engine ............................................
Belts . 242
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 62
Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp . 55, 286
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 55, 284
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 217
...............................
Overheating . 282
............................
Specif ications . 301............................
Speed Limiter . 182
...................
Engine Speed Limiter . 182
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline . 304
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 306
...............................
Exhaust Fumes . 49
Exhaust Gas Recirculation ........................................
System . 307
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by . 18
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 264
..........................
Fan, Interior . 126, 131
Features, Comfort and ..............................
Convenience . 121
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 161
Filters
................................
Air Cleaner . 231
.......................
Air Conditioning . 242
...............................................
Oil . 219
.......................
First Gear, Shif ting . 182
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 70
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 273
.....................................
Floor Mats . 266Fluids
..........
Automatic Transmission . 228
..........................................
Brake . 229
..........................
Power Steering . 230
..................
Windshield Washer . 227
FM Stereo Radio ...........................
Reception . 136, 140
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 305
..........................
Four-way Flashers . 70
..............................
Front Airbags . 9, 43
Front End, Towing by ................
Emergency Wrecker . 295
.................................................
Fuel . 160
......................
Fill Door and Cap . 161
...........................................
Gauge . 62
................
Octane Requirement . 160
...............................
Oxygenated . 304
........................
Reserve Indicator . 59
........................
Tank, Filling the . 161
..............
Fuel Mileage, Improving . 166
.....................
Fuses, Checking the . 289
Index
F
E
IV

ÎÎ........................................
Saf ety Belts . 8
.........
Safety Defects, Reporting . 313
.................................
Saf ety Features . 7
...........................................
Airbags . 9
..................................
Door Locks . 10
..........................
Head Restraints . 10
.......................................
Seat Belts . 8
.....................
Seats & Seat-Backs . 10
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of . 50
...............................
Saf ety Messages . ii
Seat Belt, Additional ..............................
Inf ormation . 40
Automatic Seat Belt ...............................
Tensioners . 41
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt . 40
...............
Seat Belt Maintenance . 42
..
Seat Belt System Components . 40
.....................................
Seat Belts . 8, 40
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 18
.............
Child Seat Anchor Plate . 39
.....................................
Cleaning . 267
................................
Maintenance . 42
Reminder Light and ................................
Beeper . 40, 54 ................................
Replacement . 42
...................
System Components . 40
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 39
...............
Use During Pregnancy . 18
...
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt . 15
..................................
Seat Heaters . 106
..................
Seat Position Memory . 103
........................
Seats, Adjusting the . 94
................
Security Alarm System . 158
...............................
Serial Number . 298
...........................
Service Intervals . 208
...........................
Service Manual . 315
.........
Service Station Procedures . 161
..........................
Setting the Clock . 110
Shif ting the Automatic .............................
Transmission . 176
.....
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 176
........................
Shif t Lock Release . 183
....................................
Side Airbags . 46
How The Side Airbag Indicator ............................
Light Works . 47
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 46
Side Marker Lights, Bulb .........................
Replacement in . 255
...............................
Signaling Turns . 67
.....................................
Snow Tires . 249...................
Solvent-type Cleaners . 264
................................
Sound System . 135
Spare Tire ......................................
Inf lating . 272
............................
Specif ications . 301
................
Spark Plugs, Replacing . 233
....................
Specif ications Charts . 300
..................................
Speed Control . 73
...................................
Speedometer . 60
.......................................
Spotlights . 118
....
SRS, Additional Inf ormation . 43, 46
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 48
Automatic Seat Belt
...............................
Tensioners . 41
..
How the SRS Indicator Works . 45
.....
How Your Airbags Work . 43, 46
........................
SRS Components . 43
..................................
SRS Service . 48
.............................
SRS Indicator . 45, 56
....
START (Ignition Key Position) . 80
.......................
Starting the Engine . 175
In Cold Weather at High ..................................
Altitude . 175
................
With a Dead Battery . 280
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine . 282
Index
S
VIII