2001 Acura RL tow

Driving
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......................... 180
Starting the Engine........................ 181
Starting in Cold Weatherat High Altitude ..................... 181
Automatic Transmission............... 182 Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 182
Shift Lever Positions................. 182
Engine Speed Limiter ............... 184
Shift Lock Release..................... 185
Parking............................................ 186
The Braking System...................... 187
Brake Wear Indicators.............. 187
Brake System Design................ 188
Anti-lock Brakes........................ 188 Important SafetyReminders.......................... 189
ABS Indicator......................... 189
Vehicle Stability Assist System.... 191 Driving in Bad Weather................ 194
Towing a Trailer............................ 196

Driving

Automatic Transmission

Drive (D4) — Use this position for
your normal driving. The transmis- sion automatically selects a suitable
gear for your speed and acceleration.
You may notice the transmission shifting up at higher speeds when
the engine is cold. This helps the engine warm up faster.
Drive (D3) —This position is similar
to D4, except only the first three
gears are selected. Use D3 when
towing a trailer in hilly terrain, or to
provide engine braking when going down a steep hill. D3 can also keep
the transmission from cycling
between third and fourth gears in stop-and-go driving.
For faster acceleration when in D3 or
D4, you can get the transmission to
automatically downshift by pushing
the accelerator pedal to the floor.
The transmission will shift down one or two gears, depending on your
speed.
Second (2) — This position locks
the transmission in second gear. It
does not downshift to first gear
when you come to a stop. Second gives you more power when climbing,and increased engine braking when
going down steep hills. Use second
gear when starting out on a slippery surface or in deep snow. It will help
reduce wheelspin.
First (1) — To shift from Second to
First, push down on the shift lever.
With the lever in this position, the transmission locks in First gear. By
upshifting and downshifting through 1, 2, D3 and D4, you can operate this
transmission much like a manual
transmission without a clutch pedal. Engine Speed Limiter
If you exceed the maximum speed
for the gear you are in, the engine speed will enter into the tachometer's
red zone. If this occurs, you may feel
the engine cut in and out. This iscaused by a limiter in the engine's
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the RPM below the red zone.

Driving

Parking

Always use the parking brake when
you park your car. The indicator on the instrument panel shows that the
parking brake is not fully released; itdoes not indicate that the parking
brake is firmly set. Make sure the
parking brake is set firmly or your car may roll if it is parked on an

incline.

Set the parking brake before you put
the transmission in Park. This keeps
the car from moving and putting pressure on the parking mechanism
in the transmission — making it
easier to move the shift lever out of
Park when you want to drive away. If the car is facing uphill, turn the
front wheels away from the curb.
If the car is facing downhill, turn the
front wheels toward the curb.
Make sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage the rear brakes. Parking Tips Make sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.
Turn off the lights.Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the trunk or take them with you.
Lock the doors with the key or the
remote transmitter. Check the
indicator on the driver's door to
verify that the security system is set.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other flammable
materials. The three way catalytic converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on

fire.

Driving

Towing a Trailer

Your Acura has been designedprimarily to carry passengers and
their cargo. You can use it to tow a
trailer if you carefully observe the
load limits, use the proper equipment, and follow the guidelines in this
section.
Load Limits
Total Trailer Weight: The totalweight of the trailer andeverything loaded in it must not
exceed 2,000 Ibs (900 kg). Towing
a load that is too heavy canseriously affect your car's
handling and performance. It can also damage the engine and
drivetrain. Tongue Load: The weight that
the tongue of a fully-loaded trailer
puts on the hitch should beapproximately 10 percent of the
trailer weight. Too little tongue
load can make the trailer unstable and cause it to sway. Too much
tongue load reduces front-tire
traction and steering control.

Driving

Towing a Trailer
To achieve a proper tongue load, start by loading 60 percent of the
load toward the front of the trailer and 40 percent toward the rear, then
re-adjust the load as needed.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR):

The total weight of the vehicle, all occupants, all cargo, and the
tongue load must not exceed:
4,830 Ibs (2,190 kg)
Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR):

The total weight of the vehicle, all occupants, all cargo, and the
tongue load must not exceed:
2,570 Ibs (1,165 kg)
on the front axle
2,260 Ibs (1,025 kg)
on the rear axle Checking Loads
The best way to confirm that vehicle and trailer weights are within limits
is to have them checked at a public
scale.

Using a suitable scale or a special
tongue load gauge, check the tongue
load the first time you set up a
towing combination (a fully-loaded
vehicle and trailer), then recheck the tongue load whenever the conditions
change.

Driving

Exceeding load limits or
improperly loading your vehicle
and trailer can cause a crash in
which you can be seriously injured or killed.
Check the loading of your
vehicle and trailer carefully before starting to drive.

Towing a Trailer

Towing Equipment and
AccessoriesTowing can require a variety of equipment, depending on the size of
your trailer, how it will be used, and
how much load you are towing.
Discuss your needs with your trailer
sales or rental agency, and follow the
guidelines in the rest of this section.
Also make sure that all equipment is properly installed and that it meets
federal, state, province, and local regulations. Hitches
Any hitch used on your vehicle must be properly bolted to the underbody.
Safety Chains
Always use safety chains. Make sure they are secured to both the trailerand hitch, and that they cross under
the tongue so they can catch the
trailer if it becomes unhitched. Leave enough slack to allow the
trailer to turn corners easily, but do not let the chains drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes

Acura recommends that any trailer having a total weight of 1,000 Ibs (450 kg) or more be equipped with
its own electric or surge-type brakes.
If you choose electric brakes, besure they are electronically actuated.
Do not attempt to tap into your
vehicle's hydraulic system. No matter how successful it may seem,
any attempt to attach trailer brakes
to your vehicle's hydraulic system
will lower braking effectiveness and create a potential hazard.
Driving

Towing a Trailer

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 in
trailer type and brand, you should also have a qualified mechanic installa suitable connector between the
vehicle and the trailer.
RIGHT TURN SIGNAL
(GREEN/YELLOW)BRAKE LIGHT
(GREEN/WHITE)
TAILLIGHT
(RED/BLACK)

CONTINUED

Driving

GROUND

(BLACK)
BACK-UP LIGHT

(GREEN/BLACK)
LEFT TURN SIGNAL

(PINK/BLUE)

Towing a Trailer

Additional Trailer Equipment
Many states and Canadian provinces
require special outside mirrors when
towing a trailer. Even if they don't,
you should install special mirrors if
you cannot clearly see behind you, or if the trailer creates a blind spot.
Ask your trailer sales or rental agency if any other items are
recommended or required for your

towing situation.
Pre-Tow Checklist
When preparing to tow, and before driving away, be sure to check the
following:
The vehicle has been properlyserviced, and the tires, brakes,
suspension, and cooling system
are in good operating condition.
All weights and loads are within limits (see pages 196 and 197 ). The hitch, safety chains, and any
other attachments are secure. All items on and in the trailer are
properly secured and cannot shift
while you drive. The lights and brakes on your
vehicle and the trailer are workingproperly. Your vehicle tires and spare are
properly inflated (see page 244 ),and the trailer tires and spare are
inflated as recommended by thetrailer maker.

Driving