2001 Acura RL warning

Controls Near the Steering Wheel

Windshield Washers
To clean the windshield, pull back on the wiper control lever. The washersspray until you release the lever. The
wipers run at low speed while you're pulling the lever, then complete one
more sweep of the windshield after
you release it. Hazard Warning
Push the red button to the left of the
clock to turn on the hazard warning
lights (four-way flashers). This causes all four outside turn signals
and both indicators in the instrument
panel to flash. Use the hazard
warning lights if you need to park in a dangerous area near heavy traffic,
or if your car is disabled.

Instruments and Controls
Cars with navigation system

Controls Near the Steering Wheel

1. Locate the adjustment switch on the left side of the steering column.Move the steering wheel, in, out,
up, or down by pushing and
holding the adjustment switch in
that direction. 2. Release the switch when the
steering wheel reaches the
desired position. Make sure the
steering wheel points towards
your chest, not toward your face, and that you can see the

instrument panel gauges and

warning lights. The AUTO switch controls automat-
ic movement of the steering wheel.
When this switch is in the ON posi- tion, the steering wheel automatical-
ly moves fully in and up when you re-
move the key from the ignitionswitch.

Instruments and Controls
Automatic Movement

AUTO SWITCH

Seat Adjustments

See pages 12 — 14 for important safety
information and warnings about how to
properly position seats and seat-backs.
Make all seat adjustments before
you start driving.
Your Acura has power adjustments for both front seats. The two power seat adjustment switches are on the
outside edge of the seat bottom.
You can adjust the power seats with the ignition switch in any position. Driver's Seat Adjustments
The long horizontal switch adjusts the seat bottom in several directions.
The short vertical switch adjusts the seat-back angle.
Push the horizontal switch forward
or backward to move the seat
forward or backward. Pull up or push down on the front of
the switch to move the seat bottom's
front edge up or down. Pull up or
push down on the rear of the switch
to move the rear of the seat bottom up or down.

Instruments and Controls

Seat Adjustments

Driver's Lumbar Support
Vary the lumbar support by moving the lever on the right side of theseat-back. Pivot the lever forward
until it stops, then let it return. Doing
this several times adjusts the lumbar support through its full range. Front Passenger's Seat
Adjustments
The seat adjustment switches are onthe outside edge of the seat bottom.Push the long horizontal switch
forward or backward to move the seat bottom in that direction.
Adjust the seat-back angle by pushing the vertical switch in thedirection you want to move. Head Restraints
See page 14 for important safety
information and a warning about how to
properly position the head restraints.
The head restraints help protect you and your passengers from whiplashand other injuries. They are most
effective when you adjust them so
the back of the occupant's head rests against the center of the restraint. A
taller person should adjust the
restraint as high as possible.
Instruments and Controls

Driving in Bad Weather

Visibility — Being able to see clearly in all directions and being
visible to other drivers are important in all weather conditions. This is
more difficult in bad weather. To be seen more clearly during daylight
hours, turn on your headlights.
Inspect your windshield wipers and
washers frequently. Keep the wind- shield washer reservoir full of the
proper fluid. Have the windshield
wiper blades replaced if they start to streak the windshield or leave parts
unwiped. Use the defroster and air conditioning to keep the windows
from fogging up on the inside (see
pages 128 and 133). Traction — Check your tires
frequently for wear and properpressure. Both are important in
preventing "hydroplaning" (loss of
traction on a wet surface). In the
winter, mount snow tires on all four
wheels for the best handling.
Watch road conditions carefully, they can change from moment tomoment. Wet leaves can be as slip-
pery as ice. "Clear" roads can have
patches of ice. Driving conditionscan be very hazardous when the
outside temperature is near freezing.
The road surface can become covered with areas of water puddles
mixed with areas of ice, so your
traction can change without warning.
Be careful when downshifting. If
traction is low, you can lock up the drive wheels for a moment and cause
a skid. Be very cautious when passing, or
being passed by other vehicles. The spray from large vehicles reduces
your visibility, and the wind buffeting can cause you to lose control.
Driving

Battery

Check the battery terminals for
corrosion (a white or yellowish

powder). To remove it, cover the

terminals with a solution of baking
soda and water. It will bubble up and

turn brown. When this stops, wash it
off with plain water. Dry off the

battery with a cloth or paper towel.
Coat the terminals with grease to

help prevent future corrosion.

WARNING: Battery posts,
terminals and related accessories

contain lead and lead compounds.

Wash hands after handling. If the terminals are severely cor-
roded, clean them with baking soda and water. Then use a wrench to
loosen and remove the cables from
the terminals. Always disconnect the negative (—) cable first and recon-
nect it last. Clean the battery termi-
nals with a terminal cleaning tool or
wire brush. Reconnect and tighten the cables, then coat the terminals
with grease. If you need to connect the battery to
a charger, disconnect both cables to
prevent damage to the car's electrical system.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

The battery gives off explosive
hydrogen gas during normal
operation.
A spark or flame can cause the battery to explode with enough
force to kill or seriously hurt you.
Wear protective clothing and a
face shield, or have a skilled mechanic do the battery
maintenance.

Changing a Flat Tire
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 toLOCK (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 slot
in 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

Taking Care of the Unexpected

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. TRUNK FLOOR
HOOK
JACK SPARE TIRE TOOL KIT

If Your Engine Won't Start

Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Turn on the headlights and check
their brightness. If the headlights
are very dim or don't light at all,
the battery is discharged. See

Jump Starting on page 280 .
Turn the ignition switch to START
(III). If the headlights do not dim,
check the condition of the fuses. If
the fuses are OK, there is proba-
bly something wrong with the electrical circuit for the ignition
switch or starter motor. You will
need a qualified technician to
determine the problem. (See

Emergency Towing on page 296 .)
If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the engine, either the battery is dis-
charged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal connec-
tions (see page 236). You can
then try jump starting the car from a booster battery (see page 280).
The Starter Operates Normally In this case, the starter motor'sspeed sounds normal, or even faster
than normal, when you turn the ignition switch to START (III), but
the engine does not run. Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Refer to Starting the
Engine on page 181. Do you have fuel? Turn the
ignition switch to ON (II) for a
minute and watch the fuel gauge.
The low fuel level warning light may not be working, so you were
not reminded to fill the tank. There may be an electrical
problem, such as no power to the
fuel pump. Check all the fuses
(see page 292).

If you find nothing wrong, you will
need a qualified technician to find
the problem. See Emergency
Towing on page 296 .

Taking Care of the Unexpected