2001 Acura RL window

Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Rear Window Defogger
Th
e rear window defogger will clear
fog
, frost, and thin ice from the
window. Push the defogger button to turn it on and off. The light in the
button lights to show the
defogger is
on. If
you do not turn it off, the
defogger will shut itself off after
about
25 minutes. It also shuts off
when you turn off the ignition. You have to turn it on again when you
restart the car. Make sure the rear window is clear
an

d you have good visibilit
y before
starting to drive.
The defogger and antenna wires on the inside of the rear window
can be
accidentally damaged. When
cleaning
the glass, always wipe side
to side. Steerin
g Wheel Adjustments

See page 17 for important safety
information about how to properly
position the steering wheel.

You

r Acura's
steering wheel is
electrically-adjustable
for angle and
distance. The adjustment switch is
on the left side of
the steering
column.
Always adjust the steering
wheel before you begin driving.

CONTINUED

Instruments and Controls
Adjusting the steering wheel
position while driving may
caus

e you to lose control o
f the
car
and be seriously injured in a
crash.
Adjust the steering wheel only
when
the car is stopped.
Cars with navigation system

Power Windows
Your car's windows are electrically- powered. Turn the ignition switch toON (II) to raise or lower any window.
Each door has a switch that controls
its window. To open the window,
push the switch down and hold it. Release the switch when you want
the window to stop. Close the
window by pulling back on the switch and holding it.
DRIVER'S WINDOW SWITCH
MAIN SWITCH

The driver's door armrest has a master power window control panel.
To open any of the passengers' win- dows, push down on the appropriate
switch and hold it down until the
window reaches the desired position.
To close the window, pull back on the window switch. Release theswitch when the window gets to the
position you want.

Instruments and Controls
Closing a power window on
someone's hands or fingers can
cause serious injury.
Make sure your passengers are
away from the windows before
closing them.

Power Windows, Moonroof

The master control panel also con- tains these extra features:
AUTO — To open the driver's window fully, push the windowswitch firmly down and release it.
The window automatically goes all the way down. To stop the window
from going all the way down, pull back on the window switch briefly.
To open the driver's window only partially, push the window switchdown lightly and hold it. The window
will stop as soon as you release the
switch.

The AUTO function only works to lower the driver's window. To raise
the window, you must pull back on
the window switch and hold it until the window reaches the desired

position.
The MAIN switch controls power to
the passengers'windows. With thisswitch off, the passengers'windows
cannot be raised or lowered. The
MAIN switch does not affect the driv-
er's window. Keep the MAIN switch
off when you have children in the car
so they do not injure themselves by
operating the windows unintentional-
ly. The lights inside the switches
come on when you turn the parking
lights or headlights on.
The power window system has a key- off delay function. The windows willstill operate for up to ten minutes
after you turn off the ignition.
Opening either front door cancels
the delay function. You must turn
the ignition switch ON (II) again
before you can raise or lower the
windows. Moonroof
There are two switches on the ceiling near the front ceiling light.
The ignition switch must be ON (II).
To open the moonroof, pull the OPEN/CLOSE switch backward and
hold it until the moonroof reaches
the desired position.

CONTINUED

Instruments and Controls
OPEN/CLOSE
SWITCH

Sun Visor, Vanity Mirror

Sun Visor
To use the sun visor, pull it down. You can also use the sun visor at the side window. Remove the support
rod from the clip and swing the sun
visor toward the side window. In this
position, the sun visor can be extended by sliding out the

extension.
Make sure you put the sun visor

back in place when you are getting

into or out of the car. Do not use the
sun visor extension over the rear

view mirror.
Vanity Mirror

To use a vanity mirror on the back of the sun visor, pull up the cover.
The light beside the mirror comes on when you pull up the cover.
Instruments and Controls EXTENSION

Climate Control System

The button directs the main
air flow to the windshield for fasterdefrosting. It also overrides any
MODE selection you may have made. When you select the A/C
turns on automatically and thesystem selects Fresh Air mode. For
faster defrosting, manually set the
fan speed to high. You can also increase air flow to the windshield by
closing the side vents in the
dashboard. When you turn off by
pressing the button again, thesystem returns to its former settings.
Rear Window Defogger Button
This button turns the rear window defogger on and off (see page 71).
REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER BUTTONComfort and Convenience Features

Preparing to Drive

You should do the following checks and adjustments every day before
you drive your car.
1. Make sure all windows, mirrors, and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove frost, snow,or ice.
2. Check that the hood and trunk are
fully closed.

3. Visually check the tires. If a tire

looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.

4. Check that any items you may be

carrying with you inside are stored
properly or fastened down
securely.

5. Check the adjustment of the seat (see page 94 ).
6. Check the adjustment of the

inside and outside mirrors (see
page 99 ).

7. Check the adjustment of the

steering wheel (see page 7 1 ).

8. Make sure the doors are securely

closed and locked.

9. Fasten your seat belt. Check that

your passengers have fastened
their seat belts (see page 15 ).

10.Turn the ignition switch ON (II).

Check the indicator lights in the
instrument panel.

11.Start the engine (see page 181).
12.Check the gauges and indicator

lights in the instrument panel (see
page 53).

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

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