2001 Acura RL climate control

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

Climate Control System

Rear Ventilation
The air flow from the rear vents can be adjusted when the climate controlsystem is on. You can adjust the direction of the
air coming from the upper vents in
the center console by moving the tab in the center of each vent up-and-
down and side-to-side.
You can also adjust the amount of the air flow by sliding the air flowcontrol lever under the upper vents.
Slide this lever upward to increase
the amount of air flow.
(Upper position): Maximum
(Center position): Moderate (Lower position): Off

Mode Control Lever

Use the mode control lever to select
the air flow level. Air flows into the
rear seat at three levels. (Upper position):
Air flows from the upper vents in the back of the center console.
— (Center position):
Air flow is divided between the upper vents and the lower vents in the backof the center console. (Lower position):
Air flows from the lower vents.
Comfort and Convenience Features

AIR FLOW

CONTROL

LEVER
UPPER
VENTS
MODE
CONTROL

LEVER

LOWER
VENTS

Climate Control System

Sunlight Sensor/Temperature

Sensor
SUNLIGHT SENSOR
The climate control system has two sensors. A sunlight sensor is located
in the top of the dashboard and a
temperature sensor is next to the steering column. Do not cover the
sensors or spill any liquid on them. TEMPERATURE SENSOR
Comfort and Convenience Features

Fuel Economy

The condition of your car and your driving habits are the two most
important things that affect the fuel
mileage you get.
Car Condition
Always maintain your car according to the maintenance schedule. This
will keep it in top operating condition.
An important part of that mainte- nance is the Owner Maintenance
Checks (see page 215 ). For
example, an underinflated tire
causes more "rolling resistance,"
which uses fuel. It also wears out
faster, so check the tire pressure at least monthly.
In winter, the build-up of snow on
your car's underside adds weight and
rolling resistance. Frequent cleaning
helps your fuel mileage and reduces
the chance of corrosion. Driving Habits
You can improve fuel economy by driving moderately. Rapid acceler-
ation, abrupt cornering, and hard
braking use more fuel.
Always drive in the highest gear that allows the engine to run and acceler-
ate smoothly.
Depending on traffic conditions, try
to maintain a constant speed. Every
time you slow down and speed up,
your car uses extra fuel. Use the cruise control, when appropriate, to
increase fuel economy. A cold engine uses more fuel than a
warm engine. It is not necessary to"warm-up" a cold engine by letting it
idle for a long time. You can drive
away in about a minute, no matter
how cold it is outside. The engine
will warm up faster, and you get
better fuel economy. To cut down on the number of "cold starts," try to
combine several short trips into one.
The air conditioning puts an extra load on the engine which makes it
use more fuel. Turn off the A/C orset the climate control to a higher
temperature to cut down on air
conditioning use. Use the flow-
through ventilation when the outside air temperature is moderate.

Before Driving

Cooling System
Replacing Engine Coolant
The cooling system should be completely drained and refilled with
new coolant according to the time
and distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule. Only use Honda All Season Antifreeze/Coolant Type 2. Use of any non-
Honda coolant or plain water can
result in corrosion and deposits in
the cooling system.
Draining the coolant requires access
to the underside of the car. Unless
you have the tools and knowledge,
you should have this maintenance done by a skilled mechanic.
1. Turn the ignition ON (II). Turn
the heater temperature control
dial to maximum heat (climate
control to 90°F/32°C). Turn off
the ignition. Open the hood. Make
sure the engine and radiator are
cool to the touch.

2. Remove the radiator cap.
3. Loosen the drain plug on the
bottom of the radiator. The
coolant will come out through the
hole in the splash cover.

CONTINUED

Maintenance
DRAIN PLUG

Battery

If your car's battery is disconnected
or goes dead, the engine's computer
needs to "relearn" the idle control.
After replacing or recharging the
battery:

1. Make sure the climate control sys-
tem is off.

2. Start the engine and let it run until

it warms up (the radiator cooling
fan comes on at least twice), and
let it idle for five more minutes.

Your audio system will also disable it-
self when the battery is disconnected
or goes dead. The next time you turn
on the radio you will see "Code" in
the frequency display. Use the Pre- set buttons to enter the five-digit
code (see page 164 ).

Charging the battery with the cables
connected can seriously damage your
car's electronic controls. Detach the
battery cables before connecting the

battery to a charger.

Maintenance
NOTICE

Air Conditioning Filter, Drive Belts

Air Conditioning Filter The air conditioning filter removespollen and dust that is brought in
from the outside through the climate control system.
This filter should be replaced every 30,000 miles (48,000 km) under nor-
mal conditions. It should be replaced
every 15,000 miles (24,000 km) if youdrive primarily in urban areas that
have high concentrations of soot in
the air from industry and diesel-pow- ered vehicles. Replace it more often
if air flow from the climate control system becomes less than usual.
Have the air conditioning filter re-
placed by your Acura dealer. Drive Belts

The belts should have the following

"play" or deflection.

Alternator belt:
0.37 — 0.45 in (9.5 — 11.5 mm)
Compressor belt:
0.31 — 0.43 in (8.0 — 11.0 mm)
Power steering belt:
0.41 — 0.49 in (10.5 — 12.5 mm)
If you see signs of wear or looseness,
have your dealer adjust or replace
the belts.

Maintenance
Check the condition of the three
drive belts. Examine the edges of
each belt for cracks or fraying.
Check the tension of each belt by
pushing on it with your thumb midway between the pulleys.
ALTERNATOR BELT
POWER STEERING BELT
COMPRESSOR BELT

Jump Starting

If a battery sits in extreme cold, the electrolyte inside can freeze.
Attempting to jump start with a frozen battery can cause it to rupture.

2. Turn off all the electrical acces- sories: climate control, stereo
system, lights, etc.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park and set the parking brake.
3. Connect one jumper cable to thepositive ( + ) terminal on your
Acura's battery. Connect the other end to the positive (
+ ) terminal
on the booster battery. 4. Connect the second jumper cable
to the negative ( — ) terminal on
the booster battery. Connect theother end to the ground wire on
the right side of the engine as shown. Do not connect this jumper
cable to any other part of the

engine.

5. If the booster battery is in another vehicle, have an assistant startthat vehicle and run it at a fast idle.

Taking Care of the Unexpected
CONTINUED

NOTICE