2001 Acura RL 3.5 Owner's Manual

Fuses

UNDER-HOOD FUSE BOX

Taking Care of the Unexpected

Fuses

INTERIOR FUSE BOX
* 1 : On Canadian models
Taking Care of the Unexpected

Emergency Towing

If your car needs to be towed, call a
professional towing service or, if you
belong to one, an organization that
provides roadside assistance. Never tow your car behind another vehicle
with just a rope or chain. It is very
dangerous.

There are three popular types of professional towing equipment.

Flat-bed Equipment — The operator

loads your car on the back of a truck.
This is the best way to transport
your Acura.

Wheel-lift Equipment — The tow

truck uses two pivoting arms that go
under the tires (front or rear) and lift
them off the ground. The other two
tires remain on the ground. This is

an acceptable way to tow your

Acura.
Sling-type Equipment — The tow

truck uses metal cables with hooks on the ends. These hooks go around
parts of the frame or suspension and the cables lift that end of the car off
the ground. Your car's suspensionand body can be seriously damaged.
This method of towing is
unacceptable.

If your Acura cannot be transported
by flat-bed, it should be towed by
wheel-lift equipment with the front
wheels off the ground. If, due to damage, your car must be towed
with the front wheels on the ground, do the following.
Release the parking brake. Shift the transmission to Neutral.
Improper towing preparation will

damage the transmission. Follow the

above procedure exactly. If you cannot

shift the transmission or start the
engine, your car must be transported
with the front wheels off the ground.

With the front wheels on the ground, it is best to tow the car no farther
than 50 miles (80 km), and keep the speed below 35 mph (55 km/h).
Taking Care of the Unexpected
NOTICE

Emergency Towing
If you decide to tow your car with all
four wheels on the ground, make sure you use a properly-designed and
attached tow bar. Prepare the car for
towing as described above, and leave
the ignition switch in Accessory (I) so the steering wheel does not lock.
Make sure the radio and any items
plugged into the accessory power socket are turned off so they do not
run down the battery.

The steering system can be damaged if
the steering wheel is locked. Leave the
ignition switch in Accessory (I), and
make sure the steering wheel turns
freely before you begin towing. Trying to lift or tow your car by the
bumpers will cause serious damage. The bumpers are not designed to

support the car's weight.

Taking Care of the Unexpected

NOTICE
NOTICE

298

Technical Information

The diagrams in this section give

you the dimensions and capacities of

your Acura, and the locations of the
identification numbers. It also

includes information you should

know about your vehicle's tires and
emissions control systems.
Identification Numbers................. 300
Specifications................................. 302

DOT Tire Quality Grading
(U.S. Cars).............................. 304

Treadwear.................................. 304

Traction.......................................304

Temperature.............................. 305
Oxygenated Fuels.......................... 306

Driving in Foreign Countries....... 307
Emissions Controls........................ 308
The Clean Air Act...................... 308Crankcase Emissions Control
System.....................................308

Evaporative Emissions Control
System..................................... 308

Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery................................. 308
Exhaust Emissions Controls.... 309 PGM-FI System..................... 309
Ignition Timing Control
System.................................309

Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) System.................... 309
Three Way Catalytic
Converter............................309

Replacement Parts..................... 309
Three Way Catalytic Converter... 310 State Emissions Testing............... 311

Technical Information

Identification Numbers

Your car has several identifying numbers located in various places.
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is the 17-digit number your
Acura dealer uses to register your car for warranty purposes. It is also
necessary for licensing and insuring
your car. The easiest place to find the VIN is on a plate fastened to the
top of the dashboard. You can see it
by looking through the windshield on the driver's side. It is also on theCertification label attached to the
driver's doorjamb, and is stamped on
the engine compartment bulkhead.
The VIN is also provided in bar code on the Certification label. VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

CERTIFICATION LABEL

Technical Information

Identification Numbers

The Engine Number is stamped into the engine block. It is on the front
left, below the valve cover.
The Transmission Number is on a label on top of the transmission.
TRANSMISSION NUMBER

ENGINE NUMBER
Technical Information