Page 48 of 333
Additional Information About Your Airbags
How Your Side Airbags Work
Your car is equipped with side
airbags for the driver and a front
seat passenger. The airbags are
stored in the outer edges of the front
seat-backs, and both are marked
"SIDE AIRBAG."
If you ever have a moderate to
severe side impact, the sensors will
detect rapid deceleration and signal
the control unit to instantly inflate
either the driver's or the passenger's side airbag.
Only one airbag will deploy during a
side impact. If the impact is on the
passenger's side, the passenger's side airbag will deploy even if there
is no passenger. To get the best protection from the
side airbags, front seat occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Page 49 of 333
Additional Information About Your Airbags
How the SRS Indicator Light
Works
The purpose of the SRSindicator light is to alert
you to a potential problem with your
front airbags. This light will also alert you to a potential problem with
your automatic seat belt tensioners (page 41); or your side airbags or
passenger's side airbag automatic
cutoff system (page 45).
When you turn the ignition ON (II), this indicator will light briefly then
go out. This tells you that the system is working properly. If the light comes on at any other
time, or does not come on at all, you should have the system checked by
your dealer. For example: If the SRS indicator light does not
come on after you turn the ignition
ON (II).
If the light stays on after the
engine starts.
If the light comes on or flashes on
and off while you drive.
If you see any of these indications,
your front or side airbags may not deploy, your passenger's side airbag
automatic cutoff system may not
work properly, or your seat belt tensioners may not work when you
need them. See your Acura dealer assoon as possible.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Ignoring the SRS indicator light
can result in serious injury or
death if the airbags, cutoff
system, or tensioners do not
work properly.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS light alerts you to a potential problem.
SRS
Page 50 of 333
Additional Information About Your Airbags
How The Side Airbag Indicator
Light Works This light alerts you thatthe passenger's side airbag
has been automatically shut off.
To reduce the risk of injury from an inflating side airbag, your car has an
automatic cutoff system for the
passenger's side airbag.
Although Acura does not encourage children to ride in the front seat, thissystem is designed to shut off the
side airbag if a child leans sideways
and the child's head is in the side
airbag deployment path. If a small-statured adult leans
sideways, or larger adult slouches
and leans sideways into the
deployment path of the side airbag,
the system may also shut off the side
airbag.
If the side airbag indicator light
comes on, you should have the
passenger sit upright. Once the
passenger is out of the deployment
path of the side airbag, the system
will turn the airbag back on and the light will go out. A front seat passenger should not
use a cushion or other object as a
backrest. It may prevent the cutoff system from working properly.
When you turn the ignition ON (II), the indicator should light briefly and
go out (see page 55). If it doesn't
light, stays on, or comes on whiledriving without a passenger in the
front seat, have the system checked.
Driver and Passenger Safety
SIDE
AIRBAG
Page 51 of 333
Additional Information About Your Airbags
Airbag Service
Your front and side airbag systemsare virtually maintenance-free, and
there are no parts you can safely service. However, you must have
your car serviced if:
Your airbags ever inflate. Any
airbag that has deployed must be
replaced along with the control
unit and other related parts. Do
not try to remove or replace any
airbag by yourself. This must be done by an Acura dealer or a
knowledgeable body shop. The SRS indicator light alerts you
to a problem. Take your car to an
authorized Acura dealer as soon as
possible. If you ignore this
indication, the airbags might not
inflate when you need them. Additional Safety Precautions Do not attempt to deactivate your
airbags. Together, airbags and
seat belts provide the best
protection. Do not tamper with airbag
components or wiring for any
reason. Tampering could cause
the airbags to deploy, possibly
causing very serious injury.
Do not expose the front seat-backs
to water. If rain or spilled water
soaks into a seat-back, it can
prevent the side airbag system
from working properly.
Do not cover or replace front seat-
back covers without consulting an
Acura dealer. Improperly replacing or covering front seat-
back covers can prevent your sideairbags from inflating during a
collision.
See page 175 for further information and precautions relating to your
airbags.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Page 56 of 333
Indicator Lights
*The U.S. instrunment panel is shown.Differences for the Canadian models are noted in the text.
Instruments and Controls
MALFUNCTION
INDICATOR
LAMP
(P.287)
LIGHTS ON
INDICATOR
(P.55) PARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR*
(P.54)
VSA ACTIVATION
INDICATOR(P.56)
SIDEAIRBAG
INDICATOR (P.55) CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR
(P.55)
VEHICLE STABILITY ASSISTSYSTEM INDICATOR(P.56)
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE
SYSTEM INDICATOR*(P.56)
LOW OIL
PRESSURE
INDICATOR
(P-54)
CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR (P.54) IMMOBILIZER
SYSTEM INDICATOR
(P.55) HIGH BEAM
INDICATOR
(P.57) LOW FUEL
INDICATOR
(P.57)
DOOR AND BRAKE
LAMP MONITOR
(P.57) SEAT BELT
REMINDERLIGHT (P.54)
SUPPLEMENTAL
RESTRAINT SYSTEM
INDICATOR (P.55)
Page 58 of 333
Indicator Lights
Lights On Indicator
(U.S. models only)
On cars with automatic lighting (see
page 64)
This indicator reminds you that the exterior lights are on. It comes on
when the light switch is in either the or position. If you turn the
ignition switch to ACCESSORY (I)
or LOCK (0) without turning off the
light switch, this indicator will
remain on. A reminder chime willalso sound when you open the driver's
door.
This indicator will also come on
when the light switch is in AUTO and the lights turn on automatically.
Cruise Control Indicator
This lights when you set the cruise control. See page 73 for information
on operating the cruise control.
Immobilizer System
Indicator
This indicator comes on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition
switch ON (II). It will then go off if
you have inserted a properly-coded ignition key. If it is not a properly-
coded key, the indicator will blink
and the engine will not start (see
page 78).
This indicator also blinks several times when you turn the ignitionswitch from ON (II) to ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0).
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp
See page 287.
Supplemental Restraint
System Indicator
This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch ON (II). If itcomes on at any other time, it
indicates a potential problem with
your front airbags. This light will also alert you to a potential problem
with your side airbags, passenger's side airbag automatic cutoff system
or automatic seat belt tensioners.
For complete information, see page
45.
Side Airbag Indicator
This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch ON (II). If itcomes on at any other time, it
indicates that the passenger's side airbag has automatically shut off.
For complete information, see page
47.
Instruments and Controls
SRS
SIDE
AIRBAG
CRUISE
CONTROL
Page 107 of 333
Seat Heaters, Ski Sleeve
The HI or LO indicator lights and remains lit until you turn it off by
pushing the opposite side of theswitch lightly. The indicator will turn
off.
In HI, the heater turns off when the
seat gets warm, and turns back on
after the seat's temperature drops. It
continues to cycle as long as you
leave it set on HI. The HI indicator
remains lit as a reminder that you
have the heater on.
In LO, the heater runs continuously.It does not cycle with temperature
changes.
Because of the sensors for the side
airbag system, there is no heater in
the passenger's seat-back. Follow these precautions whenever
you use the seat heaters: Use the HI setting only to heat the
seats quickly. Select the LO
setting when the seats feel warm.
The HI setting draws large amounts of current from the
battery. Do not use the seat heaters, even
on the LO setting, if the engine is
left idling for an extended period.
They can weaken the battery, causing hard starting.
Ski Sleeve
The ski sleeve allows you to carry skis or other long objects safely
without soiling or damaging the
interior of your car. It attaches to the
trunk pass-through.
KNOB
To use the ski sleeve: 1. Pull down the rear seat armrest. Open the trunk pass-through
cover by sliding the knob down-
ward and pulling on the cover.
Instruments and Controls
LID
Page 177 of 333
Accessories and Modifications
Modifying your car, or installing
some non-Acura accessories, can
make your car unsafe. Before you
make any modifications or add any
accessories, be sure to read the
following information.
Accessories
Your dealer has Genuine Acura accessories that allow you to
personalize your car. These accessories have been designed and
approved for your car, and are
covered by warranty.
Non-Acura accessories are usuallydesigned for universal applications.
Although aftermarket accessories may fit on your car, they may not
meet factory specifications, andcould adversely affect your car's
handling and stability. (See "Modifications" on the page 175 for
additional information.) When properly installed, cellular
phones, alarms, two-way radios, and
low-powered audio systems should not interfere with your car's
computer-controlled systems, such
as the SRS and anti-lock brake
system.
However, if electronic accessories
are improperly installed, or exceed
your car's electrical system capacity, they can interfere with the operationof your car, or even cause the
airbags to deploy.
Before installing any accessory:
Make sure the accessory does not
obscure any lights, or interfere
with proper car operation or
performance.
Be sure electronic accessories do
not overload electrical circuits
(see page 292 ). Have the installer contact your
Acura dealer for assistance before
installing any electronic accessory.
If possible, have your dealer inspect
the final installation.
Before Driving
Improper accessories or
modifications can affect your
car's handling, stability and performance, and cause a
crash in which you can be hurt
or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner's manual regarding
accessories and modifications.
