2001 Acura RL battery

Fuses

All the electrical circuits in your car have fuses to protect them from ashort circuit or overload. These
fuses are located in two fuse boxes.
The interior fuse box is underneaththe dashboard on the driver's side.
To open it, turn the knob as shown. The under-hood fuse box is located
in the engine compartment next to
the battery. To open it, push the tab
as shown.

Taking Care of the Unexpected

INTERIOR
KNOB
UNDER-HOOD

TAB

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

State Emissions Testing

Testing of Readiness Codes If you take your vehicle for a state
emissions test shortly after the
battery has been disconnected or
gone dead, it may not complete the
test. This is because of certain "readiness codes" that must be set in
the on-board diagnostics for the emissions systems. These codes are
erased when the battery is disconnected, and set again only
after several days of driving under a
variety of conditions. If the testing facility determines that
the readiness codes are not set, you
will be requested to return at a later date to complete the test. If you must
get the vehicle re-tested within the next two or three days, you can
condition the vehicle for re-testing
by doing the following. Make sure the gas tank is nearly,
but not completely, full (around
3/4). Make sure the vehicle has been
parked with the engine off for 8
hours or more.
Make sure the ambient
temperature is between 20° and 95° F. Without touching the accelerator
pedal, start the engine and let it
idle for 20 seconds.
Keep the vehicle in Park (automatic transmission). Increase
the engine speed to 2,000 rpm and
hold it there until the temperature
gauge rises to at least 1/4 of the scale (approximately 3 minutes).

CONTINUED

Technical Information

Warranty Coverages

U.S. Owners
Your new Acura is covered by these

warranties:

New Vehicle Limited Warranty — your new vehicle, except for

covers the battery, emissions control systems and accessories, against
defects in materials and

workmanship.

Emissions Control Systems Defects Warranty and Emissions
Performance Warranty — these two

warranties cover your vehicle's emis- sions control systems. Time, mileage,
and coverage are conditional. Please
read the warranty manual for exact
information.

Original Equipment Battery Limited
Warranty — this warranty gives up
to 100 percent credit toward a
replacement battery.
Seat Belt Limited Warranty — a seat

belt that fails to function properly is
covered for the useful life of the

vehicle.

Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
— all exterior body panels are
covered for rust-through from the
inside for the specified time period
with no mileage limit.

Accessory Limited Warranty —

Genuine Acura Accessories are covered under this warranty. Time
and mileage limits depend on the
type of accessory and other factors. Please read your warranty manual
for details.

Replacement Parts Limited
Warranty — covers all Genuine
Acura replacement parts against defects in materials and workman-

ship.
Replacement Battery Limited

Warranty — provides prorated

coverage for a replacement battery

purchased from an Acura dealer.

Replacement Muffler LifetimeLimited Warranty — provides

coverage for as long as the pur-
chaser of the muffler owns the
vehicle.
Restrictions and exclusions apply to
all these warranties. Please read the
2001 Acura Warranty Information
booklet that came with your car for
precise information on warranty coverages. Your Acura's original
tires are covered by their manufacturer. Tire warranty
information is in a separate booklet.

Canadian Owners

Please refer to the 2001 Warranty
Manual that came with your car.

Warranty and Customer Relations

Index

Accessories and Modifications.... 174 Accessories................................. 174
Additional Safety Precautions.. 175Modifications............................. 175
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key
Position)........................................ 80
Accessory Power Socket.............. 115
Additives, Engine Oil..................... 218
Airbag (SRS).......................... 9, 43, 45
Air Cleaner Element...................... 231
Air Conditioning Filter.................. 242
Air Conditioning System............... 122 Maintenance............................... 241
Usage..................................124, 129
Air Outlets (Vents)........................ 122
Air Pressure, Tires........................ 243
Alarm, Anti-theft............................ 164
Alcohol in Gasoline........................ 306
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning........ 265
Antifreeze....................................... 221
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) Indicator................................ 56, 189Operation.................................... 188
Anti-theft, Audio System............... 164
Anti-theft Steering Column
Lock...............................................80

Anti-theft System........................... 165

Appearance Care........................... 263

Armrest............................................. 97

Ashtrays.......................................... 117

Audio Controls, Remote................ 163

Audio System................................. 136
Automatic Climate Control
System......................................... 122

Automatic Lighting.......................... 64
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners.................................... 41
Automatic Speed Control................ 73
Automatic Transmission............... 182
Capacity, Fluid........................... 302

Checking Fluid Level................228

Shifting........................................ 182

Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 182
Shift Lever Positions................. 182
Shift Lock Release..................... 185 Battery
Charging SystemIndicator............................ 54, 286
Jump Starting............................. 280 Maintenance............................... 236
Specifications............................. 303
Before Driving............................... 167
Belts, Seat..................................... 8, 40
Beverage Holder............................ 112
Body Repair.................................... 270

Brakes
Anti-lock System (ABS)............ 188
Break-in, New Linings .............. 168
Bulb Replacement..................... 256
Fluid............................................229

Parking........................................ 109
System Indicator.................. 54, 289
Wear Indicators......................... 187
Braking System.............................. 187
Break-in, New Car......................... 168
Brightness Control, Instruments... 66
Brights, Headlights......................... 63

CONTINUED

Index

DANGER, Explanation of................. ii

Dashboard.................................... 2, 52
Daytime Running Lights................. 65
Defects, Reporting Safety............. 317
Defogger, Rear Window................. 71
Defrosting the Windows.......128,
132

Differential
Oil............................... 229

Dimensions..................................... 302

Dimming the Headlights................ 63

Dipstick
Automatic Transmission........... 228

Engine Oil................................... 171

Directional Signals........................... 66

Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 187
Disposal of Used Oil...................... 220

Doors
Locking and Unlocking............... 81
Lockout Prevention..................... 82
Monitor Light............................... 57
Power Door Locks....................... 81
DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 304
Drive Belts...................................... 242
Driver and Passenger Safety............ 5
Driving............................................ 179

Economy..................................... 173
In Bad Weather.......................... 194
In Foreign Countries................. 307

Driving Position Memory
System......................................... 101

Economy, Fuel............................... 173
Emergencies on the Road............. 271 Battery, Jump Starting.............. 280
Brake System Indicator............ 289Changing a Flat Tire................. 273
Charging System Indicator...... 286
Checking the Fuses................... 292
Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 285
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.... 287
Manually Closing Moonroof.... 290

Overheated Engine................... 283

Emergency Brake.......................... 109
Emergency Flashers....................... 70
Emergency Towing....................... 296
Emissions Controls........................ 308
Emissions Testing,State............... 311 Engine

Belts............................................. 242

Coolant Temperature Gauge ..... 60

Malfunction Indicator
Lamp................................. 55, 287

Oil Pressure Indicator......... 54, 285
Oil. What Kind to Use............... 217
Overheating................................ 283

Specifications............................. 303

Speed Limiter............................. 184

Starting........................................ 181

Engine Speed Limiter.................... 184

Ethanol in Gasoline....................... 306

Evaporative Emissions Controls.. 308
Exhaust Fumes................................ 49
Exhaust Gas Recirculation
System......................................... 309

Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
Belts by.........................................18

Exterior, Cleaning the................... 264
Fabric, Cleaning............................. 266

CONTINUED

Index

SRS, Additional Information........... 43 Additional Safety Precautions.... 48
Automatic Seal Belt
Tensioners...................................41

How the SRS indicator Works... 46

How Your Airbags Work...... 43, 45

SRS Components......................... 43

SRS

Service.................................. .
48

SRS Indicator.............................. 46, 55
START (Ignition Key Position)..... 80 Starting the Engine........................ 181 In Cold Weather at HighAltitude................................... 181
With a Dead Battery................. 280
State Emissions Testing........... 311

Steam Coming from Engine......... 283
Steering Wheel Adjustments................................. 71

Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 80
Position Memory....................... 101

Stereo Sound System .................... 136

Storing Your Car............................ 261

Sun Visor......................................... 114

Sunglasses Holder......................... 114
Supplemental Restraint

System............................. 9, 43, 45

Service Precautions..................... 48

Servicing....................................... 48

SRS Indicator.......................... 46, 55

System Components.................... 43

Tensioners, Seat Belts................ 41

Synthetic Oil................................... 218

Tachometer...................................... 58

Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 256
Taking Care of the Unexpected ..271

Tape Player............................ 141, 156

Technical Descriptions DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 304
Emissions Control Systems...... 308

Oxygenated Fuels...................... 306

Three Way Catalytic
Converter................................ 310
Temperature Gauge........................ 60
Tensioners, Seat

Belts................... .... 41

Tether Anchorage Points............... 39
Theft Deterrent System................ 165
Theft Protection............................. 164 Three Way Catalytic Converter... 310
Time, Setting the........................... 109

Timing Belt..................................... 243

Tire Chains..................................... 249
Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 273

Tires................................................ 243

Air Pressure............................... 244Balancing.................................... 246
Checking Wear.......................... 245

Compact Spare........................... 272

DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 304

Inflation....................................... 243

Inspection................................... 245

Maintenance............................... 246

Replacing.................................... 247

Rotating....................................... 246

Snow............................................ 249

Specifications............................. 303

Tools,Tire Changing.................... 273

Tom Seat Belts................................ 42

Towing
A Trailer...................................... 196

By Emergency Wrecker ...........296

Transmission Checking Fluid Level,Automatic............................... 228