2001 Acura RL wheel

Changing a Flat Tire

9. Use the extension and wheel wrench as shown to raise the
vehicle until the flat tire is off the

ground.
10.Remove the wheel nuts and flat
tire. Temporarily place the flat tireon the ground with the outside
surface of the wheel facing up.
You could scratch the wheel if you put it face down. 11.Before mounting the spare tire,
wipe any dirt off the mountingsurface of the wheel and hub with
a clean cloth. Wipe the hub
carefully, it may be hot from driving.

CONTINUED

Taking Care of the Unexpected
EXTENSION
WHEEL
WRENCH BRAKE HUB

Changing a Flat Tire

12.Put on the spare tire. Put the wheel nuts back on finger-tight,then tighten them in a crisscross
pattern with the wheel wrench
until the wheel is firmly against
the hub. Do not try to tighten
them fully. 13.Lower the car to the ground and

remove the jack.
14.Tighten the wheel nuts securely in
the same crisscross pattern. Havethe wheel nut torque checked at
the nearest automotive service
facility.
Tighten the wheel nuts to:
80 lbf .
ft (108 N .
m , 11 kgf .
m)

Taking Care of the Unexpected

Changing a Flat Tire, If Your Engine Won't Start

19.Slip the hole at the top of the jack over the bracket in the trunk well.
Turn the jack's end bracket to lock it in place. Store the tool kit back
in its place.
20.Unclip the hook from the trunk lid and lower the trunk floor.
21.Store the center cap and spacer basket in the trunk. Make sure the
center cap will not get scratched
or damaged.
22.Close the trunk lid. If Your Engine Won't Start
Diagnosing why your engine won't
start falls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III): You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine's starter
motor does not operate at all, or operates very slowly.
You can hear the starter motor operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
faster than normal, but the engine does not start up and run. Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
When you turn the ignition switch to START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying tostart. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all.
Check these things:
Your car has the ImmobilizerSystem. You should use a
properly-coded master or valet key
to start the engine (see page 78).
A key that is not properly coded will cause the immobilizer system indicator in the dash panel to blink
rapidly.
Check the transmission interlock.
The transmission must be in Park or Neutral or the starter will not
operate.

Taking Care of the Unexpected

Loose items can fly around the

interior in a crash and could

seriously injure the occupants.

Store the wheel, jack and tools

securely before driving.

Brake System Indicator

The Brake System Indicator normally comes on when you turn
the ignition switch ON (II). It is a
reminder to check the parking brake.It comes on and stays lit if you do not
fully release the parking brake. If it comes on at any other time, it
indicates a problem with the car's
brake system. In most cases, the
problem is a low fluid level in the
brake fluid reservoir. Press lightly on
the brake pedal to see if it feels
normal. If it does, check the brake
fluid level the next time you stop at a service station (see page 230 ). If the
fluid level is low, take the car to your dealer and have the brake system
inspected for leaks or worn brake

pads.

However, if the brake pedal does not
feel normal, you should take immediate action. Because of the
brake system's dual-circuit design, a
problem in one part of the system
will still give you braking at two
wheels. You will feel the brake pedal
go down much farther before the car
begins to slow down, and you will
have to press harder on the pedal.
The distance needed to stop will be much longer. Slow down by shifting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is safe. Because of the
longer distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the car. You should have it towed, and repaired as
soon as possible. (See Emergency
Towing on page 296 .)
If you must drive the car a shortdistance in this condition, drive
slowly and cautiously.
If the ABS indicator and the VSA system indicator come on with this
indicator, have the car inspected by
your dealer immediately.
Taking Care of the Unexpected

BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR*

"U.S. indicator shown

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

DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Cars)
Temperature — A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing the
tire's resistance to the generation ofheat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the materialof the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law. Warning: The temperature grade for
this tire is established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not over-
loaded. Excessive speed, underinfla- tion, or excessive loading, either separately or in combination, can
cause heat buildup and possible tire
failure.

Technical Information

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