2001 Acura RL washer fluid

Driving in Bad Weather

Visibility — Being able to see clearly in all directions and being
visible to other drivers are important in all weather conditions. This is
more difficult in bad weather. To be seen more clearly during daylight
hours, turn on your headlights.
Inspect your windshield wipers and
washers frequently. Keep the wind- shield washer reservoir full of the
proper fluid. Have the windshield
wiper blades replaced if they start to streak the windshield or leave parts
unwiped. Use the defroster and air conditioning to keep the windows
from fogging up on the inside (see
pages 128 and 133). Traction — Check your tires
frequently for wear and properpressure. Both are important in
preventing "hydroplaning" (loss of
traction on a wet surface). In the
winter, mount snow tires on all four
wheels for the best handling.
Watch road conditions carefully, they can change from moment tomoment. Wet leaves can be as slip-
pery as ice. "Clear" roads can have
patches of ice. Driving conditionscan be very hazardous when the
outside temperature is near freezing.
The road surface can become covered with areas of water puddles
mixed with areas of ice, so your
traction can change without warning.
Be careful when downshifting. If
traction is low, you can lock up the drive wheels for a moment and cause
a skid. Be very cautious when passing, or
being passed by other vehicles. The spray from large vehicles reduces
your visibility, and the wind buffeting can cause you to lose control.
Driving

Maintenance

This section explains why it is important to keep your car well
maintained and to follow basic
maintenance safety precautions.
This section also includes Maintenance Schedules for normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions for simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself.
If you have the skills and tools to per-
form more complex maintenance
tasks on your Acura, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page 319 for information on how to obtain a copy, or see your Acura

dealer.
Maintenance Safety....................... 204
Important Safety Precautions.. 205
Maintenance Schedule.................. 206
Required Maintenance Record.... 213 Owner Maintenance Checks........ 215
Fluid Locations............................... 216

Engine Oil...................................... 217
Adding Oil................................... 217
Recommended Oil.................... 217
Synthetic Oil.............................. 218

Additives.................................... 218

Changing the Oil and Filter...... 219
Cooling System.............................. 221 Adding Engine Coolant............. 221Replacing Engine Coolant........ 223
Windshield Washers..................... 227
Automatic Transmission Fluid..... 228 Differential Oil.............................. 229

Brake Fluid.................................... 230
Brake System............................. 230
Power Steering............................... 230

Hood Latch.................................... 231

Air Cleaner Element...................... 231 Spark Plugs..................................... 233

Replacement.............................. 233
Specifications............................ 236
Battery............................................ 236
Wiper Blades.................................. 239
Air Conditioning System............... 241
Air Conditioning Filter.................. 242
Drive Belts...................................... 242
Timing Belt..................................... 243
Tires................................................ 243
Inflation..................................... 243

Inspection................................... 245
Maintenance............................... 246
Tire Rotation.............................. 246
Replacing Tires and Wheels .... 247
Wheels and Tires....................... 248
Winter Driving........................... 248
Snow Tires............................ 249

Tire Chains.............................
249
Lights.............................................. 250 Replacing Bulbs......................... 252
Storing Your Car............................

261

Maintenance

Owner Maintenance Checks
You should check the following items at the specified intervals. If
you are unsure of how to perform any check, turn to the page given. Engine oil level — Check every
time you fill the fuel tank. See page 171.
Engine coolant level — Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
you fill the fuel tank. See page 172 .

Windshield washer fluid — Check the level in the reservoir monthly.
If weather conditions cause you to
use the washers frequently, check
the reservoir each time you stop
for fuel. See page 227 . Automatic transmission — Check
the fluid level monthly. See page
228.
Brakes — Check the fluid level
monthly. See page 230 . Tires — Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread for
wear and foreign objects. See page
245.

Lights — Check the operation of
the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light,
turn signals, brake lights, and
license plate lights monthly. See

page 250.

Maintenance

Fluid Locations

AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
FLUID DIPSTICK

(Yellow loop)

POWER STEERING

FLUID

(Red cap)
RADIATOR CAP BRAKE FLUID
(Gray cap)
ENGINE OIL
FILL CAP
ENGINE
COOLANT
RESERVOIR

WASHER FLUID (Blue cap)
ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK

(Orange loop)

Maintenance

Windshield Washers

Check the level in the windshield
washer reservoir at least monthly during normal usage. In bad weather,
when you use the washers often, check the level every time you stop

for fuel.

The windshield washer reservoir is located behind the driver's side

headlight.

Check the reservoir's fluid level by
removing the cap and looking at the
float. It should be up to the top of the neck. If the float is at the bottom of
the neck, the reservoir is nearly
empty.
Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer fluid. This increases the cleaning capability and
prevents freezing in cold weather.

Do not use engine antifreeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir.
Antifreeze can damage your ear's paint, while a vinegar/water solution can
damage the windshield washer pump.
Use only commercially-available
windshield washer fluid.

When you refill the reservoir, clean the edges of the windshield wiper
blades with windshield washer fluidon a clean cloth. This will help to
condition the blade edges.

Maintenance

FLOAT

NOTICE

Index

Fan, Interior.......................... 126, 131

Features, Comfort and
Convenience............................... 121
Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 169

Filters
Air Cleaner................................. 231

Air Conditioning........................ 242

Oil................................................ 219

Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 70
Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 273
Fluids Automatic Transmission........... 228

Brake........................................... 229

Differential................................. 229

Power Steering........................... 230

Windshield Washer................... 227
FM Stereo Radio
Reception........................... 137, 147

Fog Lights......................................... 67
Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 307
Four-way Flashers...........................
70

Front
Airbags.............................. 9,

43

Fuel..................................................

168

Fill Door and Cap....................... 169
Gauge............................................ 60

Octane Requirement................. 168
Oxygenated................................ 306

Reserve Indicator......................... 57
Tank, Filling the......................... 169
Fuel Mileage, Improving............... 173
Fuses, Checking the...................... 292

Gasohol........................................... 306
Gasoline.......................................... 168

Fuel Reserve Indicator................ 57

Gauge............................................ 60
Octane Requirement................. 168
Tank, Filling the......................... 169

Gas Station Procedures................. 169

Gauges.............................................. 58

Engine Coolant Temperature .... 60

Fuel................................................ 60

Speedometer................................ 58

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

GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating)........................................ 197

Gearshift Lever Positions............. 182

Glass Cleaning............................... 268

Glove Box......................................... 88
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight

Rating)........................................ 197

Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 252
Hazard Warning Flashers............... 70
Headlights Automatic Lighting..................... 64
Daytime Running Lights............. 65
High Beam Indicator................... 57Lights On Indicator..................... 55

Reminder Chime.......................... 63

Replacing Halogen Bulbs......... 252

Turning on.................................... 63

Head Restraints............................... 96
Heating and Cooling...................... 122
High Altitude, Starting at.............. 181
High-Low Beam Switch .................. 63
High-mount Brake Light............... 257
HomeLink Universal
Transmitter.................................. 89

Hood Latch..................................... 231

Hood, Opening the........................ 170

Horn................................................... 62

Hydroplaning.................................. 195

Index

Fluid Selection............................ 228

Identification Number............... 301
Shifting the Automatic.............. 182

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

Trip Meter........................................ 59

Trunk................................................. 86
Emergency Trunk Opener......... 87

Opening the.................................. 86

Open Monitor Light.................... 57
Turn Signals..................................... 66

Underside. Cleaning...................... 269

Unexpected, Taking Care
of the........................................... 271

Uniform Tire Quality Grading..... 304

Unleaded Gasoline......................... 168

Upholstery Cleaning...................... 267

Used Oil, How to Dispose of........ 220

Vanity Mirror................................. 114

Vehicle Capacity Load .................. 177

Vehicle Dimensions....................... 302
Vehicle Identification Number..... 300
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)
System..................................... 191

VSA System Indicator........ 56, 192
VSA
Activation Indicator.... 56, 191
VSA Off Switch.......................... 192

Vehicle Storage.............................. 261

Ventilation...................................... 122

VIN.................................................. 300

Vinyl Cleaning................................ 267
Viscosity, Oil................................... 218

WARNING, Explanation of.............. ii

Warning Labels, Location of.......... 50

Warranty Coverages*................... 316

Washer, Windshield Checking the Fluid Level......... 227
Operation...................................... 70

Washing.......................................... 264
Waxing and Polishing................... 265

Wheels Adjusting the Steering................ 71
Alignment and Balance............. 246

Cleaning Aluminum Alloys....... 265
Compact Spare........................... 272

Wrench....................................... 274

Windows
Cleaning...................................... 267

Operating the Power................. 106

Rear, Defogger............................ 71
Windshield Cleaning........................................ 68
Defroster............................ 128,
133

Washers........................................
70

Wipers, Windshield

Changing Blades........................ 239

Operation...................................... 68

Wood Trim..................................... 267
Worn Tires..................................... 245

Wrecker, Emergency Towing...... 296
* U.S. and Canada only