2002 Acura RL 3.5 Owner's Manual

µµ
These two
controls adjust the strength of the
sound coming f rom each speaker.
The Balance control adjusts the side-
to-side strength, while the Fader
control adjusts the f ront-to-back
strength.
To adjust the fader, push on the
BASS/FADER control knob to get it
to pop out. Pull it out slightly f arther,
and adjust the f ront-to-back sound to
your liking. Push the knob back in
when you are done so you cannot
change the setting by accidentally
bumping it.
To adjust the balance, push on the
TREBLE/BALANCE control knob
to get it to pop out. Pull it out slightly
f arther, and adjust the side-to-side
sound to your liking. Push the knob
back in when you are done so you
cannot change the setting by
accidentally bumping it. Use these controls
to adjust the tone to your liking.
To adjust the Treble level, push on
the TREBLE/BALANCE control
knob to get it to pop out. Without
pulling it out f arther, turn the knob
to adjust the treble level. Push the
knob back in when you are done so
you cannot change the setting by
accidentally bumping it. To adjust the Bass level, push on the
BASS/FADER control knob to get it
to pop out. Without pulling it out
f arther, turn the knob to adjust the
bass level. Push the knob back in
when you are done so you cannot
change the setting by accidentally
bumping it.
Adjusting the Sound
Balance/Fader
Treble/Bass
Audio System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures142
B BAA S
SSS//F
FA A D
DE
ER
R
C
CO ON NTTR
RO OL L T
T
R
RE EB
BL LEE /
/B
BA A L
LAA N
NC CEE
C
CO ON NTTR
RO OL L
01/09/28 19:47:48 31SZ3660_145

You can use the instrument panel
brightness control dial to adjust the il-
lumination of the audio system (see
page ). The audio system
illuminates when the parking lights
are on, even if the radio is turned of f .
Your Acura’s radio can receive the
complete AM and FM bands.
Those bands cover these f requen-
cies:
AM band:
530 to 1,710 kilohertz
FM band:
87.7 to 107.9 megahertz
Radio stations on the AM band are
assigned f requencies at least ten
kilohertz apart (530, 540, 550).
Stations on the FM band are
assigned f requencies at least 0.2
megahertz apart (87.9, 88.1, 88.3).Stations must use these exact
f requencies. It is f airly common f or
stations to round-of f the f requency in
their advertising, so your radio could
display a f requency of 100.9 even
though the announcer may identif y
the station as ‘‘FM101.’’
How well your Acura’s radio receives
stations is dependent on many
f actors, such as the distance f rom
the station’s transmitter, nearby
large objects, and atmospheric
conditions.
A radio station’s signal gets weaker
as you get f arther away f rom its
transmitter. If you are listening to an
AM station, you will notice the sound
volume becoming weaker, and the
stationdriftinginandout.If youare
listening to an FM station, you will
see the stereo indicator f lickering of f
and on as the signal weakens.
Eventually, the stereo indicator willgo of f and the sound will f ade
completely as you get out of range of
the station’s signal.
Driving very near the transmitter of
a station that is broadcasting on a
f requency close to the f requency of
the station you are listening to can
also af f ect your radio’s reception.
You may temporarily hear both
stations,orhearonlythestationyou
are close to.
66
CONT INUED
A udio System L ighting
Radio Frequencies Radio Reception
Audio System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures143
01/09/28 19:48:02 31SZ3660_146

Radio signals, especially on the FM
band, are def lected by large objects
such as buildings and hills. Your
radio then receives both the direct
signal f rom the station’s transmitter,
and the def lected signal. This causes
the sound to distort or flutter. This is
a main cause of poor radio reception
in city driving.Radio reception can be af f ected by
atmospheric conditions such as
thunderstorms, high humidity, and
even sunspots. You may be able to
receive a distant radio station one
day and not receive it the next day
because of a change in conditions.
Electrical interf erence f rom passing
vehicles and stationary sources can
cause temporary reception problems.
As required by the FCC:
Changes or modif ications not expresslyapproved by the party responsible f orcompliance could void the user’sauthority to operate the equipment.
Audio System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures144
01/09/28 19:48:10 31SZ3660_147

Ûµ
Make sure the tape opening on the
cassette is facing to the right, then
insert the cassette most of the way
into the slot. The system will pull it
in the rest of the way, and begin to
play. The ignition switch must be in
ACCESSORY (I) or ON (II).
The tape direction indicator will light
to show you which side of the
cassette is playing. The indicates
thesideyouinsertedfacingupward
is now playing. If you want to play
the other side, press the PROG/
PLAY button. When the system reaches the end of
the tape, it will automatically reverse
direction and play the other side. If
you want to remove the cassette
f rom the drive, press the EJECT
button.
With a cassette playing, you can use
the FF, REW, TMS, or REPEAT
f unction to f ind a desired program.
If you turn the system of f while a
tape is playing, either with the PWR/
VOL knob or by turning of f the
ignition, the cassette will remain in
the drive. When you turn the system
back on, the tape will begin playing
where it lef t of f .
To switch to the radio or CD
changer while listening to a tape,
press the AM/FM or CD/TAPE but-
ton. To change back to the cassette
player, press the CD/TAPE button. Fast Forward and
Rewind move the tape rapidly. To
rewind the tape, push the REW
button. The indicator in this button
will light. To f ast f orward the tape,
push the FF button. The indicator in
this button will light. Press the
PROG/PLAY button to take the
system out of rewind or f ast f orward.
When the system reaches the end of
the tape, it reverses direction and
begins to play if in f ast f orward, or it
begins to play if in rewind.
Dolby B noise reduction turns on
when you insert a cassette. The
indicator in the button will light.
If thetapewasnotrecordedwith
Dolby B noise reduction, turn it of f
by pressing the button.
CONT INUED
Operating the Cassette Player Tape Search Functions
FF/REW
Audio System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures145
01/09/28 19:48:22 31SZ3660_148

µµ´
µ
´
TheTapeMusicSearch
Function allows you to f ind the
beginning of a song or passage. To
activate TMS, push either side of the
TMSbar( or ).Tofindthe
beginning of the song or passage
currently playing, push the bar on
the side. You will see TMS
indicator and the indicator in the
REW button f lashing. To f ind the
beginning of the next song, push the
bar on the side. You will see TMS
indicator and the indicator in the FF
button f lashing.
Audio System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
TMS
146
C CA A S
SSSEET
TT
TE
E S
SLLOOT T
E
E J
JEE C
CT T B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N P
P
W
WR R//V
V O
OL L K
KNNO OBB
P
P R
RO OG G//P
P L
LAA Y
Y
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N
R
RE
EW
WI INND D
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N
T
T
A
A P
PE
E D
DI
IRRE EC
CT TI
IOON N I
INND DI
ICCA A T
TO
OR R
R
REEP
PE
EA
A T
T
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N
T
T M
M S
SB
BAA R
R F
FAA S
STT F
FOOR RWWA AR
RDD
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N
T
T
M
M S
SI
INND DI
ICCA A T
TO
OR R
D
DO
OL LBBY Y
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N
C
CD D /
/T
T A
A P
PE
E
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N A
A
M
M /
/F
FM M
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N
01/09/28 19:48:29 31SZ3660_149

µ
The TMS and REPEAT f unctions
use silent periods on the tape to f ind
the end of a song or passage. These
f eatures may not work to your
satisfaction if there is almost no gap
between selections, a high noise
level between selections, or a silent
period in the middle of a selection. The Repeat f unction
continuously replays the current
song or passage. Press the REPEAT
button to activate it; you will see
REPEAT displayed as a reminder.
When the system reaches the end of
the song or passage currently
playing, it will automatically go into
rewind. When it senses the
beginning of the same song or
passage, the system returns to PLAY
mode. It will continue to repeat this
same program until you deactivate
REPEAT by pressing the button
again.
Pressing the REW or FF button also
turns off REPEAT.
Audio System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
REPEAT
147
R RE EP
PE
EA
A T
T I
INND DI
ICCA A T
TO
OR R
R
REEP
PE
EA
A T
T B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N
F
FA
A S
STT F
FOOR RWWA AR
RDD
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N
T
T M
M S
SB
BAA R
R
R
RE
EW
WI INND D B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N
01/09/28 19:48:36 31SZ3660_150

The cassette player picks up dirt and
oxides f rom the tape. This contami-
nation builds up over time and
causes the sound quality to degrade.
To prevent this, you should clean the
player af ter every 30 hours of use.
Your dealer has a cleaning kit
available.
If you do not clean the cassette
player regularly, it may eventually
become impossible to remove the
contamination with a normal
cleaning kit.
Use 100-minute or shorter cassettes.
Cassettes longer than that use
thinner tape that may break or jam
the drive.Look at the cassette before you
insert it. If the tape is loose, tighten
it by turning a hub with a pencil or
your f inger.
If the label is peeling of f , remove it
from the cassette or it could cause
the cassette to jam in the player.
Never try to insert a warped or
damaged cassette in the player.
When they are not in use, store
cassettes in their cases to protect
them f rom dust and moisture. Never
place cassettes where they will be
exposed to direct sunlight, high heat,
or high humidity. If a cassette is
exposed to extreme heat or cold, let
it reach a moderate temperature
bef ore inserting it in the player.
Never try to insert f oreign objects
into the cassette player.If you see the error indication
‘‘ ’’ (3.5 RL with navigation
system)/‘‘ ’’ (3.5 RL without
navigation system) on the display,
press the EJECT button to remove
the cassette from the unit. Make
sure the tape is not damaged. If the
cassette will not eject or the error
indication stays on after the cassette
ejects, take the car to your Acura
dealer.
Caring f or the Cassette Player
Audio System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures148
01/09/28 19:48:48 31SZ3660_151

CONT INUED
A Compact Disc changer is standard
equipment. It holds up to six discs,
providing several hours of continu-
ous entertainment. You operate the
CD changer with the same controls
used f or the radio and cassette
player.
To load the CDs in the magazine and
load the magazine into the CD
changer, refer to page . Play only
standard round discs. Odd-shaped
CDs may jam in the drive or cause
other problems.SelecttheCDmodebypressingthe
CD/TAPE button. You will see ‘‘CD’’
in the display. The system will start
to play the first track of the first disc
in the magazine. You will see the
disc and track number displayed.When that disc ends, the next disc in
the magazine is loaded and played.
Af ter the last disc f inishes, the
system returns to disc 1.
To operate the CD changer, the igni-
tion switch must be in ACCESSORY
(I) or ON (II). Do not play discs with disc
accessories such as protective seals
or rubbers. Using them may also
cause the audio system to
malf unction. 159
Operating the CD Changer
Audio System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures149
P P
R
RE ES
SE ET
T B
BUUT TT
TO
ON NSS
C
CD D /
/T
T A
A P
PE
E B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N R
RE
EP
PE
EA
A T
T B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N
A
A U
UT TO
O S
SEEL
LEE C
CT T B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N
P
P
W
WR R//V
V O
OL L K
KNNO OBB
S
SE EE
EK
K B
BAA R
R
A
A M
M /
/F
FM M B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N
01/09/28 19:48:59 31SZ3660_152