2002 Acura RL dashboard

When a child reaches the
recommended weight or height limit
for a forward-facing child seat, the
child should sit in the back seat and
wear a lap/shoulder belt.
If you are not wearing a seat
belt in a crash, you could be
thrown f orward into the
dashboard and crush the child.
During a crash, the
belt could press deep into the child
and cause very serious injuries. If youarewearingaseatbelt,the
child can be torn f rom your arms
during a crash. For example, if
your car crashes into a parked
vehicleat30mph(48km/h),a
30-lb (14 kg) child will become a
900-lb (410 kg) f orce, and you will
not be able to hold on. If a child is too short f or the shoulder
part of the belt to properly f it, we
recommend that the child use a
booster seat until the child is tall
enough to use the seat belt without a
booster.
The f ollowing pages give
instructions on how to check proper
seat belt f it, what kind of booster
seat to use if one is needed, and
important precautions f or a child
who must sit in the f ront seat.
CONT INUED
Protecting L arger ChildrenA ddit ional Precaut ions f or Small
Children Never hold a small child on yourlap.
Never put a seat belt over yourselfand a child.
Protecting Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety35
Allowing a larger child to sit
improperly in the front seat can
result in injury or death if the
passenger’s front airbag inflates.
If a larger child must sit in front,
make sure the child moves the
seat as far back as possible
and wears the seat belt properly.
01/09/28 19:30:38 31SZ3660_038

Your Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) includes:An indicator light on the
instrument panel that alerts you to
a possible problem with the
system (see page ).
Two f ront airbags. The driver’s
airbag is stored in the center of
the steering wheel; the f ront
passenger’sairbagisstoredinthe
dashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRS
AIRBAG.’’
Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe frontal
collision. Automatic seat belt tensioners
(see page ). Emergency backup power in case
your car’s electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.
If you ever have a moderate to
severe f rontal collision, the sensors
will detect the vehicle’s rapid
deceleration. If the rate of
deceleration is high enough, the
control unit will instantly inf late the
f ront airbags.
A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records inf ormation about the
sensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, and driver and
passenger seat belt use when the
ignition is ON (II). 45
41
CONT INUED
SRS Components How Your Front A irbags Work
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
43
01/09/28 19:32:01 31SZ3660_046

Î
These labels are in the locations
shown. They warn you of potential
hazards that could cause serious
injury. Read these labels caref ully.
If a label comes of f or becomes hard
to read, contact your Acura dealer
f or a replacement.
U.S. models onlyU.S. models Canadian models
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Saf ety L abels
50
RADIATOR CAP
SUN VISOR
HOOD DASHBOARD The U.S. car model
01/09/28 19:33:16 31SZ3660_053

Thetwoleversonthesteering
column contain controls f or driving
f eatures you use most of ten. The lef t
lever controls the turn signals,
headlights, and high beams. The
right lever controls the windshield
washers and wipers.
The switch for the hazard warning
lights is on the dashboard to the
right of the steering column.
The controls under the lef t air vent
areforthecruisecontrol,instrument
panel brightness and the VSA
System.
The switches for the rear window
def ogger and f og lights are under
the audio system.
The steering wheel adjustment
switch on the side of the steering
column allows you to tilt and
telescope the steering wheel.
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols62
C CRRUUI ISSE E
C
CO ON NTTR
RO OL L H
H
E
EA
A D
DL
LIIGGH HT
TS
S/ /
T
T U
UR RNN S
SIIGGN NAAL
LSS
I
IN NS STTR
RU UM M E
EN
NT T
P
P A
A N
NE EL
L
B
BR RIIGGH HT
TN
NE ES
SS S H
H
A
AZ
ZA
A R
RDD W
WA AR
RNNI INNG G
L
LI IGGH HT
TS
S W
WI
INND DS
SHH I
IEE L
LDD
W
WI IPP E
ER
RS S//W
WA AS
SHH E
ER
RS S
F
FO OG G
L
LI IGGH HT
TS
S
R
REEA
A R
R W
WI INND DO
OW W
D
D E
EF
FOOG GGGEER
R
V
V
E
EH
H I
ICCL LEE
S
ST TA
A B
BIILLI ITT Y
Y
A
A S
SSSIISST T S
SYYSSTTE
EM
M
O
OF FFF S
SWWI ITT C
CH H
S
STTE
EE
ER
RI INNG G W
WHHE
EE
EL
L
A
A D
DJ
JUUS STTM
M E
EN
NT TS
S H
H
O
OR RNN
01/09/28 19:35:25 31SZ3660_065

The automatic lighting f eature is
controlledbyasensorlocatedontop
of the dashboard. Do not cover this
sensor or spill liquids on it.With the headlight switch off, the
high beam headlights come on with
reduced brightness when you turn
the ignition switch to ON (II) and
release the parking brake. They
remain on until you turn the ignition
of f , even if you set the parking brake.
The headlights revert to normal
operation when you turn them on
with the switch.
Do not leave the light switch in
AUTO if you will not be driving the
car f or an extended period (a week
ormore).Youshouldalsoturnoff
the lights if you plan to leave the
engine idling or the engine of f f or a
long time. This will prevent the
battery f rom discharging.
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Daytime Running L ights
(Canadian Models)
65
L LI
IGGH HT
T
S
SE EN
NS SOOR R
01/09/28 19:35:52 31SZ3660_068

The dial on the dashboard to the lef t
of the instrument panel is used to
adjust the brightness of the lights in
the controls and displays. Turn the
dial to adjust the brightness.Signal a turn or lane change with this
lever. Push down on the lever to
signal a lef t turn, and up to signal a
right turn. If you push it up or down
all the way, the turn signal continues
to blink even when you release the
lever. It shuts off automatically as
you complete the turn.
To reduce glare at night, the instru-
ment panel illumination dims when
you turn the light switch to or
. Turning the instrument panel
brightness control f ully to the lef t,
past the detent, will return the instru-
ment panel to its f ull brightness.
Instrument Panel Brightness T urn Signals
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols66
T T
U
UR RNN S
SIIGGN NAAL
L L
LEE V
V E
ER
R
I
IN
NS STTR
RU UM M E
EN
NT T P
PA
A N
NE EL
L
B
BR RIIGGH HT
TN
NE ES
SS S D
DI
IAA L
L
01/09/28 19:36:01 31SZ3660_069

The automatic climate control
system in your Acura picks the
proper combination of air condi-
tioning, heating, and ventilation to
maintain the interior temperature
you select. The system also adjusts
the fan speed and air flow levels.
The direction of air f low f rom the
vents in the center and each side of
the dashboard is adjustable. Move
the tab in the center of each vent up-
and-down and side-to-side.
Thesideventscanbeopenedand
closed with the dials next to them.The climate control system draws air
through the exterior vents at the
bottom of the windshield. Keep
these vents clear of leaves and other
debris.For the climate control system to
provide heating and cooling, the
engine must be running.
In the rear seat, you can also adjust
the ventilation when the climate con-
trol system is on (see page ). 126
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
114
C CEEN
NT TE
ER
R V
VE
EN
NT TS
S
O
Oppe
enn
C
Cl loo s
see
S
SI
IDD E
E V
VE
EN
NT TS
S
01/09/28 19:43:28 31SZ3660_117

You can manually select the f an
speedbyturningthefancontroldial.
When you turn the dial clockwise,
the fan is taken out of automatic
mode and starts to run at its lowest
speed. Turning the dial f ully
clockwise increases the f an’s speed,
which increases air flow.Use the MODE button to select the
vents the air flows from. Some air
will f low f rom the side vents and the
dashboard corner vents in all modes.
Each time you press the MODE
button, the display shows the mode
selected. Press the button four times
to see all the modes.
These two buttons control the
source of the air going into the sys-
tem. In Fresh Air mode ( ),
air is brought in f rom outside the ve-
hicle. In Recirculation mode
( ), air f rom the car’s interior
is sent through the system again.
You can, f or example, manually put
the system in recirculation mode
when driving through an area of
smoke or f umes. When you press
the or button, the
light in that button comes on.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Mode Button
Recirculat ed and Fresh A ir
Fan Cont rol Dial
118
M MO
ODDE
E B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N F
FAA N
N C
COON NTTR
RO OL L D
DI
IAA L
L
R
RE EC
CI IRRC CUUL LAA T
TE
ED
D A
AI
IRR F
FRRE ES
SH H A
AI
IRR
01/09/28 19:44:00 31SZ3660_121