2002 Acura RL 3.5 Owner's Manual

Check the f luid level with the engine
at normal operating temperature.Remove the dipstick (yellow loop)
f rom the transmission and wipe it
with a clean cloth. Insert the dipstick into the
transmission. Make sure the notch
in the rubber cap f its in the
dipstick guide and that you push
the dipstick in all the way.
Remove the dipstick and check
the f luid level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
Park the car on level ground. Shut
of f the engine. If the level is below the lower
mark, add f luid into the tube to
bring it to the upper mark. Always
use Honda ATF-Z1 (Automatic
Transmission Fluid). If it is not
available, you may use a
DEXRON
III automatic
transmission f luid as a temporary
replacement. However, continued
use can affect shift quality. Have
the transmission f lushed and
ref illed with Honda ATF-Z1 as
soon as it is convenient.
To thoroughly f lush the
transmission, the technician
should drain and ref ill it with
Honda ATF-Z1 (Automatic
Transmission Fluid), then drive
the vehicle a short distance. Do
this three times. Then drain and
ref ill the transmission a f inal time.
1.
2. 3.
4.5.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
Maint enance238
D D
I
IPP S
ST TI
ICCK K G
GUUIIDD E
E D
D
I
IPP S
ST TI
ICCK K
U
UPPP
PE
ER
R M
M A
AR
RKK
L
LO OW WE ER
R M
M A
AR
RKK
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µµ
UseaSAE90orSAE80W-90
viscosity hypoid gear oil, API service
classif ied GL4 or GL5 only, in the
dif f erential.
The dif f erential oil should be drained
andrefilledwithnewoilaccordingto
the time and distance recommenda-
tions in the maintenance schedule. Viscosity
If it is not, slowly add oil until it
starts to run out of the hole. Reinstall
the f iller plug and tighten it securely. Check the oil in the dif f erential with
the car sitting level. Remove the oil
f iller plug and check that the oil level
is up to the edge of the hole.
Insert the dipstick back in the
transmission. Make sure the notch
f its in the dipstick guide and the
dipstick is down all the way.
The transmission should be drained
and ref illed with new f luid according
to the time and distance recommen-
dations in the maintenance schedule.
6.
Maint enance
Dif f erential Oil
Automatic Transmission Fluid, Dif f erential Oil
239
F FI ILLL LEE R
R P
PL
LUUG G
D
D R
RAA I
INN P
PL
LUUG G
C
Coor
rrreec ctt
l
le ev veell
SAE 90: above 0°F ( 18°C)
SAE 80W-90: below 0°F ( 18°C)
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The f luid level should be between
theMINandMAXmarksontheside
of the reservoir. If the level is at or
below the MIN mark, your brake
system needs attention. Have the
brake system inspected f or leaks or
worn brake pads.
Check the f luid level in the brake
f luid reservoir monthly.
The brake f luid should be replaced
according to the time recommenda-
tion in the maintenance schedule.
Always use Honda Heavy Duty
Brake Fluid DOT 3. If it is not
available, you should use only DOT 3
or DOT 4 f luid, f rom a sealed
container, as a temporary
replacement. However, the use of
any non-Honda brake fluid can cause
corrosion and decrease the lif e of the
system. Have the brake system
f lushed and ref illed with Honda
Heavy Duty Brake Fluid DOT 3 as
soon as possible.
Brake f luid marked DOT 5 is not
compatible with your car’s braking
system and can cause extensive
damage.
You should check the f luid level in
the power steering reservoir at least
once a year. Check the level when
the engine is cold. Look at the side
of the reservoir. The f luid should be
between the UPPER LEVEL and
LOWER LEVEL. If it is below the
LOWER LEVEL, add power steering
f luid to the UPPER LEVEL.
Brake System Power Steering
Brake Fluid
Maint enance
Brake Fluid, Power Steering
240
M M I
INN
M
M A
AX
X L
LO
OW WE ER
R
L
LE E V
V E
EL
L
U
UP
PP
PE
ER
R
L
LE E V
V E
EL
L
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The air cleaner element should be
cleaned or replaced according to the
time and distance recommendations
in the maintenance schedule.
Clean the air cleaner element by
blowing compressed air through it in
the opposite direction to normal air
f low. If you do not have access to
compressed air (such as a service
station), ask your Acura dealer to do
this service.
Follow the replacement procedure
for removal and reinstallation.
Always use Honda Power Steering
Fluid. If it is not available, you may
use another power steering f luid as
an emergency replacement.
However, continued use can cause
increased wear and poor steering in
cold weather. Have the power
steering system f lushed and ref illed
with Honda PSF as soon as possible.
A low power steering f luid level can
indicate a leak in the system. Check
the f luid level f requently and have
the system inspected as soon as
possible. Clean the hood latch assembly with a
mild cleaner, then lubricate it with a
multipurpose grease. Lubricate all
the moving parts (as shown),
including the pivot. Follow the time
and distance recommendations in
the Maintenance Schedule. If you
are not sure how to clean and grease
the latch, contact your Acura dealer.
CONT INUED
A ir Cleaner Element
Hood L atch
Maint enance
Power Steering, Hood L atch, A ir Cleaner Element
Cleaning (Severe Condit ions)
241
P P I
IVV O
OT TS
S
L
LA A T
TC
CH H
A
A S
SSSEEM
M B
BLLYY
T urning the steering wheel to f ull lef t
or right lock and holding it there can
damage the power steering pump.
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Place the new air cleaner element
in the air cleaner housing.
Reinstall the air cleaner housing
cover, snap the four hold-down
clamps back into place.
Remove the old air cleaner
element. Remove the air cleaner housing
cover. Do not disconnect the air
intake tube from the air cleaner
housing cover.
Unsnap the f our clamps holding
the air cleaner housing cover.
To replace it: The air cleaner element is inside the
air cleaner housing on the passenger’s
side of the engine compartment.
Caref ully clean the inside of the
air cleaner housing with a damp
rag.
1. 2.
3.
4.5.
6.
A ir Cleaner Element
Maint enance
Replacement
242
A A
I
IRR C
CLLEE A
A N
NE ER
R
E
E L
LEE M
M E
EN
NT T
C
CL
LAA M
M P
PS
S
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Clean up any dirt and oil that have
collected around the ignition coils. Remove the two bolts and the f our
nuts with a wrench and remove
the tower bar. Then remove the
A/C tube f rom the three clips.
Remove the two bolts and the
three nuts with a 7/16 inch (10
mm) wrench, then remove the
engine cover.
The spark plugs in your car are a
special platinum-tipped design f or
longer lif e. The spark plugs should
be replaced according to the time
and distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule.
1. 2.3.
CONT INUED
Replacement
Spark Plugs
Maint enance243
B BOOL LTT S
S N
NU
UTTS
S
B
BO
OL LTT S
S
N
NU UTTS
S
N
NU
UTTS
S
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Put the new spark plug into the
socket, then screw it into the hole.
Screw it in by hand so you do not
crossthread it.
Use a wrench to remove the two
bolts holding the ignition coil.
Remove the ignition coil by pulling
it straight out.
Remove the spark plug with
a f ive-eighths inch (16 mm) spark
plug socket.
Disconnect the wire connector
f rom the ignition coil by pushing
on the lock tab and pulling on the
connector. Pull on the plastic
connector, not the wires.
4. 5.
6.7.
Spark Plugs
Maint enance244
I IG
GN NIITT I
IOON N C
COOI ILL
I
IG
GN NIITT I
IOON N C
COOI ILL
L
LO OC CKK T
TA
A B
BC
CO
ON NNNEEC
CT TO
OR R B
BO
OL LTT S
S
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Install the ignition coil. Reinstall
the two hold-down bolts.
Repeat this procedure f or the
other f ive spark plugs.
Torque the spark plug. (If you do
not have a torque wrench, tighten
the spark plug two-thirds of a turn
af ter it contacts the cylinder head.)
Tightening torque: Put the A/C tube back in place.
Install the tower bar and tighten
the two bolts and the f our nuts.
Tightening torque:
Push the wire connector onto the
ignition coil. Make sure it locks in
place. Install the engine cover. First
tighten the two bolts on the front
of the engine cover, then tighten
the three nuts on the engine cover.
Tightening torque:
8. 9.
10.
11. 12.
13.
14.
CONT INUED
Spark Plugs
Maint enance245
13 lbf·ft (18 N·m , 1.8 kgf·m) 16 lbf·ft (22 N·m , 2.2 kgf·m)
7 lbf·ft (9.8 N·m , 1.0 kgf·m)
Tighten the spark plugs caref ully. A
spark plug that is too loose can
overheat and damage the engine.
Overtightening can cause damage to
the threads in the cylinder head.
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