2002 Acura RL 3.5 Owner's Manual

Check each of the large f uses in
the under-hood f use box by
looking through the top at the wire
inside. Removing these f uses
requires a Phillips-head screw-
driver.Check the smaller f uses in the
under-hood f use box and all the
fuses in the interior fuse box by
pulling out each f use with the f use
puller provided in the door of the
interior f use box.
Remove the cover f rom the f use
box. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK
(0). Make sure the headlights and
all other accessories are off.
If something electrical in your car
stops working, the f irst thing you
should check f or is a blown f use.
Determine f rom the chart on pages
and , or the diagram on the
fuse box lid, which fuse or fuses
control that component. Check those
f uses f irst, but check all the f uses
bef ore deciding that a blown f use is
not the cause. Replace any blown
f uses and check the component’s
operation. 3.
1.
2. 4.
304 305
Checking and Replacing Fuses
Fuses
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed302
B BL
LOOW WN N F
FU
US SEE
P
P U
UL LLLEE R
R
F
FU
US SEE
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Look f or a burned wire inside the
f use. If it is burned, replace it with
oneof thesparefusesof thesame
rating or lower.If you cannot drive the car without
f ixing the problem, and you do not
have a spare fuse, take a fuse of the
same rating or a lower rating f rom
one of the other circuits. Make sure
youcandowithoutthatcircuit
temporarily (such as the cigarette
lighter or radio).
If you replace the blown f use with a
spare f use that has a lower rating, it
might blow out again. This does not
indicate anything wrong. Replace the
f use with one of the correct rating as
soon as you can.
If the replacement fuse of the
same rating blows in a short time,
there is probably a serious
electrical problem in your car.
Leave the blown fuse in that
circuit and have your car checked
by a qualif ied mechanic.
If the radio f use is removed, the
audio system will disable itself . The
nexttimeyouturnontheradioyou
will see ‘‘Code’’ in the f requency
display. Use the Preset buttons to
enter the f ive-digit code (see page ).
5.
6.
156
CONT INUED
Fuses
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed303
B BL LOOW WN N
Replacing a f use with one that has a
higher rating greatly increases the
chances of damaging the electrical
system. If you do not have a replace-
ment f use with the proper rating f or the
circuit, install one with a lower rating.
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µ
No. Amps. Circuits Protected No. Amps. Circuits Protected
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15 20 A
10 A
20 A
15 A
20 A
20 A
20 A
20 A
20 A
10 A
10 A
20 A
30 A
30 A Not Used
Stop, Horn
Hazard
Driver Power Window
TCS
VSA
Power Door Lock
Right Headlight Low
Left Headlight Low
Cooling Fan
Lef t Headlight High
Right Headlight High
Condenser Fan
Moonroof
Front Passenger’s Power
Seat 16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
20 A
20 A
15 A
7.5 A 20 A
30 A
50 A
40 A
40 A
120 A 40 A
40 A
50 A Front Fog Light
ETS (Electrical Tilt/
Telescope Steering)
Meter
Back-up, Radio
Interior Lights
Wiper Motor
Ignition Switch
Power Window
Heater Motor
Battery
VSA Motor
Rear Window Defogger
Fuse box
Fuses
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed304
UNDER-HOOD FUSE BOX
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Î
Î
µ
µ
Î
On Canadian models
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13 Small Light
Not Used (OP)
Rear Window Defogger
Relay, Cooling Fan Relay
Radio, ACC
A/C Clutch, Heated Seat
ECU (PCM)
SRS
Driver’s Power Seat
Bose Audio System
Daytime Running Lights
Driver’s Power Seat
Daytime Running Lights
Meter, Moonroof 14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
7.5 A
7.5 A
10 A
7.5 A 20 A
7.5 A 20 A
20 A
20 A
7.5 A 20 A
30 A
15 A
7.5 A 10 A
20 A
20 A
10 A
20 A
20 A
10 A
20 A
7.5 A
7.5 A Starter Signal
ACG
ACC Socket
Power Window MPCS
Front Right Power Window
Mirror
ECU (Body)
Rear Right Power Window
Fuel Pump
SRS
Rear Lef t Power Window
Ignition Coils
Not Used
1:
No. Circuits Protected No. Amps.
Amps. Circuits Protected
1
1
Fuses
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed305
INTERIOR FUSE BOX
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µµ µ
There are three popular types of
prof essional towing equipment. If your car needs to be towed, call a
prof essional 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. The operator
loads your car on the back of a truck.
The tow
truck uses two pivoting arms that go
under the tires (f ront or rear) and lif t
them of f the ground. The other two
tires remain on the ground. The tow
truck uses metal cables with hooks
on the ends. These hooks go around
parts of the f rame or suspension and
the cables lif t that end of the car of f
the ground. Your car’s suspension
and body can be seriously damaged.
If your Acura cannot be transported
by f lat-bed, it should be towed by
wheel-lif t equipment with the f ront
wheels of f the ground. If , due to
damage, your car must be towed
with the f ront wheels on the ground,
do the f ollowing.
Release the parking brake.
Shif t the transmission to Neutral. With the f ront wheels on the ground,
it is best to tow the car no farther
than 50 miles (80 km), and keep the
speedbelow35mph(55km/h).Flat -bed Equipment
Wheel-lif t Equipment Sling-t ype Equipment
This is the best way to transport
your A cura.
T his is
an acceptable way to tow your
Acura. T his method of towing is
unacceptable.
Emergency T owing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed306
Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Follow the
above procedure exactly. If you cannot
shif t the transmission or start the
engine, your car must be transported
with the f ront wheels of f the ground.
01/09/28 20:15:12 31SZ3660_309

If you decide to tow your car with all
f our 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 of f so they do not
rundownthebattery.
Emergency T owing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed307
Trying to lif t or tow your car by the
bumpers will cause serious damage.
The bumpers are not designed to
support the car’s weight.
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
f reely bef ore you begin towing.
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308
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Thediagramsinthissectiongive
you the dimensions and capacities of
your Acura, and the locations of the
identif ication numbers. It also
includes inf ormation you should
know about your vehicle’s tires and
emissions control systems.................
Identif ication Numbers .310
................................
Specif ications .312
DOT Tire Quality Grading
.............................
(U.S.Cars) .314
.................................
Treadwear .314
......................................
Traction .314
.............................
Temperature .315
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels .316
......
Driving in Foreign Countries .317 .......................
Emissions Controls .318
.....................
The Clean Air Act .318
Crankcase Emissions Control
....................................
System .318
Evaporative Emissions Control ....................................
System .318
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor ................................
Recovery .318
...
Exhaust Emissions Controls .319
....................
PGM-FI System .319
Ignition Timing Control
................................
System .319
Exhaust Gas Recirculation ...................
(EGR) System .319
Three Way Catalytic ...........................
Converter .319
....................
Replacement Parts .319
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter .320
..............
State Emissions Testing .321
T echnical Inf ormat ion
T echnical Inf ormation309
01/09/28 20:15:25 31SZ3660_312