You’ll f ind many saf ety
recommendations throughout this
section, and throughout this manual.
Therecommendationsonthispage
are the ones we consider to be the
most important.Excessive speed is a major f actor in
crash injuries and deaths. Generally,
the higher the speed the greater the
risk, but serious accidents can also
occur at lower speeds. Never drive
f aster than is saf e f or current
conditions, regardless of the
maximum speed posted.
A seat belt is your best protection in
all types of collisions. Airbags
supplement seat belts, but airbags
are designed to inf late only in a
moderate to severe f rontal collision.
So even though your car is equipped
with airbags, make sure you and
your passengers always wear your
seat belts, and wear them properly.
(See page .)
Children are saf est when they are
properly restrained in the back seat,
notthefrontseat.Achildwhoistoo
smallforaseatbeltmustbeproperly
restrained in a child saf ety seat. (See
page .) Having a tire blowout or a
mechanical f ailure can be extremely
hazardous. To reduce the possibility
of such problems, check your tire
pressures and condition f requently,
and perform all regularly scheduled
maintenance. (See page .)
Alcohol and driving don’t mix. Even
one drink can reduce your ability to
respond to changing conditions, and
your reaction time gets worse with
every additional drink. So don’t drink
and drive, and don’t let your f riends
drink and drive, either. While airbags can save lives, they
can cause serious or fatal injuries to
occupants who sit too close to them,
or are not properly restrained.
Inf ants, young children, and short
adults are at the greatest risk. Be
sure to f ollow all instructions and
warnings in this manual. (See page
.)
9
15
20 216
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Important Saf ety Precautions
Always Wear Your Seat Belt
Be Aware of Airbag Hazards Control Your Speed
K eep Your Car in Saf e Condition
Restrain All Children Don’t Drink and Drive
6
01/09/28 19:25:25 31SZ3660_009
For saf ety, you should check the
condition of your seat belts regularly.
Pull each belt out f ully and look f or
f rays, cuts, burns, and wear. Check
that the latches work smoothly and
that the lap/shoulder belts retract
easily. Any belt not in good condition
or not working properly will not
provide good protection and should
be replaced as soon as possible.
Acura provides a lif etime warranty
on seat belts. Acura will repair or
replace any seat belt component
that f ails to f unction properly
during normal use. Please see
your
booklet f or details.If a seat belt is worn during a crash,
it must be replaced by the dealer. A
belt that has been worn during a
crash may not provide the same level
of protection in a subsequent crash.
The dealer should also inspect the
anchors f or damage and replace
them if needed.
Automatic seat belt tensioners that
deployed during a crash must be
replaced.
For inf ormation on how to clean your
seat belts, see page .
277
Acura Warranty Inf ormation
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Additional Inf ormation About Your Seat Belts
Seat Belt Maintenance
U.S. Models
42
Not checking or maintaining
seat belts can result in serious
injury or death if the seat belts
do not work properly when
needed.
Check your seat belts regularly
and have any problem
corrected as soon as possible.
01/09/28 19:31:49 31SZ3660_045
High levels of carbon monoxide can
collect rapidly in enclosed areas,
such as a garage. Do not run the
engine with the garage door closed.
Even with the door open, run the
engine only long enough to move the
vehicle out of the garage.If you must sit in your parked car,
even in an unconf ined area, with the
engine running, adjust the climate
control system as f ollows:
Your car’s exhaust contains carbon
monoxide gas. You should have no
problem with carbon monoxide
entering the car in normal driving if
you maintain your car properly.
Have the exhaust system inspected
f or leaks whenever:
The car is raised f or an oil change.
You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust.
Thecarwasinanaccidentthat
may have damaged the underside. Select the Fresh Air mode.
Select the mode.
Set the f an speed to high.
Set the temperature control to a
comfortable setting.
With the trunk lid open, air f low can
pull exhaust gas into your car’s
interior and create a hazardous
condition. If you must drive with the
trunk lid open, open all the windows
and set the climate control system as
shown below.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
Driver and Passenger Saf ety49
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and even kill
you.
Avoid any enclosed areas or
activities that expose you to
carbon monoxide.
01/09/28 19:32:59 31SZ3660_052
Pressing the OFF button shuts the
climate control system completely
of f . Keep the system completely of f
only f or short periods. To keep stale
air and mustiness f rom collecting,
you should have the f an running at
all times.
When you set the temperature to its
lower limit (60°F/18°C) or its upper
limit (90°F/32°C), the system runs
at f ull cooling or heating only. It does
not regulate the interior temperature.
When the temperature is set between the lower and upper limits,
the system regulates the interior
temperature to the set value.
The system automatically selects the
proper mix of conditioned and/or
heated air that will, as quickly as
possible, raise or lower the interior
temperature f rom its current level to
the set temperature. To put the Automatic Climate
Control in f ully-automatic mode,
press the AUTO button and set the
f an control dial to AUTO, then set
the desired temperature by turning
the temperature control dial. You will
see FULL AUTO in the system’s
display. The light above either the
or button also goes
on to show you which is selected.
In cold weather, the fan will not
come on automatically until the car
has been driven f or a short time and
the heater starts to develop warm air.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Fully-automatic Operation
3.5 RL wit hout Navigat ion Syst em
116
T TE
EM
M P
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TU
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RO OL L D
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IAA L
L F
FU
UL LLL A
AU
UT TO
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D I
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LAA Y
Y F
FA
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RO OL L
D
D I
IAA L
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A
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01/09/28 19:43:42 31SZ3660_119
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You can manually select various
f unctions of the Climate Control
system when it is in FULL AUTO.
All other f eatures remain auto-
matically controlled. Making any
manual selection causes the word
FULL to go out.
When you turn the A/C of f , the sys-
tem cannot regulate the inside tem-
perature if you set the dial below the
outside temperature. With the A/C
on, use the temperature control dial
to adjust the temperature of the air
flow to a comfortable setting.With the A/C in economy mode, you
will see A/C ECON in the system’s
display. Use this mode to get better
f uel economy.
Press the A/C button to operate the
air conditioning. Each time you press
the A/C button, the display shows
the mode: A/C ECON, A/C OFF, or
A/C ON.
In this mode, you may f eel a slight re-
duction in cooling ef f iciency. If you
want more cooling, select A/C ON or
FULL AUTO.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Semi-automatic Operation
A ir Condit ioning (A /C) But t on
117
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EM
M P
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TU
UR REE
C
CO ON NTTR
RO OL L D
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IAA L
L A
A
I
IRR C
COON NDDI
ITT I
IOON NIINNG G
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N
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CI IRRC CUUL LAA T
TE
ED
D A
AI
IRR F
FRRE ES
SH H A
AI
IRR
01/09/28 19:43:52 31SZ3660_120
To put the Automatic Climate
Control in f ully-automatic mode,
press the AUTO button and set the
f an control dial to AUTO, then set
the desired temperature by turning
the temperature control dial. You will
see FULL AUTO in the system’s
display. The light above thebuttonalsoshowsyouwhich
mode, Recirculation or Fresh Air, is
selected.
When you set the temperature to its
lower limit (60°F/18°C) or its upper
limit (90°F/32°C), the system runs
at f ull cooling or heating only. It does
not regulate the interior temperature. When the temperature is set
between the lower and upper limits,
the system regulates the interior
temperature to the set value.
The system automatically selects the
proper mix of conditioned and/or
heated air that will, as quickly as
possible, raise or lower the interior
temperature f rom its current level to
the set temperature.
In cold weather, the fan will not
come on automatically until the car
has been driven f or a short time and
the heater starts to develop warm air.Pressing the OFF button shuts the
climate control system completely
of f . Keep the system completely of f
only f or short periods. To keep stale
air and mustiness f rom collecting,
you should have the f an running at
all times.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Fully-automatic Operation
3.5 RL wit h Navigat ion Syst em
121
F FU
UL LLL A
AU
UT TO
O
D
D I
ISSP PL
LAA Y
Y
O
OF FFF
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N A
A
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UT TO
O
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BU UT TT
TO
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RO OL L
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IAA L
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01/09/28 19:44:25 31SZ3660_124
You can manually select various
f unctions of the Climate Control
system when it is in FULL AUTO.
All other f eatures remain auto-
matically controlled. Making any
manual selection causes the word
FULL to go out.
When you turn the A/C of f , the sys-
tem cannot regulate the inside tem-
perature if you set the dial below the
outside temperature. With the A/C
on, use the temperature control dial
to adjust the temperature of the air
flow to a comfortable setting.With the A/C in economy mode, you
will see A/C ECON in the system’s
display. Use this mode to get better
f uel economy.
Press the A/C button to operate the
air conditioning. Each time you press
the A/C button, the display shows
the mode: A/C ECON, A/C OFF, or
A/C ON.
In this mode, you may f eel a slight re-
duction in cooling ef f iciency. If you
want more cooling, select A/C ON or
FULL AUTO.
Semi-automatic Operation
A ir Condit ioning (A /C) But t on
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures122
R RE
EC
CI IRRC CUUL LAA T
TI
IOON N B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N T
T
E
EM
M P
PE
ER
RA A T
TU
UR REE
C
CO ON NTTR
RO OL L D
DI
IAA L
L
A
A
I
IRR C
COON NDDI
ITT I
IOON NIINNG G
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N
01/09/28 19:44:34 31SZ3660_125
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