2002 Acura RL checking oil

Refer toon page f or inf ormation
on checking other items in your
Acura. Look at the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it is
between the MAX and MIN lines. If
it is below the MIN line, see on page f or
informationonaddingtheproper
coolant.
Remove the dipstick again and
check the level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
If it is near or below the lower mark,
see on page .
Insert it all the way back in its tube. 4.
3.
227231
225
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving
Owner Maintenance
Checks A dding
Engine Coolant
A dding Oil
Engine Coolant Check
182
M M I
INN
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A
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X
L
LO OW WE ER
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M A
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RKK
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R M
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RV V E
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01/09/28 19:55:22 31SZ3660_185

Some of the most important saf ety
precautions are given here. However,
we cannot warn you of every
conceivable hazard that can arise in
perf orming maintenance. Only you
can decide whether or not you
should perf orm a given task.
This section includes instructions f or
simple maintenance tasks, such as
checking and adding oil. Any service
items not detailed in this section
should be perf ormed by an Acura
technician or other qualif ied
mechanic.
Regularly maintaining your car is the
best way to protect your investment.
Proper maintenance is essential to
your saf ety and the saf ety of your
passengers. It will also reward you
with more economical, trouble-f ree
driving and help reduce air pollution.
Maintenance Saf ety
Maint enance214
Failure to properly follow
maintenance instructions and
precautions can cause you to
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures
and precautions in this owner’s
manual.
Improperly maintaining this car
or failing to correct a problem
before driving can cause a
crash in which you can be
seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection
and maintenance
recommendations and
schedules in this owner’s
manual.
01/09/28 20:00:22 31SZ3660_217

This section covers the more-
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you inf ormation about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also f ind instructions
on getting your car towed.......................
Compact Spare Tire .282
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .283
..........
If Your Engine Won’t Start .288
Nothing Happens or theStarter Motor Operates ........................
Very Slowly .288
The Starter Operates ................................
Normally .289
................................
Jump Starting .290
............
If Your Engine Overheats .293
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .295
..........
Charging System Indicator .296
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .297
...............
Brake System Indicator .299
..................
Closing the Moonroof .300
..............................................
Fuses .301
..........
Checking and Replacing .302
......................
Emergency Towing .306
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed281
01/09/28 20:11:13 31SZ3660_284

CONT INUED
...
Accessories and Modif ications .184
................................
Accessories .184
.
Additional Safety Precautions .185
............................
Modif ications .185
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) .78
.............
Accessory Power Socket .108
....................
Additives, Engine Oil .228
.........................
Airbag (SRS) .9,43,45
.....................
Air Cleaner Element .241
.................
Air Conditioning Filter .252
..............
Air Conditioning System .114
..............................
Maintenance .251
.................................
Usage .116,121
.......................
Air Outlets (Vents) .114
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .253
...........................
Alarm, Anti-theft .156
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline .316
.......
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning .275
......................................
Antif reeze .231
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
...............................
Indicator .56, 199
...................................
Operation .199
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System . 156Anti-thef t Steering Column
..............................................
Lock .77
..........................
Anti-thef t System .157
..........................
Appearance Care .273
............................................
Armrest .89
.........................................
Ashtrays .110
...............
Audio Controls, Remote . 155
................................
Audio System .128
Automatic Climate Control ........................................
System .114
.........................
Automatic Lighting .64
Automatic Seat Belt ...................................
Tensioners .41
.............
Automatic Speed Control . 158
..............
Automatic Transmission . 192
..........................
Capacity,Fluid .312
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 238
.......................................
Shif ting .192
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 192
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 192
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 195Battery
Charging System ...........................
Indicator .54, 296
............................
Jump Starting .290
..............................
Maintenance .246
............................
Specif ications .313
..............................
Bef ore Driving .177
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,40
...........................
Beverage Holder .104
...................................
Body Repair .280
Brakes ...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 198
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 178
....................
Bulb Replacement .266
...........................................
Fluid .239
.......................................
Parking .102
.................
System Indicator . 54,299
........................
Wear Indicators .197
.............................
Braking System .197
........................
Break-in, New Car .198
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 66
........................
Brights, Headlights .63
Index
A B
I
01/09/28 20:18:43 31SZ3660_334

Î
Bulb Replacement..........................
Back-up Lights .266
..............................
Brake Lights .266
............................
Ceiling Lights .269
........................
Courtesy Lights .269
.................................
Fog Lights .263
........
Front Side Marker Lights .265
.................................
Headlights .262
.........
High-mount Brake Light .267
.................
License Plate Lights .268
............................
Specif ications .313
...............................
Trunk Light .270
....................
Turn Signal Lights .265
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .262
..................................
Cancel Button .75
............................
Capacities Chart .312
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard .49
............................
Carrying, Cargo .186
Cassette Player
............................................
Care .148
...........................
Operation .133,145
..............
CAUTION, Explanation of .ii
..................
CD Changer .136,149,151 ................................
Ceiling Lights .111
........................
Certif ication Label .310
............................................
Chains .259
Changing Oil
........................................
How to .229
......................................
When to .218
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .283
............
Changing Engine Coolant .233
...
Charging System Indicator .54,297
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving .190
.....................................
Child Saf ety .20
.......................................
Child Seats .24
............
Tether Anchorage Point .39
..................
Childproof Door Locks .82
..........................
Cigarette Lighter .109
...................................
Cleaner, Air .241
Cleaning
....................
Aluminum Wheels .275
...................................
Carpeting .276
......................................
Exterior .274
.........................................
Fabric .276
.......................................
Interior .276
.......................................
Leather .276
...................................
Seat Belts .276
...........................................
Vinyl .276
....................................
Windows .277 ................................
Wood Trim .277
...............
Climate Control System .114
.........................
Clock, Setting the .102
.....................
Code, Audio System .136
........................
CO in the Exhaust .318
........................................
Coin Box .106
............
Cold Weather, Starting in .191
..............................
Compact Spare .282
.................
Console Compartment .106
...............
Consumer Inf ormation .324
.............
Controls, Instruments and .51
Coolant
........................................
Adding .231
....................................
Checking .182
.........................
Proper Solution .231
...................................
Replacing .233
...................
Temperature Gauge .60
....................
Corrosion Protection .279
............................
Courtesy Lights .117
Crankcase Emissions Control
........................................
System .318
............
Cruise Control Operation .158
..........
Customer Relations Of f ice .324
Index
C
II
01/09/28 20:18:49 31SZ3660_335

CONT INUED
................
DANGER, Explanation of .ii
...................................
Dashboard .2,52
................
Daytime Running Lights .65
............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety .327
................
Def ogger, Rear Window .71
......
Def rosting the Windows .120,124
..............................
Dif f erential Oil .239
....................................
Dimensions .312
...............
Dimming the Headlights .63
Dipstick
..........
Automatic Transmission .238
..................................
Engine Oil .181
..........................
Directional Signals .66
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators .197
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .230
Doors
..............
Locking and Unlocking .78
....................
Lockout Prevention .79
..............................
Monitor Light .57
......................
Power Door Locks .78
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading .314
.....................................
Drive Belts .252
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety .5 ...........................................
Driving .189
....................................
Economy .183
.........................
In Bad Weather .204
................
In Foreign Countries .317
Driving Position Memory ..........................................
System .97
..............................
Economy, Fuel .183
............
Emergencies on the Road .281
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 290
...........
Brake System Indicator . 299
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 283
.....
Charging System Indicator . 296
..................
Checking the Fuses . 302
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 295
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 297
...
Manually Closing Moonroof . 300
..................
Overheated Engine . 293
.........................
Emergency Brake .102
......................
Emergency Flashers .70
......................
Emergency Towing .306
.......................
Emissions Controls .318
..............
Emissions Testing,State . 321Engine
............................................
Belts .252
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 60
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp .55, 297
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 54,295
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 227
...............................
Overheating .293
............................
Specif ications .313
............................
Speed Limiter .194
.......................................
Starting .191
...................
Engine Speed Limiter . 194
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .316
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 318
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .49
Exhaust Gas Recirculation ........................................
System .319
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .18
..................
Exterior,Cleaningthe .274
............................
Fabric, Cleaning .276
Index
D
E
F
III
01/09/28 20:18:55 31SZ3660_336

..........................
Fan, Interior .118,123
Features, Comfort and
..............................
Convenience .113
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank .179
Filters
................................
Air Cleaner .241
.......................
Air Conditioning .252
...............................................
Oil .229
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning .70
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a .283
Fluids
..........
Automatic Transmission .238
..........................................
Brake .239
................................
Differential .239
..........................
Power Steering .240
..................
Windshield Washer .237
FM Stereo Radio ...........................
Reception .129,139
........................................
Fog Lights .67
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in .317
..........................
Four-way Flashers .70
..............................
Front Airbags .9,43
.................................................
Fuel .178
......................
Fill Door and Cap .179
...........................................
Gauge .60
................
Octane Requirement .178 ...............................
Oxygenated .316
........................
Reserve Indicator .57
........................
Tank, Filling the .179
..............
Fuel Mileage, Improving .183
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .302
..........................................
Gasohol .316
.........................................
Gasoline .178
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator .57
...........................................
Gauge .60
................
Octane Requirement .178
........................
Tank, Filling the .179
................
Gas Station Procedures .179
.............................................
Gauges .58
...
Engine Coolant Temperature .60
...............................................
Fuel .60
...............................
Speedometer .58
.................................
Tachometer .58
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight .......................................
Rating) .207
............
Gearshif t Lever Positions . 192
..............................
Glass Cleaning .278
........................................
Glove Box .88 GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
.......................................
Rating) .207
.............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs . 262
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers . 70
Headlights ....................
Automatic Lighting .64
............
Daytime Running Lights . 65
..................
High Beam Indicator . 57
....................
Lights On Indicator .55
.........................
Reminder Chime .63
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs . 262
...................................
Turning on .63
..............................
Head Restraints .88
.....................
Heating and Cooling .114
.............
High Altitude, Starting at . 191
.................
High-Low Beam Switch . 63
..............
High-mount Brake Light . 267
HomeLink Universal ...............................
Transmitter .162
....................................
Hood Latch .241
.......................
Hood, Opening the .180
..................................................
Horn .62
.................................
Hydroplaning .205
Index
G H
IV
01/09/28 20:19:00 31SZ3660_337

...................
Methanol in Gasoline .316
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .91
.......................................
Moonroof .100
......................
Closing Manually .300
...................................
Operation .100
...................
Neutral Gear Position .193
..................
New Vehicle Break-in .178
...................
NOTICE, Explanation of .i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication .310
...................
Radiator Overheating .293
...
Radio/Cassette Sound System .128
...........................
Readiness Codes .298
..
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement .264
..........................
Rear Seat Armrest .90
............................
Rear Ventilation .126
............................
Rear View Mirror .91
.................
Rear Window Def ogger .71
...............
Reclining the Seat Backs .87
.............................
Reminder Lights .53
.......................
Remote Transmitter .79
Replacement Inf ormation
.................
Air Cleaner Element .241
.............
Air Conditioning Filter . 252
..............................
Paint Touch-up .275
..............
Panel Brightness Control . 66
........................
Park Gear Position .193
...........................................
Parking .196
...............................
Parking Brake .106
Parking Brake and Brake .................
System Indicator . 54,299
.................................
Parking Lights .63
..
Parking Over Things that Burn . 320
.............................
PGM-FI System .319
..................
Polishing and Waxing . 275
............
Pre-Drive Saf ety Checklist . 11
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . 18............................
Protecting Adults .12
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 19
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 18
........................
Protecting Children .20
.......................
Protecting Inf ants .28
.......
Protecting Larger Children . 35
.........
Protecting Small Children . 32
Using Child Seats with .....................................
Tethers .39
...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 178
.........................................
Odometer .59
...............................
Odometer, Trip .59
Oil ........................
Change, How to .229
......................
Change, When to .218
......................
Checking Engine .181
..............
Pressure Indicator . 54,295
Selecting Proper Viscosity ......................................
Chart .228
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 80Onboard Ref ueling Vapor
....................................
Recovery .310
............................................
OnStar .167
.........................
Opening the Trunk .83
..
Operation in Foreign Countries . 317
..............................
Outside Mirrors .91
....
Outside Temperature Indicator . 59
....................
Overheating, Engine .293
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 225
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels .316
Index
N
O P
R
VI
01/09/28 20:19:16 31SZ3660_339