2003 Acura CL ECO mode

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
20 228
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

Many parents say they pref er to put
an inf ant or small child in the f ront
passenger seat so they can watch the
child, or because the child requires
attention.
Placing a child in the f ront seat
exposes the child to hazards f rom
the passenger’s f ront airbag, and
paying close attention to a child
distracts the driver f rom the
important tasks of driving, placing
both of you at risk.
If a child requires physical attention
or f requent visual contact, we
strongly recommend that another
adult ride with the child in the back
seat. The back seat is far safer for a
child than the front.
Place the largest child in the f ront
seat, provided the child is large
enough to wear a seat belt
properly (see page ).
Move the vehicle seat as far to the
rear as possible (see page ).
Have the child sit upright and well
backintheseat(seepage ).
Make sure the seat belt is properly
positioned and secured (see page
). Leaving children without
adult supervision is illegal in most
states and Canadian provinces,
and can be very hazardous. For
example, inf ants and small
childrenleftinavehicleonahot
day can die f rom heatstroke. And
children lef t alone with the key in
the ignition can accidentally set
the vehicle in motion, possibly
injuring themselves or others.
Your car has two seating positions in
the back seat where children can be
properly restrained.
If you ever have to carry more than
twochildreninyourcar:
Children who play in cars can
accidentally get trapped inside the
trunk and be seriously injured or
could die. Teach your children not
to play in or around cars. Know
how to operate the emergency
trunk opener (US models only)
and decide if your children should
be shown how to use this f eature
(see page ).
17
15 13
36
89
If a Child Requires Close
Attention
If You Must Drive with Several
Children Additional Saf ety Precautions
Do not leave children alone in your
vehicle.
Lock both doors and the trunkwhen your car is not in use.
Protecting Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety24

Bef ore purchasing a child seat, we
recommend that parents test the
child seat in the specif ic vehicle
seating position (or positions) where
they intend to use the seat. If a
previously purchased child seat does
not f it, you may need to buy a
dif f erent one that will f it.
Due to variations in the design of
child seats, vehicle seats, and seat
belts, all child seats will not f it all
vehicle seating positions.
A child who is too
large f or a rear-f acing child seat, and
who can sit up without support,
should be restrained in a f orward-
f acing child seat. See page f or
additional inf ormation on protecting
small children. However, Acura is conf ident that one
or more child seat models can f it and
be properly installed in all
recommended seating positions in
your car.
32T he child seat should f it the vehicle seat ing posit ion (orposit ions) where it will be used.
Small Children: 3.
Protecting Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety26

Only a rear-f acing child seat provides
proper support f or a baby’s head,
neck, and back. Inf ants up to about
one year of age must be restrained in
a rear-f acing child seat.In this car, a rear-f acing child seat
can be placed in any seating position
in the back seat, but not in the front
seat.
Two types of seats may be used: a
seat designed exclusively f or inf ants,
or a convertible seat used in the rear-
f acing, reclining mode. If the passenger’s
f ront airbag inf lates, it can hit the
back of the child seat with enough
f orce to kill or seriously injure an
inf ant. If an inf ant must be closely
watched, we recommend that
another adult sit in the back seat
with the baby.
If placed
f acing f orward, an inf ant could be
very seriously injured during a
f rontal collision.
We recommend that an inf ant be
restrained in a rear-f acing child seat
until the inf ant is at least one year
old, reaches the seat maker’s weight
or height limit, and is able to sit up
without support.
CONT INUED
Protecting Inf ants
Child Seat T ype Rear-Facing Child Seat Placement
Never put a rear-f acing child seat inthe front seat.
Do not put a rear-f acing child seat ina f orward-f acing position.
Protecting Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety29
Placing a rear-facing child seat
in the front seat can result in
serious injury or death if the
passenger’s front airbag inflates.
Always place a rear-facing child
seat in the back seat, not the
front.

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.
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). 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. Your vehicle is equipped with dual-
stage, dual-threshold airbags to help
reduce the chance of airbag-caused
injuries.
44 49
SRS Components
How Your Front A irbags Work
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety46

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
Saf ety L abels
Driver and Passenger Saf ety53
RADIATOR CAP
SUN VISOR
HOOD DASHBOARD

If this light comes on and stays on at
any other time, or it does not come
on when you turn the ignition switch
ON (II), there is a problem with the
VSA system. Take the car to your
dealer to have it checked. Without
VSA, your car still has normal
driving ability, but will not have VSA
traction and stability enhancement.
See page f or more inf ormation
on the VSA system. This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch ON (II).This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch ON (II). See pagef or more inf ormation on the
VSA system. It comes on along with the VSA
system indicator if there is a
problem with the VSA system. It flashes when VSA is active (see
page ). Itcomesonasareminderthatyou
have turned of f the Vehicle
Stability Assist (VSA) system.
This indicator has three f unctions: This indicator has three f unctions:
Itcomesonasareminderthatyou
have turned off the Traction
Control System.
It f lashes when the TCS is
regulating wheelspin.
If itcomesonandstaysonwhen
the Traction Control System is on,
it indicates that there is a problem
in the TCS.
This light also comes on when you
turn the ignition ON (II) and goes off
af ter the engine starts. See page f or more inf ormation on the
TCS.
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
3.
212
212
212
209
On Premium model
On Type-S with A/T
On Type-S with A/T
Vehicle Stability Assist
(VSA ) System Indicator VSA A ctivation Indicator
T raction Control System
(T CS) Indicator
Indicator L ights
Inst rument s and Cont rols62

CONT INUED
Panic mode will not activate if the
ignition switch is in the ON (II)
position. Panic mode allows you to remotely
activate your car’s security system to
attract attention. When activated, the
horn will sound, and the exterior
lights will f lash, f or about 30 seconds.
To activate panic mode, press and
hold the PANIC button for about two
seconds. To turn it back on, repeat this
procedure. The LED will come on
f or one second to indicate the
f eature has been turned on.
To cancel Panic mode bef ore 30
seconds, press any button on the
remote transmitter. You can also
turn the ignition switch to ON (II).When the remote transmitter’s
battery begins to get weak, it may
take several pushes on the button to
lock or unlock the doors, and the
LED will not light. Replace the
battery as soon as possible.
Battery type: CR2025
To replace the battery, place a cloth
on the edge of the transmitter and
remove the upper half by carefully
prying on the edge with a small f lat-
tip screwdriver.
Replacing the Battery
Panic Mode
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols85