2004 Acura RL service

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Contact
the OnStar advisor if you need
assistance with a problem (f lat tire,
out of f uel, etc.) while traveling. The
advisor will contact an appropriate
agency to come and assist you.
Contact an
OnStar advisor if you have an
emergency situation. The advisor
will contact the nearest emergency
services provider (ambulance, f ire
department, etc.) and advise them of
your situation. The OnStar
advisor can help you if you are ever
in a minor accident by asking you f or
inf ormation about the accident.
Complete, detailed inf ormation will
make it easier to complete accident
reports and insurance claims.
The OnStar system uses the Global
Positioning System (GPS) to locate
your car whenever you place a call.
This allows the advisor to quickly
contact the nearest services without
requiring you to provide detailed
directions.
If you are ever in an
accident that causes the airbags to
deploy, the OnStar system
automatically places a call (provided
the OnStar system and your car’s
electrical system are still intact). The
advisor will attempt to speak to you
to evaluate the situation, and contact
the nearest emergency services
provider. By sending a signal to your car,
the advisor can lock or unlock your
car’s doors. This is helpf ul if you are
away from your car and realize you
f orgot to lock the doors, or if you
have locked the keys in your car. To
get OnStar’s assistance, call (888) 4-
ONSTAR (466-7827).
Using
GPS, OnStar can locate your car
almost anywhere. If your car is ever
stolen, contact OnStar at (888)
4-ONSTAR. The advisor will put you
in contact with the proper authorities,
and assist them with locating your
car.
Roadside Assistance
Emergency Services
A ccident A ssist
Saf e and Sound Plan Features Automatic Notif ication of Airbag
DeploymentRemote Door L ocking/Unlocking
Stolen Vehicle T racking
OnSt ar
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures194

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The Luxury and Leisure plan
provides all the benef its of the other
plans, and adds:
An OnStar advisor can assist you
with purchasing theater tickets,
airline tickets, rental car reservations
for a vacation, and just about any
other purchase you desire.
The Directions and Connections
Plan provides these additional
f eatures.
The OnStar advisor can
give you inf ormation on nearby
hotels, restaurants, ATMs, hospitals,
gas stations, and many other
services in any area you are traveling
in. The advisor can also help you
with hotel or restaurant reservations. If you need a ride
(taxi, limousine service, etc.) the
OnStar advisor can make the
arrangements f or you. Use the
OnStar button or call (888)
4-ONSTAR. The OnStar
advisor can give you verbal
directions f rom your current location
to a desired destination.
From your computer, you can log
into www. myonstar.com to make
dinner reservations, purchase tickets
to events, send f lowers, etc. If you are unable to locate your car in
a large parking lot or parking
structure, contact OnStar at (888) 4-
ONSTAR. The advisor will remotely
activate the exterior lights and the
horn, allowing you to locate your car. Luxury and Leisure Plan
Features
Personal Concierge Services
Directions and Connections Plan
Features
Inf ormation and Convenience
Services Ride Assist Route Support
Online Concierge Services Misplaced Vehicle Assistance
OnSt ar
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures195

Bef ore you begin driving your Acura,
youshouldknowwhatgasolineto
use, and how to check the levels of
important f luids. You also need to
know how to properly store luggage
or packages. The inf ormation in this
section will help you. If you plan to
add any accessories to your car,
please read the inf ormation in this
section f irst..............................
Break-in Period .204
.........................................
Gasoline .204
.........
Service Station Procedures . 205
................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 205
....................
Opening the Hood .206
...............................
Oil Check .207
.........
Engine Coolant Check . 208
...............................
Fuel Economy .209
.....................
Vehicle Condition .209
...........................
Driving Habits .209
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 210
.............................
Carrying Cargo .212
Bef ore Driving
Bef ore Driving203

During this period:Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration. If you are unable to f ind premium
unleaded gasoline, you may substi-
tute an unleaded regular gasoline.
The engine will compensate f or the
lower octane, but you may notice a
slight decrease in power as a result.
We recommend gasolines containing
detergent additives that help prevent
f uel system and engine deposits.
Avoidhardbraking.Newbrakes
need to be broken-in by moderate
use f or the f irst 200 miles (300
km). Your Acura is designed to operate on
premium unleaded gasoline with a
pump octane number of 91 or higher.
In Canada, some gasolines contain
an octane-enhancing additive called
MMT. If you use such gasolines,
your emissions control system
perf ormance may deteriorate and
the Malf unction Indicator Lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on.
If this happens, contact your
authorized Acura dealer f or service.
Help assure your car’s f uture
reliability and perf ormance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).
Using gasoline containing lead will
damage your car’s emissions
controls. This contributes to air
pollution.
Do not change the oil until the
recommended time or mileage
intervalshowninthemaintenance
schedule.
Youshouldfollowthesesamere-
commendations with an overhauled
or exchanged engine, or when the
brakes are relined.
Break-in Period, Gasoline
Bef ore Driving
Break-in Period Gasoline
204

Open the f uel f ill door by pulling
onthehandletotheleftof the
driver’s seat.Remove the f uel f ill cap slowly.
You may hear a hissing sound as
pressure inside the tank escapes.
Place the cap in the holder on the
fuel fill door.
Stop f illing the tank af ter the f uel
nozzle automatically clicks of f . Do
not try to ‘‘top of f ’’ the tank, leave
some room f or the f uel to expand
with temperature changes.
Your car has an on-board ref ueling
vapor recovery system to help
keep f uel vapors f rom going into
the atmosphere. If the fuel nozzle
keeps clicking of f even though the
tank is not f ull, there may be a
problem with this system. Consult
your dealer.
Because the f uel f ill cap is on the
driver’s side of the vehicle, park
with that side closest to the
service station pumps.
1.
2. 3.
4.
CONT INUED
Filling the Fuel Tank
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving205
Pull
FUEL FILL CAP
Gasoline is highly flammable
and explosive. You can be
burned or seriously injured
when handling fuel.Stop the engine and keep
heat, sparks, and flame away.
Handle fuel only outdoors.
Wipe up spills immediately.

Shift to Park or Neutral and set
the parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower lef t corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.
Push the f uel f ill door closed until
it latches.
Standing in f ront of the vehicle,
reach in between the hood and the
f ront bumper with your f inger.
Slide the latch handle.
Screw the f uel f ill cap back on,
tighten it until it clicks at least
three times. If you do not properly
tighten the cap, the Malfunction
Indicator Lamp may come on (see
page ).
1. 2.
5.
6.
323
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving
Opening the Hood
206
HOOD RELEASE HANDLE
LATCH HANDLE

CONT INUED
Wipe the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel.
Remove the dipstick (orange
handle).
If you can open the hood without
sliding the hood latch handle, or the
hood latch handle moves stif f ly or
does not spring back as bef ore, the
mechanism should be cleaned and
lubricated (see page ).
Lif t the hood up most of the way.
The hydraulic supports will lif t it
uptherestof thewayandholdit
up.
To close the hood, lower it to about a
f oot (30 cm) above the f ender, then
press down f irmly with your hands.
Afterclosingthehood,makesureit
is securely latched. Check the engine oil level every time
you f ill the vehicle with f uel. Wait a
f ew minutes af ter turning the engine
of f bef ore you check the oil.2.
1.
3.
267
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving
Oil Check
207
DIPSTICK

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
inf ormation on adding the proper
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.
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251
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving
Owner Maintenance
Checks A dding
Engine Coolant
A dding Oil
Engine Coolant Check
208
UPPER MARK
LOWER MARK RESERVE TANK
MAX
MIN