2004 Acura RL 3.5 Owner's Manual

Check the operation of your car’s
exterior lights at least once a month.
A burned out bulb can create an
unsaf e condition by reducing your
car’s visibility and the ability to
signal your intentions to other
drivers.
Lights
Maint enance286
HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT
FRONT FOG LIGHT TURN SIGNAL/ PARKING LIGHTSIDE MARKER LIGHT

Check the f ollowing:Headlights (low and high beam)
Fog lights
Parking lights
Taillights
Brake lights
Turn signals
Back-up lights
Hazard light f unction
License plate lights
Side marker lights
High-mount brake light
Daytime running lights (Canadian
models)
If you f ind any bulbs are burned out,
replace them as soon as possible.
Refer to the chart on page to
determine what type of replacement
bulb is needed. 339
Lights
Maint enance287
HIGH-MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT
TURN SIGNAL LIGHT
LICENSE PLATE
LIGHTS BACK-UP LIGHT BRAKE/TAILLIGHTS

Halogen bulbs are used f or the high
beam headlight bulbs. When
replacing a high beam headlight bulb,
handle it by its base and protect the
glass from contact with your skin or
hard objects. If you touch the glass,
clean it with denatured alcohol and a
clean cloth.Open the hood.
Remove the electrical connector
f rom the bulb by pulling the
connector straight back.
Remove the rubber weather seal
by pulling on the tab.
Theheadlightswereproperlyaimed
when your car was new. If you
regularly carry heavy items in the
trunk or pull a trailer, readjustment
may be required. Adjustment of the
headlights should be perf ormed by
an Acura technician or other
qualif ied mechanic.
The low beam headlight bulbs are a
type of high voltage discharge tube.
High voltage can remain in the
circuit even with the light switch of f
and the key removed. Because of
this, you should not attempt to
examine or change a low beam
headlight bulb yourself . If a low
beam headlight bulb fails, take the
vehicle to your dealer to have it
replaced. 1.
2.
3.
Lights
Maint enance
Headlight A iming
Replacing a High Beam Headlight
Bulb
288
Halogen bulbs get very hot when lit. Oil,
perspiration, or a scratch on the glass
can cause the bulb to overheat and
shatter.

à
Unclip the end of the hold-down
wire f rom its slot. Pivot it out of
the way and remove the bulb.
Insert the new bulb into the hole,
making sure the bulb is right side
up and the nubs on the bulb base
f it in the indentations in the
headlight assembly. Pivot the hold-
down wire back in place and clip
the end into the slot. Install the rubber seal over the
back of the headlight assembly.
Make sure it is right side up; it is
marked ‘‘ .’’
Push the electrical connector onto
the new bulb.
Turn on the headlights to test the
new bulb.
Your car uses halogen f og light
bulbs. See page f or inf ormation
on replacing a halogen bulb.
4.
5. 6.
7.
288
CONT INUED
Lights
Maint enance
ReplacingaFogLightBulb
289
WEATHER SEAL BULB
CONNECTOR HOLD-DOWN WIRE

à
Put the light assembly into the
bumper. Tighten the mounting
bolt. Push the electrical connector onto
the new bulb. Turn on the f ront
f og lights to test the new bulb. Install the rubber seal over the
back of the f og light assembly.
Make sure it is right side up; it is
marked ‘‘ .’’
Use a wrench to loosen the light
assembly’s mounting bolt.
Remove the light assembly f rom
the bumper.
Remove the electrical connector
f rom the bulb by pulling the
connector straight back. Remove the rubber weather seal
by pulling on the tab.
Unclip the end of the hold-down
wire f rom its slot. Pivot the wire
out of the way and remove the
bulb.Insert the new bulb into the hole,
making sure the bulb is right side
up and the nubs on the bulb base
f it in the indentations in the f og
light assembly. Pivot the hold-
down wire back in place and clip
the end into the slot.
1.
2.
3. 4.
5.6.
7.
8.
9.
Lights
Maint enance290
CONNECTOR
BOLT HOLD-DOWN WIRE
WEATHER SEAL
BULB

To remove the f ront turn signal/
parking light bulb, push it in
slightly and turn it
counterclockwise. To remove the
side marker bulb, pull it straight
out of its socket.
Install the new bulb into the
socket.
Remove the socket from the
headlight assembly by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise. Pull the inner f ender cover back.
Use a f lat-tipped screwdriver to
remove the holding clip f rom the
inner f ender.
If you are changing the bulb on
the driver’s side, start the engine,
turn the steering wheel all the way
to the right, and turn off the
engine. If you are changing the
bulb on the passenger’s side, turn
the steering wheel to the left. Put the inner f ender cover in place.
Install the holding clip. Lock it in
place by pushing on the center. Testthelightstomakesurethe
new bulb is working. Insert the socket back into the
headlight assembly. Turn it
clockwise to lock it in place.
1. 2.
3.
4.5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Lights
Maint enance
Replacing Front Turn Signal/
Parking and Side Marker Light
Bulbs
291
HOLDING CLIP

Open the trunk.Pull the bulb straight out of its
socket.
Push the new bulb straight into
the socket until it bottoms.
Reinstall the socket into the light
assembly by turning it clockwise
until it locks.
Testthelightstomakesurethe
new bulb is working.
Undo the f astener on the side of
the trunk lining by pushing on the
center of the f astener’s head until
it pops in. Pull the lining back. Remove the socket by turning it one-quarter turn counterclockwise.Reinstall the trunk lining. Make
sure it is installed under the edge
of the trunk seal.
Determine which of the f our bulbs
is burned out: brake/taillights,
back-up light, or turn signal.
1.
3. 2.4.
5.
6.
7.
Replacing Rear Bulbs
Lights
Maint enance292
FASTENER

Open the trunk and remove the
socket f rom the light assembly by
turning it one-quarter turn counter-
clockwise.
Reset the f astener by pushing on
the pointed end until it pops back
almost f lush with the f ingers on
the housing.
Put the f astener in the hole in the
side of the trunk lining and push
on the center until it locks (the
center is f lush with the head). Reinstall the socket. Turn it
clockwise until it locks.
Install the new bulb in the socket. Remove the bulb by pushing it in
slightly and turning it counter-
clockwise. Testthelightstomakesurethe
new bulb is working.
1.
2.
8.
9. 3.
4.
Replacing a High-mount Brake
Light Bulb
Lights
Maint enance293