2004 Acura RL maintenance

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) This manual describes the procedures involved in the
replacement of damaged body parts. This manual covers maintenance and recommended
procedures f or repair to engine and chassis components.
It is written f or the Journeyman mechanic, but is simple
enough f or most mechanically-inclined owners to under-
stand.
This manual complements the Service Manual by
providing in-depth troubleshooting inf ormation f or each
electrical circuit in your car.
Authorized Manuals
Service Manual:
Electrical T roubleshooting Manual:
Body Repair Manual:
356
NOTE: Dealers and Companies please provide dealer or company name,
and also the name of the person to whose attention the shipment should
be sent. For purchases outside U.S.A. please write to the address shown
below for a quotation.
P.O. BOX 07280·DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48207·1-800-782-4356
Customer Name Attention
Apartment Number
State & Zip Code
City
Daytime Telephone Number
Check or money order enclosed payable to Helm Inc U.S. funds only.
Do not send cash
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Check here if your billing address is different
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Account Number Expiration: Mo. Yr.
CUSTOMER SIGNATURE DATE
Street Address No P.O. Box Number
()
These Publications cannot be returned for credit without receiving advance authorization within 14
days of delivery. On returns, a restocking fee may be applied against the original order.

CONT INUED
BatteryCharging System ...........................
Indicator .58, 322
............................
Jump Starting .316
..............................
Maintenance .272
............................
Specif ications .339
..............................
Bef ore Driving .203
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,44
...........................
Beverage Holder .110
...................................
Body Repair .306
Brakes ...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 224
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 204
....................
Bulb Replacement .292
...........................................
Fluid .266
.......................................
Parking .107
.................
System Indicator . 58,325
........................
Wear Indicators .223
.............................
Braking System .223
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle . 204
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 71
........................
Brights, Headlights .68
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 210
................................
Accessories .210
.
Additional Safety Precautions . 211
............................
Modif ications .211
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) .82
.............
Accessory Power Socket . 113
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 254
.........................
Airbag (SRS) .9, 47, 49
.....................
Air Cleaner Element .267
..............
Air Conditioning System . 120
..............................
Maintenance .277
.................................
Usage .122, 127
.......................
Air Outlets (Vents) .120
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .279
...........................
Alarm, Anti-theft .181
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline .343
.......
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning . 301
......................................
Antif reeze .256
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) ...............................
Indicator .60, 225
...................................
Operation .224
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System . 180Anti-thef t Steering Column
..............................................
Lock .82
..........................
Anti-thef t System .181
..........................
Appearance Care .299
.........................................
Ashtrays .115
...............
Audio Controls, Remote . 178
........................
Audio System .134, 151
Automatic Climate Control ........................................
System .120
.........................
Automatic Lighting .69
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners . 45
.............
Automatic Speed Control . 182
..............
Automatic Transmission . 218
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .338
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 264
.......................................
Shif ting .218
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 218
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 218
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 221
Index
A B
I

...................
Neutral Gear Position . 219
..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 204
...................
NOTICE, Explanation of . i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 336 ..............................
Paint Touch-up .301
..............
Panel Brightness Control . 71
........................
Park Gear Position .219
...........................................
Parking .222
...............................
Parking Brake .107
Parking Brake and Brake .................
System Indicator . 58,325
.................................
Parking Lights .68
..
Parking Over Things that Burn . 347
.............................
PGM-FI System .346
..................
Polishing and Waxing . 301
............
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
.............................
Using LATCH .40
..................................
Maintenance .239
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 249
.................................
Record .246-248
......................
Required Indicator .66
..........................................
Saf ety .240
.............................
Schedule .244-245
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 59,323
.............
Memory, Driving Position . 98
...............................
Meters, Gauges .63
...................
Methanol in Gasoline . 343
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .96
.......................................
Moonroof .105
......................
Closing Manually .326
...................................
Operation .105 ...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 204
.........................................
Odometer .64
...............................
Odometer, Trip .64
Oil ........................
Change, How to .253
......................
Change, When to .244
......................
Checking Engine .207
..............
Pressure Indicator . 58,321
Selecting Proper Viscosity ......................................
Chart .252
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 82
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor ....................................
Recovery .345
............................................
OnStar .192
.........................
Opening the Trunk .88
..
Operation in Foreign Countries . 344
..............................
Outside Mirrors .96
....
Outside Temperature Indicator . 65
....................
Overheating, Engine .319
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 249
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels .343
Index
N OP
M
VI

ÎÎ
CONT INUED
........................................
Saf ety Belts .8
.........
Safety Defects, Reporting . 354
.................................
Saf ety Features .7
...........................................
Airbags .9
..................................
Door Locks .10
..........................
Head Restraints .10
.......................................
Seat Belts .8
.....................
Seats & Seat-Backs .10
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of . 54
...............................
Saf ety Messages . ii
...................
Satellite Digital Radio . 173
.....................................
Seat Belts .8, 44
...............
Additional Information . 44
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 18
.
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioner . 45
.........
Child Seat Lower Anchors . 40
Child Seat Tether Anchorage ........................................
Points .39 .....................................
Cleaning .303
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt .44
................................
Maintenance .46
Reminder Light and ................................
Beeper .44, 58
................................
Replacement .46
...................
System Components . 44
...............
Use During Pregnancy . 18
...
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt . 15
..................................
Seat Heaters .100
....................
Seat Position Memory .98
........................
Seats, Adjusting the .91
................
Security Alarm System . 181
...............................
Serial Number .336
...........................
Service Intervals .244
...........................
Service Manual .355
.........
Service Station Procedures . 205
..................
Setting the Clock . 108,158
Shif ting the Automatic .............................
Transmission .218
.....
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 218
........................
Shif t Lock Release .221
...................
Radiator Overheating . 319
Radio/Cassette Sound ................................
System .134, 151
...........................
Readiness Codes .324
..
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement . 292
..........................
Rear Seat Armrest .95
............................
Rear Ventilation .132
............................
Rear View Mirror .96
.................
Rear Window Def ogger . 76
...............
Reclining the Seat Backs . 92
.............................
Reminder Lights .57
.......................
Remote Transmitter .84
Replacement Inf ormation .................
Air Cleaner Element . 267
..............
Dust and Pollen Filter . 278
..........................
Engine Coolant .258
................
Engine Oil and Filter . 253
..........................................
Fuses .328
................................
Light Bulbs .288
....................................
Schedule .242
................................
Spark Plugs .269
...........................................
Tires .283
.............................
Wiper Blades .275 Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a
............................................
Crash .46
...
Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant . 208
..................
Reverse Gear Position . 219
................................
Rotation, Tire .282
Index
S
R
VII

Î
CONT INUED
.........................
Checking Wear .281
..........................
Compact Spare .308
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 340
......................................
Inf lation .279
..................................
Inspection .281
..............................
Maintenance .282
...................................
Replacing .283
......................................
Rotating .282
...........................................
Snow .285
............................
Specif ications .339
..........................
Winter Driving .284
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 309
...............................
Torn Seat Belts .46
Towing .....................................
A Trailer .232
..........
By Emergency Wrecker . 332
Transmission Checking Fluid Level, ..............................
Automatic .264
...........................
Fluid Selection .264
..............
Identif ication Number . 337
.............
Shif ting the Automatic . 218
.....................................
Treadwear .340
.......................................
Trip Meter .64
................................................
Trunk .88
........
Emergency Trunk Opener . 89.................................
Opening the .88
...................
Open Monitor Light . 61
....................................
Turn Signals .71
.............
WARNING, Explanation of . ii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of . 54
..................
Warranty Coverages .353
Washer, Windshield ........
Checking the Fluid Level . 263
.....................................
Operation .75
.........................................
Washing .300
..................
Waxing and Polishing . 301
Wheels ...............
Adjusting the Steering . 76
............
Alignment and Balance . 282
......
Cleaning Aluminum Alloys . 301
..........................
Compact Spare .308
......................................
Wrench .310
.....................
Underside, Cleaning .305
Unexpected, Taking Care ..........................................
of the .307
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 340
........................
Unleaded Gasoline .204
.....................
Upholstery Cleaning .302
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 255
................................
Vanity Mirror .112
.................
Vehicle Capacity Load . 213
......................
Vehicle Dimensions .338
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number . 336
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) ....................................
System .227
........
VSA System Indicator . 60,228
...
VSA Activation Indicator . 60,227
.........................
VSA Of f Switch .228
.............................
Vehicle Storage .297 .............................
Ventilation .122, 127
.................................................
VIN .336
...............................
Vinyl Cleaning .303
..................................
Viscosity, Oil .252
Index
U
V W
IX