2004 Acura RL engine

Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer f luid. This
increases the cleaning capability and
prevents f reezing in cold weather.
Check the level in the windshield
washer reservoir at least monthly
during normal usage. In bad weather,
when you use the washers of ten,
check the level every time you stop
for fuel.
The windshield washer reservoir is
located behind the driver’s side
headlight.
Check the reservoir’s f luid level by
removing the cap and looking at the
f loat. It should be up to the top of the
neck.Ifthefloatisatthebottomof
the neck, the reservoir is nearly
empty. When you ref ill the reservoir, clean
the edges of the windshield wiper
blades with windshield washer f luid
on a clean cloth. This will help to
condition the blade edges.
Windshield Washers
Maint enance263
FLOAT
Do not use engine antif reeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir.
Antif reeze can damage your car’s paint,
while a vinegar/water solution can
damage the windshield washer pump.
Use only commercially-available
windshield washer f luid.

Check the f luid level with the engine
at normal operating temperature.Remove the dipstick (yellow loop)
f rom the transmission, and wipe it
with a clean cloth. Insert the dipstick into the
transmission. Make sure the notch
in the rubber cap f its in the
dipstick guide and that you push
the dipstick in all the way.
Remove the dipstick and check
the f luid level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.If the level is below the lower
mark, add f luid into the tube to
bring it to the upper mark. Always
use Honda ATF-Z1 (Automatic
Transmission Fluid). If it is not
available, you may use a
DEXRON
III automatic
transmission f luid as a temporary
replacement. However, continued
use can affect shift quality. Have
the transmission f lushed and
ref illed with Honda ATF-Z1 as
soon as it is convenient.
To thoroughly f lush the
transmission, the technician
should drain and ref ill it with
Honda ATF-Z1 (Automatic
Transmission Fluid), then drive
the vehicle a short distance. Do
this three times. Then drain and
ref ill the transmission a f inal time.
Park the vehicle on level ground.
Shut of f the engine.
1.
2. 3.
4.5.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
Maint enance264
DIPSTICK
DIPSTICK GUIDE UPPER MARK
LOWER MARK

The f luid level should be between
theMINandMAXmarksontheside
of the reservoir. If the level is at or
below the MIN mark, your brake
system needs attention. Have the
brake system inspected f or leaks or
worn brake pads.
Check the f luid level in the brake
f luid reservoir monthly.
The brake f luid should be replaced
according to the time recommenda-
tion in the maintenance schedule.
Always use Honda Heavy Duty
Brake Fluid DOT 3. If it is not
available, you should use only DOT 3
or DOT 4 f luid, f rom a sealed
container, as a temporary
replacement. However, the use of
any non-Honda brake fluid can cause
corrosion and decrease the lif e of the
system. Have the brake system
f lushed and ref illed with Honda
Heavy Duty Brake Fluid DOT 3 as
soon as possible.
Brake f luid marked DOT 5 is not
compatible with your car’s braking
system and can cause extensive
damage.
You should check the f luid level in
the power steering reservoir at least
once a year. Check the level when
the engine is cold. Look at the side
of the reservoir. The f luid should be
between the UPPER LEVEL and
LOWER LEVEL. If it is below the
LOWER LEVEL, add power steering
f luid to the UPPER LEVEL.
Brake System
Power Steering
Brake Fluid
Maint enance
Brake Fluid, Power Steering
266
MAX MIN UPPER
LEVEL
LOWER
LEVEL

Place the new air cleaner element
in the air cleaner housing.
Reinstall the air cleaner housing
cover, snap the four hold-down
clamps back into place.
Remove the old air cleaner
element. Remove the air cleaner housing
cover. Do not disconnect the air
intake tube from the air cleaner
housing cover.
Unsnap the f our clamps holding
the air cleaner housing cover.
To replace it: The air cleaner element is inside the
air cleaner housing on the passenger’s
side of the engine compartment.
Caref ully clean the inside of the
air cleaner housing with a damp
rag.
1. 2.
3.
4.5.
6.
A ir Cleaner Element
Maint enance
Replacement
268
CLAMPS
AIR CLEANER
ELEMENT

Clean off any dirt and oil that have
collected around the ignition coils. Remove the two bolts and the f our
nuts with a wrench and remove
the tower bar. Then remove the
A/C tube f rom the three clips.
Remove the two bolts and the
three nuts with a 7/16 inch (10
mm) wrench, then remove the
engine cover.
The spark plugs in your car are a
special platinum-tipped design f or
longer lif e. The spark plugs should
be replaced according to the time
and distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule.
1.2.
3.
CONT INUED
Replacement
Spark Plugs
Maint enance269
NUTS
BOLTS NUTS
BOLTS
NUTS

Install the ignition coil. Reinstall
the two hold-down bolts.
Repeat this procedure f or the
other f ive spark plugs.
Torque the spark plug. (If you do
not have a torque wrench, tighten
the spark plug two-thirds of a turn
af ter it contacts the cylinder head.)
Tightening torque: Put the A/C tube back in place.
Install the tower bar and tighten
the two bolts and the f our nuts.
Tightening torque:
Push the wire connector onto the
ignition coil. Make sure it locks in
place. Install the engine cover. First
tighten the two bolts on the front
of the engine cover, then tighten
the three nuts on the engine cover.
Tightening torque:
8. 9.
10.
11. 12.
13.
14.
CONT INUED
Spark Plugs
Maint enance271
13 lbf·ft (18 N·m , 1.8 kgf·m) 16 lbf·ft (22 N·m , 2.2 kgf·m)
7 lbf·ft (9.8 N·m , 1.0 kgf·m)
Tighten the spark plugs caref ully. A
spark plug that is too loose can
overheat and damage the engine.
Overtightening can cause damage to
the threads in the cylinder head.

Make sure the climate control sys-
tem is off.
Start the engine and let it run until
it warms up (the radiator cooling
fan comes on at least twice), and
let it idle f or f ive more minutes.
If your car’s battery is disconnected
or goes dead, the engine’s computer
needs to ‘‘relearn’’ the idle control.
Af ter replacing or recharging the
battery:
Your driver’s power window (see
page ) and your audio system
will also disable itself when the bat-
tery is disconnected or goes dead.
Thenexttimeyouturnontheradio
you will see ‘‘ ’’ in the f requency
display. Use the Preset buttons to en-
ter the f ive-digit code (see page ).If your car’s battery is disconnected
or goes dead, all stored driving
positions will be lost. To store the
driving positions again, see the
storingprocedureonpage .
The Navigation System will also
disableitself.Thenexttimeyouturn
on the ignition switch, the system
will require you to enter a PIN
bef ore it can be used. Ref er to the
Navigation System Owner’s Manual.
1.
2. 103
98
180On cars with Navigation System
Battery
Maint enance274
Charging the battery with the cables
connected can seriously damage your
car’s electronic controls. Detach the
battery cables bef ore connecting the
battery to a charger.

Run the air conditioning at least once
a week during the cold weather
months. Run it f or at least ten
minutes while you are driving at a
steady speed with the engine at
normal operating temperature. This
circulates the lubricating oil con-
tained in the ref rigerant.If the air conditioning does not get as
cold as before, have your dealer
check the system. Recharge the
system with Ref rigerant HFC-134a
(R-134a). (See Specif ications on page
.)
Periodically check the engine’s
radiator and air conditioning
condenser f or leaves, insects, and
dirt stuck to the f ront surf ace. These
block the air f low and reduce cooling
ef f iciency. Use a light spray f rom a
hose or a sof t brush to remove them. Your car’s air conditioning is a sealed
system. Any major maintenance,
such as recharging, should be done
by a qualif ied mechanic. You can do
a couple of things to make sure the
air conditioning works ef f iciently. 338
A ir Condit ioning Syst em
Maint enance277
AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER
Whenever you have the air conditioning
system serviced, make sure the service
f acility uses a ref rigerant recycling
system. This system captures the
ref rigerant f or reuse. Releasing
ref rigerant into the atmosphere can
damage the environment.
The condenser and radiator f ins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or sof t-bristle brush to clean them.