2004 Acura RL coolant temperature

This indicator displays the outside
temperature in Fahrenheit in U.S.
models, and in Centigrade in
Canadian models.
In certain weather conditions,
temperature readings near f reezing
(32°F, 0°C) could mean that ice is
f orming on the road surf ace. The temperature sensor is located in
the f ront bumper. Theref ore, the
temperature reading can be af f ected
by heat ref lection f rom the road sur-
f ace, engine heat, and the exhaust
f rom the surrounding traf f ic. This
can cause the temperature reading
not to be correct when your speed is
under 19 mph (30 km/h).This shows how much f uel you have.
It is most accurate when the vehicle
is on level ground. It may show
slightly more or less than the actual
amount when you are driving on
curvy or hilly roads.
This shows the temperature of the
engine’s coolant. During normal
operation, the pointer should rise
from the bottom white mark to about
the middle of the gauge. In severe
driving conditions, such as very hot
weather or a long period of uphill
driving, the pointer may rise to near
the upper red mark. If it reaches the
red (Hot) mark, pull saf ely to the
side of the road. Turn to page f or
instructions and precautions on
checking the engine’s cooling
system. The needle returns to the bottom
after you turn off the ignition. The
gauge shows the f uel level reading
immediately af ter you turn the
ignition switch back ON (II).
319 Fuel Gauge
Temperature Gauge
Outside Temperature Indicator
Gauges
Inst rument s and Cont rols65
Avoid driving with an extremely low
f uel level. Running out of f uel could
cause the engine to misf ire, damaging
the catalytic converter.

Loosen the drain plug on the
bottom of the radiator. The
coolant will come out through the
hole in the splash cover.
Turn the ignition ON (II). Turn
the heater temperature control
dial to maximum heat (climate
control to 90°F/32°C). Turn of f
the ignition. Open the hood. Make
sure the engine and radiator are
cool to the touch.
Remove the radiator cap.
Thecoolingsystemshouldbe
completely drained and ref illed with
new coolant according to the time
and distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule. Only use
Honda All Season Antif reeze/
Coolant Type 2. Use of any non-
Honda coolant or plain water can
result in corrosion and deposits in
the cooling system.
Draining the coolant requires access
to the underside of the vehicle.
Unless you have the tools and
knowledge, you should have this
maintenance done by a skilled
mechanic.
1.
2.3.
Replacing Engine Coolant
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance258
DRAIN PLUG

If you see steam and/or spray
coming f rom under the hood, turn
of f the engine.
If you do not see steam or spray,
leave the engine running and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading
(climbing a long, steep hill on a
hot day with the A/C running, for
example), the engine should start
to cool down almost immediately.
If it does, wait until the tempera-
ture gauge comes down to the mid-
point, then continue driving. Saf ely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park and set the parking brake.
Turn of f the climate control and all
otheraccessories.Turnonthe
hazard warning indicators.
The pointer of your car’s tempera-
ture gauge should stay in the mid-
range under most conditions. It may
go higher if you are driving up a long
steep hill on a very hot day. If it
climbs to the red mark, you should
determine the reason. Your car can overheat f or several
reasons, such as lack of coolant or a
mechanical problem. The only
indication may be the temperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming f rom under the hood.
In either case, you should take
immediate action.1.
2.
3.
CONT INUED
If Your Engine Overheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed319
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause
serious damage to your engine.

If the temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn of f the engine.
Wait until you see no more signs
of steam or spray, then open the
hood.
If you don’t f ind an obvious leak,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank (see page). If the level is below the
MIN mark, add coolant to halfway
between the MIN and MAX marks. Look f or any obvious coolant leaks,
such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you f ind a leak, it
must be repaired bef ore you
continue driving (see on page ).
If there was no coolant in the
reserve tank, you may also have to
add coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the pointer reaches the middle of the tempera-
ture gauge, or lower, bef ore check-
ing the radiator.
Using gloves or a large heavy
cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the f irst stop. This
releases any remaining pressure in
the cooling system. After the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap and turn it until it comes
off.
Start the engine and set the
temperature control dial to
maximum (climate control to
FULL AUTO at 90°F/32°C). Add
coolant to the radiator up to the
base of the f iller neck. If you do
not have the proper coolant
mixture available, you can add
plain water. Remember to have
the cooling system drained and
ref illed with the proper mixture as
soon as you can.
If the temperature stays normal,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the
MAX mark. Put the cap back on
tightly. Put the radiator cap back on
tightly. Run the engine and watch
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair. (See
on page .)
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.10.
12.
11.
332
208 332
Emergency
Towing
Emergency
Towing
If Your Engine Overheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed320
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.

Î
Bulb Replacement..........................
Back-up Lights .292
..............................
Brake Lights .292
............................
Ceiling Lights .295
........................
Courtesy Lights .295
.................................
Fog Lights .289
........
Front Side Marker Lights . 291
.................................
Headlights .288
.........
High-mount Brake Light . 293
.................
License Plate Lights . 294
............................
Specif ications .339
...............................
Trunk Light .296
....................
Turn Signal Lights . 291
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .288
................................
Cancel Button .184
............................
Capacities Chart .338
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 53
............................
Carrying, Cargo .212
Cassette Player ............................................
Care .163
...........................
Operation .139, 159
..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
..........................
CD Changer .143, 164 ................................
Ceiling Lights .116
........................
Certif ication Label .336
............................................
Chains .285
Changing Oil ........................................
How to .253
......................................
When to .244
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .309
............
Changing Engine Coolant . 258
...
Charging System Indicator . 58,322
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 216
.....................................
Child Saf ety .20
.......................................
Child Seats .24
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 39
.............................
Using LATCH .40
..................
Childproof Door Locks . 87
..........................
Cigarette Lighter .114
...................................
Cleaner, Air .267
Cleaning ....................
Aluminum Wheels .301
...................................
Carpeting .302
......................................
Exterior .300
.........................................
Fabric .303
.................................
Floor Mats .302
.......................................
Interior .302
.......................................
Leather .303
...................................
Seat Belts .303 ...........................................
Vinyl .303
....................................
Windows .304
................................
Wood Trim .304
...............
Climate Control System . 120
.................
Clock, Setting the . 108,158
.....................
Code, Audio System .180
........................
CO in the Exhaust .345
........................................
Coin Box .111
............
Cold Weather, Starting in . 217
..............................
Compact Spare .308
.................
Console Compartment . 111
...............
Consumer Inf ormation . 352
.............
Controls, Instruments and . 55
Coolant ........................................
Adding .256
....................................
Checking .208
.........................
Proper Solution .256
...................................
Replacing .258
...................
Temperature Gauge . 65
....................
Corrosion Protection .305
............................
Courtesy Lights .117
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System .345
............
Cruise Control Operation . 182
..........
Customer Relations Of f ice . 352
Index
C
II

CONT INUED
................
DANGER, Explanation of . ii
...................................
Dashboard .2, 56
................
Daytime Running Lights . 70
............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety . 354
................
Def ogger, Rear Window . 76
......
Def rosting the Windows . 126,131
..............................
Dif f erential Oil .265
....................................
Dimensions .338
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 68
Dipstick ..........
Automatic Transmission . 264
..................................
Engine Oil .207
..........................
Directional Signals .71
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 223
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .255
Doors ..............
Locking and Unlocking . 83
....................
Lockout Prevention . 84
..............................
Monitor Light .61
......................
Power Door Locks .83
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 340
.....................................
Drive Belts .278
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5...........................................
Driving .215
....................................
Economy .209
.........................
In Bad Weather .230
................
In Foreign Countries . 344
Driving Position Memory ..........................................
System .98
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 278
..............................
Economy, Fuel .209
............
Emergencies on the Road . 307
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 316
...........
Brake System Indicator . 325
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 309
.....
Charging System Indicator . 322
..................
Checking the Fuses . 328
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 321
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 323
...
Manually Closing Moonroof . 326
..................
Overheated Engine . 319
.........................
Emergency Brake .107
......................
Emergency Flashers .75
......................
Emergency Towing .332
............
Emergency Trunk Opener . 89
.......................
Emissions Controls .345 .............
Emissions Testing, State . 348
Engine ............................................
Belts .278
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 65
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp .59, 323
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 58,321
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 251
...............................
Overheating .319
............................
Specif ications .339
............................
Speed Limiter .220
.......................................
Starting .217
...................
Engine Speed Limiter . 220
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .343
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 345
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .53
Exhaust Gas Recirculation ........................................
System .346
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .18
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 300
Index
D
E
III

.............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs . 288
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers . 75
Headlights ........................................
Aiming .288
....................
Automatic Lighting .69
............
Daytime Running Lights . 70
..................
High Beam Indicator . 62
....................
Lights On Indicator .59
.........................
Reminder Chime .68
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs . 288
...................................
Turning on .68
..............................
Head Restraints .94
.............
High Altitude, Starting at . 217
.................
High-Low Beam Switch . 68
..............
High-mount Brake Light . 293
............................
Fabric, Cleaning .303
..........................
Fan, Interior .124, 129
Features, Comfort and ..............................
Convenience .119
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 205
Filters ................................
Air Cleaner .267
.........................
Dust and Pollen .278
...............................................
Oil .255
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 75
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 309
.....................................
Floor Mats .302
Fluids ..........
Automatic Transmission . 264
..........................................
Brake .266
................................
Differential .265
..........................
Power Steering .266
..................
Windshield Washer . 263
FM Stereo Radio ...........................
Reception .135, 152
........................................
Fog Lights .72
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 344
..........................
Four-way Flashers .75
..............................
Front Airbags .9 ,47 .................................................
Fuel .204
......................
Fill Door and Cap .205
...........................................
Gauge .65
................
Octane Requirement . 204
...............................
Oxygenated .343
........................
Reserve Indicator .62
........................
Tank, Filling the .205
..............
Fuel Mileage, Improving . 209
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .328
................
Gas Mileage Improving . 209
..........................................
Gasohol .343
.........................................
Gasoline .204
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 62
...........................................
Gauge .65
................
Octane Requirement . 204
........................
Tank, Filling the .205
................
Gas Station Procedures . 205
.............................................
Gauges .63
...
Engine Coolant Temperature . 65
...............................................
Fuel .65
...............................
Speedometer .63
.................................
Tachometer .63 GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
.......................................
Rating) .233
............
Gearshif t Lever Positions . 218
..............................
Glass Cleaning .304
........................................
Glove Box .90
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight .......................................
Rating) .233
Index
G H
F
IV