2004 Acura RL display

This section gives inf ormation about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your Acura. All the essential controls
are within easy reach............................
Control Locations .56
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Indicator Lights .57
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Gauges .63
...............................
Speedometer .63
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Tachometer .63
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Odometer .64
...................................
Trip Meter .64
Outside Temperature ...................................
Indicator .65
...................
Temperature Gauge . 65
..................................
Fuel Gauge .65
Maintenance Required ...................................
Indicator .66 Controls Near the Steering
.......................................
Wheel .67
...................................
Headlights .68
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Automatic Lighting .69
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Daytime Running Lights . 70
....
Instrument Panel Brightness . 71
................................
Turn Signals .71
...................................
Fog Lights .72
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Windshield Wipers .73
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Windshield Washers . 75
..........................
Hazard Warning .75
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Rear Window Def ogger . 76
....
Steering Wheel Adjustments . 76
...............................
Keys and Locks .79
..............................................
Keys .79
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Immobilizer System . 80
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Ignition Switch .82
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Power Door Locks .83
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Remote Transmitter . 84
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Childproof Door Locks . 87
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Trunk .88
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Emergency Trunk Opener . 89
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Glove Box .90
............................
Seat Adjustments .91
.........
Driver’s Seat Adjustments . 91
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Driver’s Lumbar Support . 93Front Passenger’s Seat
............................
Adjustments .93
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Head Restraints .94
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Rear Seat Armrest .95
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Mirrors .96
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Adjusting the Power Mirrors . 96
Driving Position Memory ..........................................
System .98
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Seat Heaters .100
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Ski Sleeve .101
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Power Windows .103
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Moonroof .105
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Parking Brake .107
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Digital Clock .108
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Sunglasses Holder .109
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Beverage Holder .110
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Console Compartment . 111
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Coin Box .111
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Sun Visor .112
................................
Vanity Mirror .112
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Accessory Power Socket . 113
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Cigarette Lighter .114
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Ashtrays .115
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Ceiling Lights .116
............................
Courtesy Lights .117
Instruments and Controls
Inst rument s and Cont rols55

If a brake light does not work, theindicator comes on
when you push the brake pedal with
the ignition switch ON (II).
A burned out brake light is a hazard
when drivers behind you cannot tell
you are braking. Have your brake
lights repaired right away. The lef t or right turn signal light
blinks when you signal a lane change
or turn. If the light does not blink or
blinks rapidly, it usually means one
of the turn signal bulbs is burned out
(see page ). Replace the bulb as
soon as possible, since other drivers
cannot see that you are signaling.
WhenyouturnontheHazard
Warning switch, both turn signal
lights blink. All turn signals on the
outside of the vehicle should f lash.
The appropriate light comes on in
this display if the trunk or any door
is not closed tightly.
All the lights in the monitor display
come on f or a f ew seconds when you
turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
291
Indicator L ights
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Brake L amp Indicator
Turn Signal and
Hazard Warning
Indicators
Door and T runk Open Monitor
61
BRAKE LAMP

The odometer shows the total dis-
tance your car has been driven. It
measures miles in U.S. models and
kilometers in Canadian models.
It is illegal under U.S. f ederal law and
Canadian provincial regulations to
disconnect, reset, or alter the
odometer with the intent to change
the number of miles or kilometers
indicated.This meter shows the number of
miles (U.S.) or kilometers (Canada)
driven since you last reset it.There are two trip meters: Trip A
and Trip B. Switch between these
displays by pressing the Select
button repeatedly. Each trip meter
works independently, so you can
keep track of two dif f erent distances.
When you turn the ignition switch
ON (II), what you last selected is
displayed.
To reset a trip meter, display it, and
then press and hold the Reset button
until the number resets to ‘‘0.0’’.
Odometer
T rip Meter
Gauges
Inst rument s and Cont rols64
SELECT
BUTTON
RESET
BUTTON

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.

The dial on the dashboard to the lef t
of the instrument panel is used to
adjust the brightness of the lights in
the controls and displays. Turn the
dial to adjust the brightness.Signal a turn or lane change with this
lever. Push down on the lever to
signal a lef t turn, and up to signal a
right turn. If you push it up or down
all the way, the turn signal continues
to blink even when you release the
lever. It shuts off automatically as
you complete the turn.
To reduce glare at night, the instru-
ment panel illumination dims when
you turn the light switch to or
. Turning the instrument panel
brightness control f ully to the lef t,
past the detent, will return the instru-
ment panel to its f ull brightness.
CONT INUED
Instrument Panel Brightness T urn Signals
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
71
TURN SIGNAL LEVER
INSTRUMENT PANEL
BRIGHTNESS DIAL

1:06 would RESET to 1:00.
1:52 would RESET to 2:00.
For example: You can use the RESET button to
quickly set the time to the nearest
hour. If the displayed time is bef ore
the half hour, pressing the RESET
buttonsetstheclockbacktothe
previous hour. If the displayed time
is af ter the half hour, pressing the
RESET button sets the clock f or-
ward to the beginning of the next
hour. Press and hold the MIN. button
until the numbers advance to the
desired time. Press and hold the HOUR button
until the hour advances to the
desired hour.
The digital clock displays the time
with the ignition switch ON (II). To
see the time with the ignition off,
press and hold the wide button to the
right of the clock. To set the clock:
Turn the ignition switch ON (II) to
display the time.
Swing down the f ront cover of the
wide button to the right of the
clock display. You will see HOUR,
MIN., and RESET buttons.
2. 3.
4.
1.
Cars without Navigation System
Digital Clock
Inst rument s and Cont rols108
HOUR MIN. RESET

When you set the temperature to its
lower limit (60°F/18°C) or its upper
limit (90°F/32°C), the system runs
at f ull cooling or heating only. It does
not regulate the interior temperature.
When the temperature is setbetween the lower and upper limits,
the system regulates the interior
temperature to the set value.
The system automatically selects the
proper mix of conditioned and/or
heated air that will, as quickly as
possible, raise or lower the interior
temperature f rom its current level to
the set temperature. To put the Automatic Climate
Control in f ully-automatic mode,
press the AUTO button and set the
f an control dial to AUTO, then set
the desired temperature by turning
the temperature control dial. You will
see FULL AUTO in the system’s
display. The light above either the
or button also goes
on to show you which is selected.
In cold weather, the f an will not
come on automatically until the
vehicle has been driven f or a short
time and the heater starts to develop
warm air.Pressing the OFF button shuts the
climate control system of f . Keep the
system of f only f or short periods. To
keep stale air and mustiness from
collecting, you should have the f an
running at all times.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Fully-automatic Operation
3.5 RL wit hout Navigat ion Syst em
122
TEMPERATURE
CONTROL DIAL
FULL AUTO
DISPLAY FAN CONTROL
DIAL
AUTO
BUTTON OFF
BUTTON

CONT INUED
You can manually select various
f unctions of the Climate Control
system when it is in FULL AUTO.
All other f eatures remain auto-
matically controlled. Making any
manual selection causes the word
FULL to go out.
When you turn the A/C of f , the sys-
tem cannot regulate the inside tem-
perature if you set the dial below the
outside temperature. With the A/C
on, use the temperature control dial
to adjust the temperature of the air
flow to a comfortable setting.With the A/C in economy mode, you
will see A/C ECON in the system’s
display. Use this mode to get better
f uel economy.
Press the A/C button to operate the
air conditioning. Each time you press
the A/C button, the display shows
the mode: A/C ECON, A/C OFF, or
A/C ON.
In this mode, you may f eel a slight re-
duction in cooling ef f iciency. If you
want more cooling, select A/C ON or
FULL AUTO.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Semi-automatic Operation
A ir Condit ioning (A /C) But t on
123
RECIRCULATED AIR FRESH AIRAIR CONDITIONING
BUTTON
TEMPERATURE
CONTROL DIAL