it only helps with steering
control during braking.
such as trying to take a
corner too f ast or making a sudden
lane change. Always drive at a safe
speed f or the road and weather
conditions.
Always steer moderately
when you are braking hard. Severe
or sharp steering wheel movement
can still cause your vehicle to veer
into oncoming traffic or off the road. on loose or
uneven surf aces, such as gravel or
snow, than a vehicle without anti-
lock. Slow down and allow a greater
distance between vehicles under
those conditions.
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
Important Saf ety Reminders
A BS does not reduce the time or
distance it takes to stop the
vehicle;
A BS will not prevent a skid that
results f rom changing direction
abruptly,
A BS cannot prevent a loss of
stability. A vehicle with A BS may require a
longer distance to stop
Driving148
The best way to conf irm that vehicle
and trailer weights are within limits
is to have them checked at public
scale.
Using a suitable scale or a special
tongue load gauge, check the tongue
load the f irst time you set up a
towing combination (a f ully-loaded
vehicle and trailer), then recheck the
tongue load whenever the conditions
change.Towing can require a variety of
equipment, depending on the size of
your trailer, how it will be used, and
how much load you are towing.
Discuss your needs with your trailer
sales or rental agency, and f ollow the
guidelines in the rest of this section.
Also make sure that all equipment is
properly installed and that it meets
f ederal, state, province, and local
regulations.Any hitch used on your vehicle must
be properly bolted to the underbody.
Always use saf ety chains. Make sure
they are secured to both the trailer
and hitch, and that they cross under
the tongue so they can catch the
trailer if it becomes unhitched.
Leave enough slack to allow the
trailer to turn corners easily, but do
not let chains drag on the ground.
CONT INUED
Towing a Trailer
Checking L oads
T owing Equipment and
A ccessoriesHitches
Saf et y Chains
Driving151
If you need to park your vehicle f or
an extended period (more than one
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it f or storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your vehicle back on the road. If
possible, store your vehicle indoors.Fill the f uel tank.
Change the engine oil and f ilter.
Wash and dry the exterior
completely.
Cleantheinterior.Makesurethe
carpeting, floor mats, etc. are
completely dry.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Reverse
(manual) or Park (automatic). Block the rear wheels.
If the vehicle is to be stored f or a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are of f the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the vehicle is being stored
indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Support the f ront and rear wiper
blade arms with a f olded towel or
ragsotheydonottouchthe
windshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and hatch seals. Also, apply a body
wax to the painted surf aces that
mate with the door and hatch seals.Cover the vehicle with a
‘‘breathable’’ cover, one made
f rom a porous material such as
cotton. Non-porous materials, such
as plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
If possible, periodically run the
engine until it reaches f ull
operating temperature (the
cooling f ans cycle on and of f
twice). Pref erably, do this once a
month.
If you store your vehicle f or 12
months or longer, have your Acura
dealer perf orm the inspections called
f or in the 24 months/30,000 miles
(48,000 km) maintenance schedule
(Normal Conditions) as soon as you
take it out of storage (see page ).
The replacements called f or in the
maintenance schedule are not
needed unless the vehicle has
actually reached that time or mileage. 159
Vehicle Storage
Maint enance190
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Valid only f or sales within the U.S. Canadian owners should contact their authorized Acura dealer.
Authorized Manuals
Purchasing Factory Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)
236
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2002 04 Acura RSX Service Manual
2002 04 Acura RSX
Electrical Troubleshooting Manual 2002 04 Acura RSXBody Repair Manual 2004 Acura RSX
Owner’s Manual 2004 Acura RSX
Maintenance Journal 2004 Acura RSX
Quick Start Guide
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.................
DANGER, Explanation of .ii
...................................
Dashboard .2, 48
................
Daytime Running Lights . 60
Daytime Running Lights .......................................
Indicator .53
.................................
Dead Battery .200
............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety . 234
..........................
Def og and Def rost .91
................
Def ogger, Rear Window . 61
....................................
Dimensions .220
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 60
...................
Capacities Chart . 220,221
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 45
...........................
Cargo Area Cover .76
........................
Cargo, .129
Cassette Player ............................................
Care .100
.....................................
Operation .98
..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
.........................................
CD Care .108
...................................
CD Changer .101
............................................
Care .108
...................................
Operation .101
CD Changer Error .............................
Message .110, 111
.......................
CD Error Message .109
........................
Certif ication Label .218
...................................
Chains, .188
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .193
Changing Oil ........................................
How to .165
......................................
When to .159
...
Charging System Indicator . 51,205
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 134.....................................
Child Saf ety .29
..............................
Booster Seats .42
...................................
Child Seats .34
.....
Important Saf ety Reminders . 29
..........................................
Inf ants .33
..........................
Larger Children .41
.........................................
LATCH .37
......................
Risks with Airbags .30
.............................
Small Children .34
.........................................
Tethers .40
.........
Where Should a Child Sit? . 30
Child Seats .........................................
LATCH .37
...........................
Lower Anchors .37
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 40
..............................................
Clock .113
.........................
Clock, Setting the .113
...................................
Clutch Fluid .172
.....................
Code, Audio System .112
........................
CO in the Exhaust .225
............
Cold Weather, Starting in . 135
.......................
Compact Spare .192
...................
Console Compartment . 86
...............
Consumer Inf ormation . 232
.............
Controls, Instruments and . 47Coolant
........................................
Adding .167
....................................
Checking .125
.........................
Proper Solution .167
...................
Temperature Gauge . 57
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System .225
................
Cruise Control Indicator . 52
............
Cruise Control Operation . 115
.....................................
Cup Holders .85
..........
Customer Relations Of f ice . 232
how to carry
tires tire
Index
C
D
II
Supplemental Restraint................................
System .10, 22
......................................
Servicing .28
.........................
SRS Indicator .26 ,50
...................
System Components . 22
..................................
Synthetic Oil .165
Unexpected, Taking Care..........................................
of the .191
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 222
........................
Unleaded Gasoline .123
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 167
.................
Vehicle Capacity Load . 130
......................
Vehicle Dimensions .220
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number . 218
......
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in . 178
Taking Care of the ...............................
Unexpected .191
......................................
Tape Player .98
................
Technical Descriptions . 217
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 222
.....
Emissions Control Systems . 225
..........
State Emissions Testing . 228
Three Way Catalytic ...............................
Converter .227
.................................
Tire Labeling .224
.......................
Temperature Gauge .57
..........
Temperature, Inside Sensor . 91
..............
Tether Anchorage Points . 40
............................
Thef t Protection .112
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 227
..................
Tilt the Steering Wheel . 62..........................
Time, Setting the .113
....................................
Tire Chains .188
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 193
...............................................
Tires .183
..............................
Air Pressure .184
.........................
Checking Wear .185
..........................
Compact Spare .192
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 222
......................................
Inf lation .183
..................................
Inspection .185
..............................
Maintenance .185
...................................
Replacing .186
......................................
Rotating .186
...........................................
Snow .187
............................
Specif ications .221
................................
Tire Chains .188
..........................
Winter Driving .187
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 193
Towing .....................................
A Trailer .149
................................
Emergency .215
....
Equipment and Accessories . 151
.............................
Weight Limit .149
...........................
Traction Devices .188
.............................
Trailer Loading .149
......................
Trailer Towing Tips .149 Transmission
Checking Fluid Level, ..............................
Automatic .169
Checking Fluid Level, ...................................
Manual .170
...........................
Fluid Selection .170
..............
Identif ication Number . 218
.............
Shif ting the Automatic . 139
..................
Shif ting the Manual . 136
.....................................
Treadwear .222
.......................................
Trip Meter .56
....................................
Turn Signals .60
Index
T
U
V
VIII