2004 Acura RSX Owner's Manual

Remove the blade f rom its holder
by grasping the tabbed end of the
blade. Pull f irmly until the tabs
come out of the holder.Examine the new wiper blades. If
they have no plastic or metal rein-
f orcement along the back edge,
remove the metal reinf orcement
strips f rom the old wiper blade,
and install them in the slots along
the edge of the new blade.Slide the new wiper blade into the
holder until the tabs lock.
Slide the wiper blade assembly
onto the wiper arm. Make sure it
locks in place.
Lower the wiper arm down against
the windshield or rear window.
3. 4. 5.
6.
7.
Wiper Blades
Maint enance182
BLADE
BLADE
REINFORCEMENT

CONT INUED
To saf ely operate your vehicle, your
tires must be the proper type and
size, in good condition with adequate
tread, and correctly inf lated.
The f ollowing pages give more
detailed inf ormation on how to take
care of your tires and what to do
when they need to be replaced.Keeping the tires properly inf lated
provides the best combination of
handling, tread lif e, and riding
comf ort.
Underinf lated tires wear unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel
economy, and are more likely to
fail from being overheated.
Overinf lated tires can make your
vehicleridemoreharshly,are
more prone to damage f rom road
hazards, and wear unevenly.
Tires
Maint enance
Inf lation
183
Using tires that are excessively
worn or improperly inflated can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner’s manual regarding tire
inflation and maintenance.

We recommend that you visually
check your tires every day. If you
think a tire might be low, check it
immediately with a tire gauge.Thecompactsparetirepressureis:
For convenience, the recommended
tire sizes and cold air pressures are
on a label on the driver’s doorjamb.
For additional technical inf ormation,
see page .Use a gauge to measure the air
pressure at least once a month. Even
tires that are in good condition may
lose one to two psi (10 to 20 kPa, 0.1
to 0.2 kgf /cm ) per month.
Remember to check the spare tire at
thesametime.
Check the pressure in the tires when
they are cold. This means the vehicle
has been parked f or at least three
hours, or driven less than 1 mile (1.6
km).
Add or release air, if needed, to
match the recommended cold tire
pressuresonthispage.
(Canada: RSX)
(U.S.: All models, Canada: Premium
and Type-S models)
222
Tire Size Tire Size Cold Tire Pressure for
Normal Driving
Cold Tire Pressure for
Normal Driving
Front:
Rear: Front:
Rear:
Tires
Maint enance184
P205/55R16 89V
33 psi (230 kPa ,2.3 kgf/cm
)
31 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm
) P195/65R15 89H
33 psi (230 kPa ,2.3 kgf/cm
)
31 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm
)
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.20 kgf/cm)

Tire pressure f or high speed driving
is the same as f or normal driving.
If you check the pressure when the
tires are hot (driven f or several
miles), you will see readings 4 to 6
psi (30 to 40 kPa, 0.3 to 0.4 kgf /cm )
higher than the cold reading. This is
normal; do not release air to match
the cold pressure.
Tubeless tires have some ability to
self -seal if they are punctured. You
should look closely f or punctures if a
tire starts losing pressure.
Youshouldgetyourowntire
pressure gauge and use it whenever
you check your tire pressures. This
will make it easier f or you to tell if a
pressure loss is due to a tire problem
and not due to a variation between
gauges.Every time you check inf lation, you
should also examine the tires f or
damage, f oreign objects, and wear.
Youshouldlookfor:
Bumps or bulges in the tread or
side of the tire. Replace the tire if
youfindeitherortheseconditions.
Cuts, splits, or cracks in the side
of the tire. Replace the tire if you
can see f abric or cord.
Excessive tread wear. When you
see a 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) wide
band running across the tread,
there is less than 1/16 inch (1.6
mm) of tread lef t on the tire.
Replace the tire if you can see
threeormoretreadwear
indicators around it. In addition to proper inf lation,
correct wheel alignment helps to
decrease tire wear. If you f ind a tire
is worn unevenly, have your dealer
check the wheel alignment.
CONT INUED
Tire Inspection
Tire Maintenance
Tires
Maint enance185
TREAD WEAR
INDICATORSINDICATOR
LOCATION
MARKS

Replace your tires with radial tires of
the same size, load range, speed
rating, and maximum cold tire
pressure rating (as shown on the
tire’s sidewall). Mixing radial and
bias-ply tires on your vehicle can
reduce braking ability, traction, and
steering accuracy. Using tires of a
dif f erent size or construction can
cause the ABS to work inconsistently.
It is best to replace all f our tires at
thesametime.If thatisnotpossible
or necessary, replace the two f ront
tires or two rear tires as a pair.
Replacing just one tire can seriously
af f ect your vehicle’s handling.
To help increase tire lif e and
distribute wear more evenly, rotate
the tires every 10,000 miles (16,000
km). Move the tires to the positions
showninthecharteachtimethey
are rotated. If you purchase
directional tires, rotate only f ront-to-
back.
Have your dealer check the tires if
you f eel a consistent vibration while
driving. A tire should always be
rebalanced if it is removed f rom the
wheel. When you have new tires
installed, make sure they are
balanced. This increases riding
comf ort and tire lif e. For best results,
have the installer perform a dynamic
balance.
(Only on vehicles equipped with
aluminum wheels)
Replacing T ires
Tire Rotation
Tires
Maint enance186
NOTICE:
Front Front
(For Non-directional
Tires and Wheels) (For Directional
Tires and Wheels)
Improper wheel weights can
damage your vehicle’s aluminum
wheels. Use only genuine Acura wheel
weights f or balancing.

´
Tires marked ‘‘M S’’ or ‘‘All
Season’’ on the sidewall have an all-
weather tread design suitable for
most winter driving conditions.
For the best perf ormance in snowy
or icy conditions, you should install
snow tires or tire chains. They may
be required by local laws under
certain conditions.
If you mount snow tires on your
Acura, make sure they are radial
tires of the same size and load range
as original tires. Mount snow tires on
all f our wheels. The traction
provided by snow tires on dry roads
maybelowerthanyouroriginaltires.
Check with the tire dealer f or
maximum speed recommendations.
Wheels:
Tires:
See page f or inf ormation about
DOT Tire Quality Grading.
Replacement wheels are available at
your Acura dealer. (U.S. : All models
Canada : Premium and Type-S
models)
(Canada : RSX)
(U.S. : All models
Canada : Premium and Type-S
models)
(Canada : RSX)
222
CONT INUED
Winter Driving
Snow T ires
Wheel and T ire Specif ications
Tires
Maint enance187
16x61/2JJ
15x6JJ
P205/55R16 89V
P195/65R15 89H
Installing improper tires on your
vehicle can affect handling and
stability. This can cause a crash
in which you can be seriously
hurt or killed.
Always use the size and type of
tires recommended in this
owner’s manual.

Check the condition of the battery
monthlybylookingatthetest
indicator window. The label on the
battery explains the test indicator’s
colors.
Use only SAE class ‘‘S’’ chains. Only
certain brands of chains will f it your
Acura without coming in contact
with the body or causing mechanical
damage. Bef ore buying any types of
chains, you should consult with your
Acura dealer about the designs and
brands that will work on your Acura.
Also,makesureyoupurchasethe
correct size f or your tires. When installing chains, f ollow the
manuf acturer’s instructions and
mount them as tightly as you can.
Drive slowly with chains installed. If
you hear them contacting the body
or chassis, stop and investigate.
Make sure the chains are installed
tightly, and that they are not
contacting the brake lines or
suspension. Remove the chains as
soonasyoustartdrivingoncleared
roads.
Mount tire chains on your vehicle
when warranted by driving
conditions or required by local laws.
Make sure the chains are the correct
size f or your tires. Install them only
on the front tires.
Checking the Battery
T ire Chains
Tires, Checking the Battery
Maint enance188
NOTICE:TEST INDICATOR WINDOWChains of the wrong size or
ones that are improperly installed can
damage your vehicle’s brake lines,
suspension, body, and wheels. Stop
driving if you hear the chains hitting
any part of the vehicle.

µ
If additional battery maintenance is
needed, see your Acura dealer or a
qualif ied technician. Battery posts,
terminals, and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds. If you need to connect the battery to
a charger, disconnect both cables to
prevent damaging your vehicle’s
electrical system. Always disconnect
the negative ( ) cable first, and
reconnect it last.
Check the terminals f or corrosion (a
white or yellowish powder). To
remove it, cover the terminals with a
solution of baking soda and water. It
will bubble up and turn brown. When
this stops, wash it of f with plain
water. Dry off the battery with a
cloth or paper towel. Coat the
terminals with grease to help prevent
f urther corrosion.
WARNING:
Wash your hands af ter handling.
Maint enance
Checking the Battery
189
The battery gives off explosive
hydrogen gas during normal
operation.
A spark or flame can cause the
battery to explode with enough
force to kill or seriously hurt you.
Wear protective clothing and a
face shield, or have a skilled
mechanic do the battery
maintenance.