2004 Acura RSX instrument panel

Help assure your vehicle’s f uture
reliability and perf ormance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period:Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration.
Avoidhardbrakingforthefirst
200 miles (300 km).
Do not change the oil until the
scheduled maintenance time.
Do not tow a trailer. Your Acura is designed to operate on
unleaded gasoline with a pump
octane number of 86 or higher.
Your Acura is designed to operate on
premium unleaded gasoline with a
pump octane number of 91 or higher.
You should also f ollow these re-
commendations with an overhauled
or exchanged engine, or when the
brakes are replaced. Useof aloweroctanegasolinecan
cause a persistent, heavy, metallic
rapping noise in the engine that can
lead to mechanical f ailure.
We recommend gasoline containing
detergent additives that help prevent
f uel system and engine deposits. In
addition, in order to maintain good
perf ormance, f uel economy, and
emissions control, we strongly
recommend, in areas where it is
available, the use of gasoline that
does NOT contain manganese-based
f uel additives such as MMT. Use ofgasoline with these additives may
adversely affect performance, and
cause the Malf unction Indicator
Lamp on your instrument panel to
come on. If this happens, contact
your authorized Acura dealer f or
service. For f urther important f uel-
related information, please refer to
your Quick Start Guide.
Some gasoline today is blended with
oxygenates such as ethanol or
MTBE. Your vehicle is designed to
operate on oxygenated gasoline
containing up to 10 percent ethanol
by volume and up to 15 percent
MTBE by volume. Do not use
gasoline containing methanol.
If you notice any undesirable
operating symptoms, try another
service station or switch to another
brand of gasoline.(All models except Type-S)
(Type-S)
Break-in Period Fuel Recommendation
Bef ore Driving
Break-in Period, Fuel Recommendation
121

Youshoulddothefollowingchecks
and adjustments every day bef ore
you drive your vehicle.Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove f rost, snow,
or ice. Check the seat adjustment (see
page ).
Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page ).
Check the steering wheel
adjustment (see page ).
Make sure the doors and hatch
are securely closed and locked.
Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have f astened
their seat belts (see page ).When you start the engine, check
the gauges and indicators in the
instrument panel (see page ).
Check that the hood is f ully closed.
Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.
Check that any items you may be
carrying are stored properly or
f astened down securely.
1.
2.
3.
9. 8.
7. 6. 5.
4. 10.
72
6214 49
80
Preparing to Drive
Driving134

These indicators on the instrument
panel show which position the shif t
lever is in.
The ‘‘D’’ indicator comes on f or a
f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to ON (II). If it
f lashes at any time (in any shif t
position), it indicates a possible
problem in the transmission. Avoid
rapid acceleration, and have the
transmission checked by an Acura
dealer as soon as possible.To shif t f rom any position, move the
shif t lever. You cannot shif t out of
Park when the ignition switch is in
LOCK (0) or ACCESSORY (I)
position.
CONT INUED
To shift from:
PtoR
RtoN
NtoD
DtoD
DtoD DtoNNtoR RtoP Do this:
Press the brake pedal, then
move the shift lever.
Move the lever.
3
3
Shif t L ever Position Indicators Shif ting
Driving
Automatic Transmission
139
SHIFT LEVER

µ
´µ
With
the shif t lever in ‘‘D’’ position, you
can select the Sequential SportShif t
Mode to shif t gears; much like a
manual transmission, but without a
clutch pedal.
To enter the Sequential SportShif t
Mode, move the shif t lever f urther to
the driver’s side. To return to ‘‘D’’,
move the shift lever to the
passenger’s side.
When you move the shif t lever f rom
‘‘D’’ to the Sequential SportShift
mode, the display shows the selected
gear. In Sequential SportShif t mode, each
time you push f orward on the shif t
lever, the transmission will shif t to a
higher gear. Pull back on the lever to
downshif t. The number of the gear
selected is displayed on the
instrument panel (see page ).When you accelerate away f rom a
stop, the transmission will be in f irst
gear. The transmission will not
automatically upshift. Watch the
tachometer and upshif t manually
bef ore the engine reaches redline.
The transmission remains in the
selectedgear(5,4,3,2,or1).There
is no automatic downshif t when you
push the accelerator pedal to the
f loor.
139
CONT INUED
Automatic Transmission
Driving
Sequent ial Sport Shif t Mode
141
Up shift
Down shift

Turn the ignition switch to START
(III). If the headlights do not dim,
check the condition of the f uses. If
thefusesareOK,thereis
probably something wrong with
the electrical circuit f or the
ignition switch or starter motor.
You will need a qualif ied
technician to determine the
problem (see
on page ).In this case, the starter motor’s
speed sounds normal, or even f aster
than normal, when you turn the
ignition switch to START (III), but
the engine does not run.
Are you using a properly coded
key? An improperly coded key will
cause the immobilizer system
indicator in the instrument panel
to blink rapidly (see page ).
Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Ref er to on page .
Do you have f uel? Check the f uel
gauge; the low f uel indicator may
not be working. There may be an electrical
problem, such as no power to the
f uel pump. Check all the f uses
(see page ).
If youfindnothingwrong,youwill
need a qualif ied technician to f ind
the problem. See on page .
If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is
discharged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal
connections (see page ). You
canthentryjumpstartingthe
vehicle from a booster battery
(see page ). 215
200 188 64
135 210
215
If theEngineWon’tStart
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Emergency T owing T he Starter Operates Normally
Starting the
Engine Emergency
Towing
199

CONT INUED
...........................
Side Airbag Of f .50
...............................................
SRS .50
Turn Signal and Hazard ...................................
Warning .52
..............................
Washer Level .53
.........
Indicators, Instrument Panel . 49
...............................
Inf ant Restraint .33
Inf ant Seats .........................................
LATCH .37
...........................
Lower Anchors .37
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 40
...................
Inf lation, Proper Tire . 183
...................................
Inside Mirror .80
.............................
Inspection, Tire .185
........................
Instrument Panel .2 ,49
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 61
..........
Instrument Panel Indicators . 50
.................................
Interior Lights .83
........................................
Introduction . i
.................
Jacking up the Vehicle . 195
.......................................
Jack, Tire .194
................................
Jump Starting .200 ..................................................
Keys .63
.......................
Label, Certif ication .218
.................
Lane Change, Signaling . 60
..................
Lap/Shoulder Belts . 14,19
...........
LATCH Anchorage System . 37
Lights ....................
Bulb Replacement .174
.....................................
Load Limit .130
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) . 65
Locks .......
Anti-thef t Steering Column . 65
............................
Fuel Fill Door .122
....................................
Glove Box .71
............................................
Hatch .68
..............
Power Door and Hatch . 67
........................
Low Coolant Level .125
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator .52
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 51,204
.................................
Lower Anchor .37
...
Lower Gear, Downshif ting to a . 136Lubricant Specif ications
..................................
Chart .220, 221
..............
Luggage, .129
.....
Luggage Cover (Cargo Cover) . 76
..................................
Maintenance .155
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 158
........................................
Record .161
......................
Required Indicator .54
..........................................
Saf ety .156
.............................
Schedule .159-160
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 51,206
...................
Manual Transmission . 136
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 170
................................
Shif ting the .136
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 170
...............................
Meters, Gauges .56
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .81
...............
Modif ying Your Vehicle . 128
.........................................
Moonroof .80
......................
Closing Manually .209
.....................................
Operation .80
Storing (Cargo)
Index
J K
L
M
V