2005 Acura RSX engine

The three way catalytic converter
contains precious metals that serve
as catalysts, promoting chemical
reactions to convert the exhaust
gasses without af f ecting the metals.
The catalytic converter is ref erred to
as a three-way catalyst, since it acts
on HC, CO, and NOx. A replacement
unit must be an original Acura part
or its equivalent.
The three way catalytic converter
must operate at a high temperature
for the chemical reactions to take
place. It can set on f ire any com-
bustible materials that come near it.
Parkyourvehicleawayfromhigh
grass, dry leaves, or other f lamma-
bles.A defective three way catalytic
converter contributes to air pollution,
and can impair your engine’s per-
f ormance. Follow these guidelines to
protect your vehicle’s three way
catalytic converter.
Always use unleaded gasoline.
Even a small amount of leaded
gasoline can contaminate the
catalyst metals, making the three
way catalytic converter inef f ective. Keep the engine tuned-up.
Have your vehicle diagnosed and
repaired if it is misf iring, back-
f iring, stalling, or otherwise not
running properly.
Three Way Catalytic Converter
T echnical Inf ormation
225
THREE WAY CATALYTIC CONVERTER

If you take your vehicle f or a state
emissions test shortly af ter the
battery has been disconnected or
gone dead, it may not pass the test.
This is because of certain ‘‘readiness
codes’’ that must be set in the on-
board diagnostics f or the emissions
systems. These codes are erased
when the battery is disconnected,
and set again only after several days
of driving under a variety of
conditions.
If the testing f acility determines that
the readiness codes are not set, you
will be requested to return at a later
date to complete the test. If you must
get the vehicle re-tested within the
next two or three days, you can
condition the vehicle f or retesting by
doing the f ollowing.Make sure the gas tank is nearly,
but not completely, f ull (around
3/4). Make sure the vehicle has been
parked with the engine of f f or 8
hours or more.
Make sure the ambient
temperature is between 20° and
95°F.
Without touching the accelerator
pedal, start the engine, and let it
idle f or 20 seconds.
Keep the vehicle in Park
(automatic transmission) or
Neutral (manual transmission).
Increase the engine speed to 2,000
rpm,andholditthereuntilthe
temperature gauge rises to at least
1/4of thescale(about3minutes).
Select a nearby lightly traveled
major highway where you can
maintain a speed of 50 to 60 mph
(80to97km/h)foratleast20
minutes. Drive on the highway in
D (A/T) or 5th (M/T). Do not usethecruisecontrol.Whentraffic
allows, drive f or 90 seconds
without moving the accelerator
pedal. (Vehicle speed may vary
slightly; this is okay.) If you cannot
do this f or a continuous 90
seconds because of traf f ic
conditions, drive f or at least 30
seconds, then repeat it two more
times (for a total of 90 seconds).
Then drive in city/suburban
traffic for at least 10 minutes.
When traf f ic conditions allow, let
the vehicle coast f or several
seconds without using the
accelerator pedal or the brake
pedal.
If the testing facility determines the
readiness codes are still not set, see
your dealer.
St at e Emissions T est ing
T esting of Readiness Codes
226

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#
) This manual covers maintenance and recommended
procedures f or repair to engine and chassis components.
It is written f or the journeyman mechanic, but is simple
enough f or most mechanically-inclined owners to under-
stand.
This manual complements the service manual by
providing in-depth troubleshooting inf ormation f or each
electrical circuit in your vehicle.
This manual describes the procedures involved in the
replacement of damaged body parts. Service Manual:
Electrical T roubleshooting Manual:
Body Repair Manual:
Authorized Manuals
232
NOTE: Dealers and Companies please provide dealer or company name,
and also the name of the person to whose attention the shipment should
be sent. For purchases outside U.S.A. please write to the address shown
below for a quotation.
P.O. BOX 07280·DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48207·1-800-782-4356
Customer Name Attention
Apartment Number
State & Zip Code
City
Daytime Telephone Number
Check or money order enclosed payable to Helm Inc U.S. funds only.
Do not send cash
Master
Card VISA
Check here if your billing address is different
from the shipping address shown above.
Account Number Expiration: Mo. Yr.
CUSTOMER SIGNATURE DATE
Street Address No P.O. Box Number
()
These Publications cannot be returned for credit without receiving advance authorization within 14
days of delivery. On returns, a restocking fee may be applied against the original order.

CONT INUED
....................................
Accessories .127
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) .66
..............
Accessory Power Sockets . 83
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 163
.............................
Airbag (SRS) .11, 22
...
Airbags, Additional Information . 22
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 27
.............................
Airbag Service .27
How the Side Airbag Of f ......................
Indicator Works .27
..
How the SRS Indicator Works . 26
How Your Front Airbags .........................................
Work .23
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 25
........................
SRS Components .22
................
Air Conditioning System . 88
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .182
......................................
Antif reeze .165
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) ...............................
Indicator .53, 147
...................................
Operation .147
Anti-thef t Steering Column ..............................................
Lock .66 ..................................
Audio System .92
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners . 20
.............
Automatic Speed Control . 115
..............
Automatic Transmission . 139
..........................
Capacity,Fluid .219
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 167
.......................................
Shif ting .139
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 139
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 139
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 144
Battery Charging System ...........................
Indicator .53, 204
............................
Jump Starting .200
..............................
Maintenance .188
............................
Specif ications .219
..............................
Bef ore Driving .119
..................................
Belts, Seat .10, 19
...........................
Beverage Holders .83
..................................
Booster Seats .42
Brakes ...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 147
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 121....................
Bulb Replacement .177
...........................................
Fluid .169
.................
System Indicator . 53,206
........................
Wear Indicators .146
.............................
Braking System .146
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle . 121
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 62
........................
Brights, Headlights .61
Bulb Replacement ..........................
Back-up Lights .177
..............................
Brake Lights .177
................
Front Parking Lights . 175
....................
Front Side Marker . 176
.........
Front Turn Signal Lights . 174
.................................
Headlights .172
.........
High-mount Brake Light . 177
.........
Rear Side Marker Lights . 178
............................
Specif ications .219
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .172
Index
A
B
INDEX
I

CONT INUED
Dipstick..........
Automatic Transmission . 167
..................................
Engine Oil .125
..........................
Directional Signals .61
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 146
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .165
Doors ..............
Locking and Unlocking . 67
......................
Power Door Locks .67
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 220
Downshif ting, 5-speed and6-speed
.............
Manual Transmissions . 136
.....................................
Drive Belts .170
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 7
...........................................
Driving .133
....................................
Economy .126
..............................
Economy, Fuel .126
Emergencies ............................
Jump Starting .200
.......................................
Towing .213
.........
Hazard Warning Flashers . 62
............
Emergencies on the Road . 191
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 200 ...........
Brake System Indicator . 206
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 193
.....
Charging System Indicator . 204
..................
Checking the Fuses . 208
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 204
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 205
...
Manually Closing Moonroof . 207
..................
Overheated Engine . 202
......................
Emergency Flashers .62
......................
Emergency Towing .213
.......................
Emissions Controls .223
.............
Emissions Testing, State . 226
Engine ....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 58
.................................
Drive Belts .170
......
Engine Speed Limiter . 137,143
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp .53, 205
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 53,204
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 162
...............................
Overheating .202
............................
Specif ications .218
.......................................
Starting .135
...................
Engine, .198
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 223
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .45 Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by .17
.....................................
Fan, Interior .88
...........................................
Features .87
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 122
Filters ...............................................
Oil .163
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 62
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 193
Fluids ..........
Automatic Transmission . 167
..........................................
Brake .169
.........................................
Clutch .169
..........................
Power Steering .171
..................
Windshield Washer . 167
FM Stereo Radio .....................................
Reception .96
...........................
Folding Rear Seat .73
..........................
Four-way Flashers .62
............................
Front Airbags .11, 22
if it won’t start
Index
F
E
INDEX
III

Front Seat......................................
Adjusting .71
.........................................
Heaters .74
...................................
Airbags .11, 22
.................................................
Fuel .121
......................
Fill Door and Cap .122
...........................................
Gauge .58
................
Octane Requirement . 121
........................
Reserve Indicator .54
........................
Tank, Filling the .122
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .208
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 126
.........................................
Gasoline .121
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 54
...........................................
Gauge .58
................
Octane Requirement . 121
........................
Tank, Filling the .122
................
Gas Station Procedures . 122
Gauges ...
Engine Coolant Temperature . 58
...............................................
Fuel .58
Gearshif t Lever Positions ..........
Automatic Transmission . 1395-speed and
6-speed Manual
.......................
Transmissions .136
........................................
Glove Box .84
.............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs . 172
................................................
Hatch .68
.................................
Opening the .68
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers . 62
Headlights ........................................
Aiming .172
............
Daytime Running Lights . 61
..................
High Beam Indicator . 54
........................
Reminder Beeper .61
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs . 172
...................................
Turning on .61
.....................................
Heater, Seat .74
.......................
Heating and Cooling .88
.............
High Altitude, Starting at . 135
.................
High-Low Beam Switch . 61
..............
High-mount Brake Light . 177
.......................
Hood, Opening the .123
..................................................
Horn .59
...........................
Hydraulic Clutch .169 ...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle . 216
Ignition ..............................................
Keys .64
...........................................
Switch .66
............
Timing Control System . 224
........................
Immobilizer System .65
.........
Important Safety Precautions . 8
Indicators .......
ABS (Anti-lock Brake) . 53,147
Brake (Parking and Brake ............................
System) .53, 206
................
Charging System . 53,204
.............................
Cruise Control .54
....................................
Door-open .54
DRL (Daytime Running ......................................
Lights) .55
...................................
High Beam .54
........
Key (Immobilizer System) . 54
......................................
Low Fuel .54
................
Low Oil Pressure . 53,204
...........................
Side Airbag Of f .52
...............................................
SRS .52
Turn Signal and Hazard ...................................
Warning .54
Index
G H
I
IV

...................
Radiator Overheating . 202
...............
Radio/CD Sound System . 92
...........................
Readiness Codes .226
..
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement . 177
............................
Rear Seat Access .72
..........................
Rear Seat, Folding .73
............................
Rear View Mirror .79
.................
Rear Window Def ogger . 62
....................
Rear Window Washer .60
.......................
Rear Window Wiper .60
...............
Reclining the Seat Backs . 71
.......
Recommended Shif t Speeds . 137
.......................
Reminder Indicators .52
.......................
Remote Transmitter .69
Replacement Inf ormation ..............
Dust and Pollen Filter . 179
................
Engine Oil and Filter . 163
.................................
Floor Mats .179
..........................................
Fuses .208
................................
Light Bulbs .172
....................................
Schedule .155
.....................................
Seat Belts .21
...........................................
Tires .186
.............................
Wiper Blades .180
...................
Neutral Gear Position . 140
..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 121
.....................
Normal Shif t Speeds .137
...................
NOTICE, Explanation of . i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 216
...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 121
.........................................
Odometer .57
...............................
Odometer, Trip .57
Oil ........................
Change, How to .163
......................
Change, When to .157
......................
Checking Engine .125
..............
Pressure Indicator . 53,204
Selecting Proper Viscosity ..............................
Chart .162, 163
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 66
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor ....................................
Recovery .224
..............................
Outside Mirrors .80
....................
Overheating, Engine .202
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 156..............
Panel Brightness Control . 62
........................
Park Gear Position .140
...........................................
Parking .145
.................................
Parking Brake .81
Parking Brake and Brake .................
System Indicator . 53,206
........................
Parking Lights .61, 175
..
Parking Over Things that Burn . 145
............................
Playing the Radio .92
..................................
Playing a CD .101
..................
Playing a CD Changer . 103
.................................
Playing a Tape .98
.............................
PGM-FI System .224
..........................
Power Door Locks .67
.................
Power Socket Locations . 83
..............................
Power Windows .77
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . 17
.........
Protecting Adults and Teens . 13
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 18
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 17
........................
Protecting Children .28
.....................
General Guidelines .28
...........................
Protecting Inf ants .32
.............
Protecting Small Children . 33
Index
N
O PR
VI

ÎÎ
CONT INUED
Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a
............................................
Crash .21
...
Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant . 125
...............................
Restraint, Child .28
..................
Reverse Gear Position . 140
................................
Rotation, Tire .185
................................
Saf ety Belts .10, 19
.........
Safety Defects, Reporting . 230
.................................
Saf ety Features .9
.........................................
Airbags .11
.....................................
Seat Belts .10
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of . 46
...............................
Saf ety Messages . ii
...................................
Seat Belts .10, 19
...............
Additional Information . 19
Automatic Seat Belt ...............................
Tensioners .20
.....................................
Cleaning .179
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt .19
................................
Maintenance .21
Reminder Indicator and ................................
Beeper .19, 52
...................
System Components . 19...............
Use During Pregnancy . 17
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder .....................................
Belt .15, 19
....................................
Seat Heaters .74
..................
Seats, Adjusting the . 13,71
............................
Security System .114
...............................
Serial Number .216
...........................
Service Intervals .157
...........................
Service Manual .231
.........
Service Station Procedures . 122
..........................
Setting the Clock .113
...
Shif t Lever Position Indicators . 139
........................
Shif t Lock Release .144
Shif ting .
The Automatic Transmission . 139
The 5-speed and 6-speed
.........
Manual Transmissions . 136
..............................
Side Airbags .11, 25
..........................
Of f Indicator .27, 52
...............................
Signaling Turns .61
.....................................
Snow Tires .187
..................................
Sound System .92
Spare Tire ......................................
Inf lating .192
............................
Specif ications .219
....................
Specif ications Charts . 218................................
Speed Control .115
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation . 22
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 27
.............................
Airbag Service .27
How the Side Airbag Of f ......................
Indicator Works .27
..
How the SRS Indicator Works . 26
How Your Front Airbags .........................................
Work .23
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 25
........................
SRS Components .22
.............................
SRS Indicator .26 ,52
..............
State Emissions Testing . 226
....
START (Ignition Key Position) . 66
.......................
Starting the Engine .135
In Cold Weather at High ..................................
Altitude .135
................
With a Dead Battery . 200
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine . 202
Steering Wheel ..................................
Adjustment .63
.............
Anti-theft Column Lock . 66
.......................................
Buttons .116
.....................
Stereo Sound System .92
Index
S
INDEX
VII