2009 Acura RL wheel

If you install winter tires, make sure
they are the same size as those that
were originally supplied with your
vehicle. Exercise the same caution
during winter driving as you would if
your vehicle was not equipped with
VSA.
Driving with varying tire or wheel
sizes may cause the VSA to
malf unction. When replacing tires,
make sure they are of the same size
and type as your original tires (see
page ).
VSA is turned on every time you
start the engine, even if you turned it
off the last time you drove the
vehicle.
When VSA is off, the VSA activation
indicator comes on as a reminder.
Press and hold the switch again. It
turns the system back on.
This switch is at the right side of the
lef t vent. Press and hold it until you
hear a beep.
Immediately af ter f reeing your
vehicle, be sure to switch the VSA on
again. We do not recommend driving
your vehicle with the VSA and
traction control systems switched off.
In certain unusual conditions when
your vehicle gets stuck in shallow
mud or f resh snow, it may be easier
to free it with the VSA temporarily
switched of f . When the VSA system
is of f , the traction control system is
alsooff.Youshouldonlyattemptto
f ree your vehicle with the VSA of f if
you are not able to f ree it when the
VSA is on.
If the low tire pressure/TPMS
indicator comes on (see page ),
or the multi-information display
shows a ‘‘CHECK TPMS SYSTEM’’
message with the indicator flashing
(see page ), the VSA system
automatically turns on even if the
VSA system is turned off with the
VSA OFF switch. In this case, you
cannot turn the VSA system of f by
pressing the VSA OFF switch again. 429
433
485
VSA and Tire Sizes
VSA OFF Switch
Vehicle Stability A ssist (VSA), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
436
VSA OFF SWITCH
2009 RL

Crosswinds and air turbulence
caused by passing trucks can disrupt
your steering and cause the trailer to
sway. When being passed by a large
vehicle, keep a constant speed, and
steer straight ahead. Do not try to
make quick steering or braking
corrections.
Follow all normal precautions when
parking, including f irmly setting the
parking brake and putting the
transmission in Park. Also, place
wheel chocks at each of the trailer’s
tires.
When climbing hills, closely watch
your temperature gauge. If it nears
the red (Hot) mark, turn the air
conditioning of f , reduce speed and, if
necessary, pull to the side of the
road to let the engine cool.
Always drive slowly and have
someone guide you when backing up.
Grip the of the steering
wheel; turn the wheel to the lef t to
get the trailer to move to the lef t,
andturnthewheelrighttomovethe
trailer to the right.Your vehicle is not designed to be
towed behind a motor home. If your
vehicle needs to be towed in an
emergency, see page .
If you must stop when f acing uphill,
use the f oot brake or parking brake.
Do not try to hold the vehicle in
placebypressingontheaccelerator,
as this can cause the automatic
transmission to overheat.
When driving down hills, reduce
your speed, and shif t down to S
position, or use the paddle shif ters to
the lower gear (3, 2 or 1) in the S
position. When towing a trailer, do
not ‘‘ride’’ the brakes, and remember,
it will take longer to slow down and
stop when towing a trailer. 519
bottom
Backing Up
Handling Crosswinds and Buf f et ing
Parking
Driving on Hills
Towing Your Vehicle
Towing a Trailer, Towing Your Vehicle
442
2009 RL

This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
If you have the skills and tools to
perf orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your vehicle, you may want
to purchase the service manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your dealer.
This section also includes
instructions on how to read the
maintenance minder messages on
the multi-information display, and
instructions f or simple maintenance
tasks you may want to take care of
yourself .......................
Maintenance Saf ety .444
....................
Maintenance Minder .445
..............................
Fluid Locations .455
......
Engine Compartment Covers .456
........................
Adding Engine Oil .458
Changing the Engine Oil and
...........................................
Filter .459
..............................
Engine Coolant .461
....................
Windshield Washers .464
....
Automatic Transmission Fluid .464
....................................
Brake Fluid .466
....................
Power Steering Fluid .466
....................................
Timing Belt .467
.............................................
Lights .468
..................
DustandPollenFilter .476
................
Cleaning the Seat Belts .476
.....................................
Floor Mats .477
.................................
Wiper Blades .478
...........................................
Wheels .480
...............................................
Tires .480
...................
Checking the Battery .489
.............................
Vehicle Storage .492
541
Maintenance
Maint enance
443
2009 RL

µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µµ
µ
One of the most convenient and
important f eatures of the multi-
inf ormation display on your vehicle
is the maintenance minder.
Based on engine operating
conditions and accumulated engine
revolutions, the onboard computer in
your vehicle calculates the remaining
engine oil lif e.
The system also displays the code
f or other scheduled maintenance
items needing service.
To see the remaining engine oil lif e
displayed on the lower right corner
on the multi-information display as a
percentage, turn the ignition switch
to the ON (II) position, and press the
SEL/RESET button on the steering
wheel repeatedly until the engine oil
lifeappears(seepage ).The remaining engine oil lif e is
displayed according to the table
shown below.
Calculated Engine Oil Lif e (%)
100% 91% 90% 81%
80% 71%
70% 61%
60% 51%
50% 41%
40% 31%
30% 21%
20% 16%
15% 11%
10% 6% 5% 1% 0% Displayed
Engine Oil Lif e (%)
100% 90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
73
CONT INUED
Maintenance Minder
Engine Oil L if e Display
Maint enance
445
REMAINING ENGINE OIL LIFE
2009 RL

ÝÛÝÛ
The message will be canceled if the
or buttononthesteeringwheel
is pressed. Press the or button
to see the message again.
When the remaining engine oil lif e is
15 to 6 percent, the multi-inf ormation
display shows a ‘‘SERVICE DUE
SOON’’ message along with the
maintenance schedule code
indicating the main and sub items
required at the time of the oil change.
Refer to page and for a
complete list of the maintenance
main items and sub items. Press the SEL/RESET button on the
steering wheel repeatedly to select
the engine oil lif e. The message
‘‘OIL LIFE’’ along with the
percentage of oil lif e remaining and
the maintenance item code(s),
appear on the lower part of the multi-
inf ormation display.
453 454
Maintenance Minder
446
MESSAGE
MAINTENANCE
MAIN ITEM REMAINING
ENGINE OIL LIFE
MAINTENANCE
SUB ITEM(S) MAINTENANCE
ITEM CODE(S)
2009 RL

ÝÛÝÛ
The message will be canceled if the
or buttononthesteeringwheel
is pressed. Press the or button
to see the message again.
When the remaining engine oil lif e is
1 to 5 percent, the multi-information
display shows a ‘‘SERVICE DUE
NOW’’ message with the
maintenance items. When you see
this message have the indicated
maintenance perf ormed as soon as
possible. Press the SEL/RESET button on the
steering wheel repeatedly to select
the engine oil lif e. The message
‘‘SERVICE OIL LIFE’’, along with
‘‘5%’’, and the maintenance item
code(s) are displayed on the lower
part of the multi-inf ormation display
when the calculated engine oil lif e is
1 to 5 percent (see page ).
445
CONT INUED
Maintenance Minder
Maint enance
447
2009 RL

ÝÛÛÝ
Press and hold the SEL/RESET
button on the steering wheel f or
more than 10 seconds. The
remaining engine oil lif e reset
mode will be shown on the multi-
inf ormation display.
To reset the engine oil lif e, press
the or button on the steering
wheel to select RESET on the
display, and press the SEL/
RESET button. To cancel resetting the oil life,
press the or button on the
steering wheel to select CANCEL
on the display, and press the SEL/
RESET button.
If you do not complete the reset
procedure within 30 seconds af ter
selecting the reset mode, the mode
will be canceled automatically.
Your dealer will reset the display
af ter completing the required
maintenance service. You will see
‘‘OIL LIFE 100%’’ on the display the
next time you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position.
If maintenance service is done by
someone other than your dealer,
reset the maintenance minder as
f ollows:
If the oil lif e minder is not
displayed, press the SEL/RESET
buttononthesteeringwheel
repeatedly until it is.
Turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position.
The maintenance item code or codes
indicate the main and sub items
required at the time of the oil change
(see page ).
1.
2.
3.
453
Maintenance Minder
448
U.S.
CANADA
2009 RL

ÝÛÝÛ
Immediately have the service
perf ormed, and make sure to reset
the oil lif e minder as previously
described.
The message will be canceled if the
or buttononthesteeringwheel
is pressed. Press the or button
to see the message again.
If the indicated maintenance service
is not done and the remaining engine
oil lif e reaches 0%, the multi-
inf ormation display will show the
message ‘‘SERVICE PAST DUE’’
and the maintenance item code(s).
This message is displayed when the
total mileage is less than 10 miles
(f or U.S. models) or 10 km (f or
Canadian models) af ter the engine
oillifebecame0%. Press the SEL/RESET button on the
steering wheel repeatedly to select
the engine oil lif e minder. The
message ‘‘SERVICE OIL LIFE’’,
along with ‘‘0%’’, and the
maintenance item code are displayed
on the lower part of the multi-
inf ormation display when the
calculated engine oil lif e is 0 percent.
CONT INUED
Maintenance Minder
Maint enance
449
2009 RL