2012 ACURA RL brakes

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
automatic transmission. It also
includes important inf ormation on
parking your vehicle, the braking
system, the Super Handling-All
Wheel Drive (SH-AWD
)system,
the vehicle stability assist (VSA
)
system, the tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS), the Collision
mitigation braking system
(CMBS ), and f acts you need if you
are planning to tow a trailer......................... Preparing to Drive . 400
....................... Starting the Engine . 401
Check Starting System
................................. Message . 402
.............. Automatic Transmission . 403
Driving with the Paddle
................................... Shif ters . 407
................ D-Paddle Shif t Mode . 407
.............. Sequential Shif t Mode . 409
Super Handling-All Wheel Drive
................. (SH-AWD
) System . 412
........................................... Parking . 414
............................. Braking System . 415
............... Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) . 416
Collision Mitigation Braking
.................. System (CMBS ) . 418
Tire Pressure Monitoring
........................ System (TPMS) . 429
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA
),
aka Electronic Stability
........ Control (ESC), System . 435
........................... Towing a Trailer . 437
................... Towing Your Vehicle . 442
Driving
Driving
399
TM
TM
TMTM
TM TM
11/07/20 18:52:43 31SJA670_404
ProCarManuals.com

Always use the parking brake when
you park your vehicle. Make sure
the parking brake is set f irmly or
your vehicle may roll if it is on an
incline.
Set the parking brake bef ore you put
the transmission in Park. This keeps
the vehicle from moving and putting
pressure on the parking mechanism
in the transmission.Make sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.
Turn of f the lights.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the trunk or take them with you.
Lock the doors.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The hot three way
catalytic converter could cause
these materials to catch on fire.
If the vehicle is f acing uphill, turn
the f ront wheels away f rom the
curb.
If the vehicle is f acing downhill,
turn the front wheels toward the
curb.Check the indicator on the
instrument panel to verif y that the
security system is set.
Make sure the parking brake is
f ully released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or
damage the rear brakes. Parking T ips
Parking
414
11/07/20 18:54:43 31SJA670_419
ProCarManuals.com

Your vehicle is equipped with disc
brakes at all f our wheels. A power
assist helps reduce the ef f ort needed
on the brake pedal. The brake pedal
assist f unction increases the f orce
you apply to the brake pedal during
an emergency stop. When the brake
pedal assist is activated, the e-
pretensioners (if equipped) tighten
f ront seat belts (see page ). The
anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps
you retain steering control when
braking very hard (see page ).
Resting your f oot on the pedal keeps
the brakes applied lightly, builds up
heat, reduces their ef f ectiveness and
reduces brake pad lif e. In addition,
f uel economy can be reduced. It also
keeps your brake lights on all the
time, conf using drivers behind you.The hydraulic system that operates
the brakes has two separate circuits.
Each circuit works diagonally across
the vehicle (the lef t-f ront brake is
connected with the right-rear brake,
etc.). If one circuit should develop a
problem, you will still have braking
at two wheels. Constant application of the brakes
when going down a long hill builds
up heat and reduces their ef f ective-
ness. Use the engine to assist the
brakes by taking your f oot of f the
accelerator and downshif ting to a
lower gear.
Check the brakes after driving
through deep water. Apply the
brakes moderately to see if they f eel
normal. If not, apply them gently and
f requently until they do. Be extra
cautious in your driving.If the brake pads need replacing, you
will hear a distinctive, metallic
screeching sound when you apply
the brake pedal. If you do not have
the brake pads replaced, they will
screech all the time. It is normal f or
the brakes to occasionally squeal or
squeak when you apply them. 24
416Braking System Design
Brake Pad Wear Indicators
Braking System
Driving
415
11/07/20 18:54:50 31SJA670_420
ProCarManuals.com

The anti-lock brake system (ABS)
helpspreventthewheelsfrom
locking up, and helps you retain
steering control by pumping the
brakes rapidly, much f aster than a
person can do it.If this indicator comes on, the anti-
lock f unction of the braking system
has shut down. The brakes still work
like a conventional system, but
without anti-lock. You should have
your dealer inspect your vehicle as
soon as possible. You will f eel a pulsation in the brake
pedal when the ABS activates, and
you may hear some noise. This is
normal: it is the ABS rapidly
pumpingthebrakes.Ondry
pavement, you will need to press on
thebrakepedalveryhardbeforethe
ABS activates. However, you may
feel the ABS activate immediately if
you are trying to stop on snow or ice.
Let the ABS work f or you by always
keeping f irm, steady pressure on the
brake pedal. This is sometimes
ref erred to as ‘‘stomp and steer.’’ The electronic brake distribution
(EBD) system, which is part of the
ABS, also balances the f ront-to-rear
braking distribution according to
vehicle loading.When the ABS indicator comes on,
you will also see a ‘‘CHECK ABS
SYSTEM’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display.
If the ABS indicator comes on while
driving, test the brakes as shown on
page .510
You should never pump the brake pedal.
ABS Indicator
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
416
11/07/20 18:54:57 31SJA670_421
ProCarManuals.com

on loose or
uneven surfaces, such as gravel or
snow, than a vehicle without anti-
lock. 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. If the ABS indicator and the brake
system indicator come on together,
and the parking brake is f ully
released, the EBD system may also
be shut down.
Test your brakes as instructed on
page . If the brakes f eel normal,
drive slowly and have your vehicle
repaired by your dealer as soon as
possible. Avoid sudden hard braking
which could cause the rear wheels to
lock up and possibly lead to a loss of
control.510A vehicle with A BS may require a
longer distance to stop 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 the loss of
stability.
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
Driving
417
11/07/20 18:55:04 31SJA670_422
ProCarManuals.com

µ
If equipped
The collision mitigation braking
system (CMBS ) can assist the
driver when there is a possibility of
colliding with the vehicle in f ront of
yours. It is designed to reduce the
speed of your vehicle bef ore an
unavoidable collision occurs and, if
possible, to alert you to a potential
collision while there is time f or the
driver to prevent it. Here is a brief
description of what the CMBS can
do:When your speed is above 10 mph
(15 km/h), the CMBS is monitoring
the vehicle ahead of you with radar.
When your vehicle is approaching
the vehicle ahead of yours too
quickly, the system may activate one
or more of the f ollowing: a visual
alert, an audible alert, apply the
brakes and e-pretensioners to
tighten the front seat belts first as
a warning, then to prepare for an
impending crash (see page ).
The CMBS consists of a radar
sensor in the f ront grille, a brake
actuator in the engine compartment,
an indicator on the instrument panel,
seat belt e-pretensioners on the f ront
seats,andanon/off buttononthe
dashboard. 24
Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS )
Overview
418
RADAR SENSOR
BRAKE
ACTUATORSEAT BELT
e-PRETENSIONERS
TM TM
TM TM
11/07/20 18:55:10 31SJA670_423
ProCarManuals.com

CONT INUED
If the system senses a likely collision
with a vehicle or object ahead of you,
it alerts you with a visual alert or a
combination of a visual alert and an
audible alert.The visual alert is an amber colored
BRAKE message that flashes on the
multi-inf ormation display, the audible
alert is a constant beeping sound. If
one or more of the alerts come on,
take the appropriate means to
prevent a collision (apply the brakes,
change lanes, etc.). Collision Alarm
Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS )
Driving
421
TM TM
11/07/20 18:55:27 31SJA670_426
ProCarManuals.com

CONT INUED
The CMBS may not activate under
some conditions. Here are a f ew
examples:
The distance between your vehicle
and the vehicle ahead of you is too
short. When you turn the ignition switch
to the ON (II) position, the CMBS
indicator should come on f or a f ew
seconds, then go of f . If the
indicator comes on at any other
time and a CHECK CMBS
SYSTEM message appears on the
multi-inf ormation display, there is
a problem with the CMBS. You
can still drive your vehicle, but
CMBS will not be operating. Have
your vehicle checked by a dealer.
A vehicle cuts in f ront of you at a
slow speed, or it brakes suddenly. When you accelerate rapidly and
approach the vehicle ahead of you
at high speed.
Immediately af ter you begin
driving. Limitations
Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS )
Driving
425
YOUR VEHICLE
TM TM
11/07/20 18:56:02 31SJA670_430
ProCarManuals.com