Acura CL (2003 year). Instruction - page 20

If your car’s battery has run down,
you may be able to start the engine
by using a booster battery. Although
this seems like a simple procedure,
you should take several precautions.

Turn off all the electrical acces-
sories: climate control, stereo
system, lights, etc.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park, and set the parking brake.

Remove the battery cover (see
page

).

You cannot start an Acura with an
automatic transmission by pushing
or pulling it.

Open the hood and check the
physical condition of the battery
(see page

). In very cold

weather, check the condition of
the electrolyte. If it seems slushy
or like ice, do not try jump starting
until it thaws.

To jump start your car, follow these
directions closely:

1.

2.

3.

259

259

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Jump Starting

Taking Care of the Unexpected

303

A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyone
nearby.

Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.

If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can f reeze.
Attempting to jump start with a f rozen
battery can cause it to rupture.

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Connect the second jumper cable
to the negative (

) terminal on

the booster battery. Connect the
other end to the grounding strap
as shown. Do not connect this
jumper cable to any other part of
the engine.

Connect one jumper cable to the
positive (

) terminal on your

Acura’s battery. Connect the other
end to the positive (

) terminal

on the booster battery.

5.

4.

Jump Starting

Taking Care of the Unexpected

304

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If the booster battery is in another
vehicle, have an assistant start
that vehicle and run it at a fast idle.

The numbers in the illustration show
you the order to connect the jumper
cables.

Start your car. If the starter motor
still operates slowly, check the
jumper cable connections to make
sure they have good metal-to-
metal contact.

Once your car is running, discon-
nect the negative cable from your
car, then from the booster battery.
Disconnect the positive cable from
your car, then the booster battery.

Keep the ends of the jumper cables
away from each other and any metal
on the vehicle until all are
disconnected. Otherwise, you may
cause an electrical short.

7.

8.

6.

Jump Starting

Taking Care of the Unexpected

305

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If you see steam and/or spray
coming from under the hood, turn
off the engine.

If you do not see steam or spray,
leave the engine running and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading
(climbing a long, steep hill on a
hot day with the A/C running, for
example), the engine should start
to cool down almost immediately.
If it does, wait until the tempera-
ture gauge comes down to the mid-
point then continue driving.

Safely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park and set the parking brake.
Turn off the climate control and all
other accessories. Turn on the
hazard warning indicators.

The pointer of your car’s tempera-
ture gauge should stay in the mid-
range under most conditions. It may
go higher if you are driving up a long
steep hill on a very hot day. If it
climbs to the red mark, you should
determine the reason.

Your car can overheat for several
reasons, such as lack of coolant or a
mechanical problem. The only
indication may be the temperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming from under the hood.
In either case, you should take
immediate action.

1.

2.

3.

If Your Engine Overheats

Taking Care of the Unexpected

306

Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.

Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.

Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause
serious damage to your engine.

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If the temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn off the engine.

Wait until you see no more signs
of steam or spray, then open the
hood.

If you don’t find an obvious leak,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank (see page

). If the level is below the

MIN mark, add coolant to halfway
between the MIN and MAX marks.

Look for any obvious coolant leaks,
such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you find a leak, it
must be repaired before you
continue driving (see

on page

).

If there was no coolant in the
reserve tank, you may also have to
add coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the pointer

reaches the middle of the tempera-
ture gauge, or lower, before check-
ing the radiator.

Using gloves or a large heavy
cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the first stop. This
releases any remaining pressure in
the cooling system. After the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap and turn it until it comes
off.

Start the engine and set the
temperature control dial to
maximum (climate control to
FULL AUTO at 90°F/32°C). Add
coolant to the radiator up to the
base of the filler neck. If you do
not have the proper coolant
mixture available, you can add
plain water. Remember to have
the cooling system drained and
refilled with the proper mixture as
soon as you can.

If the temperature stays normal,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the
MAX mark. Put the cap back on
tightly.

Put the radiator cap back on
tightly. Run the engine and watch
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair. (See

on page

.)

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

12.

11.

320

183

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Emergency

Towing

Emergency

Towing

If Your Engine Overheats

Taking Care of the Unexpected

307

Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.

Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.

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Start the engine and watch the oil
pressure indicator. If the light
does not go out within ten seconds,
turn off the engine. There is a
mechanical problem that needs to
be repaired before you can
continue driving. (See

on page

.)

Safely pull off the road and shut
off the engine. Turn on the hazard
warning indicators.

This indicator should light when the
ignition switch is ON (II), and go out
after the engine starts. It should
never come on when the engine is
running. If it starts flashing, it
indicates that the oil pressure
dropped very low for a moment, then
recovered. If the indicator stays on
with the engine running, it shows
that the engine has lost oil pressure
and serious engine damage is
possible. In either case, you should
take immediate action.

If necessary, add oil to bring the
level back to the full mark on the
dipstick (see page

).

Let the car sit for a minute. Open
the hood and check the oil level
(see page

). Although oil level

and oil pressure are not directly
connected, an engine that is very
low on oil can lose pressure during
cornering and other driving
maneuvers.

1.

2.

3.

4.

181

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Emergency

Towing

Low Oil Pressure Indicator

Taking Care of the Unexpected

308

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Running the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanical
damage almost immediately. Turn of f
the engine as soon as you can saf ely get
the car stopped.

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By eliminating as much of the
electrical load as possible, you can
drive several miles (kilometers)
before the battery is too discharged
to keep the engine running. Drive to
a service station or garage where
you can get technical assistance.

Immediately turn off all electrical
accessories: radio, climate control,
rear defogger, cruise control, etc.
Try not to use other electrically-
operated controls such as the power
windows. Keep the engine running
and take extra care not to stall it.
Starting the engine will discharge
the battery rapidly.

This indicator should come on when
the ignition switch is ON (II), and go
out after the engine starts. If it
comes on brightly when the engine
is running, it indicates that the
charging system has stopped
charging the battery.

Charging System Indicator

Taking Care of the Unexpected

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If the indicator remains on past three
driving trips, or the fuel cap was not
loose or missing, have the car
checked by the dealer as soon as
possible. Drive moderately until the
dealer has inspected the problem.
Avoid full-throttle acceleration and
driving at high speed.

You should also have the dealer
inspect your car if this indicator
comes on repeatedly, even though it
may turn off as you continue driving.

This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch ON (II) and
goes off after the engine starts. If it
comes on at any other time, it
indicates one of the engine’s
emissions control systems may have
a problem. Even though you may
feel no difference in your car’s per-
formance, it can reduce your fuel
economy and cause your car to put
out excessive emissions. Continued
operation may cause serious damage.

If you have recently refueled your
car, the cause of this indicator
coming on could be a loose or
missing fuel fill cap. Check the cap
and tighten it until it clicks several
times. Replace the fuel fill cap if it is
missing. Tightening the cap will not
make the indicator turn off
immediately; it takes at least three
driving trips.

This indicator may also come on
along with the ‘‘D ’’ indicator.

5

Malfunction Indicator Lamp

Taking Care of the Unexpected

310

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If you keep driving with the
malf unction indicator lamp on, you can
damage your car’s emissions controls
and engine. Those repairs may not be
covered by your car’s warranties.

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Your car has certain ‘‘readiness
codes’’ that are part of the on-board
diagnostics for the emissions
systems. In some states, part of the
emissions testing is to make sure
these codes are set. If they are not
set, the test cannot be completed.

If your car’s battery has been
disconnected or gone dead, these
codes are erased. It takes several
days of driving under various
conditions to set the codes again.

If possible, do not take your car for a
state emissions test until the
readiness codes are set. To check if
they are set, turn the ignition ON (II),
but do not start the engine. The
Malfunction Indicator Lamp will
come on for 20 seconds. If it then
goes off, the readiness codes are set.
If it blinks 5 times, the readiness
codes are not set. See State
Emissions Testing on page

.

335

Readiness Codes

Malfunction Indicator Lamp

Taking Care of the Unexpected

311

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If you must drive the car a short
distance in this condition, drive
slowly and cautiously.

If it comes on at any other time, it
indicates a problem with the car’s
brake system. In most cases, the
problem is a low fluid level in the
brake fluid reservoir. Press lightly on
the brake pedal to see if it feels
normal. If it does, check the brake
fluid level the next time you stop at a
service station (see page

). If the

fluid level is low, take the car to your
dealer and have the brake system
inspected for leaks or worn brake
pads.

Slow down by shifting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is safe. Because of the
longer distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the car. You
should have it towed, and repaired as
soon as possible. (See

on page

.)

However, if the brake pedal does not
feel normal, you should take
immediate action. Because of the
brake system’s dual-circuit design, a
problem in one part of the system
will still give you braking at two
wheels. You will feel the brake pedal
go down much farther before the car
begins to slow down, and you will
have to press harder on the pedal.
The distance needed to stop will be
much longer.

If the ABS indicator and the VSA
system indicator come on with this
indicator, have the car inspected by
your dealer immediately.

The Brake System Indicator
normally comes on when you turn
the ignition switch ON (II). It is a
reminder to check the parking brake.
It comes on and stays lit if you do not
fully release the parking brake.

252

320

On Type-S with A/T

Emergency

Towing

Brake System Indicator

Taking Care of the Unexpected

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If the electric motor will not close
the moonroof, do the following:

Check the fuse for the moonroof
motor (see page

). If the fuse

is blown, replace it with one of the
same or lower rating.

Try closing the moonroof. If the
new fuse blows immediately or the
moonroof motor still does not
operate, you can close the
moonroof manually.

Insert the moonroof wrench into
the socket behind this plug. Turn
the wrench until the moonroof is
fully closed.

Get the moonroof wrench out of
the tool kit in the trunk.

Remove the wrench. Reinstall the
round plug.

To remove the round plug in the
center of the headliner, turn the
plug by using a screwdriver or
coin, then pry it out. Make sure to
align the tabs on the round plug to
the notches on the ceilling as
shown in the illustration.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

318

Closing the Moonroof

Taking Care of the Unexpected

313

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All the electrical circuits in your car
have fuses to protect them from a
short circuit or overload. These
fuses are located in three fuse boxes.

The interior fuse boxes are located
on each side of the dashboard. To
open an interior fuse box, open the
car door. Pull the bottom of the
cover open, then take it out of its
side hinges by pulling it toward you.

The VSA fuse box is located under
the interior fuse box on the
passenger’s side of the dashboard.
To open it, push the tab and pull up
the left side of the cover as shown.

The under-hood fuse box is located
in the back of the engine compart-
ment on the passenger’s side. To
open it, push the tabs as shown.

On Type-S with A/T

Fuses

Taking Care of the Unexpected

314

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−

Check each of the large fuses in
the under-hood fuse box by
looking through the top at the wire
inside. Removing these fuses
requires a Phillips-head screw-
driver.

Remove the cover from the fuse
box.

Turn the ignition switch to LOCK
(0). Make sure the headlights and
all other accessories are off.

If something electrical in your car
stops working, the first thing you
should check for is a blown fuse.
Determine from the chart on pages

, or the diagram on the

fuse box lid, which fuse or fuses
control that component. Check those
fuses first, but check all the fuses
before deciding that a blown fuse is
not the cause. Replace any blown
fuses and check the component’s
operation.

Check the smaller fuses in the
under-hood fuse box and all the
fuses in the interior fuse boxes by
pulling out each fuse with the fuse
puller provided in the under-hood
fuse box.

3.

1.

2.

4.

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Checking and Replacing Fuses

Fuses

Taking Care of the Unexpected

315

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Look for a burned wire inside the
fuse. If it is burned, replace it with
one of the spare fuses of the same
rating or lower.

If the replacement fuse of the
same rating blows in a short time,
there is probably a serious
electrical problem in your car.
Leave the blown fuse in that
circuit and have your car checked
by a qualified mechanic.

If the radio fuse is removed, the
audio system will disable itself. The
next time you turn on the radio you
will see ‘‘

’’ in the frequency

display. Use the Preset buttons to
enter the five-digit code (see page

).

If you cannot drive the car without
fixing the problem, and you do not
have a spare fuse, take a fuse of the
same rating or a lower rating from
one of the other circuits. Make sure
you can do without that circuit
temporarily (such as the accessory
power socket or radio).

If you replace the blown fuse with a
spare fuse that has a lower rating, it
might blow out again. This does not
indicate anything wrong. Replace the
fuse with one of the correct rating as
soon as you can.

5.

6.

157

Fuses

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Replacing a f use with one that has a
higher rating greatly increases the
chances of damaging the electrical
system. If you do not have a replace-
ment f use with the proper rating f or the
circuit, install one with a lower rating.

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Amps.

Circuits Protected

No.

No. Amps.

Circuits Protected

20 A

30 A

120 A

30 A

20 A

15 A

30 A

15 A

20 A

20 A

20 A

20 A

Cooling Fan

Cooling Fan

Battery

Spare Fuse

Spare Fuse

Hazard

ABS Motor

ACG S

Stop

ABS F/S Relay

Right Headlight

Not Used

Left Headlight

13

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

1

1

2

3

4

5

6

6

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

20 A

30 A

7.5 A

60 A

40 A

40 A

20 A

40 A

40 A

40 A

40 A

15 A

10 A

7.5 A

Condenser Fan

Condenser Fan

MG Clutch

IG1 Main

Rear Window Defogger

Heater Motor

TCS

VSA

Not Used

Power Seat

Power Window Motor

Back Up, ACC

Spare Fuse

Spare Fuse

Spare Fuse

1 :

2 :

3 :

Premium model

Type-S with A/T

Type-S with M/T

1,

3

2

1

2

1

2

3

Fuses

Taking Care of the Unexpected

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UNDER-HOOD FUSE BOX

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←

→

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Circuits Protected

Amps.

No.

Amps.

No.

Circuits Protected

Fuel Pump

Main SRS

Heater Control, A/C Clutch

Relay, Cooling Fan Relay

Mirror, Heated Seat, Heated

Mirror

Daytime Running Lights

ECU (PCM), Cruise Control,

VSA

Side SRS

ACC Relay, Navigation

Instrument Panel, Back-up

Lights, Memory Seat

Turn Signals

IG Coil

Wiper, Washer

Starter Signal

On Canadian models

15 A

10 A

7.5 A

7.5 A

7.5 A

15 A

7.5 A

7.5 A

7.5 A

7.5 A

15 A

30 A

7.5 A

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

On Canadian models

20 A

20 A

20 A

20 A

20 A

20 A

30 A

20 A

20 A

10 A

7.5 A

20 A

15 A

7.5 A

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

Left Power Window

Driver’s Power Seat

Reclining, Memory Seat

Heated Seat

Driver’s Power Seat Sliding,

Memory Seat

Moonroof Motor

Right Power Window

Radio, Power Outlet

Navigation System, Daytime

Running Lights

OnStar

Interior Light, Seat Memory,

HomeLink

Power Door Locks

Clock, Back Up, Small Light

ABS Motor Check

Not Used

Not Used

:

1 :

2 : On cars with navigation system

Passenger’s Power Seat Sliding

Passenger’s Power Seat Reclining

1

2

Fuses

Taking Care of the Unexpected

318

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INTERIOR FUSE BOXES
DRIVER’S SIDE

PASSENGER’S SIDE

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