Acura RL (1996-2004 year). Manual - part 231

Steering

*: Read 

SRS precautions

 before working in this area

Special Tools

17–2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

* Component Locations Index

17–3

. . . . . . . 

Troubleshooting

General Troubleshooting

17–4

. . . . . . . . . 

Noise and Vibration

17–8

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Fluid Leaks

17–10

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Inspection and Adjustment

Steering Operation

17–12

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Power Assist Check Parked

17–12

. . . . . . 

Power Assist Check at Road

Speed

17–13

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Power Steering Speed Sensor

Replacement

17–13

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Linkage and Gearbox

17–14

. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Pump Belt

17–15

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Rack Guide Adjustment

17–16

. . . . . . . . . . 

Fluid Replacement

17–16

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Pump Pressure Check

17–17

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Steering Wheel

*Removal

17–18

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Installation

17–18

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Disassembly/Reassembly

17–19

. . . . . . . . 

Steering Column

*Removal/Installation

17–20

. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Inspection

17–21

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Steering Lock Replacement

17–22

. . . . . . 

Power Steering Hoses, Lines

Fluid Leakage Inspection

17–23

. . . . . . . . 

Replacement

17–23

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Power Steering Pump

Removal/Installation

17–24

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Disassembly

17–25

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Inspection

17–26

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Reassembly

17–28

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Power Steering Gearbox

Removal

17–30

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Disassembly

17–32

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Reassembly

17–40

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Installation

17–51

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Ball Joint Boot Replacement

17–53

. . . . . 

Main Menu

Suspension

Special Tools

18–2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Component Location Index

18–3

. . . . . . . . . . 

Wheel Alignment

Caster

18–4

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Camber

18–4

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Front Toe Inspection/

Adjustment

18–5

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Rear Toe Inspection/

Adjustment

18–5

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Turning Angle Inspection

18–6

. . . . . . . . . 

Wheel/Hub Inspection

Bearing End Play

18–6

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Wheel Runout

18–7

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Front Suspension

Knuckle/Hub Replacement

18–8

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Ball Joint Boot Replacement

18–14

. . . . . . . . . 

Suspension Arms

Removal/Inspection

18–15

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Installation

18–16

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Front Damper

Removal

18–17

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Disassembly/Inspection

18–17

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Reassembly

18–18

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Installation

18–18

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Rear Suspension

Hub Bearing Unit

Replacement

18–19

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Suspension Arms

Removal/Inspection

18–21

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Installation

18–22

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Ball Joint Boot Replacement

18–23

. . . . . . . . . 

Rear Damper

Removal

18–23

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Disassembly/Inspection

18–24

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Reassembly

18–24

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Installation

18–25

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Main Menu

Brakes

Conventional Brake

Special Tools

19–2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Component Location Index

19–3

. . . . 

Inspection and Adjustment

Rubber Parts/Brake

Booster

19–4

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Brake Pedal

19–5

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Parking Brake Pedal

19–6

. . . . . . . . 

Bleeding

19–8

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Brake System Indicator

19–9

. . . . . 

Front Brake Pads

Inspection/Replacement

19–10

. . . . 

Front Brake Disc

Disc Runout Inspection

19–12

. . . . . 

Disc Thickness and Parallelism

Inspection

19–12

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Front Brake Caliper

Disassembly/Reassembly

19–13

. . . 

Master Cylinder/Brake Booster

Removal/Installation

19–14

. . . . . . . . 

Master Cylinder

Inspection

19–15

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Pushrod Clearance

Adjustment

19–15

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Brake Booster Inspection

19–16

. . . 

Rear Brake Pads

Inspection/Replacement

19–17

. . . . 

Rear Brake Disc

Disc Runout Inspection

19–19

. . . . . 

Disc Thickness and Parallelism

Inspection

19–19

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Rear Brake Caliper

Disassembly/Reassembly

19–20

. . . 

Parking Brake

Inspection

19–22

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Parking Brake Shoes

Replacement

19–24

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Lining Surface Break-in

’96–’02 Models

19–27

. . . . . . . . . . 

’03-’04 Models

19–2b

. . . . . . . . . . 

Brake Hoses/Lines

Inspection/Torque

Specifications

19–28

. . . . . . . . . . 

Hose Replacement

19–29

. . . . . . . . . 

Parking Brake Cable

Inspection and

Replacement

19–30

. . . . . . . . . . . 

ABS (Anti–lock Brake System) (’96–97 models)

Special Tools

19–32

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Component Location Index

19–33

. . . . 

ABS Control Unit Terminal

Arrangement

19–36

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Troubleshooting Precautions

19–38

. . . 

Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC)

DTC Indication

19–40

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Symptom-to-System Chart

19–42

. . 

ABS Function Test

19–95

. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Modulator Unit

Relieving System

Pressure

19–97

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

High Pressure Brake Fluid

Replacement/Bleeding

19–98

. . 

Modulator Function Check

19–99

. . 

Removal

19–99

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Installation

19–100

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Wire Harness Replacement

19–100

. 

Pump Motor Replacement

19–101

. . 

Reservoir Replacement

19–101

. . . . . 

Accumulator Replacement and

Disposal

19–102

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

ABS Control Unit

Removal/Installation

19–102

. . . . . . . . 

Pulsers/Wheel Sensors

Inspection

19–103

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Wheel Sensor

Replacement

19–103

. . . . . . . . . . . 

ABS (Anti–lock Brake System) (’98–99 models)

Special Tools

19–105

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Component Location Index

19–106

. . . . 

Anti-lock Brake System

Features/Construction

19–107

. . . . . . 

ABS Control Unit Terminal

Arrangement

19–114

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Troubleshooting Precautions

19–117

. . . 

Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC)

DTC Indication

19–119

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

DTC Erasure

19–120

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Troubleshooting Index

19–121

. . . . . . 

Modulator Unit

Removal/Installation

19–143

. . . . . . . . 

ABS Control Unit

Removal/Installation

19–144

. . . . . . . . 

Pulsers/Wheel Sensors

Inspection

19–144

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Wheel Sensor

Replacement

19–145

. . . . . . . . . . . 

TCS (Traction Control System) (’96–99 models)

Special Tools

19–148

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Component Locations

19–149

. . . . . . . . . 

System Description

Outline

19–150

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Construction and

Function

19–151

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

TCS Control Unit Terminal

Arrangement

19–156

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Troubleshooting Precautions

19–158

. . . 

Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC)

Indication

19–159

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

DTC Erasure

19–160

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Troubleshooting Index

19–161

. . . . . . 

Steering Angle Sensor

Replacement

19–191

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

System Check

19–191

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

TCS Control Valve Assembly

Replacement

19–192

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

TCS Switch Test

19–193

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

TCS Control Unit

Replacement

19–193

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist System) (’00–’04 Models)

Special Tools

’00–01 models

19–196

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

’02–’04 models

19–2a

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Component Locations

19–197

. . . . . . . . . 

VSA Control Unit Terminal

Arrangement

19–200

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

VSA Converter Unit Terminal

Arrangement

19–202

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Troubleshooting Precautions

19–204

. . . 

Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC)

Indication

19–206

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

DTC Clearing

19–207

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

DTC Chart

19–208

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Steering Angle Sensor

Replacement

19–267

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Neutral Position  Check and

Memorizing
’00–01 models

19–268

. . . . . . . . . . 

’02–’04 models

19–7a

. . . . . . . . . . 

VSA Modulator–Control Unit

Removal/Installation

’00–01 models

19–269

. . . . . . . . . . 

’02–’04 models

19–9a

. . . . . . . . . . 

Precharge Pump Motor

Removal/Installation

19–270

. . . . . . . . 

Precharge Brake Line Bleeding

’00–01 models

19–271

. . . . . . . . . . 

’02–’04 model

19–10a

. . . . . . . . . . . 

TCS Control Valve Assembly

Replacement

19–272

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

VSA Off Switch Test

19–273

. . . . . . . . . . . 

VSA Converter Unit

Removal/Installation

19–273

. . . . . . . . 

Yaw Rate/Lateral Acceleration Sensor

Removal/Installation

19–274

. . . . . . . . 

Pulsers/Wheel Sensors

Inspection

19–274

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Wheel Sensor

Replacement

19–275

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Main Menu

Body

*: Read 

SRS precautions

 before working in this area

Doors (Front)

Component Location Index

20–2

. . . . 

Door Panel Removal

20–4

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Outer Handle/Latch Removal

20–5

. . . 

Glass/Regulator Removal

20–7

. . . . . . 

Sash Trim Removal

20–8

. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Inner Sash Trim Removal

20–12

. . . . . . 

Glass Adjustment

20–16

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Position Adjustment

20–17

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Striker Adjustment

20–18

. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Doors (Rear)

Component Location Index

20–9

. . . . 

Door Panel Removal

20–11

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Outer Handle/Latch Removal

20–12

. . . 

Glass/Regulator Removal

20–13

. . . . . . 

Sash Trim Removal

20–15

. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Inner Sash Trim Removal

20–15

. . . . . . 

Glass Adjustment

20–16

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Position Adjustment

20–17

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Striker Adjustment

20–18

. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Mirrors

Power Mirror Removal

20–18

. . . . . . . . . 

Mirror Holder Removal

20–19

. . . . . . . . . 

Rearview Mirror Removal

’96–98 Models

20–19

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

’99–04 Models

(Except OnStar)

20–20

. . . . . . . . . 

’02–04 Models

(With OnStar)

20–2a

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Windshield/Rear Window

Component Location Index

20–21

. . . . 

Windshield

Removal

20–22

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Installation

20–23

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Rear Window

Removal

20–27

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Installation

20–28

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Moonroof

Component Location Index

20–32

. . . . 

Troubleshooting

20–33

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Glass Height Adjustment

20–33

. . . . . . 

Glass, Glass Bracket, and Sunshade

Removal

20–34

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Motor, Drain Tube and Frame

Removal

20–36

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Guide Rails, Cable Assembly

Replacement

20–37

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Switch Plate Adjustment

(Fully Closed Position/Auto Stop
Position)

20–39

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Opening Drag Check

(Motor Removed)

20–41

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Closing Force Check

(Motor Installed)

20–41

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Interior

Component Location Index

20–42

. . . . 

Interior Trim Removal

20–43

. . . . . . . . . . 

Trunk Trim Removal

20–44

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Headliner Removal

’96–03 Models

20–45

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

’04 Model

20–2c

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Carpet

Removal

20–46

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Console Panel/Rear Console

Removal

’96–98 Models

20–48

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

’99–04 Models

20–49

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Dashboard

* Component Removal/

Installation

20–50

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

*Removal

20–54

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Seats

Component Location Index

20–56

. . . . 

Front Seat

Removal

20–57

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Disassembly

Driver’s

’96–03 Models

20–58

. . . . . . . 

’04 Model

20–4c

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Passenger’s

20–59

. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Seat Cover Replacement

’96–03 Models

20–60

. . . . . . . . . . 

’04 Model

20–6c

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Seat Linkage Disassembly

20–63

. . 

Wire Harness Installation

’96–03 Models

20–65

. . . . . . . . . . 

’04 Model

20–8c

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Power Lumbar Support (’04 Model)

Replacement

20–5c

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Rear Seat

Removal

20–67

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Trunk Pass–through Cover Key

Cylinder Replacement

20–68

. . . 

Seat Cover Replacement

20–69

. . . . 

Exterior

Component Location Index

20–71

. . . . 

Front Bumper Removal

’96–98 Models

20–72

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

’99–04 Models

20–73

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Rear Bumper Removal

20–74

. . . . . . . . . 

Hood Adjustment

20–75

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Trunk Lid Adjustment

20–76

. . . . . . . . . . 

Front Grille Removal

20–77

. . . . . . . . . . 

Trunk Lid Torsion Bars

Removal

20–77

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Trunk Lid Weatherstrip

Installation

20–78

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Trunk Lid Hinge Cover

Removal (’04 Model)

20–9c

. . . . . . . . 

License Plate Trim Removal

20–78

. . . . 

Side Window Moldings

Removal

20–78

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Roof Molding Removal

20–80

. . . . . . . . . 

Door and Side Moldings Removal

’96–98 Models

20–81

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

’99–04 Models

20–82

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Side Sill Panel Removal

20–84

. . . . . . . . 

Inner Fender, Fenderwell Trim,

Rear Fender Cover and Rear Air
Outlet Removal

20–85

. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Opener Cable/Opener and Latch/
Wiper and Washer

Component Location Index

20–86

. . . . 

Opener Cables Removal

20–87

. . . . . . . 

Opener and Latch Removal

20–88

. . . . 

Windshield Wiper Arms and

Linkage Removal

20–91

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Washer Reservoir Removal

20–92

. . . . 

Washer Tube Replacement

20–93

. . . . . 

Wiper Arms/Washer Nozzle

Adjustment

20–94

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Emblems Installation

20–94

. . . . . . . . . . 

Frame

Sub–frame

20–95

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Frame Repair Chart

20–96

. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Main Menu