engine Acura ILX Hybrid 2013 Workshop Manual

241
uuWhen DrivinguVSA® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability Control), System
Driving
This button is on the driver side control panel.
To turn the VSA® system on and off, press and
hold it until you hear a beep.
VSA® will stop and the indicator will come on.
To turn it on again, press the (VSA® OFF)
button until you hear a beep.
VSA® is turned on every time you start the
engine, even if you turned it off the last time
you drove the vehicle.
■VSA® On and Off
1VSA® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability Control), System
Without VSA®, your vehicle will have normal braking
and cornering ability, but it will not have VSA®
traction and stability enhancement.
In certain unusual conditions when your vehicle gets
stuck in shallow mud or fresh snow, it may be easier
to free it with the VSA® temporarily switched off.
When the VSA® system is off, the traction control
system is also off. You should only attempt to free
your vehicle with the VSA® off if you are not able to
free it when the VSA® is on.
Immediately after freeing your vehicle, be sure to
switch VSA® on again. We do not recommend driving
your vehicle with the VSA® and traction control
systems switched off.
If the low tire pressure/TPMS indicator comes on or
blinks, the VSA® system comes on automatically. In
this case, you cannot turn the system off by pressing
the button.
You may hear a motor sound coming from the
engine compartment while system checks are being
performed immediately after starting the engine or
while driving. This is normal.
VSA® OFF Indicator

uuBrakinguBrake System
246Driving
Your vehicle is equipped with disc brakes at all four wheels. A vacuum power assist
helps reduce the effort needed on the brake pedal. The brake assist system increases
the stopping force when you depress the brake pedal hard in an emergency
situation. The anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps you retain steering control when
braking very hard.2Brake Assist System P. 248
2ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) P. 247■Foot Brake
1Foot Brake
Check the brakes after driving through deep water,
or if there is a buildup of road surface water. If
necessary, dry the brakes by lightly depressing the
pedal several times.
If you hear a continuous metallic friction sound when
applying the brakes, the brake pads need to be
replaced. Have the vehicle checked by a dealer.
Constantly using the brake pedal while going down a
long hill builds up heat, which reduces the brake
effectiveness. Apply engine braking by taking your
foot off the accelerator pedal and downshifting to a
lower speed position.
Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, as it will lightly apply the brakes and cause
them to lose effectiveness over time and reduce pad
life. It will also confuse drivers behind you.

247
uuBrakinguABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Driving
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)Helps prevent the wheels from locking up, and helps you retain steering control by
pumping the brakes rapidly, much faster than you.
The electronic brake distribution (EBD) system, which is part of the ABS, also
balances the front-to-rear braking distribution according to vehicle loading.
You should never pump the brake pedal. Let the ABS work for you by always
keeping firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal. This is sometimes referred to as
“stomp and steer.”■ABS operation
The brake pedal may pulsate slightly when the ABS is working. Keep holding the
pedal firmly down. On dry pavement, you will need to press on the brake pedal very
hard before the ABS activates. However, you may feel the ABS activate immediately
if you are trying to stop on snow or ice.
When the vehicle speed goes under 6 mph (10 km/h), the ABS stops.■ABS
1ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)NOTICEThe ABS may not function correctly if you use an
incorrect tire type and size.
When the ABS indicator comes on while driving,
there may be a problem with the system.
While normal braking is not affected, there is a
possibility of the ABS not operating. Have the vehicle
checked by a dealer immediately.
The ABS does not reduce the time or distance it takes
to stop the vehicle. It only helps with steering control
during hard braking.
In the following cases, your vehicle may need more
stopping distance than a vehicle without the ABS:•When driving on rough road surfaces, including
when driving on uneven surfaces, such as gravel or
snow.•When tire chains are installed.
You may hear a motor sound coming from the
engine compartment while system checks are being
performed immediately after starting the engine or
while driving. This is normal.

249Driving
Parking Your VehicleWhen Stopped1.Depress the brake pedal firmly with the shift lever in
(D.
2.Firmly apply the parking brake.
3.Move the shift lever from
(D to
(P.
4.Turn off the engine.
Always set the parking brake firmly, in particular if you are parked on an incline.
1Parking Your Vehicle
Do not park your vehicle near flammable objects,
such as dry grass, oil, or timber.
Heat from the exhaust can cause a fire.1When StoppedNOTICEThe following can damage the transmission:•Depressing the accelerator and brake pedals
simultaneously.•Holding the vehicle in place when facing uphill by
depressing the accelerator pedal.•Moving the shift lever into
(P before the vehicle
stops completely.
Raise the wiper arms when snow is expected.

250
uuParking Your VehicleuAuto Idle Stop
Driving
Auto Idle StopTo help maximize fuel economy, Auto Idle Stop shuts off the engine when the
vehicle comes to a stop, depending on environmental and vehicle operating
conditions. The AUTO STOP indicator blinks at this time.
The engine then restarts once the vehicle is
about to move again, and the indicator goes
off.
If the driver’s door is opened while the
indicator is blinking, a buzzer sounds to notify
you that the Auto Idle Stop function is in
operation.
1Auto Idle Stop
The duration of the Auto Idle Stop operation:•Increases in the ECON mode, compared to when
the ECON mode is off, with climate control in use. •Decreases if you operate the wiper and climate
control simultaneously.
AUTO STOP
Indicator

Continued
251
uuParking Your VehicleuAuto Idle Stop
Driving
The vehicle stops with the shift lever in
(D and the brake pedal depressed.
■Auto idle stop does not activate when:
•The low temperature indicator is on.
•The IMA battery charge is low.
•The bars of the IMA motor power flow monitor do not move when accelerating
or decelerating.
•The transmission fluid temperature is low.
•The vehicle comes to a stop again before the vehicle speed reaches 9 mph
(15 km/h) after the engine starts.
•Stopped on a steep incline.
•The shift lever is in a position other than
(D or
(N.
■Auto idle stop may not activate when:
•Even if the set temperature and the actual interior temperature are around the
same ambient conditions (strong sunlight, high or low temperature, etc.) can
prevent Auto Idle Stop from activating.
•The vehicle is stopped by braking suddenly.■Auto Idle Stop Activates When:
1Auto Idle Stop Activates When:
The auto idle stop may also activate when the brake
pedal is depressed, and the vehicle slows down to a
speed below 6 mph (10 km/h).

252
uuParking Your VehicleuAuto Idle Stop
Driving
The brake pedal is released.■The engine restarts even if the brake pedal is depressed when:
•The shift position is changed to
(R.
•The accelerator pedal is depressed.
•The pressure to the brake pedal is reduced and the vehicle starts moving while
stopped on an incline.
•The IMA battery charge becomes low.
•The low temperature indicator comes on.
•Ambient conditions that may differentiate the interior temperature from the set
temperature can also be the cause to start the engine.
■The Engine Automatically Restarts When:

254Driving
RefuelingFuel Information■Fuel recommendation
Use of lower octane gasoline can cause occasional metallic knocking noise in the
engine and will result in decreased engine performance.
Use of gasoline with a pump octane less than 87 can lead to engine damage.■Top tier detergent gasoline
Because the level of detergency and additives in gasoline vary in the market, Acura
endorses the use of “TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline” where available to help
maintain the performance and reliability of your vehicle. TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline meets a new gasoline standard jointly established by leading automotive
manufacturers to meet the needs of today’s advanced engines.
Qualifying gasoline retailers will, in most cases, identify their gasoline as having met
“TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline” standards at the retail location. This fuel is
guaranteed to contain the proper level of detergent additives and be free of metallic
additives. The proper level of detergent additives, and absence of harmful metallic
additives in gasoline, help avoid build-up of deposits in your engine and emission
control system.
For further important fuel-related information for your vehicle, or on information on
gasoline that does not contain MMT, visit www.hondacars.com. In Canada, visit
www.honda.ca for additional information on gasoline. For more information on top
tier gasoline, visit www.toptiergas.com.■Fuel tank capacity: 13.2 US gal (50 liters)Unleaded premium gasoline, pump octane number 91 or higher
1Fuel InformationNOTICEWe recommend quality gasoline containing
detergent additives that help prevent fuel system and
engine deposits. In addition, in order to maintain
good performance, fuel economy, and emissions
control, we strongly recommend the use of gasoline
that does NOT contain harmful manganese-based
fuel additives such as MMT, if such gasoline is
available.
Use of gasoline with these additives may adversely
affect performance, and cause the malfunction
indicator lamp on your instrument panel to come on.
If this happens, contact a dealer for service.
Some gasoline today is blended with oxygenates such
as ethanol. Your vehicle is designed to operate on
oxygenated gasoline containing up to 10% ethanol
by volume. Do not use gasoline containing methanol.
If you notice any undesirable operating symptoms, try
another service station or switch to another brand of
gasoline.

255
uuRefuelinguHow to Refuel
Driving
How to Refuel
1.Stop your vehicle with the service station
pump on the left side of the vehicle in the
rear.
2.Turn off the engine.
3.Push on the fuel fill door release handle at
the foot of the driver’s seat.
uThe fuel fill door opens.
4.Remove the fuel fill cap slowly. If you hear a
release of air, wait until this stops, then turn
the knob slowly to open the fuel fill cap.
5.Place the fuel fill cap in the holder.
6.Insert the filler nozzle fully.
uWhen the tank is full, the fuel nozzle will
click off automatically. This leaves space
in the fuel tank in case the fuel expands
with a change in the temperature.
7.After filling, replace the fuel fill cap,
tightening it until you hear it click at least
once.
uShut the fuel fill door by hand.
1How to Refuel
The filler nozzle automatically stops to leave space in
the fuel tank so that fuel does not overflow as a result
of changes in air temperature.
If the fuel nozzle keeps turning off when the tank is
not full, there may be a problem with the pump's fuel
vapor recovery system. Try filling at another pump. If
this does not fix the problem, consult a dealer.
Do not continue to add fuel after the nozzle has
automatically stopped. Additional fuel can exceed
the full tank capacity.
3
WARNING
Gasoline is highly flammable and explosive.
You can be burned or seriously injured
when handling fuel.
•Stop the engine, and keep heat, sparks,
and flame away.
•Handle fuel only outdoors.
•Wipe up spills immediately.
Push
CapCap
Holder

256Driving
Fuel EconomyImproving Fuel EconomyFuel economy depends on several conditions, including driving conditions, your
driving habits, the condition of your vehicle, and loading. Depending on these and
other conditions, you may or may not achieve the rated fuel economy of this vehicle.
You can optimize your fuel economy with proper maintenance of your vehicle.
Always maintain your vehicle in accordance with the messages displayed on the
multi-information display.
•Use the recommended viscosity engine oil, displaying the API Certification Seal.
•Maintain the specified tire pressure.
•Do not load the vehicle with excess cargo.
•Keep your vehicle clean. A buildup of snow or mud on your vehicle's underside
adds weight and increases wind resistance.■Maintenance and Fuel Economy
1Improving Fuel Economy
Direct calculation is the recommended method to
determine actual fuel consumed while driving.
In Canada, posted fuel economy numbers are
established following a simulated test. For more
information on how this test is performed, please visit
http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/
Miles drivenGallons of
fuelMiles per
Gallon
100L per 100 km Kilometers
driven Liters of
fuel