key Acura TL 2000 3.2 Owner's Guide

Automatic Transmission
Park (P) - This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use Park whenever you are turning off or
starting the engine. To shift out ofPark, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your foot off the
accelerator pedal. Move the shift lever to the right to shift out of thePark position.
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see Shift Lock Release on page 169. To avoid transmission damage, cometo a complete stop before shiftinginto Park. The shift lever must be in
Park before you can remove the key
from the ignition switch. Reverse (R) - To shift to Reverse
from Park, see the explanation under Park. To shift to Reverse from
Neutral, come to a complete stop and
then shift.
Your car has a reverse lockout so
you cannot accidentally shift to Reverse from Neutral or any other
driving position when the vehicle
speed exceeds 7 — 9 mph (12 — 14
km/h).
If you cannot shift to Reverse when
the car is stopped, press the brake
pedal and slowly shift to Neutral
then to Reverse.
If there is a problem in the reverse
lockout system, or your vehicle's
battery is disconnected or goes dead,
you cannot shift to Reverse. (Refer
to Shift Lock Release on page 169).
Driving

Automatic Transmission
First (1) - With the lever in this
position, the transmission locks in
First gear.
If you shift into First position when
the vehicle speed is above 31 mph(50 km/h), the transmission shifts
into Second gear first to avoid sudden engine braking. Engine Speed Limiter
If you exceed the maximum speed
for the gear you are in, the engine speed will enter into the tachometer's
red zone. If this occurs, you may feel
the engine cut in and out. This is caused by a limiter in the engine's
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
RPM below the red zone. Shift Lock Release
This allows you to move the shift lever out of Park if the normal
method of pushing on the brake
pedal does not work. This procedure
also releases the Reverse Lockout.
1. Set the Parking brake.
2. Make sure the key is in the ignition switch OFF (0) position.
To release the Reverse Lockout, make sure the key is in the
ACCESSORY (I) position.
CONTINUED
Driving

Lights
Replacing a Headlight Bulb
The low beam headlight bulbs are a type of high voltage discharge tube.High voltage can remain in the
circuit even with the light switch off
and the key removed. Because of this, you should not attempt to
examine or change a low beam headlight bulb yourself. If a low
beam headlight bulb fails, take the
car to your dealer to have it replaced.
Halogen bulbs are used for the high
beam headlight bulbs. When replacing a high beam headlight bulb,
handle it by its base and protect the
glass from contact with your skin or hard objects. If you touch the glass,
clean it with denatured alcohol and a clean cloth.
Halogen headlight bulbs get very hot
when lit. Oil, perspiration, or a scratch
on the glass can cause the bulb to
overheat and shatter. BULB
TAB
1. Open the hood. If you need to change a bulb on
the driver's side, remove the
radiator reserve tank.
2. Remove the electrical connector from the bulb by squeezing the
connector to unlock the tab, thenslide the connector off the bulb.
Maintenance
NOTICE

Changing a Flat Tire, If Your Engine Won't Start
20. Store the jack in its holder. Turnthe jack's end bracket to lock it in
place. Replace the cover. Store the
tools.
Loose items can fly around the
interior in a crash and could
seriously injure the occupants.
Store the wheel, jack and tools
securely before driving.
21. Store the center cap in the trunk.
Make sure it does not get scratch-
ed or damaged. 22. Unclip the hook from the trunk lid
and lower the trunk floor.
23. Close the trunk lid. If Your Engine Won't Start
Diagnosing why your engine won't
start falls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III):
• You hear nothing, or almost nothing. The engine's starter
motor does not operate at all, oroperates very slowly.
• You can hear the starter motor operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
faster than normal, but the engine does not start up and run.
Taking Care of the Unexpected

If Your Engine Won't Start, Jump Starting
The Starter Operates NormallyIn this case, the starter motor's
speed sounds normal, or even faster
than normal, when you turn the
ignition switch to START (III), but
the engine does not run.
• Your car has the Immobilizer System. You should use a
properly-coded master or valet key
to start the engine (see page 74).
A key that is not properly coded will cause the immobilizer systemindicator in the dash panel to blink
rapidly.
• Are you using the proper starting procedure? Refer to Starting theEngine on page 161.
• Do you have fuel? Turn the
ignition switch to ON (II) for a
minute and watch the fuel gauge.
The low fuel level warning light may not be working, so you were
not reminded to fill the tank.
• There may be an electrical problem, such as no power to the
fuel pump. Check all the fuses (see page 273).
If you find nothing wrong, you will
need a qualified technician to find
the problem. See Emergency
Towing on page 277. Jump Starting
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.
A battery can explode if you donot follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyone nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.
You cannot start your Acura by pushing or pulling it.
Taking Care of the Unexpected

Index
Accessories and Modifications...... 153
Accessories..................................... 153
Additional Safety Precaution...... 154
Modifications............................. 154
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key Position)........ .............................. . 76
Accessory Power Socket......... .......... 105
Adding Automatic Transmission Fluid......... .............................. 213
Brake Fluid......... .............................. 214
Engine Coolant......... .................... 206
Engine Oil....................................... 201
Power Steering Fluid................... 215
Windshield Washer Fluid......... .. 212
Additional Information About Your Airbags........ ..................... 48
Additional Safety Precautions...... 48
Airbags Service........ ..................... 48
Additional Information About
Your Front Airbags................... 43
How Your Front Airbags Work........ .............................. . 43How Your SRS Indicator Light
Works....................................... 45
SRS Components............................. 43
Additional Information About Your Seat Belts........ ..................... 40
Lap/Shoulder Belts..................... 40
Seat Belt Maintenance................... 42
Seat Belt System Components... 40
Additional Information About Your Side Airbags................... 46
How the Side Airbag Indicator Light Works............................. 47
How Your Side Airbags Work.... 46
Additives, Engine Oil................... 203
Adjustments Mirrors....................................... 94
Head Restraints........ ..................... 91
Seats........................................ . 89
Steering Wheel............................ . 68
Airbag (SRS)....................................... 9
Air Cleaner Element................... 216
Air Conditioning............................. 110
Maintenance......... .................... 225
Usage................................. . 112, 118
Air Conditioning Filter......... .......... 226
Air Pressure, Tires......... .......... 228Alcohol in Gasoline................... 286
Antifreeze.........
.............................. 206
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) Description......... ...................... 173
Indicator Light......... ............. 55, 174
Operation....................................... 173
Anti-theft Steering Column Lock.. 75
Appearance Care............................. 245 Audio System............................... 123
Automatic Speed Control........ ..... 69
Automatic Transmission......... .......... 162
Capacity, Fluid............................. 282
Checking Fluid Level................... 213
Shifting.......................................... 162
Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 162
Shift Lever Positions................... 163
Shift Lock Release......... .......... 169
A
B
Battery Charging System Light................... 268
Jump Starting......... .................... 262
Maintenance............................. 220
Specifications......... .................... 283
CONTINUED

Index
Fan, Interior............................... 114, 120
Features, Comfort andConvenience.............................. 109
Filling the Fuel Tank...................... 147
Filter Air Conditioning.......... ................. 226
Oil.................................................. 203
First Gear, Shifting.......... ............ 169
Flashers, Hazard Warning.......... 67
Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 255
Fluids
Automatic Transmission.. .......... 213
Brake.......... ................................ 214
Power Steering.............................. 215
Windshield Washer.................... 212
FM Stereo Radio Reception........................................ 129
Foreign Countries, Driving in.......... 287
Four-way Flashers......................... 67
Front End, Towing by
Emergency Wrecker.................... 277
Fuel.................................................. 146
Fill Door and Cap...................... 147 Gauge........................................ 60 Octane Requirement..........
.......... 146
Oxygenated.......... ...................... 286
Tank, Filling the.......... ............ 147
Fuses, Checking the.......... .......... 272Headlights.......................................
. 63
Automatic Lighting Off.................... 64 Daytime Running Lights......... ........... 64
High Beam Indicator.................... 56
High Beams, Turning on......... ........... 63
Low Beams, Turning on......... ........... 63
Reminder Chime...................... 63
Replacing Halogen Bulbs.......... 236
Turning on......... ....................... 63
Head Restraints.......................... 91
High Altitude, Starting at.......... .......... 161
High-Low Beam Switch......... ........... 63
HomeLink Universal Transmitter.............................
.......... . 84
Hood, Opening the...................... 148
Hot Coolant, Warning about.......... 207
Hydroplaning.............................
........... 178
F
G
Gas Mileage, Improving.......... .......... 152
Gasohol.................................................. 286
Gasoline.................................................. 146
Gauge......... ........................................ . 60
Octane Requirement.......... .......... 146
Tank, Filling the.......... .................... 147
Gas Station Procedures.................... 146
Gauges
Engine Coolant Temperature... .... 60
Fuel................................................. . 60
Gearshift Lever Positions Automatic Transmission.................... 162
Glass Cleaning.............................. 249
Glove Box....................................... . 83
H
Halogen Headlight Bulbs.................... 236
Hazard Warning Flashers.......... .. 67I
Identification Number, Vehicle............. 280
If Your Car Has to be Towed.......... 277
Ignition
Keys................................................. . 73
Switch......................................... . 75
Timing Control System.......... .......... 289

Index
Immobilizer System.............................. 74
Important Safety Precautions.......... 6
Indicator Lights, Instrument Panel................................................. . 53
Infant Restraint......... ............................... 28
Inflation, Proper Tire.............................. 228
Inside Mirror....................................... . 97
Inspection, Tire................................ 229 Instrument Panel.............................. 53
Instrument Panel Brightness......... .. 64
Interior Cleaning.......... .................... 248
Interior Lights................................ 106 Introduction........................................ i Label, Certification.............................. 280
Lane Change, Signaling.................... 65
Lap/Shoulder Belts.........
..................... 40
Leaking of Exhaust into Car............ 49
Lights Bulb Replacement...................... 236
Indicator....................................... . 53
Parking......... .............................. . 54
Turn Signal........................................ 56
LOCK (Ignition Key Position)......... ... 75
Locks
Anti-theft Steering Column......... .... 75
Fuel Fill Door........................................ 147
Glove Box....................................... . 83
Power Door........................................ 77
Trunk......... ........................................ . 82
Low Coolant Level.......... .................... 206
Low Oil Pressure Indicator....... 54, 267
Lubricant Specifications Chart... ... 282
Luggage.................................................. 155Maintenance........................................
187
Owner Maintenance Checks.............. 199
Record........................................ 197
Required Indicator......... ..................... 60
Safety........................................ 188
Schedule........................
...... 19 2 - 196
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.......... 269
Meters, Gauges.............................. 58
Methanol in Gasoline.......... .......... 286
Mirrors, Adjusting.............................. 97 Moonroof.......................................... 96 Closing Manually...................... 271
Operation....................................... . 96
CONTINUED
J
K L
M
N
Neutral Gear Position.................... 165
New Vehicle Break-in.................... 146
NOTICE, Explanation of.................... i
Numbers, Identification........
............ 280
Jacking up the Car..........
............ 255
Jack, Tire.......... .............................. 255
Jump Starting................................ 262
Keys................................................. . 73

Index
O
Octane Requirement, Gasoline.... .......... 146
Odometer....................................... . 58
Odometer, Trip.............................. 59
Oil Change, How to.......... .................... 203
Change, When to...................... 192
Checking Engine...................... 150
Pressure Indicator......... ......... 54, 267
Selecting Proper Viscosity Chart........................................ 202
ON (Ignition Key Position)......... ... 76
Opening the Hood........................ 148
Operation in Foreign Countries... 287
Outside Mirrors......... ....................... 98
Overheating, Engine...................... 265
Owner Maintenance Checks.......... 199
Parking Over Things that Burn... 290
PGM-FI System.......... .................... 289
Polishing and Waxing.................... 247
Power
Door Locks......... ....................... 77
Mirrors.......................................... 97
Steering.......... .............................. 215
Windows........................................ 95
Pre-Drive Safety Checklist.......... .. 11
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts.......... 18
Protecting Adults......... ..................... 12
Additional Safety Precautions.... 19
Advice for Pregnant Women.......... 18
Protecting Children......... ..................... 20
Protecting Infants......... ............. 28
Protecting Larger Children.......... 35
Protecting Small Children.......... 32
Using Child Seats with
Tethers......... .............................. . 39Rear Seat Armrest.........
........... 92
Rear View Mirror......... ........... 97
Rear Window Defogger......... ........ 67
Reclining the Seat Backs.......... 90
Reminder Lights......... ..................... 53
Remote Transmitter......... ............. 78
Replacement Information Air Cleaner Element.......... .......... 216
Coolant.......... .............................. 208
Engine Oil and Filter.................... 203
Fuses........................................ 273
Light Bulbs.......... .................... 236
Schedule........................................ 192
Spark Plugs.......... .................... 217
Tires.................................................. 231
Wiper Blades.............................. 223
Replacing Seat Belts After a Crash......... ................................ . 42
Reserve Tank, Coolant.......... .......... 151
Restraint, Child.............................. 20
Reverse Gear Position.......... .......... 164
Rotation, Tire.......... ...................... 231
P
Panel Brightness Control......... ........... 64
Park Gear Position...................... 164
Parking.......................................... 171
Parking Brake................................ 99
Parking Lights.................................... . 63R
S
Radiator Overheating..........
.......... 265
Radio/Cassette Sound System.... .. 123
Rear End Towing.......... .......... 277
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement.... 238 Safety Belts...................................... 8

Index
Safety Defects, Reporting*.................... 295
Safety Features................................ 7Airbags........ ................................ .. 9
Door Locks......................................... . 10
Head Restraints......... ............................. 10
Seat Belts.............................. .. 8
Seats & Seat-Backs......... ............. 10
Safety Labels, Location of......... ............. 50
Safety Messages................................ ii
Seat Belt, Additional Information. ..... 40
Lap/Shoulder Belt...................... 40
Seat Belt Maintenance............ 42 Seat Belt System Components... 40
Seat Belts...................................... .. 8
Cleaning.......... .............................. 249
Maintenance......... ....................... 42
Reminder Light and Beeper......... .............................. . 54
System Components.................... 40
Tether Attachment Points.......... .. 39
Use During Pregnancy.................... 18
Seats, Adjusting the......... ............. 89
Security System.......... ...................... 143
Serial Number.............................. 280
Service Intervals.......... .................... 192
Service Manual*.......... .................... 297Service Station Procedures.........
... 146
Setting the Clock.......... ............ 100
Shifting The Automati c
Transmission.............................. 162
Shift Lever Position Indicator.......... .. 162
Side Airbags.................................... 9, 46
Side Airbag Indicator......... ........... 47
Side Marker Lights, Bulb
Replacement in.............................. 238
Signaling Turns......... ..................... 65
Snow Tires.......... .............................. 233
Solvent-type Cleaners.......... .......... 246
Sound System.............................. 123
Spare Tire Inflating........................................ 254
Specifications.......... .................... 283
Spark Plugs, Replacing.......... .......... 217
Specifications Charts.......... .......... 282
Speed Control.............................. 69
Speedometer......... ........................ 58
SRS, Additional Information.......... 43 Additional Safety Precautions.... 48How Your Airbags Work.......... 43
How Your SRS Indicator Works....................................... . 45SRS Components.........
............. 43
SRS Service......... ..................... 48
SRS Indicator........................................ 45
START (Ignition Key Position).......... 76
Starting the Engine.......... ............ 161
In Cold Weather at High Altitude.......................................... 161
With a Dead Battery.................... 262
Steam Coming from Engine.......... 265 Steering Wheel Adjustment......... ....................... 68
Anti-theft Column Lock......... ........... 75
Stereo Sound System.................... 123
Storing Your Vehicle.................... 243
Sun Visor........................................ 104
Sunglasses Holder...................... 105
Supplemental Restrain t System
Servicing......... .............................. . 48
SRS Indicator.............................. 45
System Components.................... 43
CONTINUED
T
Tachometer......... .............................. . 58