maintenance Acura TL 2000 3.2 Repair Manual

Lights
BACK-UP LIGHT HIGH-MOUNT BRAKE LIGHTTURN SIGNALLIGHT
LICENSE PLATE LIGHT STOP/TAILLIGHT PARKING LIGHTCheck the following: • Headlights (low and high beam)
• Parking lights
• Taillights
• Brake lights
• High-mount brake light
• Turn signals
• Back-up lights
• Hazard light function
• License plate light
• Side marker lights • Daytime running lights (Canadian models)
If you find any bulbs are burned out,
replace them as soon as possible. Refer to the chart on page 283 to
determine what type of replacement
bulb is needed.
Maintenance

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

Lights
3. Remove the bulb by turning itapproximately one-quarter turn
counterclockwise.
4. Insert the new bulb into the hole and turn it one-quarter turn clock-
wise to lock it in place.
5. Push the electrical connector back onto the bulb. Make sure it is onall the way.
6. Turn on the headlights to test the new bulb.
7. Reinstall the radiator reserve tank. Replacing Front Turn Signal and
Side Marker Light Bulbs
1. If you are changing the bulb on the driver's side, start the engine,
turn the steering wheel all the way
to the right, and turn off the
engine. If you are changing the
bulb on the passenger's side, turn the steering wheel to the left.
HOLDING CLIP
2. Use a flat-tipped screwdriver to remove the holding clip from the
inner fender.
3. Pull the inner fender away from the fender and bumper.
CONTINUED
Maintenance

Lights
4. Remove the socket from theheadlight assembly by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise. 5. Remove the burned out bulb from
the socket by pushing it in and
turning counterclockwise until it unlocks.
6. Install the new bulb in the socket. Turn it clockwise to lock it in place.
7. Insert the socket back into the headlight assembly. Turn it
clockwise to lock it in place.
8. Test the lights to make sure the new bulb is working.
9. Put the inner fender cover in place. Install the holding clip. Lock it in
place by pushing on the center. Replacing Rear Bulbs
CARGO NET MOUNTING
BUTTON
FASTENER
1. Open the trunk.Remove the fastener on the edge
of the trunk opening by turning it
counterclockwise with a coin. Unscrew the cargo net mounting
button. Pull the lining back.
Maintenance

Lights
2. Determine which of the four bulbsis burned out: stop/taillight or turn
signal light, back-up light
3. Remove the socket by turning it one-quarter turn counterclockwise. 4. Pull the bulb straight out of its
socket
Push the new bulb straight into
the socket until it bottoms.
5. Reinstall the socket into the light assembly by turning it clockwise
until it locks.
6. Test the lights to make sure the new bulb is working.
7. Reinstall the trunk lining. Make sure it is installed under the edge
of the trunk seal 8. Put the fastener in the hole on the
side of the trunk lining and push
on the center until it locks (the
center is flush with the head).
9. Screw the cargo net mounting button back into the hole.
Maintenance

Lights
Replacing a High-mount BrakeLight Bulb
1. Open the trunk and remove the socket from the light assembly byturning it one-quarter turn counter-
clockwise.
2. Remove the burned-out bulb by pulling it straight out of the socket
3. Install the new bulb and reinstall the socket Make sure the newbulb is working. Replacing a Rear License Bulb
1. Use a small phillips screwdriver to remove the lens from the license
plate light assembly.
2. Remove the bulb by pulling it straight out Push the new bulbinto the socket
3. Reinstall the lens. Replacing Bulbs in the Interior
Lights
The ceiling light, door light and vanity mirror light come apart thesame way, but they do not use the
same type of bulb.
Maintenance

Lights
1. Remove the lens by carefullyprying on the edge of the lens with
a fingernail file or a small flat-tipscrewdriver. Do not pry on the
edge of the housing around the
lens.
Door light: Pry on the top middle of the lens.
Ceiling light: Pry on the front edge of the lensnear both sides.
Spotlights:
Pry on the front edge in front of
both spotlights.CEILING LIGHT
2. Remove the bulb by pulling it straight out of its metal tabs.
3. Push the new bulb into the metal tabs. Snap the lens back in place.
SPOTLIGHT
CONTINUED
Maintenance

Lights
DOOR LIGHT SUN VISOR LIGHT
TRUNK LIGHT
1. Open the trunk. Pull down the trunk light cover.
2. Remove the bulb by pulling it straight out of its metal tabs.
3. Push the new bulb into the metal tabs.
4. Push the cover back in place.
Maintenance Replacing the Trunk Light Bulb

Storing Your Car
If you need to park your car for an
extended period (more than one
month), there are several things youshould do to prepare it for storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent deterioration and makes it easier to
get your car back on the road. If
possible, store your car indoors.
• Fill the fuel tank.
• Change the engine oil and filter (see page 203).
• Wash and dry the exterior completely.
• Clean the interior. Make sure the carpeting, floor mats, etc. are
completely dry.
• Leave the parking brake off. Put the transmission in Park. • Block the rear wheels.
• If the car is to be stored for a
longer period, it should besupported on jackstands so the
tires are off the ground.
• Leave one window open slightly (if the car is being stored indoors).
• Disconnect the battery. • Support the front wiper blade arms with a folded towel or rag so
they do not touch the windshield.
• To minimize sticking, apply a silicone spray lubricant to all door
and trunk seals. Also, apply a
vehicle body wax to the painted surfaces that mate with the door
and trunk seals. • Cover the car with a "breathable"
cover, one made from a porous
material such as cotton.
Nonporous materials, such as
plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
• If possible, run the engine for a while periodically (preferably oncea month).
If you store your car for 12 months or longer, have your Acura dealer
perform the inspections called for in
the 24 months/30,000 miles (48,000
km) maintenance schedule (Normal Conditions) as soon as you take it
out of storage (see page 192). The
replacements called for in the maintenance schedule are not
needed unless the car has actually
reached that time or mileage.
Maintenance

Corrosion Protection
Two factors normally contribute tocausing corrosion in your car:
1. Moisture trapped in body cavities. Dirt and road salt that collects in
hollows on the underside of the car stays damp, promoting
corrosion in that area.
2. Removal of paint and protective coatings from the exterior and
underside of the car. Many corrosion-preventive measures
are built into your Acura. You can
help keep your car from corroding
by performing some simple periodic
maintenance:
• Repair chips and scratches in the paint as soon as you discover them.
• Inspect and clean out the drainholes in the bottom of the doorsand body.
• Check the floor coverings for dampness. Carpeting and floor
mats may remain damp for a long
time, especially in winter. This dampness can eventually cause
the floor panels to corrode.
• Use a high-pressure spray to clean the underside of your car. This isespecially important in areas that
use road salt in winter. It is also a
good idea in humid climates and areas subject to salt air. Cars
equipped with ABS have a sensor
and wiring at each wheel. Be
careful not to damage them.
• Have the corrosion-preventive
coatings on the underside of your
car inspected and repaired
periodically.
Appearance Care