ignition Acura TL 2000 3.2 Owner's Manual

Protecting Children
• Do not leave children alone in your
vehicle. Leaving children without
adult supervision is illegal in most
states and Canadian provinces,
and can be very hazardous. For
example, infants and small
children left in a vehicle on a hot day can die from heatstroke. And
children left alone with the key in
the ignition can accidentally set the vehicle in motion, possibly
injuring themselves or others. General Guidelines for Using
Child Seats
The following pages give general guidelines for selecting and installing
child seats for infants and smallchildren.
Selecting a Child Seat
To provide proper protection, a child seat should meet three
requirements:
1. The child seat should meet safety
standards. The child seat should
meet Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard 213 (FMVSS 213) or Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213 (CMVSS 213). Look
for the manufacturer's statement of compliance on the box and seat.2. The child seat should be of the proper type and size to fit the child.
Infants: Children up to about one
year old should be restrained in a
rear-facing, reclining child seat. Only a rear-facing seat provides the
proper support to protect an infant's
head, neck, and back. See page 28 for additional information on
protecting infants.
Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts
Seat Belt System Components
Your seat belt system includes lap/ shoulder belts in all five seating
positions.
The seat belt system alsoincludes a light on the
instrument panel to remind you and
your passengers to fasten your belts. If the driver's seat belt is not
fastened before the ignition is turned ON (II), the light will come on and a
beeper will also sound. The beeper
will stop after a few seconds, but the light will stay on until the driver'sseat belt is fastened. Lap/Shoulder Belt
This seat belt has a single belt that goes over your shoulder, across yourchest and across your hips.
To fasten the belt, insert the latch plate into the buckle, then tug on the
belt to make sure the buckle islatched. To unlock the belt, push the red
PRESS button on the buckle.Guide the belt across your body to
the door pillar. After exiting the car,
be sure the belt is out of the way and
will not get closed in the door.
Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Front Airbags
SRS Components
Your Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) includes:
• Two front airbags. The driver's airbag is stored in the center of
the steering wheel; the front
passenger's airbag is stored in the dashboard. Both are marked "SRS
AIRBAG."
• Sensors that can detect a moderate to severe frontal
collision.
• A sophisticated electronic system that continually monitors andrecords information about thesensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, driver and
passenger seat belt use, and all related wiring when the ignition is ON (II)
• An indicator light on theinstrument panel that alerts you to a possible problem with the
system (see page 45).
• Emergency backup power in case your car's electrical system is
disconnected in a crash. How Your Front Airbags Work
If you ever have a moderate to severe frontal collision, the sensors
will detect the vehicle's rapid deceleration. If the rate of
deceleration is high enough, the
control unit will instantly inflate the
front airbags.
CONTINUED
Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Front Airbags
How the SRS Indicator Light
Works The purpose of the SRSindicator light is to alert
you to a potential problem with your
front airbags. This light will also
alert you to a potential problem with
your side airbags or passenger's side airbag automatic cutoff system (see
page 47).
When you turn the ignition ON (II), this indicator will light up briefly
then go out. This tells you that the system is working properly. However, if the light comes on at any
other time, you should have the
system checked by your dealer. For
example:
• If the SRS indicator light does not
come on after you turn the ignitionON (II)
• If the light stays on after the engine starts.
• If the light comes on or flashes onand off while you drive.
If you see any of these indications,
your front or side airbags may not deploy, or your passenger's side
airbag automatic cutoff system may
not work properly. See your Acura dealer as soon as possible. Ignoring the SRS indicator light
can result in serious injury or
death if the airbags or cutoff
system do not work properly.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS light alerts you to a potential problem.
Driver and Passenger Safety
SRS

Additional Information About Your Side Airbags
How The Side Airbag IndicatorLight Works The purpose of this light isto alert you if the
SIDEAIRBAG
passenger's side airbag has been
automatically shut off.
Although Acura does not encourage children to ride in the front, to help
prevent injury, your car has an automatic cutoff system for the
passenger's side airbag. This system is designed to shut off the airbag if a
child leans sideways and the child's
head is in the deployment path of theside airbag.
The side airbag may also shut off if a small adult leans sideways, or a
larger adult slouches and leans sideways, and the adult's head is in
the deployment path of the airbag. A front seat passenger should not
use a cushion or other object as a
backrest. It may prevent the cutoff system from working properly.
If this light comes on, you should
have the passenger sit upright. Once
the passenger is out of the deployment path of the side airbag,
the airbag will turn on and the light
will go out.
When you turn the ignition ON (II), the indicator light should light up
briefly and go out (see page 55). If it doesn't light, or it stays on or comes
on without a passenger in the front
seat, have the system checked.
SRSThe SRS indicator light will come on if there is a
problem with your side airbags or
the automatic cutoff system (see
page 45).
Driver and Passenger Safety

Instruments and Controls
This section gives information aboutthe controls and displays thatcontribute to the daily operation of
your Acura. All the essential controls are within easy reach.
Control Locations................... 52
Indicator Lights........................ 53
Gauges................................58
Speedometer........................ 58
Tachometer.......................... 58
Odometer.......................... 58
Trip Meter............................. 59
Temperature Gauge..................60
Fuel Gauge............................60
Maintenance Required Indicator.......................... 60
Controls Near the Steering
Wheel................................... 62
Headlights..............................63
Automatic Lighting Off
Feature........................... 64
Daytime Running Lights............ 64
Instrument Panel Brightness ........64
Turn Signals......................... 65
Windshield Wipers.................65
Windshield Washers............. 67 Hazard Warning....................... 67
Rear Window Defogger............ 67
Steering Wheel Adjustment....... 68
Steering Wheel Controls............. 69 Cruise Control.........................69
Remote Audio Controls 72
Keys and Locks.........................73
Keys............................... 73
Immobilizer System............... 74
Ignition Switch ......................... 75
Power Door Locks.................77
Remote Transmitter.................78
Childproof Door Locks.............. 81
Trunk.................................. 82
Glove Box ................................ 83
HomeLink Universal Transmitter........................... 84
Seat Adjustments........................ 89
Driver's Seat Full PowerAdjustments........................ 89
Front Passenger's Seat Adjustments.........................90
Driver's Lumbar Support........... 91Head Restraints...................... 91
Center Console Armrest............92
Rear Seat Armrest....................4 92
Trunk Pass-through Cover........ 92
Seat Heaters........................... 94
Power Windows........................... 95
Moonroof...............................96
Mirrors.................................97
Adjusting the Power Mirrors....... 98
Parking Brake......................... 99
Digital Clock...........................100
Console Compartment................ 101
Coin Box..................................101
Armrest Storage
Compartments.......................102
Beverage Holder........................ 103
Sun Visor...............................104
Vanity Mirror........................... 104
Sunglasses Holder.....................105
Accessory Power Sockets.......... 105
Interior Lights..........................106
CD Holder................................ 107
Instruments and Controls

Indicator Lights
Seat Belt Reminder Light
This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch ON (IT). It is a
reminder to you and your passengers
to protect yourselves by fasteningthe seat belts. A beeper also sounds
if you have not fastened your seat
belt.
If you do not fasten your seat belt,
the beeper will stop after a few seconds but the light stays on until
you do. Both the light and the beeper stay off if you fasten your seat belt
before turning on the ignition. Low Oil Pressure
Indicator
The engine can be severely damaged if this light flashes or stays on when
the engine is running. For complete information, see page 267.
Charging System
Indicator
If this light comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged. For complete information, see page 268.
See page 269. Malfunction Indicator
Lamp U.S. Parking Brake and
Brake System Indicator
Canada
This light has two functions:
1. It lights as a reminder that you have not released the parking
brake. Driving with the parking
brake applied can damage the
brakes and tires.
2. If it remains lit after you release the parking brake while the engine
is running, or comes on whiledriving, it can indicate a problem
in the brake system. For complete
information, see page 270.
Instruments and Controls

Indicator Lights
Supplemental Restraint
System Indicator
This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch ON (II). If itcomes on at any other time, it
indicates a potential problem with
your front airbags. This light will also alert you to a potential problem
with your side airbags or passenger's side airbag automatic cutoff system.
For complete information, see page 45.
Side Airbag Indicator
This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch ON (II). If itcomes on at any other time, it
indicates that the passenger's side
airbag has automatically shut off.
For complete information, see page 47. U.S. Anti-lock Brake System
(ABS) Indicator
Canada
This light normally comes on for a
few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch ON (II), and when
the ignition switch is turned toSTART (III). If this light comes on at
any other time, there is a problem in
the ABS. If this happens, take the car to your dealer to have it checked.
With the light on, your car still has normal braking ability but no anti-
lock. For complete information, see page 174. Traction Control System
(TCS) Indicator
This indicator has three functions:
1. It comes on as a reminder that you have turned off the TractionControl System.
2. It flashes when the TCS is regulating wheelspin.
3. If it comes on and stays on when the Traction Control System is on,it indicates that there is a problem
in the TCS.
This light also comes on when you turn the ignition ON (II) and goes offafter the engine starts. See page 175 for more information on the
TCS.
Instruments and Controls

Indicator Lights
Door-open Indicator
The appropriate light comes on in this display if the trunk or any door
is not closed tightly.
All the lights in the monitor display come on for a few seconds when you
turn the ignition switch ON (II). Turn Signal and
Hazard Warning
Indicators
The left or right turn signal light blinks when you signal a lane changeor turn. If the light does not blink or
blinks rapidly, it usually means one of the turn signal bulbs is burned out (see page 237). Replace the bulb as
soon as possible, since other drivers
cannot see that you are signalling.
When you turn on the Hazard
Warning switch, both turn signal lights blink. All turn signals on theoutside of the car should flash. "Daytime Running
Lights" Indicator
Canadian models only
This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch to ON (II) with
the headlight switch off and the
parking brake set. It should go off if
you turn on the headlights or release the parking brake. If it comes on atany other time, it means there is a
problem with the DRL. There may also be a problem with the high
beam headlights.
High Beam Indicator
This light comes on with the high beam headlights. See page 63 forinformation on the headlight
controls.
On Canadian models, this indicator
comes on with reduced brightness
when the Daytime Running Lights (DRL) are on (see page 64).
Instruments and Controls

Indicator Lights
CRUISECONTROLCruise Control Indicator
This lights when you set the cruise control. See page 69 for informationon operating the cruise control.
Low Fuel Indicator
This light comes on as a reminder that you must refuel soon.
BRAKE LAMPParking Brake and
Brake System Indicator
If a brake light does not work, the BRAKE LAMP indicator comes on
when you push the brake pedal with the ignition switch ON (II).
A burned out brake light is a hazard
when drivers behind you cannot tell
you are braking. Have your brake lights repaired right away. Immobilizer System
Indicator
This indicator comes on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition
switch ON (II). It will then go off if
you have inserted a properly-coded ignition key. If it is not a properly-
coded key, the indicator will blink
and the engine will not start (see
page 74).
This indicator also blinks several times when you turn the ignition switch from ON (II) to ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0). Washer Level Indicator
Canadian models only
This light comes on when the
washer fluid level is low. Add washerfluid when you see this light come on (see page 212).
Instruments and Controls