service indicator Acura TL 2000 3.2 Owner's Manual

2000 TL Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com.
Contents
Introduction ........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safet y........................................................................\
.........................................ii
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
..................................... .5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Control s........................................................................\
........................................ .51
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
..................... 109
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................145
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... .159
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................187
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Car e........................................................................\
..................................................... .245
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpecte d........................................................................\
..............................253
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, a nd how to handle them.
Technical Informatio n........................................................................\
.............................................279
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................291
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manu als (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................297
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index........................................................................\
........................................................................\
...... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump. Owner's Identification Form
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
............................................ 2

Driver and Passenger Safety
This section gives you importantinformation about how to protect
yourself and your passengers. It shows you how to use seat belts
properly. It explains your Supple- mental Restraint System. And it tells
you how to properly restrain infants and children in your car.
Important Safety Precautions ........6
Your Car's Safety Features ........... 7
Seat Belts ............................ 8
Airbags .....................................9
Seats & Seat-Backs .....................10
Head Restraints .......................10
Door Locks 10
Pre-Drive Safety Checklist.........11
Protecting Adults .........................12 1. Close and Lock the Doors...... 122. Adjust the Front Seats..........12
3. Adjust the Seat-Backs.......... 13
4. Adjust the Head Restraints.... 14
5. Fasten and Position the Seat Belts ................................ 15
6. Adjust the Steering Wheel..... 17
7. Maintain a Proper Sitting Position............................. 17
Advice for Pregnant Women..... 18
Additional Safety Precautions.... 19
Protecting Children.......................20
All Children Must Be Restrained............................ 20
Children Should Sit in the Back
Seat........................................... 21
The Passenger's Front Airbag
Poses Serious Risks
to Children......................... 21
If You Must Drive with Several Children................................ 23
If a Child Requires Close
Attention............................. 23
Additional Safety Precautions.... 23 General Guidelines for Using
Child Seats........................... 24
Protecting Infants......................28 Protecting Small Children...........32
Protecting Larger Children........35
Using Child Seats with
Tethers...................................39
Additional Information About Your Seat Belts..................................40
Seat Belt System Components... 40
Lap/Shoulder Belt..................... 40
Seat Belt Maintenance.............. 42
Additional Information About Your Front Airbags........................ 43
SRS Components...................... 43
How Your Front Airbags
Work...................................43
How the SRS Indicator Light
Works................................... 45
Additional Information About Your Side Airbags.......................... 46
How Your Side Airbags Work.... 46
How The Side Airbag Indicator
Light Works......................... 47
Airbag Service........................... 48
Additional Safety Precautions..... 48
Carbon Monoxide Hazard..............49
Safety Labels.................................50
Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Airbags
Airbag ServiceYour front and side airbag systems are virtually maintenance-free, and
there are no parts you can safely service. However, you must have
your car serviced if:
• Your airbags ever inflate. Any airbag that has deployed must be
replaced along with the control
unit and other related parts. Do
not try to remove or replace any airbag by yourself.
This must be done by an Acura dealer or a knowledgeable body
shop.
• The SRS indicator light alerts you
to a problem. Take your car to anauthorized Acura dealer as soon as
possible. If you ignore this
indication, the airbags might not
inflate when you need them. Additional Safety Precautions
• Do not attempt to deactivate your
airbags. Together, airbags and
seat belts provide the best
protection.
• Do not tamper with airbag components or wiring for anyreason. Tampering could cause
the airbags to deploy, possibly causing very serious injury.
• Do not expose the front seat-backs
to water. If rain or spilled water soaks into a seat-back, it can
prevent the side airbag system
from working properly.
• Do not cover or replace front seat- back covers without consulting an
Acura dealer. Improperlyreplacing or covering front seat-
back covers can prevent your side airbags from inflating during a
collision.
See page 154 for further information
and precautions relating to your
airbags.
Driver and Passenger Safety

Break-in Period, Gasoline
Break-in Period
Help assure your car's future
reliability and performance by payingextra attention to how you drive
during the first 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period:
• Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid acceleration.
• Avoid hard braking. New brakesneed to be broken-in by moderate
use for the first 200 miles (300
km).
You should follow these same re- commendations with an overhauledor exchanged engine, or when the
brakes are relined. Gasoline
Your Acura is designed to operate on
premium unleaded gasoline with a
pump octane number of 91 or higher.
Use of a lower octane gasoline can cause occasional, metallic knocking
noises in the engine and will result
in decreased engine performance.
We recommend gasolines containing detergent additives that help prevent
fuel system and engine deposits. Using gasoline containing lead will
damage your car's emissions
controls. This contributes to air
pollution. In Canada, some gasolines contain
an octane-enhancing additive called
MMT. If you use such gasolines,
your emissions control system performance may deteriorate and
the Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on. If this happens, contact your
authorized Acura dealer for service.
Before Driving

Service Station Procedures
4. Stop filling the tank after the fuelnozzle automatically clicks off. Do
not try to "top off' the tank, leavesome room for the fuel to expand
with temperature changes.
Your car has an on-board refueling vapor recovery system to helpkeep fuel vapors from going into
the atmosphere. If the fuel pump
keeps clicking off even though the
tank is not full, there may be aproblem with this system. Consult
your dealer. 5. Screw the fuel fill cap back on,
tighten it until it clicks several
times. If you do not properly
tighten the cap, the MalfunctionIndicator Lamp may come on (see
page 54).
6. Push the fuel fill door closed until it latches. Opening the Hood
HOOD RELEASE HANDLE
1. Shift to Park or Neutral and set
the parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower left corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.
Before Driving

Charging System Indicator
CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATOR
This indicator should come on whenthe ignition switch is ON (II), and goout after the engine starts. If it
comes on brightly when the engine
is running, it indicates that thecharging system has stopped
charging the battery. Immediately turn off all electrical
accessories: radio, heater, A/C, rear
defogger, cruise control, etc. Try not
to use other electrically-operated
controls such as the power windows.
Keep the engine running and take
extra care not to stall it. Starting the
engine will discharge the battery
rapidly. By eliminating as much of the
electrical load as possible, you can
drive several miles (kilometers)
before the battery is too discharged
to keep the engine running. Drive to a service station or garage where
you can get technical assistance.
Taking Care of the Unexpected

Brake System Indicator
BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR
The Brake System Indicator lightcomes on when you turn the ignitionON (II). If the parking brake is not
set, it goes off after you start the
engine. If the parking brake is set, it
goes off when you fully release the parking brake with the engine
running. If it comes on at any other time, it
indicates a problem with the car's
brake system. In most cases, the problem is a low fluid level in the
brake fluid reservoir. Press lightly on
the brake pedal to see if it feels normal. If it does, check the brake
fluid level the next time you stop at a service station (see page 214). If the
fluid level is low, take the car to your dealer and have the brake system
inspected for leaks or worn brake
pads.
However, if the brake pedal does not
feel normal, you should take immediate action. Because of the
brake system's dual-circuit design, a
problem in one part of the system will still give you braking at two
wheels. You will feel the brake pedal
go down much farther before the car
begins to slow down, and you will
have to press harder on the pedal.
The distance needed to stop will be much longer. Slow down by shifting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is safe. Because of the longer distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the car. Youshould have it towed, and repaired as
soon as possible. (See Emergency
Towing on page 277.)
If you must drive the car a shortdistance in this condition, driveslowly and cautiously.
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
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