climate control Acura TL 2001 3.2 Owner's Manual

2001 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 Safety ty......................................................................\
.......................................... .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........................................................................\
........................................ .53
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
..................... 113
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................149
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... .163
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................191
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take yo ur vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Car e........................................................................\
..................................................... .249
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpecte d........................................................................\
..............................257
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, a nd how to handle them.
Technical Informatio n........................................................................\
.............................................285
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................299
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manu als (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................305
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 Car at a Glance ........................................................................\
.................................................................2

High levels of carbon monoxide can
collect rapidly in enclosed areas,
such as a garage. Do not run the
engine with the garage door closed.
Even with the door open, run the
engine only long enough to move the
vehicle out of the garage.
Have the exhaust system inspected
f or leaks whenever:
With the trunk lid open, air f low can
pull exhaust gas into your car’s
interior and create a hazardous
condition. If you must drive with the
trunk lid open, open all the windows
and set the climate control system as
shown below.
If you must sit in your parked car,
even in an unconf ined area, with the
engine running, adjust the climate
control system as f ollows:
Your car’s exhaust contains carbon
monoxide gas. You should have no
problem with carbon monoxide
entering the car in normal driving if
you maintain your car properly.
The car is raised f or an oil change.
You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust.
Thecarwasinanaccidentthat
may have damaged the underside. Select the Fresh Air mode.
Select the mode.
Set the f an speed to high.
Set the temperature control to a
comfortable setting.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
Driver and Passenger Saf ety51
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and even kill
you.
Avoid any enclosed areas or
activities that expose you to
carbon monoxide.

The standard audio system has
many f eatures. This section de-
scribes those f eatures and how to
use them. The climate control system in your
Acura provides a comf ortable driving
environment in all weather condi-
tions.
Your Acura has an anti-theft audio
system that requires a code number
to enable it.
The security system helps to dis-
courage vandalism and thef t of your
Acura................
Climate Control System . 114
.......
Fully-automatic Operation . 116
.......
Semi-automatic Operation . 117
.......
Fully-automatic Operation . 121
.......
Semi-automatic Operation . 122
Sunlight Sensor/ ............
Temperature Sensor . 126
................................
Audio System .127
.................
Operating the Radio . 128
.................
Adjusting the Sound . 132
............
Audio System Lighting . 133
....................
Radio Frequencies . 133
........................
Radio Reception .133
.........
Operating the CD Player . 135
.....
Operating the CD Changer . 137
.......
Protecting Compact Discs . 138
....
CD Player Error Indications . 139
CD Changer Error .............................
Indications .140
Operating the Cassette .....................................
Player .141
............
Tape Search Functions . 142
Caring f or the Cassette .....................................
Player .144 ...........
Remote Audio Controls . 145
.......................
Thef t Protection .146
............................
Security System .147
3.2 TL without Navigation System
3.2 TL with Navigation System
Comf ort and Convenience Features
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures113

The automatic climate control
system in your Acura picks the
proper combination of air condi-
tioning, heating, and ventilation to
maintain the interior temperature
you select. The system also adjusts
the fan speed and air flow levels.
The direction of air f low f rom the
vents in the center and each side of
the dashboard, and in back of the
center console is adjustable.For the climate control system to
provide heating and cooling, the
engine must be running. The climate control system draws air
through the exterior vents at the
bottom of the windshield. Keep
these vents clear of leaves and other
debris.
To adjust the air flow from each vent,
move the tab in the center of each
vent up-and-down and side-to-side.
The side and rear vents can be
opened and closed with the dials.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures114
C CE
EN
NT TE
ER
R V
VE
EN
NT TS
S D
DR
RIIVV E
ER
R’ ’SS- -S
SI IDD E
E V
VE
EN
NT T

The system automatically selects the
proper mix of conditioned and/or
heated air that will, as quickly as
possible, raise or lower the interior
temperature f rom its current level to
the set temperature. To put the Automatic Climate
Control in f ully-automatic mode,
press the AUTO button and set the
f an control dial to AUTO, then set
the desired temperature by turning
the temperature control dial. You will
see FULL AUTO in the system’s
display. The light in thebuttonalsoshowsyouwhich
mode, Recirculation or Fresh Air, is
selected.
When you set the temperature to its
lower limit (60°F/18°C) or its upper
limit (90°F/32°C), the system runs
at f ull cooling or heating only. It does
not regulate the interior temperature. When the temperature is set
between the lower and upper limits,
the system regulates the interior
temperature to the set value.
Pressing the OFF button shuts the
climate control system completely
of f . Keep the system completely of f
only f or short periods. To keep stale
air and mustiness f rom collecting,
you should have the f an running at
all times.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Fully-automatic Operation
3.2 T L wit hout Navigat ion Syst em
116
T T
E
EM
M P
PE
ER
RA A T
TU
UR REE
C
CO ON NTTR
RO OL L D
DI
IAA L
L F
FA
A N
N C
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RO OL L D
DI
IAA L
L
O
OF FFF B
BUUT TT
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A
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ON N F
FU
UL LLL A
AU
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O
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LAA Y
Y

CONT INUED
You can manually select various
f unctions of the Climate Control
system when it is in FULL AUTO.
All other f eatures remain auto-
matically controlled. Making any
manual selection causes the word
FULL to go out.
Press the A/C button to turn the air
conditioningonandoff.Youwillsee
A/C ON or A/C OFF in the display.
When you turn the A/C of f , the sys-
tem cannot regulate the inside tem-
perature if you set the dial below the
outside temperature. With the A/C
on, use the temperature control dial
to adjust the temperature of the air
flow to a comfortable setting.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Semi-automatic Operation
A ir Condit ioning (A /C) But t on
117
R REEC
CI IRRC CUUL LAA T
TI
IOON N B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N
A
A
I
IRR C
COON NDDI
ITT I
IOON NIINNG G B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N
T
T
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EM
M P
PE
ER
RA A T
TU
UR REE C
COON NTTR
RO OL L D
DI
IAA L
L

ÛÝ
Pressing the OFF button shuts the
climate control system completely
of f . Keep the system completely of f
only f or short periods. To keep stale
air and mustiness f rom collecting,
you should have the f an running at
all times.
To put the Automatic Climate
Control in f ully-automatic mode,
press the AUTO button. The
indicator in the button will light.
Then set the desired temperature by
pressing either side of the TEMP
button: to raise the temperature
above the displayed value, or to
lower the temperature. The light in
the button also shows you
which mode, Recirculation or Fresh
Air, is selected.
The system automatically selects the
proper mix of conditioned and/or
heated air that will, as quickly as
possible, raise or lower the interior
temperature f rom its current level to
the set temperature.
When you set the temperature to its
lower limit (60°F/18°C) or its upper
limit (90°F/32°C), the system runs
at f ull cooling or heating only. It does
not regulate the interior temperature.
When the temperature is set
between the lower and upper limits,
the system regulates the interior
temperature to the set value.
Fully-automatic Operation
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
3.2 T L wit h Navigat ion Syst em
121
O OF
FFF B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N
T
T E
EM
M P
PE
ER
RA A T
TU
UR REE D
DI
ISSP PL
LAA Y
Y A
A
U
UT TO
O B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N
R
RE
EC
CI IRRC CUUL LAA T
TI
IOON N B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N T
T
E
EM
M P
PE
ER
RA A T
TU
UR REE B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N

You can manually select various
f unctions of the Climate Control
system when it is in FULL AUTO.
All other f eatures remain
automatically controlled. Some of
these functions appear in the
Navigation System display. Press the
A/C button next to the display to
show these f unctions. Making any
manual selection causes the
indicator in the AUTO button to go
out.
Pressing ‘‘ON’’ or ‘‘OFF’’ in the
display turns the air conditioning on
andoff.YouwillseeA/CONorA/C
OFF activated in the display. Semi-automatic Operation
A /C (A ir Condit ioning) On/Of f Icons
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Features122
A A/
/C
C O
ONN//O
OF FFF I
ICCO ON NSS
A
A/
/C
C B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N
R
RE EC
CI IRRC CUUL LAA T
TI
IOON N B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N T
TE
EM
M P
PE
ER
RA A T
TU
UR REE B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N

Theclimatecontrolsystemhastwo
sensors. A sunlight sensor is located
in the top of the dashboard and a
temperature sensor is next to the
steering column. Do not cover the
sensors or spill any liquid on them. Sunlight Sensor/T emperature
Sensor
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures126
T TE
EM
M P
PE
ER
RA A T
TU
UR REE S
SEEN
NS SOOR R
S
SU UN NLLIIGGH HT
T S
SEEN
NS SOOR R

CONT INUED
Remove the reserve tank f rom its
holder by pulling it straight up.
Drain the coolant, then put the
tank back in its holder.
When the coolant stops draining,
tightenthedrainplugatthe
bottom of the radiator.
Loosen the drain plug on the
bottom of the radiator. The
coolant will drain through the
splash guard. Loosen the drain
bolt at the rear of the engine
cylinder block.
Turn the ignition ON (II). Turn
the heater temperature control
dial to maximum heat (climate
control to 90°F/32°C). Turn of f
the ignition. Open the hood. Make
sure the engine and radiator are
cool to the touch.
Remove the radiator cap. 3.
1.
2. 4.
5.
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance213
D D
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RAA I
INN P
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LUUG G R
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RV V E
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BOOL LTT