jump start Acura TL 2002 3.2 Owner's Manual

This section covers the more-
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you inf ormation about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also f ind instructions
on getting your car towed.......................
Compact Spare Tire . 278
....................
Changing a Flat Tire . 279
..........
If Your Engine Won’t Start . 285
Nothing Happens or the Starter Motor Operates ............................
Very Slowly . 285
The Starter Operates ................................
Normally . 286
................................
Jump Starting . 286
............
If Your Engine Overheats . 289
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 291
..........
Charging System Indicator . 292
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 293
.......................
Readiness Codes .294
...............
Brake System Indicator . 295
..................
Closing the Moonroof . 296
..............................................
Fuses .297
..........
Checking and Replacing . 298
......................
Emergency Towing .302
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed277
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When you turn the ignition switch to
START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying to
start. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all.
Check these things:
Diagnosing why your engine won’t
start f alls 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, or
operates very slowly.
You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
f aster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run. Check the transmission interlock.
The transmission must be in Park
orNeutralorthestarterwillnot
operate.
Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Turn on the headlights and check
their brightness. If the headlights
are very dim or don’t light at all,
the battery is discharged. See
on page . Turn the ignition switch to START
(III). If the headlights do not dim,
check the condition of the f uses. If
thefusesareOK,thereisproba-
bly something wrong with the
electrical circuit f or the ignition
switch or starter motor. You will
need a qualif ied technician to
determine the problem. (See
on page .)
If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is dis-
charged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal connec-
tions (see page ). You can
then try jump starting the car from
a booster battery (see page ).
286 302
243 286
If Your Engine Won’t Start
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
Jump Starting Emergency T owing
285
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In this case, the starter motor’s
speed sounds normal, or even f aster
than normal, when you turn the
ignition switch to START (III), but
the engine does not run.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.
You cannot start your Acura by
pushing or pulling it.
If youfindnothingwrong,youwill
need a qualif ied technician to f ind
the problem. See
on page .
There may be an electrical
problem, such as no power to the
f uel pump. Check all the f uses
(see page ). Do you have f uel? Turn the
ignition switch to ON (II) for a
minute and watch the f uel gauge.
The low f uel level warning light
may not be working, so you were
not reminded to f ill the tank.
Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Ref er to on page .
Your car has the Immobilizer
System. You should use a
properly-coded master or valet key
to start the engine (see page ).
A key that is not properly coded
will cause the immobilizer system
indicator in the dash panel to blink
rapidly.
77
179 297
302
T he Starter Operates Normally
Jump Starting
Emergency
Towing
Starting the
Engine
If Your Engine Won’t Start, Jump Starting
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed286
A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyone
nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.
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µ
´ ´
CONT INUED
Connect the second jumper cable
to the negative ( ) terminal on
the booster battery. Connect the
other end to the grounding strap
as shown. Do not connect this
jumper cable to any other part of
the engine.
Remove the battery cover.
To jump start your car, f ollow these
directions closely:
Open the hood and check the
physical condition of the battery
(see page ). In very cold
weather, check the condition of
the electrolyte. If it seems slushy
or like ice, do not try jump starting
until it thaws.
Turn of f all the electrical acces-
sories: climate control, stereo
system, lights, etc.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park and set the parking brake. Connect one jumper cable to the
positive ( ) terminal on your
Acura’s battery. Connect the other
end to the positive ( ) terminal
on the booster battery.
4.
5.3.
1.
2. 243
Jump Starting
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed287
P P
r
reem m i
iuu m
m m
mo
od
de
ell
If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can f reeze.
Attempting to jump start with a f rozen
battery can cause it to rupture.
00/12/25 14:41:06 31S0K630_290

Once your car is running, discon-
nectthenegativecablefromyour
car, then from the booster battery.
Disconnect the positive cable f rom
your car, then the booster battery.
The numbers in the illustration show
you the order to connect the jumper
cables. Make sure to disconnect the
cables in the reverse order. Start your car. If the starter motor
still operates slowly, check the
jumper cable connections to make
sure they have good metal-to-
metal contact. Keep the ends of the jumper cables
away from each other and any metal
on the vehicle until all are
disconnected. Otherwise, you may
cause an electrical short.
If the booster battery is in another
vehicle, have an assistant start
that vehicle and run it at a fast idle. 7. 8.
6.
Jump Starting
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed288
B BO OO OSSTTE
ER
R
B
BA A T
TT
TE
ER
RY Y
T
T
y
ypp e
e S
S
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CONT INUED
...
Accessories and Modifications . 171
................................
Accessories . 171
.
Additional Safety Precautions . 172
............................
Modif ications . 172
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) . 79
............
Accessory Power Sockets . 110
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 225
...............................
Airbag (SRS) . 9, 47
.....................
Air Cleaner Element . 238
.................
Air Conditioning Filter . 249
......
Air Conditioning System . 116, 123
..............................
Maintenance . 248
.................................
Usage . 118, 123
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires . 251
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline . 312
......................................
Antif reeze . 228
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) ...............................
Indicator .60, 192
...................................
Operation .191
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System . 151
.
Anti-thef t Steering Column Lock . 78
..........................
Appearance Care .269
................................
Audio System .129 ...
Automatic Lighting Off Feature . 70
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners . 45
.............
Automatic Speed Control . 153
..............
Automatic Transmission . 180
..........................
Capacity,Fluid .308
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 234
.......................................
Shif ting .180
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 180
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 181
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 187
Battery Charging System ...........................
Indicator .59, 292
............................
Jump Starting .286
..............................
Maintenance .243
............................
Specif ications .309
..............................
Bef ore Driving .163
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,44
...........................
Beverage Holder .108
...................................
Body Repair .276
Brakes ...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 191
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 164....................
Bulb Replacement .263
...........................................
Fluid .236
.......................................
Parking .104
.................
System Indicator . 59, 295
........................
Wear Indicators .190
.............................
Braking System .190
........................
Break-in, New Car .164
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 71
........................
Brights, Headlights .69
Bulb Replacement ..........................
Back-up Lights .263
..............................
Brake Lights .263
..............................
Ceiling Light .265
........................
Courtesy Lights .265
.................................
Fog Lights .262
........
Front Side Marker Lights . 260
.................................
Headlights .259
.........
High-mount Brake Light . 264
...................
License Plate Light . 264
............................
Specif ications .309
...................................
Spotlights .265
....................
Turn Signal Lights . 260
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .259
Index
A
B
I
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CONT INUED
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5
...........................................
Driving . 177
....................................
Economy . 170
.........................
In Bad Weather . 199
................
In Foreign Countries . 313
Driving Position Memory ..........................................
System . 96
..............................
Economy, Fuel . 170
............
Emergencies on the Road . 277
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 286
...........
Brake System Indicator . 295
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 279
.....
Charging System Indicator . 292
..................
Checking the Fuses . 297
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 291
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 293
...
Manually Closing Moonroof . 296
..................
Overheated Engine . 289
.........................
Emergency Brake .104
......................
Emergency Flashers .73
......................
Emergency Towing .302
............
Emergency Trunk Opener . 86
.......................
Emissions Controls .314 .............
Emissions Testing, State . 317
Engine ............................................
Belts .249
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 66
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp .59, 293
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 59, 291
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 223
...............................
Overheating .289
............................
Specif ications .309
............................
Speed Limiter .187
.......................................
Starting .179
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .312
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 314
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .53
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .19
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 270
..........................
Fan, Interior .120, 125
Features, Comfort and ..............................
Convenience .115
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 165Filter
................................
Air Cleaner .238
.......................
Air Conditioning .249
...............................................
Oil .225
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 73
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 279
.....................................
Floor Mats .272
Fluids ..........
Automatic Transmission . 234
..........................................
Brake .236
..........................
Power Steering .237
................
Windshield Washers . 233
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception .135
........................................
Fog Lights .70
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 313
..........................
Four-way Flashers .73
..............................
Front Airbags .9, 47
.................................................
Fuel .164
......................
Fill Door and Cap .165
...........................................
Gauge .66
................
Octane Requirement . 164
...............................
Oxygenated .312
........................
Reserve Indicator .63
........................
Tank, Filling the .165
Index
E
F
III
00/12/25 14:47:26 31S0K630_332

.....................
Fuses, Checking the . 297
........................
Jacking up the Car . 281
.......................................
Jack, Tire . 280
................................
Jump Starting . 286
...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle . 306Ignition
..............................................
Keys . 76
...........................................
Switch . 78
............
Timing Control System . 315
........................
Immobilizer System . 77
.........
Important Safety Precautions . 6
.........
Indicators, Instrument Panel . 57
...............................
Inf ant Restraint . 30
......................................
Inf ant Seats . 30
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 41
...................
Infl ation, Proper Tire . 251
...................................
Inside Mirror . 94
.............................
Inspection, Tire . 252
............................
Instrument Panel . 57
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 71
...........................
Interior Cleaning . 272
...............................
Interior Lights . 111
........................................
Introduction .i
.............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs . 259
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers . 73
........................................
Headlights .69
........................................
Aiming .259
Automatic Lighting Off .....................................
Feature .70
............
Daytime Running Lights . 70
..................
High Beam Indicator . 62
.........................
Reminder Chime .69
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs . 259
...................................
Turning on .69
..............................
Head Restraints .91
.............
High Altitude, Starting at . 179
.................
High-Low Beam Switch . 69
HomeLink Universal ................................
Transceiver .157
....................................
Hood Latch .237
.......................
Hood, Opening the .166
.................................
Hydroplaning .200
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 170
..........................................
Gasohol .312
.........................................
Gasoline .164
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 63
...........................................
Gauge .66
................
Octane Requirement . 164
........................
Tank, Filling the .165
................
Gas Station Procedures . 164
Gauges ...
Engine Coolant Temperature . 66
...............................................
Fuel .66
...............................
Speedometer .64
.................................
Tachometer .64
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight .......................................
Rating) .202
Gearshif t Lever Positions ..........
Automatic Transmission . 180
..............................
Glass Cleaning .274
........................................
Glove Box .87
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight .......................................
Rating) .202
Index
G H
IJ
IV
00/12/26 12:34:50 31S0K630_333