instrument panel Acura TL 2003 3.2 Owner's Manual

2003 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.helminc.com.
Contents
Owner's Identification Form
Introduction ........................................................................\
............................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safety ........................................................................\
.................................................. ii
Your Vehicle at a Glance ........................................................................\
....................................................... 2
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
............................................... 5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System.
Instruments and Controls........................................................................\
...................................................55
Instrument panel indica tor and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features........................................................................\
............................... 115
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.
Before Driving ........................................................................\
....................................................... ..............173
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving........................................................................\
...................................................................................187
The proper way to start the engine, shift the tr ansmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
....................................................... ..................219
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Care........................................................................\
....................................................... ..........279
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your car ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
.......................................287
This section covers several problems motorists someti mes experience, and how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
....................................................... 315
ID numbers, dimensions, capaciti es, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)...................................................................... 329
A summary of the warranties covering your new Honda, and how to contact us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
....................................... 333
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.

In addition, most states and all
Canadian provinces require you to
wear seat belts.
When properly worn, seat belts:Keep you connected to the vehicle
so you can take advantage of the
car’s built-in saf ety f eatures.
Help protect you in almost every
type of crash, including f rontal,
side, and rear impacts and
rollovers.
Foryoursafety,andthesafetyof
your passengers, your car is
equipped with seat belts in all seating
positions.
Your seat belt system also
includes a light on the
instrument panel to remind you and
your passengers to f asten your seat
belts.
Seat belts are the single most
effectivesafetydeviceforadultsand
larger children. (Inf ants and smaller
children must be properly restrained
in child seats.)
Not wearing a seat belt properly
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
though your car has airbags.
These saf ety f eatures are designed
to reduce the severity of injuries in a
crash. However, you and your
passengers can’t take f ull advantage
of these saf ety f eatures unless you
remain sitting in a proper position
and
In f act, some saf ety
f eatures can contribute to injuries if
they are not used properly.
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Your Car’s Saf ety Features
Seat Belts
Why Wear Seat Belt s
always wear your seat belts
properly.
8
Not wearing a seat belt properly
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
if you have airbags.
Be sure you and your
passengers always wear seat
belts and wear them properly.

The f ollowing pages provide
instructions on how to properly
protect the driver and other adult
occupants.
These instructions also apply to
children who have outgrown child
seats and are large enough to wear
lap/shoulder belts. (See page f or
important additional guidelines on
how to properly protect larger
children.)For security, locked doors can
prevent an outsider f rom
unexpectedly opening a door when
you come to a stop.
See page f or how to lock the
doors.
For saf ety, locking the doors reduces
the chance that a passenger,
especially a child, will open a door
while the car is moving and
accidentally f all out. It also reduces
the chance of someone being thrown
out of the car during a crash. Your car has a door monitor light on
the instrument panel to indicate
when a specif ic door is not tightly
closed. Af ter everyone has entered the car,
be sure the doors are closed and
locked.
37 79
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Protecting Adults
Introduction
Close and L ock the Doors
1.
12

This seat belt has a single belt that
goes over your shoulder, across your
chest and across your hips.To unlock the belt, push the red
PRESSbuttononthebuckle.
To fasten the belt, insert the latch
plate into the buckle, then tug on the
belt to make sure the buckle is
latched. Guide the belt across your body to
the door pillar. Af ter exiting the car,
be sure the belt is out of the way and
will not get closed in the door.
Your seat belt system includes lap/
shoulder belts in all f ive seating
positions. The f ront seat belts are
also equipped with automatic seat
belt tensioners.
The seat belt system also
includes a light on the
instrument panel to remind you and
your passengers to f asten 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 af ter a f ew seconds, but the
light will stay on until the driver’s
seat belt is f astened. All seat belts have an emergency
locking retractor. In normal driving,
the retractor lets you move f reely in
your seat while it keeps some
tension on the belt. During a collision
or sudden stop, the retractor
automatically locks the belt to help
restrain your body.
The seat belts in all seating positions
except the driver’s have an additional
locking mechanism that must be
activated to secure a child seat. (See
pages and f or instructions on
how to secure child seats with this
type of seat belt.)
31 35
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Additional Inf ormation About Your Seat Belts
Seat Belt System Components L ap/Shoulder Belt
44

Your Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) includes:An indicator light on the
instrument panel that alerts you to
a possible problem with the
system (see page ).
Two f ront airbags. The driver’s
airbag is stored in the center of
the steering wheel; the f ront
passenger’sairbagisstoredinthe
dashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRS
AIRBAG.’’ Emergency backup power in case
your car’s electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.
If you ever have a moderate to
severe f rontal collision, the sensors
will detect the vehicle’s rapid
deceleration. If the rate of
deceleration is high enough, the
control unit will instantly inf late the
f ront airbags.
A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records inf ormation about the
sensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, and driver and
passenger seat belt use when the
ignition is ON (II). Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe frontal
collision. Automatic seat belt tensioners
(see page ).
45 50
CONT INUED
SRS Components
How Your Front A irbags Work
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
47

This section gives inf ormation about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your Acura. All the essential controls
are within easy reach............................
Control Locations .56
...............................
Indicator Lights .57
.............................................
Gauges .64
...............................
Speedometer .64
.................................
Tachometer .64
.....................................
Odometer .65
...................................
Trip Meter .65
Outside Temperature ...................................
Indicator .66
...................
Temperature Gauge . 66
..................................
Fuel Gauge .66
Maintenance Required ...................................
Indicator .67
Controls Near the Steering .......................................
Wheel .68
...................................
Headlights .69 ...................................
Fog Lights .70
Automatic Lighting Off .....................................
Feature .70
............
Daytime Running Lights . 70
....
Instrument Panel Brightness . 71
................................
Turn Signals .71
.....................
Windshield Wipers .72
..................
Windshield Washers . 73
..........................
Hazard Warning .73
.............
Rear Window Def ogger . 74
......
Steering Wheel Adjustment . 75
...............................
Keys and Locks .76
..............................................
Keys .76
....................
Immobilizer System . 77
............................
Ignition Switch .78
......................
Power Door Locks .79
...................
Remote Transmitter . 81
..............
Childproof Door Locks . 84
...........................................
Trunk .85
........
Emergency Trunk Opener . 86
....................................
Glove Box .87
............................
Seat Adjustments .88
Driver’s Seat Full Power ............................
Adjustments .88
...........
Driver’s Lumbar Support . 90Front Passenger’s Seat
............................
Adjustments .90
..........................
Head Restraints .91
............................................
Armrest .92
.............................................
Mirrors .94
....
Adjusting the Power Mirrors . 94
Driving Position Memory ..........................................
System .96
....................................
Seat Heaters .99
............................
Power Windows .100
.......................................
Moonroof .103
...............................
Parking Brake .104
..................................
Digital Clock .105
.................
Console Compartment . 106
........................................
Coin Box .106
Armrest Storage ..........................
Compartments .107
...........................
Beverage Holder .108
........................................
Sun Visor .109
................................
Vanity Mirror .109
........................
Sunglasses Holder .110
............
Accessory Power Sockets . 110
...............................
Interior Lights .111
..................................
Storage Tray .112
Instruments and Controls
Inst rument s and Cont rols55

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The engine can be severely damaged
if this light f lashes or stays on when
the engine is running. For complete
inf ormation, see page .
If this light comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged. For complete
inf ormation, see page .
See page .
If you do not f asten your seat belt,
the beeper will stop af ter a f ew
seconds but the light stays on until
you do. Both the light and the beeper
stay of f if you f asten your seat belt
bef ore turning on the ignition. This indicator lights when you turn
the ignition switch ON (II). It is a
reminder to you and your passengers
to protect yourselves by f astening
the seat belts. A beeper also sounds
if you have not fastened your seat
belt. The instrument panel has many
indicators to give you important
inf ormation about your car.
This light has two f unctions:This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch ON (II). It
is a reminder to check the parking
brake. Driving with the parking
brake not f ully released can
damage the brakes and tires.
If the indicator remains lit after
you have f ully released the
parking brake while the engine is
running, or if it comes on while
driving, it can indicate a problem
in the brake system. For complete
inf ormation, see page .
1.
2.
301
302
303 305
L ow Oil Pressure
Indicator
Charging System
Indicator
Malf unction Indicator
Lamp
Seat Belt Reminder L ight
Parking Brake and Brake System
Indicator
Indicator L ights
Inst rument s and Cont rols59
Canada
U.S.

µTurn of f the engine.
Press and hold the select and reset
buttons on the instrument panel,
then turn the ignition switch ON
(II).
Between 6,000 miles (9,600 km) and
7,500 miles (12,000 km) this
indicator will light f or two seconds
when you first turn the ignition
switch ON (II), and then f lash f or
ten seconds.
If you exceed 7,500 miles (12,000
km) without having the scheduled
maintenance perf ormed, this
indicator will remain on as a constant
reminder.
Your dealer will reset this indicator
af ter completing the scheduled
maintenance. If this maintenance is
done by someone other than your
Acura dealer, reset the indicator as
f ollows.
For the f irst 6,000 miles (9,600 km)
af ter the Maintenance Required
Indicator is reset, it will come on f or
two seconds when you turn the
ignition switch ON (II). This indicator reminds you that it is
time to take your car in for
scheduled maintenance.
Hold the buttons for
approximately ten seconds until
the indicator resets.
Ref er to the Maintenance Schedules
f or Normal and Severe Driving
Conditions on pages
. 1.
2.
3.
224 228
Gauges
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Maintenance Required Indicator
67
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