parking brake Acura TL 2003 3.2 Owner's Manual

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

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.

Canadian models only
This indicator lights when you turn
the ignition switch to ON (II) with
the headlight switch of f and the
parking brake set. It should go of f if
youturnontheheadlightsorrelease
the parking brake. If it comes on at
any other time, it means there is a
problem with the DRL. There may
also be a problem with the high
beam headlights.
This light comes on with the high
beam headlights. See page for
inf ormation on the headlight
controls.
On Canadian models, this indicator
comes on with reduced brightness
when the Daytime Running Lights
(DRL) are on (see page ).
The lef t or right turn signal light
blinks when you signal a lane change
or turn. If the light does not blink or
blinks rapidly, it usually means one
of the turn signal bulbs is burned out
(see page ). Replace the bulb as
soon as possible, since other drivers
cannot see that you are signalling.
The appropriate light comes on in
this display if the trunk or any door
is not closed tightly.
WhenyouturnontheHazard
Warning switch, both turn signal
lights blink. All turn signals on the
outside of the car should f lash.
All the lights in the monitor display
come on f or a f ew seconds when you
turn the ignition switch ON (II).
69
70
270
Indicator L ights
Inst rument s and Cont rols
‘‘Daytime Running
Lights’’ Indicator
High Beam Indicator
Turn Signal and
Hazard Warning
Indicators
Door and T runk Open Monitor
62

The lights will turn on again when
you unlock or open the driver’s door.
If you unlock the door, but do not
open it within 15 seconds, the lights
will go of f . With the driver’s door
open, you will hear a lights-on
reminder chime.
With the headlight switch off, the
high beam headlights come on with
reduced brightness when you turn
the ignition switch to ON (II) and
release the parking brake. They
remain on until you turn the ignition
of f , even if you set the parking brake.
The headlights revert to normal
operation when you turn them on
with the switch.
The Automatic Lighting Of f f eature
turns of f the headlights, and all other
exterior lights and the instrument
panel lights within 15 seconds of
removing the key from the ignition
switch and closing the driver’s door.
This feature activates if you leave
the headlight switch in the ‘‘ ’’
or ‘‘ ’’ position, remove the key,
open, then close the driver’s door.
If you remove the key f rom the
ignition switch with the headlight
switch on, but do not open the door
and get out, the lights will turn of f
af ter ten minutes.
Turn the f og lights on and of f by
pressing the button. The indicator in
the button lights to show the f og
lights are on.
You can use the f og lights only when
the headlights are on low beam.
They will go of f when you turn the
headlights of f or onto high beam.
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Daytime Running L ights
(Canadian Models)
Automatic Lighting Of f Feature
Fog Lights
70

Not pressing a memory button
within 5 seconds.You can select memorized positions
as f ollows.Make sure the parking brake is set
and the shif t lever is in Park.
Doing any of the f ollowing af ter
pressing the MEMO button will
cancel the storing procedure.
Readjusting the seat position.
Readjusting the outside mirror
position.
Each memory button stores only one
driving position. Storing a new
position erases the previous setting
stored in that button’s memory. If
you want to add a new position while
retaining the current one, use the
other memory button.
All stored driving positions will be
lost if your car’s battery goes dead or
is disconnected. Press the desired memory button
(1 or 2) until you hear a beep, then
release the button.The system will move the seat and
outside mirrors to the memorized
positions. The indicator light in the
selected memory button will f lash
during movement. When the
adjustments are complete, you will
hear two beeps and the indicator
light will remain on.
1.
2.
CONT INUED
Select ing a Memorized Posit ion
Driving Posit ion Memory Syst em
Inst rument s and Cont rols97
M M E
EM
M O
ORRYY B
BUUT TT
TO
ON NSS

To apply the parking brake, push the
parking brake pedal down with your
f oot. To release the parking brake,
push on the pedal again. The parking
brake light on the instrument panel
should go out when the parking
brake is f ully released with the
engine running. (see page .)59
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Parking Brake
104
P PA
A R
RKKIINNG G B
BRRAA K
KEE P
PE
ED
D A
AL
L
Driving the car with the parking brake
applied can damage the rear brakes
and axles.

Stop f illing the tank af ter the f uel
nozzle automatically clicks of f . Do
not try to ‘‘top off’’ the tank, leave
some room f or the f uel to expand
with temperature changes.
Your car has an on-board ref ueling
vapor recovery system to help
keep f uel vapors f rom going into
the atmosphere. If the fuel nozzle
keeps clicking of f even though the
tank is not f ull, there may be a
problem with this system. Consult
your dealer.Screw the f uel f ill cap back on,
tighten it until it clicks several
times. If you do not properly
tighten the cap, the Malfunction
Indicator Lamp may come on (see
page ).
Push the f uel f ill door closed until
it latches.
Shift to Park or Neutral and set
the parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower lef t corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.
4.
5.
6.
1.
303
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving
Opening the Hood
176
H H
O
OO ODD R
REEL
LEE A
A S
SEE H
HA
AN
ND DL
LEE

........................
Preparing to Drive .188
.......................
Starting the Engine .189
Starting in Cold Weather ....................
at High Altitude .189
..............
Automatic Transmission . 190
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 190
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 191
..............
Engine Speed Limiter . 197
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 197
...........................................
Parking .199
.....................
The Braking System .200
.............
Brake Wear Indicators . 200
...............
Brake System Design . 201
.......................
Anti-lock Brakes .201
Important Saf ety .........................
Reminders .202
........................
ABS Indicator .202
..............
Traction Control System . 203
...............
TCS ON/OFF Switch . 204
............................
TCS Indicator .205
...
Vehicle Stability Assist System . 206
...............
Driving in Bad Weather . 209
...........................
Towing a Trailer .211
This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
automatic transmission. It also
includes important inf ormation on
parking your car, the braking system,
the Traction Control System, the
Vehicle Stability Assist System, and
f acts you need if you are planning to
tow a trailer.
Driving
Driving187

Apply the parking brake.
In cold weather, turn of f all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.
Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal.
Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to the
START (III) position. If the engine
does not start right away, do not
hold the key in START (III) f or
more than 15 seconds at a time.
Pause f or at least 10 seconds
bef ore trying again.
If the engine does not start within
15 seconds, or starts but stalls
right away, repeat step 4 with the
accelerator pedal pressed half-way
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal
so the engine does not race.If the engine still does not start,
press the accelerator pedal all the
way down and hold it there while
starting in order to clear f looding.
As bef ore, keep the ignition key in
the START (III) position f or no
more than 15 seconds. Return to
step 5 if the engine does not start.
If it starts, lif t your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal so the engine
does not race.
An engine is harder to start in cold
weather. The thinner air f ound at
high altitude above 8,000 f eet (2,400
meters) adds to the problem. Turn of f all electrical accessories
to reduce the drain on the battery. Push the accelerator pedal half-
way to the f loor and hold it there
while starting the engine. Do not
hold the ignition key in START
(III) f or more than 15 seconds.
When the engine starts, release
the accelerator pedal gradually as
the engine speeds up and smooths
out.
If the engine fails to start in step 2,
push the accelerator pedal to the
f loor and hold it there while you
try to start the engine for no more
than 15 seconds. If the engine
does not start, return to step 2.
Use the f ollowing procedure:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1.2.
3.
Starting the Engine
Driving
Starting in Cold Weather at High
A ltitude (A bove 8,000 f eet/
2,400 meters)
189

µWith the lever in this
position, the transmission locks in
First gear.
If you shif t into First position when
the vehicle speed is above 31 mph
(50 km/h), the transmission shif ts
into Second gear f irst to avoid
sudden engine braking. If you exceed the maximum speed
f or the gear you are in, the engine
speed will enter into the tachometer’s
red zone. If this occurs, you may f eel
the engine cut in and out. This is
caused by a limiter in the engine’s
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
RPM below the red zone.This allows you to move the shif t
lever out of Park if the normal
method of pushing on the brake
pedal does not work. This procedure
is also used to release the Reverse
Lockout.
Set the Parking brake.
Make sure the ignition switch is in
the OFF (0) position.
To release the Reverse Lockout,
make sure the ignition switch is in
the ACCESSORY (I) position.
1.
2.
CONT INUED
Automatic Transmission
Driving
First (1)
Engine Speed Limiter Shift Lock Release
197