ECU Acura TL 2004 Owner's Guide

The climate control systems in your
Acura provide a comf ortable driving
environment in all weather
conditions.
The standard audio system has
many f eatures. This section de-
scribes those f eatures and how to
use them..............
Vents, Heating, and A/C . 110
...........................
Air Flow Buttons .112
.............................
Climate Control .115
..........................
Playing the Radio .117
............................
Radio Reception .122
Playing the XM Satellite Radio ............................
(U.S. models) .124
.................................
Playing Discs .129
..................
Protecting Your Discs . 134
.....
Disc Change Error Messages . 135
...............................
Playing a Tape .136
................................
Audio System .139
.................
Radio Thef t Protection . 140
............................
Security System .141
...............................
Cruise Control .142
HomeLink Universal ................................
Transceiver .145
.............................
HandsFreeLink .149
Comf ort and Convenience Features
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures109

The security system sets
automatically 15 seconds after you
lock the doors, hood, and trunk. For
the system to activate, you must lock
the doors f rom the outside with the
key, lock tab, door lock switch, or
remote transmitter. The security
system indicator next to the driver’s
door lock starts blinking immediately
to show you the system is setting
itself .With the system set, you can still
open the trunk with the remote
transmitter without triggering the
alarm. The alarm will sound if the
trunk is opened with the trunk
releasebuttononthedriver’sdoor,
thetrunkreleasehandlebehindthe
trunk pass-through cover, or the
emergency trunk opener.
The security system will not set if
the hood, trunk, or any door is not
f ully closed. If the system will not set,
check the Door and Trunk Open
Monitor on the multi-inf ormation
display (see page ) to see if the
doors and trunk are f ully closed.
Since it is not part of the monitor
display, manually check the hood.
Do not attempt to alter this system
or add other devices to it.
The security system helps to protect
your vehicle and valuables f rom thef t.
The horn sounds and a combination
of headlights, parking lights, side
marker lights and taillights f lash if
someone attempts to break into your
vehicleorremovetheradio.This
alarm continues f or 2 minutes, then
the system resets. To reset an
alarming system bef ore the 2
minutes have elapsed, unlock the
driver’s door with the key or use the
remote transmitter.
Once the security system is set,
opening any door or the hood
without using the key or the remote
transmitter will cause the system to
alarm. It also alarms if the radio is
removed f rom the dashboard or the
wiring is cut. 60
Security System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures141
SECURITY SYSTEM LIGHT

µ
If you are training HomeLink to
operate a garage door or gate, you
should unplug the motor f or that
device during training. Repeatedly
pressing the remote control button
could burn out the motor.
The HomeLink Transceiver stores
the code in a permanent memory.
There should be no need to retrain
HomeLink if your vehicle’s battery
goes dead or is disconnected.
If your garage door opener was
manuf actured bef ore April 1982, you
may not be able to program
HomeLink to operate it. They do not
have the safety feature that causes the motor to stop and reverse if an
obstacle is detected during closing,
increasing the risk of injury.
Always ref er to the opening
instructions and saf ety inf ormation
that came with your garage door
opener or other equipment you
intend to operate with the HomeLink
Universal Transceiver. If you do not
have this information, contact the
manuf acturer of the equipment.
If you just
received your vehicle and have not
trained any of the buttons in
HomeLink bef ore, you should erase
any previously learned codes bef ore
training the f irst button. If you are training the second or
third buttons, go directly to Step 1.
Unplug the garage door opener
motor f rom the house current.
Holdtheendof thegaragedoor
opener remote control 2 to 5
inches f rom HomeLink. Make
sure you are not blocking your
view of the red light in HomeLink.
The HomeLink
Universal
Transceiver built into your vehicle
canbeprogrammedtooperateupto
three remote controlled devices
around your home, such as garage
doors, lighting, or home security
systems.
Todothis,pressandholdthetwo
outside buttons on the HomeLink
transceiver for about 20 seconds,
until the red light f lashes. Release
the buttons, then proceed to Step 1.1.
2.
HomeL ink Universal T ransceiver
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
General Inf ormation
Important Saf ety Precautions
T raining HomeL ink
Bef ore you begin
145

Press and hold the remote control
button and one of the HomeLink
buttons at the same time.The remote control
you are training f rom may stop
transmitting after 2 seconds. This is
not long enough f or HomeLink to
learn the code. Release and press the
button on the remote control every 2
seconds until HomeLink has learned
the code.
The red light in HomeLink should
begin f lashing. It will f lash slowly
at first, then rapidly.
When the red light f lashes rapidly,
release both buttons. HomeLink
should have learned the code from
the remote control.
Plug in the garage door opener
motor, then test the HomeLink
Transceiver button by pushing it. Repeat these steps to train the
other two HomeLink buttons to
operate any other remotely-
controlled devices around your
home (lighting, automatic gate,
security system, etc.).For security purposes, newer garage
door opening systems use a ‘‘rolling’’
or variable code. Inf ormation f rom
the remote control and the garage
door opener are needed bef ore
HomeLink can operate the garage
door opener.
The ‘‘Training HomeLink’’
procedure trains HomeLink to the
proper garage door opener code.
The f ollowing procedure
synchronizes HomeLink to the
garage door opener so they send and
receive the correct codes.
If the button does not work, repeat
this procedure to train it again. If it
still does not work, you may have a
variable or rolling code garage
door opener. See if you do by
pressing and holding the
HomeLink transceiver button you
just trained. If the red light blinks
for2seconds,thenstayson,you
have a rolling code garage door
opener. Go to ‘‘Training With a
Rolling Code System’’.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Canadian Owners:
HomeL ink Universal T ransceiver
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
T raining With a Rolling Code
System
146

The HFL will accept a numeric, f our-
digit passcode that you can use f or
security purposes.Press and release the Talk button.
Af ter the beep, say ‘‘Set passcode.’’ With the ignition in the ON (II)
position, press and release the
Talk button on the steering wheel.
Af ter the beep, say ‘‘Security.’’ The
HFL response is ‘‘Security options
are lock, unlock, and set passcode.’’
The HFL response is ‘‘What is the
new f our-digit passcode?’’ (If you
are changing the passcode, you
will f irst be asked f or the current
passcode.) Press and release the Talk button.
Af ter the beep, say the f our-digit
passcode you want to use. For
example,say‘‘1,2,3,4.’’TheHFL
responseis‘‘1,2,3,4.Isthis
correct?’’
Press and release the Talk button.
Af ter the beep, say ‘‘Lock’’ or
‘‘Unlock.’’ means the HFL
will prompt you f or your passcode
each time the ignition switch is
turned to ON (II) and you press
the Talk button. You will only be
askedforthepasscodeonceper
ignition cycle. If the HFL is locked,
its response is ‘‘System is locked.
Each time the vehicle is turned on,
the passcode will be required to
use the system.’’ If the HFL is
unlocked, its response is ‘‘The
system is unlocked. Returning to
the main menu.’’
Press and release the Talk button.
Af ter the beep, say ‘‘Yes.’’ The
HFL response is ‘‘The new
passcode has been stored.
Returning to the main menu.’’
Once a passcode is set, you can lock
the HFL so it only operates after the
passcode is entered, or you can
unlock it so anyone using your
vehicle can also use the HFL. Press and release the Talk button.
Af ter the beep, say ‘‘Security.’’ The
HFL response is ‘‘Security options
are lock, unlock, and set passcode.’’
2. 1.
4.
5.
3. 1.2.
To set your passcode, do this:
To lock or unlock the HFL, do this:
HandsFreeL ink
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Setting Your Passcode Lock
L ocking or Unlocking the HFL
153
TM

Park the vehicle, 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.
Put your f ingers between the f ront
edge of the hood and the f ront
grille to locate the hood latch
handle. Push this handle up until it
releases the hood. Lif t the hood.If the hood latch handle moves
stif f ly, or if you can open the hood
without lifting the handle, the
mechanism should be cleaned and
lubricated (see page ).
Lif t the hood up most of the way.
The hydraulic supports will lif t it
uptherestof thewayandholdit
up.
Lower the hood to about a f oot (30
cm) above the f ender, then press
down firmly with your hands. Make
sure it is securely latched.
1.
2.
3.212
Service Station Procedures
Opening the Hood
T o Close the Hood
Bef ore Driving166
HOOD RELEASE HANDLE
LATCH

Distribute cargo evenly on the
f loor of the trunk, placing the
heaviest items on the bottom and
as f ar f orward as possible.
If you carry large items that
prevent you f rom closing the trunk
lid, exhaust gas can enter the
passenger area. To avoid the
possibility of, f ollow the instructions
on page .
If you carry any items on a roof
rack,besurethetotalweightof
the rack and the items does not
exceed the maximum allowable
weight. Please contact your Acura
dealer f or f urther inf ormation.
Store or secure all items that could
be thrown around and hurt
someone during a crash.
Keep the glove box closed while
driving. If it is open, a passenger
could injure their knees during a
crash or sudden stop. Be sure items placed on the f loor
behind the f ront seats cannot roll
under the seats and interf ere with
the pedals or seat operation. Do not put any items on top of the
trunk panel. They can block your
view and be thrown around the
vehicle during a crash.
The cargo net can be used to help
hold down items stored in the trunk.
To use the cargo net, hook it to the
buttons on the f loor and sides of the
trunk. You can use the cargo net in
several conf igurations by hooking it
to dif f erent buttons. There is also a
side net that can be used on either
side of the trunk.
When you are not using the cargo
net, store it in the pocket in the spare
tire tool case.
46
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving
Carrying Cargo in the Trunk or on
a Roof Rack
carbon monoxide
poisoning
Carrying Items in the Passenger
Compartment
Cargo Nets
173
CARGO NET
TRUNK NET HOOK SIDE NET

Youshoulddothefollowingchecks
and adjustments every day bef ore
you drive your vehicle.Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove f rost, snow,
or ice.
Check that the hood and trunk are
f ully closed.
Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.
Check that any items you may be
carrying with you inside are stored
properly or f astened down
securely. Check the seat adjustment (see
page ).
Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page ).
Check the steering wheel
adjustment (see page ).
Make sure the doors are securely
closed and locked.
When you start the engine, check
the gauges and indicator lights in the
instrument panel (see page ).
Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have f astened
their seat belts (see page ).
3. 2.
1.
4. 5.
6.
7.
8.
9. 88
91 78
14 51
Preparing to Drive
Driving176

Oil is a major contributor to your
engine’s perf ormance and longevity.
Always use a premium-grade 5W-20
detergent oil displaying the API
Certif ication Seal. This seal indicates
the oil is energy conserving, and that
it meets the American Petroleum
Institute’s latest requirements.Honda Motor Oil is the pref erred
5W-20 lubricant f or your vehicle. It is
highly recommended that you use
Honda Motor Oil in your vehicle f or
optimum engine protection. Make
sure the API Certif ication Seal says
‘‘For Gasoline Engines’’.
The oil viscosity or weight is
provided on the container’s label.
5W-20 oil is f ormulated f or year-
round protection of your Acura to
improve cold weather starting and
f uel economy.
Unscrew and remove the engine oil
fill cap on top of the valve cover.
Pour in the oil slowly and caref ully so
you do not spill. Clean up any spills
immediately. Spilled oil could
damage components in the engine
compartment. Install the engine oil
f ill cap and tighten it securely. Wait a
f ew minutes and recheck the oil level
(see page ). Do not f ill above the
upper mark on the dipstick; you
could damage the engine. 167
A dding Engine Oil
Maint enance
Recommended Engine Oil
204
ENGINE OIL
FILL CAP
API CERTIFICATION SEAL Ambient Temperature

Check the f luid level with the engine
at normal operating temperature.Park the vehicle on level ground.
Shut of f the engine.
Within 60 to 90 seconds, remove
the dipstick (yellow loop) f rom the
transmission, and wipe it with a
clean cloth.
Insert the dipstick all the way into
the transmission securely. Remove the dipstick, and check
the f luid level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
If the level is below the lower
mark, add f luid into the f iller hole
to bring it to the upper mark.Always use Honda ATF-Z1
(Automatic Transmission Fluid). If
it’s not available, you may use a
DEXRON
III automatic
transmission f luid as a temporary
replacement. However, continued
use can af f ect the shif t quality.
Have the transmission flushed and
ref illed with Honda ATF-Z1 as
soon as it is convenient.
The transmission should be drained
and ref illed with new f luid when this
service is shown on a maintenance
message in the Multi-Information
Display. To thoroughly f lush the
transmission, the technician
should drain and ref ill it with
Honda ATF-Z1, then drive the
vehicle f or a short distance. Do
this three times. Then drain and
ref ill the transmission a f inal time.
Insert the dipstick all the way back
in the transmission.
1.
2.
3. 4.
5.
6.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
Maint enance209
UPPER
MARK
LOWER
MARK
DIPSTICK