checking oil Acura TL 2004 Owner's Manual

If it is near or below the lower mark,
seeon page .
Remove the dipstick again and
check the level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
Look at the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it is
between the MAX and MIN lines. If
it is below the MIN line, see
on page f or
inf ormation on adding the proper
coolant.
Refer to on page f or inf ormation
about checking other items on your
Acura.
Wait a f ew minutes af ter turning the
engine of f bef ore you check the oil.
Remove the dipstick (orange loop).
Wipe of f the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel.
Insert it all the way back in its tube. 4.
1.
2.
3 198
204
207
Service Station Procedures
Oil Check
A dding OilEngine Coolant Check
A dding
Engine Coolant
Owner’s Maintenance
Checks
Bef ore Driving167
UPPER MARK
LOWER MARK
DIPSTICK RESERVE TANK
MINMAX

This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
This section also includes
instructions on how to read the
maintenance messages in the Multi-
Inf ormation Display, a Maintenance
Record, and instructions f or simple
maintenance tasks you may want to
take care of yourself .
If you have the skills and tools to per-
f orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your Acura, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Acura
dealer.......................
Maintenance Saf ety .194
....................
Maintenance Minder . 195
....................
Maintenance Record .200
..............................
Fluid Locations .202
......
Engine Compartment Covers . 203
........................
Adding Engine Oil .204
.........
Changing the Oil and Filter . 205
..............................
Engine Coolant .207
....................
Windshield Washers .208
....
Automatic Transmission Fluid . 209
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 210
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid . 211
....................
Power Steering Fluid . 212
....................................
Hood Latch .212
.............................................
Lights .213
.......................................
Seat Belts .218
.....................................
Floor Mats .218
.................................
Wiper Blades .219
...............................................
Tires .220
...................
Checking the Battery . 226
.............................
Vehicle Storage .227
269
Maintenance
Maint enance193

CONT INUED
BatteryCharging System ...........................
Indicator .52, 242
............................
Jump Starting .238
..............................
Maintenance .226
............................
Specif ications .257
..............................
Bef ore Driving .163
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,19
...........................
Beverage Holder .106
Brakes ...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 189
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 164
...........................................
Fluid .211
.......................................
Parking .103
.................
System Indicator . 52,244 ........................
Wear Indicators .188
.............................
Braking System .188
........................
Break-in, New Car .164
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 75
........................
Brights, Headlights .74
Bulb Replacement ..........................
Back-up Lights .216
.................................
Fog Lights .213
............................
Specif ications .257
............
Turn Signal Lights . 214,215
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .213
............................
Capacities Chart .256
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 46
............................
Carrying, Cargo .171
Cassette Player ............................................
Care .138
...................................
Operation .136
..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
..................................
Ceiling Light .104
........................
Certif ication Label .254
...................................
Chains, .225
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 168
................................
Accessories .169
............................
Modif ications .170
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) .80
............
Accessory Power Sockets . 106
................
Adding Engine Coolant . 207
........................
Adding Engine Oil .204
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 205
...............................
Airbag (SRS) .9, 22
...............
Additional Information . 22
......................................
Servicing .28
...................
System Components . 22
..............
Air Conditioning System . 110
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .221
......................................
Antif reeze .207
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) ...............................
Indicator .53, 189
...................................
Operation .189
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System . 140
.
Anti-thef t Steering Column Lock . 80
................................
Audio System .117
...
Automatic Lighting Off Feature . 76
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners . 20.............
Automatic Speed Control . 142
..............
Automatic Transmission . 181
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .256
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 209
.......................................
Shif ting .181
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 181
.......................................
Shif ting .181
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 185
tires
Index
A
BC
I

ÎÎÎ
ÎÎ
Changing Oil ........................................
How to .205
......................................
When to .195
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .231
...
Charging System Indicator . 52,242
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 176
..................
Childproof Door Locks . 84
.....................................
Child Saf ety .29
..............................
Booster Seats .43
...................................
Child Seats .36
..........................................
Inf ants .34
............................
Large Children .42
.........................................
LATCH .38
......................
Risks with Airbags .30
.............................
Small Children .35
.........................................
Tethers .41
.........
Where Should a Child Sit? . 30
Cleaning .................................
Floor Mats .218
...................................
Seat Belts .218
...............
Climate Control System . 115
..............................................
Clock .103
..........................
CO in the Exhaust .46
.......................
Compact Spare .230
.................
Console Compartment . 107
...............
Consumer Inf ormation . 265.............
Controls, Instruments and . 49
Coolant ........................................
Adding .207
....................................
Checking .167
.........................
Proper Solution .207
...................
Temperature Gauge . 57
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System .260
................
Cruise Control Indicator . 54
............
Cruise Control Operation . 142
...................................
Cup Holders .106
..........
Customer Relations Of f ice . 266
................
DANGER, Explanation of . ii
...................................
Dashboard .2, 50
............
Daytime Running Lights . 74
Daytime Running Light ...................................
Indicator .55
............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety . 268
................
Def ogger, Rear Window . 77
..............
Def rosting the Windows . 114
....................................
Dimensions .256
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 74Dipstick
..........
Automatic Transmission . 209
..................................
Engine Oil .167
..........................
Directional Signals .74
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 188
.................................
Disc Changer .129
...
Disc Changer Error Messages . 135
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .206
Doors ..............................
Monitor Light .60
......................
Power Door Locks .82
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 258
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5
...........................................
Driving .175
....................................
Economy .168
Driving Position Memory ..........................................
System .93
..............................
Economy, Fuel .168
............
Emergencies on the Road . 229
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 238
...........
Brake System Indicator . 244
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 231
.....
Charging System Indicator . 242
tire
Index
D
E
II

ÎCONT INUED
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 168
.........................................
Gasoline .164
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 56
...........................................
Gauge .57
................
Octane Requirement . 164
........................
Tank, Filling the .165
................
Gas Station Procedures . 165
...................................
Fan, Interior .122
Features, Comfort and ..............................
Convenience .109
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 165
........................................
Filter, Oil .205
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 76
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 231
.....................................
Floor Mats .218
Fluids ..........
Automatic Transmission . 209
..........................................
Brake .211
.........................................
Clutch .211
..............
Manual Transmission . 210
..........................
Power Steering .212
................
Windshield Washers . 208
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception .122
.....................................
Fog Lights .75 ..........................
Four-way Flashers .76
..............................
Front Airbags .9 ,22
......................................
Front Seats .90
......................................
Adjusting .90
.........................................
Heaters .96
.....................................
Airbags .9, 22
.................................................
Fuel .164
......................
Fill Door and Cap .165
...........................................
Gauge .57
................
Octane Requirement . 164
........................
Reserve Indicator .56
........................
Tank, Filling the .165
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .245
..................
Checking the Fuses . 245
.........
Hazard Warning Flashers . 76
......
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck . 249
............................
Jump Starting .238
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 242
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 243
..................
Overheated Engine . 240
.......................................
Towing .249
.........................
Emergency Brake .103
......................
Emergency Flashers .76
......................
Emergency Towing .249
............
Emergency Trunk Opener . 84
.......................
Emissions Controls .260
.............
Emissions Testing, State . 263
Engine ....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 57
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp .52, 243
.........................................
Oil Lif e .64
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 52,242
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 204
...............................
Overheating .240
............................
Specif ications .257
....................
Speed Limiter . 179,185
.......................................
Starting .177
...................
Engine, .236 ......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .164
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 260
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .46
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .17
if it won’t start
Index
F
G
III

CONT INUED
..................................................
Keys .79
...............
Keyless Memory Setting . 66
...................
Neutral Gear Position . 182
..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 164
...................
NOTICE, Explanation of . i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 254
.......................
Label, Certif ication .254
.................
Lane Change, Signaling . 74
........................
Lap/Shoulder Belts .19
Lights ....................
Bulb Replacement .213
.......................................
Indicator .52
.........................................
Parking .74
..................................
Turn Signal .74
.....................................
Load Limit .172
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) . 80
........................
Lockout Prevention .82
Locks .......
Anti-thef t Steering Column . 80
..................................
Glove Box .107
.................................
Power Door .82
...........................................
Trunk .83
........................
Low Coolant Level .167
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 52,242
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart . 256..............
Luggage, .171
...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 164
.........................................
Odometer .62
...............................
Odometer, Trip .62
Oil ........................
Change, How to .205
......................
Change, When to .195
......................
Checking Engine .167
..............
Pressure Indicator . 52,242
Selecting Proper Viscosity ......................................
Chart .204
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 80
..................................
Maintenance .193
.....................................
Messages .64
........................................
Minder .195
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 198
........................................
Record .200
..........................................
Saf ety .194
Malf unction Indicator ....................................
Lamp .52, 243
...................
Manual Transmission . 178
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 210
.............
Memory, Driving Position . 93
...............................
Meters, Gauges .57
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .91
...............
Modif ying Your Vehicle . 170
.......................................
Moonroof .100
.............
Multi-Inf ormation Display . 59
............................
Engine Oil Lif e .64
..........................
HandsFree Link .70
.........
Keyless Memory Settings . 66
.............
Maintenance Messages . 64
.....................................
Odometer .62
.................
Outside Temperature . 63............................
Trip Computer .65
...................................
Trip Meter .62
Storing (Cargo)
Index
K
L N
O
M
V

Î
.................
Vehicle Capacity Load . 172
......................
Vehicle Dimensions .256
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number . 254Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)
....................................
System .190
........
VSA System Indicator . 54,190
...
VSA Activation Indicator . 54,190
.........................
VSA Of f Switch .191
.............................
Vehicle Storage .227
.................................................
VIN .254
..................................
Viscosity, Oil .204
....................................
Tire Chains .225
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 231
...............................................
Tires .220
..............................
Air Pressure .221
.........................
Checking Wear .222
..........................
Compact Spare .230
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 258
......................................
Inf lation .221
..................................
Inspection .222
...................................
Replacing .224
......................................
Rotating .223
...........................................
Snow .225
............................
Specif ications .257
.............................
Summer Tire .224
.......................
Traction Devices .225
..........................
Winter Driving .224
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 231
Towing .....................................
A Trailer .192
................
Emergency Wrecker . 249
...........................
Traction Devices .225
Transmission Checking Fluid Level, ..............................
Automatic .209
.
Checking Fluid Level Manual . 210
..................
Fluid Selection . 209,210 ..............
Identif ication Number . 254
.............
Shif ting the Automatic . 190
..................
Shif ting the Manual . 178
.............................
Treadwear .223, 258
................................
Trip Computer .65
.......................................
Trip Meter .62
................................................
Trunk .80
........
Emergency Trunk Release . 84
.................................
Opening the .83
...................
Open Monitor Light . 60
....................................
Turn Signals .74
Unexpected, Taking Care ..........................................
of the .229
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 258
........................
Unleaded Gasoline .164
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 206 .............
WARNING, Explanation of . ii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of . 47
..................
Warranty Coverages .267
Washer, Windshield ........
Checking the Fluid Level . 208
.......................................
Indicator .62
.....................................
Operation .73
Wheels ...............
Adjusting the Steering . 78
............
Alignment and Balance . 223
..........................
Compact Spare .230
Windows ..................
Operating the Power . 97
...........................
Rear, Def ogger .77
Index
U
V W
VIII