fuel Acura TL 2004 Owner's Manual

2004 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........................................................................\
...................................................49
Instrument panel indica tor and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features........................................................................\
............................... 109
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.
Before Driving ........................................................................\
....................................................... ..............163
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving........................................................................\
...................................................................................175
The proper way to start the engine, shift the tr ansmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
....................................................... ..................193
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
.......................................229
This section covers several problems motorists someti mes experience, and how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
....................................................... 253
ID numbers, dimensions, capaciti es, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)...................................................................... 265
A summary of the warranties covering your new Honda, and how to contact us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
.......................................269
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.

Your Vehicle at a Glance
2
DRIVING POSITION
MEMORYPOWER DOOR
LOCKS
TRUNK RELEASE
BUTTON FUEL FILL DOOR
RELEASE HANDLE HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE AUDIO SYSTEM CLIMATE CONTROL
SYSTEM
AIRBAGS
MIRROR
CONTROLS
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES CLOCK
(P.93)
(P.82)
(P.97)
(P.83) (P.165) (P.166)
(P.91)
(P.9,
23)
(P.103)(P. 110 )
(P. 117 )
SHIFT LEVER
(P.178, 181)

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 .50
............................
Instrument Panel .51
..........
Instrument Panel Indicators . 52
.............................................
Gauges .57
...................
Temperature Gauge . 57
..................................
Fuel Gauge .57
.............
Multi-Inf ormation Display . 58
......
Controls Near Steering Wheel . 72
.
Windshield Wipers and Washers . 73
...........
Turn Signal and Headlights . 74
........................................
Fog Lights .75
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 75
..................
Automatic Lighting Off . 76
.................
Hazard Warning Button . 76
.................
Rear Window Def ogger . 77
..........
Steering Wheel Adjustment . 78
..................................................
Keys .79
................................
Ignition Switch .80
........................
Immobilizer System .81
......................................
Door Locks .82
................................................
Trunk .83
............
Emergency Trunk Opener . 84
..................
Childproof Door Locks . 84
.......................
Remote Transmitter .85
.................................................
Seats .90
............
Trunk Pass-through Cover . 90.............................................
Mirrors .91
Driving Position Memory ..........................................
System .93
....................................
Seat Heaters .96
..............................
Power Windows .97
.......................................
Moonroof .100
..............................................
Clock .103
...............................
Parking Brake .103
...............................
Interior Lights .104
.........
Interior Convenience Items . 105
.......................
Beverage Holder .106
.........
Accessory Power Socket . 106
..................................
Glove Box .107
.............
Console Compartment . 107
....................
Front Door Pocket . 108
Instruments and Controls
Inst rument s and Cont rols49

Control L ocations
Inst rument s and Cont rols50
DRIVING POSITION
MEMORYPOWER DOOR LOCKS
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES MIRROR
CONTROLS
TRUNK RELEASE
BUTTON CLOCK
CLIMATE CONTROL
SYSTEM
AUDIO SYSTEM
HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE
FUEL FILL DOOR
RELEASE HANDLE
(P.93)
(P.82)
(P.97)
(P.83) (P.91)
(P.165) (P.103)
(P.166) (P.110)
(P.117)

Inst rument s and Cont rols
Instrument Panel
51
HIGH BEAM INDICATOR
CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR
SUPPLEMENTAL
RESTRAINT
SYSTEM INDICATOR
LIGHTS ON
INDICATOR
CRUISE MAIN
INDICATOR
SEAT BELT REMINDER
INDICATOR
CRUISE CONTROL
INDICATOR
VEHICLE
STABILITY
ASSIST (VSA)
SYSTEM
INDICATOR
LOW OIL PRESSURE
INDICATOR MULTI-INFORMATION
DISPLAY
SIDE AIRBAG OFF
INDICATOR
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE
SYSTEM INDICATOR LOW FUEL INDICATORPARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR
VSA ACTIVATION
INDICATOR
FOG LIGHT
INDICATOR
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP
IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM
INDICATOR
(P.54)
(P.52)
(P.53) (P.55)
(P.54) (P.55)
(P.54)
(P.52, 240)
(P.56) (P.52,
240) (P.56) (P.52,
243) (P.53)
(P.59)
(P.56)
(P.52)
(P.53)
(P.54)

This indicator also blinks several
times when you turn the ignition
switch f rom ON (II) to ACCESSORY
(I) or LOCK (0). This indicator comes on f or a f ew
seconds when you turn the ignition
switch to ON (II). It then will go of f
if you have inserted a properly-coded
ignition key. If it is not a properly-
coded key, the indicator will blink
and the engine will not start (see
page ).This indicator is in the f uel gauge. It
comesonasareminderthatyou
must ref uel soon.This indicator comes on when you
turn on the fog lights. See page
f or inf ormation on f og light
operation.
81 75
U.S. models only
Immobilizer System
Indicator
L ow Fuel Indicator
Fog L ight Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
Inst rument s and Cont rols56
LOW FUEL INDICATOR

This shows the temperature of the
engine’s coolant. During normal
operation, the pointer should rise to
about the middle of the gauge. In
severe driving conditions, the pointer
may rise to the upper zone. If it
reaches the red (Hot) mark, pull
safely to the side of the road. Turn to
page f or instructions and
precautions on checking the engine’s
cooling system.
This shows how much f uel you have.
It may show slightly more or less
than the actual amount. The needle
returns to the bottom after you turn
of f the ignition.240
Gauges
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Temperature Gauge
Fuel Gauge
57
FUEL GAUGE
TEMPERATURE GAUGE
SPEEDOMETER
TACHOMETER
Avoid driving with an extremely low
f uel level. Running out of f uel could
cause the engine to misf ire, damaging
the catalytic converter.

The multi-inf ormation display in the
instrument panel displays various
inf ormation and messages. Some of
the messages help you operate your
vehiclemorecomfortably.
Others help to keep you aware of the
periodic maintenance your vehicle
needs f or continued trouble-f ree
driving.
Here is a list of the messages you
can see. The f ollowing pages give
you more inf ormation on these
messages.Driver 1 or 2 Detected
Door and Trunk Open
Fasten Seat Belt
Release Parking Brake
Check Fuel Cap
Odometer
Trip Meter
Outside Temperature
Engine Oil Lif e Maintenance Messages
Trip Computer
Keyless Memory Settings
HandsFree Link
Language Selection (Canada only)
With the multi-information display
and the two buttons next to it, you
can also customize these vehicle
control settings to your liking. Auto door lock conditions
Auto door unlock conditions
Whenever unlocking (driver’s
door, or all doors)
Keyless lock acknowledgment
conditions
Security relock timer
Headlight auto of f timer
Interior light dimming time
To customize these control settings,
see page .
Low Windshield Washer Fluid
Level (Canada only) 66
Multi-Inf ormation Display
Inst rument s and Cont rols58
SELECT/
RESET
BUTTON
INFO
BUTTON
TM
TM

If you start driving without releasing
the parking brake, the multi-
inf ormation display interrupts the
current display and shows
‘‘RELEASE PARKING BRAKE!’’.
This message continues, and a
chime sounds, until you release the
parking brake or the vehicle speed
slows down to less than 0.5 mph (0.8
km/h).If the f uel f ill cap is missing or not
tightened properly, you will see
‘‘CHECK FUEL CAP’’. Make sure
the f uel cap is installed and tightened
properly to at least 3 clicks.The CHECK FUEL CAP message
should go of f af ter tightening the
f uel cap, turning the ignition switch
of f and on, then driving over 30 mph
f or at least 45 seconds. Due to
dif f erent driving conditions, it may
take a few drive trips to make the
message go of f .
If a loose or missing f uel cap was not
the cause of the CHECK FUEL CAP
message coming on, the message
will turn off and the Malfunction
Indicator Lamp will come on. If this
happens, have your vehicle checked
by an Acura dealer as soon as
possible.
Multi-Inf ormation Display
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Release Parking Brake
Check Fuel Cap
61

¼
When the multi-information display
is in the trip computer mode, press
the Select/Reset button. The display
changesasshownabove. Themessagesinthisdisplay
indicate:
When the display shows the initial
screen of the trip computer, press
the side of the INFO button to
display ‘‘MILES TO EMPTY’’. This
is the estimated distance you can
travelonthefuelremaininginthe
tank. This distance is estimated from
the f uel economy you received over
the last several miles, so it will vary
withchangesinspeed,traffic,etc.
AVG MPG: Average vehicle speed
AVG MPH: Average f uel economy
DIST: Distance traveled
TIME: Time traveled
To reset the values in the trip
computer, press Select/Reset button,
and hold it f or about 1 second.
Multi-Inf ormation Display
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Trip Computer
65