jump start Acura TL 2004 Owner's Manual

This section covers the more
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you inf ormation about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also f ind instructions
on getting your vehicle towed.......................
Compact Spare Tire .230
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .231
.............
If the Engine Won’t Start . 236
................................
Jump Starting .238
..............
If the Engine Overheats . 240
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 242
..........
Charging System Indicator . 242
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 243
...............
Brake System Indicator . 244
..............................................
Fuses .245
..............................
Fuse Locations .247
......................
Emergency Towing .249
..........
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck . 251
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed229

Diagnosing why the engine won’t
start f alls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III):You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine’s starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly.
You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
f aster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run. When you turn the ignition switch to
START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying to
start. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all.
Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Turn on the headlights, and check
their brightness. If the headlights
are very dim or don’t light at all,
the battery is discharged. See on page . Turn the ignition switch to START
(III). If the headlights do not dim,
check the condition of the f uses. If
the f uses are OK, there is
probably something wrong with
the electrical circuit f or the
ignition switch or starter motor.
You will need a qualif ied
technician to determine the
problem (see
on page ).
Check these things:
If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is dis-
charged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal connec-
tions (see page ). You can
then try jump starting the vehicle
f rom a booster battery (see page).
Check the transmission interlock.
If you have a manual transmission,
the clutch pedal must be pushed
all the way to the f loor or the
starter will not operate. With an
automatic transmission, the shif t
lever must be in Park or Neutral.
238 226
238 249
If theEngineWon’tStart
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
Jump Starting Emergency T owing
236

´´ µ
Although this seems like a simple
procedure, you should take several
precautions.
Turn of f all the electrical acces-
sories: heater, A/C, stereo system,
lights, etc. Put the transmission in
Neutral or Park, and set the
parking brake.
Connect one jumper cable to the
positive ( ) terminal on your
battery. Connect the other end to
the positive ( ) terminal on the
booster battery.Connect the second jumper cable
to the negative ( ) terminal on
the booster battery. Connect the
other end to the grounding strap
as shown. Do not connect this
jumper cable to any other part of
the engine.
You cannot start an Acura with an
automatic transmission by pushing
or pulling it. Open the hood, and check the
physical condition of the battery.
In very cold weather, check the
condition of the electrolyte. If it
seems slushy or like ice, do not try
jump starting until it thaws.
1.
2.
3. 4.
Jump Starting
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
To Jump Start Your Vehicle:
238
NOTICE:
A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyone
nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery. If a battery sits in extreme
cold, the electrolyte inside can f reeze.
Attempting to jump start with a f rozen
battery can cause it to rupture.

Start the vehicle. If the starter
motor still operates slowly, check
that the jumper cables have good
metal-to-metal contact.
Once the vehicle is running,
disconnect the negative cable f rom
the vehicle, then f rom the booster
battery. Disconnect the positive
cable f rom the vehicle, and then
from the booster battery.
Keep the ends of the jumper cables
away from each other and any metal
on the vehicle until everything is
disconnected. Otherwise, you may
cause an electrical short.
If the booster battery is in another
vehicle, have an assistant start
that vehicle and run it at a fast idle. The numbers in the illustration
show you the order to connect the
jumper cables. 7. 6.
5.
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Jump Starting
239

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

ÎÎÎ
ÎÎ.................
Jacking up the Vehicle . 232
.......................................
Jack, Tire .231
................................
Jump Starting .238
Gauges
...
Engine Coolant Temperature . 57
...............................................
Fuel .57
...............................
Speedometer .57
.................................
Tachometer .57
Gearshif t Lever Positions ..........
Automatic Transmission . 181
6-speed Manual .........................
Transmission .178
......................................
Glove Box .107 ...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle . 254
Ignition ..............................................
Keys .79
...........................................
Switch .80
............
Timing Control System . 261
........................
Immobilizer System .81
.........
Important Safety Precautions . 6
.........................................
Indicators .52
......
ABS (Anti-Lock Brake) . 53,189
Brake (Parking and Brake ............................
System) .52, 244
................
Charging System . 52,242
.............................
Cruise Control .54
DRL (Daytime Running ..................................
Lights) .55
...................................
Fog Light .56
...................................
High Beam .55
........
Key (Immobilizer System) . 56
......................................
Low Fuel .56 ................
Low Oil Pressure . 54,242
...........................
Side Airbag Of f .53
.........................................
SRS .26, 53
Turn Signal and Hazard ...................................
Warning .55
............................
VSA Activation .54
.................................
VSA System .54
...............................
Inf ant Restraint .34
......................................
Inf ant Seats .34
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 41
...................
Inf lation, Proper Tire . 221
...................................
Inside Mirror .91
.............................
Inspection, Tire .222
............................
Instrument Panel .51
..........
Instrument Panel Indicators . 52
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 75
...............................
Interior Lights .104
........................................
Introduction .i
.......................
Halogen Fog Bulbs .213
..........
HandsFree Link (HFL) . 70,149
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers . 76
........................................
Headlights .74
........................................
Aiming .213
Automatic Lighting Off .....................................
Feature .76
.......
Daytime Running Lights . 74
..................
High Beam Indicator . 55
.........................
Reminder Chime .74
...................................
Turning on .74
..............................
Head Restraints .89
.................
High-Low Beam Switch . 74HomeLink Universal
................................
Transceiver .145
....................................
Hood Latch .212
.......................
Hood, Opening the .166
Index
H I
J
IV