radiator Acura TL 2004 Owner's Manual

These labels are in the locations
shown. They warn you of potential
hazards that could cause serious
injury. Read these labels caref ully.
If a label comes of f or becomes hard
to read, contact your Acura dealer
f or a replacement.
CONT INUED
U.S. modelsCanadian models U.S. models only
Saf ety L abels
Driver and Passenger Saf ety47
HOOD
DASHBOARD
RADIATOR CAP

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

̵
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
U.S. Vehicles:
According to state and federal
regulations, f ailure to perf orm
maintenance on the items marked
with will not void your emissions
warranties. However, Acura
recommends that all maintenance
services be perf ormed in accordance
with the intervals indicated by the
Multi-Inf ormation Display.
Youshouldcheckthefollowing
items at the specif ied intervals. If
you are unsure of how to perf orm
any check, turn to the appropriate
page listed.
Lights Check the operation of
the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light,
and license plate lights monthly.
See page .
Engine coolant level Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
you f ill the f uel tank. See page . Engine oil level Check every
time you fill the fuel tank. See
page .
Automatic transmission Check
the f luid level monthly. See page .
Brakes Check the f luid level
monthly. See page .
Tires Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread f or
wear and foreign objects. See page .167
167
209 211
222 213
Maintenance Minder
Maint enance
Maintenance, replacement, or
repair of emissions control
devices and systems may be done
by any automotive repair
establishment or individual using
parts that are ‘‘certif ied’’ to EPA
standards.
Owner’s Maintenance Checks
198

Fluid Locations
Maint enance202
ENGINE OIL
FILL CAP
ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK
(Orange loop)
WASHER FLUID
(Blue cap)
POWER STEERING
FLUID (Red cap)BRAKE FLUID
(Gray cap)
AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
FLUID DIPSTICK
(Yellow loop)
ENGINE
COOLANT
RESERVOIR
RADIATOR CAP
CLUTCH FLUID
(Manual Transmission
only)

If the coolant level in the reserve
tank is at or below the MIN line, add
coolant to bring it up to the MAX line.
Inspect the cooling system f or leaks.
Always use Honda All Season
Antif reeze/Coolant Type 2. This
coolant is pre-mixed with 50 percent
antif reeze and 50 percent water.
Never add straight antifreeze or
plain water.If Honda antif reeze/coolant is not
available, you may use another
major-brand non-silicate coolant as a
temporaryreplacement.Makesureit
is a high-quality coolant
recommended f or aluminum engines.
Continued use of any non-Honda
coolant can result in corrosion,
causing the cooling system to
malf unction or f ail. Have the cooling
system f lushed and ref illed with
Honda antif reeze/coolant as soon as
possible.
If the reserve tank is completely
empty, you should also check the
coolant level in the radiator.
Engine Coolant
Maint enance
A dding Engine Coolant
207
RESERVE TANK
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.

When the radiator and engine are
cool, relieve any pressure in the
cooling system by turning the
radiator cap counterclockwise,
without pressing down.
Remove the radiator cap by
pushing down and turning
counterclockwise.The coolant level should be up to
the base of the f iller neck. Add
coolant if it is low.
Pourthecoolantslowlyand
caref ully so you do not spill. Clean
up any spill immediately; it could
damage components in the engine
compartment.
Put the radiator cap back on and
tighten it.
Pour coolant into the reserve tank.
Fill it to half way between the MAX
and MIN marks. Put the cap back
on the reserve tank.
Do not add any rust inhibitors or
other additives to your vehicle’s
cooling system. They may not be
compatible with the coolant or
engine components. Check the f luid level in the
windshield washer reservoir at least
monthly during normal use.
If the f luid level
is low, a message will be shown on
the Multi-Information Display.
Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer f luid. This
increases the cleaning capability and
prevents f reezing in cold weather.
When you ref ill the reservoir, clean
the edges of the windshield wiper
blades with windshield washer f luid
on a clean cloth. This will help to
condition them.
3.
1.
2. 4.
5.
On Canadian models:
Engine Coolant, Windshield Washers
Maint enance
Windshield Washers
208
NOTICE:
RADIATOR CAP
Do not use engine antif reeze
or a vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir. Antif reeze
can damage your vehicle’s paint, while
a vinegar/water solution can damage
the windshield washer pump. Use only
commercially-available windshield
washer f luid.

If you do not see steam or spray,
leave the engine running, and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading,
the engine should start to cool
down almost immediately. If it
does, wait until the temperature
gauge comes down to the midpoint,
then continue driving.
Saf ely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park, and set the parking brake.
Turn of f all accessories, and turn
on the hazard warning indicators.
If you see steam and/or spray
coming f rom under the hood, turn
of f the engine. Wait until you see
no more signs of steam or spray,
then open the hood.
The pointer of the vehicle’s
temperature gauge should stay in
the midrange. If it climbs to the red
mark, you should determine the
reason (hot day, driving up a steep
hill, etc.).
If the vehicle overheats, you should
take immediate action. The only
indication may be the temperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming f rom under the hood.
If the temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn of f the engine.
Look f or any obvious coolant leaks,
such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you f ind a leak, it
must be repaired bef ore you
continue driving (see
on page ).
1.
2. 3.
4.
5.
249
If theEngineOverheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Emergency
Towing
240
NOTICE: Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
Driving with the temperature
gauge pointer at the red mark can
cause serious damage to your engine.

Start the engine and set the
interior temperature to maximum.
Add coolant to the radiator up to
the base of the f iller neck. If you
do not have the proper coolant
mixture available, you can add
plain water. Remember to have
the cooling system drained and
ref illed with the proper mixture as
soon as you can.
Put the radiator cap back on
tightly. Run the engine, and watch
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair (seeon page ).
If the temperature stays normal,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the
MAX mark. Put the cap back on
tightly.
Using gloves or large heavy cloth,
turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the f irst stop. Af ter the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap, and turn it until it comes
off.
If you don’t f ind an obvious leak,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Add coolant
if the level is below the MIN mark
(see
on
page ).
If there was no coolant in the
reserve tank, you may need to add
coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the pointer
reaches the middle of the tempera-
ture gauge, or lower, bef ore check-
ing the radiator. 8. 9.
7.
11. 10.
6.
249
207
If theEngineOverheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Emergency
Towing
A dding Engine Coolant
241
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.

ÎÎ
ÎÎ
No. Amps. Circuits Protected
No. Amps. Circuits Protected
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23 15 A
7.5 A 15 A
30 A
20 A
15 A
30 A
7.5 A 20 A
40 A
40 A
15 A
30 A
40 A
40 A
40 A
40 A
100 A 50 A Right Headlight Low Beam
Back Up
IGP
Condenser Fan
Front Fog Light
Daytime Running Light
Radiator Fan Motor
MG Clutch Relay
Horn, Stop
Rear Defroster
Back UP, ACC
Hazard Warning
VSA Pump Motor Relay
VSA Fail Safe Relay
FI ECU
Power Seat
Heater Motor
Battery
IGI Main
1
2
3
4
5 15 A
30 A
7.5 A 10 A
7.5 A Left Headlight Low Beam
Rear Defroster Coil
Left Headlight High Beam
Small Light
Right Headlight High Beam
U.S. models Canadian models
1: 2:
1
2
Fuse Locations
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed247
UNDER-HOOD FUSE BOX

Î..................................
Saf ety Belts .8, 19
.........
Safety Defects, Reporting . 268
.................................
Saf ety Features .7
...........................................
Airbags .9
..................................
Door Locks .11
..........................
Head Restraints .13
.......................................
Seat Belts .8
.....................
Seats & Seat-Backs .12
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of . 47
...............................
Saf ety Messages . ii
................................
Satellite Radio .124
.....................................
Seat Belts .8, 19
...............
Additional Information . 19
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor
....................................
Recovery .260
..............................
Outside Mirrors .91
.....................
Outside Temperature .63
....................
Overheating, Engine .240
....
Owner’s Maintenance Checks . 198
..............
Panel Brightness Control . 75
........................
Park Gear Position .182
...........................................
Parking .187
...............................
Parking Brake .103
Parking Brake and Brake System ...............................
Indicator .52, 244
.................................
Parking Lights .74
..
Parking Over Things that Burn . 187
.............................
PGM-FI System .261
...............
Power Socket Locations . 106
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . 17
.........
Protecting Adults and Teens . 11
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 18
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 17
........................
Protecting Children .29
Installing a Child Seat Using ........................................
Latch .38 Installing a Child Seat with a
..................
Lap/Shoulder Belt . 40
Installing a Child Seat with a ......................................
Tether .41
.................
Selecting a Child Seat . 36
.......................
Protecting Inf ants .34
.......
Protecting Larger Children . 42
.........
Protecting Small Children . 35
..................
Protecting Your Discs . 134
...................
Radiator Overheating . 240
Radio/Cassette/Disc Sound ........................................
System .117
...................
Readiness Codes . 243,263
..
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement . 215
..........................
Rear Seat Armrest .89
............................
Rear View Mirror .91
.................
Rear Window Def ogger . 77
...............
Reclining the Seat Backs . 88
.............................
Reminder Lights .52
................
Remote Audio Controls . 139
.......................
Remote Transmitter .85
Replacement Inf ormation ................
Engine Oil and Filter . 205..........................................
Fuses .245
................................
Light Bulbs .213
...........................................
Tires .224
.............................
Wiper Blades .219
Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a ............................................
Crash .21
...
Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant . 167
.........................
Restraint, Child .34 ,35
..................
Reverse Gear Position . 182
................................
Rotation, Tire .223
Index
P
RS
VI