tow 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.

If a seat belt does not seem to work
as it should, it may not protect the
occupant in a crash.Using a seat
belt that is not working properly can
result in serious injury or death.
Have your Acura dealer check the
belt as soon as possible.
See page f or additional
inf ormation about your seat belts
and how to take care of them.
Adjust the steering wheel, if needed,
so that the wheel points toward your
chest, not toward your f ace. This
provides optimal protection f rom the
f ront airbag.
See page f or how to adjust the
steering wheel.After all occupants have adjusted
their seats and put on seat belts, it is
very important that they continue to
sit upright, well back in their seats,
with their feet on the floor, until the
vehicle is parked and the engine is
of f .
Sitting improperly can increase the
chance of injury during a crash. For
example, if an occupant slouches,
lies down, turns sideways, sits
forward, leans forward or sideways,
or puts one or both f eet up, the
chance of injury during a crash is
greatly increased.
19
78
Protecting A dults and Teens
No one should sit in a seat wit h aninoperat ive seat belt .
Adjust the Steering Wheel Maintain a Proper Sitting
Position
6.
7.
Driver and Passenger Saf ety16

See page f or important saf etyinf ormation about how to properlyposition the steering wheel. 16
Make any steering wheel adjustment
bef ore you start driving. Push the lever up to lock the
steering wheel in that position.
To adjust the steering wheel: Push the lever under the steering
column all the way down.
Move the steering wheel up or
down, and in or out to the desired
position, making sure the wheel
points toward your chest, not
toward your f ace. Make sure you
can see the instrument panel
gauges and the indicators. Make sure you have securely
locked the steering wheel in place
by trying to move it up, down, in,
and out.
1.
2. 3.
4.
Steering Wheel A djustment
Inst rument s and Cont rols78
Adjusting the steering wheel
position while driving may
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle and be seriously injured
inacrash.
Adjust the steering wheel only
when the vehicle is stopped.

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On models with Navigation System
Bass, Treble, Lef t/Right Balance,
and Front/Rear Fader are each
adjustable. In addition, you can
adjust the strength of the sound
coming from the center and the
subwoof er speakers.
To adjust them, enter the sound grid
by touching the SOUND icon on the
display or pressing the TUNE/
SOUND knob.
To adjust the
sound f rom the subwoof er or center
speaker, touch or icon on
each side of the Subwoof er or
Center adjustment bar. Then
continue pressing or , or turn the TUNE/SOUND knob. The
adjustment bar shows you the
current setting.
To adjust the treble
and bass, touch or on each
side of the Treble or Bass
adjustment bar. Then continue
pressing or , or turn the
TUNE/SOUND knob. The
adjustment bar shows you the
current setting. These modes adjust
the strength of the sound coming
f rom each speaker. Lef t/Right
balance adjust the side-to-side
strength, while Front/Rear f ader
adjust the f ront-to-back strength. To
adjust the left/right balance, touch
the lef t or right icon on the sound grid. When you touch an icon, the
yellow bars on the grid turn orange
and move toward the icon, changing
the balance left or right. At this point,
you can also use the TUNE/SOUND
knob to adjust the balance. To
equalize the balance, touch the lef t
or right icon until each side has an
orange bar at the center of the sound
grid.
To adjust the Front/Rear f ader,
touchthefrontorrearicononthe
sound grid. When you touch an icon,
the yellow bars on the grid turn
orange and move toward the icon,
changing the f ader to the f ront or
rear. At this point, you can also use
the TUNE/SOUND knob to adjust
the balance. To equalize the f ader,
touch the f ront or rear icon until
each side has an orange bar at the
center of the sound grid.
To see the audio screen when you
are f inished adjusting the sound,
touch the RETURN icon, or wait 5
seconds.
Playing the Radio
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Subwoof er/Center Treble/Bass
L ef t/Right Balance, and Front/
Rear Fader
121
FADER ADJUST ICON
CENTER ADJUST ICON SUBWOOFER
ADJUST ICONBALANCE
ADJUST
ICON
TREBLE
ADJUST
ICON
BASS ADJUST
ICON

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 gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
6-speed manual and the automatic
transmission. It also includes
important inf ormation on parking
your vehicle, the braking system and
the Vehicle Stability Assist System.........................
Preparing to Drive .176
.......................
Starting the Engine .177
....
6-Speed Manual Transmission . 178
..............
Automatic Transmission . 181
...........................................
Parking .187
.............................
Braking System .188
...............
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) . 189
...
Vehicle Stability Assist System . 190
...........................
Towing a Trailer .192
Driving
Driving175

Always use the parking brake when
you park your vehicle. Make sure
the parking brake is set f irmly or
your vehicle may roll if it is parked
on an incline.
If your vehicle has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake
bef ore you put the transmission in
Park. This keeps the vehicle f rom
moving and putting pressure on the
parking mechanism in the
transmission.Make sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.
Turn of f the lights.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the trunk or take them with you. Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The hot three way
catalytic converter could cause
these materials to catch on fire.
If the vehicle is f acing uphill, turn
the f ront wheels away f rom the
curb. If you have a manual
transmission, put it in f irst gear.
If the vehicle is f acing downhill,
turn the front wheels toward the
curb. If you have a manual
transmission, put it in reverse gear.
Make sure the parking brake is
f ully released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or
damage the rear brakes.
Lock the doors.
Parking T ips
Parking
Driving187

Your vehicle is not designed to tow a
trailer. Attempting to do so can void
your warranties.
Towing a Trailer
Driving192

Check the condition of the wiper
blades at least every 6 months.
Replace them if you f ind signs of
cracking in the rubber, areas that are
getting hard, or if they leave streaks
and unwiped areas when used.Disconnect the blade assembly
fromthewiperarmbypushingin
the lock tab. Hold the lock tab in
while you push the blade assembly
toward the base of the arm. Raise the wiper arm of f the
windshield. Remove the blade f rom its holder
by grasping the tabbed end of the
blade. Pull f irmly until the tabs
come out of the holder.Examine the new wiper blades. If
they have no plastic or metal
reinf orcement along the back
edge, remove the metal
reinf orcement strips f rom the old
wiper blade, and install them in
the slots along the edge of the new
blade.
Slide the new wiper blade into the
holder until the tabs lock.
2. 1.
3.
5. 4.
Wiper Blades
Maint enance219
LOCK TABBLADE
REINFORCEMENTBLADE

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Check the condition of the battery
monthlybylookingatthetest
indicator window. The label on the
battery explains the test indicator’s
colors. Check the terminals f or corrosion (a
white or yellowish powder). To
remove it, cover the terminals with a
solution of baking soda and water. It
will bubble up and turn brown. When
this stops, wash it of f with plain
water. Dry off the battery with a
cloth or paper towel. Coat the
terminals with grease to help prevent
f urther corrosion.
If additional battery maintenance is
needed, see your Acura dealer or a
qualif ied technician.
Battery posts,
terminals, and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds. If you need to connect the battery to
a charger, disconnect both cables to
prevent damaging your vehicle’s
electrical system. Always disconnect
the negative ( ) cable first, and
reconnect it last.
Checking the Battery
Maint enance
WARNING:
Wash your hands af ter handling.
226
The battery gives off explosive
hydrogen gas during normal
operation.
A spark or flame can cause the
battery to explode with enough
force to kill or seriously hurt you.
Wear protective clothing and a
face shield, or have a skilled
mechanic do the battery
maintenance.