transmission Acura TL 2004 Owner's Manual

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If you want the settings as they were
when the vehicle lef t the f actory,
select ‘‘DEFAULT ALL’’ and press
the Select/Reset button. The display
will change to the screen shown
above. Press the Select/Reset button
to select ‘‘OK’’ or press the or
side of the INFO button to cancel. The f irst Keyless Memory Setting is
Auto Door Lock conditions. Select
the desired condition by moving the
pointer with the side of the INFO
button. On the display will be next
to the current setting.Herearethethreepossiblesettings:
OFF: The auto door lock is
deactivated all the time.
SHIFTFROMP:Thedoorswilllock
whenever you move the shif t lever
out of P. (Models with automatic
transmission.)
10 MPH: The doors will lock when
the vehicle speed reaches 10 mph.
CONT INUED
Multi-Inf ormation Display
Inst rument s and Cont rols67

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The ignition switch has f our
positions: LOCK (0), ACCESSORY
(I), ON (II), and START (III).
You can insert or
remove the key only in this position.
To turn the key, you must push the
key in slightly. If your vehicle has an
automatic transmission, the shif t
lever must also be in park. If the f ront wheels are turned, the
anti-thef t lock may make it dif f icult
to turn the key. Firmly turn the
steering wheel to the lef t or right as
you turn the key.
You can
operate the audio system and the
accessory power sockets in this
position.
This is the normal key
position when driving. Several of the
indicators on the instrument panel
come on as a test when you turn the
ignition switch f rom ACCESSORY
(I) to ON (II).
Use this position
only to start the engine. The switch
returns to ON (II) when you let go of
the key. You will hear a reminder beeper if
you leave the key in the ignition
switch in the LOCK (0) or
ACCESSORY (I) position and open
the driver’s door. Remove the key to
turn of f the beeper.
If your vehicle has an automatic
transmission, the shif t lever must be
in Park bef ore you can remove the
key f rom the ignition switch.
Inst rument s and Cont rols
LOCK (0)
A CCESSORY (I)
ON (II)
ST A RT (III)
Ignition Switch
80
Removing the key from the
ignition switch while driving
locks the steering. This can
cause you to lose control.
Remove the key from the
ignition switch only when
parked.

When you f inish, move the
selector switch to the center (off)
position. This turns of f the
adjustment switch so you can’t
move a mirror out of position by
accidentally bumping the switch.The outside mirrors are heated to
remove fog and frost. With the
ignition switch in the ON (II)
position, turn on the heaters by
pressing the button. The indicator in
the button comes on as a reminder.
Press the button again to turn the
heaters off.
Depending on the position of the
selector switch, the lef t or right side
mirror will pivot downward slightly
when you shif t the transmission into
reverse. In the Lef t position, the lef t
mirror pivots. In the Right position,
the right mirror pivots. This gives
you a better view of that side of the
vehicle while parallel parking. The
mirror returns to its original position
when you take the transmission out
of reverse. To turn this f eature of f ,
leave the switch in the center
position.
Outside mirror positions can be
stored in the driving position
memory system (see page ). 3.
93
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Mirrors
92
HEATED MIRROR BUTTON

Doing any of the f ollowing af ter
pressing the MEMO button will
cancel the storing procedure.Not pressing a memory button
within 5 seconds.
Readjusting the seat position.
Readjusting the outside mirror
position.
Each memory button stores only one
driving position. Storing a new
position erases the previous setting
stored in that button’s memory. If
you want to add a new position while
retaining the current one, use the
other memory button. To select a memorized position, do
this:
Make sure the parking brake is set
(M/T) or the shif t lever is in Park
(A/T).
Press the desired memory button
(1 or 2) until you hear a beep, then
release the button. The system will move the seat and
outside mirrors to the memorized
positions. The indicator in the
selected memory button will f lash
during movement. When the
adjustments are complete, you will
hear two beeps, and the indicator will
remain on.
You cannot select a memorized
position if the transmission is in
Reverse. Shif t to another gear,
then select.
If the parking brake is not set, you
must press and hold the memory
button until the adjustment is
complete.
1.
2.
Notes f or vehicles with M/T
Driving Posit ion Memory Syst em
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Selecting a Memorized Position
94
MEMORY BUTTONS

Cruise control allows you to maintain
asetspeedabove25mph(40km/h)
without keeping your f oot on the
accelerator pedal. It should be used
f or cruising on straight, open
highways. It is not recommended f or
city driving, winding roads, slippery
roads, heavy rain, or bad weather.Push in the Cruise Control Master
Buttononthesteeringwheel.The
CRUISE MAIN indicator on the
instrument panel will come on.
Accelerate to the desired cruising
speedabove25mph(40km/h).Press and release the DECEL/
SET button on the steering wheel.
The CRUISE CONTROL indicator
on the instrument panel comes on
to show the system is now
activated.
The cruise control may not hold the
set speed when you are going up and
down hills. If your speed increases
going down a hill, use the brakes to
slow down to the desired speed. This
will cancel the cruise control. To
resume the set speed, press the
RES/ACCEL button. The CRUISE
CONTROL indicator on the
instrument panel comes on.
When climbing a steep hill, the
automatic transmission may
downshifttoholdthesetspeed.
1.
2. 3.
Using the Cruise Control
Cruise Control
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures142
CRUISE CONTROL MASTER BUTTON
RES/ACCEL
BUTTON
CANCEL
BUTTON DECEL/SET
BUTTON
Improper use of the cruise
control can lead to a crash.
Use the cruise control only
when traveling on open
highways in good weather.

Help assure your vehicle’s f uture
reliability and perf ormance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period:Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration.
Avoidhardbrakingforthefirst
200 miles (300 km).
Do not change the oil until the
multi-inf ormation display indicates
it is needed.
Youshouldfollowthesesame
recommendations with an
overhauled or exchanged engine, or
when the brakes are relined.
Your Acura is designed to operate on
unleaded gasoline with a pump
octane number of 91 or higher.
Useof aloweroctanegasolinecan
cause occasional metallic knocking
noises in the engine and will result in decreased engine perf ormance.
You may hear a knocking noise from
the engine if you drive the vehicle at
low engine speed (below about 1,000
rpm) in a higher gear. To stop this,
raise engine speed by shif ting to a
lower gear.
We recommend gasolines containing
detergent additives that help prevent
f uel system and engine deposits. In
addition, in order to maintain good
perf ormance, f uel economy, and
emissions control, we strongly
recommend, in areas where it is
available, the use of gasoline that
does NOT contain manganese-based
f uel additives such as MMT.
Use of gasoline with these additives
may adversely af f ect perf ormance,
and cause the Malfunction Indicator
Lamp on your instrument panel to
come on. If this happens, contactyour authorized Acura dealer f or
service.
For f urther important f uel-related
inf ormation, please ref er to your
Quick Start Guide.
Some gasoline today is blended with
oxygenates such as ethanol or
MTBE. Your vehicle is designed to
operate on oxygenated gasoline
containing up to 10 percent ethanol
by volume and up to 15 percent
MTBE by volume. Do not use
gasoline containing methanol.
If you notice any undesirable
operating symptoms, try another
service station or switch to another
brand of gasoline.
On TL with manual transmission
Break-in Period, Gasoline T ype
Break-in Period
Gasoline Type
Bef ore Driving164

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

Apply the parking brake.
In cold weather, turn of f all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.
Push the clutch pedal down all the
way.
Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal.
Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to the
START (III) position. Do not hold
the key in START for more than
15 seconds at a time. If the engine
does not start right away, pause
f or at least 10 seconds bef ore
trying again.If the engine does not start within
15 seconds, or starts but stalls
right away, repeat step 4 with the
accelerator pedal pressed halfway
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal
so the engine does not race.
If the engine fails to start, press
the accelerator pedal all the way
downandholdittherewhile
starting to clear flooding. If the
engine still does not start, return
to step 5.
1.
2.
3.
4. 5.
6.
Manual Transmission:
Automatic Transmission:
Driving
Starting the Engine
177
NOTICE: The engine is harder to start
in cold weather. Also, the thinner air
f ound at altitudes above 8,000 f eet
(2,400 meters) adds to this problem.

When slowing down, you can get
extra braking from the engine by
shifting to a lower gear. This extra
braking can help you maintain a safe
speed and prevent your brakes f rom
overheating while going down a
steep hill. Bef ore downshif ting,
make sure engine speed will not go
into the tachometer’s red zone in the
lower gear.
The manual transmission is
synchronized in all f orward gears f or
smooth operation. It has a lockout so
you cannot accidentally shif t f rom
f if th to Reverse instead of sixth (see
page ) while the vehicle is
moving. When shif ting up or down,
make sure you push the clutch pedal
down all the way, shift to the next
gear, and let the pedal up gradually.
When you are not shif ting, do not
rest your f oot on the clutch pedal.
This can cause your clutch to wear
out f aster. Come to a full stop before you shift
into Reverse. You can damage the
transmission by trying to shif t into
Reverse with the vehicle moving.
Push down the clutch pedal, and
pause f or a f ew seconds bef ore
shif ting into Reverse, or shif t into
one of the f orward gears f or a
moment. This stops the gears so
they won’t ‘‘grind.’’
180The engine can be damaged if
you inadvertently downshif t into the wrong gear (f or example, going f romthird gear at high rpms to second gearinstead of upshif ting to f ourth gear; therev limiter will not work in this situation).
6-speed Manual T ransmission
Driving178
Note:
Rapid slowing or speeding-up
can cause loss of control on
slippery surfaces. If you crash,
you can be injured.
Use extra care when driving on
slippery surfaces.

The 6-speed manual transmission
has an electric lockout so you cannot
accidentally shif t f rom Fif th to
Reverse instead of Sixth. If you
cannot shif t to Reverse when the
vehicle is stopped:With the clutch pedal pressed,
move the shift lever to the first/
second gear side of the Neutral
gate, then shif t to Reverse.If you are still unable to shif t to
Reverse, apply the parking brake
and turn the ignition key to
ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0).
Press the clutch pedal, and shif t to
Reverse.
With the clutch pedal still pressed,
start the engine.
If you need to use this procedure to
shif t to Reverse, your vehicle may be
developing a problem. Have the
vehicle checked by your Acura
dealer.
1. 2.
3.
4.
Driving
6-speed Manual T ransmission
Reverse Lockout
180