service Acura TL 2008 Service Manual

For very short distances, such as
f reeing the vehicle, you can use the
detachable towing hook that mounts
on the anchor in the f ront bumper.
If your vehicle gets stuck in sand,
mud, or snow, call a towing service
to pull it out (see page ).
To use the towing hook:Remove the cover f rom the bumper by pushing the lower part
of the cover with your f inger.
Remove the towing hook, hook
extension, and wheel nut wrench
f rom the tool case in the spare tire.
Using the wheel nut wrench,
fasten the extension into the bolt
hole.
If you decide to tow your vehicle
with all f our wheels on the ground,
make sure you use a properly-
designed and attached tow bar.
Prepare the vehicle for towing as
described above, and leave the
ignition switched in the
ACCESSORY (I) position so the
steering wheel does not lock. Make
sure the radio and any items plugged
into the accessory power socket are
turned of f so they do not run down
the battery.
3.
1. 2.
337
Emergency Towing, If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
338
The steering system can be damaged if
the steering wheel is locked. Leave the
ignition switch in the ACCESSORY (I)
position, and make sure the steering
wheel turns f reely bef ore you begin
towing.
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The tires on your vehicle meet all
U.S. Federal Saf ety Requirements.
All tires are also graded f or
treadwear, traction, and temperature
perf ormance according to
Department of Transportation
(DOT) standards. The f ollowing
explains these gradings.
Quality grades can be f ound where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For
example:
All passenger car tires must conf orm
to Federal Saf ety Requirements in
addition to these grades.The treadwear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specif ied government
test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one-
half (1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded
100. The relative perf ormance of
tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may
depart signif icantly f rom the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and dif f erences in
road characteristics and climate.
The traction grades, f rom highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those
grades represent the tire’s ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on
specif ied government test surf aces
of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction
perf ormance.
Warning: The traction grade
assignedtothistireisbasedon
straight-ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.
Unif orm T ire Quality Grading
T readwear 200
Traction AA
Temperature A T readwear T raction
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
346
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..........
Client Service Inf ormation .358
....................
Warranty Coverages .359
Reporting Saf ety Def ects
..........................
(U.S. Vehicles) .360
.....................
Authorized Manuals .361
Warranty and Client Relations
Warrant y and Client Relat ions
357
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U.S. Owners:Canadian Owners: When you call or write, please give
us this inf ormation:
If you are dissatisf ied with the
decision made by the dealership’s
management, contact the Acura
Client Services Of f ice. Vehicle identif ication number (see
page )
Name and address of the dealer
who services your vehicle
Date of purchase
Mileage on your vehicle
Your name, address, and
telephone number
A detailed description of the
problem
Name of the dealer who sold the
vehicle to you
Acura dealership personnel are
trained prof essionals. They should
be able to answer all your questions.
If you encounter a problem that your
dealership does not solve to your
satisf action, please discuss it with
the dealership’s management. The
service manager or general manager
can help. Almost all problems are
solved in this way.
In Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands: 342
Client Service Inf ormation
358
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Acura Client Services
Mail Stop 500-2N-7E
1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501-2746
Tel: (800) 382-2238 Vortex Motor Corp.
Bella International
P.O. Box 190816
San Juan, PR 00919-0816
Tel: (787) 620-7546
Honda Canada Inc.
715 Milner Avenue
Toronto, ON
M1B 2K8
Tel: 1-888-9-ACURA-9
Fax: Toll-free 1-877-939-0909
Toronto (416) 287-4776
Acura Client Services
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T he publications shown below can be purchased f rom Helm
Incorporated. You can order by phone or online:Call Helm Inc. at 1-800-782-4356 (credit card orders only)
Go online at
If you are interested in other years or models, contact Helm Inc.
at 1-800-782-4356.
Covers maintenance and recommended procedures f or
repair to engine and chassis components. It is written
f or the journeyman mechanic, but it is simple enough
f or most mechanically inclined owners to understand.
Complements the Service Manual by providing in-depth
troubleshooting inf ormation f or each electrical circuit
in your vehicle.
Describes the procedures involved in the replacement
of damaged body parts.
Authorized Manuals
Purchasing Factory Authorized Manuals
(U.S. only) Service Manual:
Electrical T roubleshooting Manual:
Body Repair Manual:
Authorized Manuals
361
Publication
Form Number 61SEP04
61SEP04EL 61SEP30
31SEP640
31SEP810
31SEPM00 31SEPQ40 ACU-R Form Description
2008 Acura TL Service Manual
2008 Acura TL Electrical Troubleshooting Manual
2004 Model Series Acura TL Body Repair Manual 2008 Acura TL Owner’s Manual
2008 Acura TL Navigation Manual
2008 Acura TL Maintenance Journal 2008 Acura TL Quick Start GuideOrder Form for Previous Years-
Indicate Year and Model Desired
www. helminc. com
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ÎÎ Î
........................
Certif ication Label .342
...................................
Chains, tires .312
Changing Oil
........................................
How to .288
......................................
When to .279
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .319
...
Charging System Indicator .59,330
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving .252
..................
Childproof Door Locks .98
.....................................
Child Saf ety .33
..............................
Booster Seats .49
...................................
Child Seats .41
..........................................
Inf ants .38
............................
Large Children .48
.........................................
LATCH .43
......................
Risks with Airbags .34
.............................
Small Children .39
.........................................
Tethers .46
.........
Where Should a Child Sit? .34
Cleaning ...................................
Seat Belts .303
..........
Client Service Inf ormation .358
...............
Climate Control System .131
..............................................
Clock .116
..........................
CO in the Exhaust .52
.......................
Compact Spare tire .318 .........................................
Compass .230
.................
Console Compartment .121
...............
Consumer Inf ormation .358
.............
Controls, Instruments and .55
Coolant
........................................
Adding .290
....................................
Checking .241
.........................
Proper Solution .290
...................
Temperature Gauge .65
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System .352
................
Cruise Control Indicator .61
............
Cruise Control Operation .186
...................................
Cup Holders .120
..........
Customer Relations Of f ice .358
...............
DANGER, Explanation of .iii
...................................
Dashboard .3,56
................
Daytime Running Lights .88
.
Daytime Running Light Indicator .62
.........
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety .360
................
Def ogger, Rear Window .90
..............
Def rosting the Windows .130
....................................
Dimensions .344 ...............
Dimming the Headlights .86
Dipstick
..........
Automatic Transmission .292
..................................
Engine Oil .240
..........................
Directional Signals .86
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators .267
........................
Disc Changer .145,165
...
Disc Changer Error Messages .176
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .289
Doors
.................
Monitor Indicator .11,68
......................
Power Door Locks .96
........
DOT Tire Quality Grading .346
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety .5
...........................................
Driving .251
....................................
Economy .242
Driving Position Memory
........................................
System .108
..............................
Economy, Fuel .242
Index
D
E
II
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Î
CONT INUED
.................................
Saf ety Features .7
...........................................
Airbags .9
..................................
Door Locks .11
..........................
Head Restraints .13
.......................................
Seat Belts .8
..................
Seats and Seat-Backs .12
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of .53
..............................
Saf ety Messages .iii
.......................
Satellite Radio .139,159
.....................................
Seat Belts .8,18
...............
Additional Information .18
.....................................
Cleaning .303
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt .19
................................
Maintenance .21
Reminder Light and
................................
Beeper .18,58
...................
System Components .18
...............
Use During Pregnancy .16
..................................
Seat Heaters .111
......................
Seats, Adjusting the .103
............................
Security System .185
........
Sequential SportShif t Mode .261
...............................
Serial Number .342
...........................
Service Intervals .279
...........................
Service Manual .361
.........
Service Station Procedures .237 ..........................
Setting the Clock .116
.....
Shif t Lever Position Indicator .259
........................
Shif t Lock Release .264
...................................
Shif ting .256,259
................................
Side Airbags .9,27
........
Side Airbag Of f Indicator .30,60
......................
Side Curtain Airbags .29
...............................
Signaling Turns .86
.....................................
Snow Tires .312
................................
Sound System .133
Spare Tire
......................................
Inf lating .318
............................
Specif ications .345
....................
Specif ications Charts .344
................................
Speed Control .186
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation .37
...
Additional Safety Precautions .32
....................
Airbag Components .22
.............................
Airbag Service .31
How the SRS Indicator
.......................................
Works .29
How Your Front Airbags .........................................
Work .24
...
How Your Side Airbags Work .27
How Your Side Curtain Airbags
.........................................
Work .29 .............................
SRS Indicator .29,60
....
START (Ignition Key Position) .95
..............
Starting the Engine .253,254
................
With a Dead Battery .326
..............
State Emissions Testing .355
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine .328
Steering Wheel
..................................
Adjustment .91
.............
Anti-theft Column Lock .95
...................
Stereo Sound System .133
....................
Storing Your Vehicle .315
........................
Sunglasses Holder .123
....
Supplemental Restraint System .22
......................................
Servicing .31
...............................
SRS Indicator .29
...................
System Components .22
.....................................
Tachometer .65
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected .317
...........................
Tape Player .152,173
Index
T
INDEX
VII
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Service Inf ormation Summary
Gasoline:
Fuel Tank Capacity:
Recommended Engine Oil:
Automatic Transmission Fluid:Tire Pressure (measured cold):
SpareTirePressure:
Power Steering Fluid:
Brake Fluid:
Manual Transmission Fluid:
4.5 US qt (4.3
)
Premium unleaded gasoline,
pump octane number of 91 or
higher.
API Service SJ ‘‘Energy
Conserving’’ oil, SAE 5W-20
viscosity (see page ).
Oil change capacity (including
filter):
Honda ATF-Z1 (Automatic
Transmission Fluid) (see page
). Front:
33 psi (230 kPa , 2.3 kgf/cm
)
Rear:
Front:
Rear:
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm
)
32 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm
)
Honda Manual Transmission
Fluid preferred, or an SAE 10W-30
or 10W-40 motor oil as a
temporary replacement (see page
).
Capacity:
2.6 US qt (2.5
)
Honda Power Steering Fluid
preferred, or another brand of
power steering fluid as a
temporary replacement. Do not
use ATF (see page ).
Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid
DOT 3 preferred, or a DOT 3 or
DOT 4 brake fluid as a temporary
replacement (see page ). 32 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm
)
35 psi (240 kPa , 2.4 kgf/cm
)
All models except Type S
Type S
287 294
296295
292
17.1 US gal (64.7)
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