Acura TL 2009 Owner's Manual

Remove the f uel f ill cap slowly.
You may hear a hissing sound as
pressure inside the tank escapes.
Place the cap in the holder on the
fuel fill door.
Stop f illing the tank af ter the f uel
nozzle automatically clicks of f . Do
not try to ‘‘top off’’ the tank. This
leaves some room in the f uel tank
for the fuel to expand with
temperature changes.even
though the tank is not full, there may
be a problem with your vehicle’s f uel
vapor recovery system. The system
helps keep f uel vapor f rom going
into the atmosphere. Try f illing at
another pump. If this does not f ix the
problem, consult your dealer.
Screw the f uel f ill cap back on
until it clicks at least once. If you
do not properly tighten the cap,
you will see a ‘‘TIGHTEN FUEL
CAP’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display. If the system
still detects an evaporative system
leak af ter retightening the cap, the
malf unction indicator lamp may
come on (see page ).
Push the f uel f ill door closed until
it latches. Your vehicle’s on board diagnostic
system will detect a loose or missing
f uel f ill cap as an evaporative system
leak. The f irst time a leak is detected
a ‘‘TIGHTEN FUEL CAP’’ message
appears on the multi-inf ormation
display.
3.
4. 5.
6.
596
If the f uel nozzle keeps clicking of f
Service Station Procedures
Tighten Fuel Cap Message
488
TETHER
FUEL FILL CAP
HOLDER
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Turn the engine of f , and conf irm the
f uel f ill cap is installed. If it is, loosen
it, then retighten it until it clicks at
least once. The message should go
off after several days of normal
driving once you tighten or replace
the f uel f ill cap. To scroll to another
message, press the INFO button.If the system still detects a leak in
your vehicle’s evaporative emissions
system, the malf unction indicator
lamp (MIL) comes on. If the f uel f ill
cap was not already tightened, turn
the engine of f , and check or
retighten the f uel f ill cap until it
clicks at least once. The MIL should
go off after several days of normal
driving once the cap is tightened or
replaced. If the MIL does not go of f ,
have your vehicle inspected by a
dealer. For more inf ormation, see
page .
Park the vehicle, and set the
parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower lef t corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.
Put your f ingers between the f ront
edge of the hood and the f ront
grille to locate the hood latch
handle. Push this handle up until it
releases the hood. Lif t the hood.
The ‘‘TIGHTEN FUEL CAP’’
message will appear each time you
restart the engine until the system
turns the message of f .
1.
2.
596
CONT INUED
Service Station Procedure
Opening and Closing the Hood
Bef ore Driving
489
HOOD RELEASE HANDLE
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Lif t the hood up most of the way.
The hydraulic supports will lif t it
uptherestof thewayandholdit
up.To close the hood, lower it to about a
f oot (30 cm) above the f ender, then
press down f irmly with your hands.
Make sure the hood is securely
latched.
Park the vehicle on a level surf ace.
Insert the dipstick all the way back
into its hole.
Wipe of f the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel.
Remove the dipstick (orange loop).
Wait a f ew minutes af ter turning the
engine of f bef ore you check the oil.
If the hood latch handle moves
stif f ly, or if you can open the hood
without lifting the handle, the
mechanism should be cleaned and
lubricated.
3. 1.
3.
2.
Service Station Procedures
Oil Check
490
LATCH
DIPSTICK
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Remove the dipstick again, and
check the level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
If it is near or below the lower mark,
see on page .See page f or the engine coolant
location. 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
vehicle.
To access the radiator reserve tank,
remove the right-side engine
compartment cover (see page ).
4.
547545 550
543
546
Service Station Procedures
A dding Engine Oil Engine Coolant Check
A dding
Engine Coolant
Owner’s Maintenance
Checks
Bef ore Driving
491
RESERVE TANK
MAX
MIN
UPPER MARK
LOWER MARK
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Fuel economy is not a f ixed number.
It varies based on driving conditions,
driving habits and vehicle condition.
Theref ore, it is not possible f or one
set of estimates to predict f uel
economy precisely f or all drivers in
all environments.
Provides an estimated annual f uel
cost, based on 15,000 miles (20,000
km) per year multiplied by the cost
pergallon(basedonEPAfuelcost
data) divided by the combined f uel
economy.
For more inf ormation on f uel
economy ratings and factors that
af f ect f uel economy, visit(Canada: Visit
)
Represents urban
driving in a vehicle in light traf f ic. A
range of miles per gallon achieved is
also provided.
The EPA f uel economy estimates
shownintheexampletotheright
are a usef ul tool f or comparison
when buying a vehicle. EPA
estimates include:
Represents a combination of city and
highway driving. The scale
represents the range of combined
f uel economy f or other vehicles in
the class.
Represents a
mixture of rural and interstate
driving, in a warmed-up vehicle,
typical of longer trips in f ree-f lowing
traf f ic. A range of miles per gallon achieved is also provided.
www.
fueleconomy.gov www.
vehicles.gc.ca
Actual Mileage and EPA Fuel
Economy Estimates Comparison.
Estimated Annual Fuel Cost
City MPG Combined Fuel Economy
Highway MPG
Fuel Economy
492
Combined Fuel
Economy (Sample U.S. EPA label shown) Estimated Annual
Fuel Cost
City MPG
Highway MPG
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Aggressive driving (hard
acceleration and braking)
Excessive idling, accelerating and
braking in stop-and-go traf f ic
Cold engine operation (engines
aremoreefficientwhenwarmed
up)
Driving with a heavy load or the
air conditioner running
Improperly inf lated tires
The f ollowing f actors can lower your
vehicle’s f uel economy:
A properly maintained vehicle
maximizes f uel economy. Poor
maintenance can signif icantly reduce
f uel economy. Always maintain your
vehicle according to the maintenance
messages displayed on the
inf ormation display (see
on page ).
For example: Rapid
acceleration, abrupt cornering,
and hard braking increase fuel
consumption.
Aerodynamic drag has a big ef f ect
on f uel economy at speeds above
45 mph (75 km/h). Reduce your
speed and you reduce the drag.
Trailers, car top carriers, roof
racks and bike racks are also big
contributors to increased drag.
If your vehicle has a
manual transmission, you can
boost your f uel economy by up
shif ting as early as possible.
Idling
results in 0 miles per gallon (0 kms
per liter).
It puts a heavier
load on the engine, increasing f uel
consumption.
In
particular, a build-up of snow or
mud on your vehicle’s underside
adds weight and rolling resistance.
Frequent cleaning helps your f uel
economy. An underinf lated tire increases
‘‘rolling resistance,’’ which reduces
f uel economy.
543
CONT INUED
Fuel Economy Factors Use the recommended viscosity
motor oil, displaying the A PI
Certif ication Seal (see page ).
Improving Fuel Economy Owner’s
Maintenance Checks Drive moderately
Observe the speed limit
Always drive in the highest gear
possible
Avoid excessive idling
A void carrying excess weight in
your vehicle
K eep your vehicle clean
Maintain proper tire inf lation
547
Vehicle Maint enance Drive Ef f icient ly
Fuel Economy
Bef ore Driving
493
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Fill the f uel tank until the nozzle automatically clicks of f .
Reset trip counter to zero.
Record the total gallons (liters) needed to ref ill.
Follow one of the simple calculations above.
The A/C
puts an extra load on the engine
which makes it use more f uel. Use
the f resh-air ventilation when
possible.
Combine several short trips into
one. A warmed-up engine is more
f uel ef f icient than a cold one.
Direct calculation is the
recommended source of inf ormation
about your actual f uel economy.
Using f requency of f ill-ups or taking
f uel gauge readings are NOT
accurate measures of f uel economy.
Fuel economy may improve over the
f irst several thousand miles. 1)
2)
3)
4)
Checking Your Fuel Economy
Measuring T echniquesMinimize the use of the air
conditioning system
Plan and combine trips
Calculating Fuel Economy
Fuel Economy
494
Miles per Gallon
100 Kilometers
Gallons
of fuel
Miles
driven
Liter Lper
100 km
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Modif ying your vehicle, or installing
some non-Acura accessories, can
make it unsaf e. Bef ore you make any
modif ications or add any accessories,
be sure to read the f ollowing
inf ormation.
Your dealer has Acura accessories
that allow you to personalize your
vehicle. These accessories have
been designed and approved f or your
vehicle, and are covered by warranty.Bef ore installing any accessory:
Make sure the accessory does not
obscure any lights, or interf ere
with proper vehicle operation or
perf ormance.
Although non-Acura accessories may
f it on your vehicle, they may not
meet f actory specif ications, and
could adversely af f ect your vehicle’s
handling and stability. Bef ore installing any electronic
accessory, have the installer
contact your dealer for assistance.
If possible, have your dealer
inspect the f inal installation.
Do not install accessories on the
side pillars or across the rear
windows. Accessories installed in
theseareasmayinterferewith
proper operation of the side
curtain airbags.
Be sure electronic accessories do
not overload electrical circuits
(see page ) or interf ere with
proper operation of your vehicle.
When properly installed, cellular
phones, alarms, two-way radios, and
low-powered audio systems should
not interf ere with your vehicle’s
computer controlled systems, such
as your airbags, anti-lock brakes, and
tire pressure monitoring system. 599
A ccessories
A ccessories and Modif ications
Bef ore Driving
495
Improper accessories or
modifications can affect your
vehicle’s handling, stability, and
performance, and cause a
crash in which you can be hurt
or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner’s manual regarding
accessories and modifications.
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Some examples are:Larger or smaller wheels and tires
can interf ere with the operation of
your vehicle’s anti-lock brakes and
other systems.
Removing parts f rom your vehicle,
or replacing components with non-
Acura components could seriously
af f ect your vehicle’s handling,
stability, and reliability.
Lowering your vehicle with a
non-Acura suspension kit that
signif icantly reduces ground
clearance can allow the
undercarriage to hit speed bumps
or other raised objects, which
could cause the airbags to deploy.
Raising your vehicle with a non-
Acura suspension kit can af f ect
the handling and stability. Modif ying your steering wheel or
any other part of your vehicle’s
safety features can make the
systems inef f ective.
If you plan to modif y your vehicle,
consult your dealer.
Non-Acura wheels, can cause
excessive stress on suspension
components and may not be
compatible with the tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS).
Modif ying Your Vehicle
A ccessories and Modif ications
496
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Your vehicle has several convenient
storage areas:Glove box
Door and seat-back pockets
Trunk Console compartment
Center and side pockets
In addition, the trunk pass-through
allows you to carry longer items.
However, carrying too much cargo,
or improperly storing it, can af f ect
your vehicle’s handling, stability,
stopping distance, and tires, and
make it unsaf e. Bef ore carrying any
type of cargo, be sure to read the
f ollowing pages.
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving
497
TRUNK SEAT-BACK
POCKETS CENTER POCKET
GLOVE BOX
CONSOLE
COMPARTMENT
DOOR POCKETS
SIDE
POCKET
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