engine overheat Acura TL 2010 Owner's Manual

(f luid capacities and tire pressures)
(main controls)
(seat belts, SRS, and child protection)
(indicators ,
gauges ,
multi-inf ormation display ,
dashboard ,
and steering column)
( )
(fuel, vehicle break-in, and cargo loading)
(engine and transmission operation)
(f lat tire, jump starting, overheating, and f uses)
(vehicle specif ications, tires, and emissions controls) (warranty and contact inf ormation)
(how to order)
(minder, f luid checking, minor services, and vehicle storage)
climate control
,
audio ,
steering wheel ,
security ,
cruise control ,
HomeLink,and other convenience items
Contents
........................................................................\
........................................................................
Index .I
Service Inf ormation Summary ........................................................................\
.......................
Your Vehicle at a Glance .3
............................................................
Driver and Passenger Saf ety .5
.......
Instruments and Controls .61
..............
Features .
215
.......................................................................
Bef ore Driving .443
........................................................................\
.................
Driving .459
........................................
T aking Care of the Unexpected .545
..............................................
T echnical Inf ormation .575
.......................
Warranty and Client Relations (U.S. and Canada only) .593
........................................................................\
..........
A uthorized Manuals (U.S. only) .597
.................................................
Maintenance .495
1
09/07/29 16:42:17 31TK4610_006
Owner's Identification Form
00X31-TK4-6100
\251 2009 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. - All Rights Reserved
2010 TL Online Reference Owner's Manual
2010 TL

Î
Î
The lef t or right turn signal indicator
blinks when you signal a lane change
or turn. If an indicator does not blink
or blinks rapidly, it usually means
one of the turn signal bulbs is
burned out (see pages and ).
Replace the bulb as soon as possible,
since other drivers cannot see that
you are signaling.
When you press the hazard warning
button, both turn signal indicators
and all turn signals on the outside of
the vehicle f lash. This indicator normally comes on
when you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position and goes of f
af ter the engine starts. If it comes on
at any other time, there is a problem
in the electric power steering system.
Models equipped with the
keyless access system have an
engine start/stop button instead
of an ignition switch. ON Mode
is the equivalent of ON (II). For
more inf ormation, see pagesand . If this happens, stop the vehicle in a
saf e place and turn of f the engine.
Reset the system by restarting the
engine. The indicator will stay on,
but should go of f af ter driving a
short distance. If it does not go of f ,
or comes back on again while driving,
take the vehicle to your dealer to
have it checked. With the indicator
on, the EPS may be turned of f ,
making the vehicle harder to steer.
If you turn the steering wheel to the
f ull lef t or right position repeatedly
while stopping or driving at very low
speed, you may f eel slightly harder
steering in order to prevent damage
to the steering box caused by
overheating.
You will also see a ‘‘CHECK POWER
STEERING SYSTEM’’ message on
the multi-information display.
:
181
178
524 528
Instrument Panel Indicators
Turn Signal and
Hazard Warning
Indicators
Electric Power Steering
(EPS) Indicator
70
09/07/29 16:54:18 31TK4610_075
2010 TL

When shif ting up or down, make
sure you push the clutch pedal down
all the way, shif t 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.’’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 the 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
any forward gear to reverse while
the vehicle is moving at a certain
speed (see page ). 467
CONT INUED
Manual T ransmission
Driving
465
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.
09/07/29 18:21:12 31TK4610_470
2010 TL

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.
Lock the doors.
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. Check the indicator on the
instrument panel to verif y that the
security system is set.
If the vehicle is f acing uphill, turn
the front wheels away from the
curb. If your vehicle has a manual
transmission, put it in f irst gear.If the vehicle is f acing downhill,
turn the front wheels toward the
curb. If your vehicle has 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.
If you are unable to stop the
engine normally when the vehicle is
parked(intheParkpositiononthe
automatic transmission models), see on page
.
186
On models with keyless access system
Parking T ips
Emergency Engine Stop
Parking
480
NOTE:
09/07/29 18:23:42 31TK4610_485
2010 TL

Your vehicle is equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
that turns on every time you start the
engine and monitors the pressure in
your tires while driving.If you think you can saf ely drive a
short distance to a service station,
proceed slowly to the station, then
inflate the tire to the recommended
pressure shown on the driver’s
doorjamb.
If the tire is f lat, or if the tire
pressure is too low to continue
driving, replace the tire with the
compact spare tire (see page ).
Driving on a signif icantly under-
inf lated tire causes the tire to
overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inf lation also reduces f uel
efficiency and tire tread life, and may
af f ect the vehicle’s handling and
stopping ability.
Becausetirepressurevariesby
temperature and other conditions,
the low tire pressure/TPMS
indicator may come on unexpectedly.
When the low tire pressure/TPMS
indicator is on, one or more of your
tires is signif icantly underinf lated.
Youshouldstopandcheckyourtires
as soon as possible, and inflate them
to the proper pressure as indicated
on the vehicle’s tire inf ormation
placard.
Each tire has its own pressure
sensor. If the air pressure of a tire
becomes signif icantly low, the
sensor in that tire immediately sends
a signal that causes the low tire
pressure/TPMS indicator in the
instrument panel to come on. If this
happens, you will see which tire is
losing pressure on the multi-
inf ormation display along with a
‘‘CHECK TIRE PRESSURE’’
message. It is possible that the pressures
shown on the multi-inf ormation
display and the pressures you
manually measure are slightly
dif f erent.
If the dif f erence is signif icant or you
cannot make the low tire pressure/
TPMS indicator and message on the
multi-inf ormation display go out af ter
inf lating the tires to the specif ied
values, have your dealer check the
system as soon as possible. 547
Low Tire Pressure/
TPMS Indicator
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
488
09/07/29 18:25:05 31TK4610_493
2010 TL

Theheadlightswereproperlyaimed
when your vehicle was new. If you
regularly carry heavy items in the
trunk, readjustment may be required.
Adjustmentsshouldbedonebyyour
dealer or another qualif ied
technician.Your vehicle has halogen high beam
headlight bulbs which are also used
f or the daytime running light.
Handle it by its base and protect the
glass from contact with your skin or
hard objects. If you touch the glass,
clean it with denatured alcohol and a
clean cloth.
Open the hood.
Remove all engine compartment
covers (see page ). If youarereplacingthebulbon
the driver’s side, remove the three
holding clips with a f lat-tip
screwdriver. Then remove the
upper part of the air intake duct by
pulling it straight up.
The low beam headlight bulbs are a
type of high voltage discharge tube.
High voltage can remain in the
circuit even with the light switch of f
and the key removed (or the vehicle
is in VEHICLE OFF (LOCK) mode
on models with keyless access
system). Because of this, you should
not attempt to examine or change a
low beam headlight bulb yourself . If
a low beam headlight bulb fails, take
the vehicle to your dealer to have it
replaced.
1.
2.
508
CONT INUED
Headlight A iming
L ow Beam Headlight Bulb
Replacement Replacing a High Beam
Headlight/Daytime Running
Light Bulb
Lights
Maint enance
521
HOLDING CLIP
Halogen bulbs get very hot when lit. Oil,
perspiration, or a scratch on the glass
can cause the bulb to overheat and
shatter.
09/07/29 18:30:32 31TK4610_526
2010 TL

Install the new bulb in the socket.
Turn it clockwise to lock it in place.
Insert the socket into the light
assembly. Turn it clockwise to
lock it in place.Your vehicle uses halogen light
bulbs. When replacing a bulb, handle
it by its plastic case, and protect the
glass from contact with your skin or
hard objects. If you touch the glass,
clean it with denatured alcohol and a
clean cloth. Start the engine. If you are
replacing a driver’s side bulb, turn
the steering wheel all the way to
theright.If youarereplacinga
passenger’s side bulb, turn the
steering wheel to the lef t. Turn of f
the engine.
Thefoglightswereproperlyaimed
when your vehicle was new. If you
regularly carry heavy items in the
trunk, readjustment may be required.
Adjustment should be done by your
dealer or another qualif ied
technician.
Turn on the lights to make sure
the new bulb is working.
Push the under cover in place and
set the spoiler and inner f ender
cover in the original position.
Install the bolts and tighten them
securely. Put the holding clip, and
lock it by pushing on its center.
6.
7.
8.
9.
1.
Replacing a Front Fog L ight Bulb
Lights
526
Halogen bulbs get very hot when lit. Oil,
perspiration, or a scratch on the glass
can cause the bulb to overheat and
shatter.
09/07/29 18:31:27 31TK4610_531
2010 TL

This section covers the more
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you inf ormation about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also f ind instructions
on getting your vehicle towed.......................
Compact Spare Tire .546
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .547
.............
If the Engine Won’t Start . 552
................................
Jump Starting .555
..............
If the Engine Overheats . 557
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 559
..........
Charging System Indicator . 559
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 560
...............
Brake System Indicator . 561
Opening the Fuel Fill Door ....................................
Manually .562
..............................................
Fuses .563
..............................
Fuse Locations .567
......................
Emergency Towing .570
..........
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck . 572
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
545
09/07/29 18:34:58 31TK4610_550
2010 TL

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.
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 temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn off 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 (seeon page ).
Saf ely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in neutral
(manual) or Park (automatic), and
set the parking brake. Turn of f all
accessories, and turn on the
hazard warning lights.
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.
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. You will also see a ‘‘WATER TEMP
HOT’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display (see page ).
1.
2.3.
4.
5.
570
76
CONT INUED
Emergency
Towing
If theEngineOverheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
557
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 the engine.
09/07/29 18:36:57 31TK4610_562
2010 TL

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
(seeon
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. 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. Put the radiator cap back on
tightly. Run the engine, and check
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair (seeon page ).
Start the engine, and set the
interior temperature to maximum
heat (each temperature control
sets to ‘‘ ’’). 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.
Using gloves or a 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.
8.
9.
7. 6.
10.
11.570
512
A dding Engine Coolant
Emergency
Towing
If theEngineOverheats
558
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.
09/07/29 18:37:07 31TK4610_563
2010 TL