ECO mode Acura TL 2012 Owner's Manual

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When you are in sequential shif t
mode, and the vehicle is stopped,
pull the (right) paddle shifter to
shif t to second gear. You will see
‘‘M2’’ in the display. Starting in
second gear helps to reduce
wheelspin in deep snow or on a
slippery surf ace. Drive in the highest gear that lets
the engine run and accelerate
smoothly. This will give you good
f uel economy and ef f ective
emissions control. The f ollowing
shif t points are recommended:
Normal acceleration15 mph (24 km/h)
25 mph (40 km/h)
40 mph (64 km/h)
45 mph (72 km/h)
50 mph (81 km/h)
Shif t up
1st to 2nd
2nd to 3rd 3rd to 4th4th to 5th
5th to 6th
Driving with the Paddle Shif ters (A utomatic Transmission Only)
St art ing in Second Gear Recommended Shif t Point s
Driving
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2012 TL

Your vehicle is equipped with disc
brakes at all f our wheels. A power
assist helps reduce the ef f ort needed
on the brake pedal. The emergency
brake assist system increases the
stopping f orce when you depress the
brake pedal hard in an emergency
situation. The anti-lock brake system
(ABS) helps you retain steering
control when braking very hard.
Resting your f oot on the pedal keeps
the brakes applied lightly, builds up
heat, reduces their ef f ectiveness and
reduces brake pad lif e. In addition,
f uel economy can be reduced. It also
keeps your brake lights on all the
time, conf using drivers behind you.Constant application of the brakes
when going down a long hill builds
up heat and reduces their ef f ective-
ness. Use the engine to assist the
brakes by taking your f oot of f the
accelerator and downshif ting to a
lower gear.
Check your brakes af ter driving
through deep water. Apply the
brakes moderately to see if they f eel
normal. If not, apply them gently and
f requently until they do. Be extra
cautious and alert in your driving.
The hydraulic system that operates
the brakes has two separate circuits.
Each circuit works diagonally across
the vehicle (the lef t-f ront brake is
connected with the right-rear brake,
etc.). If one circuit should develop a
problem, you will still have braking
at two wheels.If the brake pads need replacing, you
will hear a distinctive, metallic
screeching sound when you apply
the brake pedal. If you do not have
the brake pads replaced, they will
screech all the time. It is normal f or
the brakes to occasionally squeal or
squeak when you apply them. All f our brakes have audible brake
wear indicators.
Braking System Design Brake Pad Wear Indicators
Braking System
Driving
507
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2012 TL

VSA is turned on every time you
start the engine, even if
you turned it off the last time
you drove the vehicle.
In certain unusual conditions when
your vehicle gets stuck in shallow
mud or f resh snow, it may be easier
to free it with the VSA temporarily
switched of f . When the VSA system
is of f , the traction control system is
alsooff.Youshouldonlyattemptto
f ree your vehicle with the VSA of f if
you are not able to f ree it when the
VSA is on.
Immediately af ter f reeing your
vehicle, be sure to switch the VSA on
again. We do not recommend driving
your vehicle with the VSA and
traction control systems switched off.Driving with varying tire or wheel
sizes may cause the VSA to
malf unction. When replacing tires,
make sure they are of the same size
and type as your original tires (see
page ).
If you install winter tires, make sure
they are the same size as those that
were originally supplied with your
vehicle. Exercise the same caution
during winter driving as you would
Your vehicle is equipped with a hill
start assist f eature to help prevent
the vehicle f rom rolling on inclines
as you move your f oot f rom the
brake pedal to the accelerator.
To activate hill start assist, you must
come to a complete stop and make
sure the shif t lever is either in D or S
when f acing uphill, or reverse when
f acing downhill. This f eature begins
working a few seconds after you are
in the correct gear position. Release
thebrakepedal.Thebrakesremain
engaged brief ly to keep the vehicle
f rom rolling f orward or backward.
Gently apply the accelerator pedal as
in normal driving. Hill start assist will
release brake pressure gradually as
you accelerate.
574
On models with SH-AWD
Vehicle Stability A ssist (VSA), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
VSA and Tire Sizes
Hill Start Assist
512
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if your vehicle was not equipped
wiht VSA.
Driving
2012 TL

Hillstartassistmaynotpreventyour
vehicle f rom rolling downhill on a
very steep or slippery slope, and will
not operate on small inclines.
Hill start assist is not a replacement
f or the parking brake. If parking
your vehicle, ensure that the
transmission is in park, and/or the
parking brake is f ully applied bef ore
exiting the vehicle. For vehicles with
manual transmission, it is
recommended that you turn of f the
engine bef ore exiting the vehicle.If the VSA system indicator comes
on with a ‘‘CHECK HILL START
ASSIST SYSTEM’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display, there may
be a problem with the hill start assist.
The VSA also may not f unction.
Have your vehicle inspected by your
dealer.
Hill start assist will still operate even
when VSA is switched off.
On manual transmission models:
You must come to a complete stop,
press the clutch pedal, and shif t to
f irst gear when f acing uphill, or
reverse when f acing downhill.
Release the brake pedal. The brakes
remain engaged brief ly to keep the
vehicle f rom rolling f orward or
backward while you move your f oot
f rom the brake pedal to the
accelerator pedal. Gently apply the
accelerator pedal while
simultaneously releasing the clutch
pedal, as in normal driving. Hill start
assist will release brake pressure
gradually as you accelerate.
Hill start assist will also hold braking
brief ly if you select the neutral gear
position with the clutch pedal
depressed when f acing uphill.
Vehicle Stability A ssist (VSA), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
Driving
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2012 TL

Î
Although your tire pressure is
monitored, you must manually check
thetirepressuresmonthly.
Each tire, including the spare, should
be checked monthly when the
vehicle is cold, and set to the
recommended inflation pressure as
specified on the vehicle placard and
in the owner’s manual (see).
For example, if you check and f ill
your tires in a warm area, then drive
in extremely cold weather, the tire
pressure will be lower than
measured and could be underinf lated
and cause the low tire pressure/
TPMS indicator to come on. Or, if
youcheckandadjustyourtire
pressure in cooler conditions, and
drive into extremely hot conditions,
the tire may become overinf lated.
However, the low tire pressure/
TPMS indicator will not come on if
thetiresareoverinflated.
Refer to page for tire inflation
guidelines.
If there is a problem with the TPMS,
this indicator begins to f lash. It stops
flashing after approximately 1
minute, then stays on. You will also
see a ‘‘CHECK TPMS SYSTEM’’
message on the multi-inf ormation
display (see page ). Toselectthetirepressuremonitor,
press the INFO button several times
with the ignition switch in the ON
(II) position or with the power mode
ON.
You will see the above display on the
multi-inf ormation display when each
tire pressure is normal.
517
568
CONT INUED
Tire Pressure Monitor
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Driving
515
U.S.
Example: Technology Package is shown.
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page 570
ÎModels 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
information, see page s 184 and 187.
:
2012 TL

Each tire pressure is shown in PSI
(U.S. models) or in kPa (Canadian
models).If any of the tires has low pressure,
thetirepressuremonitoralsoshows
the above message and each tire
pressure to warn you about the low
tire pressure when you select the
displaybypressingtheINFObutton
several times.
Each tire has its own pressure
sensor (not including the spare tire).
If the air pressure of a tire becomes
significantly 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-information display
along with a ‘‘CHECK TIRE
PRESSURE’’ message.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
516
Canadian model
Canada
This shows that the front left tire is
losing pressure. U.S. model
Example: Technology Package is
shown.
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Driving
2012 TL

If there is a problem with the TPMS,
thetirepressuremonitorshowsa
‘‘TPMS ERROR’’ message and the
tire pressure readings are not
displayed. If this happens, you will
f irst see a system warning message
‘‘CHECK TPMS SYSTEM’’ on the
multi-inf ormation display.If there is a problem with the TPMS,
youwillseetheabovemessageon
the multi-information display.If the low tire pressure/TPMS
indicator comes on, or the multi-
inf ormation display shows a
‘‘CHECK TPMS SYSTEM’’ message,
the VSA system automatically turns
on even when the VSA system is
turned of f by pressing the VSA OFF
switch (see page ). If this
happens, you cannot turn the VSA
system of f by pressing the VSA OFF
switch again.
When you restart the vehicle with
thecompactsparetire,theTPMS
system message will also be
displayed on the multi-information
display af ter several miles
(kilometers) driving.
If you see this message, the system
is of f and is not monitoring the tire
pressures. Have the system checked
by your dealer as soon as possible.
Also, the low tire pressure/TPMS
indicator begins to f lash, then stays
on (see page ). 511
515
TPMS System Failure
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Driving
517
U.S. model Canadian model
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2012 TL

µ
Î
Î
ÎÎ
Multi-Inf ormationDisplay Message BSI Indicator
System
Status
ON
OFF
ON/OFF OFF Description
2
When you press and hold the BSI OFF button with the ignition switch in the ON (II) position, a
BSI ON or OFF message is displayed on the multi-information display for about 5 seconds.
The BSI indicator will remain on while the system is off.
The BSI alert indicator illuminates or flashes according to the system status.
A chime sounds to indicate that the system has been turned ON or OFF.
If while driving, mud, snow, or ice accumulates in the vicinity of sensor:
The system may shut down
The BSI indicator illuminates, a message is displayed on the multi-information display, and a
chime sounds.
The BSI indicator will turn off and the system will return to normal once the obstacle is removed,
and you begin to drive.
Always keep the area around the radar sensors clean. BSI may not operate properly if the sensors
are obstructed.
The BSI alert indicator: May come on when a vehicle enters one of the alert zones, even if this message is displayed.
May not come on due to obstruction (splashes, etc.) even if this message is not displayed.
2:
If the system is faulty, the BSI indicator illuminates and a message is displayed on the multi-
information display.
Have your vehicle inspected by your Acura dealer.
1
Blind Spot Inf ormation System (BSI)
BSI Status Displays
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Driving
1: ON mode on models with keyless access system (see pages 184 and 187).
System status may remain on even when the BLIND SPOT NOT AVAILABLE messa\
ge is displayed.
2012 TL

Î
ÛÝ
CONT INUED
Press the SEL/RESET button on the
steering wheel repeatedly to select
the engine oil lif e. The message
‘‘SERVICE,’’ along with ‘‘0%,’’ and the
maintenance item code are displayed
on the multi-information display
when the calculated engine oil lif e is
0to1percent.
These messages will come on every
time you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position.
If the indicated required service is
not done and the remaining engine
oil lif e becomes 0%, the multi-
inf ormation display will show a
‘‘SERVICE PAST DUE’’ message,
the total distance traveled after the
remaining oil lif e became 0%, and the
maintenance item code(s).
Pressing either INFO button ( / )
switches the display f rom the
message to another display. To see
the message again, press either
INFO button repeatedly. Immediately have the service
perf ormed, and make sure to reset
the display as described on page .
537
Maintenance Minder
Maint enance
535
U.S.TOTAL PAST DUE DISTANCE
TRAVELED
MAINTENANCE CODES
Canada
TM
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Î 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
information, see
page s 184 and 187.
:
2012 TL

ÎÎ
Û
Your dealer will reset the display
af ter completing the required
maintenance service. You will see
‘‘OIL LIFE 100%’’ on the display the
next time you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position.
Turn the ignition switch to the
ON (II) position.
If maintenance service is done by
someone other than your dealer,
reset the Maintenance Minder as
f ollows: If the engine oil lif e is not
displayed, press the SEL/RESET
buttononthesteeringwheel
repeatedly.
Press and hold the SEL/RESET
button on the steering wheel f or
more than 10 seconds. The
remaining engine oil lif e reset
mode will be shown on the multi-
inf ormation display.
Select ‘‘RESET’’ by pressing the
INFO ( ) button, then press the
SEL/RESET button to reset the
engine oil lif e display. The
maintenance item code(s) will
disappear, and the engine oil lif e
will reset to ‘‘100.’’ If you want to
cancel the oil lif e reset mode,
select ‘‘CANCEL.’’
3. 1.
2.
4.
Maintenance Minder
Resetting the Engine Oil Lif e
Display
Maint enance
537
TM
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ÎModels 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
information, seepage s 184 and 187.
:
2012 TL