Acura TL 2013 Owner's Guide

CONT INUED
After a crash, you may see what
looks like smoke. This is actually
powder from the airbag’s surface.
Although the powder is not
harmful, people with respiratory
problems may experience some
temporary discomfort. If
this occurs, get out of the vehicle
as soon as it is safe to do so. The total time for inflation and
deflation is less than a second, so
fast that most occupants are not
aware that the airbags deployed until
they see them lying in their laps.
Af ter inf lating, the f ront airbags
immediately def late, so they won’t
interf ere with the driver’s visibility,
or the ability to steer or operate
other controls.
During a f rontal crash, your seat belt
restrains your lower body and torso,
and the f ront airbag helps protect
your head and chest.
Although both airbags normally
inf late within a split second of each
other, it is possible f or only one
airbag to deploy.
This can happen if the severity of a
collision is at the margin, or
threshold, that determines whether
or not the airbags will deploy. In
such cases, the seat belt will provide
suf f icient protection, and the
supplemental protection of f ered by
the airbag would be minimal.
Only the driver’s airbag can deploy if
there is no passenger in the f ront
seat, or if the advanced airbag
system has turned the passenger’s
airbag off (see page ).
34
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
27
12/07/20 10:33:19 31TK4640_032
2013 TL

Your vehicle is equipped with dual-
stage, multiple-threshold f ront
airbags (SRS). During a f rontal crash
severe enough to cause one or both
f ront airbags to deploy, the airbags
can inf late at dif f erent rates,
depending on the severity of the
crash, whether or not the seat belts
are latched, and/or other factors.
Front airbags are designed to
supplement the seat belts to help
reduce the likelihood of head and
chest injuries in f rontal crashes.Objects placed or pushed under
the f ront passenger’s seat may
cause the sensor to malf unction,
increasing the risk of injury in a
crash.
Your f ront airbags are also advanced
airbags. The main purpose of this
feature is to help prevent airbag-
caused injuries to short drivers and
children or small-statured adults who
ride in f ront.
For both advanced airbags to work
properly:
Occupants must sit upright and
wear their seat belts properly. Failure to f ollow these instructions
could damage the sensors or prevent
them f rom working properly.
Do not spill any liquids on or
under the seats, cover the sensors,
or put any objects or metal items
under the f ront seats.
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Dual-Stage, Multiple-T hreshold Front A irbags (SRS) Advanced Airbags
28
12/07/20 10:33:25 31TK4640_033
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
2013 TL

The passenger’s advanced f ront
airbag system has weight sensors
under the seat. Although Acura does
not encourage carrying an inf ant or
small child in f ront, if the sensors
detect the weight of an inf ant or
small child (up to about 65 lbs or 29
kg), the system will automatically
turn the passenger’s front airbag off.Be aware that objects placed on the
passenger’s seat can also cause the
airbag to be turned off.
When the passenger airbag gets
turned of f by the weight sensors, a
‘‘passenger airbag of f ’’ indicator in
the center of the dashboard comes
on (see page ).
If the weight sensors detect there is
no passenger in the f ront seat, the
airbag is automatically turned off.
However, the passenger airbag of f
indicator in this situation will not
come on.
The driver’s advanced front airbag
system includes a seat position
sensor under the seat. If the seat is
too f ar f orward, the airbag will
inf late with less f orce, regardless of
the severity of the impact.
If there is a problem with the sensor,
the SRS indicator will come on, and
the airbag will inf late in the normal
manner regardless of the driver’s
seating position. 34
CONT INUED
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
29
DRIVER’S SEAT
POSITION SENSOR
PASSENGER’S SEAT
WEIGHT SENSOR
12/07/20 10:33:32 31TK4640_034
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
2013 TL

To ensure that the passenger’s
advanced front airbag system will
work properly,
This includes:A rear passenger pushing or
pulling on the back of the f ront
passenger’s seat.
Moving the front seat or seat-back
forcibly back against cargo on the
seat or f loor behind it.
Hanging heavy items on the f ront
passenger seat, or placing heavy
items in the seat-back pocket. If you ever have a moderate to
severe side impact, sensors will
detect rapid acceleration and signal
the control unit to instantly inf late
either the driver’s or the passenger’s
side airbag.
Also,makesurethefloormat
behind the f ront passenger’s seat
is hooked to the f loor mat anchor
(see page ). If it is not, the mat
may interfere with the proper
operation of the sensors and
operation of the seat. Back seat passengers should not
wedge objects or intentionally
f orce their f eet under the f ront
passenger seat.
565 How Your Side A irbags Work
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
do not do anyt hing
t hat would increase or decrease t he weight on the f ront passenger’s seat.
30
12/07/20 10:33:40 31TK4640_035
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
2013 TL

There will be some delay between
the moment the passenger moves
into or out of the airbag deployment
pathandwhentheindicatorcomes
on or goes of f .
A f ront seat passenger should not
use a cushion or another object as a
backrest. It may prevent the cutof f
system f rom working properly.
Only one airbag will deploy during a
side impact. If the impact is on the
passenger’s side, the passenger’s
side airbag may not deploy if there is
no passenger.
To get the best protection f rom the
side airbags, front seat occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.
Thesideairbagmayalsoshutoff if a
short adult leans sideways, or a
larger adult slouches and leans
sideways into the airbag’s
deployment path.
Objects placed on the f ront
passenger seat can also cause the
side airbag to be shut of f . Your vehicle has a side airbag cutoff
system designed primarily to protect
a child riding in the front
passenger’s seat.If the side airbag of f indicator comes
on (see page ), have the
passenger sit upright. Once the
passenger is out of the airbag’s
deployment path, the system will
turn the airbag back on, and the
indicator will go out.
Although Acura does not encourage
children to ride in front, if the
position sensors detect a child has
leaned into the side airbag’s
deployment path, the
airbag will shut off. 33
Side A irbag Cut of f Syst em
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
31
12/07/20 10:33:47 31TK4640_036
2013 TL

Î
If the impact is on the passenger’s
side, the passenger’s side curtain
airbag will inflate even if there are no
occupants on that side of the vehicle.
One or both side curtain airbags may
inflate in a moderate to severe
f rontal collision which causes the
f ront airbags to deploy.
To get the best protection f rom the
side curtain airbags, occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.When you turn the ignition switch
to the ON (II) position, this indicator
comes on brief ly then goes of f . This
tells you the system is working
properly.
In a moderate to severe side
impact, sensors will detect
rapid acceleration and signal the
control unit to instantly inflate the
side curtain airbag. The SRS indicator alerts you to a
potential problem with your airbag
system components.
How Your
Side Curtain Airbags Work
How the SRS
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
32
SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG
12/07/20 10:33:56 31TK4640_037
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
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
pages
and .
:
184 187
Indicator Works
2013 TL

Î
If the indicator comes on at any
other time, or does not come on at all,
you should have the system checked
by your dealer. For example:If the SRS indicator does not come
on after you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position or
on models with keyless access
system, press the engine start/
stop button to set ON mode (see
page ).
If the indicator stays on after the
engine starts.
If the indicator comes on or
flashesonandoff whileyoudrive.
You will also see a ‘‘CHECK
AIRBAG SYSTEM’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display. If you see any of these indications,
the airbag system components may
not work properly when you need
them.
This indicator alerts you that the
passenger’s side airbag has been
automatically shut off. It does
mean there is a problem with your
side airbags.
When you turn the ignition switch
to the ON (II) position, the indicator
should come on brief ly and then go
out(seepage ).Ifitdoesn’tcome
on, stays on, or comes on while
driving without a passenger in the
f ront seat, have the system checked.
You will also see a ‘‘PASSENGER
SIDE AIRBAG OFF’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display. 67
187
CONT INUED
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
How the Side
Airbag Of f
Indicator Works
not
33
Canada
U.S.
Ignoring the SRS indicator can
result in serious injury or death
if the airbag systems or
tensioners do not work properly.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS indicator alerts you to
a possible problem.
12/07/20 10:34:05 31TK4640_038
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
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
pages
and .
:
184 187
2013 TL

Be aware that objects placed on the
f ront seat can cause the indicator to
come on.
If no weight is detected on the f ront
seat, the airbag will be automatically
shut of f . However, the indicator will
not come on.The passenger airbag of f indicator
may come on and of f repeatedly if
the total weight on the seat is near
the airbag cutof f threshold.
If an adult or teenage passenger is
riding in f ront, move the seat as f ar
to the rear as possible, and have the
passenger sit upright and wear the
seat belt properly.
This indicator alerts you that the
passenger’s f ront airbag has been
shut of f because weight sensors
detect about 65 lbs (29 kg) or less
(the weight of an inf ant or small
child) on the f ront passenger’s seat.
It does there is a problem
with the airbag.
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
How the Passenger Airbag
Of f Indicator Works
not mean
34
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR Canada
U.S.
12/07/20 10:34:12 31TK4640_039
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
2013 TL

If the indicator comes on with no
f ront seat passenger and no objects
on the seat, or with an adult riding
there, something may be interf ering
with the weight sensors. Look f or
and remove:Any items under the f ront
passenger’s seat. Your airbag systems are virtually
maintenance f ree, and there are no
parts you can saf ely service.
However, you must have your
vehicle serviced if:
If no obstructions are f ound, have
your vehicle checked by a dealer as
soon as possible. Any object hanging on the seat or
in the seat-back pocket.
Any object(s) touching the rear of
the seat-back. Take your vehicle to an
authorized dealer as soon as
possible. If you ignore this
indication, your airbags may not
operate properly.
Even if your
airbags do not inflate, your dealer
should inspect the driver’s seat
position sensor, the f ront
passenger’s weight sensors, the
f ront seat belt tensioners, and all
seat belts and their anchors worn
during a crash to make sure they
are operating properly.
Any airbag
that has deployed must be
replaced along with the control
unit and other related parts. Any
seat belt tensioner that activates
must also be replaced.
We recommend against the use of
salvaged airbag system
components, including the airbag,
tensioners, sensors, and control
unit.
Do not try to remove or replace
anyairbagbyyourself.Thismust
be done by an authorized dealer or
a knowledgeable body shop.
Airbag Service
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
T he SRS indicat or alert s you t o a
problem.
If your vehicle has a moderat e t osevere impact .
An airbag ever inf lates.
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
35
12/07/20 10:34:21 31TK4640_040
2013 TL

Together, airbags and
seat belts provide the best
protection.
Tampering could cause
the airbags to deploy, possibly
causing very serious injury.
If water or
another liquid soaks into a seat-
back, it can prevent the side airbag
cutof f system f rom working
properly. This could make the
driver’s seat position sensor or the
f ront passenger’s weight sensors
inef f ective. If it is necessary to
remove or modif y a f ront seat to
accommodate a person with
disabilities, f irst contact Acura
Client Relations. In the US, call
800-382-2238, and in Canada, call
888-9-ACURA-9.
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Additional Saf ety Precautions
Donotattempttodeactivateyour
airbags.
Do not t amper wit h airbagcomponent s or wiring f or anyreason.
Do not expose the f ront passenger’sseat-back to liquid. Do not remove or modif y a f ront
seat without consulting yourdealer.
36
12/07/20 10:34:25 31TK4640_041
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
2013 TL