lights Acura TSX 2004 Owner's Guide

Open the glove box by pulling the
handle to the lef t. Close it with a f irm
push. Lock or unlock the glove box
with the master key.
The glove box light comes on when
the parking lights are on. Glove Box
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols89
GLOVE BOX
An open glove box can cause
serious injury to your passenger
inacrash,evenifthe
passenger is wearing the seat
belt.
Always keep the glove box
closed while driving.

Keeptheinsideandoutsidemirrors
clean and adjusted f or best visibility.
Be sure to adjust the mirrors bef ore
you start driving.Adjust the outside mirrors with the
adjustment knob on the driver’s door
armrest:
Turn the adjustment knob to L
(driver’s side) or R (passenger’s
side).
The inside mirror can automatically
darken to reduce glare. To turn on
this feature, press the AUTO button
on the bottom of the mirror. The
indicator comes on as a reminder.
When it is on, the mirror darkens
when it senses the headlights of a
vehicle behind you, then returns to
normal visibility when the lights are
gone. Press the OFF button to turn
of f this f eature.
Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
1.
2.
Adjusting the Power Mirrors
Mirrors
Inst rument s and Cont rols102
ADJUSTMENT KNOB
OFF BUTTON
AUTO SWITCH INDICATOR

These sockets are intended to supply
power f or 12 volt DC accessories
that are rated 120 watts or less (10
amps).
They will not power an automotive
type cigarette lighter element. When both sockets are being used,
the combined power rating of both
accessories should be 120 watts or
less (10 amps).The ceiling light has a three-position
switch. In the OFF position, the light
does not come on. In the center
position, the ceiling light comes on
when you open any door.
The spotlights have a three-position
switch. In the OFF position, the
lights do not come on. In the DOOR
position, the lights come on when
you open any door.
Turn on the spotlight by pushing the
lens. Push the lens again to turn it
of f . You can use the spotlights at all
times.
Inst rument s and Cont rols
AccessoryPowerSockets,InteriorLights
Spotlights
Ceiling Lights
110
O OFFFF O
ON
N
DOOR ACTIVATED
ACCESSORY POWER SOCKET OFF
DOOR ACTIVATED

The courtesy light between the
spotlights comes on when you turn
the parking lights on. To adjust its
brightness, turn the Select/Reset
knob on the instrument panel.
After all doors are closed tightly, the
lights dim slightly, then f ade out in
about 30 seconds. In the ON position,
the lights stay on continuously.
The ceiling light (with the switch in
the center position) also comes on
when you unlock the door with the
remote transmitter (see page ).
The light f ades out af ter all doors are
closed.
Each f ront door has a courtesy light.
This light comes on when you open
the door.
Your car also has a courtesy light in
the ignition switch. This light comes
on when you open the driver’s door.
It remains on f or several seconds
af ter the door is closed.
84
Interior Lights
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Courtesy L ight
Courtesy L ights
111
COURTESY LIGHTIGNITION SWITCH LIGHT
DOOR LIGHT

Do not attempt to alter this system
or add other devices to it.
Once the security system is set,
opening any door (without using the
key or the remote transmitter), the
hood, or the trunk will cause it to
sound. It also sounds if the radio is
removed f rom the dashboard or the
wiring is cut.
The security system automatically
sets 15 seconds after you lock the
doors, hood, and trunk. For the
system to activate, you must lock the
doors f rom the outside with the key,
lock tab, door lock switch, or remote
transmitter. The security system
indicator on the instrument panel
starts blinking immediately to show
you the system is setting itself . With the system set, you can still
open the trunk with the remote
transmitter without triggering the
alarm. The alarm will sound if the
trunk lock is f orced, or the trunk is
opened with the trunk release handle
or the emergency trunk opener.
The security system will not set if
the hood, trunk, or any door is not
f ully closed. If the system will not set,
check the Door and Trunk Open
Monitor on the instrument panel
(see page ), to see if the doors
and trunk are f ully closed. Since it is
notpartofthemonitordisplay,
manually check the hood.
The security system helps to protect
your car and valuables f rom thef t.
The horn sounds and a combination
of headlights, parking lights, side
marker lights, and taillights f lash if
someone attempts to break into your
carorremovetheradio.Thisalarm
continues f or 2 minutes, then the
system resets. To reset an alarming
system bef ore the 2 minutes have
elapsed, unlock either f ront door
with the key or the remote
transmitter.
62
Security System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures173
SECURITY SYSTEM INDICATOR

Be sure electronic accessories do
not overload electrical circuits
(see page ).
If possible, have your dealer inspect
the f inal installation. Bef ore installing any accessory:
However, if electronic accessories
are improperly installed, or exceed
your car’s electrical system capacity,
they can interfere with the operation of your car, or even cause the
airbags to deploy.
Make sure the accessory does not
obscure any lights, or interf ere
with proper car operation or
perf ormance.
When properly installed, cellular
phones, alarms, two-way radios, and
low-powered audio systems should
not interf ere with your car’s
computer-controlled systems, such
as the SRS and anti-lock brake
system.
Modif ying your car, or installing
some non-Acura accessories, can
make your car unsaf e. Bef ore you
make any modif ications or add any
accessories,besuretoreadthe
f ollowing inf ormation.
Non-Acura accessories are usually
designed f or universal applications.
Although aftermarket accessories
may f it on your car, they may not
meet f actory specif ications, and
could adversely af f ect your car’s
handling and stability. (See
‘‘Modif ications’’ on page f or
additional information.)
Have the installer contact your
Acura dealer f or assistance bef ore
installing any electronic accessory.
Your Acura dealer has many Acura
Accessories that allow you to
personalize your car. These have all
been approved f or installation and
use on your car, and are covered by
warranty.
324
192
A ccessories
A ccessories and Modif ications
Bef ore Driving191
Improper accessories or
modifications can affect your
car’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.

Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove f rost, snow,
or ice.
Check that the hood and trunk are
f ully closed.Check the adjustment of the seat
(see page ).
Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page ).
Check the adjustment of the
steering wheel (see page ).
Make sure the doors are securely
closed and locked.
Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have f astened
their seat belts (see page ).Turn the ignition switch ON (II).
Check the indicator lights in the
instrument panel.
Start the engine (see page ).
Check the gauges and indicator
lights in the instrument panel (see
page ).
Check that any items you may be
carrying with you inside are stored
properly or f astened down
securely. Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.
Youshoulddothefollowingchecks
and adjustments every day bef ore
you drive your car.
3.2.
1.
4. 5.
6.
7.
8.
9. 11.
12. 10.
15
90
102 76 199
59
Preparing to Drive
Driving198

µMake 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.
Always use the parking brake when
you park your car. The indicator on
the instrument panel shows that the
parking brake is not f ully released; it
does not indicate that the parking
brakeisfirmlyset.Makesurethe
parking brake is set f irmly or your
car may roll if it is parked on an
incline.
If your car has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake
bef ore you put the transmission in
Park.Thiskeepsthecarfrom
moving and putting pressure on the
parking mechanism in the
transmission making it easier to
move the shift lever out of Park
when you want to drive away. If the car is f acing uphill, turn the
f ront wheels away f rom the curb. If
you have a manual transmission, put
it in f irst gear.
If the car is f acing downhill, turn the
f ront wheels toward the curb. If you
have a manual transmission, put it in
reverse gear.
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.
Lockthedoorswiththekeyorthe
remote transmitter.
Check the indicator on the
instrument panel to verif y that the
security system is set.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on
fire.
Parking T ips
Parking
Driving211

Put your f oot on the brake pedal only
when you intend to brake. Resting
your f oot on the pedal keeps the
brakes applied lightly, causing them
to build up heat. Heat build-up can
reduce how well your brakes work. 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 downshif ting to a lower
gear and taking your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal.
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. Since a
longer distance is needed to stop
with wet brakes, be extra cautious
and alert in your driving.
Your Acura 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 ABS helps
you retain steering control when
braking very hard.
All f our brakes have audible brake
wear indicators.
When the brake pads need replacing,
you will hear a distinctive metallic
‘‘screeching’’ sound when you apply
the brakes. If you do not have the
brake pads replaced, they will begin
screeching all the time.
Your brakes may sometimes squeal
or squeak when you apply them
lightly. Do not conf use this with the
brakewearindicators.Theymakea
very audible ‘‘screeching.’’ Brake Wear Indicators
The Braking System
Driver and Passenger Saf ety212

µµBeing able to see
clearly in all directions and being
visible to other drivers are important
in all weather conditions. This is
more dif f icult in bad weather. To be
seen more clearly during daylight
hours, turn on your headlights. Check your tires
f requently f or wear and proper
pressure. Both are important in
preventing ‘‘hydroplaning’’ (loss of
traction on a wet surface). In the
winter, mount snow tires on all f our
wheels f or the best handling.
Watch road conditions caref ully,
they can change f rom moment to
moment. Wet leaves can be as slip-
pery as ice. ‘‘Clear’’ roads can have
patches of ice. Driving conditions
can be very hazardous when the
outside temperature is near f reezing.
The road surf ace can become
covered with areas of water puddles
mixed with areas of ice, so your
traction can change without warning.
Be caref ul when downshif ting. If
traction is low, you can lock up the
drive wheels f or a moment and cause
askid. Be very cautious when passing, or
beingpassedbyothervehicles.The
spray f rom large vehicles reduces
your visibility, and the wind buf f eting
can cause you to lose control.
Inspect your windshield wipers and
washers f requently. Keep the wind-
shield washer reservoir f ull of the
proper f luid. Have the windshield
wiper blades replaced if they start to
streak the windshield or leave parts
unwiped. Use the def roster and air
conditioning to keep the windows
f rom f ogging up on the inside (see
pages and ).
119 126
Visibility
Traction
Driving
Driving in Bad Weather
220