brake system Acura TSX 2004 Owner's Guide

Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park, and set the parking brake. Open the hood and check the
physical condition of the battery
(see page ). In very cold
weather, check the condition of
the electrolyte. If it seems slushy
or like ice, do not try jump starting
until it thaws.
To jump start your car, f ollow these
directions closely:
If your car’s battery has run down,
you may be able to start the engine
by using a booster battery. Although
this seems like a simple procedure,
you should take several precautions.
You cannot start an Acura with an
automatic transmission by pushing
or pulling it. Turn of f all the electrical acces-
sories: climate control, audio
system, lights, etc.
1.
2.
265
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Jump Starting
312
A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyone
nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.
If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can f reeze.
Attempting to jump start with a f rozen
battery can cause it to rupture.

Î
ÎIf it comes on at any other time, it
indicates a problem with the car’s
brake system. In most cases, the
problem is a low f luid level in the
brake f luid reservoir. Press lightly on
the brake pedal to see if it f eels
normal. If it does, check the brake
f luid level the next time you stop at a
service station (see page ). If the
fluid level is low, take the car to your
dealer and have the brake system
inspected f or leaks or worn brake
pads.
However, if the brake pedal does not
f eel normal, you should take
immediate action. Because of the
brake system’s dual-circuit design, a
problem in one part of the system
will still give you braking at two
wheels. You will f eel the brake pedal
go down much f arther bef ore the car
begins to slow down, and you will
have to press harder on the pedal.
The distance needed to stop will be
much longer. Slow down by shif ting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is saf e. Because of the
longer distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the car. You
should have it towed, and repaired as
soon as possible. (See
on page .)
The Brake System Indicator
normallycomesonwhenyouturn
the ignition switch ON (II). It is a
reminder to check the parking brake.
It comes on and stays lit if you do not
f ully release the parking brake. If you must drive the car a short
distance in this condition, drive
slowly and cautiously.
If the ABS indicator comes on with
this indicator, have the car inspected
by your Acura dealer immediately.
259
328Emergency
Towing
Brake System Indicator
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed321
BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR
U.S. indicator shown

CONT INUED
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 191
................................
Accessories .191
.
Additional Safety Precautions . 192
............................
Modif ications .192
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) .81
.............
Accessory Power Socket . 109
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 246
.....................................
Airbag (SRS) .9
.....................
Air Cleaner Element .261
............................
Air Conditioning .115
..............................
Maintenance .269
.........................................
Usage .115
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .273
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline .340
......................................
Antif reeze .249
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) ................................
Description .213
...............................
Indicator .61, 214
...................................
Operation .213
.
Anti-thef t Steering Column Lock . 80
..........................
Appearance Care .295
..........................................
Armrest .105
........................
Audio System .129, 148 .............
Automatic Speed Control . 174
..............
Automatic Transmission . 204
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .334
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 256
.......................................
Shif ting .204
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 204
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 204
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 210
Battery ......
Charging System Light . 60,318
............................
Jump Starting .312
..............................
Maintenance .265
............................
Specif ications .335
..............................
Bef ore Driving .183
..........................................
Belts, Seat .8
.........................
Beverage Holders .106
...................................
Body Repair .312
Brakes ...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 213
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 184
....................
Bulb Replacement .286
...........................................
Fluid .259
.......................................
Parking .104 .........................
System Indicator .60
........................
Wear Indicators .212
.............................
Braking System .213
........................
Break-in, New Car .184
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 72
........................
Brights, Headlights .70
Bulb Replacement ..........................
Back-up Lights .287
..............................
Brake Lights .286
..............................
Ceiling Light .290
................
Door Courtesy Light . 291
................
Front Parking Lights . 285
.................................
Headlights .282
.........
High-mount Brake Light . 289
...................
License Plate Light . 289
............................
Specif ications .335
...................................
Spotlights .290
...............................
Trunk Light .292
....................
Turn Signal Lights . 284
................
Vanity Mirror Lights . 291
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .282
Index
A
B
I

Î
............................
Capacities Chart .334
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 53
.............................
Carrying Cargo .193
..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
..........................
CD Changer .136, 156
........................
CD Pocket, Center .107
........................
Certif ication Label .332
............................................
Chains .278
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .305
............
Changing Engine Coolant . 251
Changing Oil ........................................
How to .246
......................................
When to .234
...
Charging System Indicator . 60,318
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 198
..................
Childproof Door Locks . 87
.......................................
Child Seats .26
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 39
...................................
Cleaner, Air .261
Cleaning ....................
Aluminum Wheels .297
...................................
Carpeting .298
......................................
Exterior .296
.........................................
Fabric .299 .......................................
Interior .298
.......................................
Leather .299
...................................
Seat Belts .299
...........................................
Vinyl .299
......................................
Window .300
...............
Climate Control System . 114
.................
Clock, Setting the . 135,153
...................................
Clutch Fluid .260
........................
CO in the Exhaust .342
............
Cold Weather, Starting in . 200
..............................
Compact Spare .304
.................
Console Compartment . 105
...............
Consumer Inf ormation . 348
.............
Controls, Instruments and . 57
Coolant ........................................
Adding .249
....................................
Checking .189
.........................
Proper Solution .249
...................
Temperature Gauge . 66
....................
Corrosion Protection .311
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System .342
............
Cruise Control Operation . 174
..........
Customer Relations Of f ice . 348................
DANGER, Explanation of . ii
.......................................
Dashboard .58
................
Daytime Running Lights . 72
............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety . 350
................
Def ogger, Rear Window . 75
....................................
Dimensions .334
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 70
Dipstick ..........
Automatic Transmission . 256
..................................
Engine Oil .187
..........................
Directional Signals .73
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 212
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .248
Doors ..............
Locking and Unlocking . 81
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 337
Downshif ting, 5-speed Manual
.............................
Transmission .201
.....................................
Drive Belts .272
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5
...........................................
Driving .197
....................................
Economy .190
.........................
In Bad Weather .219
................
In Foreign Countries . 341
Index
C D
II

CONT INUED
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 270
............................
Fabric, Cleaning .299
...................................
Fan, Interior .115
Features, Comfort and ..............................
Convenience .113
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 184
Filter .........................
Dust and Pollen .270
...............................................
Oil .246
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 75
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 305
Fluids ..........
Automatic Transmission . 256..........................................
Brake .259
.........................................
Clutch .260
..............
Manual Transmission . 257
..........................
Power Steering .260
..................
Windshield Washer . 255
...........................
Folding Rear Seat .94
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 341
..........................
Four-way Flashers .75
.................................................
Fuel .184
......................
Fill Door and Cap .185
...........................................
Gauge .67
................
Octane Requirement . 184
...............................
Oxygenated .340
........................
Tank, Filling the .184
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .324
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 190
..........................................
Gasohol .340
.........................................
Gasoline .184
...........................................
Gauge .67
................
Octane Requirement . 184
........................
Tank, Filling the .184
..............................
Economy, Fuel .190
............
Emergencies on the Road . 303
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 312
...........
Brake System Indicator . 321
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 305
.....
Charging System Indicator . 318
..................
Checking the Fuses . 324
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 317
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 319
...
Manually Closing Moonroof . 322
..................
Overheated Engine . 315
.........................
Emergency Brake .104
......................
Emergency Flashers .75
......................
Emergency Towing .328
.......................
Emissions Controls .342
Engine ............................................
Belts .272
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 66
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp .60, 319
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 60,317
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 244...............................
Overheating .315
............................
Specif ications .335
....................
Speed Limiter . 202,209
.......................................
Starting .199
..........
Engine Speed Limiter . 202,209
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .340
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 342
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .53
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .19
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 296
Index
E
FG
III

CONT INUED
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) . 80
Locks .......
Anti-thef t Steering Column . 80
............................
Fuel Fill Door .184
....................................
Glove Box .89
...........................................
Trunk .87
........................
Low Coolant Level .189
...
Lower Gear, Downshif ting to a . 201
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 60,317
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart . 334
.........................................
Luggage .193
..................................
Maintenance .229
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 242
........................................
Record .239
......................
Required Indicator .67
..........................................
Saf ety .230
.............................
Schedule .234-238
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 60,319
...................
Manual Transmission . 202
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 257
...............................
Meters, Gauges .65
...................
Methanol in Gasoline . 340
........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .102 .......................................
Moonroof .101
......................
Closing Manually .322
...................................
Operation .101
...................
Neutral Gear Position . 206
..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 184
.....................
Normal Shif t Speeds .202
..................
NOTICE, Explanation of . ii
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 332..............
Panel Brightness Control . 72
........................
Park Gear Position .205
...........................................
Parking .211
...............................
Parking Brake .104
.................................
Parking Lights .70
..
Parking Over Things that Burn . 344
.............................
PGM-FI System .343
..................
Polishing and Waxing . 297
...................................
Pollen Filter .270
............
Pre-Drive Saf ety Checklist . 11
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . 19
............................
Protecting Adults .12
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 20
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 19
...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 184
.........................................
Odometer .65
Odometer/Outside Temperature ......................................
Indicator .66
...............................
Odometer, Trip .66
Oil ........................
Change, How to .246
......................
Change, When to .232
......................
Checking Engine .187
..............
Pressure Indicator . 60,317
Selecting Proper Viscosity ......................................
Chart .245 ...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 81
..
Operation in Foreign Countries . 341
............................
Outside Mirrors .102
.....................
Outside Temperature .66
....................
Overheating, Engine .315
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 242
..........................
Oxygenated Fuel .340
Index
MO N
P
V