parking brake Acura TSX 2004 Owner's Manual

This section gives inf ormation about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your Acura. All the essential controls
are within easy reach............................
Control Locations .58
...............................
Indicator Lights .59
.............................................
Gauges .65
...............................
Speedometer .65
.................................
Tachometer .65
.....................................
Odometer .65
Outside Temperature ...................................
Indicator .66
...................................
Trip Meter .66 ...................
Temperature Gauge . 66
..................................
Fuel Gauge .67
Maintenance Required ...................................
Indicator .67
Controls Near the Steering .......................................
Wheel .69
...................................
Headlights .70
Automatic Lighting Off .....................................
Feature .71
............
Daytime Running Lights . 72
....
Instrument Panel Brightness . 72
................................
Turn Signals .73
.....................
Windshield Wipers .73
..................
Windshield Washers . 75
..........................
Hazard Warning .75
.............
Rear Window Def ogger . 75
......
Steering Wheel Adjustment . 76
...............................
Keys and Locks .77
..............................................
Keys .77
....................
Immobilizer System . 79
............................
Ignition Switch .80
......................
Power Door Locks .81
...................
Remote Transmitter . 83
..............
Childproof Door Locks . 87
...........................................
Trunk .87
........
Emergency Trunk Opener . 88....................................
Glove Box .89
............................
Seat Adjustments .90
Driver’s Seat Full Power ............................
Adjustments .90
...........
Driver’s Lumbar Support . 91
Front Passenger’s Seat ............................
Adjustments .92
..........................
Head Restraints .93
.......................
Folding Rear Seat .94
......................
Rear Seat Armrest .95
....................................
Seat Heaters .96
..............................
Power Windows .97
.......................................
Moonroof .101
...........................................
Mirrors .102
..
Adjusting the Power Mirrors . 102
...............................
Parking Brake .104
.................
Console Compartment . 105
..........................................
Armrest .105
.........................
Beverage Holders .106
.........................
Center CD Pocket .107
.................................
Utility Pocket .107
........................................
Sun Visor .108
................................
Vanity Mirror .108
........................
Sunglasses Holder .109
............
Accessory Power Sockets . 109
...............................
Interior Lights .110
Instruments and Controls
Inst rument s and Cont rols57

Î
The U.S. instrument panel is shown. Dif f erences f or the Canadian models are noted in the text.
Indicator L ights
Inst rument s and Cont rols59
CRUISE CONTROL INDICATORHIGH BEAM INDICATOR
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR
SECURITY SYSTEM INDICATOR IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM INDICATOR
CRUISE MAIN INDICATOR LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR
DOOR AND TRUNK OPEN MONITOR
VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA)
SYSTEM INDICATORLOW FUEL INDICATOR
VSA ACTIVATION
INDICATOR
SIDE AIRBAG CUTOFF INDICATOR
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM INDICATOR SEAT BELT
REMINDER
LIGHT
CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR
MAINTENANCE REQUIRED
INDICATOR
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP PARKING BRAKE AND BRAKE
SYSTEM INDICATOR
LIGHTS ON INDICATOR
(P.62)
(P.64)
(P.64)
(P.63)(P.60) (P.61)
(P.61)
(P.60)
(P. 60)
(P.67)
(P.60)
(P.61)
(P.63)
(P.62)
(P.61)
(P.64)
(P.64)
(P.63)
(P.60)

The instrument panel has many
indicators to give you important
inf ormation about your car.
This indicator lights when you turn
the ignition switch ON (II). It is a
reminder to you and your passengers
to protect yourselves by f astening
the seat belts. A beeper also sounds
if you have not fastened your seat
belt.
If you do not f asten your seat belt,
the beeper will stop af ter a f ew
seconds but the light stays on until
you do. Both the light and the beeper
stay of f if you f asten your seat belt
bef ore turning on the ignition.The engine can be severely damaged
if this light f lashes or stays on when
the engine is running. For complete
inf ormation, see page .
If this light comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged. For complete
inf ormation, see page .
See page .
This light has two f unctions:
This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch ON (II). It
is a reminder to check the parking
brake. A beeper sounds if you try
to drive with the parking brake not
f ully released. Driving with the
parking brake not f ully released
can damage the brakes and tires.
If the indicator remains lit after
you have f ully released the
parking brake while the engine is
running, or if it comes on while
driving, it can indicate a problem
in the brake system. For complete
inf ormation, see page .
1.
2.
317
318
319
321
Indicator L ights
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Seat Belt Reminder L ightL ow Oil Pressure
Indicator
Charging System
Indicator
Malf unction Indicator
LampParking Brake and Brake
System Indicator
60
U.S. Canada

This indicator comes on f or a f ew
seconds when you turn the ignition
switch ON (II). It will then go of f if
you have inserted a properly-coded
ignition key. If it is not a properly-
coded key, the indicator will blink
and the engine will not start (see
page ).
This indicator also blinks several
times when you turn the ignition
switch f rom ON (II) to ACCESSORY
(I) or LOCK (0).
This light comes on when the
washer f luid level is low. Add washer
f luid when you see this light come on
(see page ).
This indicator lights when you turn
the ignition switch to ON (II) with
the headlight switch of f and the
parking brake set. It should go of f if
youturnontheheadlightsorrelease
the parking brake. If it comes on at
any other time, it means there is a
problem with the DRL. There may
also be a problem with the high
beam headlights.
This light comes on with the high
beam headlights. See page for
inf ormation on the headlight
controls.
On Canadian models, this indicator
comes on with reduced brightness
when the Daytime Running Lights
(DRL) are on (see page ). This indicator comes on when you
turn on the Cruise Control System
by pressing the Master Button. (see
page .)
This lights when you set the cruise
control. See page f or inf ormation
on operating the cruise control.
70
72 174
174 79
255
Canadian models only
Canadian models only
Immobilizer System
Indicator
Washer Level Indicator
‘‘Daytime Running
Lights’’ Indicator
High Beam Indicator
Cruise Main Indicator
Cruise Control Indicator
Indicator L ights
Inst rument s and Cont rols64

With the headlight switch off, the
high beam headlights and the high
beam indicator come on with
reduced brightness when you turn
the ignition switch to ON (II) and
release the parking brake. They
remain on until you turn the ignition
of f , even if you set the parking brake.
The headlights revert to normal
operation when you turn them on
with the switch.The instrument panel will illuminate
with reduced brightness when you
unlock and open the driver’s door.
The brightness will increase slightly
when you insert the key in the
ignitionswitch,thengotonormal
brightness when you turn the
ignition switch to ON (II).
Turntheknobontherightsideof
the instrument panel to adjust the
instrument panel brightness. There
are six brightness levels. When you
turn the knob, the odometer display
changes to circles that show you the
current level. The display returns to
the odometer values f ive seconds
af ter you stop adjusting the knob. If you do not insert the key in the
ignition switch af ter opening and
closing the driver’s door, the
illumination turns of f in about 30
seconds.
If you insert the key but do not turn
the ignition switch to ON (II), the
illumination turns of f in about 10
seconds.
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Daytime Running L ights
(Canadian Models)
Instrument Panel Brightness
72

To apply the parking brake, pull the
lever up f ully. To release it, pull up
slightly, push the button, and lower
the lever. The parking brake light on
the instrument panel should go out
when the parking brake is f ully
released with the engine running
(see page ).60
Parking Brake
Inst rument s and Cont rols104
PARKING BRAKE LEVER
Driving the car with the parking brake
applied can damage the rear brakes
and hubs.

Shift to Park or Neutral and set
the parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower lef t corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.Standing in f ront of the car, put
your f ingers under the f ront edge
of the hood to the right of center.
Slide your hand to the lef t until
you f eel the hood latch handle.
Push this handle up until it
releases the hood. Lif t the hood.If you can open the hood without
lifting the hood latch handle, or the
hood latch handle moves stif f ly or
does not spring back as bef ore, the
mechanism should be cleaned and
lubricated (see page ).
1. 2. 262
Opening the Hood
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving186
HOOD RELEASE HANDLE
LATCH

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
manual and automatic transmissions.
It also includes important inf orma-
tion on parking your car, the braking
system, the vehicle stability assist
system, and f acts you need if you are
planning to tow a trailer.........................
Preparing to Drive .198
.......................
Starting the Engine .199
Starting in Cold Weather ....................
at High Altitude .200
....
6-speed Manual Transmission . 201
.....
Recommended Shif t Points . 202
..............
Engine Speed Limiter . 202
.......................
Reverse Lockout .203
..............
Automatic Transmission . 204
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 204
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 204
..............
Engine Speed Limiter . 209
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 210
...........................................
Parking .211
..............................
Parking Tips .211
.....................
The Braking System .212
.............
Brake Wear Indicators . 212
...............
Brake System Design . 213
.......................
Anti-lock Brakes .213
Important Saf ety .........................
Reminders .214
........................
ABS Indicator .214
...
Vehicle Stability Assist System . 216
...............
Driving in Bad Weather . 219
...........................
Towing a Trailer .221
Driving
Driving197

Push the clutch pedal down all the
way. START (III) does not
f unction unless the clutch pedal is
depressed. Apply the parking brake.
In cold weather, turn of f all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.
Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal.If the engine still does not start,
press the accelerator pedal all the
way down and hold it there while
starting in order to clear f looding.
As bef ore, keep the ignition key in
the START (III) position f or no
more than 15 seconds. Return to
step 5 if the engine does not start.
If it starts, lif t your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal so the engine
does not race.
Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to the
START (III) position. If the engine
does not start right away, do not
hold the key in START (III) f or
more than 15 seconds at a time.
Pause f or at least 10 seconds
bef ore trying again.
If the engine does not start within
15 seconds, or starts but stalls
right away, repeat step 4 with the
accelerator pedal pressed half-way
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal
so the engine does not race.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.6.
Automatic Transmission:
Manual Transmission:
Starting the Engine
Driving199

The 6-speed manual transmission
has an electric lockout so you cannot
accidentally shif t f rom Fif th to
Reverse instead of Sixth while the
car is moving. If you cannot shif t to
Reverse when the car is stopped:If you are still unable to shif t to
Reverse, apply the parking brake
and turn the ignition key to
ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0).
If you need to use this procedure to
shif t to Reverse, your car may be
developing a problem. Have the car
checked by your Acura dealer.
With the clutch pedal pressed,
move the shift lever to the First/
Second gear side of the Neutral
gate, then shif t to Reverse. Press the clutch pedal, and shif t to
Reverse.
With the clutch pedal still pressed,
start the engine.
1. 2.
3.
4.
Driving
6-speed Manual T ransmission
Reverse Lockout
203