snow chains Acura TSX 2004 Owner's Manual

This section also includes
Maintenance Schedules f or normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions f or simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself . This section explains why it is
important to keep your car well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
If you have the skills and tools to per-
f orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your Acura, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Acura
dealer.......................
Maintenance Saf ety .230
.
Important Safety Precautions . 231
.................
Maintenance Schedule . 232
...
Required Maintenance Record . 239
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 242
..............................
Fluid Locations .243
......................................
Engine Oil .244
..................................
Adding Oil .244
....................
Recommended Oil .244
..............................
Synthetic Oil .245
....................................
Additives .246
.....
Changing the Oil and Filter . 246
.............................
Cooling System .249
............
Adding Engine Coolant . 249
.......
Replacing Engine Coolant . 251
....................
Windshield Washers .255
.......................
Transmission Fluid .256
Automatic .........................
Transmission .256
6-speed Manual .........................
Transmission .257
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid . 259
............................
Brake System .259
...........................
Clutch System .260
..............................
Power Steering .260
.....................
Air Cleaner Element .261 ....................................
Hood Latch .262
....................................
Spark Plugs .262
..............................
Replacement .262
............................
Specif ications .264
...........................................
Battery .265
.................................
Wiper Blades .267
..............
Air Conditioning System . 269
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 270
.......................................
Drive Belt .272
...............................................
Tires .273
......................................
Inf lation .273
..................................
Inspection .275
..............................
Maintenance .275
.............................
Tire Rotation .276
...
Replacing Tires and Wheels . 276
......................
Wheels and Tires .277
..........................
Winter Driving .278
.............................
Snow Tires .278
............................
Tire Chains .278
.............................................
Lights .280
........................
Replacing Bulbs .282
...........................
Storing Your Car .293
351
Maintenance
Maint enance229

´
Tires that are marked ‘‘M S’’ or
‘‘All Season’’ on the sidewall have an
all-weather tread design. They
should be suitable f or most winter
driving conditions. Tires without
these markings are designed f or
optimum traction in dry conditions.
They may not provide adequate
perf ormance in winter driving.
For the best perf ormance in snowy
or icy conditions, you should install
snow tires or tire chains. They may
be required by local laws under
certain conditions. Mount snow chains on your tires
when required by driving conditions
or local laws. Install them only on the
f ront tires.
Because your car has limited tire
clearance, Acura strongly
recommends using the chains listed
below, made by Security Chain
Company (SCC).
If you mount snow tires on your
Acura, make sure they are radial
tires of the same size and load range
as the original tires. Mount snow
tiresonallfourwheelstobalance
your car’s handling in all weather
conditions. Keep in mind the traction
provided by snow tires on dry roads
may not be as high as your car’s
original equipment tires. You should
drive cautiously even when the roads
are clear. Check with the tire dealer
f or maximum speed recommen-
dations.
Winter Driving
Snow T ires
T ire Chains
Maint enance
Tires
278
CH2412T

If you ever hear the chains
contacting the body or chassis, stop
and investigate. If the chains have
loosened, retighten them. Make sure
they do not contact the brake lines
or suspension.
Removethechainsassoonasyou
begin driving on cleared roads.
Thesechainsaretheonlyonesthat
have been approved by Acura f or use
on your car. Since Acura cannot test
all chains, you must be personally
responsible f or proper selection,
installation, and use of snow chains.
The chains listed here are available
at many auto supply stores. For a
complete list of stores, visit the SCC
website at www.scc-chain.com.
When installing chains, f ollow the
manuf acturer’s instructions, and
mount them as tightly as you can.
Drive slowly with chains installed.
Tires
Maint enance279
Using the wrong chains, or not
properly installing chains, can
damage the brake lines and
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously injured or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner’s manual regarding the
selection and use of tire chains.

Thecompactsparetirehasashorter
tread lif e than a regular tire. Replace
it when you can see the tread wear
indicator bars. The replacement
should be the same size and design
tire, mounted on the same wheel.
Thecompactsparetireisnot
designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and the compact wheel is not
designed f or mounting a regular tire.
Check the inf lation pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be
inf lated to: Your car has a compact spare tire
that takes up less space. Use this
sparetireasatemporaryreplace-
ment only. Get your regular tire
repaired or replaced and put it back
on your car as soon as you can.
Follow these precautions whenever
you are using the compact spare tire:
Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
under any circumstances. This tire gives a harsher ride and
less traction on some road sur-
f aces than the regular tire. Use
greater caution while driving on
this tire.
Do not mount snow chains on the
compact spare.
The wheel of the compact spare
tire is designed especially to f it
your car. Do not use your spare
tire on another car unless it is the
same make and model.
Turn of f the VSA system (see
page ).
Driving with the compact spare
tiremayactivatetheVSAsystem.
218
Compact Spare Tire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed304
INDICATOR LOCATION MARK
TREAD WEAR INDICATOR BAR
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm)

CONT INUED
...............................
Signaling Turns .73
.....................................
Snow Tires .278
...................
Solvent-type Cleaners . 296
........................
Sound System .129, 148
Spare Tire ......................................
Inf lating .304
............................
Specif ications .336
................
Spark Plugs, Replacing . 262
....................
Specif ications Charts . 334
................................
Speed Control .174
........................
Speed Limiter .202, 209
...................................
Speedometer .65
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation . 46
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 52
How Your Airbags ............................
Work .46, 48,49
How Your SRS Indicator .......................................
Works .49
........................
SRS Components .46
..................................
SRS Service .51
.............................
SRS Indicator .49 ,61
....
START (Ignition Key Position) . 81
.......................
Starting the Engine .199
In Cold Weather at High ..................................
Altitude .200
................
With a Dead Battery . 312 ........
Steam Coming f rom Engine . 315
Steering Wheel ..................................
Adjustment .76
.............
Anti-theft Column Lock . 80
Stereo Sound ................................
System .129, 148
...........................
Storing Your Car .323
........................................
Sun Visor .108
........................
Sunglasses Holder .109
Supplemental Restraint System ......................................
Servicing .51
.........................
SRS Indicator .49 ,61
...................
System Components . 46
..................................
Synthetic Oil .245
.....................................
Tachometer .65
......
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in . 286
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected . 303
Technical Descriptions ......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 337
.....
Emissions Control Systems . 342
.....................
Oxygenated Fuels .340
Three Way Catalytic ...............................
Converter .344 ...........................
Tire Inf ormation .339
.......................
Temperature Gauge .66
..............
Tether Anchorage Points . 39
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 344
..................
Time, Setting the . 135,153
....................................
Tire Chains .278
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 305
...............................................
Tires .273
..............................
Air Pressure .273
.........................
Checking Wear .275
..........................
Compact Spare .304
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 337
......................................
Inf lation .273
..................................
Inspection .275
...................................
Replacing .276
......................................
Rotating .276
...........................................
Snow .278
............................
Specif ications .336
.............
Technical Inf ormation . 339
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 305
Towing .....................................
A Trailer .221
................
Emergency Wrecker . 328
Index
T
VII