maintenance Acura TSX 2008 User Guide

Help assure your vehicle’s f uture
reliability and perf ormance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period:Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration.
Do not change the oil until the
scheduled maintenance time.
Avoidhardbrakingforthefirst
200 miles (300 km).
Do not tow a trailer.
You should also f ollow these
recommendations with an
overhauled or exchanged engine, or
when the brakes are replaced. Your vehicle is designed to operate
on premium unleaded gasoline with a
pump octane number of 91 or higher.
Useof aloweroctanegasolinecan
cause occasional metallic knocking
noises in the engine and will result in
decreased engine perf ormance. Use
of a gasoline with a pump octane
number less than 87 can lead to
engine damage.
You may hear a knocking noise from
the engine if you drive the vehicle at
low engine speed (below about 1,000
rpm) in a higher gear. To stop this,
raise the engine speed by shif ting to
a lower gear.
We recommend quality gasoline
containing detergent additives that
help prevent f uel system and engine
deposits.
In addition, in order to maintain good
perf ormance, f uel economy, and
emissions control, we stronglyrecommend, in areas where it is
available, the use of gasoline that
does NOT contain manganese-based
f uel additives such as MMT.
Use of gasoline with these additives
may adversely af f ect perf ormance,
and cause the malfunction indicator
lamp on your instrument panel to
come on. If this happens, contact
your authorized dealer f or service.
For f urther important f uel-related
inf ormation, please ref er to your
.
If you notice any undesirable
operating symptoms, try another
service station or switch to another
brand of gasoline.
Some gasoline today is blended with
oxygenates such as ethanol or
MTBE. Your vehicle is designed to
operate on oxygenated gasoline
containing up to 10 % ethanol by
volume and up to 15 % MTBE by
volume. Do not use gasoline
containing methanol.
On vehicles with manual transmission
Break-in Period, Fuel Recommendation
Break-in Period
Fuel Recommendation
Quick Start Guide
232
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Remove the dipstick again, and
check the level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.Look at the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it is
between the MAX and MIN lines. If
it is below the MIN line, see
on page f or
informationonaddingtheproper
coolant.
Refer to on page f or inf ormation
about checking other items on your
vehicle.
If it is near or below the lower mark,
see
on page .
Insert the dipstick all the way back
into its hole.
Wipe the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel.
Remove the dipstick (orange
handle).
Wait a f ew minutes af ter turning the
engine of f bef ore you check the oil.
Park the vehicle on a level surf ace.
1.
2.
3. 4.
291288295
Oil Check
Engine Coolant Check
A dding
Engine Coolant
Owner’s Maintenance
Checks
A dding Engine Oil
Service Station Procedure
236
UPPER MARK
DIPSTICK (orange handle) LOWER MARKRESERVE TANK
MAX
MIN
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Aggressive driving (hard
acceleration and braking)
Excessive idling, accelerating and
braking in stop-and-go traf f ic
Cold engine operation (engines
aremoreefficientwhenwarmed
up)
Driving with a heavy load or the
air conditioner running
Improperly inf lated tires
An under-inf lated tire increases
‘‘rolling resistance,’’ which reduces
f uel economy.
It puts a heavier
load on the engine, increasing f uel
consumption. In
particular, a build-up of snow or
mud on your vehicle’s underside
adds weight and rolling resistance.
Frequent cleaning helps your f uel
economy.
The f ollowing f actors can lower your
vehicle’s f uel economy:
Combine several short trips into
one. A warmed-up engine is more
f uel ef f icient than a cold one.The A/C
puts an extra load on the engine
which makes it use more f uel. Use
the f resh-air ventilation when
possible. Idling
results in 0 miles per gallon. If your vehicle has a
manual transmission, you can
boost your f uel economy by up
shif ting as early as possible.
Aerodynamic drag has a big ef f ect
on f uel mileage at speeds above 45
mph (75 km/h). Reduce your
speed and you reduce the drag.
Trailers, car top carriers, roof
racks and bike racks are also big
contributors to increased drag.
Rapid
acceleration, abrupt cornering,
and hard braking increase fuel
consumption.
A properly maintained vehicle
maximizes f uel economy. Poor
maintenance can signif icantly reduce
f uel economy. Always maintain your
vehicle according to the maintenance
messages displayed on the multi-
inf ormation display (see
on page ).
For example: 288
Fuel Economy Factors
Use the recommended viscosity
motor oil, displaying the A PI
Certif ication Seal (see page ).
Maintain proper tire inf lation
A void carrying excess weight in
your vehicle
K eep your vehicle clean
Improving Fuel Economy
Plan and combine trips
Minimize the use of the air
conditioning system
Avoid excessive idling
Always drive in the highest gear
possible
Observe the speed limit
Drive moderately
Owner’s
Maintenance Checks 291
Drive Ef f icient ly
Vehicle Maint enance
Fuel Economy
238
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This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
This section also includes
instructions on how to read the
maintenance messages on the multi-
inf ormation display and instructions
for simple maintenance tasks you
may want to take care of yourself.
If you have the skills and tools to
perf orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your vehicle, you may want
to purchase the service manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your dealer.......................
Maintenance Saf ety .278
....................
Maintenance Minder .280
..............................
Fluid Locations .290
........................
Adding Engine Oil .291
Changing the Engine Oil and ...........................................
Filter .293
..............................
Engine Coolant .295
....................
Windshield Washers .296
.......................
Transmission Fluid .297
..........
Automatic Transmission .297
..............
Manual Transmission .299
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid .300
....................
Power Steering Fluid .301
.............................................
Lights .302
.......................................
Seat Belts .310
.....................................
Floor Mats .310
..................
DustandPollenFilter .311
.................................
Wiper Blades .312
...........................................
Wheels .314
...............................................
Tires .314
...................
Checking the Battery .320
.............................
Vehicle Storage .321
369
Maintenance
Maint enance
277
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All service items not detailed in this
section should be perf ormed by a
certif ied technician or other qualif ied
mechanic.
To eliminate potential hazards, read
the instructions bef ore you begin,
and make sure you have the tools
and skills required.Make sure your vehicle is parked
on level ground, the parking brake
is set, and the engine is of f .
To clean parts, use a commercially
available degreaser or parts
cleaner, not gasoline.
To reduce the possibility of f ire or
explosion, keep cigarettes, sparks,
and flames away from the battery
and all f uel-related parts.
Wear eye protection and
protective clothing when working
near the battery or when using
compressed air.
Maintenance Saf ety
Important Saf ety Precautions
278
Improperly maintaining this
vehicle, or failing to correct a
problem before driving can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection
and maintenance
recommendations and
schedules in this owner’s
manual.
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Be sure
there is adequate ventilation
whenever you operate the
engine.
Let the
engine and exhaust system cool
down bef ore touching any parts.
Do
not run the engine unless
instructed to do so. Some of the most important saf ety
precautions are given here. However,
we cannot warn you of every
conceivable hazard that can arise in
perf orming maintenance. Only you
can decide whether or not you
should perf orm a given task.
Maintenance Saf ety
Potential Vehicle Hazards
Carbon Monoxide poison
f rom engine exhaust.
Burns f rom hot parts.
Injury f rom moving parts.
Maint enance
279
Failure to properly follow
maintenance instructions and
precautions can cause you to
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures
and precautions in this owner’s
manual.
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To see the current engine oil lif e
displayed on the lower segment of
the multi-information display, turn
the ignition switch to the ON (II)
position, and press the SEL/RESET
buttononthesteeringwheel
repeatedly until engine oil lif e is
displayed. The remaining engine oil lif e is
shownonthedisplayaccordingto
this table:
Calculated Engine Oil Lif e (%)
100% 91% 90% 81%
80% 71%
70% 61%
60% 51%
50% 41%
40% 31%
30% 21%
20% 16%
15% 11%10% 6% 5% 1% 0% Displayed
Engine Oil Lif e (%)
100% 90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
15%
10% 5%
0%
Your vehicle displays engine oil lif e
and maintenance service items on
the multi-information display to show
youwhenyoushouldhaveyour
dealer perf orm engine oil
replacement and indicated
maintenance service.
Based on the engine operating
conditions and accumulated engine
revolutions, the onboard computer in
your vehicle calculates the remaining
engine oil lif e and displays it as a
percentage.
Maintenance Minder
Engine Oil L if e Display
280
ENGINE OIL LIFE DISPLAY
REMAINING ENGINE OIL LIFE
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CONT INUED
When the remaining engine oil lif e is
15 to 6 %, the multi-inf ormation
display shows a ‘‘SERVICE DUE
SOON’’ message along with the
maintenance item code(s) indicating
themainandsubitemsrequiredat
thetimeof theoilchange.Referto
page f or a complete list of the
maintenance main items and sub
items.When the message appears, the
system message indicator also
comes on (see page ). Even after
you press the INFO button to cancel
the message, the indicator continues
to stay on until you have the service
perf ormed.
To cancel the message, press the
INFO button on the steering wheel.
Af ter the message on the multi-
inf ormation display is canceled by
pressing the INFO button, the
engine oil lif e display will appear in
the lower segment. You will see the
percentage of the remaining engine
oillifeandthemaintenanceitem
code(s) displayed.
75
289
Maintenance Minder
Maint enance
281
MAIN ITEM SUB ITEMS
MAINTENANCE ITEM CODE(S)
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To cancel the engine oil lif e display,
press the SEL/RESET button to
return to the previous display.
The message appears on the multi-
inf ormation display each time you
turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position. Af ter canceling the
message, the engine oil lif e display
will appear in the lower segment.
This continues until you have the
indicated maintenance done by your
dealer.When the remaining oil lif e is 5 to 1%,
the multi-information display shows
a ‘‘SERVICE DUE NOW’’ message.
The display also shows the same
maintenance items that were
previously shown with ‘‘SERVICE
DUE SOON.’’ Make sure you have
the indicated maintenance
perf ormed as soon as possible.To cancel the message, press the
INFO button on the steering wheel.
Toseethemessageagain,waitfor
an interval for more than 5 seconds,
and then press the INFO button.
After have the service is performed,
make sure to reset the display as
described on page .
283
Maintenance Minder
282
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If maintenance service is done by
someone other than your dealer,
reset the maintenance minder as
f ollows:Turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position.
To cancel the engine oil lif e display,
press the SEL/RESET button to
return to the previous display. Press and hold the SEL/RESET
button on the steering wheel f or
more than 10 seconds. The
remaining engine oil lif e reset
modewillbeshownonthemulti-
inf ormation display.
To reset the engine oil lif e, press
the INFO button on the steering
wheel to select ‘‘RESET’’ on the
display, and press the SEL/
RESET button.
After the message on the multi-
inf ormation display is canceled by
pressing the INFO button, the
engine oil lif e display will appear in
the lower segment. You will see a
‘‘SERVICE’’ message along with the
percentage of the remaining engine
oil lif e and the maintenance item
code(s) displayed. Your dealer will reset the display
af ter completing the required
maintenance service. You will see
‘‘OIL LIFE 100 %’’ on the lower
segment of the multi-inf ormation
display and the maintenance item
code(s) erased the next time you
turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position.
If the engine oil lif e display is not
displayed, press the SEL/RESET
buttononthesteeringwheel
repeatedly until it comes back.
1.
2.
3.
CONT INUED
Maintenance Minder
Maint enance
283
‘‘SERVICE’’ MESSAGE
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