automatic transmission Acura TSX 2008 Owner's Manual

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Your Vehicle at a Glance
Your Vehicle at a Glance
3
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHESAUDIO SYSTEM
AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
MANUAL
TRANSMISSION CLIMATE CONTROL
SYSTEM
(P.160)
(P.170)
Vehicle without navigation system is shown.
(P.135) PASSENGER’S FRONT AIRBAG
DRIVER’S FRONT AIRBAG
GAUGES (P.68)
(P.9,26)
(P.9,33)
POWER DOOR LOCK
MASTER SWITCH POWER DOOR LOCK
MASTER SWITCH
INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS
(P.130)
(P.129)
HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE TRUNK RELEASE LEVER
FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE
LEVER (P.62)
(P.234)
(P.233) PARKING BRAKE LEVER
(P.151)
(P.147) DRIVING POSITION
MEMORY SYSTEM
MIRROR CONTROLS
(P.146)
(P.252)
(P.250)
(P.143)
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Control L ocations
60
INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORSAUDIO SYSTEM
HOOD RELEASE HANDLE AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
MANUAL
TRANSMISSION
PARKING BRAKE LEVER MIRROR CONTROL AUTO BUTTON
DRIVING POSITION
MEMORYSYSTEM
CLIMATE CONTROL
SYSTEM
(P.151) (P.160)
(P.170)
(P.145)
GAUGES (P.68)
MIRRORS CONTROLS
(P.146) (P.62)
(P.234)
Vehicle without navigation system is shown. FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE
LEVER
TRUNK RELEASE LEVER
(P.147)
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
POWER DOOR LOCK
MASTER SWITCH
(P.129)
(P.135)
(P.233) (P.252)
(P.250)
(P.143)
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If there is a problem in the anti-lock
brake system (ABS), you will see
‘‘CHECKABSSYSTEM’’onthe
multi-inf ormation display. If you see
this message, have your vehicle
checked by a dealer (see page ).
If there is a problem with the
automatic transmission, you will see
‘‘CHECK TRANSMISSION’’ on the
multi-inf ormation display. Avoid
rapid acceleration, and have the
transmission checked by a dealer as
soon as possible. If there is a problem with your f ront
airbags, side airbags, passenger’s
side airbag automatic cutoff system,
automatic seat belt tensioners, side
curtain airbags, driver’s seat position
sensor, or the f ront passenger’s
weight sensors, you will see
‘‘CHECK AIRBAG SYSTEM’’ on the
multi-inf ormation display. Take your
vehicle to a dealer as soon as
possible(seepage ).
32
261Automatic transmission:
CONT INUED
Check T ransmission
Check A BS Syst emCheck A irbag Syst em
Multi-Inf ormation Display
Inst rument s and Cont rols
83
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The ignition switch has f our
positions: LOCK (0), ACCESSORY
(I), ON (II), and START (III). You can insert or
remove the key only in this position.
To turn the key, you must push the
key in slightly. If your vehicle has an
automatic transmission, the shif t
lever must also be in Park. If the f ront wheels are turned, the
anti-thef t lock may make it dif f icult
to turn the key. Firmly turn the
steering wheel to the lef t or right as
you turn the key.
You can
operate the audio system and the
accessory power sockets in this
position.
Use this position
only to start the engine. The switch
returns to the ON (II) position when
you let go of the key. This is the normal key
position when driving. Several of the
indicators on the instrument panel
come on as a test when you turn the
ignition switch f rom the
ACCESSORY (I) to the ON (II)
position.
You will hear a reminder beeper if
you leave the key in the ignition switch in the LOCK (0) or the
ACCESSORY (I) position and open
thedriver’sdoor.Removethekeyto
turn of f the beeper.
You will also see a ‘‘REMOVE KEY’’
message on the multi-inf ormation
display (see page ).
If your vehicle has an automatic
transmission, the shif t lever must be
in Park bef ore you can remove the
key f rom the ignition switch.
79
LOCK (0) A CCESSORY (I)
ST A RT (III)
ON (II)
Ignition Switch
128
Removing the key from the
ignition switch while driving
locks the steering. This can
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle.
Remove the key from the
ignition switch only when
parked.
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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
information on parking your vehicle,
the braking system, the vehicle
stability assist (VSA) system, the tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS),
and f acts you need if you are
planning to tow a trailer.........................
Preparing to Drive .248
.......................
Starting the Engine .249
...................
Manual Transmission .250
..............
Automatic Transmission .252
...........................................
Parking .259
.............................
Braking System .260
...............
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) .261
Tire Pressure Monitoring
........................
System (TPMS) .263
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) ........................................
System .268
...........................
Towing a Trailer .270
Driving
Driving
247
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Apply the parking brake.
In cold weather, turn of f all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.If the engine fails to start, press
the accelerator pedal all the way
downandholdittherewhile
starting to clear flooding. Return
to step 5 if the engine does not
start.
Push the clutch pedal down all the
way.
Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal. Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to the
START (III) position. Do not hold
the key in the START (III)
position f or more than 15 seconds
at a time. If the engine does not
start right away, pause for 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 halfway
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal
so the engine does not race.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.6.
Manual transmission:
Automatic transmission:
Starting the Engine
Driving
249
The engine is harder to start in cold
weather. Also, the thinner air f ound at
altitudes above 8,000 f eet (2,400
meters) adds to this problem.
T he immobilizer system protects your
vehicle f rom thef t. If an improperly-
coded key (or other device) is used, the
engine’s f uel system is disabled. For
more inf ormation, see page .
127
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The ‘‘D’’ indicator comes on f or a
f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. If it f lashes while driving (in
any shif t position), it indicates a
possible problem in the transmission.If the malf unction indicator lamp
comes on along with the ‘‘D’’
indicator, there is a problem with the
automatic transmission control
system. Avoid rapid acceleration, and
have the transmission checked by
your dealer as soon as possible.
These indicators in the tachometer
show which position the shif t lever is
in. When the ‘‘D’’ indicator warns of a
possible problem with the
transmission, you will see a ‘‘CHECK
TRANSMISSION’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display (see page
). To shif t f rom any position, move the
shiftlever.Youcannotshiftoutof
Park when the ignition switch is in
the LOCK (0) or the ACCESSORY
(I) position.
83
Automatic Transmission
Shif t L ever Position Indicators
Shif ting
252
SHIFT LEVER
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To shift from:
PtoR
RtoP
NtoR
DtoD DtoN
DtoD NtoDRtoN Do this:
Press the brake pedal
and move the lever.
Move the lever.
3
3
To avoid transmission damage, come
to a complete stop bef ore shif ting
into Park. The shif t lever must be in
Park bef ore you can remove the key
from the ignition switch. Press the brake
pedal, and move the shif t lever f rom
Park to reverse. To shif t f rom
reverse to neutral, come to a
completestop,andthenshift.
Your vehicle has a reverse lockout so
you cannot accidentally shif t to
reverse f rom neutral or any other
driving position when the vehicle
speed exceeds 5 6 mph (8 10
km/h).
If you cannot shif t to reverse when
the vehicle is stopped, press the
brake pedal, slowly shif t to neutral,
andthenshifttoreverse. Use neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop brief ly with
the engine idling. Shif t to the Park
position if you need to leave your
vehicle and apply the parking brake.
Press on the brake pedal when you
are moving the shif t lever f rom
neutral to another gear.
Use this position f or
your normal driving. The
transmission automatically selects a
suitable gear for the vehicle speed
and acceleration. You may notice the
transmission shif ting up at higher
speeds when the engine is cold. This
helps the engine warm up f aster.
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see
on
page . This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning of f or
starting the engine. To shif t out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal. Move the shif t
levertotherighttoshiftoutof Park.
If there is a problem in the reverse
lockout system, or your vehicle’sbattery is disconnected or goes dead,
you cannot shif t to reverse. (Ref er to
on page ).
257 257
Automatic Transmission
Reverse (R)
Neutral (N)
Drive (D)
Shif t L ock Release
Park (P)
Shif t L ock Release
Driving
253
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When you move the shif t lever f rom
‘‘D’’ to ‘‘M’’ position, the display
shows the selected gear.
In Sequential SportShif t mode, each
time you push f orward on the shif t
lever, the transmission shif ts to a
higher gear. Pull back on the lever to
downshif t. The number of the gear
selected is displayed on the
instrument panel.
With
the shif t lever in ‘‘D’’ position, you
can select the Sequential SportShif t
mode to shif t gears; much like a
manual transmission, but without a
clutch pedal.
To enter the Sequential SportShif t
mode, move the shif t lever f urther to
the driver’s side. To return to ‘‘D,’’
move the shift lever to the
passenger’s side.
This position is similar
to D, except only the first three
gears are selected instead of all f ive.
Use D when towing a trailer in hilly
terrain, or to provide engine braking
when going down a steep hill. D can
also keep the transmission f rom
cycling between third and f ourth
gears in stop-and-go driving.
3
3
Automatic Transmission
Sequential SportShif t ModeDrive (D )3
254
SELECTED GEAR
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If the vehicle speed slows to below
the redline of the selected lower gear
position while the indicator is
f lashing, the transmission will
downshif t and the display will show
the selected lower gear.
If you try to manually downshif t at a
speed that would cause the engine to
exceed the redline in a lower gear,
the transmission will not downshif t.
Thegearindicatorwillflashthe
numberof thelowergearseveral
times, then return to the higher gear.
The transmission will also shif t
automatically as the vehicle comes to
a complete stop. It will downshif t to
f irst gear when the vehicle speed is
under 6 mph (10 km/h).
Downshif ting gives you more power
when climbing, and provides engine
brakingwhengoingdownasteephill.
The transmission may automatically
downshif t f rom the higher gear to
the lower gear under the f ollowing
conditions:
The vehicle speeds drops below5 4:33mph(52km/h)
4 3:20mph(32km/h)
When you accelerate away f rom a
stop, the transmission will be in f irst
gear. The transmission will not
automatically upshift. Watch the
tachometer and upshif t manually
bef ore the engine reaches the
redline.
The transmission remains in the
selectedgear(5,4,3,2,or1).There
is no automatic downshif t when you
push the accelerator pedal to the
f loor. If you press the brake pedal as you
drive downhill.
If you drive uphill between
54:4533mph
(72 52 km/h)
43:3320mph
(52 32 km/h)
32:2010mph
(32 16 km/h)
Automatic Transmission
Driving
255
Up shift
Down shift
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