engine Acura TSX 2008 Owner's Manual

2008 TSX Online Reference Owner's Manual
Contents

Owner's Identification Form

Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... i A Few Words About Safety .............................................................................................................................. iii
Your Vehicle at a Glance (main controls) .................................................................................................... 3
Driver and Passenger Safety (seat belts, SRS, and child protection) .................................................... 5
Instruments and Controls
(indicators, gauges, multi-information display, dashboard and steering column)
.......... 59
Features (
climate control,audio,steering wheel,security,cruise control,HomeLink®,and other convenience items
) ........... 159
Before Driving (fuel, vehicle break-in, and cargo loading) ...................................................................... 231
Driving (engine and transmission operation) ................................................................................................ 247
Maintenance (minder, fluid checking, minor services, and vehicle storage)........................................... 277
Taking Care of the Unexpected (flat tire, dead battery, overheating, and fuses) .............................. 323
Technical Information (vehicle specifications, tires, and emissions controls) ....................................... 347
Warranty and Customer Relations (U. S. and Canada only) (warranty and contact information) ... 365
Authorized Manuals (U. S. only) (how to order) ......................................................................................... 369
Index ............................................................................................................................... ........................................ I

Service Information Summary ( fluid capacities and tire pressures)

1
00X31-TL1-6000

A convenient ref erence to the
sections in this manual.
A quick ref erence to the main
controls in your vehicle.ID numbers, dimensions, capacities,
and technical information.
Important inf ormation about the
proper use and care of your vehicle’s
seat belts, an overview of the
supplemental restraint system, and
valuable inf ormation on how to
protect children with child restraints.
Explains the purpose of each
instrument panel indicator and gauge,
the multi-information display, and
how to use the controls on the
dashboard and steering column.
How to operate the climate control
system, the audio system, and other convenience f eatures.
This section covers several problems
motorists sometimes experience,
and details how to handle them.
The maintenance minder shows you
when you need to take your vehicle
to the dealer for maintenance service.
There is also a list of things to check
and instructions on how to check
them.
The proper way to start the engine,
shif t the transmission, and park; plus
what you need to know if you’re
planning to tow a trailer.
What gasoline to use, how to break-
in your new vehicle, and how to load
luggage and other cargo.
A summary of the warranties
covering your new vehicle, and how
to contact us for any reason. Refer to
your warranty manual f or detailed
inf ormation.
How to order manuals and other
technical literature.
A summary of the inf ormation you
need when you pull up to the f uel
pump.
Contents
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Instruments and Controls
T echnical Inf ormation
T aking Care of the Unexpected
Maintenance
Driving
Bef ore Driving
Features Warranty and Client Relations
(U.S. and Canada only)
Authorized Manuals
(U.S. only)
Index
Service Inf ormation Summary
Overview of Contents
2
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After all occupants have adjusted
their seats and head restraints, and
put on their seat belts, it is very
important that they continue to sit
upright, well back in their seats, with
their feet on the floor, until the
vehicle is parked and the engine is
off.
This could cause
very serious injuries in a crash.
See page f or additional
inf ormation about your seat belts
and how to take care of them.
If a seat belt does not seem to work
properly, it may not protect the
occupant in a crash.
Using a seat
belt that is not working properly can
result in serious injury or death.
Have your dealer check the belt as
soon as possible.
The front seats have adjustable seat
belt anchors. To adjust the height of
an anchor, press and hold the release
buttons, and slide the anchor up or
down as needed (it has f our
positions). Sitting improperly can increase the
chance of injury during a crash. For
example, if an occupant slouches,
lies down, turns sideways, sits
forward, leans forward or sideways,
or puts one or both f eet up, the
chance of injury during a crash is
greatly increased.
19 Maintain a Proper Sitting
Position
6.
Never place t he shoulder port ion of a
lap/shoulder belt under your arm orbehind your back.
No one should sit in a seat wit h aninoperat ive seat belt .
Protecting A dults and Teens
16
RELEASE BUTTONS
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The SRS indicator alerts
you to a potential problem
with your airbags or seat belt
tensioners. You will also see a ‘‘CHECK
AIRBAG SYSTEM’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display (see page
).
If you see any of these indications,
the airbags and seat belt tensioners
may not work properly when you
need them.
If the indicator comes on or
flashesonandoff whileyoudrive.
If the indicator stays on after the
engine starts.
If the SRS indicator does not come
on after you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position.
If the indicator comes on at any
other time, or does not come on at all,
you should have the system checked
by your dealer. For example:
When you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, this indicator
comes on f or several seconds then
goes of f . This tells you the system is
working properly.
This indicator alerts you that the
passenger’s side airbag has been
automatically shut off. It does
mean there is a problem with your
side airbags.
When you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, the indicator
should come on f or several seconds
andthengooff (seepage ).If it
doesn’t come on, stays on, or comes
on while driving without a passenger
in the front seat, have the system
checked.
You will also see a ‘‘PASSENGER
SIDE AIRBAG OFF’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display (see page
).
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82
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
How the SRS Indicator Works How the Side A irbag Of f
Indicator Works
not
32
Canada
U.S.
Ignoring the SRS indicator can
result in serious injury or death
if the airbag systems or
tensioners do not work properly.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS indicator alerts you to
a possible problem.
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Your vehicle’s exhaust contains
carbon monoxide gas. Carbon
monoxide should not enter the
vehicle in normal driving if you
maintain your vehicle properly and
f ollow the inf ormation on this page.High levels of carbon monoxide can
collect rapidly in enclosed areas,
such as a garage. Do not run the
engine with the garage door closed.
Even with the door open, run the
engine only long enough to move the
vehicle out of the garage.
Have the exhaust system inspected
f or leaks whenever:
With the trunk open, airf low can pull
exhaust gas into your vehicle’s
interior and create a hazardous
condition. If you must drive with the
trunk open, open all the windows and
set the climate control system as
shown below.
If you must sit in your parked vehicle
with the engine running, even in an
unconfined area, adjust the climate
control system as f ollows:
The vehicle is raised f or an oil
change.
You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust.
The vehicle was in an accident
that may have damaged the
underside. Select the f resh air mode.
Select the mode.
Set the f an speed to high.
Set the temperature control to a
comfortable setting.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
55
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and even kill
you.
Avoid any enclosed areas or
activities that expose you to
carbon monoxide.
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The instrument panel has many
indicators to give you important
inf ormation about your vehicle.
This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position. It reminds you and your
passengers to f asten your seat belts.
A beeper also sounds if you and your
f ront passenger have not f astened
your seat belts.
If you turn the ignition switch to the
ON (II) position bef ore f astening
your seat belts, the beeper sounds,
and the indicator f lashes. If you do
not fasten your seat belts before the
beeper stops, the indicator stops
f lashing but remains on.If your f ront passenger does not
f asten their seat belt, the indicator
comes on about 6 seconds af ter the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
(II) position.
If either of you do not f asten your
seat belt while driving, the beeper
will sound and the indicator will f lash
again at regular intervals. For more
inf ormation, see page .
The engine can be severely damaged
if this indicator f lashes or stays on
when the engine is running. For
more information, see page .
If this indicator comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged, and you will also see
a ‘‘CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM’’
message on the multi-inf ormation
display (see page ). For more
inf ormation, see page .
You will also see a ‘‘FASTEN SEAT
BELT’’ or ‘‘FASTEN PASSENGER
SEAT BELT’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display (see page ). You will also see a ‘‘CHECK
ENGINE OIL LEVEL’’ message on
the multi-information display (see
page ).
You will also see a ‘‘CHECK
EMISSION SYSTEM’’ message on
the multi-information display (see
page ). For more inf ormation, see
page . 78
19
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336 336335
Instrument Panel Indicators
L ow Oil Pressure
Indicator
Seat Belt Reminder
Indicator
Malf unction Indicator
LampCharging System
Indicator
62
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This indicator has two f unctions:Itcomesonwhenyouturnthe
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. It is a reminder to check
the parking brake. Driving with
the parking brake not f ully
released can damage the rear
brakes, axles, and tires. If it stays on after you have fully
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. You will also see a
‘‘BRAKE FLUID LOW’’ or
‘‘CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM’’
message on the multi-inf ormation
display (see pages , ). For
more information, see page .
If you drive without releasing the
parking brake, a beeper will sound,
and you will also see a ‘‘RELEASE
PARKING BRAKE’’ message on
the multi-information display (see
page ). This indicator comes on f or several
seconds when you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position. If it
comes on at any other time, it
indicates a potential problem with
your f ront airbags. This indicator will
also alert you to a potential problem
with your side airbags, passenger’s
side airbag automatic cutoff system,
automatic seat belt tensioners, side
curtain airbags, driver’s seat position
sensor, and the f ront passenger’s
weight sensors. You will also see a
‘‘CHECK AIRBAG SYSTEM’’
message on the multi-inf ormation
display (see page ). For more
inf ormation, see page .
This indicator reminds you that the
exterior lights are on. It comes on
when the light switch is in either the
or position. If you turn the
ignition switch to the ACCESSORY
(I) or the LOCK (0) position without
turning of f the light switch, this
indicator will remain on. A reminder
chime will also sound when you open
the driver’s door and remove the key
from the ignition switch.
1.
2.
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78 338
Instrument Panel Indicators
Parking Brake and Brake System
Indicator
Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS) Indicator
Lights On Indicator
Inst rument s and Cont rols
63
U.S. Canada
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This indicator also blinks several
times when you turn the ignition
switch f rom the ON (II) position to
the ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0)
position.
This indicator comes on f or a f ew
seconds when you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position. It will
then go of f if you have 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 normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position.
If itcomesonandstaysonatany
other time, or it does not come on
when you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, there is a
problem with the VSA system. You
will also see a ‘‘CHECK VSA
SYSTEM’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display (see page ).
Take your vehicle to a dealer to have
it checked. Without VSA, your
vehicle still has normal driving ability,
but will not have VSA traction and
stability enhancement. For more
inf ormation, see page .
This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position. If it comes on at any
other time, it indicates that the
passenger’s side airbag has
automatically shut of f . You will also
see a ‘‘PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG
OFF’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display (see page ).
For more inf ormation, see page .
127
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268
Instrument Panel Indicators
Immobilizer System
Indicator Vehicle Stability Assist
(VSA ) System Indicator
Side Airbag Of f
Indicator
64
U.S. Canada
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This shows how much f uel you
have. It may show slightly more
or less than the actual amount.
The needle returns to the
bottom after you turn off the
ignition.
This shows the temperature of the
engine’s coolant. During normal
operation, the pointer should rise to
about the middle of the gauge. In
severe driving conditions, such as
very hot weather or a long period of
uphill driving, the pointer may rise to
the upper zone. If it reaches the red (Hot) mark, pull saf ely to the side of
the road. See page f or
instructions and precautions on
checking the engine’s cooling
system.
333
Gauges
Temperature Gauge Fuel Gauge
68
TACHOMETER
SPEEDOMETER
TEMPERATURE
GAUGE
INFO KNOB SELECT/RESET KNOBFUEL GAUGE
U.S. model is shown.
Avoid driving with an extremely low
f uel level. Running out of f uel could
cause the engine to misf ire, damaging
the catalytic converter.
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The multi-inf ormation display in the
instrument panel displays various
inf ormation and messages when the
ignition switch is in the ON (II)
position. Some of the messages help
you operate your vehicle more
comf ortably.
Others help to keep you aware of the
periodic maintenance your vehicle
needs f or continued trouble-f ree
driving.When you turn the ignition switch to
the ACCESSORY (I) position, the
display shows ‘‘Goodbye.’’
There are three types of messages;
normal display messages, engine oil
lif e and maintenance messages, and
system messages.
You can also customize some vehicle
control settings to your liking with
the multi-inf ormation display and the
two buttons on the steering wheel
(see page ).
When you unlock and open the
driver’s door with the remote
transmitter, the display shows
‘‘Welcome Driver 1’’ or ‘‘Welcome
Driver 2’’ depending on which
remote transmitter you use. The
driver’s ‘‘ID’’ is detected by the
transmitter. For more information
about driver’s ‘‘ID’’, see page .If you use the key to unlock the
driver’s door, the display only shows
‘‘Welcome.’’ This means the system
cannot recognize either ‘‘Driver 1’’ or
‘‘Driver 2.’’ In this case, you cannot
use the customized settings on the
multi-inf ormation display (see page
).
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CONT INUED
Normal Display Messages
Multi-Inf ormation Display
Inst rument s and Cont rols
69
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