engine overheat Acura TSX 2009 Owner's Manual

2009 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)
.......... 57
Features (
climate control,audio,steering wheel,security,cruise control,HomeLink®,and other convenience items
) ........... 165
Before Driving (fuel, vehicle break-in, and cargo loading) ...................................................................... 355
Driving (engine and transmission operation) ................................................................................................ 373
Maintenance (minder, fluid checking, minor services, and vehicle storage)........................................... 407
Taking Care of the Unexpected (flat tire, dead battery, overheating, and fuses) .............................. 457
Technical Information (vehicle specifications, tires, and emissions controls) ....................................... 483
Warranty and Client Relations (U. S. and Canada only) (warranty and contact information) .......... 501
Authorized Manuals (U. S. only) (how to order) ......................................................................................... 505
Index ............................................................................................................................... ........................................ I

Service Information Summary ( fluid capacities and tire pressures)

1
00X31-TL1-6000

This indicator normally comes on
when you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position and goes of f
af ter the engine starts. If it comes on
at any other time, there is a problem
in the electric power steering system.
If this happens, stop the vehicle in a
saf e place and turn of f the engine.
Reset the system by restarting the
engine. The indicator will stay on,
but should go of f af ter driving a
short distance. If it does not go of f ,
or comes back on again while driving,
take the vehicle to your dealer to
have it checked. With the indicator
on, the EPS may be turned of f ,
making the vehicle harder to steer.If you turn the steering wheel to the
f ull lef t or right position repeatedly
while stopping or driving at very low
speed, you may f eel slightly harder
steering in order to prevent damage
to the steering box caused by
overheating.
This indicator comes on red if any
door or the trunk lid is not closed
tightly.
You will also see a corresponding
indicator(s) on the multi-information
display to indicate which door and/
or the trunk is not closed tightly (see
page ).
You will also see a ‘‘CHECK POWER
STEERING SYSTEM’’ message on
the multi-information display.11
Instrument Panel Indicators
Electric Power Steering
(EPS) Indicator
Door/T runk Open
Indicator
Inst rument s and Cont rols
65
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On models with manual transmission
The manual transmission is
synchronized in all f orward gears f or
smooth operation. It has a lockout so
you cannot accidentally shif t f rom
any forward gear to reverse while
the vehicle is moving at a certain
speed (see page ).
When shif ting up or down, make
sure you push the clutch pedal down
all the way, shif t to the next gear,
and let the pedal up gradually. When
you are not shif ting, do not rest your
f oot on the clutch pedal. This can
cause your clutch to wear out f aster.
Come to a full stop before you shift
into reverse. You can damage the
transmission by trying to shift into
reverse with the vehicle moving.
Push down the clutch pedal, and
pause f or a f ew seconds bef ore
shif ting into reverse, or shif t into one
of the f orward gears f or a moment.
This stops the gears so they won’t
‘‘grind.’’
When slowing down, you can get
extra braking from the engine by
shifting to a lower gear. This extra
braking can help you maintain a safe
speed and prevent your brakes f rom
overheatingwhilegoingdowna
steep hill. Bef ore downshif ting,
make sure the engine speed will not
go into the tachometer’s red zone in
the lower gear.
378
Manual T ransmission
376
Rapid slowing or speeding up
can cause loss of control on
slippery surfaces. If you crash,
you can be injured.
Use extra care when driving on
slippery surfaces.
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Your vehicle is equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
that turns on every time you start the
engine and monitors the pressure in
your tires while driving.If you think you can saf ely drive a
short distance to a service station,
proceed slowly to the station, then
inflate the tire to the recommended
pressure.
Driving on a signif icantly under-
inf lated tire causes the tire to
overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inf lation also reduces f uel
efficiency and tire tread life, and may
af f ect the vehicle’s handling and
stopping ability.
Becausetirepressurevariesby
temperature and other conditions,
the low tire pressure/TPMS
indicator may come on unexpectedly.
If the tire is flat, or if the tire
pressure is too low to continue
driving, replace the tire with the
compact spare tire (see page ).
Each tire has its own pressure
sensor. If the air pressure of a tire
becomes signif icantly low, the
sensor in that tire immediately sends
a signal that causes the low tire
pressure/TPMS indicator in the
instrument panel to come on. If this
happens, you will see which tire is
losing pressure on the multi-
inf ormation display along with a
‘‘CHECK TIRE PRESSURE’’
message. It is possible that the pressures
shown on the multi-inf ormation
display and the pressures you
manually measure are slightly
dif f erent.
If the dif f erence is signif icant or you
cannot make the low tire pressure/
TPMS indicator and message on the
multi-inf ormation display go out af ter
inf lating the tires to the specif ied
values, have your dealer check the
system as soon as possible.
When the low tire pressure/TPMS
indicator is on, one or more of your
tires is signif icantly underinf lated.
Youshouldstopandcheckyourtires
as soon as possible, and inflate them
to the proper pressure as indicated
on the vehicle’s tire inf ormation
placard.458Low Tire Pressure/
TPMS Indicator
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
392
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µ
µ
µ
µ
On models with automatic transmission
When driving uphill and downhill,
use the S position (without using the
paddle shif ters) to provide the
proper engine power and engine
braking on each gear. You can also
use the paddle shif ters. In this case,
select third, second, or f irst gear
with the paddle shif ter; depending on
the vehicle speeds and road
condition. Do not use f ourth and f if th
gears. The recommended speed
range f or each gear position is
showninthetable.
Gear position 1
2, 3 Speed range
042mph
(0 67 km/h)
19 62 mph
(30 100 km/h) If the automatic transmission f luid
temperature increases and exceeds
the specif ied limit, the transmission
will also automatically downshif t to
the first gear even with the
Sequential Sportshif t Mode. This
prevents the automatic transmission
f rom overheating. In this case, the
gear position ‘‘1’’ next to the ‘‘M’’
indicator in the instrument panel
blinks about f or f ive seconds, then it
stays on.
Maketurnsmoreslowlyandwider
than normal. The trailer tracks a
smaller arc than your vehicle, and it
canhitorrunoversomethingthe
vehicle misses. Allow more time and
distance f or braking. Do not brake or
turn suddenly as this could cause the
trailer to jackknif e or turn over.
When climbing hills, closely watch
your temperature gauge. If it nears
the red (Hot) mark, turn the air
conditioning of f , reduce speed and, if
necessary, pull to the side of the
road to let the engine cool.
When driving down hills, reduce
your speed and always apply engine
braking by shif ting down. If your
vehicle has a manual transmission,
when going down a steep hill, use
the second gear to provide greater
engine braking.
CONT INUED
Towing a Trailer
Making T urns and Braking
Driving on Hills
Driving
405
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Crosswinds and air turbulence
caused by passing trucks can disrupt
your steering and cause the trailer to
sway. When being passed by a large
vehicle, keep a constant speed, and
steer straight ahead. Do not try to
make quick steering or braking
corrections.
Make sure to set the parking brake
whenstartingoff onanincline.
If you must stop when f acing uphill,
use the f oot brake or parking brake.
Do not try to hold the vehicle in
placebypressingontheaccelerator,
as this can cause the automatic
transmission to overheat.
If your vehicle has an automatic
transmission, when driving down
hills, reduce your speed and use the
S mode. You can also use the paddle
shifters to change the gear position.
Select third, second or f irst gear
depending on the vehicle speeds and
road condition. When going down a
steep hill, use second gear to provide
greater engine braking. Shif t down
to f irst gear when driving up steep
hills.
Do not ‘‘ride’’ the brakes, and
remember, it will take longer to slow
downandstopwhentowingatrailer. Always drive slowly and have
someone guide you when backing up.
Grip the of the steering wheel,
then turn the wheel to the left to get
the trailer to move to the lef t. Turn
the wheel to the right to move the
trailer to the right.Your vehicle is not designed to be
towed behind a motor home. If your
vehicle needs to be towed in an
emergency, see page .
Follow all normal precautions when
parking, including f irmly setting the
parking brake and putting the
transmission in Park (automatic) or
in 1st or reverse (manual). Also,
place wheel chocks at each of the
trailer’s tires.
481
bottom
Towing a Trailer
Handling Crosswinds and Buf f et ing
Backing Up Parking
Towing Your Vehicle
406
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This section covers the more
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you inf ormation about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also f ind instructions
on getting your vehicle towed.......................
Compact Spare Tire .458
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .459
.............
If the Engine Won’t Start .464
................................
Jump Starting .466
..............
If the Engine Overheats .468
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .470
..........
Charging System Indicator .470
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .471
.........................
Readiness Code .471
...............
Brake System Indicator .472
Opening the Fuel Fill Door
....................................
Manually .473
..............................................
Fuses .474
..............................
Fuse Locations .478
......................
Emergency Towing .481
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
457
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If the temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn of f the engine.
Look f or any obvious coolant leaks,
such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you f ind a leak, it
must be repaired bef ore you
continue driving (see
on page ).
If you see steam and/or spray
coming f rom under the hood, turn
of f the engine. Wait until you see
no more signs of steam or spray,
then open the hood.
Saf ely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in neutral
(manual) or Park (automatic), and
set the parking brake. Turn of f all
accessories, and turn on the
hazard warning indicators.
If you do not see steam or spray,
leave the engine running and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading,
the engine should start to cool
down almost immediately. If it
does, wait until the temperature
gauge comes down to the midpoint,
then continue driving.
The pointer of the vehicle’s
temperature gauge should stay in
the midrange. If it climbs to the red
mark, you should determine the
reason (hot day, driving up a steep
hill, etc.).
You will also see a ‘‘WATER TEMP
HOT’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display (see page ).
If your vehicle overheats, you should
take immediate action. The only
indicationmaybethetemperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming f rom under the hood.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
69
481
Emergency
Towing
If theEngineOverheats
468
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause
serious damage to the engine.
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Using gloves or a large heavy
cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the f irst stop. Af ter the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap, and turn it until it comes
off.
Put the radiator cap back on
tightly. Run the engine, and check
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair (see
on page ).
If the temperature stays normal,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the
MAX mark. Put the cap back on
tightly.
If you do not f ind an obvious leak,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Add coolant
if the level is below the MIN mark.
Start the engine, and set the
temperature to maximum heat
(climate control to AUTO at
‘‘ ’’). Add coolant to the
radiator up to the base of the f iller
neck. If you do not have the
proper coolant mixture available,
you can add plain water.
Remember to have the cooling
system drained and ref illed with
the proper mixture as soon as you
can.
If there was no coolant in the
reserve tank, you may need to add
coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the pointer
reaches the middle of the
temperature gauge or lower
bef ore checking the radiator.
7.
6. 8.
9.
10.
11.
481
Emergency
Towing
If theEngineOverheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
469
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.
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CONT INUED
Doors................
Auto Door Lock .100,124
............
Auto Door Unlock .106,124
............
Childproof Door Locks .125
............
Locking and Unlocking .124
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading .489
Downshif ting, Manual
.............................
Transmission .376
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety .5
...........................................
Driving .373
....................................
Economy .362
Driving Position Memory ........................................
System .142
..........
Dual Temperature Control .171
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter .443 ...................................
Fan, Interior .169
.........................................
Features .165
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank .357
Filters
........................
Dust and Pollen .443
...............................................
Oil .421
...........
Flashers, Hazard Warning .117
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a .459
.....................................
Floor Mats .442
..............................
Economy, Fuel .362
Electric Power Steering (EPS)
.......................................
Indicator .65
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ........................................
System .398
..................................
Emergencies .457
.............
Battery, Jump Starting .466
...........
Brake System Indicator .472 ................
Changing a Flat Tire .459
.....
Charging System Indicator .470
..................
Checking the Fuses .474
Fuel Fill Door, Opening
................................
Manually .473
.......
Hazard Warning Flashers .117
............................
Jump Starting .466
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .470
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .471
..................
Overheated Engine .468
.......................................
Towing .481
.........................
Emergency Brake .153
....................
Emergency Flashers .117
......................
Emergency Towing .481
.......................
Emissions Controls .495
........................
Emissions Testing .498
Engine
............
Adding Engine Coolant .423
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge .69
.........................
If It Won’t Start .464
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .471
.........................
Oil Lif e Display .409
..............
Oil Pressure Indicator .470
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use .419
...............................
Overheating .468
............................
Specif ications .487 ....................
Speed Limiter .377,381
.......................................
Starting .375
..........
Engine Speed Limiter .377,381
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .357
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls .495
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .55
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by .17
Index
INDEX
E F
III
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