Acura TSX 2011 Owner's Manual

200Driving
When Driving
Shifting
Reverse Lockout
The manual transmission has a lockout mechanism that stops you from accidentally
shifting into
R
from a forward gear while the vehicle is moving at a certain
speed.
If you cannot shift to
R
when the vehicle is stopped, do the following:
1. Depress the clutch pedal, move the shift
lever all the way to the left, and shift
to
R
.
2. If you still cannot shift into
R
, apply the
parking brake, and turn the ignition switch
to ACCESSORY
I or LOCK
0
.
3. Depress the clutch pedal and shift into
R
.
4. Keep depressing the clutch pedal and start
the engine.
Have the vehicle checked by a dealer if you
have to go through this procedure repeatedly.

201
Continued
Driving
When Driving
Cruise Control
Cruise Control

Maintains a constant vehicle speed without having to keep your foot on the
accelerator. Use cruise control on freeways or open roads where you can travel at
a constant speed with little acceleration or deceleration.
Cruise Control
When the ignition switch is in ACCESSORY
I or
LOCK
0, cruise control automatically goes off.
It may not be possible to maintain a constant speed
when driving uphill or downhill.
Always keep sufficient distance
between you and the vehicle in
front of you.
CRUISE MAIN is on in the
instrument panelCruise control is ready to use.
OVehicle speed for cruise control:
Desired speed in a range above
roughly 25 mph (40 km/h) ~ Automatic transmission models OShift positions for cruise control:
In
D
or
S, in 2nd gear or higher
OPress the
CRUISE
button on
the steering wheel
How to use
WARNING
Improper use of the cruise control can
lead to a crash.
Use the cruise control only when traveling
on open highways in good weather.
When to use

202Driving
When Driving
Cruise Control
To Set the Vehicle Speed
Press the DECEL /SET button when you reach the desired speed using the
accelerator pedal.
The moment you release the DECEL /SET button, the set speed is fixed, and cruise
control begins. The CRUISE CONTROL indicator comes on.
To Cancel
To cancel cruise control, do any of the
following.:
Press the CANCEL button. t
Press the CRUISE button. t
Depress the brake pedal. t
Depress the clutch pedal. t
The CRUISE CONTROL indicator goes off.
To Set the Vehicle Speed
When not using cruise control:
Turn off cruise control by pressing the CRUISE
button. To Cancel
Resuming the prior set speed:
After cruise control has been canceled, you can still
resume the prior set speed by pressing the RES/
ACCEL button while driving at a speed of at least 25
mph (40 km/h) or more.
CRUISE
Button
CANCEL
ButtonYou cannot set or resume in the following
situations:
When vehicle speed is less than 25 mph (40 km/h)
tWhen the t
CRUISE button is turned off
At vehicle speeds of 22 mph (35 km/h) or less,
cruise control is canceled automatically. DECEL /SET Button
On when cruise control begins.
Press and Release
OnOn

203
Driving
When Driving
Cruise Control
To Adjust the Vehicle Speed
Increase or decrease the vehicle speed using the accelerator and brake pedals, and
set the vehicle speed with the DECEL /SET button on the steering wheel.
To Adjust the Vehicle Speed
Vehicle speed can be increased or decreased also
using the RES/ACCEL or DECEL /SET buttons on the
steering wheel.
RES/ACCEL Button
Each time you press the button, vehicle speed is tincreased by about 1 mph (1.6 km/h).
If you keep it pressed, vehicle speed increases tuntil you release it. This speed is then set.
DECEL /SET Button
Each time you press it, vehicle speed decreases by tabout 1 mph (1.6 km/h).
If you keep it pressed, vehicle speed decreases tuntil you release it. This speed is then set.
DECEL /SET
Button
Press and Release
To decrease speed To increase speed
Decrease vehicle speed with the
brake pedal, then take your foot
off the brake pedal.Use the accelerator pedal
to increase vehicle speed.
The vehicle speed is
set when the button is
released.

204Driving
When Driving
VSA
® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability Control), System
VSA
® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic
Stability Control), System
VSA
® helps to stabilize the vehicle during cornering if the vehicle turns more or less
than what was intended. It also assists in maintaining traction on slippery surfaces.
It does so by regulating engine output and selectively applying the brakes.
VSA
® Operation
VSA
® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability
Control), System
The VSA
® may not function properly if tire type and
size are mixed. Make sure to use the same size and
type of tire, and the air pressures as specified.
When the VSA
® indicator comes on and stays on
while driving, there may be a problem with the
system. While this may not interfere with normal
driving, have your vehicle checked by a dealer
immediately.
VSA
® cannot enhance stability in all driving
situations and does not control the entire braking
system. You still need to drive and corner at speeds
appropriate for the conditions and always leave a
sufficient margin of safety.
The main function of the VSA
® system is generally
known as Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The
system also includes a traction control function.
When VSA
® activates, you may notice
that the engine does not respond to the
accelerator. You may also notice some noise
from the hydraulic system. You will also see
the indicator blink.
VSA
® System
Indicator

205
Driving
When Driving
VSA
® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability Control), System
VSA
® On and Off
This button is on the driver side control
panel. To turn the VSA
® system on and off,
press and hold it until you hear a beep.
VSA
® will stop and the indicator will come
on.
To turn it on again, press the
(VSA
® OFF)
button until you hear a beep.
VSA
® is turned on every time you start the
engine, even if you turned it off the last time
you drove the vehicle.
VSA
® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability
Control), System
Without VSA
®, your vehicle will have normal braking
and cornering ability, but it will not have VSA
®
traction and stability enhancement.
In certain unusual conditions when your vehicle gets
stuck in shallow mud or fresh snow, it may be easier
to free it with the VSA
® temporarily switched off.
When the VSA
® system is off, the traction control
system is also off. You should only attempt to free
your vehicle with the VSA
® off if you are not able to
free it when the VSA
® is on.
Immediately after freeing your vehicle, be sure
to switch VSA
® on again. We do not recommend
driving your vehicle with the VSA
® and traction
control systems switched off.
If the low tire pressure/ TPMS indicator comes on or
blinks, the VSA
® system comes on automatically.
In this case, you cannot turn the system off by
pressing the

button.
You may hear a motor sound coming from the
engine compartment while system checks are being
performed immediately after starting the engine or
while driving. This is normal.
VSA
® OFF
Indicator

206Driving
When Driving
TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System)
TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System)Monitors the tire pressure while you are driving. If your vehicle's tire pressure
becomes significantly low, the low tire pressure/ TPMS indicator comes on and a
message appears on the multi-information display.
TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System)
Conditions such as low ambient temperature and
altitude change directly affect tire pressure and
can trigger the low tire pressure/ TPMS indicator to
come on.
If the Low Tire Pressure/TPMS Indicator

Comes On or Blinks P. 2 9 3
To select the tire pressure monitor, turn
the ignition switch to ON
II
and press the
(information) button until you see
the tire pressure screen.
If all the tire pressures are normal, "TIRE
PRESSURE OK" will be displayed.
Tire Pressure Monitor
To display the pressure of all four tires, press
the SEL /RESET button.
The pressure for each tire is displayed in PSI
(U.S.) or kPa (Canada).
Tire Pressure Monitor
The pressure displayed on the multi-information
display can be slightly different from the actual
pressure as measured by a gauge. If there is a
significant difference between the two values, or
if the low tire pressure/ TPMS indicator and the
message on the multi-information display do not go
off after you have inflated the tire to the specified
pressure, have the system checked by a dealer.
"SYSTEM FUNCTION ERROR" may appear if you
drive with the compact spare tire, or there is a
problem with the TPMS.

207
Driving
When Driving
TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System)
If any tire has low pressure, "LOW TIRE
PRESSURE" is displayed on the multi-
information display. Check the pressure of
each tire by pressing the
SEL /RESET
button."CHECK TIRE PRESSURE" is displayed when a
tire has significantly low pressure. The specific
tire is displayed on the screen.
TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System)
Tire pressure checked and inflated in:
Warm weather can become under-inflated in tcolder weather.
Cool weather can become over-inflated in warmer tweather.
The low tire pressure/ TPMS indicator will not come
on as a result of over inflation.

208Driving
When Driving
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) - Required Federal Explanation
U.S. models Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) - Required
Federal ExplanationEach tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly
when cold and inflated to the inflation pressure recommended by the
vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label.
(If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label, you should determine the
proper tire inflation pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure
telltale
when one or more of your tires is significantly under-inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illuminates, you should stop
and check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to the proper
pressure.
Driving on a significantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and
can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire
tread life, and may affect the vehicle's handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire maintenance,
and it is the driver's responsibility to maintain correct tire pressure, even
if under-inflation has not reached the level to trigger illumination of the
TPMS low tire pressure telltale.

209
Driving
When Driving
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) - Required Federal Explanation
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS malfunction indicator to
indicate when the system is not operating properly. The TPMS malfunction
indicator is combined with the low tire pressure telltale. When the system
detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash for approximately one minute
and then remain continuously illuminated. This sequence will continue
upon subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the system may not be able
to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety of reasons, including the
installation of replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle that
prevent the TPMS from functioning properly.
Always check the TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing one or more
tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the replacement or alternate
tires and wheels allow the TPMS to continue to function properly.