Acura TSX 2011 Owner's Guide

20Quick Reference Guide
A Few Words About SafetyYour safety, and the safety of others, is very important. And
operating this vehicle safely is an important responsibility.
To help you make informed decisions about safety, we have
provided operating procedures and other information on labels
and in this manual. This information alerts you to potential
hazards that could hurt you or others.
Of course, it is not practical or possible to warn you about all the
hazards associated with operating or maintaining your vehicle.
You must use your own good judgement.You will find this important safety information in a variety of
forms, including:
Safety Labels M - on the vehicle.
Safety Messages M - preceded by a safety alert symbol

and one of three signal words: DANGER, WARNING, or
CAUTION.
These signal words mean:
You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT
if you don't follow instructions. You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if
you don't follow instructions. You CAN be HURT if you don't follow
instructions.
Safety Headings M - such as Important Safety Precautions.
Safety Section M - such as Safe Driving.
Instructions M - how to use this vehicle correctly and safely.
This entire book is filled with important safety information -
please read it carefully.

Safe Driving
You can find many safety recommendations throughout this chapter, and
throughout this manual.
For Safe Driving
Important Safety Precautions ............... 22
Your Vehicle's Safety Features .............. 24
Seat Belts
About Your Seat Belts .......................... 26
Fastening a Seat Belt ............................ 29
Seat Belt Inspection ............................. 32
Airbags
Airbag System Components ................. 33
Types of Airbags .................................. 36
Front Airbags (SRS) .............................. 36
Side Airbags ......................................... 40Side Curtain Airbags ............................ 43
Airbag System Indicators ...................... 44
Airbag Care ......................................... 47
Child Safety
Protecting Child Passengers ................. 48
Safety of Infants and Small Children..... 50
Safety of Larger Children ..................... 58
Exhaust Gas Hazard
Carbon Monoxide Gas ......................... 60
Safety Labels
Label Locations .....................................61
21

For Safe Driving
22Safe Driving
The following pages explain your vehicle's safety features and how to use them
properly. The safety precautions below are ones that we consider to be among the
most important.Important Safety Precautions
Always wear your seat belt
A seat belt is your best protection in all types of collisions. Airbags are designed to
supplement seat belts, not replace them. So even though your vehicle is equipped
with airbags, make sure you and your passengers always wear your seat belts, and
wear them properly. Restrain all children
Children age 12 and under should ride properly restrained in a back seat, not the
front seat. Infants and small children should be restrained in a child seat. Larger
children should use a booster seat and a lap/shoulder seat belt until they can use
the belt properly without a booster seat. Be aware of airbag hazards
While airbags can save lives, they can cause serious or fatal injuries to occupants
who sit too close to them, or are not properly restrained. Infants, young children,
and short adults are at the greatest risk. Be sure to follow all instructions and
warnings in this manual. Don't drink and drive
Alcohol and driving don't mix. Even one drink can reduce your ability to respond
to changing conditions, and your reaction time gets worse with every additional
drink. So don't drink and drive, and don't let your friends drink and drive, either.
Important Safety Precautions
Some states, provinces and territories prohibit the
use of cell phones other than hands-free devices by
the driver while driving.

For Safe Driving
Important Safety Precautions
23Safe Driving
Pay appropriate attention to the task of driving safely
Engaging in cell phone conversation or other activities that keep you from paying
close attention to the road, other vehicles, and pedestrians could lead to a crash.
Remember, situations can change quickly, and only you can decide when it is safe
to divert some attention away from driving. Control your speed
Excessive speed is a major factor in crash injuries and deaths. Generally, the higher
the speed, the greater the risk, but serious injuries can also occur at lower speeds.
Never drive faster than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the maximum
speed posted. Keep your vehicle in safe condition
Having a tire blowout or a mechanical failure can be extremely hazardous.
To reduce the possibility of such problems, check your tire pressures and condition
frequently, and perform all regularly scheduled maintenance.

For Safe Driving
Your Vehicle's Safety Features
24Safe Driving
Your Vehicle's Safety FeaturesYour vehicle is equipped with many features that work together to help protect
you and your passengers during a crash.
Some features do not require any action on your part. These include a strong steel
framework that forms a safety cage around the passenger compartment, front
and rear crush zones, a collapsible steering column, and tensioners that tighten
the front seat belts in a crash.
However, you and your passengers cannot take full advantage of these features
unless you remain seated in the correct position and always wear your seat belts.
In fact, some safety features can contribute to injuries if they are not used
properly.
The following checklist will help you take an active role in protecting yourself and
your passengers.

For Safe Driving
Your Vehicle's Safety Features
25Safe Driving
Safety CheckList
For the safety of you and your passengers, make a habit of checking these items
each time before you drive.
After everyone has entered the vehicle, be sure all doors are closed and locked. t
Locking the doors helps prevent an occupant from being ejected and an
outsider from unexpectedly opening a door.
Locking/Unlocking the Doors from Inside

P. 9 3
Adjust your seat to a position suitable for driving. Be sure the front seats are t
adjusted as far to the rear as possible while allowing the driver to control the
vehicle. Sitting too close to a front airbag can result in serious or fatal injury in a
crash.
Adjusting the Seats

P.11 6
Adjust head restraints to the proper position. Head restraints are most effective t
when the center of the head restraint aligns with the center of your head. Taller
persons should adjust their head restraint to the highest position.
Adjusting the Head Restraints

P.11 8
Always wear your seat belt, and make sure you wear it properly. Confirm that t
any passengers are properly belted as well.
Fastening a Seat Belt

P. 2 9
Protect children by using seat belts or child seats according to a child’s age, t
height and weight.
Child Safety

P. 4 8
Safety CheckList
If the door and trunk open indicator is on, a door
and/or the trunk is not completely closed. Close all
doors and the trunk tightly until the indicator goes
off.
Door and Trunk Open indicator


P. 6 8

Seat Belts
26Safe Driving
About Your Seat BeltsSeat belts are the single most effective safety device because they keep you
connected to the vehicle so that you can take advantage of many built-in safety
features. They also help keep you from being thrown against the inside of the
vehicle, against other passengers, or out of the vehicle. When worn properly, seat
belts also keep your body properly positioned in a crash so that you can take full
advantage of the additional protection provided by the airbags.
In addition, seat belts help protect you in almost every type of crash, including:
- frontal impacts
- side impacts
- rear impacts
- rollovers
Lap/shoulder seat belts
All five seating positions are equipped with lap/shoulder seat belts with emergency
locking retractors. In normal driving the retractor lets you move freely while
keeping some tension on the belt. During a collision or sudden stop the retractor
locks to restrain your body. The rear seat belts also have a lockable retractor for
use with child seats.
Installing a Child Seat using the Lockable Retractor Seat Belt

P. 5 5
About Your Seat Belts
Seat belts cannot completely protect you in every
crash. But in most cases, seat belts can reduce your
risk of serious injury.
Most states and all Canadian provinces and
territories require you to wear seat belts.
WARNING
Not wearing a seat belt properly increases
the chance of serious injury or death in
a crash, even though your vehicle has
airbags.
Be sure you and your passengers always
wear seat belts and wear them properly.

Seat Belts
About Your Seat Belts
27
Continued
Safe Driving
Your vehicle monitors front seat belt use. If
the ignition switch is turned to ON
II
before
the driver's seat belt is fastened, a beeper will
sound and the indicator will blink. If the
driver does not fasten the belt before the
beeper stops, the indicator will remain on.
The beeper will also periodically sound and
the indicator will blink while driving until the
driver's and front passenger’s seat belts are
fastened.
Seat Belt Reminder
Seat Belt Reminder
The indicator will also come on if a front passenger
does not fasten their seat belt within 6 seconds
after the ignition switch is turned to ON
II.
When no one is sitting in the front passenger's seat,
or a child or small adult is riding there, the indicator
will not come on.
This is because the weight sensors in the seat
cannot detect their presence.
Proper use of seat belts
Follow these guidelines for proper use:
All occupants should sit upright, well back in the seat, and remain in that t
position for the duration of the trip. Slouching and leaning reduces the
effectiveness of the belt and can increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.
Never place the shoulder part of a lap/shoulder seat belt under your arm or t
behind your back. This could cause very serious injuries in a crash.
Two people should never use the same seat belt. If they do, they could be very t
seriously injured in a crash.
Do not put any accessories on the seat belts. Devices intended to improve t
comfort or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can reduce the protective
capability and increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.
About Your Seat Belts
If a rear seat passenger moves around and extends
the seat belt, the lockable retractor may activate. If
this happens, release the retractor by unfastening
the seat belt and allow the belt to retract
completely. Then refasten the belt.

Seat Belts
About Your Seat Belts
28Safe Driving
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners
The front seats are equipped with automatic seat belt tensioners to enhance
safety.
The tensioners automatically tighten the front seat belts during a moderate-to-
severe frontal collision, sometimes even if the collision is not severe enough to
inflate the front airbags.
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners
The seat belt tensioners can only operate once.
If a tensioner is activated, the SRS indicator will
come on. Have a dealer replace the tensioner and
thoroughly inspect the seat belt system as it may
not offer protection in a subsequent crash.
During a moderate-to-severe side impact, the
tensioner on that side of the vehicle also activates.

Seat Belts
Fastening a Seat Belt
29
Continued
Safe Driving
Latch
Plate
Buckle
2. Insert the latch plate into the buckle, then
tug on the belt to make sure the buckle is
secure.
Make sure that the belt is not twisted or
caught on anything.
Fastening a Seat Belt
1. Pull the seat belt out slowly.
Correct
Seated
Posture Pull out slowly.
Fastening a Seat Belt
No one should sit in a seat with an inoperative seat
belt or one that does not appear to be working
correctly. Using a seat belt that is not working
properly may not protect the occupant in a crash.
Have a dealer check the belt as soon as possible.
Never insert any foreign objects into the buckle or
retractor mechanism.
After adjusting a front seat to the proper position, and while sitting upright and
well back in the seat:
Adjusting the Seats

P.11 6