clutch Acura TSX 2011 Owner's Manual

15Quick Reference Guide
Wiper Blades
P.257
Replace blades if they leave
streaks across the windshield.
Lights
P.247
Inspect all lights regularly.
Tires
P.259
Inspect tires and wheels regularly. Check tire pressures regularly. Install snow tires for winter driving.
Maintenance

P.221
Under the Hood
P.229
Check engine oil, engine coolant, and windshield washer fluid.
Add when necessary. Check brake fluid and clutch fluid. Check the battery regularly.
Pull the hood release handle under the corner of the
dashboard. Locate the hood latch lever, pull the lever up, and lift up the
hood. When finished, close the hood and make sure it is firmly
locked in place.

191
Continued
Driving
When DrivingStarting the Engine
1. Make sure the parking brake is applied.
Starting the Engine
Keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal when
starting the engine.
The engine is harder to start in cold weather and
in thinner air found at altitudes above 8,000 feet
(2,400 meters).
When starting the engine in cold weather, turn off
all electrical accessories such as the lights, climate
control system, and rear defogger in order to reduce
battery drain.
If exhaust sounds abnormal or you can smell
exhaust gas inside the vehicle, have your vehicle
checked by a dealer. There may be a problem with
the engine or exhaust system.
Automatic transmission models 2. Check that the shift lever is in P
, then
depress the brake pedal.
Although it is possible to start the
vehicle in N
, it is safer to start it in P
.
Manual transmission models 2. Check that the shift lever is in N
. Then
depress the brake pedal with your right
foot, and the clutch pedal with your left
foot.
The clutch pedal must be fully depressed
to start the engine.
Brake Pedal
Brake Pedal Clutch Pedal

199
Continued
Driving
When Driving
Shifting
Shift Lever Operation
Fully depress the clutch pedal to operate the shift lever and change gears, then
slowly release the pedal.
Depress the clutch pedal, and pause for a few seconds before shifting into
R
, or
shift into one of the forward gears for a moment. This stops the gears so they do
not “grind.”
Shifting NOTICE Do not shift to
R before the vehicle comes to a
complete stop.
Shifting to
R before stopping can damage the
transmission.
NOTICE Before downshifting, make sure the engine will
not go into the tachometer's red zone. Should this
occur, it can severely damage your engine.
There is a metallic part on the shift lever. If you
leave the vehicle parked outside for a long time on
a hot day, be careful before moving the shift lever.
Because of heat, the shift lever may be extremely
hot. If the outside temperature is low, the shift lever
may feel cold.
Recommended Shift Points
Driving in the highest gear that allows the engine
to run and accelerate smoothly helps to optimize
fuel economy and effective emissions control. The
following shift points are recommended:
Shift Up Normal Acceleration
1st to 2nd 17 mph (27 km/h)
2nd to 3rd 29 mph (46 km/h)
3rd to 4th 37 mph (59 km/h)
4th to 5th 43 mph (69 km/h)
5th to 6th 49 mph (79 km/h)
If you exceed the maximum speed for the gear
you are in, the engine speed will enter into the
tachometer's red zone. When this happens, you
may experience a slight jolt.
Manual transmission models Shifting
When you are not shifting, do not rest your
foot on the clutch pedal. This can cause your
clutch to wear out faster.

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.

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

Maintenance
This chapter discusses basic maintenance.
Before Performing Maintenance
Inspection and Maintenance .............. 222
Safety When Performing
Maintenance .................................... 223
Parts and Fluids Used in
Maintenance Service ........................ 224
Maintenance Minder
™ ........................ 225
Maintenance Under the Hood
Maintenance Items Under the Hood .. 229
Opening the Hood ............................. 231
Recommended Engine Oil .................. 234
Oil Check ........................................... 235
Adding Engine Oil .............................. 237Engine Coolant .................................. 240
Transmission Fluid .............................. 242
Brake/Clutch Fluid .............................. 244
Refilling Window Washer Fluid ........... 246
Replacing Light Bulbs ......................... 247
Checking and Maintaining Wiper
Blades ................................................ 257
Checking and Maintaining Tires
Checking Tires ................................... 259
Tire and Loading Information Label .... 260
Tire Labeling ...................................... 260
DOT Tire Quality Grading
(U.S. Vehicles)
.................................... 262Wear Indicators .................................. 264
Tire Service Life .................................. 264
Tire and Wheel Replacement ............. 265
Tire Rotation ...................................... 266
Winter Tires ....................................... 267
Battery ................................................. 268
Remote Transmitter Care ................... 269
Replacing the Battery ........................ 269
Climate Control System
Maintenance ..................................... 270
Cleaning
Interior Care ........................................271
Exterior Care ...................................... 273
221

Before Performing Maintenance
222Maintenance
Inspection and MaintenanceFor your safety, perform all listed inspections and maintenance to keep your
vehicle in good condition. If you become aware of any abnormality (noise, smell,
insufficient brake fluid, oil residue on the ground, etc.), have your vehicle inspected
by a dealer. (Note, however, that service at a dealer is not mandatory to keep
your warranties in effect.) Refer to the separate maintenance booklet for detailed
maintenance and inspection information.
Types of Inspection and Maintenance Daily inspections
Perform inspections before long distance trips, when washing the vehicle, or when
refueling. Periodic inspections
Check the automatic transmission fluid level monthly. t
Automatic Transmission Fluid

P. 2 4 2
Check the brake fluid level monthly. t
Brake/Clutch Fluid

P. 2 4 4
Check the tire pressure monthly. Examine the tread for wear and foreign t
objects.
Checking and Maintaining Tires

P. 2 5 9
Check the operation of the exterior lights monthly. t
Replacing Light Bulbs

P. 2 4 7
Check the condition of the wiper blades at least every six months. t
Checking and Maintaining Wiper Blades

P. 2 5 7
Inspection and Maintenance U.S. models Maintenance, replacement, or repair of
emissions control devices and systems may be
done by any automotive repair establishment
or individuals using parts that are "certified"
to EPA standards.

According to state and federal regulations, failure
to perform maintenance on the maintenance main
items marked with # will not void your emissions
warranties. However, all maintenance services
should be performed in accordance with the
intervals indicated by the multi-information display.
Maintenance Service Items


P. 2 2 7
If you want to perform complex maintenance tasks
that require more skills and tools, purchase the
service manual.
Authorized Manual


P. 3 13

If you want to perform maintenance yourself, make
sure that you have the necessary tools and skills
first.
After performing maintenance, update the records
in the separate maintenance booklet.

229
Maintenance Under the Hood
Maintenance
Maintenance Items Under the Hood 4-cylinder models
Brake Fluid
(Black Cap)
Engine Oil Dipstick
(Orange Handle)
Washer Fluid
(Blue Cap)
Engine Coolant
Reservoir
Radiator Cap
Manual transmission models Clutch Fluid
(Light Gray Cap)
Engine Oil Fill Cap Automatic transmission models Automatic Transmission Fluid
Dipstick (Yellow Loop)

Maintenance Under the Hood
Brake/Clutch Fluid
244Maintenance
Brake/Clutch FluidUse the same fluid for both the brakes and clutch.Specified fluid: Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid DOT 3
Checking the Brake Fluid
The fluid level should be between the MIN
and MA X marks on the side of the reservoir.
Brake/Clutch Fluid NOTICE Brake fluid marked DOT 5 is not compatible with
your vehicle’s braking system and can cause
extensive damage.
If the specified brake fluid is not available, you
should use only DOT 3 or DOT 4 fluid from a sealed
container as a temporary replacement.
Using any non-Honda brake fluid can cause
corrosion and decrease the longevity of the system.
Have the brake system flushed and refilled with
Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid DOT 3 as soon as
possible.
If the brake fluid level is at or below the MIN mark,
have a dealer inspect for leaks or worn brake pads
as soon as possible.
MAX
MAX MIN
MIN Brake
Reservoir
Brake
Reservoir
4-cylinder models 6-cylinder models

Maintenance Under the Hood
Brake/Clutch Fluid
245
Maintenance
Checking the Clutch Fluid
The fluid level should be between the MIN
and MA X marks on the side of the reservoir.
Checking the Clutch Fluid
If the clutch fluid level is at or below the MIN mark,
have a dealer inspect for leaks or an excessively
worn clutch plate as soon as possible.
MIN MAX Clutch Reservoir