dashboard Acura TSX 2011 Owner's Manual

11Quick Reference Guide
Climate Control System
P.133
Press the AUTO button to activate the climate control system. Press the
button to turn the system on or off.
Press the
button to defrost the windshield.
On models with navigation systemThe climate control system is voice operable. See the navigation system manual for
complete details.
Clock
P.88
Press the CLOCK button until the
displayed time begins flashing. Press Preset
4 (Hour) or
5 (Minute)
to set the time. Press Preset 6 (Reset)
to set the time to the nearest hour.
Press the CLOCK button again to set
the time.
The navigation system receives signals
from GPS satellites, updating the clock
automatically.
Models without navigation system Models with navigation system
AUTO Button
MODE Control Button Driver's Side
Temperature
Control SwitchPassenger's Side
Temperature Control Switch
(ON/OFF) Button SYNC (Synchronized) Button
(
Windshield Defroster) Button
(Rear Window Defogger/
Heated Mirror) Button (Fan Control) BarA /C (Air Conditioning)
Button
(Recirculation)
Button

Air flows from floor and
windshield defroster vents.
Air flows from floor vents.
Air flows from floor and
dashboard vents, and back
of the center console*.
Air flows from dashboard
vents and back of the
center console*.
* Not available on all models

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.

34Safe Driving
Airbags
Airbag System Components
The front, front side, and side curtain
airbags are deployed according to the
direction and severity of impact. The airbag
system includes:
Two SRS (Supplemental Restraint
System) front airbags. The driver's airbag
is stored in the center of the steering
wheel; the front passenger's airbag
is stored in the dashboard. Both are
marked "SRS AIRBAG". Two side airbags, one for the driver and
one for a front passenger. The airbags
are stored in the outer edges of the
seat-backs. Both are marked "SIDE
AIRBAG." Two side curtain airbags, one for each
side of the vehicle. The airbags are
stored in the ceiling, above the side
windows. The front and rear pillars are
marked "SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG."
An electronic control unit that
continually monitors and records
information about the sensors, the
airbag activators, the seat belt
tensioners, and driver and front
passenger seat belt use when the
ignition switch is in ON
II
.
Automatic front seat belt tensioners. The
driver's and front passenger's seat belts
incorporate sensors that detect whether
or not they are fastened. A driver's seat position sensor. If the seat
is too far forward, the airbag will inflate
with less force. Weight sensors in the front passenger's
seat. The front passenger's airbag will
be turned off if the weight on the seat
is 65 lbs (29 kg) or less (the weight of an
infant or small child).
Impact sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe front or side
collision. An indicator on the dashboard that
alerts you that the front passenger's
front airbag has been turned off. Sensors that can detect if a child or small
statured adult is in the deployment path
of the front passenger's side airbag. An indicator on the instrument panel
that alerts you to a possible problem
with your airbag system or seat belt
tensioners. An indicator on the instrument panel
that alerts you that the front passenger's
side airbag has been turned off. Safing Sensor

35Safe Driving
Airbags
Airbag System Components
Important Facts About Your Airbags
Airbags can pose serious hazards. To do their job, airbags must inflate with
tremendous force. So, while airbags help save lives, they can cause minor injuries,
sometimes even fatal ones if occupants are not properly wearing their seat belts
properly and sitting correctly.

What you should do: Always wear your seat belt properly, and sit upright and
as far back from the steering wheel as possible while allowing full control of the
vehicle. A front passenger should move their seat as far back from the dashboard
as possible.

Remember, however, that no safety system can prevent all injuries or deaths
that can occur in a severe crash, even when seat belts are properly worn and the
airbags deploy.
Do not place hard or sharp objects between yourself and a front airbag.
Carrying hard or sharp objects on your lap, or driving with a pipe or other sharp
object in your mouth, can result in injuries if your front airbag inflates.
Do not attach or place objects on the front airbag covers. Objects on the
covers marked ”SRS AIRBAG” could interfere with the proper operation of the
airbags or be propelled inside the vehicle and hurt someone if the airbags inflate.
Important facts about your airbags
Do not attempt to deactivate your airbags.
Together, airbags and seat belts provide the best
protection.
When driving, keep hands and arms out of the
deployment path of the front airbag by holding
each side of the steering wheel. Do not cross an
arm over the airbag cover.

Airbags
Types of Airbags
36Safe Driving
Front Airbags (SRS)The front SRS airbags inflate in a moderate to severe frontal collision to help protect
the head and chest of the driver and/or front passenger.
SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) indicates that the airbags are designed to
supplement seat belts, not replace them. Seat belts are the occupant's primary
restraint system.
Housing Locations
The front airbags are housed in the center of the steering wheel for the driver, and
in the dashboard for the front passenger. Both airbags are marked SRS AIRBAG. Types of AirbagsYour vehicle is equipped with three types of airbags:
Front airbags: tAirbags in front of the driver's and front passenger's seats.
Side airbags: t Airbags in the driver's and front passenger's seat-backs.
Side curtain airbags: tAirbags above the side windows.
Each is discussed in the following pages.
Types of Airbags
The airbags can inflate whenever the ignition switch
is in ON
II.
Front Airbags (SRS)
Dual-Stage, Multiple-Threshold Front Airbags
(SRS)
Your vehicle is equipped with dual-stage, multiple-
threshold front airbags (SRS).
During a frontal crash severe enough to cause
one or both front airbags to deploy, the airbags
can inflate at different rates, depending on the
severity of the crash, whether or not the seat belts
are latched, and/or other factors. Frontal airbags
are designed to supplement the seat belts to help
reduce the likelihood of head and chest injuries in
frontal crashes.

Child Safety
Protecting Child Passengers
49Safe Driving
Protecting Child Passengers
To deactivate a lockable retractor, release the buckle
and allow the seat belt to wind up all the way.
To remind you of the passenger's front airbag
hazards and child safety, your vehicle has warning
labels on the dashboard (U.S. models) and on the
front visors. Please read and follow the instructions
on these labels.
Safety Labels


P. 61
Any child who is too small to wear a seat belt correctly must be restrained in an t
approved child seat that is properly secured to the vehicle using either the lap
belt portion of the lap/shoulder belt or the lower anchors of the LATCH system.
Never hold a child on your lap because it is impossible to protect them in the t
event of a collision.
Never put a seat belt over yourself and a child. During a crash, the belt would t
likely press deep into the child and cause serious or fatal injuries.
Never let two children use the same seat belt. Both children could be very t
seriously injured in a crash.
Do not allow children to operate the doors, windows or seat adjustments. t
Do not leave children in the vehicle unattended, especially in hot weather t
when the inside of the vehicle can get hot enough to kill them. They could also
activate vehicle controls causing it to move unexpectedly.
WARNING
Allowing a child to play with a seat belt or
wrap one around their neck can
result in serious injury or death.

Instruct children not to play with any seat
belt and make sure any unused
seat belt a child can reach is buckled, fully
retracted, and locked.

61
Safety Labels
Safe Driving
Label LocationsThese labels are in the locations shown. They warn you of potential hazards that can cause serious injury or death. Read these labels
carefully.

If a label comes off or becomes hard to read (except for the U.S. dashboard label which may be removed by the owner), contact a
dealer for a replacement.
Sun Visor
U.S. models
U.S. models U.S. models only
Radiator CapCanadian models
Canadian
models Doorjambs Dashboard

Adjusting the Seats
116Controls
Adjusting the Seat Positions

 
 




Adjust the driver's seat as far back as possible
while allowing you to maintain full control of
the vehicle. You should be able to sit upright,
well back in the seat and be able to
adequately press the pedals without leaning
forward, and grip the steering wheel
comfortably. The passenger's seat should be
adjusted in a similar manner, so that it is as
far back from the front airbag in the
dashboard as possible.
Adjusting the Seats
The National Highway Traffice Safety Administration
and Transport Canada recommend that drivers
allow at least 10 inches (25 cm) between the center
of the steering wheel and the chest.
Always make seat adjustments before driving.
WARNING
Sitting too close to a front airbag can
result in serious injury or death if the
front airbags inflate.
Always sit as far back from the front
airbags as possible while maintaining
control of the vehicle.
Horizontal Position
Adjustment
Height Adjustment
(Driver's seat only)
Driver's seat is shownSeat-back Angle
Adjustment

133
Climate Control System
Continued
Controls
Using Automatic Climate Control
Using Automatic Climate Control
If any buttons are pressed while using the climate
control system in AUTO, the function of the button
that was pressed will take priority.
The AUTO indicator will go off, but functions
unrelated to the button that was pressed will be
controlled automatically.
To prevent cold air from blowing in from outside,
the fan may not start immediately when the AUTO
button is pressed.
Once you have set the desired temperature, do not
use the temperature control switches more than
necessary.
Doing so may delay the time it takes to reach the
set temperature.
If the interior is very warm, you can cool it down
more rapidly by partially opening the windows,
turning the system on AUTO, and setting the
temperature to low. Change the fresh mode to
recirculation mode until the temperature cools
down.
When you set the temperature to the lower or
upper limit, Lo or Hi is displayed.
Pressing the
button switches the climate
control system between on and off. When turned
on, the system returns to your last selection.
Use the system when the engine is running.
1. Press the AUTO button.
2. Adjust the interior temperature using the driver's side or passenger's side
control switch.
3. Press the
button to cancel.
Switching between the recirculation and fresh air modes
Press the
button and switch the mode depending on environmental
conditions.
Recirculation Mode (indicator on) : Recirculates air from the vehicle’s interior
through the system.
Fresh Air Mode (indicator off): Maintains outside ventilation. Keep the system in
fresh air mode in normal situations. The automatic climate control system maintains the interior temperature you
select. The system also selects the proper mix of heated or cooled air that will as
quickly as possible, raise or lower the interior temperature to your preference.
* Not available on all models
(Recirculation) Button
(Fan Control) BarFloor and
defroster
vents Floor vents Dashboard and floor
vents, and back of
the center console
*
Dashboard vents
and back of the
center console
*
A /C (Air Conditioning)
Button AUTO Button
Driver's Side
Temperature
Control SwitchPassenger's Side
Temperature
Control Switch

Maintenance Under the Hood
Opening the Hood
231
Continued
Maintenance
Opening the Hood
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface, and set
the parking brake.
2. Pull the hood release handle under the
lower left corner of the dashboard.

The hood will pop up slightly.
3. Push up the hood latch lever in the center
of the hood to release the lock mechanism,
and open the hood.
4-cylinder models 4. Remove the support rod from the clamp
using the grip. Mount the support rod in
the hood.
When closing, remove the support rod, and
stow it in the clamp, then gently lower the
hood. Remove your hand at a height of
approximately 12 inches (30 cm) and let the
hood close.
Opening the Hood NOTICE Do not open the hood when the wiper arms are
raised.
The hood will strike the wipers, and may damage
either the hood or the wipers.
When closing the hood, check that the hood is
securely latched.
If the hood latch lever moves stiffly, or if you can
open the hood without lifting the lever, the latch
mechanism should be cleaned and lubricated.
Grip
ClipSupport Rod
Hood Release Handle
Pull
Lever