check engine light Acura TSX 2012 Owner's Manual

Contents
Child Safety P. 48 Exhaust Gas Hazard P. 60 Safety Labels P. 61Opening and Closing the Trunk P. 95 Security System P. 98 Opening and Closing the Windows P. 100
Operating the Switches Around the Steering Wheel P. 104 Adjusting the Mirror P. 114
Interior Lights/Interior Convenience Items P. 125 Climate Control System P. 133Audio Error Messages P. 158 Audio Remote Controls P. 160
HomeLink® Universal Transceiver P. 165Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® P. 167 Compass
* P. 179
When Driving P. 191 Braking P. 210 Parking Your Vehicle P. 214
Accessories and Modifications P. 219Maintenance Under the Hood P. 229 Replacing Light Bulbs P. 247
Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 259 Battery P. 268 Remote Transmitter Care P. 269
Cleaning P. 271Engine Does Not Start P. 283 Jump Starting P. 284 Shift Lever Does Not Move P. 287
Fuses P. 294 Emergency Towing P. 299
When You Cannot Open the Trunk P. 301Devices that Emit Radio Waves P. 309 Reporting Safety Defects P. 310
Authorized Manuals P. 315 Client Service Information P. 316
Quick Reference Guide
P. 2
Safe Driving
P. 21
Instrument Panel
P. 63
Controls
P. 87
Features
P. 137
Driving
P. 181
Maintenance
P. 221
Handling the Unexpected
P. 275
Information
P. 303
Index
P. 317

15Quick Reference Guide
Maintenance
(P 221)
U
n
d
er t
h
e
H
oo
d
(P 229)
●Check engine oil, engine coolant, and windshield washer
fluid. Add when necessary.
●Check brake fluid and clutch fluid.
●Check the battery regularly.
a
Pull the hood release handle under the corner of the
dashboard.
b
Locate the hood latch lever, pull the lever up, and lift up
the hood.
c
When finished, close the hood and make sure it is firmly
locked in place.
Lights
(P247)
●Inspect all lights regularly.
Wiper Blades
(P257)
●Replace blades if they leave streaks
across the windshield.
Tires
(P259)
●Inspect tires and wheels regularly.
●Check tire pressures regularly.
●Install snow tires for winter
driving.

70
uuIndicatorsu
Instrument Panel
Indicator
Name
On/Blinking
Explanation
Message
Fog Light Indicator
●
Comes on when the fog lights are
on.
—
—
Side Airbag Off
Indicator
●
Comes on for a few seconds when
you turn the ignition switch to ON (w
, then goes off.
●
Comes on when the passenger
side airbag system is automatically
shut off.
●
It does not mean there is a problem with
your side airbags.
●
Comes on when nobody is sitting in
the passenger seat - Have the vehicle
checked by a dealer.
●
Comes on when someone is sitting in
the seat - Have the passenger sit
properly.
Immobilizer
System Indicator
●
Comes on briefly when you turn
the ignition switch to ON
(w
, then
goes off.
●
Comes on if the immobilizer
system cannot recognize the key
information.
●
Blinks - You cannot start the engine.
Turn the ignition switch to LOCK
(0
, pull
the key out, and then insert the key and
turn it to ON
(w
again.
●
Repeatedly blinks - The system may be
malfunctioning. Have the vehicle
checked by a dealer.
●
Do not attempt to alter this system or
add other devices to it. Electrical
problems can occur.
—
U.S.Canada
U.S.Canada

72
uuIndicatorsuMulti-Information Display Warning and Information Messages
Instrument Panel
Multi-Information Display Warning and Information MessagesThe following messages appear only on the multi-information display. Press the (information) button to see the message again
with the system message indicator on.
Message
Condition
Explanation
●
Appears when the engine coolant temperature gets
abnormally high.
2Overheating P. 288
●
Appears when the fuel fill cap is loose or is not
installed.
2Tighten Fuel Fill Cap Message P. 291
●
Appears if there is a problem with the DRL system.
●
Have your vehicle checked by a dealer.
2Daytime Running Lights P. 107
●
Appears when washer fluid gets low.
●
Refill washer fluid.
2Refilling Window Washer Fluid P. 246
Canadian models

191
Continued
Driving
When DrivingStarting the Engine
1.Make sure the parking brake is applied.
2.Check that the shift lever is in
(P
, then
depress the brake pedal.
uAlthough it is possible to start the vehicle
in
(N
, it is safer to start it in
(P
.
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.
uThe clutch pedal must be fully depressed
to start the engine.
1Starting 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.
Brake Pedal
Automatic transmission models
Brake Pedal Clutch Pedal
Manual transmission models

uuWhen DrivinguShifting
196Driving
■
Shift Lever Operation
1Shift Lever Operation
NOTICEWhen you change the shift lever from
(D
to
(R
and
vice versa, come to a complete stop and keep the
brake pedal depressed.
Operating the shift lever before the vehicle has come
to a complete standstill can damage the transmission.
Use the shift lever position indicator to check the
lever position before pulling away.
Whichever position the shift lever is in when driving,
a blinking
(D
indicator indicates a transmission
problem.
Avoid sudden acceleration and have the transmission
checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
The fuel supply may be cut off if you drive at engine
speeds in or over the tachometer red zone (engine
speed limit). If this happens, you may experience a
slight jolt.
It may not be possible to operate the shift lever if the
brake pedal is applied while the shift lever release
button is held down.
Depress the brake pedal first.
Tachometer’s red zone
Shift Lever Position Indicator
Depress the brake pedal and
press the shift lever release button to
shift.
Shift without pressing the shift lever
release button.
Press the shift lever release button
and shift.M (Sequential Shift mode) Indicator/
Gear Position Indicator

211
uuBrakinguBrake System
Driving
Your vehicle is equipped with disc brakes at all four wheels. A power assist helps
reduce the effort needed on the brake pedal. The brake assist system increases the
stopping force when you depress the brake pedal hard in an emergency situation.
The anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps you retain steering control when braking very
hard.
2Brake Assist System P. 213
2ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) P. 212
■
Foot Brake
1Foot Brake
Check the brakes after driving through deep water,
or if there is a buildup of road surface water. If
necessary, dry the brakes by lightly depressing the
pedal several times.
If you hear a continuous metallic friction sound when
applying the brakes, the brake pads need to be
replaced. Have the vehicle checked by a dealer.
Constantly using the brake pedal while going down a
long hill builds up heat, which reduces the brake
effectiveness. Apply engine braking by taking your
foot off the accelerator pedal and downshifting to a
lower gear. With manual transmission use a lower
gear for greater engine braking.
Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, as it will lightly apply the brakes and cause
them to lose effectiveness over time and reduce pad
life. It will also confuse drivers behind you.

212
uuBrakinguABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Driving
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)Helps prevent the wheels from locking up, and helps you retain steering control by
pumping the brakes rapidly, much faster than you.
The electronic brake distribution (EBD) system, which is part of the ABS, also
balances the front-to-rear braking distribution according to vehicle loading.
You should never pump the brake pedal. Let the ABS work for you by always
keeping firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal. This is sometimes referred to as
“stomp and steer.”■
ABS operation
The brake pedal may pulsate slightly when the ABS is working. Keep holding the
pedal firmly down. On dry pavement, you will need to press on the brake pedal very
hard before the ABS activates. However, you may feel the ABS activate immediately
if you are trying to stop on snow or ice.
When the vehicle speed goes under 6 mph (10 km/h), the ABS stops.
■
ABS
1ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
NOTICEThe ABS may not function correctly if you use an
incorrect tire type and size.
When the ABS indicator comes on while driving,
there may be a problem with the system.
While normal braking is not affected, there is a
possibility of the ABS not operating. Have the vehicle
checked by a dealer immediately.
The ABS does not reduce the time or distance it takes
to stop the vehicle. It only helps with steering control
during hard braking.
In the following cases, your vehicle may need more
stopping distance than a vehicle without the ABS:•When driving on rough road surfaces, including
when driving on uneven surfaces, such as gravel or
snow.•When tire chains are installed.
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.

221
Maintenance
This chapter discusses basic maintenance.
Before Performing Maintenance
Inspection and Maintenance ............ 222
Safety When Performing Maintenance...223Parts and Fluids Used in Maintenance
Service ........................................... 224
Maintenance Minder
TM
..................... 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.......................................... 257Checking and Maintaining Tires
Checking Tires ................................. 259
Tire and Loading Information Label .. 260
Tire Labeling .................................... 260
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles) ..262
Wear 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

283
Handling the Unexpected
Engine Does Not StartChecking the EngineIf the engine does not start, turn the ignition switch to START
(e
and check the
starter.
Starter condition
Checklist
Starter doesn’t turn or turns
over slowly.
The battery may be dead. Check
each of the items on the right and
respond accordingly.
Check brightness of the interior light.
Turn on interior lights and check brightness.●
If the interior lights are dim or do not come on at all
2Checking the Battery P. 268
●
If the interior lights come on normally
2 Inspecting and Changing Fuses P. 298
The starter turns over normally
but the engine doesn’t start.
There may be a problem with the
fuse. Check each of the items on
the right and respond accordingly.
Review the engine start procedure.
Follow its instructions, and try to start the engine again.
2 Starting the Engine P. 191
Check the immobilizer system indicator.
When the immobilizer system indicator is blinking, the engine cannot be started.
2Immobilizer System P. 98
Check the fuel level.
There should be enough fuel in the tank.
2 Fuel Gauge P. 75
Check the fuse.
Check all fuses, or have the vehicle checked by a dealer.
2Inspecting and Changing Fuses P. 298
If the problem continues:
2Emergency Towing P. 299
1Checking the Engine
If you must start the vehicle immediately, use an
assisting vehicle to jump start it.
2Jump Starting P. 284