maintenance Acura TSX 2013 Owner's Manual

Contents
This owner’s manual should be considered a permanent part of the
vehicle and should remain with the vehicle when it is sold.
This owner’s manual covers all models of your vehicle. You may find
descriptions of equipment and features that are not on your
particular model.
Images throughout this owner’s manual (including the front cover)
represent features and equipment that are available on some, but
not all, models. Your particular mo del may not have some of these
features.
This owner’s manual is for vehicles sold in the United States and
Canada.
The information and specifications in cluded in this publication were
in effect at the time of approval for printing. Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
reserves the right, however, to discontinue or change specifications
or design at any time without notice and without incurring any
obligation.2 Safe Driving P. 21
For Safe Driving P. 22 Seat Belts P. 26 Airbags P. 33
2Instrument Panel P. 63
Indicators P. 64 Gauges and Multi-Information Display P. 75
2Controls P. 87
Setting the Clock P. 88 Locking and Unlocking the Doors P. 89
Opening and Closing the Moonroof P. 103
Adjusting the Seats P. 116
2Features P. 137
Audio System P. 138 Audio System Basic Operation P. 141
General Information on the Audio System P. 161
2 Driving P. 181
Before Driving P. 182 Towing a Trailer P. 187
Refueling P. 215 Fuel Economy P. 218
2Maintenance P. 221
Before Performing Maintenance P. 222 Maintenance MinderTM P. 225
Checking and Maintaining Wiper Blades P. 257
Climate Control System Maintenance P. 270
2Handling the Unexpected P. 275
Tools P. 276 If a Tire Goes Flat P. 277
Overheating P. 288 Indicator, Coming On/Blinking P. 290
When You Cannot Unlock the Fuel Fill Door P. 300
2 Information P. 303
Specifications P. 304 Identification Numbers P. 308
Emissions Testing P. 311 Warranty Coverages P. 313

Contents
Child Safety P. 48Exhaust Gas Hazard P. 60Safety 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. 158Audio Remote Controls P. 160
HomeLink ® Universal Transceiver P. 165 Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink ® P. 167 Compass
* P. 179
When Driving P. 191 Braking P. 210Parking 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. 284Shift 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

Visual Index
6Quick Reference Guide
❙Maintenance Under the Hood
(P229)
❙Windshield Wipers
(P108, 257)
❙Tires
(P259, 277)
❙Fog Lights
(P107, 251)
❙Door Lock/Unlock Control
(P91)
❙Side Turn Signal Lights
(P105,253)
❙Headlights
(P105, 247)
❙Front Turn Signal/Parking/
Side Marker Lights
(P105, 252)
❙How to Refuel
(P216)
❙High-Mount Brake Light
(P256)
❙Emergency Trunk Release Lever
(P97)
❙Opening/Closing the Trunk
(P95)
❙Back-Up Lights
(P253)
❙Brake/Taillights
(P253)
❙Rear Side Marker Lights
(P253)
❙Door Mirrors
(P114)
❙Trunk Release Switch
(P96)
❙Rear Turn Signal Lights
(P253)
❙Rearview Camera
*
() See Navigation System Manual

15Quick Reference Guide
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.
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.

23
uuFor Safe Driving uImportant Safety Precautions
Safe 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.

47
uuAirbags uAirbag Care
Safe Driving
Airbag CareYou do not need to, and should not, perform any maintenance on or replace any
airbag system components yourself. However, you should have your vehicle
inspected by a dealer in the following situations:■
When the airbags have deployed
If an airbag has inflated, the control unit and other related parts must be replaced.
Similarly, once an automatic seat belt tensioner has been activated, it must be
replaced.
■
When the vehicle has been in a moderate-to-severe collision
Even if the airbags did not inflate, have your dealer inspect the following: the driver’s
seat position sensor, weight sensors in the passenger’s seat, front seat belt
tensioners, and each seat belt that was worn during the crash.
■
Do not remove or modify a front seat without consulting a dealer
This would likely disable the driver’s seat position sensor or the weight sensors in the
passenger’s seat. If it is necessary to remove or modify a front seat to accommodate
a person with disabilities, contact an Acura dealer, or for U.S. vehicles, Acura Client
Relations at 1-800-382-2238 and for Canadian vehicles, Canadian Acura Client
Service at 1-888-9-ACURA-9.
1 Airbag Care
We recommend against the use of salvaged airbag
system components, including the airbag, tensioners,
sensors, and control unit.

73
uuIndicators uMulti-Information Display Warning and Information Messages
Continued
Instrument Panel
Message
Condition
Explanation
●
Appears when the scheduled maintenance is due
soon.
●
Consequently, SERVICE DUE NOW and SERVICE
PAST DUE follow.
2Maintenance Minder Messages on the Multi-
Information Display P. 226
●
Appears when you open the driver’s door while the
ignition key is in ACCESSORY
(q
.
●
Turn the ignition switch to LOCK
(0
, then remove the
key.
●
Appears when the ignition key is turned to
ACCESSORY
(q
from ON
(w
. (The driver’s door is
closed.)
—
●
Appears when you open the driver’s door while the
ignition key is in LOCK
(0
.
●
Remove the key from the ignition switch.

Continued
79
uuGauges and Multi-Information Display uMulti-Information Display
Instrument Panel
The elapsed time display shows the time during one drive cycle.
The display shows the average speed in mph (U.S.) or km/h (Canada) since the last
time Trip A was reset.
Shows the remaining oil life and Maintenance Minder
TM.
2 Maintenance Minder
TM P. 225
Shows each tire’s pressure.
2TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) P. 206
Shows your paired cell phone’s information.
2Bluetooth ® HandsFreeLink ® P. 167
■
Elapsed Time
■
Average Speed
■
Engine Oil Life
■
Tire Pressure Monitor
■
Bluetooth ® HandsFreeLink ®
1Elapsed Time
You can change when to reset the elapsed time.
2 Customized Features P. 80

182Driving
Before DrivingDriving PreparationCheck the following items before you start driving.
•Make sure there are no obstructions on the windows, door mirrors, exterior
lights, or other parts of the vehicle.
u Remove any frost, snow, or ice.
u Remove any snow on the roof, as this can slip down and obstruct your field of
vision while driving. If frozen solid, remove ice once it has softened.
u When removing ice from around the wheels, be sure not to damage the wheel
or wheel components.
• Make sure the hood is securely closed.
u If the hood opens while driving, your front view will be blocked.
• Make sure the tires are in good condition.
u Check air pressure, check for damage and excessive wear.
2 Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 259
•Make sure there are no people or objects behind or around the vehicle.
u There are blind spots from the inside.■
Exterior Checks
1Exterior Checks
NOTICEWhen doors are frozen shut, use warm water around
the door edges to melt any ice. Do not try to force
them open, as this can damage the rubber trim
around the doors. When done, wipe dry to avoid
further freezing.
Do not pour warm water into the key cylinder.
You will be unable to insert key if the water freezes in
the hole.
Heat from the engine and exhaust can ignite
flammable materials left under the hood, causing a
fire. If you’ve parked your vehicle for an extended
period, inspect and remove any debris that may have
collected, such as dried grass and leaves that have
fallen or have been carried in for use as a nest by a
small animal. Also check under the hood for leftover
flammable materials after you or someone else has
performed maintenance on your vehicle.

209
uuWhen Driving uTire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) - Required Federal Explanation
Driving
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.
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 sequen ce 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 alterna te 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.