Acura TL 2003 3.2 Owner's Manual

Turn the ignition switch to LOCK
(0). Make sure the headlights and
all other accessories are off.
Remove the cover f rom the f use
box.Check each of the large f uses in
the under-hood f use box by
looking through the top at the wire
inside. Removing these f uses
requires a Phillips-head screw-
driver.
Check the smaller f uses in the
under-hood f use box and all the
fuses in the interior fuse boxes by
pulling out each f use with the f use
puller provided in the under-hood
fuse box.
If something electrical in your car
stops working, the f irst thing you
should check f or is a blown f use.
Determine f rom the chart on pages
and , or the diagram on the
fuse box lid, which fuse or fuses
control that component. Check those
f uses f irst, but check all the f uses
bef ore deciding that a blown f use is
not the cause. Replace any blown
f uses and check the component’s
operation. 3.
1.
2. 4.
310 311
Checking and Replacing Fuses
Fuses
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed308
F FU
US SEE P
PU
UL LLLEE R
R
B
BL LOOW WN N
F
FU
US SEE

Look f or a burned wire inside the
f use. If it is burned, replace it with
oneof thesparefusesof thesame
rating or lower.If the replacement fuse of the
same rating blows in a short time,
there is probably a serious
electrical problem in your car.
Leave the blown fuse in that
circuit and have your car checked
by a qualif ied mechanic.
If you cannot drive the car without
f ixing the problem, and you do not
have a spare fuse, take a fuse of the
same rating or a lower rating f rom
one of the other circuits. Make sure
youcandowithoutthatcircuit
temporarily (such as the accessory
power socket or radio).
If you replace the blown f use with a
spare f use that has a lower rating, it
might blow out again. This does not
indicate anything wrong. Replace the
f use with one of the correct rating as
soon as you can.
If the radio f use is removed, the
audio system will disable itself . The
nexttimeyouturnontheradioyou
will see ‘‘Code’’ in the f requency
display. Use the Preset buttons to
enter the f ive-digit code (see page).
5.
6.
151
CONT INUED
Fuses
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed309
B BL LOOW WN N
Replacing a f use with one that has a
higher rating greatly increases the
chances of damaging the electrical
system. If you do not have a replace-
ment f use with the proper rating f or the
circuit, install one with a lower rating.

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Amps.
No. Circuits Protected
No. Amps. Circuits Protected
No. Amps. Circuits Protected
20 A
30 A
120 A 30 A
20 A
15 A
30 A
15 A
20 A
20 A
20 A
20 A
13
13
14
15
16
17
18 19
20
21
22
23
24 Cooling Fan
Cooling Fan
Battery
Spare Fuse
Spare Fuse
Hazard
VSA Throttle Motor
ACG S
Stop
TCS, VSA F/S
Right Headlight
Not Used
Lef t Headlight
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12 20 A
30 A
15 A
60 A
40 A
40 A
20 A
40 A
40 A
40 A
15 A
10 A
7.5 A Condenser Fan
Condenser Fan
Small Light
IG1 Main
Rear Window Defogger
Heater Motor
Fog Light
Power Seat
Power Window Motor
Back Up, ACC
Spare Fuse
Spare Fuse
Spare Fuse
1
2
3 40 A
20 A
7.5 A ABS Motor
ABS F/S
ABS Motor Check
1 : Premium model
2:TypeSonly1
2
2
1
2
Fuses
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed310
UNDER-HOOD FUSE BOX
ABS FUSE BOX

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á
á
à
à
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Amps.
No. Circuits Protected
Amps.
No.
Circuits Protected
15 A
10 A
7.5 A
7.5 A
7.5 A 15 A
7.5 A
7.5 A
7.5 A
7.5 A 15 A
30 A
7.5 A
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
On Canadian modelsDriver’s Power Window
Heated Seat
Driver’s Power Seat Slide
Front Passenger’s Power
Seat Slide
Front Passenger’s Power
Seat Reclining
Rear Lef t Power Window
Front Passenger’s Power
Window
ACC (Radio)
Navigation System, OnStar,
Daytime Running Lights
Power Door Locks
Clock, Back up
A/C Mg Clutch
Moonroof
Rear Right Power Window
20 A
20 A
20 A
20 A
20 A
20 A
20 A
20 A
20 A
10 A
7.5 A 20 A
7.5 A
7.5 A 30 A
20 A
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14 15
16
Fuel Pump
SRS
Heater Control, A/C Clutch
Relay, Cooling Fan Relay
R/C Mirror
Daytime Running Lights
ECU (ECM/PCM), Cruise
Control
SRS
ACC Relay, Navigation
Instrument Panel, Back-up
Lights, Memory Seat
Turn Signals
IG Coil
Wiper, Washer
Starter Signal
Type S only
1:
2:
Driver’s Power Seat Reclining
Interior Light, Courtesy Lights
1
2
1
Fuses
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed311
INTERIOR FUSE BOXES
Driver’s Side
Passenger’s Side
F Fr roo n
nt
t F
Frroo n
nt
t

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If your car needs to be towed, call a
prof essional towing service or, if you
belong to one, an organization that
provides roadside assistance. Never
tow your car behind another vehicle
with just a rope or chain. It is very
dangerous.
There are three popular types of
prof essional towing equipment.
The operator
loads your car on the back of a truck. The tow
truck uses metal cables with hooks
on the ends. These hooks go around
parts of the f rame or suspension and
the cables lif t that end of the car of f
the ground. Your car’s suspension
and body can be seriously damaged.
If your Acura cannot be transported
by f lat-bed, it should be towed by
wheel-lif t equipment with the f ront
wheels of f the ground. If , due to
damage, your car must be towed
with the f ront wheels on the ground,
do the f ollowing.
Release the parking brake.
Start the engine.
ShifttoD ,thentoN.
Turn of f the engine.
The tow
truck uses two pivoting arms that go
under the tires (f ront or rear) and lif t
them of f the ground. The other two
tires remain on the ground. With the f ront wheels on the ground,
it is best to tow the car no farther
than 50 miles (80 km), and keep the
speedbelow35mph(55km/h).
5
Flat -bed EquipmentSling-t ype Equipment
Wheel-lif t Equipment
This is the best way to transport
your A cura. T his method of towing is
unacceptable.
T his is
an acceptable way to tow your
Acura.
Emergency T owing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed312
Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Follow the
above procedure exactly. If you cannot
shif t the transmission or start the
engine, your car must be transported
with the f ront wheels of f the ground.

If you decide to tow your car with all
f our wheels on the ground, make
sure you use a properly-designed and
attached tow bar. Prepare the car for
towing as described above, and leave
the ignition switch in Accessory (I)
so the steering wheel does not lock.
Make sure the radio and any items
plugged into the accessory power
socket are turned of f so they do not
rundownthebattery.
Emergency T owing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed313
Trying to lif t or tow your car by the
bumpers will cause serious damage.
The bumpers are not designed to
support the car’s weight.
The steering system can be damaged if
the steering wheel is locked. Leave the
ignition switch in Accessory (I), and
make sure the steering wheel turns
f reely bef ore you begin towing.

314

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Thediagramsinthissectiongive
you the dimensions and capacities of
your Acura, and the locations of the
identif ication numbers. It also
includes inf ormation you should
know about your vehicle’s tires and
emissions control systems. ................
Identif ication Numbers . 316
................................
Specif ications .318
DOT Tire Quality Grading .............................
(U.S.Cars) .320
.................................
Treadwear .320
.............
Traction AA, A, B, C . 320
.............
Temperature A,B,C .321
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels .322
......
Driving in Foreign Countries . 323.......................
Emissions Controls .324
.....................
The Clean Air Act .324
Crankcase Emissions Control ....................................
System .324
Evaporative Emissions Control ....................................
System .324
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor ................................
Recovery .324
...
Exhaust Emissions Controls . 325
....................
PGM-FI System .325
Ignition Timing Control ................................
System .325
Exhaust Gas Recirculation ...................
(EGR) System . 325
Three Way Catalytic ...........................
Converter .325
....................
Replacement Parts . 325
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 326
..............
State Emissions Testing . 327
T echnical Inf ormat ion
T echnical Inf ormation315

Your car has several identif ying
numbers located in various places.
The Vehicle Identif ication Number
(VIN) is the 17-digit number your
Acura dealer uses to register your
car f or warranty purposes. It is also
necessary f or licensing and insuring
your car. The easiest place to find
the VIN is on a plate fastened to the
top of the dashboard. You can see it
by looking through the windshield
on the driver’s side. It is also on the
Certification label attached to the
driver’s doorjamb, and is stamped on
the engine compartment bulkhead.
The VIN is also provided in bar code
on the Certification label.
Identif ication Numbers
T echnical Inf ormation316
C CEER
RT TI
IFFI ICCA A T
TI
IOON N L
LAA B
BEEL
L
V
V
E
EH
H I
ICCL LEE I
IDD E
EN
NT TI
IFFI ICCA A T
TI
IOON N N
NUUMM B
BEER
R

The Transmission Number is on a
label on top of the transmission. The Engine Number is stamped into
the engine block. It is on the f ront.
Identif ication Numbers
T echnical Inf ormation317
A AU
UT TO
OM M A
AT
TI
ICC T
TR
RA A N
NS SMM I
ISSS SIIOON N N
NUUMM B
BEER
R
E
E
N
NG GIINNE E N
NUUMM B
BEER
R