steering wheel Acura TL 2003 3.2 Owner's Guide

This section also includes
Maintenance Schedules f or normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions f or simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself . This section explains why it is
important to keep your car well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
If you have the skills and tools to per-
f orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your Acura, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Acura
dealer.......................
Maintenance Saf ety .220
.
Important Safety Precautions . 221
.................
Maintenance Schedule . 222
...
Required Maintenance Record . 229
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 231
..............................
Fluid Locations .232
......................................
Engine Oil .233
..................................
Adding Oil .233
....................
Recommended Oil .233
..............................
Synthetic Oil .234
....................................
Additives .235
.....
Changing the Oil and Filter . 235
.............................
Cooling System .238
............
Adding Engine Coolant . 238
.......
Replacing Engine Coolant . 240
....................
Windshield Washers .243
....
Automatic Transmission Fluid . 244
....................................
Brake Fluid .246
............................
Brake System .246
..............................
Power Steering .247
....................................
Hood Latch .247
.....................
Air Cleaner Element .248
....................................
Spark Plugs .250
..............................
Replacement .250
............................
Specif ications .252
...........................................
Battery .253 .................................
Wiper Blades .256
..............
Air Conditioning System . 258
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 259
.....................................
Drive Belts .259
....................................
Timing Belt .260
...............................................
Tires .260
......................................
Inf lation .261
..................................
Inspection .262
..............................
Maintenance .263
.............................
Tire Rotation .264
...
Replacing Tires and Wheels . 264
......................
Wheels and Tires .265
..........................
Winter Driving .266
.............................
Snow Tires .266
...................
Traction Devices . 266
.............................................
Lights .267
.....................
Headlight Aiming .269
........................
Replacing Bulbs .269
...........................
Storing Your Car .277
333
Maintenance
Maint enance219

Check the level when the engine is
cold. Look at the side of the
reservoir. The f luid should be
between the UPPER LEVEL and
LOWER LEVEL. If it is below the
LOWER LEVEL, add power steering
f luid to the UPPER LEVEL.Always use Honda Power Steering
Fluid. If it is not available, you may
use another power steering f luid as
an emergency replacement.
However, continued use can cause
increased wear and poor steering in
cold weather. Have the power
steering system f lushed and ref illed
with Honda PSF as soon as possible.
A low power steering f luid level can
indicate a leak in the system. Check
the f luid level f requently and have
the system inspected as soon as
possible.
Clean the hood latch assembly with a
mild cleaner, then lubricate it with a
multipurpose grease. Lubricate all
the moving parts (as shown),
including the pivot. Follow the time
and distance recommendations in
the Maintenance Schedule. If you
are not sure how to clean and grease
the latch, contact your Acura dealer.
Maint enance
Power Steering Hood L atch
Power Steering, Hood L atch
247
M MA
AX
X
M
M I
INN L
LA
A T
TC
CH H
A
A S
SSSEEM
M B
BLLYY
T urning the steering wheel to f ull lef t
or right lock and holding it there can
damage the power steering pump.

To help increase tire lif e and
distribute wear more evenly, you
should have the tires rotated every
7,500 miles (12,000 km). Move the
tires to the positions shown in the
chart each time they are rotated.When shopping f or replacement
tires, you may find that some tires
are ‘‘directional.’’ This means they
are designed to rotate only in one
direction. If you use directional tires,
they should be rotated only front-to-
back.
The tires that came with your car
were selected to match the perform-
ance capabilities of the car while
providing the best combination of
handling, ride comf ort, and long lif e.
Youshouldreplacethemwithradial
tires of the same size, load range,
speed rating, and maximum cold tire
pressure rating (as shown on the
tire’s sidewall). Mixing radial and
bias-ply tires on your car can reduce
its braking ability, traction, and
steering accuracy.
T ire Rotation
Replacing T ires and Wheels
Tires
Maint enance264
( (F
Fo o r
r N
No on
n-
-d
d i
irre ec cttiioo n
na
all
T
T i
irre es s a
ann d
d W
Wh he
eeellss) ) (
(
F
Fo o r
r D
D i
irre ec cttiioo n
na
all
T
T i
irre es s a
ann d
d W
Wh he
eeellss) )
F
Fr
roo n
nt
t
F
Fr roo n
nt
t

Insert the new bulb into the hole
and turn it one-quarter turn clock-
wise to lock it in place.
Push the electrical connector back
onto the bulb. Make sure it is on
all the way.
Turn on the headlights to test the
new bulb. Remove the bulb by turning it
approximately one-quarter turn
counterclockwise.
Open the hood. Reinstall the radiator reserve tank.
If you need to change a bulb on
the driver’s side, remove the
radiator reserve tank.
Remove the electrical connector
f rom the bulb by squeezing the
connector to unlock the tab, then
slide the connector of f the bulb. The f ront side marker/turn signal
light bulb and parking light bulb use
the same bulb.
If you are changing the bulb on
the driver’s side, start the engine,
turn the steering wheel all the way
to the right, and turn off the
engine. If you are changing the
bulb on the passenger’s side, turn
the steering wheel to the left.
1.
3.
4.
7. 6. 5.
1.
2. Replacing Front Turn Signal and
Side Marker L ight Bulbs
Lights
Maint enance270
B BU
UL LBB
T
T A
A B
B

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.

Î
CONT INUED
...................
System Components . 44
...............
Use During Pregnancy . 19
....................................
Seat Heaters .99
........................
Seats, Adjusting the .88
............................
Security System .152
........
Sequential SportShif t Mode . 193
...............................
Serial Number .316
...........................
Service Intervals .224
...........................
Service Manual .333
.........
Service Station Procedures . 175
..........................
Setting the Clock .105
.....
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 190
........................
Shif t Lock Release .197
................................
Side Airbags .9 ,49
...............
Side Airbag Indicator . 51,60
Side Marker Lights, Bulb ..............................
Replacement .270
...............................
Signaling Turns .71
.....................................
Snow Tires .266
...................
Solvent-type Cleaners . 280
................................
Sound System .129
Spare Tire ......................................
Inf lating .288
............................
Specif ications .319
................
Spark Plugs, Replacing . 250
....................
Specif ications Charts . 318................................
Speed Control .153
...................................
Speedometer .64
.......................................
Spotlights .112
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation . 47
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 52
How the SRS Indicator .......................................
Works .50
...........
How Your Airbags Work . 47
........................
SRS Components .47
..................................
SRS Service .52
.............................
SRS Indicator .50 ,60
....
START (Ignition Key Position) . 79
.......................
Starting the Engine .189
In Cold Weather at High ..................................
Altitude .189
................
With a Dead Battery . 296
..............
State Emissions Testing . 327
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine . 299
Steering Wheel ..................................
Adjustment .75
.............
Anti-theft Column Lock . 78
...................
Stereo Sound System . 129
...........................
Storing Your Car .277
........................................
Sun Visor .109
........................
Sunglasses Holder .110 ....
Supplemental Restraint System . 47
......................................
Servicing .52
...............................
SRS Indicator .50
...................
System Components . 47
.....................................
Tachometer .64
......
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in . 273
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected . 287
....................................
Tape Player .137
Technical Descriptions ......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 320
.....
Emissions Control Systems . 324
.....................
Oxygenated Fuels .322
Three Way Catalytic ...............................
Converter .326
.......................
Temperature Gauge .66
..............
Tether Anchorage Points . 41
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 326
..........................
Time, Setting the .105
....................................
Timing Belt .260
....................................
Tire Chains .266
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 289
Index
T
VII

Î
...............................................
Tires .260
..............................
Air Pressure .261
.........................
Checking Wear .262
..........................
Compact Spare .288
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 320
......................................
Inf lation .261
..................................
Inspection .262
...................................
Replacing .264
......................................
Rotating .264
...........................................
Snow .266
............................
Specif ications .319
.......................
Traction Devices .266
..........................
Winter Driving .266
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 289
Towing .....................................
A Trailer .211
................
Emergency Wrecker . 312
Traction Control System (TCS) ...............................
Indicator .61, 205
...................................
Operation .203
...........................
Traction Devices .266
Transmission Checking Fluid Level, ..............................
Automatic .244
...........................
Fluid Selection .245
..............
Identif ication Number . 317 .............
Shif ting the Automatic . 190
.............................
Treadwear .262, 320
.......................................
Trip Meter .65
................................................
Trunk .85
........
Emergency Trunk Release . 86
.................................
Opening the .85
...................
Open Monitor Light . 62
....................................
Turn Signals .71
.....................
Underside, Cleaning .285
Unexpected, Taking Care ..........................................
of the .287
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 320
........................
Unleaded Gasoline .174
.....................
Upholstery Cleaning .282
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 237
................................
Vanity Mirror .109
.................
Vehicle Capacity Load . 184
......................
Vehicle Dimensions .318
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number . 316Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)
....................................
System .206
........
VSA System Indicator . 61,206
...
VSA Activation Indicator . 61,207
.........................
VSA Of f Switch .207
.............................
Vehicle Storage .277
.................................................
VIN .316
...............................
Vinyl Cleaning .283
..................................
Viscosity, Oil .234
.............
WARNING, Explanation of . ii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of . 54
..................
Warranty Coverages .331
Washer, Windshield ........
Checking the Fluid Level . 243
.......................................
Indicator .63
.....................................
Operation .73
.........................................
Washing .280
..................
Waxing and Polishing . 281
Wheels ...............
Adjusting the Steering . 75
............
Alignment and Balance . 263
..........................
Compact Spare .288
Index
U
V W
VIII