key Acura TL 2004 Owner's Guide

Diagnosing why the engine won’t
start f alls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III):You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine’s starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly.
You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
f aster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run. When you turn the ignition switch to
START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying to
start. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all.
Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Turn on the headlights, and check
their brightness. If the headlights
are very dim or don’t light at all,
the battery is discharged. See on page . Turn the ignition switch to START
(III). If the headlights do not dim,
check the condition of the f uses. If
the f uses are OK, there is
probably something wrong with
the electrical circuit f or the
ignition switch or starter motor.
You will need a qualif ied
technician to determine the
problem (see
on page ).
Check these things:
If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is dis-
charged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal connec-
tions (see page ). You can
then try jump starting the vehicle
f rom a booster battery (see page).
Check the transmission interlock.
If you have a manual transmission,
the clutch pedal must be pushed
all the way to the f loor or the
starter will not operate. With an
automatic transmission, the shif t
lever must be in Park or Neutral.
238 226
238 249
If theEngineWon’tStart
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
Jump Starting Emergency T owing
236

In this case, the starter motor’s
speed sounds normal, or even f aster
than normal, when you turn the
ignition switch to START (III), but
the engine does not run.Are you using a properly coded
key? An improperly coded key will
cause the immobilizer system
indicator in the instrument panel
to blink rapidly (see page ).
Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Ref er to on page . There may be an electrical
problem, such as no power to the
f uel pump. Check all the f uses
(see page ).
If youfindnothingwrong,youwill
need a qualif ied technician to f ind
the problem. See
on page .
Do you have f uel? Check the f uel
gauge; the warning indicator may
not be working.
56
177 245
249
If theEngineWon’tStart
T he Starter Operates Normally
Starting the
Engine Emergency
Towing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed237

CONT INUED
BatteryCharging System ...........................
Indicator .52, 242
............................
Jump Starting .238
..............................
Maintenance .226
............................
Specif ications .257
..............................
Bef ore Driving .163
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,19
...........................
Beverage Holder .106
Brakes ...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 189
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 164
...........................................
Fluid .211
.......................................
Parking .103
.................
System Indicator . 52,244 ........................
Wear Indicators .188
.............................
Braking System .188
........................
Break-in, New Car .164
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 75
........................
Brights, Headlights .74
Bulb Replacement ..........................
Back-up Lights .216
.................................
Fog Lights .213
............................
Specif ications .257
............
Turn Signal Lights . 214,215
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .213
............................
Capacities Chart .256
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 46
............................
Carrying, Cargo .171
Cassette Player ............................................
Care .138
...................................
Operation .136
..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
..................................
Ceiling Light .104
........................
Certif ication Label .254
...................................
Chains, .225
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 168
................................
Accessories .169
............................
Modif ications .170
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) .80
............
Accessory Power Sockets . 106
................
Adding Engine Coolant . 207
........................
Adding Engine Oil .204
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 205
...............................
Airbag (SRS) .9, 22
...............
Additional Information . 22
......................................
Servicing .28
...................
System Components . 22
..............
Air Conditioning System . 110
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .221
......................................
Antif reeze .207
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) ...............................
Indicator .53, 189
...................................
Operation .189
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System . 140
.
Anti-thef t Steering Column Lock . 80
................................
Audio System .117
...
Automatic Lighting Off Feature . 76
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners . 20.............
Automatic Speed Control . 142
..............
Automatic Transmission . 181
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .256
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 209
.......................................
Shif ting .181
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 181
.......................................
Shif ting .181
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 185
tires
Index
A
BC
I

ÎÎÎ
ÎÎ.................
Jacking up the Vehicle . 232
.......................................
Jack, Tire .231
................................
Jump Starting .238
Gauges
...
Engine Coolant Temperature . 57
...............................................
Fuel .57
...............................
Speedometer .57
.................................
Tachometer .57
Gearshif t Lever Positions ..........
Automatic Transmission . 181
6-speed Manual .........................
Transmission .178
......................................
Glove Box .107 ...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle . 254
Ignition ..............................................
Keys .79
...........................................
Switch .80
............
Timing Control System . 261
........................
Immobilizer System .81
.........
Important Safety Precautions . 6
.........................................
Indicators .52
......
ABS (Anti-Lock Brake) . 53,189
Brake (Parking and Brake ............................
System) .52, 244
................
Charging System . 52,242
.............................
Cruise Control .54
DRL (Daytime Running ..................................
Lights) .55
...................................
Fog Light .56
...................................
High Beam .55
........
Key (Immobilizer System) . 56
......................................
Low Fuel .56 ................
Low Oil Pressure . 54,242
...........................
Side Airbag Of f .53
.........................................
SRS .26, 53
Turn Signal and Hazard ...................................
Warning .55
............................
VSA Activation .54
.................................
VSA System .54
...............................
Inf ant Restraint .34
......................................
Inf ant Seats .34
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 41
...................
Inf lation, Proper Tire . 221
...................................
Inside Mirror .91
.............................
Inspection, Tire .222
............................
Instrument Panel .51
..........
Instrument Panel Indicators . 52
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 75
...............................
Interior Lights .104
........................................
Introduction .i
.......................
Halogen Fog Bulbs .213
..........
HandsFree Link (HFL) . 70,149
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers . 76
........................................
Headlights .74
........................................
Aiming .213
Automatic Lighting Off .....................................
Feature .76
.......
Daytime Running Lights . 74
..................
High Beam Indicator . 55
.........................
Reminder Chime .74
...................................
Turning on .74
..............................
Head Restraints .89
.................
High-Low Beam Switch . 74HomeLink Universal
................................
Transceiver .145
....................................
Hood Latch .212
.......................
Hood, Opening the .166
Index
H I
J
IV

CONT INUED
..................................................
Keys .79
...............
Keyless Memory Setting . 66
...................
Neutral Gear Position . 182
..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 164
...................
NOTICE, Explanation of . i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 254
.......................
Label, Certif ication .254
.................
Lane Change, Signaling . 74
........................
Lap/Shoulder Belts .19
Lights ....................
Bulb Replacement .213
.......................................
Indicator .52
.........................................
Parking .74
..................................
Turn Signal .74
.....................................
Load Limit .172
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) . 80
........................
Lockout Prevention .82
Locks .......
Anti-thef t Steering Column . 80
..................................
Glove Box .107
.................................
Power Door .82
...........................................
Trunk .83
........................
Low Coolant Level .167
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 52,242
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart . 256..............
Luggage, .171
...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 164
.........................................
Odometer .62
...............................
Odometer, Trip .62
Oil ........................
Change, How to .205
......................
Change, When to .195
......................
Checking Engine .167
..............
Pressure Indicator . 52,242
Selecting Proper Viscosity ......................................
Chart .204
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 80
..................................
Maintenance .193
.....................................
Messages .64
........................................
Minder .195
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 198
........................................
Record .200
..........................................
Saf ety .194
Malf unction Indicator ....................................
Lamp .52, 243
...................
Manual Transmission . 178
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 210
.............
Memory, Driving Position . 93
...............................
Meters, Gauges .57
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .91
...............
Modif ying Your Vehicle . 170
.......................................
Moonroof .100
.............
Multi-Inf ormation Display . 59
............................
Engine Oil Lif e .64
..........................
HandsFree Link .70
.........
Keyless Memory Settings . 66
.............
Maintenance Messages . 64
.....................................
Odometer .62
.................
Outside Temperature . 63............................
Trip Computer .65
...................................
Trip Meter .62
Storing (Cargo)
Index
K
L N
O
M
V

Î
CONT INUED
.....................................
Tachometer .57
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected . 229
....................................
Tape Player .136
Technical Descriptions ......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 258
.....
Emissions Control Systems . 260
Three Way Catalytic ...............................
Converter .262
.......................
Temperature Gauge .57
....................
Temperature, Outside . 63
........
Temperature, Inside Sensor . 116
..............
Tether Anchorage Points . 41
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 262
..................
Tilt the Steering Wheel . 78
..........................
Time, Setting the .103
.....................................
Cleaning .218
................
Lap/Shoulder Belt . 14,19
................................
Maintenance .21
Reminder Light and ................................
Beeper .19, 52
...................
System Components . 19
...............
Use During Pregnancy . 17
....................................
Seat Heaters .96
........................
Seats, Adjusting the .90
............................
Security System .141
........
Sequential SportShif t Mode . 183
...............................
Serial Number .254
...........................
Service Intervals .195
...........................
Service Manual .269
.........
Service Station Procedures . 165
..........................
Setting the Clock .103
.....
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 181
........................
Shif t Lock Release .185
...........................................
Shif ting .181
................................
Side Airbags .9 ,25
........
Side Airbag Of f Indicator . 27,53
......................
Side Curtain Airbags .26
...............................
Signaling Turns .74
.....................................
Snow Tires .225
................................
Sound System .117 Spare Tire
......................................
Inf lating .230
............................
Specif ications .257
....................
Specif ications Charts . 256
................................
Speed Control .142
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation . 33
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 28
....................
Airbag Components . 22
.............................
Airbag Service .28
How the SRS Indicator .......................................
Works .26
How Your Front Airbags .........................................
Work .23
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 25
How Your Side Curtain Airbags .........................................
Work .26
.............................
SRS Indicator .26 ,53
....
START (Ignition Key Position) . 80
.......................
Starting the Engine .177
................
With a Dead Battery . 238
..............
State Emissions Testing . 263
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine . 236
Steering Wheel ..................................
Adjustment .78
.............
Anti-theft Column Lock . 80
...................
Stereo Sound System . 117....................
Storing Your Vehicle .227
........................
Sunglasses Holder .108
....
Supplemental Restraint System . 22
......................................
Servicing .28
...............................
SRS Indicator .26
...................
System Components . 22
Index
T
VII