traction control Acura TL 2008 Owner's Manual

This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position.This indicator comes on when you
set the cruise control. See pagef or inf ormation on operating the
cruise control.
If itcomesonandstaysonatany
other time, or if it does not come on
when you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, there is a
problem with the VSA system. Take
your vehicle to a dealer to have it
checked. Without VSA, your vehicle
still has normal driving ability, but
will not have VSA traction and
stability enhancement. See page
f or more inf ormation on the
VSA system. This indicator comes on when you
turn on the cruise control system by
pressing the CRUISE button (see
page ).
It comes on along with the VSA
system indicator if there is a
problem with the VSA system. It flashes when VSA is active (see
page ). Itcomesonasareminderthatyou
have turned off the vehicle
stability assist (VSA) system.
This indicator has three f unctions: This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. For more inf ormation, see
page .
1.
2.
3.
270 186
186
270
270
Vehicle Stability Assist
(VSA ) System Indicator
VSA A ctivation Indicator Cruise Main Indicator
Cruise Control Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
Inst rument s and Cont rols
61
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The vehicle stability assist (VSA)
system helps to stabilize the vehicle
during cornering if the vehicle turns
more or less than desired. It also
assists you in maintaining traction
while accelerating on loose or
slippery road surf aces. It does this
by regulating the engine’s output,
and by selectively applying the
brakes.If the indicator does not come on
when the ignition switch is turned to
the ON (II) position, there may be a
problem with the VSA system. Have
your dealer inspect your vehicle as
soon as possible.
On manual transmission models, if
the VSA system is of f and you
accelerate f rom a stop, the vehicle
may pull, and it may take extra effort
to return the steering wheel to
center.
When VSA activates, you may notice
that the engine does not respond to
the accelerator in the same way it
does at other times. There may also
be some noise f rom the VSA
hydraulic system. You will also see
the VSA activation indicator blink.
The VSA system cannot enhance the
vehicle’s driving stability in all
situations and does not control your
vehicle’s entire braking system. It is
still your responsibility to drive and
corner at reasonable speeds and to
leave a sufficient margin of safety. When VSA activates, you will see the
VSA activation indicator blink.
If this indicator comes on while
driving, pull to the side of the road
when it is saf e, and turn of f the
engine. Reset the system by
restarting the engine. If the VSA
system indicator stays on or comes
back on while driving, have the VSA
system inspected by your dealer.
Without VSA, your vehicle will have
normal braking and cornering ability,
but it will not have VSA traction and
stability enhancement.
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System
VSA A ctivation Indicator
Vehicle Stability Assist
(VSA ) System Indicator
270
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Driving with varying tire or wheel
sizes may cause the VSA to
malf unction. When replacing tires,
make sure they are the same size
and type as your original tires (see
page ).
If you install winter tires, make sure
they are the same size as those that
were originally supplied with your
vehicle. Exercise the same caution
during winter driving as you would if
your vehicle was not equipped with
VSA.
VSA is turned on every time you
start the engine, even if you turned it
off the last time you drove the
vehicle.
In certain unusual conditions when
your vehicle gets stuck in shallow
mud or f resh snow, it may be easier
to free it with the VSA temporarily
switched of f . When the VSA system
is of f , the traction control system is
alsooff.Youshouldonlyattemptto
f ree your vehicle with the VSA of f if
you are not able to f ree it when the
VSA is on.
Immediately af ter f reeing your
vehicle, be sure to switch the VSA on
again. We do not recommend driving
your vehicle with the VSA and
traction control systems switched off.
This switch is under the lef t vent.
Press it to turn the VSA system on
and off.
When VSA is off, the VSA activation
indicator comes on as a reminder. 311
VSA Of f Switch VSA and Tire Sizes
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System
Driving
271
VSA OFF SWITCH
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The tires on your vehicle meet all
U.S. Federal Saf ety Requirements.
All tires are also graded f or
treadwear, traction, and temperature
perf ormance according to
Department of Transportation
(DOT) standards. The f ollowing
explains these gradings.
Quality grades can be f ound where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For
example:
All passenger car tires must conf orm
to Federal Saf ety Requirements in
addition to these grades.The treadwear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specif ied government
test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one-
half (1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded
100. The relative perf ormance of
tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may
depart signif icantly f rom the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and dif f erences in
road characteristics and climate.
The traction grades, f rom highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those
grades represent the tire’s ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on
specif ied government test surf aces
of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction
perf ormance.
Warning: The traction grade
assignedtothistireisbasedon
straight-ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.
Unif orm T ire Quality Grading
T readwear 200
Traction AA
Temperature A T readwear T raction
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
346
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ÎTechnical Descriptions....
DOT Tire Quality Grading .346
.....
Emissions Control Systems .352
Three Way Catalytic
...............................
Converter .354
.......................
Temperature Gauge .65
....................
Temperature, Outside .71
........
Temperature, Inside Sensor .132
..............
Tether Anchorage Points .46
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter .354
..................
Tilt the Steering Wheel .91
..........................
Time, Setting the .116
....................................
Tire Chains .312
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat .319
Tire Pressure Monitoring
....................................
System .272
Low Tire Pressure/TPMS
...........................
Indicator .64,272
..............
TPMS System Failure .275
Tire Pressure Monitoring System ...................................
Messages .273
...............................................
Tires .306
..............................
Air Pressure .306
.........................
Checking Wear .309
..........................
Compact Spare .318
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading .346 ......................................
Inf lation .306
..................................
Inspection .309
...................................
Replacing .311
......................................
Rotating .310
...........................................
Snow .312
............................
Specif ications .345
.............................
Summer Tire .312
.......................
Traction Devices .312
..........................
Winter Driving .312
...................
Tools, Tire Changing .319
Towing
.....................................
A Trailer .276
................
Emergency Wrecker .337
...........................
Traction Devices .312
Transmission
Checking Fluid Level, ..............................
Automatic .292
.
Checking Fluid Level Manual .294
..................
Fluid Selection .292,294
..............
Identif ication Number .342
.............
Shif ting the Automatic .259
..................
Shif ting the Manual .256
.....................................
Treadwear .346
................................
Trip Computer .73
.......................................
Trip Meter .70 ................................................
Trunk .97
........
Emergency Trunk Release .98
.................................
Opening the .97
...................
Open Monitor Light .68
....................................
Turn Signals .86
Unexpected, Taking Care
..........................................
of the .317
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading .346
........................
Unleaded Gasoline .236
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of .289
.................
Vehicle Capacity Load .248
......................
Vehicle Dimensions .344
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number .342
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)
....................................
System .270
........
VSA System Indicator .61,270
...
VSA Activation Indicator .61,270
.........................
VSA Of f Switch .271
.............................
Vehicle Storage .315
.................................................
VIN .342
Index
U
V
VIII
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