Engine Acura TL 2009 Owner's Manual

A convenient ref erence to the
sections in this manual.
A quick ref erence to the main
controls in your vehicle.
Explains the purpose of each
instrument panel indicator and gauge,
and how to use the controls on the
dashboard and steering column.What gasoline to use, how to break-
in your new vehicle, and how to load
luggage and other cargo.
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities,
and technical information.
The proper way to start the engine,
shif t the transmission, and park.
The maintenance minder shows you
when you need to take your vehicle
to the dealer for maintenance service.
There is also a list of things to check
and instructions on how to check
them.
This section covers several problems
motorists sometimes experience,
and details how to handle them.
Important inf ormation about the
proper use and care of your vehicle’s
seat belts, an overview of the
supplemental restraint system, and
valuable inf ormation on how to
protect children with child restraints.
A summary of the warranties
covering your new vehicle, and how
to contact us for any reason. Refer to
your warranty manual f or detailed
inf ormation.
How to order manuals and other
technical literature.
A summary of the inf ormation you
need when you pull up to the f uel
pump.
How to operate the climate control
system, the audio system, and other
convenience f eatures.
Contents
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Instruments and Controls
Features Bef ore Driving
Driving
T echnical Inf ormation
Maintenance
T aking Care of the Unexpected Warranty and Client Relations
(U.S. and Canada only)
Authorized Manuals
(U.S. only)
Index
Service Inf ormation Summary
Overview of Contents
2
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2009 TL

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ÎTo use the horn, press the center pad of the steering wheel.
Ref er to the navigation system owner’s manual. If equipped
1:
2:
3:
Your Vehicle at a Glance
4
WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS
CENTER DISPLAY
CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS
HORN NAVIGATION DISPLAY
STEERING WHEEL
ADJUSTMENTS PADDLE SHIFTERS
HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS/
FOG LIGHTS
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR
HAZARD WARNING BUTTON
REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER/
HEATED MIRROR BUTTON
: Models with keyless access system
SEAT HEATER SWITCHES KEYLESS ACCESS
REMOTE SLOT
VOICE CONTROL
BUTTONS for
NAVIGATION SYSTEM /
BLUETOOTH
HANDSFREELINKSYSTEM
IGNITION SWITCH
MULTI-INFORMATION DISPLAY BUTTONS ENGINE START/
STOP BUTTON
BLUETOOTH
HANDSFREELINKSYSTEM BUTTONS (P.133,137)
(P.374) (P.394) (P.140)
(P.78)
(P.145) (P.193) (P.386)
(P.277)
(P.224)
(P.131)
(P.34)
(P.139)
(P.178)
(P.189)
(P.424)
(P.512)
VEHICLE STABILITY
ASSIST (VSA) SYSTEM
OFF SWITCH
(P.524)
HEADLIGHT WASHERS
(P.132) INTERFACE DIAL
SELECTOR KNOB(P.215,278)
(P.139/163)
INSTRUMENT PANEL
BRIGHTNESS
(P.137)
REMOTE AUDIO
CONTROL BUTTONS
1 3
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ÎThe f ollowing pages provide
instructions on how to properly
protect the driver, adult passengers
and teenage children who are large
enough and mature enough to drive
or ride in the f ront seat.After everyone has entered the
vehicle, be sure the doors and trunk
are closed and locked.
See pages f or important
guidelines on how to properly
protect inf ants, small children, and
larger children who ride in your
vehicle. Your vehicle has a door/
trunk open indicator (red)
on the instrument panel to indicate
when any door or the trunk lid is not
tightly closed.
Your vehicle also has a door and
trunk open indicator on the multi-
inf ormation display to indicate when
a specif ic door or the trunk is not
tightly closed. You will see the
appropriate indicator(s) f or each
condition. See page f or how to lock the
doors, and page f or how the door/
trunk open indicator works. You will also hear a beep when you
turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position, and each time you open
any door or the trunk with the key in
the ON (II) position.
Models equipped with the
keyless access system have an
engine start/stop button instead
of an ignition switch. ON Mode
is the equivalent of ON (II). For
more inf ormation, see pagesand .
37 56
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178 180
CONT INUED
Protecting A dults and Teens
Close and L ock the Doors
Introduction 1.
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
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If you are pregnant, the best way to
protect yourself and your unborn
child when driving or riding in a
vehicle is to always wear a seat belt,
and keep the lap part of the belt as
low as possible across the hips.
In addition, an occupant who is out of
position in the f ront seat can be
seriously or f atally injured in a crash
by striking interior parts of the
vehicle or being struck by an
inflating front airbag.
After all occupants have adjusted
their seats and head restraints, and
put on their seat belts, it is very
important that they continue to sit
upright, well back in their seats, with
their feet on the floor, until the
vehicle is parked and the engine is
off.
Sitting improperly can increase the
chance of injury during a crash. For
example, if an occupant slouches,
lies down, turns sideways, sits
forward, leans forward or sideways,
or puts one or both f eet up, the
chance of injury during a crash is
greatly increased. Advice f or Pregnant Women
Maintain a Proper Sitting
Position
6.
Protecting A dults and Teens
18
Sitting improperly or out of
position can result in serious
injury or death in a crash.
Always sit upright, well back in
the seat, with your feet on the
floor.
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Your seat belt system includes lap/
shoulder belts in all seating positions.
The f ront seat belts are also
equipped with automatic seat belt
tensioners.
This system uses the same sensors
as the front airbags to monitor
whether the f ront seat belts are
latched or unlatched, and how much
weight is on the f ront passenger’s
seat (see pages and ).
The seat belt system
includes an indicator on the
instrument panel and a beeper to
remind you and your passengers to
f asten your seat belts. If either the driver or a f ront
passenger does not f asten their seat
belt while driving, the beeper will
sound and the indicator will f lash
again at regular intervals.
You will also see a ‘‘FASTEN SEAT
BELT’’ or ‘‘FASTEN PASSENGER
SEAT BELT’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display (see page ).
When no one is sitting in the f ront
passenger’s seat, or a child or small
adult is riding there, the indicator
should not come on and the beeper
should not sound.
You will also see a ‘‘FASTEN SEAT
BELT’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display.
If a f ront passenger does not f asten
their seat belt, the indicator will
come on about 6 seconds af ter the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
(II) position.
This system monitors the f ront seat
belts. If you turn the ignition switch
to the ON (II) position bef ore your
seat belt is f astened, the beeper will
sound and the indicator will f lash. If
your seat belt is not f astened bef ore
the beeper stops, the indicator will
stop f lashing but remain on.
Models equipped with the
keyless access system have an
engine start/stop button instead
of an ignition switch. ON Mode
is the equivalent of ON (II). For
more inf ormation, see pagesand .
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Seat Belt System Components
Additional Inf ormation About Your Seat Belts
20
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ÎIf you ever have a moderate to
severe f rontal collision, sensors will
detect the vehicle’s rapid
deceleration.
If the rate of deceleration is high
enough, the control unit will inf late
the driver’s and f ront passenger’s
airbags, at the time and with the
f orce needed.
An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you that the
passenger’s side airbag has been
turned of f (see page ).
An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you to a possible
problem with your airbags,
sensors, or seat belt tensioners
(see page ).
An indicator on the dashboard that
alerts you that the passenger’s
f ront airbag has been turned of f
(see page ).
Emergency backup power in case
your vehicle’s electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.
A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records inf ormation about the
sensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, the seat belt
tensioners, and driver and f ront
passenger seat belt use when the
ignition switch is in the ON (II)
position.
Models equipped with the
keyless access system have an
engine start/stop button instead
of an ignition switch. ON Mode
is the equivalent of ON (II). For
more inf ormation, see pages and .
: 33
32 34
178180
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
How Your Front Airbags Work
26
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ÎThe SRS indicator alerts
you to a potential problem
with your airbags or seat belt
tensioners.
If the impact is on the passenger’s
side, the passenger’s side curtain
airbag will inflate even if there are no
occupants on that side of the vehicle.
In a moderate to severe side impact,
sensors will detect rapid acceleration
and signal the control unit to
instantly inflate the side curtain
airbag and activate the seat belt
tensioner on the driver’s or the
passenger’s side of the vehicle. One or both side curtain airbags may
inflate in a moderate to severe
f rontal collision which causes the
f ront airbags to deploy.
To get the best protection f rom the
side curtain airbags, occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.
When you turn the ignition switch
to the ON (II) position, this indicator
comes on brief ly then goes of f . This
tells you the system is working
properly.
Models equipped with the
keyless access system have an
engine start/stop button instead
of an ignition switch. ON Mode
is the equivalent of ON (II). For
more inf ormation, see pagesand .
:
180
178
How Your Side Curtain A irbags
Work
How the SRS Indicator Works
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
32
SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG
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If the indicator comes on at any
other time, or does not come on at all,
you should have the system checked
by your dealer. For example:This indicator alerts you that the
passenger’s side airbag has been
automatically shut off. It does
mean there is a problem with your
side airbags.
You will also see a ‘‘PASSENGER
SIDE AIRBAG OFF’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display.
If the SRS indicator does not come
on after you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position or
on models with keyless access
system, press the engine start/
stop button to set ON mode (see
page ).
If you see any of these indications,
the airbags and seat belt tensioners
may not work properly when you
need them.
If the indicator stays on after the
engine starts.
If the indicator comes on or
flashesonandoff whileyoudrive.
You will also see a ‘‘CHECK
AIRBAG SYSTEM’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display. When you turn the ignition switch
to the ON (II) position, the indicator
should come on brief ly and then go
out(seepage ).Ifitdoesn’tcome
on, stays on, or comes on while
driving without a passenger in the
f ront seat, have the system checked.
180
67
CONT INUED
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
How the Side
Airbag Of f
Indicator Works
not
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
33
U. S. Canada
Ignoring the SRS indicator can
result in serious injury or death
if the airbag systems or
tensioners do not work properly.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS indicator alerts you to
a possible problem.
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2009 TL

ÎBe aware that objects placed on the
f ront seat can cause the indicator to
come on.
If no weight is detected on the f ront
seat, the airbag will be automatically
shut of f . However, the indicator will
not come on.
The passenger airbag of f indicator
may come on and of f repeatedly if
the total weight on the seat is near
the airbag cutof f threshold.
If an adult or teenage passenger is
riding in f ront, move the seat as f ar
to the rear as possible, and have the
passenger sit upright and wear the
seat belt properly.
This indicator alerts you that the
passenger’s f ront airbag has been
shut of f because weight sensors
detect about 65 lbs (29 kg) or less
(the weight of an inf ant or small
child) on the f ront passenger’s seat.
It does there is a problem
with the airbag.
Models equipped with the
keyless access system have an
engine start/stop button instead
of an ignition switch. ON Mode
is the equivalent of ON (II). For
more inf ormation, see pages
and .
:
178180
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
How the Passenger Airbag Of f
Indicator Works
not mean
34
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR U. S. Canada
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If a child wraps a loose
seat belt around their neck, they
can be seriously or f atally injured.
(See pages and f or how to
activate and deactivate the
lockable retractor.)
Leaving children without
adult supervision is illegal in most
states, Canadian provinces/
territories, and can be very
hazardous. Children
who play in vehicles can
accidentally get trapped inside.
Teach your children not to play in
or around vehicles. Know how to
operate the emergency trunk
opener and decide if your children
should be shown how to use this
feature(seepage ).
Even very young
children learn how to unlock
vehicle doors, turn on the ignition
switch , and open the trunk,
which can lead to accidental injury
or death. Your vehicle has the engine
start/stop button instead of an
ignition switch. For more
inf ormation on selecting the
power mode, see page .
For example, infants and small
childrenleftinavehicleonahot
day can die f rom heatstroke. A
child lef t alone with the key in the
ignition switch can accidentally
set the vehicle in motion, possibly
injuring themselves or others. 5051
150:
178On models with keyless accesssystem
Protecting Children General Guidelines
Make sure any unused seat beltt hat a child can reach is buckled,the lockable retractor is activated,and the belt is f ully retracted andlocked.
Do not leave children alone in avehicle. L ock all doors and t he t runk when
your vehicle is not in use.
K eep vehicle keys/remot et ransmit t ers or keyless accessremotes out of the reach ofchildren.
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
41
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2009 TL