Manual Acura TL 2010 Repair Manual

Never use a puncture-repairing agent
in a f lat tire. If used, you will have to
replace the tire pressure sensor.
Havetheflattirerepairedbyyour
dealer as soon as possible.
This indicator and the warning
message on the multi-inf ormation
display will go of f , af ter several miles
(kilometers) driving, when the spare
tire is replaced with the specified
regular tire equipped with the tire
pressure monitor sensor.
Each wheel is equipped with a tire
pressure sensor mounted inside the
tire behind the valve stem. You must
use TPMS specif ic wheels. It is
recommended that you always have
your tires serviced by your dealer or
a qualif ied technician.
If you have a f lat tire, the low tire
pressure/TPMS indicator and tire
monitor indicator will come on.
Replace the indicated f lat tire with
thecompactsparetire(seepage
).
After the flat tire is replaced with the
spare tire, the low tire pressure/
TPMS indicator stays on while
driving. Af ter several miles
(kilometers) driving, this indicator
begins to f lash, then stays on again.
You will also see a ‘‘CHECK TPMS
SYSTEM’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display. This is normal;
the system cannot monitor the spare
tire pressure. Manually check the
spare tire pressure to be sure it is
correct. If the low tire pressure/TPMS
indicator and the low tire position on
the low tire pressure monitor do not
go out af ter inf lating the tires to the
specified values, have your dealer
check the system as soon as possible.
547
Changing a T ire with T PMS
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
492
09/07/29 18:25:46 31TK4610_497
2010 TL

This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
If you have the skills and tools to
perf orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your vehicle, you may want
to purchase the service manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your dealer. This section also includes
instructions on how to read the
maintenance minder messages on
the multi-information display, and
instructions f or simple maintenance
tasks you may want to take care of
yourself .......................
Maintenance Saf ety .496
....................
Maintenance Minder . 497
..............................
Fluid Locations .507
......
Engine Compartment Covers . 508
........................
Adding Engine Oil .509
Changing the Engine Oil and ...........................................
Filter .510
..............................
Engine Coolant .512
....................
Windshield Washers .514
.......................
Transmission Fluid .515
..........
Automatic Transmission . 515
..............
Manual Transmission . 517
.................
Rear Dif f erential Fluid . 518
.............
Transf er Assembly Fluid . 518
..................
Brake and Cluth Fluid . 519
....................................
Timing Belt .520
.............................................
Lights .521
................
Cleaning the Seat Belts . 530
.....................................
Floor Mats .531
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 532
.................................
Exterior Care .532
.................................
Wiper Blades .532
...............................................
Tires .534
...................
Checking the Battery . 542
.............................
Vehicle Storage .544
597
Maintenance
Maint enance
495
09/07/29 18:26:01 31TK4610_500
2010 TL

To eliminate potential hazards, read
the instructions bef ore you begin,
and make sure you have the tools
and skills required. All service items not detailed in this
section should be perf ormed by a
certif ied technician or other qualif ied
mechanic.Make sure your vehicle is parked
on level ground, the parking brake
is set, and the engine is of f .
To clean parts, use a commercially
available degreaser or parts
cleaner, not gasoline.
To reduce the possibility of f ire or
explosion, keep cigarettes, sparks,
and flames away from the battery
and all f uel-related parts.
Wear eye protection and
protective clothing when working
with the battery or compressed air. Be sure there is
adequate ventilation whenever you
operate the engine.
Let the
engine and exhaust system cool
down bef ore touching any parts. Do
not run the engine unless
instructed to do so.
Some of the most important saf ety
precautions are given here. However,
we cannot warn you of every
conceivable hazard that can arise in
perf orming maintenance. Only you
can decide whether or not you
should perf orm a given task.
Maintenance Saf ety
Important Saf ety Precautions Potential Vehicle HazardsCarbon Monoxide poison f rom
engine exhaust.
Burns f rom hot parts. Injury f rom moving parts.
496
Improperly maintaining this
vehicle, or failing to correct a
problem before driving can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection
and maintenance
recommendations in this owner’s
manual.
Failure to properly follow
maintenance instructions and
precautions can cause you to
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures
and precautions in this owner’s
manual.
09/07/29 18:26:15 31TK4610_501
2010 TL

Î
ÎÎ
Î
Fluid Locations
Maint enance
507
WASHER FLUID
(Black cap)
ENGINE OIL FILL CAPAUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
FLUID DIPSTICK
(Yellow loop)
ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK
(Orange loop)
: Located under the cover RADIATOR CAP BRAKE FLUID
(Black cap)
ENGINE COOLANT
RESERVOIR CLUTCH FLUID
(Manual
Transmission only)
(Light gray cap)
09/07/29 18:27:54 31TK4610_512
2010 TL

Remove the check bolt and look for
transmission f luid coming out of the
bolt hole. If a small amount of f luid
drips out of the bolt hole, reinstall
the check bolt.
Check the f luid level with the
transmission at normal operating
temperature and the vehicle sitting
on level ground.
To check the transmission f luid level,
remove the mounting bolt and the
under cover holding clips, then pull
out the driver’s side under cover
caref ully.
If no f luid comes out, remove the
f iller bolt. Slowly add Acura Manual
Transmission Fluid (MTF) until it
starts to run out of the check bolt
hole.Pour the f luid into the f iller hole
slowly and caref ully so you do not
spill any. Clean up any spills
immediately; it could damage
components in the engine
compartment.
Let the f luid run out until it stops,
then reinstall the check bolt and the
f iller bolt.
CONT INUED
T ransmission Fluid
Manual Transmission
Maint enance
517
WASHER
CHECK BOLT
FILLER BOLT
09/07/29 18:29:46 31TK4610_522
2010 TL

The f luid level should be between
theMINandMAXmarksontheside
of the reservoir. If the level is at or
below the MIN mark, your brake
system needs attention. Have the
brake system inspected f or leaks or
worn brake pads.
You need to remove the lef t engine
compartment cover to check the
f luid level (see page ).
Check the f luid level in the
reservoirs monthly. There are up to
two reservoirs, depending on the
model. They are:
Brake f luid reservoir (all models)
Clutch f luid reservoir
(manual transmission models
only)
To access the reservoirs, remove the
lef t engine compartment cover (see
page ).
You will also see a ‘‘LOW BRAKE
FLUID’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display.
Replace the brake f luid every 3 years,
independent of the maintenance
message in the multi-inf ormation
display. Always use Honda Heavy Duty
Brake Fluid DOT 3. If it is not
available, you should use only DOT 3
or DOT 4 f luid, f rom a sealed
container, as a temporary
replacement.
Brake f luid marked DOT 5 is not
compatible with your vehicle’s
braking system and can cause
extensive damage. Using any non-Honda brake f luid can
cause corrosion and decrease the lif e
of the system. Have the brake
system f lushed and ref illed with
Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid
DOT 3 as soon as possible.
508
508
Brake and Clutch Fluid
Brake Fluid
Maint enance
519
MAX
MIN
09/07/29 18:30:10 31TK4610_524
2010 TL

µµ
Manual Transmission only
The f luid level should be between
theMINandMAXmarksontheside
of the reservoir. If it is not, add
brake f luid to bring it up to that level.
Use the same fluid specified for the
brake system.
A low f luid level can indicate a leak
in the clutch system. Have this
system inspected as soon as possible.The timing belt should be replaced
according to the maintenance
minder (see page ).
Replace the timing belt every 60,000
miles (U.S.) or every 100,000 km
(Canada) if you regularly drive your
vehicleinanyof thefollowing
conditions:
In very high temperatures
(over 110°F, 43°C).
In very low temperatures
(under 20°F, 29°C). 497
Brake and Clutch Fluid, Timing Belt
Clutch Fluid
T iming Belt
520
MAX
MIN
09/07/29 18:30:20 31TK4610_525
2010 TL

´However, these tires are not suitable
f or driving on snow or ice, so all-
season or winter tires must be
installed f or winter driving
conditions.
See page f or
To saf ely operate your vehicle, your
tires must be the proper type and
size, in good condition with adequate
tread, and correctly inf lated.
The f ollowing pages give more
detailed inf ormation on how to take
care of your tires and what to do
when they need to be replaced.
Your vehicle is equipped with high
perf ormance all-season tires
(marked All Season or M S on the
sidewalls). These tires provide
excellent handling and braking
perf ormance in most driving
situations.
Your vehicle is equipped with high
perf ormance summer tires. These
tires have a high-traction compound
and tread pattern to provide superior
acceleration, cornering, and stopping
under most driving conditions. 541
All models except SH-AWD model with
high perf ormance tires and SH-AWDTECH HPT models
SH-AWD model with high perf ormancetires and SH-AWD TECH HPT models
Winter Driving.
Tire Types
Tires
534
Using tires that are excessively
worn or improperly inflated can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner’s manual regarding tire
inflation and maintenance.
09/07/29 18:32:50 31TK4610_539
2010 TL

´
Î
Î Î
Î
Î
Î
See page f or DOT tire quality
grading inf ormation, and page f or tire size inf ormation.
Tires marked ‘‘M S’’ or ‘‘All
Season’’ on the sidewall have an all-
weather tread design suitable for
most winter driving conditions.
For the best perf ormance in snowy
or icy conditions, you should install
snow tires or tire chains. They may
be required by local laws under
certain conditions.
If your vehicle is equipped with
summer tires, be aware that these
tires are not designed f or winter
driving conditions. For more
inf ormation, consult your dealer.
Wheels:
Tires:
: 581
583
Optional on TECH models
On 2WD Models On U.S. SH-AWD Models
On SH-AWD Models
On Canadian SH-AWD Models
On 2WD Models
Tires
Wheel and T ire Specif ications Winter Driving
Summer T ires
540
17x8.0J
19x8.0J 18x8.0J
18x8.0J
245/40ZR19 94Y P245/45R18 96V P245/50R17 98V 18x8.0J
19x8.0J
P245/45R18 96V(TPMS)
(TPMS)
(TPMS) (TPMS)
(TPMS)
(TPMS)
Installing improper tires on your
vehicle can affect handling and
stability. This can cause a crash
in which you can be seriously
hurt or killed.
Always use the size and type of
tires recommended in this
owner’s manual.
09/07/29 18:34:10 31TK4610_545
2010 TL

Ì
ÎÎ
CONT INUED
If you mount snow tires on your
vehicle, make sure they are radial
tires of the same size and load range
as original tires. Mount snow tires on
all f our wheels. The traction
provided by snow tires on dry roads
maybelowerthanyouroriginaltires.
Check with the tire dealer f or
maximum speed recommendations.
Mount tire chains on your tires when
required by driving conditions or
local laws. Install them only on the
f ront tires. Do not use chains on the
rear tires.
Because your vehicle has limited tire
clearance, we strongly recommend
using this Quality Chain Corp. tire
chain:This tire chain is available at many
auto supply stores. To f ind a local
storethatcarriesthechain,call
Quality Chain Corp at 1-800-843-8824.
To order the tire chain online, go to
, and enter
your vehicle inf ormation. When you
install the chains, f ollow the
manuf acturer’s instructions, and
mount them as tightly as you can.
Drive slowly with the chains installed.
Rubber chain adjusters, or
tensioners, must be used to
prevent the chains f rom
contacting the body or the
chassis. If you ever hear the chains
contacting the body or chassis, stop
and investigate. If the chains have
loosened, retighten them. Make sure
they do not contact the brake lines
or suspension.
Removethechainsassoonasyou
begin driving on cleared roads.
:
www.qualitychaincorp.com
Tires
Snow T ires
T ire ChainsPremium Cobra Cable Chain1042P with accessory
adjusters
Maint enance
541
Using the wrong chains, or not
properly installing chains, can
damage the brake lines and
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously injured or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner’s manual regarding the
selection and use of tire chains.
09/07/29 18:34:22 31TK4610_546
2010 TL