cooling Acura TSX 2004 User Guide

Turn the radiator cap counter-
clockwise, without pressing down
on it, until it stops. This relieves
any pressure remaining in the
cooling system. Make sure the engine and radiator
are cool.The coolant level should be up to
the base of the f iller neck. Add
coolant if it is low.
Remove the radiator cap by
pushing down and turning
counterclockwise. Put the radiator cap back on.
Tighten it f ully.
Pour coolant into the reserve tank.
Fill it to half way between the MAX
and MIN marks. Put the cap back
on the reserve tank.
Do not add any rust inhibitors or
other additives to your car’s cooling
system. They may not be compatible
with the coolant or engine compo-
nents.
Pourthecoolantslowlyand
caref ully so you do not spill. Clean
up any spills immediately. Spilled
coolant could damage components
in the engine compartment.
3. 4.5.
6.
2. 1.
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance250
RADIATOR CAP RESERVE TANK

CONT INUED
Thecoolingsystemshouldbe
completely drained and ref illed with
new coolant according to the time
and distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule. Only use
Honda All Season Antif reeze/
Coolant Type 2.
Draining the coolant requires access
to the underside of the car. Unless
you have the tools and knowledge,
you should have this maintenance
done by a skilled mechanic.Openthehood.Makesurethe
engine and radiator are cool to the
touch.
Remove the radiator cap.
Turn the ignition to ON (II). Make
sure the DUAL indicator is off. Set
the temperature of the climate
control system to its upper limit
‘‘Hi’’. Then turn of f the ignition,
and remove the key.
1.
2.
Replacing Engine Coolant
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance251

Loosen the drain plug on the
bottom of the radiator. The
coolant will drain through the
splash guard. Drain the coolant
into an appropriate container.Remove the two reserve tank
mounting bolts with a wrench.
Remove the reserve tank f rom its
holder by pulling it straight up.
Drain the coolant into an
appropriate container, then put the
tank back in its holder. Install the
mounting bolts securely.When the coolant stops draining,
tightenthedrainplugatthe
bottom of the radiator.
3. 4.
5.6.
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance252
HOLDER
RESERVE TANK
DRAIN PLUG MOUNTING BOLTS

CONT INUED
Pour Honda All Season
Antif reeze/Coolant Type 2 into
the radiator up to the base of the
f iller neck. This coolant is a
mixture of 50 percent antif reeze
and 50 percent water. Pre-mixing
is not required.Fill the reserve tank to the MAX
mark. Install the reserve tank cap.
Install the radiator cap, and
tighten it to the first stop.
The cooling system capacity is:
Start the engine, let it run f or
about 30 seconds, then turn it of f .
Fill the radiator with coolant up to
the base of the f iller neck.
Start the engine, let it run until the
radiator cooling f an comes on at
leasttwice,thenturnitoff.
7.
10.
11.
12.
8.
9.
With automatic transmission:
With manual transmission:
Maint enance
Cooling Syst em
253
Fill up to here
RESERVE TANK
FILLER NECK
1.43 US gal (5.4)
1.40 US gal (5.3
)

Remove the radiator cap. Pour
coolant into the radiator up to the
base of the f iller neck and into the
reserve tank up to the MAX mark.
Start the engine and hold it at
1,500 rpm until the cooling f an
comes on. Turn of f the engine.
Check the coolant level in the
radiator and add coolant if needed.
Install the radiator cap, and
tighten it fully.
If necessary, f ill the reserve tank
to the MAX mark. Install the
reserve tank cap.
16. 15.
14.
13.
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance254

Run the air conditioning at least once
a week during the cold weather
months. Run it f or at least ten
minutes while you are driving at a
steady speed with the engine at
normal operating temperature. This
circulates the lubricating oil con-
tained in the ref rigerant.If the air conditioning does not get as
cold as before, have your dealer
check the system. Recharge the
system with Ref rigerant HFC-134a
(R-134a). (See Specif ications on page
.)
Your car’s air conditioning is a sealed
system. Any major maintenance,
such as recharging, should be done
by a qualif ied mechanic. You can do
a couple of things to make sure the
air conditioning works ef f iciently.
Periodically check the engine’s
radiator and air conditioning
condenser f or leaves, insects, and
dirt stuck to the f ront surf ace. These
block the air f low and reduce cooling
ef f iciency. Use a light spray f rom a
hose or a sof t brush to remove them. 334
A ir Condit ioning Syst em
Maint enance269
AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER
Whenever you have the air conditioning
system serviced, make sure the service
f acility uses a ref rigerant recycling
system. This system captures the
ref rigerant f or reuse. Releasing
ref rigerant into the atmosphere can
damage the environment.
The condenser and radiator f ins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or sof t-bristle brush to clean them.

The dust and pollen f ilter removes
pollen and dust that is brought in
f rom the outside through the heating
andcoolingsystem.To replace it: Push the stop on the right side of
the glove box to detach it from the
glove box.
This f ilter should be replaced every
30,000 miles (48,000 km) under
normal conditions. It should be
replaced every 15,000 miles (24,000
km) if you drive primarily in urban
areas that have high concentrations
of soot in the air f rom industry and
diesel-powered vehicles. Replace it
more of ten if air f low f rom the
climate control system becomes less
than usual. The dust and pollen f ilter is behind
the glove box.
Open the glove box, and remove
its contents. Remove the side tabs by carefully
prying them out with a
screwdriver, then pivot the glove
box out of the way.
1. 3. 2.Replacement
Dust and Pollen Filter
Maint enance270
STOP
SIDE TABS

If the temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn of f the engine.
Wait until you see no more signs
of steam or spray, then open the
hood.
If there was no coolant in the
reserve tank, you may also have to
add coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the pointerreaches the middle of the tempera-
ture gauge, or lower, bef ore check-
ing the radiator.
Using gloves or a large heavy
cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the f irst stop. This
releases any remaining pressure in
the cooling system. After the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap and turn it until it comes
off.
If you don’t f ind an obvious leak,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank (see page
). If the level is below the
MIN mark, add coolant to halfway
between the MIN and MAX marks. Look f or any obvious coolant leaks,
such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you f ind a leak, it
must be repaired bef ore you
continue driving (see on page ). Start the engine and set the
temperature control to its upper
limit, . Add coolant to the
radiator up to the base of the f iller
neck. If you do not have the
proper coolant mixture available,
you can add plain water.
Remember to have the cooling
system drained and ref illed with
the proper mixture as soon as you
can.
Put the radiator cap back on
tightly. Run the engine and watch
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair. (See
on page .)
If the temperature stays normal,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the
MAX mark. Put the cap back on
tightly.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8. 9.10.
328
189 11.
12.
328
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
If Your Engine Overheats
Emergency
Towing
Emergency
Towing
316
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.

µµ
µ
´Circuits Protected
No.
No. No.
Amps. Amps.Amps. Circuits Protected
Circuits Protected
Left Headlight Low
(Rear Defroster Coil)
Lef t Headlight Hi
Small Light
Right Headlight Hi 6
7
8
9
10
1
2
3
4
5 11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
15 A
(30A) 10 A
15 A
10 A 15 A
7.5 A 15 A
20 A 20 A
20 A
40 A
40 A
15 A
30 A
40 A
40 A
40 A
40 A
100 A
50 A
50 A Cooling Fan
Not Used
Horn, Stop
Rear Defroster
Back Up, ACC
Hazard
VSA Motor
VSA
OP 1
OP 2
Heater Motor
Battery
Not Used
BIG1Main
Power Window Main
Right Headlight Low
Back Up
FI ECU
Condenser f an
Not Used
Fuses
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed326
UNDER-HOOD FUSE/RELAY BOX

................
Gas Station Procedures . 184
Gauges ...
Engine Coolant Temperature . 66
...............................................
Fuel .67
...............................
Speedometer .65
.................................
Tachometer .65
Gearshif t Lever Positions ..........
Automatic Transmission . 204
6-speed Manual .........................
Transmission .201
..............................
Glass Cleaning .300
........................................
Glove Box .89
.............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs . 282
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers . 75
........................................
Headlights .70
........................................
Aiming .282
..............
Automatic Lighting Off . 71
............
Daytime Running Lights . 72
............
Low Beams, Turning on . 70
.........................
Reminder Chime .70
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs . 282
...................................
Turning on .70
..............................
Head Restraints .93 .....................
Heating and Cooling .114
...............................
Heated Mirror .103
.............
High Altitude, Starting at . 200
HomeLink Wireless Control ........................................
System .177
.......................
Hood, Opening the .186
...........................
Hydraulic Clutch .260
.................................
Hydroplaning .220
...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle . 332
Ignition ..............................................
Keys .77
...........................................
Switch .80
............
Timing Control System . 343
........................
Immobilizer System .79
.........
Important Safety Precautions . 6
.........
Indicators, Instrument Panel . 59
...............................
Inf ant Restraint .30
......................................
Inf ant Seats .30
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 39
...................
Inf lation, Proper Tire . 273
.................................
Inside Mirror .102
.............................
Inspection, Tire .275
............................
Instrument Panel .59 ........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 72
...........................
Interior Cleaning .298
...............................
Interior Lights .110
........................................
Introduction .i
........................
Jacking up the Car .307
.......................................
Jack, Tire .305
................................
Jump Starting .312
..................................................
Keys .77
.......................
Label, Certif ication .332
.................
Lane Change, Signaling . 73
........................
Lap/Shoulder Belts .43
.........................
Leather, Cleaning .299
Lights ....................
Bulb Replacement .282
.......................................
Indicator .59
.........................................
Parking .70
..................................
Turn Signal .73
Index
H IJ
K
L
IV