sensor Acura TSX 2004 Owner's Manual

Your Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) includes:Two f ront airbags. The driver’s
airbag is stored in the center of
the steering wheel; the f ront
passenger’sairbagisstoredinthe
dashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRS
AIRBAG.’’
Emergency backup power in case
your car’s electrical system is
disconnected in a crash. An indicator light on the
instrument panel that alerts you to
a possible problem with the
system (see page ). A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records inf ormation about the
sensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, and driver and
passenger seat belt use when the
ignition is ON (II).
Your car is equipped with dual-stage,
dual-threshold airbags to help reduce
the chance of airbag-caused injuries.
Automatic seat belt tensioners
(see page ).
Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe frontal
collision.
44
49
SRS Components
How Your Front A irbags Work
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety46

If you ever have a moderate to
severe f rontal collision, the sensors
will detect the car’s rapid
deceleration. If the rate of
deceleration is high enough, the
control unit will instantly inf late the
f ront airbags.
During a f rontal crash, your seat
belts help restrain your lower body
and torso. Your airbag provides a
cushion to help restrain and protect
your head and chest.Since both airbags use the same
sensors, both airbags normally
inf late at the same time. However, it
is possible f or only one airbag to
inf late.
This can occur when the severity of
a collision is at the margin, or
threshold, that determines whether
or not the airbags will deploy. In
such cases, the seat belt will provide
suf f icient protection, and the
supplemental protection of f ered by
the airbag would be minimal.
Af ter inf lating, the f ront airbags
immediately def late, so they won’t
interf ere with the driver’s visibility,
or the ability to steer or operate
other controls.
The total time for inflation and
def lation is approximately one-tenth
of a second, so f ast that most
occupants are not aware that the
airbags deployed until they see them
lying in their laps.
CONT INUED
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety47

In a moderate to severe side impact,
the sensors will detect rapid
deceleration and signal the control
unit to instantly inf late either the
driver’s or the passenger’s side
airbag.
Only one airbag will deploy during a
side impact. If the impact is on the
passenger’s side, the passenger’s
side airbag will deploy even if there
is no passenger.
To get the best protection f rom the
side airbags, front seat occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.
After a crash, you may see what
looks like smoke. This is actually
powder f rom the airbag’s surf ace.
Although the powder is not harmf ul,
people with respiratory problems
mayexperiencesometemporary
discomf ort. If this occurs, get out of
the car as soon as it is safe to do so.
Your car is equipped with side
airbags f or the driver and a front
seat passenger. The airbags are
stored in the outer edges of the f ront
seat-backs, and both are marked
‘‘SIDE AIRBAG.’’ How Your Side A irbags Work
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety48

The SRS indicator alerts
you to a potential problem
with the f ront airbags or seat belt
tensioners. If equipped, it also alerts
you to a potential problem with the
side airbags, the automatic cutoff
system f or the passenger’s side
airbag, or the side curtain airbags.
In a moderate to severe side impact,
sensors will detect rapid deceleration
and signal the control unit to
instantly inflate the side curtain
airbag on the driver’s or the
passenger’s side of the car. 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 car.
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.
Your car is equipped with side
curtain airbags. These airbags are
stored in the f ront, center, and rear
pillars on both sides. The f ront and
rear pillars on both sides are marked
‘‘SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG.’’ When you turn the ignition switch to
ON (II), this indicator will light
brief ly then go out. This tells you
that the system is working properly.
CONT INUED
Standard on U.S. models, Optional on
Canadian models
How the SRS Indicator Works
How Your Side Curtain A irbags
Work
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety49
SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG

This shows the temperature of the
engine’s coolant. During normal
operation, the pointer should rise
from the bottom white mark to about
the middle of the gauge. In severe
driving conditions, such as very hot
weather or a long period of uphill
driving, the pointer may rise into the
upperhalfofthegauge.Ifitreaches
the red (Hot) mark, pull safely to the
side of the road. Turn to page f or
instructions and precautions on
checking the engine’s cooling
system.
This meter shows the number of
miles (U.S.) or kilometers (Canada)
driven since you last reset it.
This indicator displays the outside
Fahrenheit temperature in U.S.
models, and Centigrade temperature
in Canadian models.
The temperature sensor is located in
the f ront bumper. Theref ore, the
temperature reading can be af f ected
by heat ref lection f rom the road sur-
f ace, engine heat, and the exhaust
f rom surrounding traf f ic. This can
cause an incorrect temperature read-
ing when your speed is under
19 mph (30 km/h).
In certain weather conditions,
temperature readings near f reezing
(32°F, 0°C) could mean that ice is
f orming on the road surf ace. There are two trip meters: Trip A
and Trip B. Switch between these
displays by pressing the Select/
Reset knob repeatedly. Each trip
meter works independently, so you
can keep track of two dif f erent
distances.
When you turn the ignition switch to
ON (II), what you last selected is
displayed.
To reset a trip meter, display it and
then press and hold the Select/Reset
knob until the number resets to ‘‘0.0’’.
Both trip meters will reset if the car’s
battery goes dead or is disconnected.
315
Gauges
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Temperature Gauge
Trip Meter
Outside Temperature Indicator
66

Do not use the seat heaters, even
on the LO setting, if the engine is
lef t idling f or an extended period.
Thiscanweakenthebattery,
causing hard starting. Use the HI setting only to heat the
seats quickly. Select the LO
setting when the seats f eel warm.
The HI setting draws large
amounts of current f rom the
battery.
Follow these precautions whenever
you use the seat heaters:
Both f ront seats are equipped with
seat heaters. Because of the sensors
f or the side airbag system, there is
no heater in the passenger’s seat-
back. The ignition switch must be
ON (II) to use the heaters. Push the
f ront of the switch, HI, to rapidly
heat up the seat. After the seat
reaches a comf ortable temperature,
select LO by pushing the back of the
switch. This will keep the seat warm. TheHIorLOindicatorcomeson
and remains lit until you turn it of f by
pushing the opposite side of the
switch lightly.
In HI, the heater turns of f when the
seat gets warm, and turns back on
after the seat’s temperature drops. It
continues to cycle as long as you
leave it set on HI. The HI indicator
remains lit as a reminder that you
have the heater on.
In LO, the heater runs continuously.
It does not cycle with temperature
changes.
Seat Heaters
Inst rument s and Cont rols96

...............
Climate Control System . 114
.......
Fully-automatic Operation . 115
.......
Semi-automatic Operation . 116
.......
Fully-automatic Operation . 121
.......
Semi-automatic Operation . 122
Sunlight Sensor/ ............
Temperature Sensor . 128
................................
Audio System .129
.................
Operating the Radio . 130
.................
Adjusting the Sound . 134
..............................
Digital Clock .135
.....
Operating the CD Changer . 136
.......
Protecting Compact Discs . 142
CD Changer Error .............................
Indications .143
Operating the Cassette ....................................
Player .144
...........
Tape Search Functions . 146
Caring f or the Cassette ....................................
Player .147
................................
Audio System .148
.................
Operating the Radio . 149................
Adjusting the Sound . 152
.............................
Digital Clock .153
...................
Radio Frequencies . 154
.......................
Radio Reception .154
.....
Operating the CD Changer . 156
CD Changer Error .............................
Indications .164
......
Protecting Compact Discs . 165
Operating the Cassette ....................................
Player .166
...........
Tape Search Functions . 168
Caring f or the Cassette ....................................
Player .170
...........
Remote Audio Controls . 171
.......................
Thef t Protection .172
............................
Security System .173
...............................
Cruise Control .174
HomeLink Wireless Control ........................................
System .177
Without Navigation System
With Navigation System
Without Navigation System
With Navigation System
Comf ort and Convenience Features
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures113

Theclimatecontrolsystemhastwo
sensors. A sunlight sensor is located
in the top of the dashboard and a
temperature sensor is next to the
steering column. Do not cover the
sensors or spill any liquid on them. Sunlight Sensor/T emperature
Sensor
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures128
SUNLIGHT SENSORTEMPERATURE SENSOR

Repair chips and scratches in the
paint as soon as you discover them.
Inspect and clean out the drain
holes in the bottom of the doors
and body.
Check the f loor coverings f or
dampness. Carpeting and f loor
mats may remain damp f or a long
time, especially in winter. This
dampness can eventually cause
the f loor panels to corrode.
Two f actors normally contribute to
causing corrosion in your car:
Moisture trapped in body cavities.
Dirtandroadsaltthatcollectsin
hollows on the underside of the
car stays damp, promoting
corrosion in that area.
Removal of paint and protective
coatings f rom the exterior and
underside of the car. Have the corrosion-preventive
coatings on the underside of your
car inspected and repaired
periodically. Use a high-pressure spray to clean
the underside of your car. This is
especially important in areas that
useroadsaltinwinter.Itisalsoa
good idea in humid climates and
areas subject to salt air. Be careful
not to damage the ABS wheel
sensors and wiring at each wheel.
Many corrosion-preventive measures
are built into your Acura. You can
help keep your car f rom corroding
by perf orming some simple periodic
maintenance:
1.
2.
Appearance Care
Corrosion Prot ect ion
301

If you are planning to take your
Acura outside the U.S. or Canada,
contact the tourist bureaus in the
areas you will be traveling in to f ind
out about the availability of unleaded
gasoline with the proper octane
rating.
If unleaded gasoline is not available,
be aware that using leaded gasoline
in your Acura will af f ect perf or-
mance and fuel mileage, and damage
its emissions controls. It will no
longer comply with U.S. and
Canadian emissions regulations, and
will be illegal to operate in North
America. To bring your car back into
compliance will require the replace-
ment of several components, such as
theoxygensensorsandthethree
way catalytic converter. These re-
placements are not covered under
warranty.
Driving in Foreign Countries
T echnical Inf ormation341