shift Acura TSX 2010 User Guide

µTo shift into the S
position, press the release button on
the front of the shift lever, and move
the lever to S. This position is similar
to D, except only gears f rom f irst to
f ourth are selected. The S position
keeps the transmission f rom cycling
between fourth and fifth gears in
stop-and-go driving.
With the shift lever in D or S, you
canalsousethepaddleshiftersto
shif t the transmission up or down.
With the paddle shifters, you can
operate the transmission much like a
manual transmission without a
clutch pedal. For more inf ormation
on driving with the paddle shif ters,
see page . If you exceed the maximum speed
f or the gear you are in, the engine
speed will enter into the tachometer’s
red zone. If this occurs, you may f eel
the engine cut in and out. This is
caused by a limiter in the engine’s
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
rpm below the red zone.
This allows you to move the shif t
lever out of Park if the normal
method of pushing on the brake
pedal and pressing the release
button does not work.
Set the parking brake.
Remove the key from the ignition
switch.
1.
2.
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S Position (S) Engine Speed L imiter Shif t L ock Release
Automatic Transmission
Driving
375
2010 TSX

Insert the key in the shift lock
release slot. Put a cloth on the edge of the shif t
lock release slot cover to prevent
scratches. Use a small f lat-tip
screwdriver or metal f ingernail f ile
to caref ully pry up the edge of the
cover and remove it from the slot.Remove the key from the shift
lock release slot, then reinstall the
cover. Make sure the notch on the
cover is on the right side. Press
the brake pedal, and restart the
engine.
If you need to use the shif t lock
release, it means your vehicle is
developing a problem. Have it
checked by your dealer.
Push down on the key while you
pressthereleasebuttononthe
shif t lever and move the shif t lever
out of Park to neutral.
3.
4. 5.6.
Automatic Transmission
376
COVER
SHIFT LOCK RELEASE SLOT
2010 TSX

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CONT INUED
WhenyouaredrivingintheD
position, you can shif t the
transmission up or down manually
with the paddle shifters.
Each time you pull (right), the
transmission shif ts to a higher gear.
Pull (lef t) to downshif t. You will
see the selected gear number on the
instrument panel.
To shif t up or down, use the
(right) or (lef t) paddle shif ter on
either side of the steering wheel. Downshifting with the paddle shifter
allows you to increase the engine
brakingwhengoingdownsteepor
long hills, and provides more power
when climbing uphills. You can
upshif t the transmission manually to
reduce the rpm.
When you pull either paddle shif ter,
the gear position indicator shows you
the selected gear number.
Using the Paddle Shif ters in the
D position (D-Paddle Shif t Mode)
Driving with the Paddle Shif ters
Driving
377
GEAR POSITION INDICATOR
2010 TSX

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The transmission control system
monitors the accelerator pedal use
and your driving conditions. When
you press the accelerator pedal as in
normal driving, the system judges
that you are driving at a constant
cruising speed without using the
paddle shif ters. Under these
conditions, D-paddle shif t mode is
canceled, and the transmission
automatically returns to drive mode
(D). Here are the speed ranges f or
downshif ting.
Hold the paddle shifter for 2
seconds to return to drive mode (D). Speed range
under 118 mph (190 km/h)
under 130 mph (209 km/h)
under 87 mph (140 km/h)
under 84 mph (135 km/h)
under 55 mph (88 km/h)
under 24 mph (38 km/h)
To shift
from
54
43
32
21
If you try to do this, the gear
position indicator will f lash the
numberof thelowergearseveral
times, then return to a higher gear. You downshif t bef ore the engine
speed reaches the highest
threshold of the lower gear.
The automatic transmission will not
allow you to shif t up or down if : Each time you pull either paddle
shifter, the transmission shifts one
gear up or down. If you want to shif t
up or down more than two gears, pull
the paddle shif ter twice, pause, and
then pull it again. The transmission remains in the
selected gear if you do not accelerate. When the transmission returns to
drive mode (D), the displayed gear
number disappears.
6-cylinder models
1
2
1
2
1:
2:
4-cylinder models
6-cylinder models
Driving with the Paddle Shif ters
378
2010 TSX

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CONT INUED
When you move the shif t lever f rom
‘‘D’’ to ‘‘S’’ position and pull either
paddle shif ter, the gear position
indicator displays ‘‘M’’ along with the
selected gear number.
To upshift, pull the (right) paddle
shif ter. To downshif t, pull the
(lef t) paddle shif ter.
With the shif t lever in the S position,
you can manually shif t up or down
with the paddle shifters. The
transmission goes into the sequential
shif t mode and holds the selected
gear.
To enter the sequential shif t mode,
pressthereleasebuttononthefront
of the shift lever, move the lever to
the S position, then pull either paddle
shif ter. To return to drive mode (D),
move the shift lever to the D position.
While you are driving in the
sequential shif t mode, the
transmission will not automatically
return to drive mode (D).
The transmission downshif ts to f irst
gear and returns to drive mode (D)
when the vehicle comes to a
complete stop or the vehicle speed is
about 6 mph (10 km/h).
If there is a problem in the
transmission while you are driving
with the paddle shifters, the D
indicator f lashes, the D-paddle shif t
mode is canceled, and the
transmission returns to drive mode
(D). You upshif t bef ore the engine
speed reaches the lowest
threshold of the higher gear.
You pull both paddle shif ters at
thesametime.
Driving with the Paddle Shif ters
Using the Paddle Shif ters in the S
position (Sequential Shif t Mode)
Driving
379
‘‘M’’ INDICATOR
GEAR POSITION INDICATOR
2010 TSX

The automatic transmission will not
allow you to shif t up or down if :If you try to do this, the gear
position indicator will f lash the
number of the lower gear several
times, then return to a higher gear.
If the vehicle speed decreases
below the redline of the selected
lowergearwhiletheindicatoris
f lashing, the transmission
downshif ts, and the indicator
displays the selected gear.
You pull both paddle shif ters at
thesametime.
Downshifting with the paddle shifter
allows you to increase the engine
braking when going down steep or
long hills, and provides more power
when climbing uphills. You can
upshif t the transmission manually to
reduce the rpm.
The transmission also shif ts
automatically as the vehicle comes to
a complete stop. It downshif ts to f irst
gear when the vehicle speed reaches
6mph(10km/h)orless.
When you accelerate f rom a stop,
the transmission starts in f irst gear,
and you must manually upshif t
between first and fifth gears. Make
sure you upshif t bef ore the engine
speed reaches the tachometer’s red
zone.
The transmission remains in the
selectedgear(5,4,3,2,or1).There
is no automatic downshif t when you
push the accelerator pedal to the
f loor.
When you are driving in 4th or 5th
gear, the transmission downshif ts to
the lower gear under the f ollowing
conditions:
The vehicle slows down to a
certain speed.
You press the brake pedal. You downshif t bef ore the engine
speed reaches the highest
threshold of the lower gear.
You upshif t bef ore the engine
speed reaches the lowest
threshold of the higher gear.
Driving with the Paddle Shif ters
380
2010 TSX

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When you are in sequential shif t
mode, and the vehicle is stopped,
pull the (right) paddle shifter to
shif t to second gear. You will see
‘‘M2’’ in the display. Starting in
second gear helps to reduce
wheelspin in deep snow or on a
slippery surf ace.
Here are the speed ranges f or
upshif ting and downshif ting.
To shift from
12
23
34
45 Speed range
over 0 mph (0 km/h)
over 6 mph (10 km/h)
over 9 mph (15 km/h)
over 20 mph (32 km/h)
over 18 mph (29 km/h)
over 32 mph (52 km/h)
over 38 mph (60 km/h) Speed range
under 31 mph (50 km/h)
under 62 mph (100 km/h) under 90 mph(145 km/h)
under 94 mph (150 km/h)
under 124 mph (200 km/h)
under 130 mph (209 km/h)
To shift
from
21
32
43
54
1
2
1
2
1
2 1
2
1
2
1:
2:
4-cylinder models
6-cylinder models
1 :
2: 4-cylinder models
6-cylinder models
Driving with the Paddle Shif ters
Driving
St art ing in Second Gear
381
2010 TSX

Crosswinds and air turbulence
caused by passing trucks can disrupt
your steering and cause the trailer to
sway. When being passed by a large
vehicle, keep a constant speed, and
steer straight ahead. Do not try to
make quick steering or braking
corrections.
Make sure to set the parking brake
whenstartingoff onanincline. If you must stop when f acing uphill,
use the f oot brake or parking brake.
Do not try to hold the vehicle in
placebypressingontheaccelerator,
as this can cause the automatic
transmission to overheat. If your vehicle has an automatic
transmission, when driving down
hills, reduce your speed and use the
S mode. You can also use the paddle
shifters to change the gear position.
Select third, second or f irst gear
depending on the vehicle speeds and
road condition. When going down a
steep hill, use second gear to provide
greater engine braking. Shif t down
to f irst gear when driving up steep
hills.
Do not ‘‘ride’’ the brakes, and
remember, it will take longer to slow
downandstopwhentowingatrailer. Always drive slowly and have
someone guide you when backing up.
Grip the of the steering wheel,
then turn the wheel to the left to get
the trailer to move to the lef t. Turn
the wheel to the right to move the
trailer to the right.Your vehicle is not designed to be
towed behind a motor home. If your
vehicle needs to be towed in an
emergency, see page . Follow all normal precautions when
parking, including f irmly setting the
parking brake and putting the
transmission in Park (automatic) or
in 1st or reverse (manual). Also,
place wheel chocks at each of the
trailer’s tires.
482
bottom
Towing a Trailer
Handling Crosswinds and Buf f et ing
Backing Up Parking
Towing Your Vehicle
400
2010 TSX

Remove the transmission f iller bolt,
and caref ully f eel inside the bolt hole
with your f inger.
Check the f luid level with the
transmission at normal operating
temperature and the vehicle sitting
on level ground.
The transmission should be drained
andrefilledwithnewfluidwhenthis
service is indicated by a maintenance
message on the multi-inf ormation
display.
If you are not sure how to check and
add f luid, contact your dealer.
To check the transmission f luid level,
remove the bolts with a wrench, then
remove the under cover caref ully. Reinstall the under cover and tighten
theboltssecurely.Makesurethe
under cover is installed under the
edge of the f ront bumper.
The f luid level should be up to the
edge of the bolt hole. If it is not, add
Acura Manual Transmission Fluid
(MTF) until it starts to run out of the
hole. Reinstall the f iller bolt, and
tighten it securely. If Acura MTF is not available, you
may use an SAE 10W-30 or 10W-40
viscosity motor oil with the API
Certif ication seal that says ‘‘FOR
GASOLINE ENGINES’’ as a
temporary replacement. However,
motor oil does not contain the proper
additives, and continued use can
cause stiffer shifting. Replace as
soon as it is convenient.
Manual Transmission
T ransmission Fluid
426
Correct level
FILLER BOLT
BOLT UNDER COVER
2010 TSX