service Acura TSX 2011 User Guide

Maintenance
This chapter discusses basic maintenance.
Before Performing Maintenance
Inspection and Maintenance .............. 222
Safety When Performing
Maintenance .................................... 223
Parts and Fluids Used in
Maintenance Service ........................ 224
Maintenance Minder
™ ........................ 225
Maintenance Under the Hood
Maintenance Items Under the Hood .. 229
Opening the Hood ............................. 231
Recommended Engine Oil .................. 234
Oil Check ........................................... 235
Adding Engine Oil .............................. 237Engine Coolant .................................. 240
Transmission Fluid .............................. 242
Brake/Clutch Fluid .............................. 244
Refilling Window Washer Fluid ........... 246
Replacing Light Bulbs ......................... 247
Checking and Maintaining Wiper
Blades ................................................ 257
Checking and Maintaining Tires
Checking Tires ................................... 259
Tire and Loading Information Label .... 260
Tire Labeling ...................................... 260
DOT Tire Quality Grading
(U.S. Vehicles)
.................................... 262Wear Indicators .................................. 264
Tire Service Life .................................. 264
Tire and Wheel Replacement ............. 265
Tire Rotation ...................................... 266
Winter Tires ....................................... 267
Battery ................................................. 268
Remote Transmitter Care ................... 269
Replacing the Battery ........................ 269
Climate Control System
Maintenance ..................................... 270
Cleaning
Interior Care ........................................271
Exterior Care ...................................... 273
221

Before Performing Maintenance
222Maintenance
Inspection and MaintenanceFor your safety, perform all listed inspections and maintenance to keep your
vehicle in good condition. If you become aware of any abnormality (noise, smell,
insufficient brake fluid, oil residue on the ground, etc.), have your vehicle inspected
by a dealer. (Note, however, that service at a dealer is not mandatory to keep
your warranties in effect.) Refer to the separate maintenance booklet for detailed
maintenance and inspection information.
Types of Inspection and Maintenance Daily inspections
Perform inspections before long distance trips, when washing the vehicle, or when
refueling. Periodic inspections
Check the automatic transmission fluid level monthly. t
Automatic Transmission Fluid

P. 2 4 2
Check the brake fluid level monthly. t
Brake/Clutch Fluid

P. 2 4 4
Check the tire pressure monthly. Examine the tread for wear and foreign t
objects.
Checking and Maintaining Tires

P. 2 5 9
Check the operation of the exterior lights monthly. t
Replacing Light Bulbs

P. 2 4 7
Check the condition of the wiper blades at least every six months. t
Checking and Maintaining Wiper Blades

P. 2 5 7
Inspection and Maintenance U.S. models Maintenance, replacement, or repair of
emissions control devices and systems may be
done by any automotive repair establishment
or individuals using parts that are "certified"
to EPA standards.

According to state and federal regulations, failure
to perform maintenance on the maintenance main
items marked with # will not void your emissions
warranties. However, all maintenance services
should be performed in accordance with the
intervals indicated by the multi-information display.
Maintenance Service Items


P. 2 2 7
If you want to perform complex maintenance tasks
that require more skills and tools, purchase the
service manual.
Authorized Manual


P. 3 13

If you want to perform maintenance yourself, make
sure that you have the necessary tools and skills
first.
After performing maintenance, update the records
in the separate maintenance booklet.

Before Performing Maintenance
Parts and Fluids Used in Maintenance Service
224Maintenance
The use of Acura genuine parts and fluids is recommended when maintaining and
servicing your vehicle. Acura genuine parts are manufactured according to the
same high quality standards used in Acura vehicles
Parts and Fluids Used in Maintenance Service

225
Continued
Maintenance
If the engine oil life is less than 15%, you will see the Maintenance Minder
messages appear on the multi-information display every time you turn the ignition
switch to ON
II
. The messages notify you when to change the engine oil, or
when to bring your vehicle to a dealer for indicated maintenance services.
Displaying the Engine Oil Life
1. Turn the ignition switch to ON
II
.
2. Press the SEL /RESET button repeatedly until the engine oil life appears on the
multi-information display.
The system message indicator (
) comes on along with the Maintenance Minder
message.
Displaying the Engine Oil Life
Based on the engine operating conditions, the
remaining engine oil life is calculated and displayed
as a percentage.
Displayed Engine Oil
Life (%)Calculated Engine Oil
Life (%)
10 0 10 0 to 91
90 90 to 81
80 80 to 71
70 70 to 61
60 60 to 51
50 50 to 41
40 40 to 31
30 30 to 21
20 20 to 16
15 15 to 11
10 10 to 6
5 5 to 1
00
Maintenance Minder™
Maintenance
Service Items
Remaining
Engine Oil Life
SEL /RESET
Button

226Maintenance
Maintenance Minder™ Maintenance Minder Messages on the Multi-Information DisplayMaintenance Message
Oil Life Display Explanation Information
The remaining engine oil life is 15
to 6 percent. Once you switch the
display by pressing the

(Information) button this message
will go off.The engine oil is approaching
the end of its service life, and
the maintenance items should be
inspected and serviced soon.
The remaining engine oil life is 5 to
1 percent. Press the
button
to switch to another display.The engine oil has almost reached
the end of its service life, and
the maintenance items should be
inspected and serviced as soon as
possible.
The remaining engine oil life
has passed its service life, and a
negative distance appears after
driving over 10 miles (U.S. models)
or 10 km (Canadian models). Press
the
button to switch to
another display.The engine oil life has passed.
The maintenance items must
be inspected and serviced
immediately.
SERVICE DUE SOONSERVICE DUE NOWSERVICE PAST DUE
U.S.
Canada
Negative Distance
5 % 15 %
U.S.
Canada

227
Maintenance
Continued
Maintenance Minder™
Maintenance Service ItemsCODE Maintenance Main Items
A Replace engine oilt
*1
B Replace engine oilt
*1 and oil filter
Inspect front and rear brakes t
Check parking brake adjustment t
Inspect tie rod ends, steering gear box, and boots t
Inspect suspension components t
Inspect driveshaft boots t
Inspect brake hoses and lines (Including ABS) t
*OTQFDU
BMM
nVJE
MFWFMT
BOE
DPOEJUJPO
PG
nVJET t
Inspect exhaust system t
#
Inspect fuel lines and connections t
#
CODE Maintenance Sub Items
1 Rotate tirest
2 Replace air cleaner elementt
*2
Replace dust and pollen filter t
*3
Inspect drive belt t
33FQMBDF
USBOTNJTTJPO
nVJE t
*4
4 Replace spark plugst
Replace timing belt and inspect water pump t
*5
Inspect valve clearance t
5 Replace engine coolantt
*4: If you drive regularly in mountainous areas or tow a trailer, replace the transmission fluid at 60,000
miles (100,000 km), then every 30,000 miles (48,000 km). (automatic transmission models only)
*5: If you drive regularly in very high temperatures (over 110 °F, 43 °C ), in very low temperatures (under
-20 °F, -29 °C), or tow a trailer, replace every 60,000 miles/100,000 km. (6-cylinder models only)
#: See information on maintenance and emissions warranty. *1: Change the engine oil according to the Maintenance Minder, or annually, whichever comes first.
*2: If you drive primarily in dusty conditions, replace the air cleaner element every 15,000 miles (24,000
km).
*3: If you drive primarily in urban areas that have high concentrations of soot in the air from industry and
from diesel-powered vehicles, replace the dust and pollen filter every 15,000 miles (24,000 km).
Maintenance Service Items
Independent of the Maintenance Minder tinformation, replace the brake fluid every 3 years.
Inspect idle speed every 160,000 miles (256,000 tkm).
Adjust the valves during services A, B, 1, 2, or 3 tonly if they are noisy. Maintenance Minder
Message System Message
Indicator
Main Items
Sub Items

228Maintenance
Maintenance Minder™ Resetting the Display
Reset the engine oil life display if you have performed the maintenance service.
1. Turn the ignition switch to ON
II
.
2. Display the engine oil life by repeatedly pressing the SEL /RESET button.
3. Press and hold the SEL /RESET button for 10 seconds or more.

The oil life reset mode is displayed on the multi-information display.
4. S e l e c t ”R E S E T” w i t h t h e
button.

The service code will disappear and the engine oil life display will return to
10 0 %.
To cancel the oil life reset mode, select ”CANCEL”, then press the SEL /RESET
button.
Resetting the Display NOTICE Failure to reset the engine oil life after a
maintenance service results in the system showing
incorrect maintenance intervals, which can lead to
serious mechanical problems.
The dealer will reset the engine oil life display after
completing the required maintenance service. If
someone other than a dealer performs maintenance
service, reset the engine oil life display yourself.
SEL /RESET
Button

(Information)
ButtonEngine Oil LifeMaintenance
Item Codes

Checking and Maintaining Tires
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
262Maintenance
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)The tires on your vehicle meet all U.S. Federal Safety Requirements. All
tires are also graded for treadwear, traction, and temperature performance
according to Department of Transportation (DOT) standards. The following
explains these gradings.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the tire sidewall between
tread shoulder and maximum section width.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the
tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified government
test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and one-half
(1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire graded 100. The
relative performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions of their
use, however, and may depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in road characteristics
and climate.
Uniform Tire Quality GradingFor example:
Treadwear 200
Traction AA
Temperature A
All passenger car tires must conform to
Federal Safety Requirements in addition
to these grades.

Checking and Maintaining Tires
Wear Indicators
264Maintenance
Tire Service LifeThe life of your tires is dependent on many factors, including driving habits, road
conditions, vehicle loading, inflation pressure, maintenance history, speed, and
environmental conditions (even when the tires are not in use).
In addition to regular inspections and inflation pressure maintenance, it is
recommended that you have annual inspections performed once the tires reach
five years old. All tires, including the spare, should be removed from service after
10 years from the date of manufacture, regardless of their condition or state of
wear.
Checking TiresHigh speed driving
We recommend that you do not drive faster than
the posted speed limits and conditions allow. If you
drive at sustained high speeds (over 118 mph or
190 km/h), adjust the tire pressures as shown below
to avoid excessive heat build up and sudden tire
failure. 6-cylinder models Tire Size P235/45R18 94V
Pressure 35 psi (240 kPa, 2.4 kgf/cm
2)
4-cylinder models Tire Size P225/50R17 93V
Pressure 35 psi (240 kPa, 2.4 kgf/cm
2)
If you do not, excessive heat can build up and cause
sudden tire failure.
The groove where the wear indicator is
located is 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) shallower than
elsewhere on the tire. If the tread has worn
so that the indicator is exposed, replace the
tire. Worn out tires have poor traction on
wet roads.
Wear Indicators
Example of a
Wear Indicator mark

286Handling the Unexpected
Jump Starting What to Do After the Engine Starts
Once your vehicle's engine has started, remove the jumper cables in the following
order.
1. Disconnect the jumper cable from your vehicle's ground.
2. Disconnect the other end of the jumper cable from the assisting vehicle's
battery
terminal.
3. Disconnect the jumper cable from your vehicle's battery
terminal.
4. Disconnect the other end of the jumper cable from the assisting vehicle's
battery
terminal.
Have your vehicle inspected by a nearby service station or a dealer.
6-cylinder models