ESP Acura TSX 2011 Owner's Manual

20Quick Reference Guide
A Few Words About SafetyYour safety, and the safety of others, is very important. And
operating this vehicle safely is an important responsibility.
To help you make informed decisions about safety, we have
provided operating procedures and other information on labels
and in this manual. This information alerts you to potential
hazards that could hurt you or others.
Of course, it is not practical or possible to warn you about all the
hazards associated with operating or maintaining your vehicle.
You must use your own good judgement.You will find this important safety information in a variety of
forms, including:
Safety Labels M - on the vehicle.
Safety Messages M - preceded by a safety alert symbol

and one of three signal words: DANGER, WARNING, or
CAUTION.
These signal words mean:
You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT
if you don't follow instructions. You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if
you don't follow instructions. You CAN be HURT if you don't follow
instructions.
Safety Headings M - such as Important Safety Precautions.
Safety Section M - such as Safe Driving.
Instructions M - how to use this vehicle correctly and safely.
This entire book is filled with important safety information -
please read it carefully.

For Safe Driving
22Safe Driving
The following pages explain your vehicle's safety features and how to use them
properly. The safety precautions below are ones that we consider to be among the
most important.Important Safety Precautions
Always wear your seat belt
A seat belt is your best protection in all types of collisions. Airbags are designed to
supplement seat belts, not replace them. So even though your vehicle is equipped
with airbags, make sure you and your passengers always wear your seat belts, and
wear them properly. Restrain all children
Children age 12 and under should ride properly restrained in a back seat, not the
front seat. Infants and small children should be restrained in a child seat. Larger
children should use a booster seat and a lap/shoulder seat belt until they can use
the belt properly without a booster seat. Be aware of airbag hazards
While airbags can save lives, they can cause serious or fatal injuries to occupants
who sit too close to them, or are not properly restrained. Infants, young children,
and short adults are at the greatest risk. Be sure to follow all instructions and
warnings in this manual. Don't drink and drive
Alcohol and driving don't mix. Even one drink can reduce your ability to respond
to changing conditions, and your reaction time gets worse with every additional
drink. So don't drink and drive, and don't let your friends drink and drive, either.
Important Safety Precautions
Some states, provinces and territories prohibit the
use of cell phones other than hands-free devices by
the driver while driving.

Airbags
Front Airbags (SRS)
37
Continued
Safe Driving
Operation
Front airbags are designed to inflate during moderate-to-severe frontal collisions.
When the vehicle decelerates suddenly, the sensors send information to the
control unit which signals one or both front airbags to inflate.

A frontal collision can be either head-on or angled between two vehicles, or when
a vehicle crashes into a stationary object, such as a concrete wall.
How the Front Airbags Work
While your seat belt restrains your torso, the
front airbag provides supplemental protection
for your head and chest.
The front airbags deflate immediately so that
they won't interfere with the driver's visibility
or the ability to steer or operate other
controls.
How the Front Airbags Work
After a front airbag inflates in a crash, you may
see what looks like smoke. This is actually powder
from the airbag's surface. Although the powder
is not harmful, people with respiratory problems
may experience some temporary discomfort. If this
occurs, get out of the vehicle as soon as it is safe to
do so.
Although the driver's and front passenger's airbags
normally inflate within a split second of each other,
it is possible for only one airbag to deploy. This can
happen if 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 sufficient protection, and the supplemental
protection offered by the airbag would be minimal.
The total time for inflation and deflation is so fast that most occupants are not
aware that the airbags deployed until they see them lying in front of them.

Child Safety
Protecting Child Passengers
49Safe Driving
Protecting Child Passengers
To deactivate a lockable retractor, release the buckle
and allow the seat belt to wind up all the way.
To remind you of the passenger's front airbag
hazards and child safety, your vehicle has warning
labels on the dashboard (U.S. models) and on the
front visors. Please read and follow the instructions
on these labels.
Safety Labels


P. 61
Any child who is too small to wear a seat belt correctly must be restrained in an t
approved child seat that is properly secured to the vehicle using either the lap
belt portion of the lap/shoulder belt or the lower anchors of the LATCH system.
Never hold a child on your lap because it is impossible to protect them in the t
event of a collision.
Never put a seat belt over yourself and a child. During a crash, the belt would t
likely press deep into the child and cause serious or fatal injuries.
Never let two children use the same seat belt. Both children could be very t
seriously injured in a crash.
Do not allow children to operate the doors, windows or seat adjustments. t
Do not leave children in the vehicle unattended, especially in hot weather t
when the inside of the vehicle can get hot enough to kill them. They could also
activate vehicle controls causing it to move unexpectedly.
WARNING
Allowing a child to play with a seat belt or
wrap one around their neck can
result in serious injury or death.

Instruct children not to play with any seat
belt and make sure any unused
seat belt a child can reach is buckled, fully
retracted, and locked.

168Features
Bluetooth
® HandsFreeLink
®
Using HFL
Help FeaturesTo hear general HFL information and help, say "Tutorial." t
Say "Hands free help" or "Help" any time to get help or hear a list of t
commands.
The multi-information display notifies you
when there is an incoming call.
Information Display
Bluetooth
® HandsFreeLink
®
Bluetooth
® Wireless Technology
Bluetooth® name and logos are registered
trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any
use of such marks by Honda Motors Co., Ltd., is
under license. Other trademarks and trade names
are those of their respective owners.
HFL Limitations
An incoming call on HFL will interrupt
Bluetooth® Audio when it is playing. Audio will
resume when the call is ended.
Information Display
The information that appears on the multi-
information display varies between phone models. Signal
StrengthHFL Mode Battery
Level
Status
Phone
Number Roam
Status

194Driving
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission
Creeping
The following conditions cause the engine to run at high revolutions, and increase
creeping:
Immediately after the engine starts. t
When the climate control system is in use. t
Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed when stopped.
Kickdown
Depressing the accelerator pedal while driving uphill may cause the transmission
to drop to a lower gear, unexpectedly increasing vehicle speed. Depress the
accelerator pedal carefully, especially on slippery roads and curves.

204Driving
When Driving
VSA
® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability Control), System
VSA
® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic
Stability Control), System
VSA
® helps to stabilize the vehicle during cornering if the vehicle turns more or less
than what was intended. It also assists in maintaining traction on slippery surfaces.
It does so by regulating engine output and selectively applying the brakes.
VSA
® Operation
VSA
® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability
Control), System
The VSA
® may not function properly if tire type and
size are mixed. Make sure to use the same size and
type of tire, and the air pressures as specified.
When the VSA
® indicator comes on and stays on
while driving, there may be a problem with the
system. While this may not interfere with normal
driving, have your vehicle checked by a dealer
immediately.
VSA
® cannot enhance stability in all driving
situations and does not control the entire braking
system. You still need to drive and corner at speeds
appropriate for the conditions and always leave a
sufficient margin of safety.
The main function of the VSA
® system is generally
known as Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The
system also includes a traction control function.
When VSA
® activates, you may notice
that the engine does not respond to the
accelerator. You may also notice some noise
from the hydraulic system. You will also see
the indicator blink.
VSA
® System
Indicator

208Driving
When Driving
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) - Required Federal Explanation
U.S. models Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) - Required
Federal ExplanationEach tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly
when cold and inflated to the inflation pressure recommended by the
vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label.
(If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label, you should determine the
proper tire inflation pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure
telltale
when one or more of your tires is significantly under-inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illuminates, you should stop
and check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to the proper
pressure.
Driving on a significantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and
can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire
tread life, and may affect the vehicle's handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire maintenance,
and it is the driver's responsibility to maintain correct tire pressure, even
if under-inflation has not reached the level to trigger illumination of the
TPMS low tire pressure telltale.

Checking and Maintaining Tires
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
263
Maintenance
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by
law.
Trac tionWarning: The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or
peak traction characteristics. TemperatureWarning: The temperature grade for
this tire is established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat buildup and
possible tire failure.

283
Engine Does Not Start
Handling the Unexpected
Checking the EngineIf the engine does not start, turn the ignition switch to START III
and check the
starter.
Checking the Engine
If you must start the vehicle immediately, use an
assisting vehicle to jump start it.
Jump Starting


P. 2 8 4

Starter condition Checklist
Starter doesn't turn or turns
over slowly.
The battery may be dead. Check
each of the items on the right and
respond accordingly.Check brightness of the interior light.
Turn on interior lights and check brightness.
If the interior lights are dim or do not come on at all t
 Battery Inspection and Maintenance P. 2 6 8
If the interior lights come on normally t
Fuse Inspection and Replacement
P. 2 9 4
The starter turns over normally
but the engine doesn't start.
There may be a problem with the
fuse. Check each of the items on
the right and respond accordingly.Review the engine start procedure.
Follow its instructions, and try to start the engine again.
Starting the Engine P.1 9 1
Check the immobilizer system indicator.
When the immobilizer system indicator is blinking, the engine cannot be started.
 Immobilizer System P. 9 8
Check the fuel level.
There should be enough fuel in the tank.
Fuel Gauge P. 7 5
Check the fuse.
Check all fuses, or have the vehicle checked by a dealer.
 Inspecting and Changing Fuses P. 2 9 7
If the problem continues:
 Emergency Towing P. 2 9 8