check engine light Acura TSX 2011 Owner's Manual

Contents
Quick Reference Guide
P. 2
Safe Driving
P. 2 1
Instrument Panel
P. 6 3
Controls
P. 8 7
Features
P. 13 7
Driving
P. 1 8 1
Maintenance
P. 2 2 1
Handling the Unexpected
P. 2 7 5
Information
P. 3 0 1
Index
P. 3 15
Child Safety P. 48 Exhaust Gas Hazard P. 60 Safety Labels P. 61
Opening and Closing the Trunk P. 95 Security System P. 98 Opening and Closing the Windows P. 100
Operating the Switches Around the Steering Wheel P. 104 Adjusting the Mirror P. 114
Interior Lights/Interior Convenience Items P. 125 Climate Control System P. 133
Audio Error Messages P. 158 Audio Remote Controls P. 160
HomeLink
® Universal Transceiver P. 165Bluetooth
® HandsFreeLink
® P. 167 Compass P. 179
When Driving P. 191 Braking P. 210 Parking Your Vehicle P. 214
Accessories and Modifications P. 219
Maintenance Under the Hood P. 229 Replacing Light Bulbs P. 247
Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 259 Battery P. 268 Remote Transmitter Care P. 269
Cleaning P. 271
Engine Does Not Start P. 283 Jump Starting P. 284 Shift Lever Does Not Move P. 287
Fuses P. 294 Emergency Towing P. 298
When you Cannot Open the Trunk P. 300
Devices that Emit Radio Waves P. 307 Reporting Safety Defects P. 308
Authorized Manuals P. 313 Client Service Information P. 314

15Quick Reference Guide
Wiper Blades
P.257
Replace blades if they leave
streaks across the windshield.
Lights
P.247
Inspect all lights regularly.
Tires
P.259
Inspect tires and wheels regularly. Check tire pressures regularly. Install snow tires for winter driving.
Maintenance

P.221
Under the Hood
P.229
Check engine oil, engine coolant, and windshield washer fluid.
Add when necessary. Check brake fluid and clutch fluid. Check the battery regularly.
Pull the hood release handle under the corner of the
dashboard. Locate the hood latch lever, pull the lever up, and lift up the
hood. When finished, close the hood and make sure it is firmly
locked in place.

70Instrument Panel
Indicators
Indicator Name On/Blinking Explanation Message
Fog Light
Indicatort
$PNFT
PO
XIFO
UIF
GPH
MJHIUT
BSF

on.—
—
U.S.Canada
Side Airbag Off
Indicatort
$PNFT
PO
GPS
B
GFX
TFDPOET
XIFO

you turn the ignition switch to ON
II
, then goes off.
t
$PNFT
PO
XIFO
UIF
QBTTFOHFS

side airbag system is automatically
shut off.t
*U
EPFT
OPU
NFBO
UIFSF
JT
B
QSPCMFN

with your side airbags.
t
Comes on when nobody is sitting in
the passenger seat - Have the vehicle
checked by a dealer.
t
Comes on when someone is sitting
in the seat - Have the passenger sit
properly.
U.S.Canada
Immobilizer
System Indicatort
$PNFT
PO
CSJFnZ
XIFO
ZPV
UVSO

the ignition switch to ON
II
,
then goes off.
t
$PNFT
PO
JG
UIF
JNNPCJMJ[FS

system cannot recognize the key
information.t
Blinks - You cannot start the engine.
Turn the ignition switch to LOCK
0
,
pull the key out, and then insert the key
and turn it to ON
II
again.
t
Repeatedly blinks - The system may
be malfunctioning. Have the vehicle
checked by a dealer.
t
%P
OPU
BUUFNQU
UP
BMUFS
UIJT
TZTUFN

or add other devices to it. Electrical
problems can occur.
—
Indicator
Security System
Alarm Indicatort
#MJOLT
XIFO
UIF
4FDVSJUZ
4ZTUFN

Alarm has been set.
 Security System Alarm P.98
—

191
Continued
Driving
When DrivingStarting the Engine
1. Make sure the parking brake is applied.
Starting the Engine
Keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal when
starting the engine.
The engine is harder to start in cold weather and
in thinner air found at altitudes above 8,000 feet
(2,400 meters).
When starting the engine in cold weather, turn off
all electrical accessories such as the lights, climate
control system, and rear defogger in order to reduce
battery drain.
If exhaust sounds abnormal or you can smell
exhaust gas inside the vehicle, have your vehicle
checked by a dealer. There may be a problem with
the engine or exhaust system.
Automatic transmission models 2. Check that the shift lever is in P
, then
depress the brake pedal.
Although it is possible to start the
vehicle in N
, it is safer to start it in P
.
Manual transmission models 2. Check that the shift lever is in N
. Then
depress the brake pedal with your right
foot, and the clutch pedal with your left
foot.
The clutch pedal must be fully depressed
to start the engine.
Brake Pedal
Brake Pedal Clutch Pedal

196Driving
When Driving
Shifting
Shift Lever Operation
Shift Lever Operation NOTICE When you change the shift lever from
D
to
R and
vice versa, come to a complete stop and keep the
brake pedal depressed.
Operating the shift lever before the vehicle has
come to a complete standstill can damage the
transmission.
Use the shift lever position indicator to check the
lever position before pulling away.
Whichever position the shift lever is in when driving,
a blinking
D
indicator indicates a transmission
problem.
Avoid sudden acceleration and have the
transmission checked by a dealer as soon as
possible.
The fuel supply may be cut off if you drive at engine
speeds in or over the tachometer red zone (engine
speed limit). If this happens, you may experience a
slight jolt.
It may not be possible to operate the shift lever
if the brake pedal is applied while the shift lever
release button is held down.
Depress the brake pedal first.
Tachometer's red zone
Shift Lever Position Indicator
Depress the brake pedal and
press the shift lever release button to
shift.
Shift without pressing the shift lever
release button.
Press the shift lever release button
and shift.M (Sequential Shift mode) Indicator/
Gear Position Indicator

Braking
Brake System
211
Driving
Foot Brake
Your vehicle is equipped with disc brakes at all four wheels. A power assist helps
reduce the effort needed on the brake pedal. The brake assist system increases the
stopping force when you depress the brake pedal hard in an emergency situation.
The anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps you retain steering control when braking
very hard.
Brake Assist System

P. 2 13
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)


P. 2 12
Foot Brake
Check the brakes after driving through deep water,
or if there is a buildup of road surface water. If
necessary, dry the brakes by lightly depressing the
pedal several times.
If you hear a continuous metallic friction sound
when applying the brakes, the brake pads need to
be replaced. Have the vehicle checked by a dealer.
Constantly using the brake pedal while going down
a long hill builds up heat, which reduces the brake
effectiveness. Apply engine braking by taking your
foot off the accelerator pedal and downshifting to
a lower gear. With manual transmission use a lower
gear for greater engine braking.
Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, as it will lightly apply the brakes and cause
them to lose effectiveness over time and reduce pad
life. It will also confuse drivers behind you.

Braking
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
212Driving
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
ABS
Helps prevent the wheels from locking up, and helps you retain steering control by
pumping the brakes rapidly, much faster than you.
The electronic brake distribution (EBD) system, which is part of the ABS, also
balances the front-to-rear braking distribution according to vehicle loading.
You should never pump the brake pedal. Let the ABS work for you by always
keeping firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal. This is sometimes referred to as
"stomp and steer."
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) NOTICE The ABS may not function correctly if you use an
incorrect tire type and size.
When the ABS indicator comes on while driving,
there may be a problem with the system.
While normal braking is not affected, there is a
possibility of the ABS not operating. Have the
vehicle checked by a dealer immediately.
The ABS does not reduce the time or distance it
takes to stop the vehicle. It only helps with steering
control during hard braking.
In the following cases, your vehicle may need more
stopping distance than a vehicle without ABS:
When driving on rough road surfaces, including twhen driving on uneven surfaces, such as gravel
or snow.
When tire chains are installed. tYou may hear a motor sound coming from the
engine compartment while system checks are being
performed immediately after starting the engine or
while driving. This is normal.
ABS operation
The brake pedal may pulsate slightly when the ABS is working. Keep holding the
pedal firmly down. On dry pavement, you will need to press on the brake pedal
very hard before the ABS activates. However, you may feel the ABS activate
immediately if you are trying to stop on snow or ice.
When the vehicle speed goes under 6 mph (10 km/h), the ABS stops.

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

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

285
Continued
Handling the Unexpected
Battery performance degrades in cold conditions
and may prevent the engine from starting. Jump Starting
5. Connect the other end of the second
jumper cable:
4 -cylinder models with automatic transmission

Engine mounting bolt
4 -cylinder models with manual transmission

Transmission mounting bolt
6-cylinder models

Engine hanger
Do not connect this jumper cable to any
other part of the engine.
6. If your vehicle is connected to another
vehicle, start the assisting vehicle's engine
and increase its rpm slightly.
7. Attempt to start your vehicle's engine. If
it turns over slowly, check that the jumper
cables have good metal-to-metal contact.
Jump Starting
6-cylinder models 4-cylinder models with
automatic transmission 4-cylinder models with
manual transmissionBooster Battery