TPMS Acura TSX 2012 Owner's Manual
Page 9 of 324
8Quick Reference Guide
Instrument Panel 
(P63)
System Indicators
Malfunction 
Indicator Lamp
Low Oil Pressure 
Indicator
Anti-lock Brake 
System (ABS) 
Indicator
Vehicle Stability 
Assist (VSA®) System 
Indicator
VSA® OFF Indicator
Low Tire Pressure/
TPMS Indicator
Electric Power 
Steering (EPS) 
IndicatorLights On Indicator
High Beam Indicator
Fog Light Indicator
Immobilizer System 
Indicator Seat Belt Reminder 
Indicator
System Indicators
System Message 
Indicator Parking Brake 
and Brake System 
Indicator
Supplemental 
Restraint System 
Indicator
Side Airbag Off 
Indicator
Door and Trunk 
Open Indicator
CRUISE MAIN 
Indicator Tachometer
Low Fuel Indicator Security System Alarm IndicatorShift Lever Position Indicator
*
Gauges 
(P 75)
Multi-Information Display 
(P 76)
System Indicators 
(P 64)
Turn Signal and 
Hazard Warning 
Indicators
Gear Position Indicator
*
Charging System 
Indicator
CRUISE CONTROL 
Indicator
Lights Reminders
Multi-Information Display
Speedometer
Fuel Gauge Temperature Gauge
U.S.CanadaU.S.Canada 
Page 15 of 324
14Quick Reference Guide
VSA® OFF Button 
(P205)
●The vehicle stability assist (VSA®) system 
helps stabilize the vehicle during 
cornering, and helps maintain traction 
while accelerating on loose or slippery 
road surfaces.
●VSA® comes on automatically every time 
you start the engine.
●To turn VSA® on or off, press and hold 
the button until you hear a beep.
Cruise Control 
(P201)
●Cruise control allows you to maintain a 
set speed without keeping your foot on 
the accelerator pedal.
●To use cruise control, press the CRUISE 
button, then press DECEL/SET when the 
vehicle speed is above 25 mph (40 km/h).
Tire Pressure Monitoring 
System (TPMS) 
(P206)
●TPMS monitors tire pressure.
●TPMS is turned on automatically every 
time you start the engine.
Refueling 
(P 215)
a
Unlock the driver’s door.
b
Press on the edge of the 
fuel fill door to make it 
pop up slightly.
c
Turn the fuel fill cap 
slowly to remove the 
cap.
d
Place the cap in the 
holder on the fuel fill 
door.
e
After refueling, screw 
the cap back on until it 
clicks at least once.
Fuel recommendation:
Premium unleaded gasoline with a pump octane number 
91 or higher recommended
Premium unleaded gasoline with a pump octane number 
91 or higher required
Fuel tank capacity: 18.5 US gal (70 L)
4-cylinder models6-cylinder models 
Page 69 of 324
68
uuIndicatorsu
Instrument Panel
Indicator
Name
On/Blinking
Explanation
Message
Door and Trunk 
Open Indicator
●
Comes on for a few seconds if you 
turn the ignition switch to ON 
(w
, 
then goes off.
●
Comes on if the trunk or any door 
is not completely closed.
●
Goes off if a door or the trunk is closed.
EPS (Electric 
Power Steering 
System) Indicator
●
Comes on when you turn the 
ignition switch to ON 
(w
, and goes 
off when the engine starts.
●
Comes on if there is a problem 
with the EPS (Electric Power 
Steering System).
●
Stays on constantly or does not come 
on at all - Have the vehicle checked by a 
dealer.
2If the EPS Indicator Comes On P. 292
Low Tire Pressure/
TPMS Indicator
●
Comes on for a few seconds when 
you turn the ignition switch to ON (w
.
●
Comes on if the tire pressure of 
any of the tires becomes 
significantly low.
●
Blinks for about one minute, and 
then stays on if there is a problem 
with the TPMS, or when a compact 
spare tire is temporarily installed.
●
Comes on while driving - Stop in a 
safe place, check tire pressures, and 
inflate the tire(s) if necessary.
●
Blinks and remains on - Have the 
vehicle checked by a dealer. If the vehicle 
is fitted with a compact spare, get your 
regular tire repaired or replaced and put 
back on your vehicle as soon as you can. 
Page 80 of 324
Continued
79
uuGauges and Multi-Information DisplayuMulti-Information Display
Instrument Panel
The elapsed time display shows the time during one drive cycle.
The display shows the average speed in mph (U.S.) or km/h (Canada) since the last 
time Trip A was reset.
Shows the remaining oil life and Maintenance Minder
TM.
2Maintenance Minder
TM P. 225
Shows each tire’s pressure.
2TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) P. 206
Shows your paired cell phone’s information.
2Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® P. 167
■
Elapsed Time
■
Average Speed
■
Engine Oil Life
■
Tire Pressure Monitor
■
Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®
1Elapsed Time
You can change the elapsed time reset criteria.
2Customized Features P. 80 
Page 182 of 324
181
Driving
This chapter discusses driving, refueling, and information on items such as accessories.
Before Driving
Driving Preparation .......................... 182
Maximum Load Limit........................ 185
Towing a Trailer
Towing Preparation .......................... 187
Driving Safely with a Trailer .............. 189
Towing Your Vehicle ........................ 190
When Driving
Starting the Engine .......................... 191
Precautions While Driving................. 193
Automatic Transmission ................... 194Shifting ............................................ 195
Shifting ............................................ 199
Cruise Control ................................. 201
VSA
® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC 
(Electronic Stability Control), System ...... 204
TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) ... 206
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) - 
Required Federal Explanation ........... 208
Braking
Brake System ................................... 210
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) ........... 212Automatic transmissionManual transmission
Brake Assist System ......................... 213
Parking Your Vehicle
When Stopped ................................ 214
Parking ............................................ 214
Refueling
Fuel Information .............................. 215
How to Refuel ................................. 216
Fuel Economy.................................... 218
Improving Fuel Economy .................. 218
Accessories and Modifications
Accessories ...................................... 219
Modifications................................... 219 
Page 206 of 324
205
uuWhen DrivinguVSA® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability Control), System
Driving
This button is on the driver side control panel. 
To turn the VSA® system on and off, press and 
hold it until you hear a beep.
VSA® will stop and the indicator will come on.
To turn it on again, press the   (VSA® OFF) 
button until you hear a beep.
VSA® is turned on every time you start the 
engine, even if you turned it off the last time 
you drove the vehicle.
■
VSA® On and Off
1VSA® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability Control), System
Without VSA®, your vehicle will have normal braking 
and cornering ability, but it will not have VSA® 
traction and stability enhancement.
In certain unusual conditions when your vehicle gets 
stuck in shallow mud or fresh snow, it may be easier 
to free it with the VSA® temporarily switched off.
When the VSA® system is off, the traction control 
system is also off. You should only attempt to free 
your vehicle with the VSA® off if you are not able to 
free it when the VSA® is on.
Immediately after freeing your vehicle, be sure to 
switch VSA® on again. We do not recommend driving 
your vehicle with the VSA® and traction control 
systems switched off.
If the low tire pressure/TPMS indicator comes on or 
blinks, the VSA® system comes on automatically. In 
this case, you cannot turn the system off by pressing 
the  button.
You 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.
VSA® OFF 
Indicator 
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206
uuWhen DrivinguTPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System)
Driving
TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System)Monitors the tire pressure while you are driving. If your vehicle’s tire pressure 
becomes significantly low, the low tire pressure/TPMS indicator comes on and a 
message appears on the multi-information display.
To select the tire pressure monitor, turn the 
ignition switch to ON 
(w
 and press the 
 (information) button until you see 
the tire pressure screen.
If all the tire pressures are normal, TIRE 
PRESSURE OK will be displayed.
To display the pressure of all four tires, press 
the SEL/RESET button.
The pressure for each tire is displayed in PSI 
(U.S.) or kPa (Canada).
■
Tire Pressure Monitor
1TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System)
Conditions such as low ambient temperature and 
altitude change directly affect tire pressure and can 
trigger the low tire pressure/TPMS indicator to come 
on.
2If the Low Tire Pressure/TPMS Indicator 
Comes On or Blinks P. 2931Tire Pressure Monitor
The pressure displayed on the multi-information 
display can be slightly different from the actual 
pressure as measured by a gauge. If there is a 
significant difference between the two values, or if 
the low tire pressure/TPMS indicator and the message 
on the multi-information display do not go off after 
you have inflated the tire to the specified pressure, 
have the system checked by a dealer.
SYSTEM FUNCTION ERROR may appear if you drive 
with the compact spare tire, or there is a problem 
with the TPMS. 
Page 208 of 324
207
uuWhen DrivinguTPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System)
Driving
If any tire has low pressure, LOW TIRE 
PRESSURE is displayed on the multi-
information display. Check the pressure of 
each tire by pressing the SEL/RESET button.
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE is displayed when a 
tire has significantly low pressure. The specific 
tire is displayed on the screen.
1TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System)
Tire pressure checked and inflated in:•Warm weather can become under-inflated in 
colder weather.•Cold weather can become over-inflated in warmer 
weather.
The low tire pressure/TPMS indicator will not come 
on as a result of over inflation. 
Page 209 of 324
208
uuWhen DrivinguTire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) - Required Federal Explanation
Driving
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. 
Page 210 of 324
209
uuWhen DrivinguTire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) - Required Federal Explanation
Driving
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.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS malfunction 
indicator to indicate when the system is not operating properly. 
The TPMS malfunction indicator is combined with the low tire 
pressure telltale. When the system detects a malfunction, the 
telltale will flash for approximately one minute and then remain 
continuously illuminated. This sequence will continue upon 
subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the system may 
not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety of reasons, including 
the installation of replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the 
vehicle that prevent the TPMS from functioning properly.
Always check the TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing one or 
more tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the 
replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to 
continue to function properly.