2000 Acura TL 3.2 Owner's Manual

Audio System
Theft ProtectionYour vehicle's audio system will disable itself if it is disconnected
from electrical power for any reason.
To make it work again, the user must enter a specific five-digit code
in the Preset buttons. Because thereare hundreds of numbercombinations possible from five
digits, making the system work
without knowing the exact code is nearly impossible.
You should have received a card that
lists your audio system's code
number and serial number. It is best
to store this card in a safe place at
home. In addition, you should write
the audio system's serial number in
this Owner's Manual. If you shouldhappen to lose the card, you mustobtain the code number from your
Acura dealer. To do this, you will need the system's serial number. If your vehicle's battery is discon-
nected or goes dead, the audio
system will disable itself. If this
happens, you will see "Code" in the frequency display the next time you
turn on the system. Use the Preset
buttons to enter the five-digit code. Ifit is entered correctly, the radio willstart playing.
If you make a mistake entering the code, do not start over or try to
correct your mistake. Complete the
five-digit sequence, then enter the correct code. You have ten tries to
enter the correct code. If you are
unsuccessful in ten attempts, you
must then leave the system on for one hour before trying again. You will have to store your favorite
stations in the Preset buttons after
the system begins working. Your original settings were lost when
power was disconnected.
Comfort and Convenience Features

Security System
The security system helps to protectyour vehicle and valuables from theft.
The horn sounds and a combination of headlights, parking lights, side
marker lights and taillights flashes if someone attempts to break into your
vehicle or remove the radio. This alarm continues for two minutes,
then the system resets. To reset an alarming system before the two
minutes have elapsed, unlock either
front door with the key or the remote transmitter.
The security system sets auto- matically fifteen seconds after you
lock the doors, hood, and trunk. For
the system to activate, you must lock
the doors from the outside with the
key, lock tab, door lock switch, or
remote transmitter. The securitysystem light next to the driver's door
lock starts blinking immediately to show you the system is setting itself.SECURITY SYSTEM LIGHT
Once the security system is set,
opening any door (without using the
key or the remote transmitter), or the hood, will cause it to alarm. Italso alarms if the radio is removed
from the dashboard or the wiring is cut. With the system set, you can still
open the trunk with the remote
transmitter without triggering the alarm. The alarm will sound if the
trunk is opened with the trunk
release handle.
The security system will not set if the hood, trunk, or any door is not
fully closed. If the system will not set,check the Door Monitor on the
instrument panel (see page 56), to see if the doors and trunk are fully
closed. Since it is not part of the
monitor display, manually check the
hood.
Do not attempt to alter this system or add other devices to it.
Comfort and Convenience Features

144

Before Driving
Before you begin driving your Acura,
you should know what gasoline to
use, and how to check the levels of important fluids. You also need to
know how to properly store luggage or packages. The information in this
section will help you. If you plan to
add any accessories to your car,
please read the information in this section first. Break-in Period
..................... 146
Gasoline.............................. 146
Service Station Procedures.......... 147
Filling the Fuel Tank ................ 147
Opening the Hood.................. 148
Oil Check............................
150
Engine Coolant Check ......... 151
Fuel Economy...........................
152
Vehicle Condition.................... 152
Driving Habits.......................... 152
Accessories and Modifications..... 153
Carrying Cargo........................... 155
Before Driving

Break-in Period, Gasoline
Break-in Period
Help assure your car's future
reliability and performance by payingextra attention to how you drive
during the first 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period:
• Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid acceleration.
• Avoid hard braking. New brakesneed to be broken-in by moderate
use for the first 200 miles (300
km).
You should follow these same re- commendations with an overhauledor exchanged engine, or when the
brakes are relined. Gasoline
Your Acura is designed to operate on
premium unleaded gasoline with a
pump octane number of 91 or higher.
Use of a lower octane gasoline can cause occasional, metallic knocking
noises in the engine and will result
in decreased engine performance.
We recommend gasolines containing detergent additives that help prevent
fuel system and engine deposits. Using gasoline containing lead will
damage your car's emissions
controls. This contributes to air
pollution. In Canada, some gasolines contain
an octane-enhancing additive called
MMT. If you use such gasolines,
your emissions control system performance may deteriorate and
the Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on. If this happens, contact your
authorized Acura dealer for service.
Before Driving

Service Station Procedures
Filling the Fuel Tank
1. Because the fuel fill cap is on the driver's side of the car, park with
that side closest to the service station pumps.
2. Open the fuel fill door by pulling
on the handle at the outside of the
driver's seat. Gasoline is highly flammable
and explosive. You can be
burned or seriously injured
when handling fuel.
• Stop the engine and keep heat, sparks, and flame away.
• Handle fuel only outdoors.
• Wipe up spills immediately.
FUEL FILL CAP
3. Remove the fuel fill cap slowly. You may hear a hissing sound aspressure inside the tank escapes.
Place the cap in the holder on the
fuel fill door.
CONTINUED
Before Driving

Service Station Procedures
4. Stop filling the tank after the fuelnozzle automatically clicks off. Do
not try to "top off' the tank, leavesome room for the fuel to expand
with temperature changes.
Your car has an on-board refueling vapor recovery system to helpkeep fuel vapors from going into
the atmosphere. If the fuel pump
keeps clicking off even though the
tank is not full, there may be aproblem with this system. Consult
your dealer. 5. Screw the fuel fill cap back on,
tighten it until it clicks several
times. If you do not properly
tighten the cap, the MalfunctionIndicator Lamp may come on (see
page 54).
6. Push the fuel fill door closed until it latches. Opening the Hood
HOOD RELEASE HANDLE
1. Shift to Park or Neutral and set
the parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower left corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.
Before Driving

Service Station Procedures
LATCH
2. Standing in front of the car, putyour fingers under the front edgeof the hood to the right of center.Slide your hand to the Ieft until
you feel the hood latch handle. Push this handle up until it
releases the hood. Lift the hood. If you can open the hood without
lifting the hood latch handle, or
the hood latch handIe moves stiffly or does not spring back as
before, the mechanism should be
cleaned and lubricated (see page 215).
3. Lift the hood up most of the way.The hydraulic supports will lift itup the rest of the way and hold itup.
To close the hood, lower it to about a foot (30 cm) above the fender, then
press down firmly with your hands.
After closing the hood, make sure it is securely latched.
CONTINUED
Before Driving