2000 Acura TL service

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

Service Station Procedures
Oil Check
DIPSTICK
Check the engine oil level every time
you fill the car with fuel. Wait a few minutes after turning the engine off
before you check the oil.
1. Remove the dipstick (orange handle). 2. Wipe the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel. 3. Insert it all the way back in its tube.
Before Driving

Service Station Procedures
UPPER MARK
LOWER MARK
4. Remove the dipstick again andcheck the level. It should be
between the upper and lowermarks.
If it is near or below the lower mark,
see Adding Oil on page 201. Engine Coolant Check
RESERVE TANK
Look at the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it is
between the MAX and MIN lines. If it is below the MIN line, see Adding
Engine Coolant on page 206 for
information on adding the proper coolant. Refer to Owner Maintenance
Checks on page 199 for information
on checking other items in your
Acura.
Before Driving
MAX

Towing a Trailer
Additional Trailer EquipmentMany states and Canadian provinces
require special outside mirrors when
towing a trailer. Even if they don't,
you should install special mirrors if
you cannot clearly see behind you, or if the trailer creates a blind spot.
Ask your trailer sales or rental agency if any other items are
recommended or required for your towing situation. Pre-Tow Checklist
When preparing to tow, and before driving away, be sure to check the
following:
• The vehicle has been properly serviced, and the tires, brakes,
suspension, and cooling system
are in good operating condition.
• All weights and loads are within limits (see pages 180 and 181).
• The hitch, safety chain, and any other attachments are secure.
• All items on and in the trailer areproperly secured and cannot shift
while you drive.
• The lights and brakes on your vehicle and the trailer are workingproperly.
• Your vehicle tires and spare are properly inflated (see page 254),and the trailer tires and spare are
inflated as recommended by the
trailer maker.
Driving

Maintenance
This section explains why it isimportant to keep your car wellmaintained and to follow basic
maintenance safety precautions.
This section also includes Maintenance Schedules for normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions for simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself.
If you have the skills and tools to per-
form more complex maintenance
tasks on your Acura, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See page 297 for information on how toobtain a copy, or see your Acuradealer. Maintenance Safety .................................188
Important Safety Precautions......189
Maintenance Schedule
.......................... 190
Maintenance Record ............................ 197
Owner Maintenance Checks.............. 199
Fluid Locations.................................... 200
Engine Oil...................................... 201
Adding Oil................................ 201
Recommended Oil...................... 201
Synthetic Oil................................ 203
Additives.................................. 203
Changing the Oil and Filter.......... 203
Cooling System ............................ 206
Adding Engine Coolant............ 206 Replacing Engine Coolant........ 208
Windshield Washers .................... 212
Transmission Fluid...................... 213
Automatic Transmission.......... 213
Brake Fluid................................ 214
Brake System .......................... 214
Power Steering ............................ 215
Hood Latch.................................. 215
Air Cleaner Element .................. 216
Spark Plugs................................ 217
Replacement............................ 217
Specifications............................ 219Battery..........................................
220
Wiper Blades.............................. 223 Air Conditioning System.............. 225
Air Conditioning Filter................ 226
Drive Belts.................................... 226
Timing Belt................................ 227
Tires............................................ 227
Inflation................................ 228
Inspection................................ 229
Maintenance............................ 230
Tire Rotation............................ 231
Replacing Tires and Wheels..... 231
Wheels and Tires.................... 232
Winter Driving...................... 233
Snow Tires.......................... 233
Traction Devices.................. 233
Lights........................................ 234
Replacing Bulbs...................... 236
Storing Your Car........................ 243
Maintenance

Maintenance Safety
Regularly maintaining your car is the
best way to protect your investment. Proper maintenance is essential to
your safety and the safety of your passengers. It will also reward you
with more economical, trouble-free driving and help reduce air pollution.
Improperly maintaining this car
or failing to correct a problem
before driving can cause a
crash in which you can be
seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection and maintenancerecommendations and
schedules in this owner's manual. This section includes instructions for
simple maintenance tasks, such as
checking and adding oil. Any service
items not detailed in this sectionshould be performed by an Acura
technician or other qualified mechanic. Some of the most important safety
precautions are given here. However,
we cannot warn you of every conceivable hazard that can arise in
performing maintenance. Only you can decide whether or not you
should perform a given task.
Failure to properly follow
maintenance instructions and
precautions can cause you to
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures
and precautions in this owner's manual.
Maintenance

Maintenance Schedule
The Maintenance Schedule specifieshow often you should have your carserviced and what things need
attention. It is essential that you have
your car serviced as scheduled to retain its high level of safety,dependability, and emissions control
performance. The services and time or distance
intervals shown in the maintenanceschedule assume you will use your
vehicle as normal transportation for passengers and their possessions.
You should also follow these recommendations:
• Avoid exceeding your car's load limit. This puts excess stress on
the engine, brakes, and manyother parts of your car. The load
limit is shown on the label on the driver's doorjamb.
• Operate your car on reasonable roads within the legal speed limit.
• Drive your car regularly over a distance of several miles(kilometers).
• Always use unleaded gasoline with the proper octane rating (see page 146). Which Schedule to Follow:
Service your car according to the
time and mileage periods on one of
the Maintenance Schedules on the
following pages. Select the schedule
for "Severe Conditions" if most of
your driving is done under one or more of the conditions listed on that
page. Otherwise, follow the schedule
for "Normal Conditions."
Maintenance

Maintenance Schedule
Your authorized Acura dealer knows
your car best and can providecompetent, efficient service.
However, service at a dealer is not
mandatory to keep your warranties in effect. Maintenance may be done
by any qualified service facility or
person who is skilled in this type of automotive service. Keep all the
receipts as proof of completion, and
have the person who does the work
fill out the Maintenance Record. Check your warranty booklet for
more information. We recommend the use of Genuine
Acura parts and fluids whenever you
have maintenance done. These aremanufactured to the same high-
quality standards as the original
components, so you can be confidentof their performance and durability.
U.S. Cars:
Maintenance, replacement or
repair of emissions control devices and systems may be done
by any automotive repair establishment or individual using
parts that are "certified" to EPA standards. According to state and federal
regulations, failure to perform
maintenance on the items marked
with # will not void your emissions
warranties. However, Acura recommends that all maintenance services be performed at the
recommended time or mileage
period to ensure long-term reliability.
Maintenance