2000 Acura TL parking brake

If Your Engine Overheats
The pointer of your car's tempera-ture gauge should stay in the mid-range under most conditions. It may
go higher if you are driving up a long steep hill on a very hot day. If it
climbs to the red mark, you should
determine the reason.
Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause serious damage to your engine.
Your car can overheat for severalreasons, such as lack of coolant or amechanical problem. The only
indication may be the temperature
gauge climbing to or above the red mark. Or you may see steam orspray coming from under the car or
engine cover. In either case, you should take immediate action.
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out. 1. Safely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park and set the parking brake.
Turn off the climate control and all other accessories. Turn on the
hazard warning indicators.
2. If you see steam and/or spray coming from under the hood, turnoff the engine.
3. If you do not see steam or spray, leave the engine running and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading(climbing a long, steep hill on a
hot day with the A/C running, for example), the engine should start
to cool down almost immediately. If it does, wait until the tempera-
ture gauge comes down to the mid- point then continue driving.
CONTINUED
Taking Care of the Unexpected
NOTICE

Brake System Indicator
BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR
The Brake System Indicator lightcomes on when you turn the ignitionON (II). If the parking brake is not
set, it goes off after you start the
engine. If the parking brake is set, it
goes off when you fully release the parking brake with the engine
running. If it comes on at any other time, it
indicates a problem with the car's
brake system. In most cases, the problem is a low fluid level in the
brake fluid reservoir. Press lightly on
the brake pedal to see if it feels normal. If it does, check the brake
fluid level the next time you stop at a service station (see page 214). If the
fluid level is low, take the car to your dealer and have the brake system
inspected for leaks or worn brake
pads.
However, if the brake pedal does not
feel normal, you should take immediate action. Because of the
brake system's dual-circuit design, a
problem in one part of the system will still give you braking at two
wheels. You will feel the brake pedal
go down much farther before the car
begins to slow down, and you will
have to press harder on the pedal.
The distance needed to stop will be much longer. Slow down by shifting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is safe. Because of the longer distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the car. Youshould have it towed, and repaired as
soon as possible. (See Emergency
Towing on page 277.)
If you must drive the car a shortdistance in this condition, driveslowly and cautiously.
Taking Care of the Unexpected

Emergency Towing
If your car needs to be towed, call a
professional towing service or, if you
belong to one, an organization that
provides roadside assistance. Never
tow your car behind another vehicle
with just a rope or chain. It is very dangerous.
There are three popular types of professional towing equipment:
Flat-bed Equipment — The operator
loads your car on the back of a truck.
This is the best way to transport
your Acura.
Wheel-Lift Equipment — The tow
truck uses two pivoting arms that go
under the tires (front or rear) and lift
them off the ground. The other two
tires remain on the ground. This is an acceptable way to tow your
Acura.
Sling-type Equipment — The tow
truck uses metal cables with hooks on the ends. These hooks go around
parts of the frame or suspension and
the cables lift that end of the car off
the ground. Your car's suspension and body can be seriously damaged.
This method of towing is unacceptable.
If your Acura cannot be transported
by flat-bed, it should be towed by
wheel-lift equipment with the front
wheels off the ground. If, due to damage, your car must be towed
with the front wheels on the ground, do the following.
• Release the parking brake.
• Start the engine.
• Shift to D5, then to N.
• Turn off the engine.
Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Follow the
above procedure exactly. If you cannot
shift the transmission or start theengine, your car must be transported
with the front wheels off the ground.
• With the front wheels on the ground, it is best to tow the car no
farther than 50 miles (80 km), and
keep the speed below 35 mph (55
km/h).
CONTINUED
Taking Care of the Unexpected
NOTICE

Index
Before Driving................................ 145
Belts, Seat........................................ 8
Beverage Holder.......... .................... 103
Body Repair.......... ...................... 251
Anti-lock System (ABS).......... .......... 173
Break-in, New Linings.......... .......... 146
Fluid.......................................... 214
Light, Burned-out.......... .......... 238
Parking........................................ 99
System Indicator...................... 54
Wear Indicators.......... ............ 172
Brakes, ABS Description................................ 173Operation........................................ 173
System Indicator....... ............ 55, 174
Braking System.............................. 172
Break-in, New Car.......... .................... 146
Brightness Control, Instruments... .. 64
Brights, Headlights...................... 63
Bulb Replacement Back-up Lights.............................. 238
Brake Lights.............................. 238Ceiling Light.............................. 241
Courtesy Light.......... .................... 241
Front Side Marker Lights.......... 237 Headlights..........
...................... 236
High-mount Brake Light.......... .... 240
License Plate Lights.......... .......... 240
Specifications.............................. 283
Spotlight........................................ 241
Turn Signal Lights.................... 237
Bulbs, Halogen.......... .................... 236Changing Engine Coolant.......... 208
Charging System Indicator.... 54, 268
Checking
Automatic Transmission Fluid........................................ 213
Battery Condition...................... 220
Brake Fluid................................ 214
Drive Belts.......... .................... 226
Engine Coolant.......... ............ 151
Engine Oil................................ 150
Fuses........................................ 273 Power Steering Fluid.......... .......... 215
Checklist, Before Driving.......... 199
Cleaner, Air................................ 216
Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels.......... .......... 247
Carpeting.................................. 248
Exterior.......... .......................... 246
Interior.......... .............................. 246
Seat Belts................................ 249
Vinyl.......................................... 248
Window........................................ 249
Climate Control System.......... 112, 118
Clock, Setting the...................... 100
CO in the Exhaust......... ........... 49
Coin Box........................................ 101
C
Cables, Jump Starting With .......... 262
Capacities Chart................................ 282
Carbon Monoxide Hazard............. 49
Carrying, Cargo ................................ 155
Cassette Player Care.......................................... 140
Operation........................................ 137
CAUTION, Explanation of................ ii
CD Changer........................................ 133
CD Player........................................ 131
Certification Label.............................. 280
Chains.................................................. 233
Change Oil How to........................................ 203
When to........................................ 192
Changing a Flat Tire.................... 255
Brakes

Index
O
Octane Requirement, Gasoline.... .......... 146
Odometer....................................... . 58
Odometer, Trip.............................. 59
Oil Change, How to.......... .................... 203
Change, When to...................... 192
Checking Engine...................... 150
Pressure Indicator......... ......... 54, 267
Selecting Proper Viscosity Chart........................................ 202
ON (Ignition Key Position)......... ... 76
Opening the Hood........................ 148
Operation in Foreign Countries... 287
Outside Mirrors......... ....................... 98
Overheating, Engine...................... 265
Owner Maintenance Checks.......... 199
Parking Over Things that Burn... 290
PGM-FI System.......... .................... 289
Polishing and Waxing.................... 247
Power
Door Locks......... ....................... 77
Mirrors.......................................... 97
Steering.......... .............................. 215
Windows........................................ 95
Pre-Drive Safety Checklist.......... .. 11
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts.......... 18
Protecting Adults......... ..................... 12
Additional Safety Precautions.... 19
Advice for Pregnant Women.......... 18
Protecting Children......... ..................... 20
Protecting Infants......... ............. 28
Protecting Larger Children.......... 35
Protecting Small Children.......... 32
Using Child Seats with
Tethers......... .............................. . 39Rear Seat Armrest.........
........... 92
Rear View Mirror......... ........... 97
Rear Window Defogger......... ........ 67
Reclining the Seat Backs.......... 90
Reminder Lights......... ..................... 53
Remote Transmitter......... ............. 78
Replacement Information Air Cleaner Element.......... .......... 216
Coolant.......... .............................. 208
Engine Oil and Filter.................... 203
Fuses........................................ 273
Light Bulbs.......... .................... 236
Schedule........................................ 192
Spark Plugs.......... .................... 217
Tires.................................................. 231
Wiper Blades.............................. 223
Replacing Seat Belts After a Crash......... ................................ . 42
Reserve Tank, Coolant.......... .......... 151
Restraint, Child.............................. 20
Reverse Gear Position.......... .......... 164
Rotation, Tire.......... ...................... 231
P
Panel Brightness Control......... ........... 64
Park Gear Position...................... 164
Parking.......................................... 171
Parking Brake................................ 99
Parking Lights.................................... . 63R
S
Radiator Overheating..........
.......... 265
Radio/Cassette Sound System.... .. 123
Rear End Towing.......... .......... 277
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement.... 238 Safety Belts...................................... 8