2000 Acura TL 3.2 Owner's Manual

Indicator Lights
Seat Belt Reminder Light
This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch ON (IT). It is a
reminder to you and your passengers
to protect yourselves by fasteningthe seat belts. A beeper also sounds
if you have not fastened your seat
belt.
If you do not fasten your seat belt,
the beeper will stop after a few seconds but the light stays on until
you do. Both the light and the beeper stay off if you fasten your seat belt
before turning on the ignition. Low Oil Pressure
Indicator
The engine can be severely damaged if this light flashes or stays on when
the engine is running. For complete information, see page 267.
Charging System
Indicator
If this light comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged. For complete information, see page 268.
See page 269. Malfunction Indicator
Lamp U.S. Parking Brake and
Brake System Indicator
Canada
This light has two functions:
1. It lights as a reminder that you have not released the parking
brake. Driving with the parking
brake applied can damage the
brakes and tires.
2. If it remains lit after you release the parking brake while the engine
is running, or comes on whiledriving, it can indicate a problem
in the brake system. For complete
information, see page 270.
Instruments and Controls

Indicator Lights
Supplemental Restraint
System Indicator
This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch ON (II). If itcomes on at any other time, it
indicates a potential problem with
your front airbags. This light will also alert you to a potential problem
with your side airbags or passenger's side airbag automatic cutoff system.
For complete information, see page 45.
Side Airbag Indicator
This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch ON (II). If itcomes on at any other time, it
indicates that the passenger's side
airbag has automatically shut off.
For complete information, see page 47. U.S. Anti-lock Brake System
(ABS) Indicator
Canada
This light normally comes on for a
few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch ON (II), and when
the ignition switch is turned toSTART (III). If this light comes on at
any other time, there is a problem in
the ABS. If this happens, take the car to your dealer to have it checked.
With the light on, your car still has normal braking ability but no anti-
lock. For complete information, see page 174. Traction Control System
(TCS) Indicator
This indicator has three functions:
1. It comes on as a reminder that you have turned off the TractionControl System.
2. It flashes when the TCS is regulating wheelspin.
3. If it comes on and stays on when the Traction Control System is on,it indicates that there is a problem
in the TCS.
This light also comes on when you turn the ignition ON (II) and goes offafter the engine starts. See page 175 for more information on the
TCS.
Instruments and Controls

Indicator Lights
Door-open Indicator
The appropriate light comes on in this display if the trunk or any door
is not closed tightly.
All the lights in the monitor display come on for a few seconds when you
turn the ignition switch ON (II). Turn Signal and
Hazard Warning
Indicators
The left or right turn signal light blinks when you signal a lane changeor turn. If the light does not blink or
blinks rapidly, it usually means one of the turn signal bulbs is burned out (see page 237). Replace the bulb as
soon as possible, since other drivers
cannot see that you are signalling.
When you turn on the Hazard
Warning switch, both turn signal lights blink. All turn signals on theoutside of the car should flash. "Daytime Running
Lights" Indicator
Canadian models only
This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch to ON (II) with
the headlight switch off and the
parking brake set. It should go off if
you turn on the headlights or release the parking brake. If it comes on atany other time, it means there is a
problem with the DRL. There may also be a problem with the high
beam headlights.
High Beam Indicator
This light comes on with the high beam headlights. See page 63 forinformation on the headlight
controls.
On Canadian models, this indicator
comes on with reduced brightness
when the Daytime Running Lights (DRL) are on (see page 64).
Instruments and Controls

Indicator Lights
CRUISECONTROLCruise Control Indicator
This lights when you set the cruise control. See page 69 for informationon operating the cruise control.
Low Fuel Indicator
This light comes on as a reminder that you must refuel soon.
BRAKE LAMPParking Brake and
Brake System Indicator
If a brake light does not work, the BRAKE LAMP indicator comes on
when you push the brake pedal with the ignition switch ON (II).
A burned out brake light is a hazard
when drivers behind you cannot tell
you are braking. Have your brake lights repaired right away. Immobilizer System
Indicator
This indicator comes on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition
switch ON (II). It will then go off if
you have inserted a properly-coded ignition key. If it is not a properly-
coded key, the indicator will blink
and the engine will not start (see
page 74).
This indicator also blinks several times when you turn the ignition switch from ON (II) to ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0). Washer Level Indicator
Canadian models only
This light comes on when the
washer fluid level is low. Add washerfluid when you see this light come on (see page 212).
Instruments and Controls

Gauges
TACHOMETER SPEEDOMETER TRIP METER FUEL GAUGE TEMPERATUREGAUGE
MAINTENANCE TRIP METER
REQUIRED INDICATOR OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE INDICATOR RESET BUTTON
Speedometer
U.S. Models
This shows your speed in miles per hour (mph). The smaller innernumbers are the speed in kilometers
per hour (km/h).
Canadian Models
This shows your speed in kilometers per hour (km/h). The smaller innernumbers are the speed in miles per
hour (mph). Tachometer
The tachometer shows the engine
speed in revolutions per minute (rpm). To protect the engine from
damage, never drive with the
tachometer needle in the red zone. Odometer
The odometer shows the total dis- tance your car has been driven. It
measures miles in U.S. models and
kilometers in Canadian models. It is illegal under U.S. federal law andCanadian provincial regulations to
disconnect, reset, or alter the
odometer with the intent to change
the number of miles or kilometers
indicated.
Instruments and Controls ODOMETER

Gauges
Trip Meter
SELECTBUTTON
RESET
BUTTON
This meter shows the number of
miles (U.S.) or kilometers (Canada)
driven since you last reset it. There are two trip meters: Trip A
and Trip B. Switch between these
displays by pressing the Select
button repeatedly. Each trip meter
works independently, so you can keep track of two different distances.
When you turn the ignition switch ON (II), what you last selected is
displayed.
To reset a trip meter, display it and then press and hold the Reset buttonuntil the number resets to "0.0".Both trip meters will reset if the
vehicle's battery goes dead or is disconnected. Outside Temperature Indicator
This indicator displays the outside temperature in Fahrenheit in U.S.models, and in Centigrade inCanadian models.
The temperature sensor is located in the front bumper. Therefore, the
temperature reading can be affected
by heat reflection from the road sur-
face, engine heat, and the exhaustfrom the surrounding traffic. This can cause the temperature reading
not to be correct when your speed is
under 19 mph (30 km/h).
In certain weather conditions,
temperature readings near freezing (32°F, 0°C) could mean that ice is
forming on the road surface.
Instruments and Controls

Gauges
Temperature Gauge
This shows the temperature of theengine's coolant. During normal
operation, the pointer should rise
from the bottom white mark to about the middle of the gauge. In severedriving conditions, such as very hot
weather or a long period of uphill driving, the pointer may rise to near
the upper red mark. If it reaches the red (Hot) mark, pull safely to theside of the road. Turn to page 265 for
instructions and precautions on
checking the engine's cooling system. Fuel Gauge
This shows how much fuel you have. It is most accurate when the car is on
level ground. It may show slightly
more or less than the actual amount
when you are driving on curvy or hilly roads.
The needle returns to the bottom after you turn off the ignition. The
gauge shows the fuel level reading
immediately after you turn the
ignition switch back ON (II). Maintenance Required Indicator
MAINTENANCE REQUIRED
INDICATOR
This indicator reminds you that it is
time to take your car in forscheduled maintenance.Refer to the Maintenance Schedules
for Normal and Severe Driving Conditions on pages 192 — 196.
Instruments and Controls

Gauges
For the first 6,000 miles (9,600 km)
after the Maintenance Required
Indicator is reset, it will come on for
two seconds when you turn the ignition switch ON (II).
Between 6,000 miles (9,600 km) and
7,500 miles (12,000 km) this
indicator will light for two seconds
when you first turn the ignition switch ON (II), and then flash for
ten seconds.
If you exceed 7,500 miles (12,000
km) without having the scheduled maintenance performed, this
indicator will remain on as a constant
reminder. Your dealer will reset this indicator
after completing the scheduled
maintenance. If this maintenance is done by someone other than your
Acura dealer, reset the indicator as follows.
SELECT BUTTON
RESET BUTTON
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Press and hold the select and reset buttons on the instrument panel,
then turn the ignition switch ON
(II).
3. Hold the buttons for about ten sec- onds, until the indicator resets.
Instruments and Controls