2000 Acura TL ABS

Your Car's Safety Features
(4) (1)
(2)
(1) Safety Cage
(2) Crush Zones
(3) Seats & Seat-Backs
(4) Head Restraints
(5) Collapsible Steering Column
(6) Seat Belts
(7) Airbags
(8) Door Locks
(9) Side Airbags
(7) (2)
(3)
(8)
(9)
(9)
(6)
(7)
(5)
Your car is equipped with many
features that work together toprotect you and your passengersduring a crash.
Some safety features do not require any action on your part. These
include a strong steel framework
that forms a safety cage around the
passenger compartment; front and
rear crush zones that are designed to crumple and absorb energy during a
crash; and a collapsible steering
column.
These safety features are designed to reduce the severity of injuries in a
crash. However, you and your
passengers can't take full advantageof these safety features unless you
remain sitting in a proper position
and always wear your seat belts
properly. In fact, some safety
features can contribute to injuries if
they are not used properly.
Driver and Passenger Safety

Your Car's Safety Features
Seats & Seat-Backs
Your car's seats are designed to keep
you in a comfortable, uprightposition so you can take fulladvantage of the protection offered
by seat belts and the energy absorbing materials in the seats.
How you adjust your seats and seat-
backs can also affect your safety. For
example, sitting too close to the
steering wheel or dashboard
increases the risk of you or your
passenger being injured by striking
the inside of the car, or by an inflating airbag.
Reclining a seat-back too far reduces
the seat belt's effectiveness and
increases the chance that the seat's occupant will slide under the seat
belt in a crash and be seriously
injured. What you should do: Move the front
seats as far back as possible, and
keep adjustable seat-backs in an
upright position whenever the car is
moving. Head Restraints
Head restraints can help protect you
from whiplash and other injuries. For maximum protection, the back of
your head should rest against the center of the head restraint.
Door Locks
Keeping your doors locked reduces
the chance of being thrown out of
the car during a crash. It also helps
prevent occupants from accidentally opening a door and falling out, and
outsiders from unexpectedly opening
your doors.
Driver and Passenger Safety

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

Keys and Locks
Power Door Locks
MASTER DOOR LOCK SWITCH
Each front door has a master door
lock switch. Either switch locks and
unlocks all doors. Push the switch down to lock all doors, and up to
unlock them. Each door also has a lock tab on the
top. To lock any door when getting out of the car, push the lock tab
down and close the door. To lock all
the doors from the driver's door,
push the lock tab down or push the master switch down. Then close the door.
All doors can be locked from the outside by using the key in either
front door. To unlock only the driver's door from the outside, insert the key
in the driver's door lock, turn the keyand release it. If you turn the key
and hold it, all doors will unlock. All
four doors will unlock when you
unlock the passenger's door with the
key. Lockout Prevention
If you forget and leave the key in the
ignition switch, Lockout Prevention
will not allow you to lock the driver's door. With the driver's door open
and the key in the ignition, both
master door lock switches are disabled. However, if the driver's
door is not open, the master door
lock switches are not disabled. Pushing the switch down on the
open passenger's door will lock all doors. If you try to lock an open
driver's door by pushing in the lock
tab, the tabs on all doors pop out. Pushing in the lock tab on the
passenger's door only locks that door.
Instruments and Controls

Climate Control System
PASSENGER'S-SIDE VENTREAR VENTS DIAL TABS Comfort and Convenience Features

Driving
This section gives you tips onstarting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
automatic transmission. It also
includes important information on
parking your car, the braking system,
the Traction Control System, and
facts you need if you are planning to
tow a trailer.Preparing to Drive.................... 160
Starting the Engine.................... 161
Starting in Cold Weather
at High Altitude................. 161
Automatic Transmission........... 162 Shift Lever Position Indicator .. 162
Shift Lever Positions............. 163
Engine Speed Limiter............ 169
Shift Lock Release.............. 169
Parking................................... 171
The Braking System................. 172
Brake Wear Indicators.......... 172
Brake System Design .............. 173
Anti-lock Brakes.................... 173
Important Safety
Reminders................... 174
ABS Indicator.................... 174
Traction Control System ........... 175
TCS ON/OFF Switch ............. 176
TCS Indicator....................... 176
Driving in Bad Weather............. 178
Towing a Trailer........................ 180
Driving

The Braking System
Your Acura is equipped with discbrakes at all four wheels. A powerassist helps reduce the effort needed
on the brake pedal. The ABS helps
you retain steering control when braking very hard.
Put your foot on the brake pedal only
when you intend to brake. Resting
your foot on the pedal keeps the brakes applied lightly, causing themto build up heat. Heat build-up can
reduce how well your brakes work. Italso keeps your brake lights on all
the time, confusing drivers behind
you. Constant application of the brakes
when going down a long hill builds up heat and reduces their effective-
ness. Use the engine to assist the
brakes by downshifting to a lower
gear and taking your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Check your brakes after driving
through deep water. Apply the
brakes moderately to see if they feel normal. If not, apply them gently and
frequently until they do. Since a longer distance is needed to stop
with wet brakes, be extra cautious and alert in your driving. Brake Wear Indicators
All four brakes have audible brake wear indicators.
When the brake pads need replacing,
you will hear a distinctive metallic "screeching" sound when you apply
the brakes. If you do not have the
brake pads replaced, they will begin screeching all the time.
Your brakes may sometimes squeal or squeak when you apply them
lightly. Do not confuse this with the
brake wear indicators. They make a
very audible "screeching."
Driving

The Braking System
Brake System Design
The hydraulic system that operates the brakes has two separate circuits.Each circuit works diagonally across
the vehicle (the left-front brake is connected with the right-rear brake,
etc.). If one circuit should develop a
problem, you will still have brakingat two wheels.
Front
Anti-lock Brakes Your car has an Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) as standard
equipment. ABS helps to prevent the
wheels from locking up and skidding during hard braking, allowing you to
retain steering control.
When the front tires skid, you lose steering control; the car continues
straight ahead even though you turn
the steering wheel. The ABS helps to
prevent lock-up and helps you retain steering control by pumping the
brakes rapidly; much faster than a person can do it. You should never pump the
brake pedal, this defeats thepurpose of the ABS. Let the ABS
work for you by always keeping firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal
as you steer away from the hazard.
This is sometimes referred to as "stomp and steer."
You will feel a pulsation in the brake pedal when the ABS activates, and
you may hear some noise. This is normal, it is the ABS rapidly
pumping the brakes.
Activation varies with the amount of traction your tires have. On dry
pavement, you will need to press on
the brake pedal very hard before you
activate the ABS. However, you may
feel the ABS activate immediately if
you are trying to stop on snow or ice.
CONTINUED
Driving