2000 Acura TL sensor

Additional Information About Your Front Airbags
SRS Components
Your Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) includes:
• Two front airbags. The driver's airbag is stored in the center of
the steering wheel; the front
passenger's airbag is stored in the dashboard. Both are marked "SRS
AIRBAG."
• Sensors that can detect a moderate to severe frontal
collision.
• A sophisticated electronic system that continually monitors andrecords information about thesensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, driver and
passenger seat belt use, and all related wiring when the ignition is ON (II)
• An indicator light on theinstrument panel that alerts you to a possible problem with the
system (see page 45).
• Emergency backup power in case your car's electrical system is
disconnected in a crash. How Your Front Airbags Work
If you ever have a moderate to severe frontal collision, the sensors
will detect the vehicle's rapid deceleration. If the rate of
deceleration is high enough, the
control unit will instantly inflate the
front airbags.
CONTINUED
Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Front Airbags
During a frontal crash, your seat
belts help restrain your lower bodyand torso. Your airbag provides a
cushion to help restrain and protect
your head and chest.
Since both airbags use the samesensors, both airbags normally
inflate at the same time. However, it
is possible for only one airbag to
inflate.
This can occur when the severity of a collision is at the margin, or
threshold, that determines whether or not the airbags will deploy. In
such cases, the seat belt will provide
sufficient protection, and the supplemental protection offered by
the airbag would be minimal. After inflating, the front airbags
immediately deflate, so they won't
interfere with the driver's visibility,
or the ability to steer or operate
other controls.
The total time for inflation and deflation is approximately one-tenth
of a second, so fast that most
occupants are not aware that the
airbags deployed until they see them
lying in their laps. After a crash, you may see what
looks like smoke. This is actually
powder from the airbag's surface.
Although the powder is not harmful, people with respiratory problems
may experience some temporarydiscomfort. If this occurs, get out of
the car as soon as it is safe to do so.
U.S. Owners
For additional information on how
your airbags work, see the booklet titled SRS: What You Need to Know
About Airbags that came with yourowner's manual.
Canadian Owners
For additional information on how
your airbags work, ask your dealer for a copy of the booklet titled SRS:
What You Need to Know About Airbags.
Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Side Airbags
Your car is equipped with sideairbags for the driver and a front
seat passenger. The airbags are
stored in the outer edges of the front
seat-backs, and both are marked
"SIDE AIRBAG." How Your Side Airbags Work
If you ever have a moderate to
severe side impact, the sensors will
detect rapid deceleration and signal
the control unit to instantly inflate either the driver's or the passenger'sside airbag.
Only one airbag will deploy during a
side impact. If the impact is on the
passenger's side, the passenger's side airbag will deploy even if there
is no passenger. To get the best protection from the
side airbags, front seat occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.
Driver and Passenger Safety

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

Seat Heaters
Both front seats are equipped withseat heaters. The ignition switch
must be ON (II) to use them. Push
the front of the switch, HI, to rapidly
heat up the seat. After the seat
reaches a comfortable temperature, select LO by pushing the back of the
switch. This will keep the seat warm. The HI or LO indicator lights and
remains lit until you turn it off by
pushing the opposite side of theswitch lightly. The indicator will turn
off.
In HI, the heater turns off when the
seat gets warm, and turns back on
after the seat's temperature drops. It
continues to cycle as long as you
leave it set on HI. The HI indicator
remains lit as a reminder that you
have the heater on.
In LO, the heater runs continuously.
It does not cycle with temperaturechanges. Follow these precautions whenever
you use the seat heaters:
• Use the HI setting only to heat the seats quickly. Select the LO
setting when the seats feel warm.
The HI setting draws large amounts of current from the
battery.
• Do not use the seat heaters, even on the LO setting, if the engine is
left idling for an extended period.
They can weaken the battery, causing hard starting.
Because of the sensors for the side
airbag system, there is no heater in
the passenger's seat-back.
Instruments and Controls

Mirrors
SENSORINDICATORAUTO SWITCH
The inside mirror can automaticallydarken to reduce glare. To turn on
this feature, press the button on the bottom of the mirror. The AUTO
indicator comes on as a reminder.
When it is on, the mirror darkens when it senses the headlights of a
vehicle behind you, then returns tonormal visibility when the lights are
gone. Press the button again to turn off this sensing. Adjusting the Power Mirrors
SELECTOR SWITCH
Adjust the outside mirrors with the
adjustment switch on the driver's
door armrest:
1. Turn the ignition switch ON (II).
2. Move the selector switch to L (driver's side) or R (passenger's
side).
ADJUSTMENT SWITCH
3. Push the appropriate edge of the adjustment switch to move the
mirror right, left, up or down.
4. When you finish, move the selector switch to the center (off)
position. This turns off the adjustment switch so you can't
move a mirror out of position by
accidentally bumping the switch.
Instruments and Controls

Comfort and Convenience Features
The climate control system in your
Acura provides a comfortable drivingenvironment in all weather condi-
tions.
The standard audio system hasmany features. This section de-
scribes those features and how to
use them.
The security system helps to dis- courage vandalism and theft of your
Acura.
Climate Control System.......... .......... 110
3.2 TL without Navigation System
Fully-automatic Operation............ 112
Semi-automatic Operation............ 113
Rear Window Defogger
Button.......... .............................. 116
Sunlight Sensor/ Temperature Sensor............ 117
3.2 TL with Navigation System
Fully-automatic Operation.......... 118
Semi-automatic Operation.......... 119
Rear Window Defogger Button........................................ 122
Audio System.............................. 123 Operating the Radio.......... .......... 124
Adjusting the Sound.................... 128
Audio System Lighting.......... .... 129
Radio Frequencies.................... 129
Radio Reception............
........ 129
Operating the CD Player......... ... 131
Operating the CD Changer.......... .. 133
Protecting Compact Discs.......... 134
CD Player Error Indications.......... 135
CD Changer Error
Indications.......... .................... 136Operating the Cassette
Player........................................ 137
Tape Search Functions.......... .. 138
Caring for the Cassette
Player........................................ 140
Remote Audio Controls............ 141
Theft Protection.......... ............ 142
Security System.............................. 143
Comfort and Convenience Features

Climate Control System
Sunlight Sensor/Temperature
Sensor
SUNLIGHT SENSOR
The climate control system has twosensors. A sunlight sensor is located
in the top of the dashboard and a
temperature sensor is next to the steering column. Do not cover the
sensors or spill any liquid on them.
TEMPERATURE SENSOR
Comfort and Convenience Features