2001 Acura TL service indicator

2001 TL Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com.
Contents
Introduction ........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safety ty......................................................................\
.......................................... .ii

Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
..................................... .5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Control s........................................................................\
........................................ .53
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
..................... 113
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................149
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... .163
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................191
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take yo ur vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Car e........................................................................\
..................................................... .249
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpecte d........................................................................\
..............................257
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, a nd how to handle them.
Technical Informatio n........................................................................\
.............................................285
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................299
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manu als (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................305
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index........................................................................\
........................................................................\
...... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.
Owner's Identification Form
Your Car at a Glance ........................................................................\
.................................................................2

This section gives you important
inf ormation about how to protect
yourself and your passengers. It
shows you how to use seat belts
properly. It explains your Supple-
mental Restraint System. And it tells
you how to properly restrain inf ants
andchildreninyourcar..........
Important Safety Precautions . 6
.............
Your Car’s Saf ety Features . 7
.......................................
Seat Belts .8
...........................................
Airbags .9
.....................
Seats & Seat-Backs .10
..........................
Head Restraints .10
..................................
Door Locks .10 ........
Pre-Drive Saf ety Checklist . 11
............................
Protecting Adults .12
.....
1. Close and Lock the Doors . 12
...........
2. Adjust the Front Seats . 13
............
3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . 14
...
4. Adjust the Head Restraints . 15
5. Fasten and Position the Seat .....................................
Belts .15
....
6. Adjust the Steering Wheel . 18
7. Maintain a Proper Sitting ................................
Position .18
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 19
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 20
........................
Protecting Children .21
All Children Must Be ...............................
Restrained .21
Children Should Sit in the Back ...........................................
Seat .22
The Passenger’s Front Airbag Poses Serious Risks ...........................
to Children .22
If You Must Drive with Several ...................................
Children .25
If a Child Requires Close ..................................
Attention .25
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 25General Guidelines f or Using
...............................
Child Seats .26
.......................
Protecting Inf ants .30
.........
Protecting Small Children . 34
.......
Protecting Larger Children . 37
Using Child Seats with .....................................
Tethers .41
Additional Inf ormation About Your .................................
Seat Belts .42
..
Seat Belt System Components . 42
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt .42
...............
Seat Belt Maintenance . 44
Additional Inf ormation About Your .....................................
Airbags .45
........................
SRS Components .45
How Your Front Airbags .........................................
Work .45
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 47
How the SRS Indicator Light .......................................
Works .48
How The Side Airbag Indicator ............................
Light Works .49
.............................
Airbag Service .50
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 50
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 51
...................................
Saf ety Labels .52
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
5

During this period:Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration.
Avoidhardbraking.Newbrakes
need to be broken-in by moderate
use f or the f irst 200 miles (300
km).
Help assure your car’s f uture
reliability and perf ormance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).
Do not change the oil until the
recommended time or mileage
intervalshowninthemaintenance
schedule.
Youshouldfollowthesesamere-
commendations with an overhauled
or exchanged engine, or when the
brakes are relined. In Canada, some gasolines contain
an octane-enhancing additive called
MMT. If you use such gasolines,
your emissions control system
perf ormance may deteriorate and
the Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on.
If this happens, contact your
authorized Acura dealer f or service.
Your Acura is designed to operate on
premium unleaded gasoline with a
pump octane number of 91 or higher.
Useof aloweroctanegasolinecan
cause occasional, metallic knocking
noises in the engine and will result in
decreased engine perf ormance.
We recommend gasolines containing
detergent additives that help prevent
f uel system and engine deposits.
Using gasoline containing lead will
damage your car’s emissions
controls. This contributes to air
pollution.
Bef ore Driving
Break-in Period
Gasoline
Break-in Period, Gasoline
150

Stop f illing the tank af ter the f uel
nozzle automatically clicks of f . Do
not try to ‘‘top off’’ the tank, leave
some room f or the f uel to expand
with temperature changes.
Your car has an on-board ref ueling
vapor recovery system to help
keep f uel vapors f rom going into
the atmosphere. If the fuel pump
keeps clicking of f even though the
tank is not f ull, there may be a
problem with this system. Consult
your dealer.Screw the f uel f ill cap back on,
tighten it until it clicks several
times. If you do not properly
tighten the cap, the Malfunction
Indicator Lamp may come on (see
page ).
Push the f uel f ill door closed until
it latches.
Shift to Park or Neutral and set
the parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower lef t corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.
4.
5.
6.
1.
273
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving
Opening the Hood
152
H H
O
OO ODD R
REEL
LEE A
A S
SEE H
HA
AN
ND DL
LEE

By eliminating as much of the
electrical load as possible, you can
drive several miles (kilometers)
before the battery is too discharged
to keep the engine running. Drive to
a service station or garage where
you can get technical assistance.
This indicator should come on when
the ignition switch is ON (II), and go
out af ter the engine starts. If it
comes on brightly when the engine
is running, it indicates that the
charging system has stopped
charging the battery. Immediately turn of f all electrical
accessories: radio, climate control,
rear def ogger, cruise control, etc.
Try not to use other electrically-
operated controls such as the power
windows. Keep the engine running
and take extra care not to stall it.
Starting the engine will discharge
the battery rapidly.
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Charging System Indicator
272
C CH
H A
AR
RGGI INNG G S
SYYSSTTE
EM
M I
INND DI
ICCA A T
TO
OR R

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 f luid level in the
brake f luid reservoir. Press lightly on
the brake pedal to see if it f eels
normal. If it does, check the brake
f luid level the next time you stop at a
service station (see page ). If the
fluid level is low, take the car to your
dealer and have the brake system
inspected f or leaks or worn brake
pads.
However, if the brake pedal does not
f eel 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 f eel the brake pedal
go down much f arther bef ore 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 shif ting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is saf e. Because of the
longer distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the car. You
should have it towed, and repaired as
soon as possible. (See
on page .)
If you must drive the car a short
distance in this condition, drive
slowly and cautiously.
The Brake System Indicator
normallycomesonwhenyouturn
the ignition switch ON (II). It is a
reminder to check the parking brake.
It comes on and stays lit if you do not
f ully release the parking brake. 218
282Emergency
Towing
Brake System Indicator
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed275
B BR RAA K
KEE S
SYYSSTTE
EM
M I
INND DI
ICCA A T
TO
OR R

Î
CONT INUED
...................
System Components . 42
...............
Use During Pregnancy . 19
....................................
Seat Heaters .98
........................
Seats, Adjusting the .93
............................
Security System .147
........
Sequential SportShif t Mode . 169
...............................
Serial Number .286
...........................
Service Intervals .196
...........................
Service Manual .305
.........
Service Station Procedures . 151
..........................
Setting the Clock .104
.....
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 166
........................
Shif t Lock Release .173
................................
Side Airbags .9 ,47
...............
Side Airbag Indicator . 49,57
Side Marker Lights, Bulb ..............................
Replacement .241
...............................
Signaling Turns .67
.....................................
Snow Tires .237
...................
Solvent-type Cleaners . 250
................................
Sound System .127
Spare Tire ......................................
Inf lating .258
............................
Specif ications .289
................
Spark Plugs, Replacing . 221
....................
Specif ications Charts . 288..................................
Speed Control .72
...................................
Speedometer .60
.......................................
Spotlights .111
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation . 45
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 50
How the SRS Indicator .......................................
Works .48
...........
How Your Airbags Work . 45
........................
SRS Components .45
..................................
SRS Service .50
.............................
SRS Indicator .48 ,57
....
START (Ignition Key Position) . 79
.......................
Starting the Engine .165
In Cold Weather at High ..................................
Altitude .165
................
With a Dead Battery . 266
..............
State Emissions Testing . 297
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine . 269
Steering Wheel ..................................
Adjustment .71
.............
Anti-theft Column Lock . 78
...................
Stereo Sound System . 127
...........................
Storing Your Car .247
........................................
Sun Visor .108
........................
Sunglasses Holder .109 ....
Supplemental Restraint System . 45
......................................
Servicing .50
...............................
SRS Indicator .48
...................
System Components . 45
.....................................
Tachometer .60
......
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in . 243
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected . 257
....................................
Tape Player .141
Technical Descriptions ......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 290
.....
Emissions Control Systems . 294
.....................
Oxygenated Fuels .292
Three Way Catalytic ...............................
Converter .296
.......................
Temperature Gauge .62
..............
Tether Anchorage Points . 41
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 296
..........................
Time, Setting the .104
....................................
Timing Belt .231
....................................
Tire Chains .237
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 259
Index
T
VII