2003 Acura TL 3.2 Owner's Manual

If you choose electric brakes, be
sure they are electronically actuated.
Do not attempt to tap into your
vehicle’s hydraulic system. No
matter how successf ul it may seem,
any attempt to attach trailer brakes
to your vehicle’s hydraulic system
will lower braking ef f ectiveness and
create a potential hazard.Since lighting and wiring vary in
trailer type and brand, you should
also have a qualif ied mechanic install
a suitable connector between the
vehicle and the trailer. If you use a converter, you can get
the connector and pins that mate
with the connector in your car f rom
your Acura dealer.
Your car has a trailer lighting
connector located in the trunk by the
lef t taillight. To use the connector,
undo the f astener and unscrew the
cargo net mounting button on the
lef t side of the trunk lining. Ref er to
the drawing in this page for the
wiring color code and purpose of
each pin.
Acura recommends that any trailer
having a total weight of 1,000 lbs
(450 kg) or more be equipped with
its own electric or surge-type brakes.
Trailer Brakes
Trailer Lights
Driving
Towing a Trailer
214
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When preparing to tow, and bef ore
driving away, be sure to check the
f ollowing:The vehicle has been properly
serviced, and the tires, brakes,
suspension, and cooling system
are in good operating condition.
All weights and loads are within
limits (see pages and ).
Allitemsonandinthetrailerare
properly secured and cannot shif t
while you drive.
Many states and Canadian provinces
require special outside mirrors when
towing a trailer. Even if they don’t,
you should install special mirrors if
you cannot clearly see behind you, or
if the trailer creates a blind spot.
Askyourtrailersalesorrental
agency if any other items are
recommended or required f or your
towing situation.
The lights and brakes on your
vehicle and the trailer are working
properly.
Your vehicle tires and spare are
properly inf lated (see page ),
and the trailer tires and spare are
inflated as recommended by the
trailer maker.
Thehitch,safetychains,andany
other attachments are secure. 211 212 261
Pre-T ow Checklist
Additional Trailer Equipment
Towing a Trailer
Driving215

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The added weight, length, and
height of a trailer will af f ect your
vehicle’s handling and perf ormance,
so driving with a trailer requires
some special driving skills and
techniques.
Foryoursafetyandthesafetyof
others,taketimetopracticedriving
maneuvers bef ore heading f or the
open road, and f ollow the guidelines
discussed below. Maketurnsmoreslowlyandwider
than normal. The trailer tracks a
smaller arc than your vehicle, and it
canhitorrunoversomethingthe
vehicle misses. Allow more time and
distance f or braking. Do not brake or
turn suddenly as this could cause the
trailer to jackknif e or turn over.
When climbing hills, closely watch
your temperature gauge. If it nears
the red (Hot) mark, turn the air
conditioning of f , reduce speed and, if
necessary, pull to the side of the
road to let the engine cool.
If the transmission shif ts f requently
between 4th and 5th gears while
going up a hill, shif t to D . And if the
transmission shif ts f requently
between 3rd and 4th gears, shif t to
D.
Drive slower than normal in all
driving situations, and obey posted
speed limits f or vehicles with trailers.
Use the D or D position when
towing a trailer on level roads. D is
the proper shif t lever position to use
when towing a trailer in hilly terrain.
(See ‘‘
’’ in the
f ollowing column f or additional gear
inf ormation.) When towing a trailer in the
Sequential SportShif t mode, select
Fourth, Third, Second, or First gear;
depending on the vehicle speeds and
road condition. Do not use Fif th gear.
The recommended speed range f or
each gear position is shown in the
table.
Gear position 1
2
3, 4 Speed range
037mph
(0 60 km/h)
12 68 mph
over 25 mph
(over 40 km/h)
4
3
54
3
(20 110 km/h)
Driving Saf ely With a T railer
T owing Speeds and Gears Making T urns and Braking
Driving on Hills
Driving on Hills
Towing a Trailer
Driving216

Follow all normal precautions when
parking, including putting the
transmission in Park and f irmly
setting the parking brake. Also, place
wheel chocks at each of the trailer’s
tires.
Crosswinds and air turbulence
caused by passing trucks can disrupt
your steering and cause trailer
swaying. When being passed by a
large vehicle, keep a constant speed
and steer straight ahead. Do not try
to make quick steering or braking
corrections.
Always drive slowly and have
someone guide you when backing up.
Grip the of the steering
wheel; then turn the wheel to the lef t
to get the trailer to move to the lef t,
andturnthewheelrighttomovethe
trailer to the right.
If you must stop when f acing uphill,
use the f oot brake or parking brake.
Do not try to hold the vehicle in
placebypressingontheaccelerator,
as this can cause the automatic
transmission to overheat.
When driving down hills, reduce
your speed and shif t down to 2nd
gear. Do not ‘‘ride’’ the brakes, and
remember it will take longer to slow
downandstopwhentowingatrailer.
bottom
Parking
Handling Crosswinds and Buf f et ing
Backing Up
Towing a Trailer
Driving217

218

This section also includes
Maintenance Schedules f or normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions f or simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself . This section explains why it is
important to keep your car well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
If you have the skills and tools to per-
f orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your Acura, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Acura
dealer.......................
Maintenance Saf ety .220
.
Important Safety Precautions . 221
.................
Maintenance Schedule . 222
...
Required Maintenance Record . 229
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 231
..............................
Fluid Locations .232
......................................
Engine Oil .233
..................................
Adding Oil .233
....................
Recommended Oil .233
..............................
Synthetic Oil .234
....................................
Additives .235
.....
Changing the Oil and Filter . 235
.............................
Cooling System .238
............
Adding Engine Coolant . 238
.......
Replacing Engine Coolant . 240
....................
Windshield Washers .243
....
Automatic Transmission Fluid . 244
....................................
Brake Fluid .246
............................
Brake System .246
..............................
Power Steering .247
....................................
Hood Latch .247
.....................
Air Cleaner Element .248
....................................
Spark Plugs .250
..............................
Replacement .250
............................
Specif ications .252
...........................................
Battery .253 .................................
Wiper Blades .256
..............
Air Conditioning System . 258
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 259
.....................................
Drive Belts .259
....................................
Timing Belt .260
...............................................
Tires .260
......................................
Inf lation .261
..................................
Inspection .262
..............................
Maintenance .263
.............................
Tire Rotation .264
...
Replacing Tires and Wheels . 264
......................
Wheels and Tires .265
..........................
Winter Driving .266
.............................
Snow Tires .266
...................
Traction Devices . 266
.............................................
Lights .267
.....................
Headlight Aiming .269
........................
Replacing Bulbs .269
...........................
Storing Your Car .277
333
Maintenance
Maint enance219

Some of the most important saf ety
precautions are given here. However,
we cannot warn you of every
conceivable hazard that can arise in
perf orming maintenance. Only you
can decide whether or not you
should perf orm a given task.
Regularly maintaining your car is the
best way to protect your investment.
Proper maintenance is essential to
your saf ety and the saf ety of your
passengers. It will also reward you
with more economical, trouble-f ree
driving and help reduce air pollution. This section includes instructions f or
simple maintenance tasks, such as
checking and adding oil. Any service
items not detailed in this section
should be perf ormed by an Acura
technician or other qualif ied
mechanic.
Maintenance Saf ety
Maint enance220
Failure to properly follow
maintenance instructions and
precautions can cause you to
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures
and precautions in this owner’s
manual.
Improperly maintaining this car
or failing to correct a problem
before driving can cause a
crash in which you can be
seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection
and maintenance
recommendations and
schedules in this owner’s
manual.

Be sure
there is adequate ventilation
whenever you operate the engine.
Let the
engine and exhaust system cool
bef ore touching any parts.
Do
not run the engine unless in-
structed to do so. Read the instructions before you
begin, and make sure you have the
tools and skills required.
Bef ore you begin any maintenance,
make sure your car is parked on
level ground and that the parking
brake is set. Also, be sure the engine
is of f . This will help to eliminate
several potential hazards: To reduce the possibility of f ire or
explosion, be caref ul when working
around gasoline or batteries. Use a
commercially available degreaser or
parts cleaner, not gasoline, to clean
parts. Keep cigarettes, sparks, and
flames away from the battery and all
f uel-related parts.
You should wear eye protection and
protective clothing when working
near the battery or when using
compressed air.
Maintenance Saf ety
Maint enance
Important Saf ety Precautions
Carbon monoxide poisoning
f rom engine exhaust.
Burns f rom hot parts.
Injury f rom moving parts.
221