2003 Acura TL ignition

Make sure the rear window is clear
and you have good visibility bef ore
starting to drive.
The def ogger and antenna wires on
the inside of the rear window can be
accidentally damaged. When
cleaning the glass, always wipe side
to side.
The rear window def ogger will clear
fog, frost, and thin ice from the
window. Push the def ogger button to
turn it on and of f . The light in the
button lights to show the def ogger is
on. If you do not turn it of f , the
def ogger will shut itself of f af ter
about15minutes.Italsoshutsoff
when you turn of f the ignition. You
have to turn it on again when you
restart the car. Rear Window Def ogger
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols74
C Ca
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Donotdropthekeysorsetheavy
objects on them.
Keep the keys away f rom liquids.
If they get wet, dry them immedi-
ately with a soft cloth.
The keys do not contain batteries.
Do not try to take them apart.
These keys contain electronic
circuits that are activated by the
Immobilizer System. They will not
work to start the engine if the
circuits are damaged. Protect the keys f rom direct
sunlight, high temperature, and
high humidity. Your car also comes with two remote
transmitters; see page for an
explanation of the operation.
Your car comes with two master
keys and a valet key.
The master key fits all the locks on
your car;
 Ignition
 Doors
Glovebox
 Trunk pass-through cover Youshouldhavereceivedakey
number plate with your keys. You
will need this key number if you ever
have to get a lost key replaced. Keep
the plate stored in a saf e place. If you
need to replace a key, use only an
Acura-approved key blank. The valet key works only in the
ignition and the door locks. You can
keep the trunk pass-through cover,
and glove box locked when you leave
your car and the valet key at a
parking f acility.
81
Keys
Remote Transmitter
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols76
V V
A
AL
LEE T
T K
KEEY
Y
(
( G
GR REEY
Y) )
M
M
A
AS
STTE
ER
R
K
KE EY
Y
(
( B
BL LAA C
CKK))
K
KE
EY
Y
N
NU UMM B
BEER
R
P
P L
LAA T
TE
E

The Immobilizer System indicator
will also blink several times when
you turn the ignition switch f rom ON
(II) to ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0).
Do not attempt to alter this system
or add other devices to it. Electrical
problems could result that may make
your car undriveable.
If you have lost your key and you
cannot start the engine, contact your
Acura dealer.
The system may not recognize your
key’s coding if another immobilizer
key or other metal object is near the
ignition switch when you insert the
key. To make sure the system
recognizes the key code:
Do not keep other immobilizer
keys on the same key ring.
Use a plastic or leather key f ob,
not metal.
Keep other keys away f rom your
car’s key and the ignition switch
while trying to start the engine.
If the system repeatedly does not
recognize the coding of your key,
contact your Acura dealer.
The Immobilizer System protects
your car f rom thef t. A properly-
coded master or valet key must be
used in the ignition switch f or the
engine to start. If an improperly-
coded key (or other device) is used,
the engine’s f uel system is disabled.
When you turn the ignition switch to
ON (II), the Immobilizer System
indicator should come on f or a f ew
seconds, then go out. If the indicator
starts to blink, it means the system
does not recognize the coding of the
key. Turn the ignition switch to
LOCK (0), remove the key, reinsert
it, and turn the switch to ON (II)
again.
CONT INUED
Immobilizer System
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols77

µYou can insert or
remove the key only in this position.
To switch f rom ACCESSORY to
LOCK, you must push the key in
slightly as you turn it. The shif t lever
must also be in Park. The anti-thef t
lock will lock the steering column
when you remove the key.
If the f ront wheels are turned, the
anti-thef t lock may sometimes make
it difficult to turn the key from
LOCK to ACCESSORY. Firmly turn
the steering wheel to the lef t or to
the right as you turn the key.
The ignition switch is on the right
side of the steering column. It has
f our positions:
LOCK(0)
 ACCESSORY (I)
 ON (II)
 START (III)As required by the FCC:
This device complies with Part 15 of theFCC rules. Operation is subject to thef ollowing two conditions: (1) This devicemay not cause harmf ul interf erence, and(2) this device must accept anyinterf erence received, includinginterf erence that may cause undesiredoperation.
Changes or modif ications not expresslyapproved by the party responsible f orcompliance could void the user’sauthority to operate the equipment.
This device complies with IndustryCanada Standard RSS-210.Operation is subject to the f ollowing twoconditions: (1) this device may not causeinterf erence, and (2) this device mustaccept any interf erence that may causeundesired operation of the device.LOCK (0)
Ignition Switch
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols78

µµ
µ
This is the normal key
position when driving. All f eatures
and accessories on the car are usable.
Several of the lights on the instru-
ment panel come on as a test when
you turn the ignition switch f rom
ACCESSORY to ON. In this position,
you can operate the audio system
and the accessory power sockets.
Use this position
only to start the engine. The switch
returns to ON (II) when you let go of
the key.
The engine will not start if the
Immobilizer System does not
recognize the key’s coding (see page ). You will hear a reminder beeper if
you leave the key LOCK (0) or
ACCESSORY (I) position and open
thedriver’sdoor.Removethekeyto
turn of f the beeper.
Each f ront 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.
77
CONT INUED
ON (II) A CCESSORY (I)
ST A RT (III) Power Door L ocks
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols79
M M
A
AS
STTE
ER
R D
DO
OO ORR L
LOOC CKK S
SWWI ITT C
CH H

If you f orget 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
andthekeyintheignition,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.
Pushinginthelocktabonthe
passenger’s door only locks that door.
Each door has a lock tab at the top of
the door. When you push down the
lock tab on the driver’s door, all
doors lock. Pulling up the lock tab on
the driver’s door only unlocks that
door.Thelocktaboneach
passenger’s door only locks and
unlocks that door.
To lock any passenger’s door when
getting out of the car, push the lock
tab down and close the door. To lock
the driver’s door, remove the key
f rom the ignition switch and push
the lock tab down or push the master
switch down, then close the door.
All doors can be locked f rom the
outsidebyusingthekeyineither
f ront door. To unlock only the driver’s
door f rom the outside, insert the key
in the driver’s door lock, turn the key
and release it. If you turn the key
and hold it, all doors will unlock. All
f our doors will unlock when you
unlock the passenger’s door with the
key.
L ockout Prevent ion
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols80

You can lock and unlock your car
with the remote transmitter. When
you push the LOCK button, all doors
lock. The parking lights, side marker
lights, and taillights f lash once.If you unlock the doors with the
remote transmitter, but do not open
any of the doors within 30 seconds,
the doors automatically relock and
the security system sets. You cannot lock or unlock the doors
with the remote transmitter if any
door is not f ully closed or the key is
in the ignition switch.
When you push the LOCK button a
second time within 5 seconds after
you have locked the doors, you will
hear a beep to verify that the doors
arelockedandthesecuritysystem
has set. When you push the UNLOCK button
once, only the driver’s door unlocks.
The remaining doors unlock when
you push the button a second time.
The parking lights, side marker
lights, taillights and license plate
lights f lash twice, each time you
push the button.
The ceiling light (if the ceiling light
switch is in the center position) will
come on when you press the
UNLOCK button. If you do not open
any door, the light stays on f or about
10 seconds, then f ades out. If you
relock the doors with the remote
transmitter before 10 seconds have
elapsed, the light will go of f
immediately.
To open the trunk, push the Trunk
Release button f or approximately
one second.
You can open the trunk with the
remote transmitter regardless of the
position of the main switch in the
glove box. The trunk will not open if
the key is in the ignition switch.
CONT INUED
Remote Transmitter
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols81
L LE
E D
D
U
UN NLLOOC CKK
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N L
LO
OC CKK
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N
P
P A
A N
NI ICC
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N
T
T
R
RU UN NKK
R
RE EL
LEE A
A S
SEE
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N

Theremotetransmitterswillalso
activate the Driving Position
Memory System (see page ).
When you open the driver’s door
after unlocking it with the remote
transmitter, you will hear a beep.
The driver’s seat and outside mirrors
move to the positions stored in that
memory location. You will hear two
beeps when the movement is
complete.
Panic mode allows you to remotely
activate your car’s security system to
attract attention. When activated, the
horn will sound, and the exterior
lights will f lash, f or about 30 seconds.
To activate panic mode, press and
hold the PANIC button for about two
seconds.
To cancel Panic mode bef ore 30
seconds, press any button on the
remote transmitter. You can also
turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Panic mode will not activate if the
ignition switch is in the ON (II)
position.
The driving position memory
activated (Memory 1, Memory 2) is
shownonthebackof each
transmitter. Make sure you store
your desired driving position in the
memory that is activated by the
transmitter you normally carry.
You can turn of f this driving position
memory activation. Press and hold
the LOCK and UNLOCK buttons at
thesametime.TheLEDinthe
remote transmitter will blink twice.
Then release the buttons.
To turn it back on, repeat this
procedure. The LED will come on
f or one second to indicate the
f eature has been turned on.
96
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Recalling a Memorized Driving
Position
Panic Mode
82
W Wi
itth h M
M e
emm o
or
ryy 1
1 W
Wiitth h M
M e
emm o
or
ryy 2
2