2003 Acura TL 3.2 Owner's Manual

Make sure the repair f acility uses
Acura replacement body parts. Some
companies make sheet metal pieces
that seem to duplicate the original
Acura body parts, but are actually
inferior in fit, finish, and corrosion
resistance. Once installed, they do
not give the same high-quality
appearance.When reporting your collision to the
insurance company, tell them you
want Acura parts used in the repair.
Although most insurers recognize
the quality of original parts, some
maytrytospecifythattherepairsbe
done with other available parts. You
should investigate this bef ore any
repairs have begun.
Body repairs can af f ect your car’s
resistance to corrosion. If your car
needs repairs af ter a collision, pay
close attention to the parts used in
the repair and the quality of the
work.
Takeyourcartoyourauthorized
Acura dealer f or inspection af ter the
repairs are completed. Your dealer
can make sure that quality materials
were used, and that corrosion-
preventive coatings were applied to
all repaired and replaced parts.
Body Repairs
Appearance Care286

This section covers the more-
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you inf ormation about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also f ind instructions
on getting your car towed.......................
Compact Spare Tire .288
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .289
..........
If Your Engine Won’t Start . 295
Nothing Happens or the Starter Motor Operates ............................
Very Slowly .295
The Starter Operates ................................
Normally .296
................................
Jump Starting .296
............
If Your Engine Overheats . 300
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 301
..........
Charging System Indicator . 302
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 303
.......................
Readiness Codes .304
...............
Brake System Indicator . 305
..................
Closing the Moonroof . 306
..............................................
Fuses .307
..........
Checking and Replacing . 308
......................
Emergency Towing .312
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed287

Thecompactsparetirehasashorter
tread lif e than a regular tire. Replace
it when you can see the tread wear
indicator bars. The replacement
should be the same size and design
tire, mounted on the same wheel.
Thecompactsparetireisnot
designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and the compact wheel is not
designed f or mounting a regular tire.
Check the inf lation pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be
inf lated to: Your car has a compact spare tire
that takes up less space. Use this
sparetireasatemporaryreplace-
ment only. Get your regular tire
repaired or replaced and put it back
on your car as soon as you can.
Follow these precautions whenever
you are using the compact spare tire:
Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
under any circumstances.
This tire gives a harsher ride and
less traction on some road sur-
f aces than the regular tire. Use
greater caution while driving on
this tire. Do not mount snow chains on the
compact spare.
The wheel of the compact spare
tire is designed especially to f it
your car. Do not use your spare
tire on another vehicle unless it is
thesamemakeandmodel.
Turn off the Traction Control
System (see page ). Driving
withthecompactsparetiremay
activate the TCS.
Turn of f the VSA system (see
page ).
Driving with the compact spare
tiremayactivatetheVSAsystem.
204
207
Premium model
Type-S
Compact Spare Tire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed288
I INND DI
ICCA A T
TO
OR R L
LOOC CAA T
TI
IOON N M
MA
AR
RKK
T
T R
RE EA
A D
D W
WE EA
A R
R I
INND DI
ICCA A T
TO
OR R B
BAA R
R
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm)

If you have a f lat tire while driving,
stop in a saf e place to change it.
Stopping in traf f ic or on the shoulder
of a busy road is dangerous. Drive
slowly along the shoulder until you
gettoanexitoranareatostopthat
is far away from the traffic lanes.Open the trunk. Raise the trunk
f loor by lif ting up on the back edge.
To keep the trunk f loor out of the
way, attach the hook into the slot
in the trunk lid.
The tools are in the tool box on
the right side of the trunk. Take
the tools out of the tool box. Unscrew the wing bolt and take
the spare tire out of its well.
Park the car on f irm, level, and
non-slippery ground away f rom
traffic. Put the transmission in
Park. Apply the parking brake.
If you are towing a trailer, unhitch
the trailer.
Turn on the hazard warning lights
and turn the ignition switch to
LOCK (0). Have all the
passengers get out of the car while
you change the tire. 5. 4. 3.
2. 1.
CONT INUED
Changing a Flat T ire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed289
T T
O
OO OLL B
BOOX X
H
H
O
OO OKK T
T
R
RU UN NKK F
FLLOOO ORR
S
SP PA
A R
REE T
TI
IRRE E J
JA
A C
CKK
The car can easily roll off the
jack, seriously injuring anyone
underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the car when it
is supported only by the jack.

Turn the jack’s end bracket
counterclockwise to loosen it, then
remove the jack.
The jack is behind a cover in the
right f ender. Remove the cover by
turning the handle counterclock-
wise, then pulling on the cover. Loosen the f ive wheel nuts 1/2
turn with the wheel wrench.
6.
7.8.
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Changing a Flat T ire
290
J JA
A C
CKK W
WH
HE
EE
EL
L N
NUUTTS
S

CONT INUED
Use the extension and wheel
wrench as shown to raise the
vehicle until the f lat tire is of f the
ground.
Locate the jacking point nearest
thetireyouneedtochange.Itis
pointed to by an arrow molded into
the underside of the body. Place
the jack under the jacking point.
Turn the end bracket clockwise
until the top of the jack contacts
the jacking point. Make sure the
jacking point tab is resting in the
jack notch. Remove the wheel nuts and f lat
tire. Temporarily place the f lat tire
on the ground with the outside
surf ace of the wheel f acing up.
You could scratch the wheel if you
putitfacedown.
9.
10.
11.
Changing a Flat T ire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed291
J JAA C
CKKIINNG G P
PO
OI INNT T W
WH
HE
EE
EL
L W
WR REEN
NC CHH E
E
X
X T
TE
EN
NS SIIOON N

Put on the spare tire. Put the
wheel nuts back on f inger-tight,
then tighten them in a crisscross
pattern with the wheel wrench
until the wheel is f irmly against
the hub. Do not try to tighten
them f ully.
Bef ore mounting the spare tire,
wipeanydirtoff themounting
surface of the wheel and hub with
a clean cloth. Wipe the hub
carefully,itmaybehotfrom
driving.
Lowerthecartothegroundand
remove the jack.
12.
13.14.
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Changing a Flat T ire
292
B BRRAA K
KEE H
HU
UB B

Tighten the wheel nuts securely in
the same crisscross pattern. Have
the wheel nut torque checked at
the nearest automotive service
f acility.
Tighten the wheel nuts to:Place the flat tire face down in the
spare tire well.
Remove the spacer cone f rom the
wing bolt, turn it over, and put it
back on the bolt.
Secure the f lat tire by screwing
the wing bolt back into its hole.
Remove the center cap before
storing the f lat tire in the trunk
well.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
CONT INUED
Changing a Flat T ire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed293
W WIINNG G B
BOOL LTT S
SPPA
A C
CEER
R
C
CO ON NEE
80 lbf·ft (108 N·m , 11 kgf·m)