2003 Acura TL maintenance schedule

Disconnect the wire connector
f rom the ignition coil by pushing
on the lock tab and pulling on the
connector. Pull on the plastic
connector, not the wires.
Loosen the two holding clips by
turning the heads one-quarter turn
counterclockwise with a f lat-tipped
screwdriver. Remove the cover on
the f ront cylinder bank by pulling
it straight up.
Clean up any dirt and oil that have
collected around the ignition coils.
The spark plugs in your car are a
special platinum-tipped design f or
longer lif e. The spark plugs should
be replaced according to the time
and distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule.
1.
2.3.
Replacement
Spark Plugs
Maint enance250
H H
O
OL LDD I
INNG G
C
CL LIIPP L
LO
OC CKK T
TA
A B
B

µµ
The timing belt should normally be
replaced at the intervals shown in
the maintenance schedule.
Replace this belt at 60,000 miles (U.S.)
or 100,000 km (Canada) if you
regularly drive your car in one or
more of these conditions:
In very high temperatures
(over 110°F, 43°C).
In very low temperatures
(under 20°F, 29°C). To saf ely operate your car, your tires
must be the proper type and size, in
good condition with adequate tread,
and correctly inf lated. The f ollowing
pages give more detailed inf ormation
on how and when to check air
pressure, how to inspect your tires
for damage and wear, and what to do
when your tires need to be replaced.
Timing Belt
Tires
Timing Belt, Tires
Maint enance260
Using tires that are excessively
worn or improperly inflated can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner’s manual regarding tire
inflation and maintenance.

Block the rear wheels.
Fill the f uel tank.
Change the engine oil and f ilter
(see page ).
Wash and dry the exterior
completely.
Cleantheinterior.Makesurethe
carpeting, floor mats, etc. are
completely dry.
If you need to park your car f or an
extended period (more than one
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it f or storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your car back on the road. If
possible, store your car indoors.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Park. If the car is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are of f the ground.
Coverthecarwitha‘‘breathable’’
cover, one made f rom a porous
material such as cotton.
Nonporous materials, such as
plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
If possible, run the engine f or a
while periodically (pref erably once
amonth).
Leave one window open slightly (if
the car is being stored indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Support the f ront wiper blade
arms with a f olded towel or rag so
they do not touch the windshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and trunk seals. Also, apply a
vehiclebodywaxtothepainted
surfaces that mate with the door
and trunk seals. If you store your car f or 12 months
or longer, have your Acura dealer
perf orm the inspections called f or in
the 24 months/30,000 miles (48,000
km) maintenance schedule (Normal
Conditions) as soon as you take it
out of storage (see page ). The
replacements called f or in the
maintenance schedule are not
needed unless the car has actually
reached that time or mileage.
235
224
St oring Your Car
Maint enance277

Î
ÎThe burning of gasoline in your car’s
engine produces several byproducts.
Some of these are carbon monoxide
(CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and
hydrocarbons (HC). Gasoline
evaporating from the tank also
produces hydrocarbons. Controlling
the production of NOx, CO, and HC
is important to the environment.
Under certain conditions of sunlight
and climate, NOx and HC react to
f orm photochemical ‘‘smog.’’ Carbon
monoxide does not contribute to
smog creation, but it is a poisonous
gas. The United States Clean Air Act
sets standards f or automobile
emissions. It also requires that
automobile manufacturers explain to
owners how their emissions controls
workandwhattodotomaintain
them. This section summarizes how
the emissions controls work.
Scheduled maintenance is on page
.
In Canada, Acura vehicles comply
with the Canadian emission
requirements, as specif ied in an
agreement with Environment
Canadaatthetimetheyare
manuf actured.
Your car has a Positive Crankcase
Ventilation System. This keeps
gasses that build up in the engine’s
crankcase from going into the
atmosphere. The Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve routes them from
the crankcase back to the intake
manif old. They are then drawn into
the engine and burned.
As gasoline evaporates in the f uel
tank, an evaporative emissions
control canister f illed with charcoal
adsorbs the vapor. It is stored in this
canister while the engine is of f . Af ter
the engine is started and warmed up,
the vapor is drawn into the engine
and burned during driving.
The Onboard Ref ueling Vapor
Recovery (ORVR) system captures
the f uel vapors during ref ueling. The
vapors are adsorbed in a canister
f illed with activated carbon. While
driving, the f uel vapors are drawn
into the engine and burned of f .
224
The Clean Air Act
Crankcase Emissions Control
System Evaporative Emissions Control
System
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor
Recovery
T echnical Inf ormation
Emissions Cont rols
324

CONT INUED
..................................................
Keys .76
.......................
Label, Certif ication .316
.................
Lane Change, Signaling . 71
..................
Lap/Shoulder Belts . 15,44
Lights ....................
Bulb Replacement .269
.......................................
Indicator .57
.........................................
Parking .69
..................................
Turn Signal .71
.....................................
Load Limit .184
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) . 78
........................
Lockout Prevention .80
Locks .......
Anti-thef t Steering Column . 78
............................
Fuel Fill Door .175
....................................
Glove Box .87
.................................
Power Door .79
...........................................
Trunk .85
........................
Low Coolant Level .179
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 59,301
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart . 318.........................................
Luggage .183
..................................
Maintenance .219
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 231
........................................
Record .229
......................
Required Indicator .67
..........................................
Saf ety .220
.............................
Schedule .224-228
Malf unction Indicator ....................................
Lamp .59, 303
.............
Memory, Driving Position . 96
...............................
Meters, Gauges .64
...................
Methanol in Gasoline . 322
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .94
.......................................
Moonroof .103
......................
Closing Manually .306
...................................
Operation .103
...................
Neutral Gear Position . 193
..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 174
...................
NOTICE, Explanation of . i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 316 ...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 174
.........................................
Odometer .65
...............................
Odometer, Trip .65
Oil ........................
Change, How to .235
......................
Change, When to .224
......................
Checking Engine .178
..............
Pressure Indicator . 59,301
Selecting Proper Viscosity ......................................
Chart .234
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 79
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor ....................................
Recovery .324
............................................
OnStar .162
..
Operation in Foreign Countries . 323
..............................
Outside Mirrors .94
....................
Overheating, Engine .299
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 231
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels .322
Index
K
L
NO
M
V

Î..................................
Saf ety Belts .8, 44
.........
Safety Defects, Reporting . 332
.................................
Saf ety Features .7
...........................................
Airbags .9
..................................
Door Locks .10
..........................
Head Restraints .10
.......................................
Seat Belts .8
.....................
Seats & Seat-Backs .10
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of . 54
...............................
Saf ety Messages . ii
.....................................
Seat Belts .8, 44
...............
Additional Information . 44
.....................................
Cleaning .283
................
Lap/Shoulder Belt . 15,44
................................
Maintenance .46
Reminder Light and ................................
Beeper .44, 59
..............................
Paint Touch-up .281
..............
Panel Brightness Control . 71
........................
Park Gear Position .192
...........................................
Parking .199
...............................
Parking Brake .104
Parking Brake and Brake System ...............................
Indicator .59, 305
.................................
Parking Lights .69
..
Parking Over Things that Burn . 199
.............................
PGM-FI System .325
..................
Polishing and Waxing . 281
............
Pre-Drive Saf ety Checklist . 11
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . 19
............................
Protecting Adults .12
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 20
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 19
........................
Protecting Children .21
.......................
Protecting Inf ants .30
.......
Protecting Larger Children . 37
.........
Protecting Small Children . 33
Using Child Seats with .....................................
Tethers .41 ...................
Radiator Overheating . 299
Radio/Cassette/CD Sound ........................................
System .129
...................
Readiness Codes . 304,327
..
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement . 273
..........................
Rear Seat Armrest .92
............................
Rear View Mirror .94
.................
Rear Window Def ogger . 74
...............
Reclining the Seat Backs . 89
.............................
Reminder Lights .57
................
Remote Audio Controls . 150
.......................
Remote Transmitter .81
Replacement Inf ormation .................
Air Cleaner Element . 248
..............
Dust and Pollen Filter . 259
..........................
Engine Coolant .240
................
Engine Oil and Filter . 235
..........................................
Fuses .308
................................
Light Bulbs .269
....................................
Schedule .224
................................
Spark Plugs .250
...........................................
Tires .264
.............................
Wiper Blades .256 Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a
............................................
Crash .46
...
Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant . 179
...............................
Restraint, Child .21
..................
Reverse Gear Position . 192
................................
Rotation, Tire .264
Index
PR
S
VI