2004 Acura TL instrument panel

2004 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.helminc.com.
Contents
Owner's Identification Form
Introduction ........................................................................\
............................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safety ........................................................................\
.................................................. ii
Your Vehicle at a Glance ........................................................................\
....................................................... 2
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
............................................... 5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System.
Instruments and Controls........................................................................\
...................................................49
Instrument panel indica tor and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features........................................................................\
............................... 109
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.
Before Driving ........................................................................\
....................................................... ..............163
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving........................................................................\
...................................................................................175
The proper way to start the engine, shift the tr ansmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
....................................................... ..................193
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
.......................................229
This section covers several problems motorists someti mes experience, and how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
....................................................... 253
ID numbers, dimensions, capaciti es, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)...................................................................... 265
A summary of the warranties covering your new Honda, and how to contact us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
.......................................269
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.

Your Vehicle at a Glance
3
INSTRUMENT PANEL
BRIGHTNESSHORN
WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS HAZARD WARNING
BUTTON
VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST
SYSTEM ON/OFF SWITCH REAR WINDOW
DEFOGGER
SEAT HEATERS CRUISE
CONTROL
HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS/
FOG LIGHTS
(P.74)
(P.75)
(P.191)
(P.91) STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENT
(P.78) (P.96)(P.142)
(P.77)
(P.76)
(P.73)
MIRROR CONTROLS

However, you and your passengers
can’t take f ull advantage of these
saf ety f eatures unless you remain
sitting in a proper position and
always wear your seat belts properly.
Infact,somesafetyfeaturescan
contribute to injuries if they are not
used properly.
The f ollowing pages explain how you
cantakeanactiveroleinprotecting
yourself and your passengers.Your vehicle is equipped with seat
belts in all seating positions.
Your seat belt system also includes
an indicator on the instrument panel
to remind you and your passengers
to f asten your seat belts.
Seat belts have proven to be the
single most ef f ective saf ety device.
Not wearing a seat belt properly
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
though your vehicle has airbags.In addition, most states and all
Canadian provinces require you to
wear seat belts.
Help protect you in almost every
type of crash, including f rontal,
side, and rear impacts and
rollovers. Keep you connected to the vehicle
so you can take advantage of the
vehicle’s built-in saf ety f eatures.
When properly worn, seat belts:
Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features
Seat Belts
Why Wear Seat Belt s
Driver and Passenger Saf ety8
Not wearing a seat belt properly
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
if you have airbags.
Be sure you and your
passengers always wear seat
belts and wear them properly.

Your seat belt system includes lap/
shoulder belts in all f ive seating
positions. The f ront seat belts are
also equipped with automatic seat
belt tensioners.The seat belt system
includes an indicator on the
instrument panel to remind you and
your passengers to f asten your belts.
If you turn the ignition switch to ON
(II) without f astening your belt, a
beeper will sound and the indicator
will blink. The beeper will stop af ter
a f ew seconds, but the indicator will
stay on until the driver’s seat belt is
f astened.
If you do not f asten your seat belt
bef ore the beeper stops, the
indicator will stop blinking but
remain on. If you continue driving
without f astening your seat belt, the
indicator will start blinking again and
the beeper will sound at regular
intervals. The lap and shoulder belt goes over
your shoulder, across your chest,
and across your hips.
To fasten the belt, insert the latch
plate into the buckle, then tug on the
belt to make sure the buckle is
latched (see page f or how to
properly position the belt).
To unlock the belt, push the red
PRESSbuttononthebuckle.Guide
the belt across your body so that it
retracts completely. Af ter exiting the
vehicle, be sure the belt is out of the
way and will not get closed in the
door.
All seat belts have an emergency
locking retractor. In normal driving,
the retractor lets you move f reely in
your seat while it keeps some
tension on the belt. During a collision
or sudden stop, the retractor
automatically locks the belt to help
restrain your body.
The seat belts in all positions except
the driver’s have an additional
locking mechanism that must be
activated to secure a child seat (see
page ).
If the shoulder part of the belt is
pulled all the way out, the locking
mechanism will activate. The belt
will retract, but it will not allow the
passenger to move f reely.
14
40
CONT INUED
Additional Inf ormation About Your Seat Belts
Seat Belt System Components L ap/Shoulder Belt
Driver and Passenger Saf ety19

Your Airbag System includes:Two SRS (Supplemental Restraint
System) f ront airbags. The driver’s
airbag is stored in the center of
the steering wheel; the f ront
passenger’sairbagisstoredinthe
dashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRS
AIRBAG.’’
Two side airbags, one f or the
driver and one f or a f ront
passenger. The airbags are stored
in the outer edges of the seat-
backs. Both are marked ‘‘Side
Airbag’’ (see page ). Two side curtain airbags, one f or
each side of the vehicle. The
airbags are stored in the f ront,
center, and rear pillars. The f ront
and center pillars on both sides are
marked ‘‘SIDE CURTAIN
AIRBAG’’ (see page ).
Automatic front seat belt
tensioners (see page ).
An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you to a possible
problem with your airbags (see
page ).
Emergency backup power in case
your vehicle’s electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.
Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe front impact or
side impact.
A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records inf ormation about the
sensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, and driver and
frontpassengerseatbeltusewhen
the ignition is in the ON (II)
position.
25 26
26 20
A irbag System Components
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety22

This section gives inf ormation about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your Acura. All the essential controls
are within easy reach............................
Control Locations .50
............................
Instrument Panel .51
..........
Instrument Panel Indicators . 52
.............................................
Gauges .57
...................
Temperature Gauge . 57
..................................
Fuel Gauge .57
.............
Multi-Inf ormation Display . 58
......
Controls Near Steering Wheel . 72
.
Windshield Wipers and Washers . 73
...........
Turn Signal and Headlights . 74
........................................
Fog Lights .75
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 75
..................
Automatic Lighting Off . 76
.................
Hazard Warning Button . 76
.................
Rear Window Def ogger . 77
..........
Steering Wheel Adjustment . 78
..................................................
Keys .79
................................
Ignition Switch .80
........................
Immobilizer System .81
......................................
Door Locks .82
................................................
Trunk .83
............
Emergency Trunk Opener . 84
..................
Childproof Door Locks . 84
.......................
Remote Transmitter .85
.................................................
Seats .90
............
Trunk Pass-through Cover . 90.............................................
Mirrors .91
Driving Position Memory ..........................................
System .93
....................................
Seat Heaters .96
..............................
Power Windows .97
.......................................
Moonroof .100
..............................................
Clock .103
...............................
Parking Brake .103
...............................
Interior Lights .104
.........
Interior Convenience Items . 105
.......................
Beverage Holder .106
.........
Accessory Power Socket . 106
..................................
Glove Box .107
.............
Console Compartment . 107
....................
Front Door Pocket . 108
Instruments and Controls
Inst rument s and Cont rols49

Inst rument s and Cont rols
Instrument Panel
51
HIGH BEAM INDICATOR
CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR
SUPPLEMENTAL
RESTRAINT
SYSTEM INDICATOR
LIGHTS ON
INDICATOR
CRUISE MAIN
INDICATOR
SEAT BELT REMINDER
INDICATOR
CRUISE CONTROL
INDICATOR
VEHICLE
STABILITY
ASSIST (VSA)
SYSTEM
INDICATOR
LOW OIL PRESSURE
INDICATOR MULTI-INFORMATION
DISPLAY
SIDE AIRBAG OFF
INDICATOR
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE
SYSTEM INDICATOR LOW FUEL INDICATORPARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR
VSA ACTIVATION
INDICATOR
FOG LIGHT
INDICATOR
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP
IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM
INDICATOR
(P.54)
(P.52)
(P.53) (P.55)
(P.54) (P.55)
(P.54)
(P.52, 240)
(P.56) (P.52,
240) (P.56) (P.52,
243) (P.53)
(P.59)
(P.56)
(P.52)
(P.53)
(P.54)

The instrument panel has many
indicators to give you important
inf ormation about your vehicle.
If you turn the ignition switch to ON
(II) bef ore f astening your belt, the
beeper sounds and the indicator
f lashes. If you do not f asten your
seat belt bef ore the beeper stops, the
indicator stops f lashing but remains
on.The engine can be severely damaged
if this indicator f lashes or stays on
when the engine is running. For
more inf ormation, see page .
If this indicator comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged. For more inf ormation,
see page .
See page .This indicator has two f unctions:
Itcomesonwhenyouturnthe
ignition switch to ON (II). It is a
reminder to check the parking
brake. Driving with the parking
brake not f ully released can
damage the brakes and tires.
If it stays on after you have fully
released the parking brake while
the engine is running, or if it
comes on while driving, it can
indicate a problem in the brake
system. For more inf ormation, see
page .
If you drive without releasing the
parking brake, a chime will sound,
and you will see a ‘‘RELEASE
PARKING BRAKE’’ message in the
Multi-Inf ormation Display.
If you continue driving without
f astening your seat belt, the beeper
sounds and the indicator f lashes
again at regular intervals, and you
will see ‘‘FASTEN SEAT BELT’’ in
the multi-information display. 1.
2.
243 244
242
242
Instrument Panel Indicators
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Seat Belt Reminder
Indicator L ow Oil Pressure
Indicator
Charging System
Indicator
Malf unction Indicator
Lamp Parking Brake and
Brake System
Indicator
52
Canada
U.S.