2004 Acura TSX tow

Remove the dipstick again and
check the level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
If it is near or below the lower mark,
see on page .
Insert it all the way back in its tube.
Wipe the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel. 3.
4.
2.
244
A dding Oil
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving188
UPPER MARK
LOWER MARK

Your car has several convenient
storage areas so you can stow cargo
saf ely.
The glove box, and the pockets in
the doors and seat-backs, are
designed f or small, lightweight items.
The trunk is intended f or larger,
heavier items. In addition, the back
seatcanbefoldeddowntoallowyou
to carry more cargo or longer items.
However, carrying too much cargo,
or improperly storing it, can af f ect
your car’s handling, stability,
stopping distance, and tires, and
make it unsaf e. Bef ore carrying any
type of cargo, be sure to read the
f ollowing pages.
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving193
CONSOLE COMPARTMENT FRONT DOOR POCKETTRUNK GLOVE BOX
SEAT-BACK POCKET CENTER POCKET

·µ If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, load f rom your trailer will
be transf erred to your vehicle.
Consult this manual to determine
how this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load capacity of
your vehicle.
The maximum load limit f or your
vehicle is 850 lbs (395 kg). This
f igure includes the total weight of all
occupants, cargo, accessories, and
the tongue weight if you are towing a
trailer.
Following are the steps f or
determining the correct cargo and
luggage load limit.
Locate the statement, ‘‘the
combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed 850 lbs
(395 kg)’’ on your vehicle’s placard
(on the driver’s doorjamb).
Determine the combined weight
of the driver and passengers that
will be riding in your vehicle. (Five
is the seating capacity of your
vehicle.) Determine the combined weight
of accessories, luggage, and cargo
beingloadedinthevehicle.The
weight may not saf ely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load
capacity calculated in step 4 [250
lbs(115kg)inthisexample].
For example, if there will be f our 150
lbs (70 kg) occupants in your vehicle,
the amount of available cargo and
luggage load capacity is 250 lbs (115
kg).
4 150 lbs (70 kg) = 600 lbs (280
kg)
850 lbs (395 kg) 600 lbs (280 kg) =
250 lbs (115 kg)
The resulting f igure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity. Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers f rom
850 lbs (395 kg).
1.
2. 3.
4.
5.
6.
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving
Load Limit
194
Overloading or improper
loading can affect handling and
stability and cause a crash in
which you can be hurt or killed.
Follow all load limits and other
loading guidelines in this
manual.

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
manual and automatic transmissions.
It also includes important inf orma-
tion on parking your car, the braking
system, the vehicle stability assist
system, and f acts you need if you are
planning to tow a trailer.........................
Preparing to Drive .198
.......................
Starting the Engine .199
Starting in Cold Weather ....................
at High Altitude .200
....
6-speed Manual Transmission . 201
.....
Recommended Shif t Points . 202
..............
Engine Speed Limiter . 202
.......................
Reverse Lockout .203
..............
Automatic Transmission . 204
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 204
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 204
..............
Engine Speed Limiter . 209
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 210
...........................................
Parking .211
..............................
Parking Tips .211
.....................
The Braking System .212
.............
Brake Wear Indicators . 212
...............
Brake System Design . 213
.......................
Anti-lock Brakes .213
Important Saf ety .........................
Reminders .214
........................
ABS Indicator .214
...
Vehicle Stability Assist System . 216
...............
Driving in Bad Weather . 219
...........................
Towing a Trailer .221
Driving
Driving197

µ
µµ µµ
µ
To shif t to Reverse
f rom Park, see the explanation under
Park. To shif t to Reverse f rom
Neutral, come to a complete stop and
then shift.
Your car has a reverse lockout so
you cannot accidentally shif t to
Reverse from Neutral or any other
driving position when the car speed
exceeds 5 6 mph (8 10 km/h).
If you cannot shif t to Reverse when
the car is stopped, press the brake
pedal and slowly shif t to Neutral, and
then to Reverse.
If there is a problem in the reverse
lockout system, or your car’s battery
is disconnected or goes dead, you
cannot shif t to Reverse. (Ref er to
Shif t Lock Release on page ). Use Neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop brief ly with
the engine idling. Shif t to Park posi-
tion if you need to leave the car for
any reason. Press on the brake pedal
when you are moving the shif t lever
f rom Neutral to another gear. This position is simi-
lartoD,exceptonlythefirstthree
gears are selected. Use D when
towing a trailer in hilly terrain, or to
provide engine braking when going
down a steep hill. D can also keep
the transmission f rom cycling third,
fourth and fifth gears in stop-and-go
driving.
ForfasteraccelerationwheninD
or D, you can get the transmission
to automatically downshift by push-
ing the accelerator pedal to the
f loor. The transmission will shif t
down one, two or three gears,
depending on your speed.
Use this position f or
your normal driving. The transmis-
sion automatically selects a suitable
gear f or your speed and acceleration.
210
3
3
3
Automatic Transmission
Driving
Reverse (R) Neutral (N)Drive (D )
Drive (D)3
206

µMake sure the parking brake is f ully
released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes.
Always use the parking brake when
you park your car. The indicator on
the instrument panel shows that the
parking brake is not f ully released; it
does not indicate that the parking
brakeisfirmlyset.Makesurethe
parking brake is set f irmly or your
car may roll if it is parked on an
incline.
If your car has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake
bef ore you put the transmission in
Park.Thiskeepsthecarfrom
moving and putting pressure on the
parking mechanism in the
transmission making it easier to
move the shift lever out of Park
when you want to drive away. If the car is f acing uphill, turn the
f ront wheels away f rom the curb. If
you have a manual transmission, put
it in f irst gear.
If the car is f acing downhill, turn the
f ront wheels toward the curb. If you
have a manual transmission, put it in
reverse gear.
Make sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.
Turn of f the lights.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the trunk or take them with you.
Lockthedoorswiththekeyorthe
remote transmitter.
Check the indicator on the
instrument panel to verif y that the
security system is set.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on
fire.
Parking T ips
Parking
Driving211

The weight that
the tongue of a f ully-loaded trailer
puts on the hitch should be
approximately 10 percent of the
trailer weight. Too little tongue
load can make the trailer unstable
and cause it to sway. Too much
tongue load reduces f ront-tire
traction and steering control.
The total
weight of the trailer and
everything loaded in it must not
exceed 1,000 lbs (450 kg). Towing
a load that is too heavy can
seriously af f ect your car’s
handling and perf ormance. It can
also damage the engine and
drivetrain.
Your Acura has been designed
primarily to carry passengers and
their cargo. You can use it to tow a
trailer if you caref ully observe the
load limits, use the proper equipment,
and f ollow the guidelines in this
section.
CONT INUED
Towing a Trailer
Driving
Tongue Load:
Load Limits
T otal T railer Weight:
221

To achieve a proper tongue load,
start by loading 60 percent of the
load toward the front of the trailer
and 40 percent toward the rear, then
re-adjust the load as needed.The total weight of the car, all
occupants, all cargo, and the
tongue load must not exceed: The total weight of the car, all
occupants, all cargo, and the
tongue load must not exceed:
on the f ront axle
on the rear axle
Towing a Trailer
Driving
Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GA WR):
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR):
222
4,300 lbs (1,950 kg) 2,335 lbs (1,060 kg)
2,030 lbs (920 kg)Exceeding load limits or
improperly loading your car and
trailer can cause a crash in
which you can be seriously
injured or killed.
Check the loading of your car
and trailer carefully before
starting to drive.