2004 Acura TSX towing

Î
ÎIf it comes on at any other time, it
indicates a problem with the car’s
brake system. In most cases, the
problem is a low f luid level in the
brake f luid reservoir. Press lightly on
the brake pedal to see if it f eels
normal. If it does, check the brake
f luid level the next time you stop at a
service station (see page ). If the
fluid level is low, take the car to your
dealer and have the brake system
inspected f or leaks or worn brake
pads.
However, if the brake pedal does not
f eel normal, you should take
immediate action. Because of the
brake system’s dual-circuit design, a
problem in one part of the system
will still give you braking at two
wheels. You will f eel the brake pedal
go down much f arther bef ore the car
begins to slow down, and you will
have to press harder on the pedal.
The distance needed to stop will be
much longer. Slow down by shif ting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is saf e. Because of the
longer distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the car. You
should have it towed, and repaired as
soon as possible. (See
on page .)
The Brake System Indicator
normallycomesonwhenyouturn
the ignition switch ON (II). It is a
reminder to check the parking brake.
It comes on and stays lit if you do not
f ully release the parking brake. If you must drive the car a short
distance in this condition, drive
slowly and cautiously.
If the ABS indicator comes on with
this indicator, have the car inspected
by your Acura dealer immediately.
259
328Emergency
Towing
Brake System Indicator
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed321
BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR
U.S. indicator shown

µ
µ µ
Automatic Transmission:
Manual Transmission:
There are three popular types of
prof essional towing equipment. The tow
truck uses metal cables with hooks
on the ends. These hooks go around
parts of the f rame or suspension and
the cables lif t that end of the car of f
the ground. Your car’s suspension
and body can be seriously damaged.
Release the parking brake.
Shif t the transmission to Neutral. With the f ront wheels on the ground,
it is best to tow the car no farther
than 50 miles (80 km), and keep the
speedbelow35mph(55km/h).
If your car needs to be towed, call a
prof essional towing service or, if you
belong to one, an organization that
provides roadside assistance. Never
tow your car behind another vehicle
with just a rope or chain. It is very
dangerous.
Release the parking brake.
Start the engine.
ShifttoD,thentoN.
Turn of f the engine.
The operator
loads your car on the back of a truck.
The tow
truck uses two pivoting arms that go
under the tires (f ront or rear) and lif t
them of f the ground. The other two
tires remain on the ground. If your Acura cannot be transported
by f lat-bed, it should be towed by
wheel-lif t equipment with the f ront
wheels of f the ground. If , due to
damage, your car must be towed
with the f ront wheels on the ground,
do the f ollowing.
If your car is equipped with a f ront
spoiler, remove it bef ore towing so it
is not damaged.
Sling-t ype Equipment
Flat -bed Equipment Wheel-lif t Equipment
T his method of towing is
unacceptable.
This is the best way to transport
your A cura.
T his is
an acceptable way to tow your
Acura.
Emergency T owing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed328
Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Follow the
above procedure exactly. If you cannot
shif t the transmission or start the
engine (automatic transmission), your
car must be transported with the f ront
wheels of f the ground.

If you decide to tow your car with all
f our wheels on the ground, make
sure you use a properly-designed and
attached tow bar. Prepare the car for
towing as described above, and leave
the ignition switch in Accessory (I)
so the steering wheel does not lock.
Make sure the radio and any items
plugged into the accessory power
socket are turned of f so they do not
rundownthebattery.
Emergency T owing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed329
The steering system can be damaged if
the steering wheel is locked. Leave the
ignition switch in Accessory (I), and
make sure the steering wheel turns
f reely bef ore you begin towing.Trying to lif t or tow your car by the
bumpers will cause serious damage.
The bumpers are not designed to
support the car’s weight.

CONT INUED
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 270
............................
Fabric, Cleaning .299
...................................
Fan, Interior .115
Features, Comfort and ..............................
Convenience .113
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 184
Filter .........................
Dust and Pollen .270
...............................................
Oil .246
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 75
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 305
Fluids ..........
Automatic Transmission . 256..........................................
Brake .259
.........................................
Clutch .260
..............
Manual Transmission . 257
..........................
Power Steering .260
..................
Windshield Washer . 255
...........................
Folding Rear Seat .94
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 341
..........................
Four-way Flashers .75
.................................................
Fuel .184
......................
Fill Door and Cap .185
...........................................
Gauge .67
................
Octane Requirement . 184
...............................
Oxygenated .340
........................
Tank, Filling the .184
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .324
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 190
..........................................
Gasohol .340
.........................................
Gasoline .184
...........................................
Gauge .67
................
Octane Requirement . 184
........................
Tank, Filling the .184
..............................
Economy, Fuel .190
............
Emergencies on the Road . 303
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 312
...........
Brake System Indicator . 321
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 305
.....
Charging System Indicator . 318
..................
Checking the Fuses . 324
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 317
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 319
...
Manually Closing Moonroof . 322
..................
Overheated Engine . 315
.........................
Emergency Brake .104
......................
Emergency Flashers .75
......................
Emergency Towing .328
.......................
Emissions Controls .342
Engine ............................................
Belts .272
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 66
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp .60, 319
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 60,317
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 244...............................
Overheating .315
............................
Specif ications .335
....................
Speed Limiter . 202,209
.......................................
Starting .199
..........
Engine Speed Limiter . 202,209
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .340
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 342
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .53
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .19
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 296
Index
E
FG
III

CONT INUED
...............................
Signaling Turns .73
.....................................
Snow Tires .278
...................
Solvent-type Cleaners . 296
........................
Sound System .129, 148
Spare Tire ......................................
Inf lating .304
............................
Specif ications .336
................
Spark Plugs, Replacing . 262
....................
Specif ications Charts . 334
................................
Speed Control .174
........................
Speed Limiter .202, 209
...................................
Speedometer .65
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation . 46
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 52
How Your Airbags ............................
Work .46, 48,49
How Your SRS Indicator .......................................
Works .49
........................
SRS Components .46
..................................
SRS Service .51
.............................
SRS Indicator .49 ,61
....
START (Ignition Key Position) . 81
.......................
Starting the Engine .199
In Cold Weather at High ..................................
Altitude .200
................
With a Dead Battery . 312 ........
Steam Coming f rom Engine . 315
Steering Wheel ..................................
Adjustment .76
.............
Anti-theft Column Lock . 80
Stereo Sound ................................
System .129, 148
...........................
Storing Your Car .323
........................................
Sun Visor .108
........................
Sunglasses Holder .109
Supplemental Restraint System ......................................
Servicing .51
.........................
SRS Indicator .49 ,61
...................
System Components . 46
..................................
Synthetic Oil .245
.....................................
Tachometer .65
......
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in . 286
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected . 303
Technical Descriptions ......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 337
.....
Emissions Control Systems . 342
.....................
Oxygenated Fuels .340
Three Way Catalytic ...............................
Converter .344 ...........................
Tire Inf ormation .339
.......................
Temperature Gauge .66
..............
Tether Anchorage Points . 39
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 344
..................
Time, Setting the . 135,153
....................................
Tire Chains .278
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 305
...............................................
Tires .273
..............................
Air Pressure .273
.........................
Checking Wear .275
..........................
Compact Spare .304
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 337
......................................
Inf lation .273
..................................
Inspection .275
...................................
Replacing .276
......................................
Rotating .276
...........................................
Snow .278
............................
Specif ications .336
.............
Technical Inf ormation . 339
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 305
Towing .....................................
A Trailer .221
................
Emergency Wrecker . 328
Index
T
VII

ÎÎ
Transmission
Checking Fluid Level, ..............................
Automatic .256
Checking Fluid Level, ...................................
Manual .257
..................
Fluid Selection . 256,257
..............
Identif ication Number . 332
.............
Shif ting the Automatic . 204
..................
Shif ting the Manual . 201
.....................................
Treadwear .337
.......................................
Trip Meter .66
................................................
Trunk .87
....................
Emergency Opener .88
.................................
Opening the .87
...................
Open Monitor Light . 62
....................................
Turn Signals .73
.....................
Underside, Cleaning .311
Unexpected, Taking Care ..........................................
of the .303
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 337
........................
Unleaded Gasoline .184
.....................
Upholstery Cleaning .298
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 248.................................
Utility Pocket .107
................................
Vanity Mirror .108
.................
Vehicle Capacity Load . 193
......................
Vehicle Dimensions .334
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number . 332
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) ....................................
System .216
........
VSA System Indicator . 62,217
...
VSA Activation Indicator . 62,216
.........................
VSA Of f Switch .217
.............................
Vehicle Storage .293
.................................................
VIN .332
...............................
Vinyl Cleaning .299
..................................
Viscosity, Oil .245
.............
WARNING, Explanation of . ii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of . 54
..................
Warranty Coverages .349
Washer, Windshield ........
Checking the Fluid Level . 255
.....................................
Operation .75 .........................................
Washing .296
..................
Waxing and Polishing . 297
Wheels ...............
Adjusting the Steering . 76
............
Alignment and Balance . 275
..........................
Compact Spare .304
......................................
Wrench .307
Windows .....................................
Cleaning .300
..................
Operating the Power . 97
...........................
Rear, Def ogger .75
Windshield .......................................
Cleaning .73
.......................................
Washers .75
Wipers, Windshield .......................
Changing Blades .267
.....................................
Operation .73
....................................
Worn Tires .275
.....
Wrecker, Emergency Towing . 328
:U.S.only
Index
U V
W
VIII