2004 Acura TSX Owner's Manual

By eliminating as much of the
electrical load as possible, you can
drive several miles (kilometers)
before the battery is too discharged
to keep the engine running. Drive to
a service station or garage where
you can get technical assistance.
This indicator should come on when
the ignition switch is ON (II), and go
out af ter the engine starts. If it
comes on brightly when the engine
is running, it indicates that the
charging system has stopped
charging the battery. Immediately turn of f all electrical
accessories: radio, climate control,
rear def ogger, cruise control, etc.
Try not to use other electrically-
operated controls such as the power
windows. Keep the engine running
and take extra care not to stall it.
Starting the engine will discharge
the battery rapidly.
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Charging System Indicator
318
CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATOR

This indicator should light when the
ignition switch is ON (II), and go out
af ter the engine starts. If it comes on
at any other time, it indicates one of
the engine’s emissions control
systems may have a problem. Even
though you may f eel no dif f erence in
your car’s perf ormance, it can
reduce your f uel economy and cause
your car to put out excessive
emissions. Continued operation may
cause serious damage.Youshouldalsohavethedealer
inspect your car if this indicator
comes on repeatedly, even though it
may turn of f as you continue driving.
This indicator may also come on
along with the ‘‘D’’ indicator.
If you have recently ref ueled your
car, the cause of this indicator
coming on could be a loose or
missing f uel f ill cap. Check the cap
and tighten it until it clicks at least
three times. Replace the f uel f ill cap
if it is missing. Tightening the cap
will not make the indicator turn of f
immediately; it takes at least three
days of normal driving.
If the indicator remains on past three
days of normal driving, or the f uel
cap was not loose or missing, have
the car checked by the dealer as
soon as possible. Drive moderately
until the dealer has inspected the
problem. Avoid f ull-throttle
acceleration and driving at high
speed.
Malf unction Indicator L amp
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed319
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP
If you keep driving with the
malf unction indicator lamp on, you can
damage your car’s emissions controls
and engine. Those repairs may not be
covered by your car’s warranties.

Your car has certain ‘‘readiness
codes’’ that are part of the on-board
diagnostics f or the emissions
systems. In some states, part of the
emissions testing is to make sure
these codes are set. If they are not
set, the test cannot be completed.
If your car’s battery has been
disconnected or gone dead, these
codes are erased. It takes several
days of driving under various
conditions to set the codes again.If possible, do not take your car f or a
state emissions test until the
readiness codes are set. Ref er to
State Emissions Testing f or more
inf ormation. (See page .)
To check if they are set, turn the
ignition ON (II), but do not start the
engine. The Malf unction Indicator
Lamp will come on f or 20 seconds. If
it then goes of f , the readiness codes
are set. If it blinks 5 times, the
readiness codes are not set.
345
Malf unction Indicator L amp
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Readiness Codes
320

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

Use a screwdriver or coin to
remove the round plug in the
center of the headliner.Remove the wrench. Reinstall the
round plug. Insert the moonroof wrench into
the socket behind this plug. Turn
the wrench until the moonroof is
f ully closed.
If the electric motor will not close
the moonroof , do the f ollowing:
Check the f use f or the moonroof
motor (see page ). If the f use
is blown, replace it with one of the
same or lower rating.
Try closing the moonroof . If the
new f use blows immediately or the
moonroof motor still does not
operate, you can close the
moonroof manually.
Get the moonroof wrench out of
the tool kit in the trunk.
If you need to close the moonroof
manually, it means your car’s
moonroof opening/closing f unction
is developing a problem. Have your
car checked by an Acura dealer. 5.
6.
4.
3. 1.
2. 327
Closing t he Moonroof
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed322
ROUND PLUG
SOCKET

All the electrical circuits in your car
have fuses to protect them from a
short circuit or overload. These
f uses are located in two f use boxes.The under-hood f use box is located
near the back of the engine compart-
ment on the driver’s side. To open it,
pushthetabsasshown.
The interior f use box is on the
driver’s lower lef t side. To remove
the f use box lid, put your f inger in
the notch on the lid, and pull it
toward you and take it out of its
hinges.
Fuses
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed323
INTERIOR
UNDER-HOOD
TAB
NOTCH

Turn the ignition switch to LOCK
(0). Make sure the headlights and
all other accessories are off.
Remove the cover f rom the f use
box.
If something electrical in your car
stops working, the f irst thing you
should check f or is a blown f use.
Determine f rom the chart on pages
and , or the diagram on the
fuse box lid, which fuse or fuses
control that component. Check those
f uses f irst, but check all the f uses
bef ore deciding that a blown f use is
not the cause. Replace any blown
f uses and check the component’s
operation. Check each of the large f uses in
the under-hood f use box by
looking at the wire inside.
Removing these f uses requires a
Phillips-head screwdriver.
3.
1.
2. 326 327
Checking and Replacing Fuses
Fuses
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed324
BLOWN
BLOWN

CONT INUED
If the replacement fuse of the
same rating blows in a short time,
there is probably a serious
electrical problem in your car.
Leave the blown fuse in that
circuit and have your car checked
by a qualif ied mechanic.
If you cannot drive the car without
f ixing the problem, and you do not
have a spare fuse, take a fuse of the
same rating or a lower rating f rom
one of the other circuits. Make sure
youcandowithoutthatcircuit
temporarily (such as the accessory
power socket or radio). If you replace the blown f use with a
spare f use that has a lower rating, it
might blow out again. This does not
indicate anything wrong. Replace the
f use with one of the correct rating as
soon as you can.
Look f or a burned wire inside the
f use. If it is burned, replace it with
oneof thesparefusesof thesame
rating or lower.
Check the smaller f uses in the
under-hood f use box and all the
fuses in the interior fuse box by
pulling out each f use with the f use
puller provided in the under-hood
fuse box. 5.
6.
4.
Fuses
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed325
BLOWN
FUSE PULLER
Replacing a f use with one that has a
higher rating greatly increases the
chances of damaging the electrical
system. If you do not have a replace-
ment f use with the proper rating f or the
circuit, install one with a lower rating.