Page 1 of 364

2004 TSX 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........................................................................\
.................................................. .57
Instrument panel indica tor and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features........................................................................\
.............................. .113
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.
Before Driving ........................................................................\
...................................................... ...............183
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving........................................................................\
...................................................................................197
The proper way to start the engine, shift the tr ansmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
...................................................... ...................229
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Care........................................................................\
...................................................... ...........295
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your car ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
.......................................303
This section covers several problems motorists someti mes experience, and how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
...................................................... .331
ID numbers, dimensions, capaciti es, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)..................................................................... .347
A summary of the warranties covering your new Honda, and how to contact us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only )........................................................................\
......................................
.351
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.
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Your Car at a Glance
2
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
MIRROR CONTROLS
DOOR LOCK SWITCH HEATING/COOLING
CONTROLS
TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE/
FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE HOOD RELEASE HANDLEHAZARD WARNING LIGHTS
DIGITAL CLOCK (P.135, 153) (P.75)
AUDIO SYSTEM
(P.129,148)
(P.115, 121)
(P.186)
(P.87/ 184)
(P.97) (P.81)
(P.102)
Page 6 of 364
Your Car at a Glance
3
REAR WINDOW
DEFOGGER
MOONROOF
SWITCH HAZARD
WARNING LIGHTS
TILT/TELESCOPIC
ADJUSTMENT
HEADLIGHTS/
TURN SIGNALS
REMOTE AUDIO
CONTROLS
WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS
CRUISE CONTROLS
(P. 174)
(P.73/ 75)
(P.75)
(P. 75, 76)
HORN
(P. 76)
VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST
SYSTEM OFF SWITCH
(P. 217)
(P.
101)
(P.
171)
(P.
70/ 73)
Page 61 of 364
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Control L ocations
58
MIRROR CONTROLS
DOOR LOCK SWITCH
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHESAUDIO SYSTEM
HEATING/COOLING
CONTROLS
TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE/
FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE HAZARD WARNING
LIGHTS
HOOD RELEASE HANDLE DIGITAL CLOCK
(P.102)
(P.81)
(P.97)
(P.186) (P.115,
121)
(P.129,
148)
(P.
75)
(P.135,
153)
(P.87/ 184)
Page 72 of 364
Î
Î
The steering wheel adjustment lever
on the underside of the steering
column allows you to tilt and
telescope the steering wheel. The controls under the lef t air vent
are f or the moonroof and the VSA
System.To use the horn, press the pad
around the ‘‘A’’ logo.
Thetwoleversonthesteering
column contain controls f or the
driving f eatures you use most of ten.
The lef t lever controls the turn
signals, headlights, and high beams.
The right lever controls the
windshield washers and wipers.
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
69
TILT/TELESCOPIC
ADJUSTMENT
HORN
REMOTE AUDIO
CONTROLS
CRUISE
CONTROLS
WINDSHIELD
WIPERS/WASHERS
HAZARD
WARNING
LIGHTS
REAR WINDOW
DEFOGGER
MOONROOF
SWITCH HEADLIGHTS/
TURN SIGNALS
(P.
70/ 73)
(P. 171)
(P. 101)
VEHICLE STABILITY
ASSIST SYSTEM
OFF SWITCH
(P.217) (P.
76) (P.
75, 76)
(P.
75)
(P.
73, 75)
(P. 174)
Page 84 of 364

µ
µ
µ In this position,
you can operate the audio system
and the accessory power socket.
This is the normal key
position when driving. All f eatures
and accessories on the car are usable.
Several of the lights on the instru-
ment panel come on as a test when
you turn the ignition switch f rom
ACCESSORY to ON.
Use this position
only to start the engine. The switch
returns to ON (II) when you let go of
the key. You will hear a reminder beeper if
you leave the key in the ignition
switch in the LOCK (0) or
ACCESSORY (I) position and open
thedriver’sdoor.Removethekeyto
turn of f the beeper. The engine will not start if the
Immobilizer System does not
recognize the key’s coding (see page
).
Each f ront door has a master door
lock switch. Either switch locks and
unlocks all doors and the trunk. On
the driver’s door, push the top of the
master door lock switch to lock all
doors and the trunk, and push the
bottom to unlock them.
79
CONT INUED
A CCESSORY (I)
ON (II)
ST A RT (III)
Power Door L ocks
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols81
MASTER DOOR LOCK SWITCH
Page 116 of 364

...............
Climate Control System . 114
.......
Fully-automatic Operation . 115
.......
Semi-automatic Operation . 116
.......
Fully-automatic Operation . 121
.......
Semi-automatic Operation . 122
Sunlight Sensor/ ............
Temperature Sensor . 128
................................
Audio System .129
.................
Operating the Radio . 130
.................
Adjusting the Sound . 134
..............................
Digital Clock .135
.....
Operating the CD Changer . 136
.......
Protecting Compact Discs . 142
CD Changer Error .............................
Indications .143
Operating the Cassette ....................................
Player .144
...........
Tape Search Functions . 146
Caring f or the Cassette ....................................
Player .147
................................
Audio System .148
.................
Operating the Radio . 149................
Adjusting the Sound . 152
.............................
Digital Clock .153
...................
Radio Frequencies . 154
.......................
Radio Reception .154
.....
Operating the CD Changer . 156
CD Changer Error .............................
Indications .164
......
Protecting Compact Discs . 165
Operating the Cassette ....................................
Player .166
...........
Tape Search Functions . 168
Caring f or the Cassette ....................................
Player .170
...........
Remote Audio Controls . 171
.......................
Thef t Protection .172
............................
Security System .173
...............................
Cruise Control .174
HomeLink Wireless Control ........................................
System .177
Without Navigation System
With Navigation System
Without Navigation System
With Navigation System
Comf ort and Convenience Features
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures113
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Your Acura’s audio system provides
clear reception on both AM and FM
bands, while the preset buttons allow
you to easily select your f avorite
stations.
The in-dash CD changer holds up to
six discs. You operate the CD
changer with the same controls used
f or the radio. See page f or CD
changer operation.
The anti-thef t f eature will disable the
system if it is disconnected f rom the
car’s battery. To get the system
working again, you must enter a
code number (see page ).172
136
A M/FM/CD Changer
Audio System
Without Navigation System
Audio System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures129
AM/FM BUTTON
TUNE KNOB
PRESET BUTTONS STEREO INDICATOR
SEEK
BAR
SCAN
BUTTON
PWR/VOL KNOB A. SEL INDICATOR
A. SEL
BUTTON