2008 Acura TL Owner's Manual

U.S. Owners:Canadian Owners: When you call or write, please give
us this inf ormation:
If you are dissatisf ied with the
decision made by the dealership’s
management, contact the Acura
Client Services Of f ice. Vehicle identif ication number (see
page )
Name and address of the dealer
who services your vehicle
Date of purchase
Mileage on your vehicle
Your name, address, and
telephone number
A detailed description of the
problem
Name of the dealer who sold the
vehicle to you
Acura dealership personnel are
trained prof essionals. They should
be able to answer all your questions.
If you encounter a problem that your
dealership does not solve to your
satisf action, please discuss it with
the dealership’s management. The
service manager or general manager
can help. Almost all problems are
solved in this way.
In Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands: 342
Client Service Inf ormation
358
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Acura Client Services
Mail Stop 500-2N-7E
1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501-2746
Tel: (800) 382-2238 Vortex Motor Corp.
Bella International
P.O. Box 190816
San Juan, PR 00919-0816
Tel: (787) 620-7546
Honda Canada Inc.
715 Milner Avenue
Toronto, ON
M1B 2K8
Tel: 1-888-9-ACURA-9
Fax: Toll-free 1-877-939-0909
Toronto (416) 287-4776
Acura Client Services
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Your new Acura is covered by these
warranties:
covers your new vehicle, except f or
the battery, emissions control
systems, and accessories, against
def ects in materials and
workmanship.
these two
warranties cover your vehicle’s
emissions control systems. Time,
mileage, and coverage are
conditional. Please read your
warranty booklet f or exact
inf ormation. provides
coverageforaslongasthepur-
chaser of the muf f ler owns the
vehicle. provides prorated
coverage f or a replacement battery
purchased f rom your dealer.
this warranty gives up
to 100 % credit toward a replacement
battery. a seat
belt that f ails to f unction properly is
covered by a limited warranty.
Please read your warranty booklet
f or details.
covers all Acura
replacement parts against defects in
materials and workmanship.
Acura accessories are covered under
this warranty. Time and mileage
limits depend on the type of
accessory and other f actors. Please
read your warranty manual f or
details. all exterior body panels are
covered f or rust-through f rom the
inside f or the specif ied time period
with no mileage limit. Restrictions and exclusions apply to
all these warranties. Please read the
2008 Acura warranty inf ormation
booklet that came with your vehicle
f or precise inf ormation on warranty
coverages. Your vehicle’s original
tires are covered by their
manuf acturer. Tire warranty
inf ormation is in a separate booklet.
Please ref er to the 2008 warranty
manual that came with your vehicle.
Warranty Coverages
U.S. Owners
Canadian Owners
New Vehicle L imit ed Warrant yEmissions Cont rol Syst ems Def ect sWarrant y and EmissionsPerf ormance Warranty Replacement Muf f ler L if et ime
Limited Warranty
Replacement Bat t ery L imit ed
Warranty
Original Equipment Bat t ery L imit ed Warranty Seat Belt Limited Warranty
Replacement Part s L imit edWarranty
Accessory Limited Warranty
Rust Perf orat ion L imit ed Warrant y
Warrant y and Client Relat ions
359
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If NHTSA receives similar
complaints, it may open an
investigation, and if it finds that a
safety defect exists in a group of
vehicles, it may order a recall and
remedy campaign. However, NHTSA
cannot become involved in individual
problems between you, your dealer,
or Acura Automobile Division,
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
If you believe that your vehicle has a
def ect which could cause a crash or
could cause injury or death, you
should immediately inf orm the
National Highway Traf f ic Saf ety
Administration (NHTSA) in addition
to notifying Acura Automobile
Division, American Honda Motor Co.,
Inc.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the
VehicleSafetyHotlinetoll-freeat
1-888-327-4236
(TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go to
; or write to:
Administrator, NHTSA, 400 Seventh
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.
You can also obtain other
inf ormation about motor vehicle
safety from .
Reporting Saf ety Def ects (U.S. Vehicles)
360
http://www.saf ercar.gov
http://www.saf ercar.gov
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T he publications shown below can be purchased f rom Helm
Incorporated. You can order by phone or online:Call Helm Inc. at 1-800-782-4356 (credit card orders only)
Go online at
If you are interested in other years or models, contact Helm Inc.
at 1-800-782-4356.
Covers maintenance and recommended procedures f or
repair to engine and chassis components. It is written
f or the journeyman mechanic, but it is simple enough
f or most mechanically inclined owners to understand.
Complements the Service Manual by providing in-depth
troubleshooting inf ormation f or each electrical circuit
in your vehicle.
Describes the procedures involved in the replacement
of damaged body parts.
Authorized Manuals
Purchasing Factory Authorized Manuals
(U.S. only) Service Manual:
Electrical T roubleshooting Manual:
Body Repair Manual:
Authorized Manuals
361
Publication
Form Number 61SEP04
61SEP04EL 61SEP30
31SEP640
31SEP810
31SEPM00 31SEPQ40 ACU-R Form Description
2008 Acura TL Service Manual
2008 Acura TL Electrical Troubleshooting Manual
2004 Model Series Acura TL Body Repair Manual 2008 Acura TL Owner’s Manual
2008 Acura TL Navigation Manual
2008 Acura TL Maintenance Journal 2008 Acura TL Quick Start GuideOrder Form for Previous Years-
Indicate Year and Model Desired
www. helminc. com
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362
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CONT INUED
...
Accessories and Modif ications .245
................................
Accessories .245
............................
Modif ications .246
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) .95
............
Accessory Power Sockets .120
......................................
AcuraLink .219
................
Adding Engine Coolant .290
........................
Adding Engine Oil .287
....................
Additives, Engine Oil .288
...............................
Airbag (SRS) .9,22
...............
Additional Information .22
......................................
Servicing .31
...................
System Components .22
..............
Air Conditioning System .126
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .306
......................................
Antif reeze .290
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
...............................
Indicator .60,268
...................................
Operation .268
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System .184
.
Anti-thef t Steering Column Lock .95
................................
Audio System .133
...
Automatic Lighting Off Feature .88 ...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners .20
.............
Automatic Speed Control .186
..............
Automatic Transmission .259
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .344
...............
Checking Fluid Level .292
.......................................
Shif ting .259
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator .259
....................
Shif t Lock Release .264
Battery Charging System ...........................
Indicator .59,330
............................
Jump Starting .326
..............................
Maintenance .314
............................
Specif ications .345
..............................
Bef ore Driving .235
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,18
...........................
Beverage Holder .120
.......
Bluetooth
HandsFreeLink.192
Brakes ...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) .268
.............
Break-in, New Linings .236
...........................................
Fluid .295
.......................................
Parking .117 .................
System Indicator .59,332
........................
Wear Indicators .267
.............................
Braking System .267
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle .236
..
Brightness Control, Instruments .89
........................
Brights, Headlights .86
Bulb Replacement
..........................
Back-up Lights .301
.........
Daytime Running Lights .297
.................................
Fog Lights .299
............................
Specif ications .345
............
Turn Signal Lights .298,300
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .297
............................
Capacities Chart .344
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard .52
............................
Carrying, Cargo .247
Cassette Player
....................................
Care .154,175
...........................
Operation .152,173
.............
CAUTION, Explanation of .iii
..................................
Ceiling Light .118
Index
A
BC
INDEX
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ÎÎ Î
........................
Certif ication Label .342
...................................
Chains, tires .312
Changing Oil
........................................
How to .288
......................................
When to .279
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .319
...
Charging System Indicator .59,330
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving .252
..................
Childproof Door Locks .98
.....................................
Child Saf ety .33
..............................
Booster Seats .49
...................................
Child Seats .41
..........................................
Inf ants .38
............................
Large Children .48
.........................................
LATCH .43
......................
Risks with Airbags .34
.............................
Small Children .39
.........................................
Tethers .46
.........
Where Should a Child Sit? .34
Cleaning ...................................
Seat Belts .303
..........
Client Service Inf ormation .358
...............
Climate Control System .131
..............................................
Clock .116
..........................
CO in the Exhaust .52
.......................
Compact Spare tire .318 .........................................
Compass .230
.................
Console Compartment .121
...............
Consumer Inf ormation .358
.............
Controls, Instruments and .55
Coolant
........................................
Adding .290
....................................
Checking .241
.........................
Proper Solution .290
...................
Temperature Gauge .65
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System .352
................
Cruise Control Indicator .61
............
Cruise Control Operation .186
...................................
Cup Holders .120
..........
Customer Relations Of f ice .358
...............
DANGER, Explanation of .iii
...................................
Dashboard .3,56
................
Daytime Running Lights .88
.
Daytime Running Light Indicator .62
.........
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety .360
................
Def ogger, Rear Window .90
..............
Def rosting the Windows .130
....................................
Dimensions .344 ...............
Dimming the Headlights .86
Dipstick
..........
Automatic Transmission .292
..................................
Engine Oil .240
..........................
Directional Signals .86
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators .267
........................
Disc Changer .145,165
...
Disc Changer Error Messages .176
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .289
Doors
.................
Monitor Indicator .11,68
......................
Power Door Locks .96
........
DOT Tire Quality Grading .346
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety .5
...........................................
Driving .251
....................................
Economy .242
Driving Position Memory
........................................
System .108
..............................
Economy, Fuel .242
Index
D
E
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CONT INUED
...................................
Fan, Interior .128
Features, Comfort and
..............................
Convenience .125
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank .237
........................................
Filter, Oil .288
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning .90
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a .319
.....................................
Floor Mats .304
Fluids
..........
Automatic Transmission .292
..........................................
Brake .295
.........................................
Clutch .296
..............
Manual Transmission .294 ..........................
Power Steering .296
................
Windshield Washers .291
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception .180
........................................
Fog Lights .89
..........................
Four-way Flashers .90
..............................
Front Airbags .9,24
....................................
Front Seats .103
....................................
Adjusting .103
.......................................
Heaters .111
.....................................
Airbags .9,24
.................................................
Fuel .236
......................
Fill Door and Cap .237
...........................................
Gauge .65
................
Octane Requirement .236
........................
Reserve Indicator .63
........................
Tank, Filling the .237
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .333
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving .243
............
Emergencies on the Road .317
.............
Battery, Jump Starting .326
...........
Brake System Indicator .332
................
Changing a Flat Tire .319
.....
Charging System Indicator .330
..................
Checking the Fuses .333
.........
Hazard Warning Flashers .90
......
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck .338
............................
Jump Starting .326
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .330
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .331
..................
Overheated Engine .328
.......................................
Towing .337
.........................
Emergency Brake .117
......................
Emergency Flashers .90
......................
Emergency Towing .337
............
Emergency Trunk Opener .98
.......................
Emissions Controls .352
.............
Emissions Testing, State .355
Engine
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge .65
Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp .59,331
.................................
Oil Lif e .72,279
........
Oil Pressure Indicator .59,330
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use .287 ...............................
Overheating .328
............................
Specif ications .345
....................
Speed Limiter .257,264
..............................
Starting .253,254
.................
Engine, if it won’t start .324
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .237
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls .352
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .52
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by .16
Index
F
G
INDEX
III
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