2009 Acura TL towing

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If your vehicle needs to be towed,
call a prof essional towing service or
organization. Never tow your vehicle
with just a rope or chain. It is very
dangerous.
Leave the ignition switch in the
ACCESSORY (I) position so the
steering wheel does not lock. Turn of f the engine. Shif t to D position f or 5 seconds,
then to N. Start the engine. Release the parking brake.
Therearetwowaystotowyour
vehicle:
The operator
loads your vehicle on the back of a
truck.
The operator will load
your vehicle on the back of a truck.
Any other method of towing will
damage the drive system. When you
contact the towing agency, inf orm
them a f lat-bed is required. If , due to damage, your vehicle must
be towed with the f ront wheels on
the ground, do this:
Models equipped with the keyless
access system have an engine start/
stop button instead of an ignition
switch. ACCESSORY Mode is the
equivalent of ACCESSORY (I). See
page f or ignition switch and
power mode comparison.
The tow
truck uses two pivoting arms that go
under the f ront tires and lif t them of f
the ground. The rear tires remain on
the ground.
180
(On SH-AWD models)(Except SH-AWD models)
Emergency Towing
Flat -bed Equipment
Wheel-lif t Equipment
T his is the best way to
transport your vehicle.
The only way you can saf ely tow
your vehicle is with f lat-bed
equipment.
This is an acceptable
way to tow your vehicle.
606
Towing with only two tires on the
ground will damage parts of the
all-wheel-drive system. Your vehicle
should be transported on a f lat-bed
truck or trailer.
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With the f ront wheels on the ground,
it is best to tow the vehicle no farther
than 50 miles (80 km), and keep the
speedbelow35mph(55km/h).
If your vehicle is equipped with a
f ront spoiler, remove it bef ore
towing so it is not damaged. Models equipped with the keyless
access system have an engine start/
stop button instead of an ignition
switch. ACCESSORY Mode is the
equivalent of ACCESSORY (I). See
page f or ignition switch and
power mode comparison.
If you decide to tow your vehicle
with all f our wheels on the ground,
make sure you use a properly-
designed and attached tow bar.
Prepare the vehicle for towing as
described above, and leave the
ignition switched in the
ACCESSORY (I) position 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 run down
the battery. 178
CONT INUED
Emergency Towing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
607
Trying to lif t or tow your vehicle by the
bumpers will cause serious damage.
The bumpers are not designed to
support the vehicle’s weight. Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Follow the
above procedure exactly. If you cannot
shif t the transmission or start the
engine, your vehicle must be
transported with the f ront wheels of f
the ground.
The steering system can be damaged if
the steering wheel is locked. Leave the
ignition switch in the ACCESSORY (I)
position, and make sure the steering
wheel turns f reely bef ore you begin
towing.On models with the Keyless Access
system, the ENGINE START/STOP
BUTTON indicator will conf irm that
the power mode is in the ACCESSORY
mode and that the steering lock is
released. If the steering wheel does not
turn f reely, rotate the wheel right and
lef t while pressing the ENGINE
START/STOP BUTTON. This
inf ormation also appears on the multi-
inf ormation display (see page ).
182
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2009 TL

To use the towing hook:Remove the cover f rom the f ront
bumper using your f ingers, or pry
it of f using a cloth and a f lat-tipped
screwdriver.
If your vehicle gets stuck in sand,
mud, or snow, call a towing service
to pull it out (see page ).
For very short distances, such as
f reeing the vehicle, you can use the
detachable towing hook that mounts
on the anchor in the f ront bumper.
When you need to release the
steering lock while your vehicle’s
battery is dead, do this:
Follow the proper jump starting
procedures, Step 1 through Step 5,
to apply the power to your vehicle
(see pages and ).
Remove the towing hook and
wheel nut wrench f rom the tool
case in the spare tire (see page).
Follow the jump starting
procedures, Step 8 and Step 9, and
the instructions to disconnect the
jumpercable(seepage ).The
steering will remain unlocked even
if the battery is dead.
Failure to comply means the steering
lockmaybedamaged. Press the ENGINE START/STOP
button to set the power mode to
ACCESSORY (see page ) and
verif y the steering lock is released.
1.
2.
606
1.
2.
3.
592
592591
179
583
On models with keyless access systemIf Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
Emergency Towing, If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
608
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2009 TL

Screw the towing hook into the
hole, and tighten it with the wheel
nut wrench.
3.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
609
To avoid damage to your vehicle, use
the towing hook f or straight, f lat
ground towing only. Do not tow at an
angle. The tow hook should not be used
to tow the vehicle onto a f lat bed. Do
not use it as a tie down.
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CONT INUED
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving .492
Electronic Stability Control
..........................................
(ECS) .523
............
Emergencies on the Road .581
.............
Battery, Jump Starting .591
...........
Brake System Indicator .597
................
Changing a Flat Tire .583
.....
Charging System Indicator .595
..................
Checking the Fuses .599
.......
Hazard Warning Flashers .139
......
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck .608
............................
Jump Starting .591
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .595
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .596
..................
Overheated Engine .593
.......................................
Towing .606
.........................
Emergency Brake .201
....................
Emergency Flashers .139
......................
Emergency Towing .606
..........
Emergency Trunk Opener .150
.......................
Emissions Controls .623
.............
Emissions Testing, State .626
Engine
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge .76
Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp .64,596
.................................
Oil Lif e .84,535 ........
Oil Pressure Indicator .64,595
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use .547
...............................
Overheating .593
............................
Specif ications .615
............................
Speed Limiter .510
.......................................
Starting .503
.................
Engine, if it won’t start .588
............
Engine Start/Stop Button .177
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .487
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls .623
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .57
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .18
...................................
Fan, Interior .218
Features, Comfort and ..............................
Convenience .213
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank .487
........................................
Filter, Oil .548
...........
Flashers, Hazard Warning .139
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a .583
.....................................
Floor Mats .565
Fluids ..........
Automatic Transmission .553 ..........................................
Brake .555
................
Windshield Washers .552
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception .372
.....................................
Fog Lights .137
..............................
Front Airbags .9,26
....................................
Front Seats .155
....................................
Adjusting .155
.......................................
Heaters .193
.....................................
Airbags .9,26
.................................................
Fuel .486
......................
Fill Door and Cap .487
...........................................
Gauge .75
................
Octane Requirement .486
........................
Reserve Indicator .73
........................
Tank, Filling the .487
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .599
Index
F
G
INDEX
III
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2009 TL

Unexpected, Taking Care..........................................
of the .581
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading .617
........................
Unleaded Gasoline .486
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of .550
........
Temperature, Inside Sensor .222
..............
Tether Anchorage Points .51
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter .625
................
Tilt the Steering Wheel .140
..........................
Time, Setting the .377
....................................
Tire Chains .575
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat .583
Tire Pressure Monitoring
....................................
System .526
Low Tire Pressure/TPMS ...........................
Indicator .69,526
..............
TPMS System Failure .529
Tire Pressure Monitoring System ...................................
Messages .527
...............................................
Tires .568
..............................
Air Pressure .568
.........................
Checking Wear .571
..........................
Compact Spare .582
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading .617
......................................
Inf lation .568
..................................
Inspection .571
...................................
Replacing .574
......................................
Rotating .573
...........................................
Snow .575
............................
Specif ications .616
.............................
Summer Tire .575.......................
Traction Devices .575
..........................
Winter Driving .575
...................
Tools, Tire Changing .583
Torque Distribution Monitor
...............................
(SH-AWD
) .517
Towing .....................................
A Trailer .531
................
Emergency Wrecker .606
...........................
Traction Devices .575
Transmission Checking Fluid Level, ..............................
Automatic .553
.
Checking Fluid Level Manual .555
..................
Fluid Selection .554,555
..............
Identif ication Number .612
.............
Shif ting the Automatic .508
.....................................
Treadwear .617
................................
Trip Computer .82
.......................................
Trip Meter .81
..............................................
Trunk .148
......
Emergency Trunk Release .150
...............................
Opening the .148
.............
Open Monitor Light .11,88
..................................
Turn Signals .133.................
Vehicle Capacity Load .498
......................
Vehicle Dimensions .614
VEHICLE OFF Mode ...........................
(Power Mode) .178
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number .612
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA
),
aka Electronic Stability ....
Control (ESC), System .523
........
VSA System Indicator .68,523
...
VSA Activation Indicator .68,523
.........................
VSA Of f Switch .524
.............................
Vehicle Storage .578
.................................................
VIN .612
..................................
Viscosity, Oil .548
Index
U
V
VIII
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2009 TL

ÎÎ................
XM Satellite Radio .233,292
............
WARNING, Explanation of .iii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of .58
..................
Warranty Coverages .631
Washer, Windshield ........
Checking the Fluid Level .552
...................................
Operation .131
Wheels .............
Adjusting the Steering .140
............
Alignment and Balance .573
..........................
Compact Spare .582
Windows ................
Operating the Power .195
.........................
Rear, Def ogger .139
Windshield .....................................
Cleaning .131
...................................
Def roster .219
.....................................
Washers .552
Wipers, Windshield .......................
Changing Blades .566
...................................
Operation .131
....................................
Worn Tires .571
.....
Wrecker, Emergency Towing .606 :U.S.
Index
INDEX
WX
IX
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