2009 Acura TL check engine

A convenient ref erence to the
sections in this manual.
A quick ref erence to the main
controls in your vehicle.
Explains the purpose of each
instrument panel indicator and gauge,
and how to use the controls on the
dashboard and steering column.What gasoline to use, how to break-
in your new vehicle, and how to load
luggage and other cargo.
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities,
and technical information.
The proper way to start the engine,
shif t the transmission, and park.
The maintenance minder shows you
when you need to take your vehicle
to the dealer for maintenance service.
There is also a list of things to check
and instructions on how to check
them.
This section covers several problems
motorists sometimes experience,
and details how to handle them.
Important inf ormation about the
proper use and care of your vehicle’s
seat belts, an overview of the
supplemental restraint system, and
valuable inf ormation on how to
protect children with child restraints.
A summary of the warranties
covering your new vehicle, and how
to contact us for any reason. Refer to
your warranty manual f or detailed
inf ormation.
How to order manuals and other
technical literature.
A summary of the inf ormation you
need when you pull up to the f uel
pump.
How to operate the climate control
system, the audio system, and other
convenience f eatures.
Contents
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Instruments and Controls
Features Bef ore Driving
Driving
T echnical Inf ormation
Maintenance
T aking Care of the Unexpected Warranty and Client Relations
(U.S. and Canada only)
Authorized Manuals
(U.S. only)
Index
Service Inf ormation Summary
Overview of Contents
2
\f—\f—y
\f\fy
) \f\fy\f\f\fy
2009 TL

Î
If the indicator comes on at any
other time, or does not come on at all,
you should have the system checked
by your dealer. For example:This indicator alerts you that the
passenger’s side airbag has been
automatically shut off. It does
mean there is a problem with your
side airbags.
You will also see a ‘‘PASSENGER
SIDE AIRBAG OFF’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display.
If the SRS indicator does not come
on after you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position or
on models with keyless access
system, press the engine start/
stop button to set ON mode (see
page ).
If you see any of these indications,
the airbags and seat belt tensioners
may not work properly when you
need them.
If the indicator stays on after the
engine starts.
If the indicator comes on or
flashesonandoff whileyoudrive.
You will also see a ‘‘CHECK
AIRBAG SYSTEM’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display. When you turn the ignition switch
to the ON (II) position, the indicator
should come on brief ly and then go
out(seepage ).Ifitdoesn’tcome
on, stays on, or comes on while
driving without a passenger in the
f ront seat, have the system checked.
180
67
CONT INUED
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
How the Side
Airbag Of f
Indicator Works
not
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
33
U. S. Canada
Ignoring the SRS indicator can
result in serious injury or death
if the airbag systems or
tensioners do not work properly.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS indicator alerts you to
a possible problem.
\f—
—y

\fy
) \f\fy\f\fy
2009 TL

Î
Î
The instrument panel has many
indicators to give you important
inf ormation about your vehicle.
If your f ront passenger does not
f asten their seat belt, the indicator
comes on about 6 seconds af ter the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
(II) position.
You will also see a ‘‘FASTEN SEAT
BELT’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display. You will also see a ‘‘CHECK
EMISSION SYSTEM’’ message on
the multi-information display. For
more information, see page .
The engine can be severely damaged
if this indicator f lashes or stays on
when the engine is running, and you
will see a ‘‘CHECK ENGINE OIL
LEVEL’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display. For more
inf ormation, see page .
If you turn the ignition switch to the
ON (II) position bef ore f astening
your seat belt, the beeper sounds
and the indicator f lashes. If you do
notfastenyourseatbeltbeforethe
beeper stops, the indicator stops
f lashing but remains on. If either of you do not f asten your
seat belt while driving, the beeper
will sound and the indicator will f lash
again at regular intervals, and you
will see a ‘‘FASTEN SEAT BELT’’ or
‘‘FASTEN PASSENGER SEAT
BELT’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display. For more
inf ormation, see page .
This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position. It reminds you and your
passengers to f asten your seat belts.
A beeper also sounds if you have not
f astened your seat belt.
Models equipped with the
keyless access system have an
engine start/stop button instead
of an ignition switch. ON Mode
is the equivalent of ON (II). For
more inf ormation, see pagesand . 20 596
595
:
178 180
Instrument Panel Indicators
Seat Belt Reminder
Indicator Malf unction Indicator
Lamp
L ow Oil Pressure
Indicator
64
—
—y
y
) yy
2009 TL

ÎÎ
Î
If this indicator comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged, and you will also see
a ‘‘CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM’’
message on the multi-inf ormation
display. For more inf ormation, see
page . This indicator has two f unctions:
If you drive without releasing the
parking brake, a beeper will sound,
and you will also see a ‘‘RELEASE
PARKING BRAKE’’ message on
the multi-information display (see
page ).
This indicator comes on brief ly when
you turn the ignition switch to the
ON (II) position. It will then go of f if
you have inserted a properly coded
ignition key, on models with keyless
access system, if an appropriate
keyless access remote is used. If it is
not a properly coded key or keyless
access remote, the indicator will
blink, and the engine’s f uel system
will be disabled (see page ). Itcomesonwhenyouturnthe
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. It is a reminder to check
the parking brake. Driving with
the parking brake not f ully
released can damage the brakes
and tires.
Models equipped with the
keyless access system have an
engine start/stop button instead
of an ignition switch. ON Mode
is the equivalent of ON (II). For
more inf ormation, see pages
and . 1.
595
201
143 :
178180
CONT INUED
Instrument Panel Indicators
Charging System
Indicator
Immobilizer System
Indicator Parking Brake and
Brake System
Indicator
Inst rument s and Cont rols
65
U.S. Canada
\f—
—y
\fy
) \f\fy\f\f\fy
2009 TL

Î
Î
If it stays on after you have fully
released the parking brake while
the engine is running, or if it
comes on while driving, it can
indicate a problem in the brake
system. You will also see a ‘‘LOW
BRAKE FLUID’’ or ‘‘CHECK
BRAKE SYSTEM’’ message on
the multi-information display. For
more information, see page . This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. It may also come on brief ly
when the ignition switch is turned to
the START (III) position.
If this indicator comes on at any
other time, there is a problem in the
ABS. If this happens, take the
vehicle to your dealer to have it
checked. With this indicator on, your
vehicle still has normal braking
ability but no anti-lock f unction. You
will also see a ‘‘CHECK ABS
SYSTEM’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display. For more
inf ormation, see page . Models equipped with the
keyless access system have an
engine start/stop button instead
of an ignition switch. ON Mode
is the equivalent of ON (II), and
START Mode is the equivalent
of START (III). For more
information, see pages and
.
2.
597
521:
178
180
Instrument Panel Indicators
Anti-lock Brake System
(A BS) Indicator
66
\f—
—y


y
) \f\fy\f\f
y
2009 TL

ÎÎ
Î
This indicator comes on brief ly when
you turn the ignition switch to the
ON (II) position. If it comes on at
any other time, it indicates a
potential problem with your f ront
airbags. This indicator will also alert
you to a potential problem with your
side airbags, passenger’s side airbag
cutof f system, side curtain airbags,
automatic seat belt tensioners,
driver’s seat position sensor, or the
f ront passenger’s weight sensors.
You will also see a ‘‘CHECK
AIRBAG SYSTEM’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display. For more
inf ormation, see page . This indicator comes on brief ly when
you turn the ignition switch to the
ON (II) position. If it comes on at
any other time, it indicates that the
passenger’s side airbag has
automatically shut off. For more
inf ormation, see page .
You will also see a ‘‘PASSENGER
SIDE AIRBAG OFF’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display.
Models equipped with the
keyless access system have an
engine start/stop button instead
of an ignition switch. ON Mode
is the equivalent of ON (II). For
more inf ormation, see pages
and .
32 :
33 178 180
Supplemental Restraint
System Indicator
Side A irbag Of f
Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
Inst rument s and Cont rols
67
U.S. Canada
—
—y

y
) yy
2009 TL

Î
Î
Î This indicator has three f unctions:
It comes on as a reminder that you
have turned off the vehicle
stability assist (VSA) system.
It flashes when VSA is active (see
page ).
It comes on along with the VSA
system indicator if there is a
problem with the VSA or Hill Start
Assist (on SH-AWD models only)
system. You will also see a
‘‘CHECK VSA SYSTEM’’ message
on the multi-information display.
Models equipped with the
keyless access system have an
engine start/stop button instead
of an ignition switch. ON Mode
is the equivalent of ON (II), and
START Mode is the equivalent
of START (III). For more
information, see pages and
. If itcomesonandstaysonatany
other time, or it does not come on
when you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, there is a
problem with the VSA or Hill Start
Assist (on SH-AWD models only)
system. You will also see a ‘‘CHECK
VSA SYSTEM’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display. Take your
vehicle to a dealer to have it checked.
Without VSA, your vehicle still has
normal driving ability, but will not
have VSA traction and stability
enhancement. For more inf ormation,
see page .
This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. It may also come on brief ly
when the ignition switch is turned to
the START (III) position.
1.
2.
3.
523 523
:
178
180 Vehicle Stability Assist
(VSA ) System Indicator
VSA A ctivation Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
68
\f—
—y
y
) \f\fy\f\fy
2009 TL

ÎÎ
ÎÎ
CONT INUED
You will also see a ‘‘CHECK TIRE
PRESSURE’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display (see page ).
Check the tire pressure monitor on
the multi-information display and
determinethecause(seepage ).
If this happens, pull to the side of the
road when it is saf e, check which tire
has lost pressure on the multi-
inf ormation display, and determine
the cause. If it is because of a flat tire,
have the flat tire repaired as soon as
possible. If two or more tires are
underinf lated, call a prof essional
towing service. For more
inf ormation, see page .
This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. It may also come on brief ly
when the ignition switch is turned to
the START (III) position. For more
inf ormation, see page .
This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position.
Models equipped with the
keyless access system have an
engine start/stop button instead
of an ignition switch. ON Mode
is the equivalent of ON (II), and
START Mode is the equivalent
of START (III). For more
information, see pages and . Models equipped with the
keyless access system have an
engine start/stop button instead
of an ignition switch. ON Mode
is the equivalent of ON (II). For
more inf ormation, see pages
and .
If it comes on while driving, it
indicates that one or more of your
vehicle’s tires are signif icantly low
on pressure.
This indicator has two f unctions:
1. 527
528
606
523
: :
180 178178 180Low Tire Pressure/
TPMS Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
Inst rument s and Cont rols
69
—
—y
y
) yy
2009 TL