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When you turn the knob, the multi-
inf ormation display changes to
vertical bars that show you the
current level.
You will hear a tone when you reach
the maximum or minimum
brightness. The brightness level
goes out about 5 seconds af ter you
stop adjusting.To reduce glare at night, the
instrument panel illumination dims
when you turn the light switch to the
or position. Turning the
knob to the right until you hear a
tone will cancel the reduced
brightness.
The instrument panel will illuminate
with reduced brightness when you
unlock and open the driver’s door.
The brightness will increase slightly
when you insert the key in the
ignitionswitch,thengotonormal
brightness when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. If you do not insert the key in the
ignition switch af ter opening the
driver’s door, the illumination turns
of f about 30 seconds af ter you close
the door.
If you insert the key but do not turn
the ignition switch to the ON (II)
position, the illumination turns of f in
about 10 seconds.
Instrument Panel Brightness
116
BRIGHTNESS LEVEL
2010 TSX
Page 122 of 524
Youshouldhavereceivedakey
number tag with your keys. You will
need this key number if you ever
have to get a lost key replaced. Use
only Acura-approved key blanks.
The master key fits all the locks on
your vehicle. The valet key works
only in the ignition and the driver’s
door lock. You can keep the glove
boxlockedwhenyouleaveyour
vehicle and the valet key at a parking
f acility. The valet key does not contain a
battery. Do not try to take it apart. These keys contain electronic
circuits that are activated by the
immobilizer system. They will not
work to start the engine if the
circuits are damaged.
Protect the keys f rom direct
sunlight, high temperature, and
high humidity.
Donotdropthekeysorsetheavy
objects on them.
Keep the keys away f rom liquids.
If they get wet, dry them
immediately with a sof t cloth.
CONT INUED
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols
119
VALET KEY
(Light Gray)
KEY
NUMBER
TAG MASTER KEY
WITH REMOTE
TRANSMITTER
2010 TSX
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µ
µ
µ
The ignition switch has f our
positions: LOCK (0), ACCESSORY
(I), ON (II), and START (III). If you turn the ignition key to the
ACCESSORY (I) position with the
driver’s door closed, you will see an
‘‘ACCESSORY (I) POSITION’’
message on the multi-inf ormation
display to inf orm you of the key
position.
This is the normal key
position when driving. Several of the
indicators on the instrument panel
come on as a test when you turn the
ignition switch f rom the
ACCESSORY (I) to the ON (II)
position.
If the f ront wheels are turned, the
anti-thef t lock may make it dif f icult
to turn the key. Firmly turn the
steering wheel to the lef t or right as
you turn the key. You can insert or
remove the key only in this position.
To turn the key, push it in slightly. If
your vehicle has an automatic
transmission, the shif t lever must
also be in Park.
You can
operate the audio system and the
accessory power sockets in this
position.
If you leave the key in the ignition
switch in the ACCESSORY (I)
position and open the driver’s door,
you will see a ‘‘RETURN IGNITION
SWITCH TO LOCK (0) POSITION’’
message on the multi-inf ormation
display and hear a reminder beeper.
Ignition Switch
ON (II)
LOCK (0)
A CCESSORY (I)
122
2010 TSX
Page 126 of 524
µUse this position
only to start the engine. The switch
returns to the ON (II) position 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 the
ACCESSORY (I) position and open
thedriver’sdoor.Removethekeyto
turn of f the beeper.
You will also see a ‘‘REMOVE KEY’’
message on the multi-inf ormation
display.
If your vehicle has an automatic
transmission, the shif t lever must be
in Park bef ore you can remove the
key f rom the ignition switch.
Ignition Switch
ST A RT (III)
Inst rument s and Cont rols
123
Removing the key from the
ignition switch while driving
locks the steering. This can
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle.
Remove the key from the
ignition switch only when
parked.
2010 TSX
Page 127 of 524

The lock tab on any passenger’s door
locks and unlocks that door.
When the door is unlocked, you can
seetheredindicatoronthelocktab
above the inner door handle.All doors can be locked f rom the
outsidebyusingthekeyinthe
driver’s door. To unlock only the
driver’s door, insert the key, turn it
clockwise, and release it. The
remaining doors unlock when you
turn the key a second time within a
f ew seconds.
To lock all doors, push the f ront of
the master door lock switch on
either f ront door, pull the lock tab
rearward on the driver’s door, or use
the key on the outside lock on the
driver’s door.
Pushing the rear of either master
door lock switch will unlock all doors.
Pushing f orward the lock tab on the
driver’s door unlocks only that door. You can customize the door lock/
unlock settings (see page ).
Youcanopenorclosethewindows
and the moonroof by using the key
in the driver’s door (see page ).
Locking and unlocking the driver’s
door will also lock and unlock the
f uel f ill door (see page ).
149
99
347
Door L ocks
124
RED INDICATOR
Lock
Unlock LOCK TAB
MASTER DOOR LOCK SWITCH To Lock
To Unlock
2010 TSX
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The childproof door locks are
designed to prevent children seated
in the rear f rom accidentally opening
the rear doors. Each rear door has a
lock lever near the edge. With the
lever in the LOCK position (lever is
down), the door cannot be opened
f rom the inside regardless of the
position of the lock tab. To open the
door, push the lock tab f orward and
use the outside door handle.
If you f orget and leave the key in the
ignition switch, lockout prevention
will not allow you to lock the driver’s
door. With any door open and the
key in the ignition switch, locking
with master door lock switch is
disabled. If the driver’s door is
closed, the lock tab on the driver’s
door is not disabled. Pulling the
driver’s lock tab rearward will lock
all doors. If you try to lock an open
driver’s door by pulling the lock tab
rearward, the driver’s door lock tab
pops out and unlocks the driver’s
door.
When you shif t to P af ter driving, the
driver’s door unlocks. When the vehicle speed reaches
about 10 mph (15 km/h) or more, all
the doors lock automatically. To lock any passenger’s door when
getting out of the vehicle, pull the
lock tab rearward and close the door.
To lock the driver’s door, remove the
key f rom the ignition switch, pull the
locktabrearwardorpushthefront
of the master switch, then close the
door.
Def ault setting L ockout Prevent ion
Childproof Door L ocks
Door L ocks
Inst rument s and Cont rols
125
Unlock
Lock LEVER
2010 TSX
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µµ
Press this button once to
lock all doors. Some exterior lights
will f lash. When you push LOCK
twice within 5 seconds, you will hear
a beep to verify that the doors are
locked and the security system has
set. You cannot lock the doors if any
door is not f ully closed or if the key
is in the ignition switch. Press this button once
to unlock the driver’s door (or all the
doors depending on the door lock
setting). Push it twice to unlock the
remaining doors. Some exterior
lights will f lash twice the f irst time
you push the button. The keyless lock acknowledgment
beep and f lashing of the lights can
be deactivated (see page ).
If you do not open any door within 30
seconds, the doors automatically
relock and the security system sets.
The ceiling light and the door
activated spotlights come on when
you press the UNLOCK button if the
lights are in the door activated
position. If you do not open any door
within 30 seconds (or whatever
setting of the interior light dimming
time is set to), the light(s) will f ade
out. If you relock the doors with the
remote transmitter before 30
seconds have elapsed, the light(s)
will go of f immediately. To change the lock/unlock setting
and the relock timer setting, refer to
the customized settings on page .
Locking and unlocking the driver’s
door will also lock and unlock the
f uel f ill door (see page ).
You can also open all power windows
and the moonroof f rom outside the
vehicle with the remote transmitter
(see page ).
103
99
347
149
Remote Transmitter
LOCK UNL OCK
126
LED
LOCK BUTTON
UNLOCK
BUTTON PANIC
BUTTON
TRUNK
BUTTON
2010 TSX
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µµ When you unlock the driver’s door
with your remote transmitter, each
remote transmitter activates the
customized settings related to that
remote.
Press and hold this
button for about 1 second to attract
attention; the horn will sound, and
the exterior lights will f lash f or about
30 seconds. To cancel panic mode,
press any other button on the remote
transmitter, or turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position. Panic
mode does not work when the key is
in the ignition switch.
Press and hold this
button f or about 1 second to open
the trunk. You cannot open the trunk
if the key is in the ignition switch.
The driving position memory
activated (Driver 1, Driver 2) is
shownonthebackof each
transmitter. Make sure you store
your desired driving position in thememory that is activated by the
transmitter you normally carry.
Here are the settings activated with
the remote:
Customized settings
(see page ).
Driving position memory
(see page ).
When you unlock and open the
driver’s door with the remote
transmitter, the driver’s seat moves
to the position stored in memory.
You will hear two beeps when the
movement is completed. The
indicator in the related memory
button on the driver’s door remains
on. 81
142
CONT INUED
All models except Canadian TSX with 4-cylinder engine
Recalling a Memorized Driving
Position
PA NIC
TRUNK
Remote Transmitter
Inst rument s and Cont rols
127
With Driver 2
With Driver 1
2010 TSX