2011 Acura TL Owner's Manual

Some examples are: Removing parts f rom your vehicle,
or replacing components with non-
Acura components could seriously
af f ect your vehicle’s handling,
stability, and reliability.Raising your vehicle with a non-
Acura suspension kit can af f ect
the handling, stability, and
reliability. Lowering the vehicle with a non-
Acura suspension kit that
signif icantly reduces ground
clearance can allow the
undercarriage to hit speed bumps
or other raised objects, which
could cause the airbags to deploy. Non-Acura wheels, because they
are a universal design, can cause
excessive stress on suspension
components and will not be
compatible with the tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS).
Larger or smaller wheels and tires
can interf ere with the operation of
your vehicle’s anti-lock brakes and
other systems.
Modif ying your steering wheel or
any other part of your vehicle’s
safety features can make the
systems inef f ective.
If you plan to modif y your vehicle,
consult your dealer.
Modif ying Your Vehicle
A ccessories and Modif ications
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Your vehicle has several convenient
storage areas:Glove box
Door and seat-back pockets
Trunk Console compartment
Center and side pockets
In addition, the trunk pass-through
allows you to carry longer items.
However, carrying too much cargo,
or improperly storing it, can af f ect
your vehicle’s handling, stability,
stopping distance, and tires, and
make it unsaf e. Bef ore carrying any
type of cargo, be sure to read the
f ollowing pages.
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving
455
TRUNK CENTER POCKET
GLOVE BOX
DOOR POCKETS
SEAT-BACK POCKETS CONSOLE COMPARTMENT SIDE POCKET
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2011 TL

µµ·
Steps f or Determining Correct Load
Limit Locate the statement ‘‘The
combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX
kg or XXX lbs.’’ on your vehicle’s
placard.
Determine the combined weight
of the driver and passengers that
will be riding in your vehicle.
Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers f rom
XXX kg or XXX lbs. The resulting f igure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity. For
example, if the ‘‘XXX’’ amount
equals 1,400 lbs. and there will be
f ive 150 lb. passengers in your
vehicle, the amount of available
cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs.
(1,400 750 (5 150) = 650 lbs.)
Determine the combined weight
of luggage and cargo being loaded
on the vehicle. That weight may
not saf ely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, load f rom your trailer will
be transf erred to your vehicle.
Consult this manual to determine
how this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load capacity of
your vehicle.
The maximum load f or your vehicle
is 850 lbs (385 kg) f or U.S. models
and 395 kg for Canadian models.
This f igure includes the total weight
of all occupants, cargo, and
accessories, and the tongue load if
you are towing a trailer. Label Example See Tire And Loading Inf ormation
label attached to the driver’s
doorjamb.
(1)
(2)
(3) (4)
(5)
(6)
Load Limits
Carrying Cargo
456
Overloading or improper
loading can affect handling and
stability and cause a crash in
which you can be hurt or killed.
Follow all load limits and other
loading guidelines in this
manual.
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2011 TL

Î
Î
ÎÎ
Î
Î
Î In addition, the total weight of the
vehicle, all occupants, accessories,
cargo, and trailer tongue load must
not exceed the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) or the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). Both
are on a label on the driver’s
doorjamb.
Store or secure all items that could
be thrown around and hurt
someone during a crash.
Do not put any items on top of the
trunk panel. They can block your
view and be thrown around the
vehicle during a crash.
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
: Canadian models
CONT INUED
Carrying Cargo in the
Passenger Compartment
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving
457
Max Load 850 lbs
(395 kg)
Max Load 850 lbs (395 kg)
Max Load 850 lbs (395 kg) Passenger Weight
150 lbs x 2 = 300 lbs
(68kgx2=136kg)
Passenger Weight
150 lbs x 4 = 600 lbs
(68kgx4=272kg)
Passenger Weight
150 lbs x 5 = 750 lbs
(68kgx5=340kg) Cargo Weight
550 lbs
(259 kg)
Cargo Weight
250 lbs
(123 kg)
Cargo Weight
100 lbs
(55 kg)
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Be sure items placed on the f loor
behind the f ront seats cannot roll
underneath and interf ere with the
proper operation of the seats, the
sensors under the seats, or the
driver’s ability to operate the
pedals.
Keep all cargo below the bottom
of the windows. If it is higher, it
could interf ere with the proper
operation of the side curtain
airbags.
Keep the glove box closed while
driving. If it is open, a passenger
could injure their knees during a
crash or sudden stop.Cargo hook buttons in the trunk can
be used to install a net f or securing
items.
The cargo net can be used to help
hold down items stored in the trunk.
Distribute cargo evenly on the
f loor of the trunk, placing the
heaviest items on the bottom and
as far forward as possible.
If you carry large items that
prevent you f rom closing the trunk
lid, exhaust gas can enter the
passenger area. To avoid the
possibility of
, f ollow the instructions
on page . 57
If equipped
Cargo Nets
Carrying Cargo in the Trunk Cargo Hook Buttons
carbon monoxide
poisoning
Carrying Cargo
458
CARGO HOOK BUTTON
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2011 TL

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
manual and automatic transmissions.
It also includes important
information on parking your vehicle,
the braking system, the Super
Handling-All Wheel Drive
(SH-AWD
) system, vehicle stability
assist (VSA
), aka electronic
stability control (ESC), system, and
the tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS). ........................
Preparing to Drive .460
Starting the Engine (Models without Keyless .....................
Access System) .461
Starting the Engine (Models with Keyless .....................
Access System) .463
...................
Manual Transmission . 465
..............
Automatic Transmission . 468
Driving with the Paddle .......................................
Shif ters .473
Super Handling-All Wheel ...
Drive (SH-AWD
) System . 478
...........................................
Parking .480
.............................
Braking System .481
...............
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) . 482
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA
),
aka Electronic Stability ........
Control (ESC), System . 484
.........................
Hill Start Assist .486
Tire Pressure Monitoring ........................
System (TPMS) .488
...........................
Towing a Trailer .493
...................
Towing Your Vehicle . 493
Driving
Driving
459
TM
TM
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Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove f rost, snow,
or ice.Check the seat adjustment (see
page ).
Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page ).
Check the steering wheel
adjustment (see page ).
Make sure the doors are securely
closed and locked.
Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have f astened
their seat belts (see page ).When you start the engine, check
the gauges and indicators in the
instrument panel, and the
messages on the multi-inf ormation
display (see pages ,
).
Youshoulddothesechecksand
adjustments bef ore you drive your
vehicle:
Check that the hood is f ully closed.
Check that the trunk is f ully
closed.
Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.
Check that any items you may be
carrying are stored properly or
f astened down securely.
3.
2.
1.
7.
8.
9.
4.
5. 6.
155
63 75
16
161
140
10. 11.
Preparing to Drive
460
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and 77
2011 TL

Your vehicle’s starting system has an
auto control mode. When you turn
the ignition switch to the START
(III) position, this f eature keeps the
engine’s starter motor running until
the engine starts. Follow these
instructions to start the engine:Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition switch to
the START (III) position, then
release the ignition switch. You do
not need to hold the ignition
switch in the START (III) position
to start the engine. Depending on
the outside temperature, the starter motor runs f or about 6 to 9
seconds until the engine starts.
Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal. In cold weather, turn of f all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery. Apply the parking brake. If the engine does not start,
wait at least 10 seconds before
trying again. If you hold the ignition switch in
the START (III) position f or more
than 7 seconds, the starter motor,
depending on the outside
temperature, runs f or about 10 to
25 seconds until the engine starts.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Starting the Engine (Models without Keyless Access System)
Driving
461
T he immobilizer system protects your
vehicle f rom thef t. If an improperly
coded key (or other device) is used, the
engine’s f uel system is disabled. For
more inf ormation, see page . The engine is harder to start in cold
weather. Also, the thinner air f ound at
altitudes above 8,000 f eet (2,400
meters) adds to this problem.
143
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