2011 Acura TSX transmission

196Driving
When Driving
Shifting
Shift Lever Operation
Shift Lever Operation NOTICE When you change the shift lever from
D
to
R and
vice versa, come to a complete stop and keep the
brake pedal depressed.
Operating the shift lever before the vehicle has
come to a complete standstill can damage the
transmission.
Use the shift lever position indicator to check the
lever position before pulling away.
Whichever position the shift lever is in when driving,
a blinking
D
indicator indicates a transmission
problem.
Avoid sudden acceleration and have the
transmission checked by a dealer as soon as
possible.
The fuel supply may be cut off if you drive at engine
speeds in or over the tachometer red zone (engine
speed limit). If this happens, you may experience a
slight jolt.
It may not be possible to operate the shift lever
if the brake pedal is applied while the shift lever
release button is held down.
Depress the brake pedal first.
Tachometer's red zone
Shift Lever Position Indicator
Depress the brake pedal and
press the shift lever release button to
shift.
Shift without pressing the shift lever
release button.
Press the shift lever release button
and shift.M (Sequential Shift mode) Indicator/
Gear Position Indicator

197
Continued
Driving
When Driving
Shifing
Sequential Shift Mode
Use the paddle shifters to change between 1st and 5th gears without removing
your hands from the steering wheel. The transmission will switch to the sequential
shift mode.
When the shift lever is in
D
:
The vehicle will go into the sequential shift mode momentarily, and the gear
position indicator will come on.
Once you start traveling at a constant speed, the sequential shift mode will
automatically switch off, and the gear position indicator will go off.
Hold the
+ paddle shifter for two seconds to return to normal drive.
When the shift lever is in
S
:
The vehicle will go into the sequential shift mode, and the
M
(sequential shift)
indicator and gear position indicator will come on. At speeds of 6 mph (10 km/h)
or less, the vehicle automatically shifts down into 1st gear. It will not automatically
shift up, even if vehicle speed increases.
You can only pull away in 1st or 2nd gear.
When switching out of the sequential shift mode, move the shift lever from
S

to
D
. When the sequential shift mode is canceled, the sequential shift mode
indicator and shift indicator go off.

199
Continued
Driving
When Driving
Shifting
Shift Lever Operation
Fully depress the clutch pedal to operate the shift lever and change gears, then
slowly release the pedal.
Depress the clutch pedal, and pause for a few seconds before shifting into
R
, or
shift into one of the forward gears for a moment. This stops the gears so they do
not “grind.”
Shifting NOTICE Do not shift to
R before the vehicle comes to a
complete stop.
Shifting to
R before stopping can damage the
transmission.
NOTICE Before downshifting, make sure the engine will
not go into the tachometer's red zone. Should this
occur, it can severely damage your engine.
There is a metallic part on the shift lever. If you
leave the vehicle parked outside for a long time on
a hot day, be careful before moving the shift lever.
Because of heat, the shift lever may be extremely
hot. If the outside temperature is low, the shift lever
may feel cold.
Recommended Shift Points
Driving in the highest gear that allows the engine
to run and accelerate smoothly helps to optimize
fuel economy and effective emissions control. The
following shift points are recommended:
Shift Up Normal Acceleration
1st to 2nd 17 mph (27 km/h)
2nd to 3rd 29 mph (46 km/h)
3rd to 4th 37 mph (59 km/h)
4th to 5th 43 mph (69 km/h)
5th to 6th 49 mph (79 km/h)
If you exceed the maximum speed for the gear
you are in, the engine speed will enter into the
tachometer's red zone. When this happens, you
may experience a slight jolt.
Manual transmission models Shifting
When you are not shifting, do not rest your
foot on the clutch pedal. This can cause your
clutch to wear out faster.

200Driving
When Driving
Shifting
Reverse Lockout
The manual transmission has a lockout mechanism that stops you from accidentally
shifting into
R
from a forward gear while the vehicle is moving at a certain
speed.
If you cannot shift to
R
when the vehicle is stopped, do the following:
1. Depress the clutch pedal, move the shift
lever all the way to the left, and shift
to
R
.
2. If you still cannot shift into
R
, apply the
parking brake, and turn the ignition switch
to ACCESSORY
I or LOCK
0
.
3. Depress the clutch pedal and shift into
R
.
4. Keep depressing the clutch pedal and start
the engine.
Have the vehicle checked by a dealer if you
have to go through this procedure repeatedly.

201
Continued
Driving
When Driving
Cruise Control
Cruise Control

Maintains a constant vehicle speed without having to keep your foot on the
accelerator. Use cruise control on freeways or open roads where you can travel at
a constant speed with little acceleration or deceleration.
Cruise Control
When the ignition switch is in ACCESSORY
I or
LOCK
0, cruise control automatically goes off.
It may not be possible to maintain a constant speed
when driving uphill or downhill.
Always keep sufficient distance
between you and the vehicle in
front of you.
CRUISE MAIN is on in the
instrument panelCruise control is ready to use.
OVehicle speed for cruise control:
Desired speed in a range above
roughly 25 mph (40 km/h) ~ Automatic transmission models OShift positions for cruise control:
In
D
or
S, in 2nd gear or higher
OPress the
CRUISE
button on
the steering wheel
How to use
WARNING
Improper use of the cruise control can
lead to a crash.
Use the cruise control only when traveling
on open highways in good weather.
When to use

Braking
210Driving
Brake System
Parking Brake
Use the parking brake to keep the vehicle stationary when parking.
To a p p l y :
Pull the lever fully up without pressing the
release button.
To r e l e a s e :
1. Pull the lever slightly, and press and hold
the release button.
2. Lower the lever down all the way, then
release the button.
Parking Brake NOTICE Release the parking brake fully before driving. The
rear brakes and axle can be damaged if you drive
with the parking brake applied.If you start driving without fully releasing the
parking brake, a buzzer sounds as a warning, and
"RELEASE PARKING BRAKE" appears on the multi-
information display.
Always apply the parking brake when parking.
To prevent the parking brake from freezing when
the outside temperature is extremely cold, do not
apply it, but do the following: Automatic transmission models Put the shift lever in
P, then use a block or other
wheel chock to stop the wheels from turning.
Manual transmission models Put the shift lever in
R or
1, then use a block or
other wheel chock to stop the wheels from turning.

Braking
Brake System
211
Driving
Foot Brake
Your vehicle is equipped with disc brakes at all four wheels. A power assist helps
reduce the effort needed on the brake pedal. The brake assist system increases the
stopping force when you depress the brake pedal hard in an emergency situation.
The anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps you retain steering control when braking
very hard.
Brake Assist System

P. 2 13
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)


P. 2 12
Foot Brake
Check the brakes after driving through deep water,
or if there is a buildup of road surface water. If
necessary, dry the brakes by lightly depressing the
pedal several times.
If you hear a continuous metallic friction sound
when applying the brakes, the brake pads need to
be replaced. Have the vehicle checked by a dealer.
Constantly using the brake pedal while going down
a long hill builds up heat, which reduces the brake
effectiveness. Apply engine braking by taking your
foot off the accelerator pedal and downshifting to
a lower gear. With manual transmission use a lower
gear for greater engine braking.
Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, as it will lightly apply the brakes and cause
them to lose effectiveness over time and reduce pad
life. It will also confuse drivers behind you.

214Driving
Parking Your VehicleWhen Stopped1. Always use the parking brake when you park your vehicle.
2. Make sure the parking brake is set firmly, or your vehicle may roll if parked on
an incline.
When Stopped Parking Your Vehicle
Do not park your vehicle near flammable objects,
such as dry grass, oil, or timber.
Heat from the exhaust can cause a fire. NOTICE The following can damage the transmission:
Depressing the accelerator and brake pedals tsimultaneously.
Holding the vehicle in place when facing uphill by tdepressing the accelerator pedal.
Moving the shift lever into t
P before the vehicle
stops completely.
Parking
Raise the wiper arms when snow is expected. Automatic transmission models
Parking Automatic transmission models 1. Depress the brake pedal firmly with the shift lever in D
.
2. Apply the parking brake while holding the brake pedal down.
3. Move the shift lever to P
.
4. Turn off the engine.