Page 544 of 650

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Maintenance Minder
540
:
TM
If the message ‘‘SERVICE DUE NOW’’ does not appear more than 12 months
after the display is reset, change the engine oil every year.
See information on maintenance and emissions warranty on page .
Inspect idle speed every 160,000 miles (256,000 km). Independent of the Maintenance Minder information, replace the brake
fluid every 3 years.
Adjust the valves during services A, B, 1, 2, or 3 if they are noisy.
NOTE:
2:
1:
SH-AWD only
538
Maintenance Main Items
Replace engine oil
Replace engine oil and oil filter
Inspect front and rear brakes
Check parking brake adjustment
Inspect these items: Tie rod ends, steering gear box, and boots
Suspension components
Driveshaft boots
Brake hoses and line (including ABS/VSA)
All fluid levels and condition of fluids
Exhaust system
Fuel lines and connections Maintenance Sub Items
Rotate tires
Replace air cleaner element If you drive in dusty conditions, replace every
15,000 miles (24,000 km).
Replace dust and pollen filter If you drive primarily in urban areas that have high
concentrations of soot in the air from industry and
from diesel-powered vehicles, replace every 15,000
miles (24,000 km).
Inspect drive belt
Replace transmission fluid
Replace transmission and transfer fluid
Replace spark plugs
Replace timing belt and inspect water pump If you drive regularly in very high temperatures (over
110°F, 43°C), or in very low temperatures (under20°F, 29°C), replace every 60,000 miles (U.S.)/
100,000 km (Canada).
Inspect valve clearance
Replace engine coolant
Replace rear differential fluid Driving in mountainous areas at very low vehicle
speeds results in higher level of mechanical (shear)
stress to fluid. This requires differential fluid changes
more frequently than recommended by the
Maintenance Minder. If you regularly drive your
vehicle under these conditions, have the differential
fluid changed at 7,500 miles (12,000 km), then every
15,000 miles (24,000 km).
A
B
Symbol
Symbol
3
4
5 1
2
61
1
2
2
Maintenance Minder
11/01/14 19:28:31 31TK4630_545
2012 TL
Page 561 of 650
Start the engine. If you are
replacing a driver’s side bulb, turn
the steering wheel all the way to
theright.If youarereplacinga
passenger’s side bulb, turn the
steering wheel to the lef t. Turn of f
the engine.Use a wrench to remove the
mounting bolts, and remove the
holding clip with a f lat-tip
screwdriver.
Use a flat-tip screwdriver to
remove the holding clips from the
edge of the inner fender cover,
and pull the inner fender cover
back.
Pull down the under cover f rom
the bumper caref ully.
3.
2.
1.
4.
CONT INUED
Replacing the Front
Side Marker Light Bulb
Lights
Maint enance
557
HOLDING CLIPUNDER COVER
BOLT
HOLDING CLIP BOLT
11/01/14 19:31:36 31TK4630_562
2012 TL
Page 562 of 650
Remove the socket from the
headlight assembly by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise.Start the engine. If you are
replacing a driver’s side bulb, turn
the steering wheel all the way to
the right. If you are replacing a
passenger’s side bulb, turn the
steering wheel to the left. Turn off
the engine.
Remove the bulb by pulling it
straight out of its socket. Install the new bulb in the socket
by pushing it straight in the socket
until it bottoms.
Insert the socket into the
headlight assembly. Turn it
clockwise to lock it in place.
Turn on the lights to make sure
the new bulb is working.
Push the under cover in place and
set the inner f ender cover in the
original position. Install the bolts
and tighten them securely. Insert
each holding clip, and lock it by
pushingonitscenter.
5.
6. 7.
8.
1.
9.
10. Replacing a Front Turn
Signal/Parking Light Bulb
Lights
558
SOCKET
BULB
11/01/14 19:31:47 31TK4630_563
Maint enance
2012 TL
Page 564 of 650

Your vehicle uses halogen light
bulbs. When replacing a bulb, handle
it by its plastic case, and protect the
glass from contact with your skin or
hard objects. If you touch the glass,
clean it with denatured alcohol and a
clean cloth.Start the engine. If you are
replacing a driver’s side bulb, turn
the steering wheel all the way to
theright.If youarereplacinga
passenger’s side bulb, turn the
steering wheel to the lef t. Turn of f
the engine.
Thefoglightswereproperlyaimed
when your vehicle was new. If you
regularly carry heavy items in the
trunk, readjustment may be required.
Adjustment should be done by your
dealer or another qualif ied
technician.
Install the new bulb in the socket
by pushing it straight in the socket
until it bottoms.
Push the under cover in place and
set the inner f ender cover in the
original position. Install the bolts
and tighten them securely. Insert
each holding clip, and lock it by
pushingonitscenter. Turn on the lights to make sure
the new bulb is working. Insert the socket into the light
assembly. Turn it clockwise to
lock it in place.
6.
7.
8.
9. 1.
Replacing a Front Fog L ight Bulb
Lights
560
Halogen bulbs get very hot when lit. Oil,
perspiration, or a scratch on the glass
can cause the bulb to overheat and
shatter.
11/01/14 19:32:08 31TK4630_565
Maint enance
2012 TL
Page 577 of 650

CONT INUED
Replace your tires with radial tires of
the same size, load range, speed
rating, and maximum cold tire
pressure rating (as shown on the
tire’s sidewall).
Mixing radial and bias-ply tires on
your vehicle can reduce braking
ability, traction, and steering
accuracy. Using tires of a dif f erent
size or construction can cause the
ABS and vehicle stability assist
system (VSA) to work inconsistently.
The ABS and VSA system work by
comparing the speed of each wheel.
When replacing tires, use the same
size originally supplied with the
vehicle. Tire size and construction
can af f ect wheel speed and may
cause the system to activate.
To help increase tire lif e and
distribute wear more evenly, rotate
the tires according to the
maintenance messages displayed on
the multi-information display. Move
the tires to the positions shown in
the illustration each time they are
rotated. If you purchase directional
tires, rotate only front-to-back.
When the tires are rotated, make
sure the air pressures are checked.
In addition to proper inf lation,
correct wheel alignment helps to
decrease tire wear. If you f ind a tire
is worn unevenly, have your dealer
check the wheel alignment.
Have your dealer check the tires if
you f eel a consistent vibration while
driving. A tire should always be
rebalanced if it is removed f rom the
wheel. When you have new tires
installed, make sure they are
balanced. This increases riding
comf ort and tire lif e. For best results,
have the installer perform a dynamic
balance.
Tires
Replacing T ires and Wheels
Tire Rotation
T ire Maintenance
Maint enance
573
Front Front
(For Non-directional
Tires and Wheels) (For Directional
Tires and Wheels)
Improper wheel weights can damage
your vehicle’s aluminum wheels. Use
only Acura wheel weights f or balancing.
11/01/14 19:34:34 31TK4630_578
2012 TL
Page 604 of 650
The vehicle’s f uses are contained in
threefuseboxes.
The interior f use box is located
under the dashboard on the driver’s
side. The f use label is attached
under the steering column.The passenger’s side interior f use
box is on the lower passenger’s side
panel. To remove the f use box lid,
put your f inger in the notch on the
lid, and pull it upward slightly, then
pull it toward you and take it out of
its hinges.The under-hood f use box is on the
driver’s side next to the air cleaner
housing.
To access the under-hood f use box,
remove the lef t-side engine
compartment cover (see page ).
Toaccessthefusebox,turnthe
knob on the under cover one-quarter
turn and pull the f ront of the cover
straight down to remove it from the
dashboard. 542
Fuses
600
FUSE LABEL
NOTCH
DRIVER’S SIDE
PASSENGER’S SIDE
UNDER-HOOD
AIR CLEANER HOUSING
TAB
11/01/14 19:39:05 31TK4630_605
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
2012 TL
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µµ
Î
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. 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:
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. Start the engine.
Shif t to the D position and hold f or
5 seconds, then to N.
Turn of f the engine.
Release the parking brake. Leave the ignition switch in the
ACCESSORY (I) position so the
steering wheel does not lock.
CONT INUED
On SH-AWD models
Except SH-AWD models
Flat -bed Equipment
Wheel-lif t EquipmentT 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.
Emergency Towing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
607
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.
11/01/14 19:40:14 31TK4630_612
Î Models equipped with the keyless access
system have an engine start/stop button instead
information, see pages
:
184 and 187.
of an ignition switch. ACCESSORY Mode is
the equivalent of ACCESSORY (I). For more
2012 TL
Page 612 of 650

Î
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.
Emergency Towing
608
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 (automatic transmission), 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 ).
189
11/01/14 19:40:23 31TK4630_613
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
ÎModels equipped with the keyless access
system have an engine start/stop button instead
is the equivalent of ON (II). For more information,
see pages
:
184 and 187.
of an ignition switch. ACCESSORY Mode is
the equivalent of ACCESSORY (I), and ON Mode
2012 TL