2012 Acura TL transmission

The transmission should be drained
and ref illed with new f luid according
to the Maintenance Minder (see
page ).
If you are not sure how to check and
add f luid, contact your dealer.
Reinstall the under cover, tighten the
mounting bolts securely, then put
the holding clips back in place. Make
sure the under cover is installed
under the edge of the f ront bumper.
Pour the f luid into the f iller hole
slowly and caref ully so you do not
spill any. Clean up any spills
immediately; it could damage
components in the engine
compartment.
Let the f luid run out until it stops,
then reinstall the check bolt and the
f iller bolt.
Make sure to put a new washer on
each bolt when reinstalling it. If Acura MTF is not available, you
may use an SAE 0W-20 or 5W-20
viscosity motor oil with the API
Certif ication Seal that says ‘‘FOR
GASOLINE ENGINES’’ as a
temporary replacement. However,
motor oil does not contain the proper
additives, and continued use can
cause stiffer shifting. Replace as
soon as it is convenient. 531
T ransmission Fluid
552
TM
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Maint enance
2012 TL

The f luid level should be between
theMINandMAXmarksontheside
of the reservoir. If the level is at or
below the MIN mark, your brake
system needs attention. Have the
brake system inspected f or leaks or
worn brake pads.
You need to remove the lef t engine
compartment cover to check the
f luid level (see page ).
Check the f luid level in the
reservoirs monthly. There are up to
two reservoirs, depending on the
model. They are:
Brake f luid reservoir (all models)
Clutch f luid reservoir
(manual transmission models
only)
To access the reservoirs, remove the
lef t engine compartment cover (see
page ).
You will also see a ‘‘LOW BRAKE
FLUID’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display. Always use Honda Heavy Duty
Brake Fluid DOT 3. If it is not
available, you should use only DOT 3
or DOT 4 f luid, f rom a sealed
container, as a temporary
replacement.
Brake f luid marked DOT 5 is not
compatible with your vehicle’s
braking system and can cause
extensive damage. Using any non-Honda brake f luid can
cause corrosion and decrease the lif e
of the system. Have the brake
system f lushed and ref illed with
Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid
DOT 3 as soon as possible.
Independent of the Maintenance
Minder inf ormation, replace the
brake f luid every 3 years. 542
542
Brake and Clutch Fluid
Brake Fluid
Maint enance
553
MAX
MIN
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2012 TL

µµ
Manual Transmission only
The f luid level should be between
theMINandMAXmarksontheside
of the reservoir. If it is not, add
brake f luid to bring it up to that level.
Use the same fluid specified for the
brake system.
A low f luid level can indicate a leak
in the clutch system. Have this
system inspected as soon as possible.The timing belt should be replaced
according to the Maintenance
Minder (see page ).
Replace the timing belt every 60,000
miles (U.S.) or every 100,000 km
(Canada) if you regularly drive your
vehicleinanyof thefollowing
conditions:
In very high temperatures
(over 110°F, 43°C).
In very low temperatures
(under 20°F, 29°C). 531
Brake and Clutch Fluid, Timing Belt
Clutch Fluid
T iming Belt
554
MAX
MINTM
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Maint enance
2012 TL

Block the rear wheels.
If the vehicle is to be stored f or a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are of f the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the vehicle is being stored
indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Support the f ront wiper blade
arms with a f olded towel or rag so
they do not touch the windshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and trunk seals. Also, apply a
vehiclebodywaxtothepainted
surfaces that mate with the door
and trunk seals.
If you need to park your vehicle f or
an extended period (more than 1
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it f or storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your vehicle back on the road. If
possible, store your vehicle indoors.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in reverse
(manual) or Park (automatic). Cleantheinterior.Makesurethe
carpeting, floor mats, etc., are
completely dry. Wash and dry the exterior
completely. Fill the f uel tank.
If your vehicle’s battery is
disconnected or goes dead, the audio
system may disable itself . The next
timeyouturnontheradio,youwill
see ‘‘ENTER CODE’’ in the
frequency display. Use the preset
buttons to enter the code (see
).
If your vehicle’s battery is
disconnected, or goes dead, the time
setting may be lost. To reset the time,
see page .
The navigation system will also
disableitself.Thenexttimeyouset
to the ON mode, the system will
require you to enter a PIN bef ore it
can be used. Ref er to the navigation
system manual. 391On models without navigation system
On models with navigation system
Checking the Battery, Vehicle Storage
Vehicle Storage
578
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Maint enancepage 390
2012 TL

Î
CONT INUED
If you have a f lat tire while driving,
pull over saf ely. Drive slowly along
the shoulder until you get to an area
far away from traffic lanes.Park the vehicle on f irm, level, and
non-slippery ground. Put the
transmission in Park (automatic)
or reverse (manual). Apply the
parking brake.
Turn on the hazard warning lights,
and turn the ignition switch to
the LOCK (0) position. Have all
passengers get out of the vehicle
while you change the tire.
Open the trunk. Raise the trunk
f loor lid by lif ting up on the back
edge.
3.
2. 1.
Changing a Flat Tire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
583
The vehicle can easily roll off
the jack, seriously injuring
anyone underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the vehicle
when it is supported only by the
jack.
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Î
Models equipped with the keyless access
system have an engine start/stop button
instead of an ignition switch. VEHICLE OFF
(LOCK) Mode is the equivalent of LOCK (0).
For more information, see pages 184 and 187.
:
2012 TL

When you turn the ignition switch to
the START (III) position or on
models with keyless access system,
press the engine start/stop button to
set START Mode (see page ),
you do not hear the normal noise of
the engine trying to start. You may
hear a clicking sound, a series of
clicks, or nothing at all.
Diagnosing why the engine won’t
start f alls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
ignition switch to the START (III)
position or on models with keyless
access system, press the engine
start/stop button to set START
Mode (see page ):
You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
f aster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run. You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine’s starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly. Check these things:
Check the transmission interlock.
If you have a manual transmission,
the clutch pedal must be pushed
all the way to the f loor or the
starter will not operate. With an
automatic transmission, it must be
in Park or neutral. 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 ). Turn on the
headlights, and check their
brightness. If the headlights are
very dim or do not come on at all,
the battery is discharged. See
on page .
184
184
591
184
If theEngineWon’tStart
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
Jump Starting
588
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T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
2012 TL

Although this seems like a simple
procedure, you should take several
precautions.
You cannot start a vehicle with an
automatic transmission by pushing
or pulling it.Open the hood, and check the
physical condition of the battery.
In very cold weather, check the
condition of the electrolyte. If it
seems slushy or like ice, do not try
jump starting until it thaws.
To jump start your vehicle:
Turn of f all the electrical
accessories: climate control, audio
system, lights, etc. Put the
transmission in neutral (manual)
or Park (automatic), and set the
parking brake. Pull up the battery terminal cover
to remove. The battery terminal
cover can be removed without
removing the lef t side engine
compartment cover.
1.
2.
3.
CONT INUED
Jump Starting
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
591
BATTERY TERMINAL COVER
A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyone
nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can f reeze.
Attempting to jump start with a f rozen
battery can cause it to rupture.
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2012 TL

If you do not see steam or spray,
leave the engine running and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading,
the engine should start to cool
down almost immediately. If it
does, wait until the temperature
gauge comes down to the midpoint,
then continue driving.
The pointer of the vehicle’s
temperature gauge should stay in
the midrange. If it climbs to the red
mark, you should determine the
reason (hot day, driving up a steep
hill, etc.).
If the temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn off the engine.
Look f or any obvious coolant leaks,
such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you f ind a leak, it
must be repaired bef ore you
continue driving (seeon page ).
Saf ely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in neutral
(manual) or Park (automatic), and
set the parking brake. Turn of f all
accessories, and turn on the
hazard warning lights.
If you see steam and/or spray
coming f rom under the hood, turn
of f the engine. Wait until you see
no more signs of steam or spray,
then open the hood.
If the vehicle overheats, you should
take immediate action. The only
indication may be the temperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming f rom under the hood. You will also see a ‘‘WATER TEMP
HOT’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display (see page ).
1.
2.3.
4.
5.
607
77
CONT INUED
Emergency
Towing
If theEngineOverheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
593
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause
serious damage to the engine.
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2012 TL