2013 Acura TL Owner's Manual

If the ABS indicator and the brake
system indicator come on together,
and the parking brake is f ully
released, the EBD system may also
be shut down.
Test your brakes as instructed on
page . If the brakes f eel normal,
drive slowly and have your vehicle
repaired by your dealer as soon as
possible. Avoid sudden hard braking
which could cause the rear wheels to
lock up and possibly lead to a losssuch as trying to take a
corner too f ast or making a sudden
lane change. Always drive at a
Always steer moderately
when you are braking hard. Severe
or sharp steering wheel movement
can still cause your vehicle to veer
into oncoming traffic or off the road. on loose or
uneven surfaces, such as gravel
or snow, than a vehicle without
anti-lock.
It only helps with the
steering control during braking.
598 Important Saf ety Reminders
A BS will not prevent a skid that
results f rom changing direction
abruptly,
A BS cannot prevent a loss of
stability. A vehicle with A BS may require a
longer distance to stop
A BS does not reduce the time or
distance it takes to stop the
vehicle.
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
Driving
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of control. safe speed for the road and
weather conditions.
2013 TL

The vehicle stability assist (VSA)
system helps to stabilize the vehicle
during cornering if the vehicle
turns more or less than desired. It
also assists you in maintaining
traction while accelerating on loose
or slippery road surfaces. It does
this by regulating the engine’s
output, and by selectively applying
the brakes.
The VSA system cannot enhance the
vehicle’s driving stability in all
situations and does not control your
vehicle’s entire braking system. It is
still your responsibility to drive and
corner at reasonable speeds and to
leave a sufficient margin of safety.When VSA is off, the VSA OFF
indicator comes on as a reminder.
When VSA activates, you will see the
VSA system indicator blink.
When VSA activates, you may notice
that the engine does not respond to
the accelerator in the same way it
does at other times. There may also
be some noise f rom the VSA
hydraulic system. You will also see
the VSA system indicator blink. The main f unction of the
VSA system is generally known as
Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
The system also includes a traction
control f unction.
If this indicator comes on while
driving, you will also see a ‘‘CHECK
VSA SYSTEM’’ and/or ‘‘CHECK
HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM’’
message on the multi-inf ormation
display. Drive cautiously as the VSA
may not be f unctioning. Without
VSA, your vehicle will have normal
braking and cornering ability, but it
will not have VSA traction and
stability enhancement. Also, the VSA
OFF switch will not operate. Pull to
the side of the road when it is saf e,
and turn of f the engine. Reset the
system by restarting the engine. If
the VSA system indicator stays on, have the VSA system inspected by
your dealer.
If there is a problem with the hill
start assist system, the VSA system
indicator comes on and stays on. The
multi-inf ormation display shows a
‘‘CHECK HILL START ASSIST
SYSTEM’’ message.
With the VSA system indicator on,
you may not be able to stop the
engine even if you park the vehicle
saf ely. To stop the engine, see
on
page .192
On models with SH-AWD
On models with keyless access system
Vehicle Stability Assist
(VSA ) System Indicator VSA OFF Indicator
Emergency Engine Stop
Vehicle Stability A ssist (VSA), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
510
NOTE:
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CONT INUED
If the low tire pressure/TPMS
indicator comes on (see page ),
or the multi-information display
shows a ‘‘CHECK TPMS SYSTEM’’
message with the indicator flashing
(see page ), the VSA system
automatically turns on even if the
VSA system is turned off with the
VSA OFF switch. In this case, you
cannot turn the VSA system of f by
pressing the VSA OFF switch again.
Without VSA, your vehicle will have
normal braking and cornering ability,
but it will not have VSA traction and
stability enhancement.This switch is under the driver’s
side vent. To turn the VSA system
on and off, press and hold it until
you hear a beep.When VSA is off, the VSA OFF
indicator comes on as a reminder.
Press and hold the switch again. It
turns the system back on.
The VSA switch location varies
on models.
514
517
Vehicle Stability A ssist (VSA), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
VSA OFF Switch
Driving
511
VSA OFF SWITCH
U.S. Advance Package model is shown.
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2013 TL

VSA is turned on every time you
start the engine, even if you
turned it off the last time you drove
the vehicle.
In certain unusual conditions when
your vehicle gets stuck in shallow
mud or f resh snow, it may be easier
to free it with the VSA temporarily
switched of f . When the VSA system
is of f , the traction control system is
alsooff.Youshouldonlyattemptto
f ree your vehicle with the VSA of f if
you are not able to f ree it when the
VSA is on.
Immediately af ter f reeing your
vehicle, be sure to switch the VSA on
again. We do not recommend driving
your vehicle with the VSA and
traction control systems switched off.Driving with varying tire or wheel
sizes may cause the VSA to
malf unction. When replacing tires,
make sure they are of the same size
and type as your original tires (see
page ).
If you install winter tires, make sure
they are the same size as those that
were originally supplied with your
vehicle. Exercise the same caution
during winter driving as you would
if your vehicle was not equipped
with VSA.
Your vehicle is equipped with a hill
start assist f eature to help prevent
the vehicle f rom rolling on inclines
as you move your f oot f rom the
brake pedal to the accelerator.
To activate hill start assist, you must
come to a complete stop and make
sure the shif t lever is either in D or S
when f acing uphill, or reverse when
f acing downhill. This f eature begins
working a few seconds after you are
in the correct gear position. Release
thebrakepedal.Thebrakesremain
engaged brief ly to keep the vehicle
f rom rolling f orward or backward.
Gently apply the accelerator pedal as
in normal driving. Hill start assist will
release brake pressure gradually as
you accelerate.
574
On models with SH-AWD
Vehicle Stability A ssist (VSA), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
VSA and Tire Sizes
Hill Start Assist
512
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Driving
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Hillstartassistmaynotpreventyour
vehicle f rom rolling downhill on a
very steep or slippery slope, and will
not operate on small inclines.
Hill start assist is not a replacement
f or the parking brake. If parking
your vehicle, ensure that the
transmission is in park, and/or the
parking brake is f ully applied bef ore
exiting the vehicle. For vehicles with
manual transmission, it is
recommended that you turn of f the
engine bef ore exiting the vehicle.If the VSA system indicator comes
on with a ‘‘CHECK HILL START
ASSIST SYSTEM’’ message on the
multi-information display, there may
be a problem with the hill start
assist. The VSA also may not
function. Have your vehicle
inspected by your dealer.
Hill start assist will still operate even
when VSA is switched off.
On manual transmission models:
You must come to a complete stop,
press the clutch pedal, and shif t to
f irst gear when f acing uphill, or
reverse when f acing downhill.
Release the brake pedal. The brakes
remain engaged brief ly to keep the
vehicle f rom rolling f orward or
backward while you move your f oot
f rom the brake pedal to the
accelerator pedal. Gently apply the
accelerator pedal while
simultaneously releasing the clutch
pedal, as in normal driving. Hill start
assist will release brake pressure
gradually as you accelerate.
Hill start assist will also hold braking
brief ly if you select the neutral gear
position with the clutch pedal
depressed when f acing uphill.
Vehicle Stability A ssist (VSA), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
Driving
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2013 TL

Your vehicle is equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
that turns on every time you start the
engine and monitors the pressure in
your tires while driving.If you think you can safely drive a
short distance to a service station,
proceed slowly to the station,
then inflate the tire to the
recommended pressure
shown on the driver’s doorjamb.
If the tire is f lat, or if the tire
pressure is too low to continue
driving, replace the tire with the
compact spare tire (see page ).
Driving on a signif icantly under-
inf lated tire causes the tire to
overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inf lation also reduces f uel
efficiency and tire tread life, and may
af f ect the vehicle’s handling and
stopping ability.
Becausetirepressurevariesby
temperature and other conditions,
the low tire pressure/TPMS
indicator may come on unexpectedly.
When the low tire pressure/TPMS
indicator is on, one or more of your
tires is significantly underinflated.
You should stop and check your
tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure
as indicated on the vehicle’s tire
information placard.
Each tire has its own pressure
sensor (not including the spare tire).
If the air pressure of a tire becomes
signif icantly low, the sensor in that
tire immediately sends a signal that
causes the low tire pressure/TPMS
indicator in the instrument panel to
come on. If this happens, you will see
which tire is losing pressure on the
multi-inf ormation display along with
a ‘‘CHECK TIRE PRESSURE’’
message. It is possible that the pressures
shown on the multi-information display
and the pressures you manually
measure are slightly different.
If the dif f erence is signif icant or you
cannot make the low tire pressure/
TPMS indicator and message on the
multi-inf ormation display go out af ter
inf lating the tires to the specif ied
values, have your dealer check the
system as soon as possible. 583
Low Tire Pressure/
TPMS Indicator
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
514
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Î
Although your tire pressure is
monitored, you must manually check
thetirepressuresmonthly.
Each tire, including the spare,
should be checked monthly when
the vehicle is cold, and set to the
recommended inflation pressure as
specified on the vehicle placard
and in the owner’s manual
(see page).
For example, if you check and f ill
your tires in a warm area, then drive
in extremely cold weather, the tire
pressure will be lower than
measured and could be underinf lated
and cause the low tire pressure/
TPMS indicator to come on. Or, if
youcheckandadjustyourtire
pressure in cooler conditions, and
drive into extremely hot conditions,
the tire may become overinf lated.
However, the low tire pressure/
TPMS indicator will not come on if
thetiresareoverinflated.
Refer to page for tire inflation
guidelines.
If there is a problem with the TPMS,
this indicator begins to f lash. It stops
flashing after approximately 1
minute, then stays on. You will also
see a ‘‘CHECK TPMS SYSTEM’’
message on the multi-inf ormation
display (see page ). Toselectthetirepressuremonitor,
press the INFO button several times
with the ignition switch in the ON
(II) position or with the power
mode ON.
You will see the above display on the
multi-inf ormation display when each
tire pressure is normal.
517 570
568
CONT INUED
Tire Pressure Monitor
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Driving
515
U.S.
Example: Technology Package is shown.
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ÎModels equipped with
the keyless
system have an engine
start/stop button
instead of an ignition
switch. ON Mode is
the equivalent of ON
(II). For more
information, see
pages
and .
:
184 187 access
2013 TL

Each tire pressure is shown in PSI
(U.S. models) or in kPa (Canadian
models).If any of the tires has low pressure,
thetirepressuremonitoralsoshows
the above message and each tire
pressure to warn you about the low
tire pressure when you select the
displaybypressingtheINFObutton
several times.
Each tire has its own pressure
sensor (not including the spare tire).
If the air pressure of a tire becomes
signif icantly low, the sensor in that
tire immediately sends a signal that
causes the low tire pressure/TPMS
indicator in the instrument panel to
come on. If this happens, you will see
which tire is losing pressure on the
multi-inf ormation display along with
a ‘‘CHECK TIRE PRESSURE’’
message.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
516
Canadian model
Canada
This shows that the front left tire is
losing pressure. U.S. model
Example: Technology Package is
shown.
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Driving
ÎMod els eq uip ped wit h th e keyless
a cce ss sy ste m have an en gin e sta rt/
s to p butto n in ste ad of an ignition
s w it c h .O N Mod e is th e eq uiv ale n t of
O N (II) . F or m ore in fo rm atio n ,se e
p ag es
and .
:
184 187
2013 TL