Acura TL User Manual

Introduction

2008 TL

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Congratulations! Your selection of a 2008 Acura TL was a wise investment. It will give you years of driving pleasure.

One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new vehicle is to read this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls and convenience items. Afterwards, keep this owner’s manual in your vehicle so youcanrefertoitatanytime.

Several warranties protect your new vehicle. Read the warranty booklet thoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rights and responsibilities.

Maintaining your vehicle according to the maintenance minder shown in the instrument panel helps to keep your driving trouble-free while it preserves your investment. When your vehicle needs maintenance, keep in mind that your dealer’s staff is specially trained in servicing the many systems unique to your vehicle. Your dealer is dedicated to your satisfaction and will be pleased to answer any questions and concerns.

As you read this manual, you will find inf ormation that is preceded by a symbol. This information is intended to help you avoid damage to your vehicle, other property, or the environment.

Introduction

2008 TL

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California Proposition 65 Warning

WARNING:

defects or other reproductive harm.

Event Data Recorders

This vehicle is equipped with one or more devices commonly referred to as event data recorders. These devices record front seat belt use, front passenger seat occupancy, airbag deployment data, and the f ailure of any airbag system component.

except as legally required or with the permission of the vehicle owner.

Service Diagnostic Recorders This vehicle is equipped with service-related devices that record information about powertrain performance. The data can be used to verify emissions law requirements and/or help technicians diagnose and solve service problems. It may also be combined with data f rom other sources for research purposes, but it remains conf idential.

This product contains or emits chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth

This data belongs to the vehicle owner and may not be accessed by anyone else

AFewWordsAboutSafety

2008 TL

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Your safety, and the safety of others, is very important. And operating this vehicle safely is an important responsibility.

To help you make informed decisions about safety, we have provided operating procedures and other information on labels and in this manual. This information alerts you to potential hazards that could hurt you or others.

Of course, it is not practical or possible to warn you about all the hazards associated with operating or maintaining your vehicle. You must use your own good judgement.

You will f ind this important safety inf ormation in a variety of forms, including:

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Safety Labels Safety Messages

three signal words: , , or . These signal words mean:

Safety Headings

Safety Precautions.

Safety Section Instructions

This entire book is f illed with important saf ety information please read it carefully.

on the vehicle.

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preceded by a safety alert symbol and one of

DANGER WARNING CAUTION

You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don’t follow instructions.

You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don’t follow instructions.

You CAN be HURT if you don’t follow instructions.

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such as Important Safety Reminders or Important

−

such as Driver and Passenger Safety.

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how to use this vehicle correctly and safely.

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iii

2008 TL Online Reference Owner's Manual

Owner's Identification Form

Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... i

A Few Words About Safety .............................................................................................................................. iii

Your Vehicle at a Glance (main controls) .................................................................................................... 3

Driver and Passenger Safety (seat belts, SRS, and child protection) .................................................... 5

Instruments and Controls Features (

Before Driving (fuel, vehicle break-in, and cargo loading) ...................................................................... 235

Driving (engine and transmission operation) ................................................................................................ 251

Maintenance (minder, fluid checking, minor services, and vehicle storage)........................................... 277

Taking Care of the Unexpected (flat tire, dead battery, overheating, fuses) .................................... 317

Technical Information (vehicle specifications, tires, and emissions controls) ....................................... 341

Warranty and Customer Relations (U. S. and Canada only) (warranty and contact information) ... 357

Authorized Manuals (U. S. only) (how to order) ......................................................................................... 361

Index ............................................................................................................................... ........................................ I

climate control,audio,steering wheel,security,cruise control,HomeLink

(indicators, gauges, multi-information display, dashboard and steering column)

Contents

,and other convenience items

.......... 55

) ........... 125

Service Information Summary ( fluid capacities and tire pressures)

00X31-TK4-6001

Overview of Contents

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Contents

A convenient reference to the sections in this manual.

Your Vehicle at a Glance

A quick reference to the main controls in your vehicle.

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

Important information about the proper use and care of your vehicle’s seat belts, an overview of the supplemental restraint system, and valuable information on how to protect children with child restraints.

Instruments and Controls

Explains the purpose of each instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use the controls on the dashboard and steering column.

Features

How to operate the heating and air conditioning system, the audio system, and other convenience features.

Before Driving

What gasoline to use, how to breakin your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.

Driving

The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park.

Maintenance

The maintenance minder shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer for maintenance service. There is also a list of things to check and instructions on how to check them.

Taking Care of the Unexpected

This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, and details how to handle them.

Technical Information

ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.

Warranty and Client Relations (U.S. and Canada only)

A summary of the warranties covering your new vehicle, and how to contact us for any reason. Refer to your warranty manual for detailed information.

Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)

How to order manuals and other technical literature.

Index

Service Information Summary

A summary of the information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

Your Vehicle at a Glance

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(P. 97)

(P. 118)

(P. 107)

(P. 189)

(P. 115)

INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS GAUGES

FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE HANDLE

MIRROR CONTROLS

DRIVING POSITION MEMORY SYSTEM (P. 108)

POWER DOOR LOCKS (P. 96)

POWER WINDOW SWITCHES

(P. 112)

TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON

＊

CEILING LIGHT HOMELINK MOONROOF SWITCH

BUTTONS

On models with navigation system shown

(P. 57)

(P. 65)

CEILING CONSOLE

(P. 237)

＊

DRIVER’S FRONT AIRBAG

HOOD RELEASE HANDLE

(P. 239)

(P. 9)

PASSENGER’S FRONT AIRBAG (P. 9)

CLOCK (P. 116)

CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM (P. 126)

AUDIO SYSTEM (P. 133)

MANUAL TRANSMISSION (P. 256) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (P. 259)

Your Vehicle at a Glance

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INSTRUMENT PANEL BRIGHTNESS (P. 89)

VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA) OFF SWITCH

MIRROR CONTROLS (P. 107)

＊ To use the horn, press the center pad of the steering wheel.:

HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS/ FOG LIGHTS (P. 86, 89)

(P. 271)

STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENT

(P. 91)

WINDSHIELD WIPERS/ WASHERS (P. 85)

REMOTE AUDIO CONTROL BUTTONS

(P. 183)

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR (P. 60)

HAZARD WARNING BUTTON (P. 90)

REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER BUTTON (P. 90)

CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS (P. 186)

SEAT HEATER

＊

HORN

BLUETOOTH BUTTONS

HANDSFREELINK

(P. 192)

SWITCHES (P. 111)

Driver and Passenger Safety

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This section gives you important information about how to protect yourself and your passengers. It shows you how to use seat belts. It explains how your airbags work. And it tells you how to properly restrain infants and children in your vehicle.

.........Important Safety Precautions . 6

.......Your Vehicle’s Safety Features . 7

.......................................Seat Belts . 8

...........................................Airbags . 9

.........Protecting Adults and Teens . 11

.....1. Close and Lock the Doors . 11

...........2. Adjust the Front Seats . 12

............3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . 13

...4. Adjust the Head Restraints . 13

5. Fasten and Position the

.............................Seat Belts . 14

6. Maintain a Proper Sitting

................................Position . 16

.....Advice for Pregnant Women . 16

...Additional Safety Precautions . 17

Additional Information About

.......................Your Seat Belts . 18

......................Lap/Shoulder Belt . 19

Automatic Seat Belt

...............................Tensioners . 20

...............Seat Belt Maintenance . 21

Additional Information About

...........................Your Airbags . 22

How Your Front Airbags

.........................................Work . 24

How Your Side Curtain Airbags

.........................................Work . 29

How The Side Airbag Off

......................Indicator Works . 30

How the Passenger Airbag Off

......................Indicator Works . 30

.............................Airbag Service . 31

Protecting Children General

All Children Must Be

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................................Guidelines . 33

...............................Restrained . 33

..Seat Belt System Components . 18

......Airbag System Components . 22

...How Your Side Airbags Work . 27

..How the SRS Indicator Works . 29

...Additional Safety Precautions . 32

All Children Should Sit in a

.................................Back Seat . 34

The Passenger’s Front Airbag

If You Must Drive with Several

...................................Children . 36

If a Child Requires Close

..................................Attention . 36

Protecting Infants and Small

...................................Children . 38

.......................Protecting Infants . 38

.....................Selecting a Child Seat . 41

....................Installing a Child Seat . 42

...............................With LATCH . 43

..............................With a Tether . 46

...............Checking Seat Belt Fit . 48

..................Using a Booster Seat . 49

When Can a Larger Child Sit in

.........................................Front . 50

.............Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 52

...................................Safety Labels . 53

.........Can Pose Serious Risks . 34

...Additional Safety Precautions . 37

.........Protecting Small Children . 39

.........With a Lap/Shoulder Belt . 45

...........Protecting Larger Children . 48

...Additional Safety Precautions . 51

Driver and Passenger Safety

Important Safety Precautions

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You’ll find many saf ety recommendations throughout this section, and throughout this manual. Therecommendationsonthispage are the ones we consider to be the most important.

Always Wear Your Seat Belt

A seat belt is your best protection in all types of collisions. Airbags are designed to supplement seat belts, not replace them. So even though your vehicle is equipped with airbags, make sure you and your passengers always wear your seat belts, and wear them properly (see page ).

Restrain All Children

Children age 12 and under should ride properly restrained in a back seat, not the front seat. Infants and smallchildrenshouldberestrained in a child seat. Larger children should use a booster seat and a lap/ shoulder belt until they can use the belt properly without a booster seat (see pages ).

Be Aware of Airbag Hazards

While airbags can save lives, they can cause serious or fatal injuries to occupants who sit too close to them, or are not properly restrained. Infants, young children, and short adults are at the greatest risk. Be sure to f ollow all instructions and warnings in this manual.

Don’t Drink and Drive

Alcohol and driving don’t mix. Even one drink can reduce your ability to respond to changing conditions, and your reaction time gets worse with

48 51

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every additional drink. So don’t drink and drive, and don’t let your friends drink and drive, either.

Control Your Speed

Excessive speed is a major factor in crash injuries and deaths. Generally, the higher the speed, the greater the risk, but serious injuries can also occur at lower speeds. Never drive faster than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the maximum speed posted.

Keep Your Vehicle in Safe Condition

Having a tire blowout or a mechanical failure can be extremely hazardous. To reduce the possibility of such problems, check your tire pressures and condition frequently, and perform all regularly scheduled maintenance (see page ).

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Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

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(8) (10) (9)

(7)

(2)

(1)(4)(3)

(9)

(8)

(11)

(6)

(7)

(5)

(1) Safety Cage (2) Crush Zones (3) Seats and Seat-Backs (4) Head Restraints (5) Collapsible Steering Column (6) Seat Belts (7) Front Airbags (8) Side Airbags (9) Side Curtain Airbags (10) Door Locks (11) Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners

(2)

Your vehicle is equipped with many features that work together to protect you and your passengers during a crash.

Some features do not require any action on your part. These include a strong steel framework that forms a safety cage around the passenger compartment, front and rear crush zones, a collapsible steering column, and tensioners that tighten the front seat belts in a crash.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

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However, you and your passengers can’t take full advantage of these features unless you remain sitting in a proper position and

your seat belts

features can contribute to injuries if they are not used properly.

The f ollowing pages explain how you cantakeanactiveroleinprotecting yourself and your passengers. Seat belts are the single most

always wear

. In fact, some safety

Seat Belts

Your vehicle is equipped with seat belts in all seating positions.

Your seat belt system also includes an indicator on the instrument panel and a beeper to remind you and your passengers to fasten your seat belts.

Why Wear Seat Belts

effectivesafetydeviceforadultsand larger children. (Infants and smaller children must be properly restrained in child seats.)

Not wearing a seat belt properly increases the chance of serious injury or death in a crash, even though your vehicle has airbags.

In addition, most states and all Canadian provinces require you to wear seat belts.

Not wearing a seat belt properly increases the chance of serious injury or death in a crash, even though your vehicle has airbags.

Be sure you and your passengers always wear seat belts and wear them properly.

When properly worn, seat belts:

Keep you connected to the vehicle so you can take advantage of the vehicle’s built-in safety features.

Help protect you in almost every type of crash, including f rontal, side and rear impacts, and rollovers.

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

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Help keep you from being thrown against the inside of the vehicle and against other occupants.

Keep you from being thrown out of the vehicle.

Help keep you in a good position should the airbags ever deploy. A good position reduces the risk of injury from an inflating airbag and allows you to get the best advantage from the airbag.

Of course, seat belts cannot completely protect you in every crash.Butinmostcases,seatbelts can reduce your risk of serious injury.

What You Should Do:

Always wear your seat belt, and make sure you wear it properly.

Airbags

Your vehicle has a supplemental restraint system (SRS) with front airbags to help protect the heads and chests of the driver and a front seat passenger during a moderate to severe f rontal collision (see page

for more information on how

your front airbags work).

Your vehicle also has side airbags to help protect the upper torso of the driver or a front seat passenger during a moderate to severe side impact (see page f or more

information on how your side airbags work).24

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

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In addition, your vehicle has side curtain airbags to help protect the heads of the driver, f ront passenger, and passengers in the outer rear seating positions during a moderate to severe side impact (see page

for more information on how

your side curtain airbags work).

The most important things you need to know about your airbags are:

Airbags do not replace seat belts.

They are designed to supplement the seat belts.

Airbags off er no protection in rear impacts, or minor frontal or side collisions.

Airbags can pose serious hazards.

To do their job, airbags must inflate with tremendous force. So while airbags help save lives, they can cause minor injuries or more serious or even fatal injuries if occupants are not properly restrained or sitting properly.

What you should do:

Always wear your seat belt properly, and sit upright and as far back from the steering wheel as possible while allowing full control of the vehicle. A front passenger should move their seat as far back from the dashboard as possible.

The rest of this section gives more detailed inf ormation about how you can maximize your safety.

Remember however, that no safety system can prevent all injures or deaths that can occur in a severe crash, even when seat belts are properly worn and the airbags deploy.

Protecting Adults and Teens

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The f ollowing pages provide instructions on how to properly protect the driver, adult passengers and teenage children who are large enough and mature enough to drive or ride in the front seat.

See pages for important guidelines on how to properly protect infants, small children, and larger children who ride in your vehicle.

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Close and Lock the DoorsIntroduction 1.

After everyone has entered the vehicle, be sure the doors and trunk are closed and locked.

Your vehicle has a door and trunk openindicatoronthemultiinformation display to indicate when a specific door or the trunk is not tightly closed.

Locking the doors reduces the chance of someone being thrown out of the vehicle during a crash, and it helps prevent passengers from accidentally opening a door and falling out.

Locking the doors also helps prevent an outsider from unexpectedly opening a door when you come to a stop.

See page f or how to lock the doors, and page for how the door and trunk open monitor system works.

Your vehicle has the auto door locking/unlocking feature. For more information, see page .

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults and Teens

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Adjust theFront Seats2.

rear as possible while allowing you to maintain full control of the vehicle. Have a front passenger adjust their seat as far to the rear as possible.

If you sit too close to the steering wheel or dashboard, you can be seriously injured by an inflating front airbag, or by striking the steering wheel or dashboard.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada recommend that drivers allow at least 10 inches (25 cm) between the center of the steering wheel and the chest. In addition to adjusting the seat, you can adjust the steering wheel up and down, and in and out (see page ).

If you cannot get f ar enough away from the steering wheel and still reach the controls, we recommend that you investigate whether some type of adaptive equipment may help.Adjust the driver’s seat as far to the

Sitting too close to a front airbag can result in serious injury or death if the front airbags inflate.

Always sit as far back from the front airbags as possible.

See page for how to adjust the front seats.

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Protecting Adults and Teens

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Adjust the Head RestraintsAdjust the Seat-Backs 4.3.

Adjust the driver’s seat-back to a comfortable, upright position, leaving ample space between your chest and the airbag cover in the center of the steering wheel.

Passengers with adjustable seatbacks should also adjust their seatback to a comfortable, upright position.

Reclining the seat-back too far can result in serious injury or death in a crash.

Adjust the seat-back to an upright position, and sit well back in the seat.

Reclining a seat-back so that the shoulder part of the belt no longer rests against the occupant’s chest reduces the protective capability of the belt. It also increases the chance of sliding under the belt in a crash and being seriously injured. The farther a seat-back is reclined, the greater the risk of injury.

See page for how to adjust the

103

seat-backs.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Adjust the driver’s head restraint so the center of the back of your head rests against the center of the restraint.

Have passengers adjust their head restraints properly as well. Taller persons should adjust their restraint as high as possible.

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Protecting Adults and Teens

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Improperly positioning head restraints reduces their effectiveness and you can be seriously injured in a crash.

Make sure head restraints are in place and positioned properly before driving.

Properly adjusted head restraints will help protect occupants from whiplash and other crash injuries.

See page for how to adjust the head restraints.

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Fasten and Position the Seat

5. Belts

Insert the latch plate into the buckle, then tug on the belt to make sure the belt is securely latched. Also check that the belt is not twisted, because a twisted belt can cause serious injuries in a crash.

Position the lap part of the belt as low as possible across your hips, then pull up on the shoulder part of thebeltsothelappartfitssnugly. This lets your strong pelvic bones take the force of a crash and reduces the chance of internal injuries.

Protecting Adults and Teens

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If necessary, pull up on the belt again to remove any slack, then check that the belt rests across the center of your chest and over your shoulder. This spreads the forces of a crash over the strongest bones in your upper body.

Improperly positioning the seat belts can cause serious injury or death in a crash.

Make sure all seat belts are properly positioned before driving.

If the seat belt touches or crosses your neck, or if it crosses your arm instead of your shoulder, you need to adjust the seat belt anchor height.

RELEASE BUTTON

The front seats have adjustable seat belt anchors. To adjust the height of an anchor, press and hold the release button and slide the anchor up or down as needed (it has four positions).

Never place the shoulder portion of a lap/shoulder belt under your arm or behind your back.

This could cause

very serious injuries in a crash.

If a seat belt does not seem to work properly, it may not protect the occupant in a crash.

No one should sit in a seat with an inoperative seat belt.

Using a seat belt that is not working properly can result in serious injury or death. Have your dealer check the belt as soon as possible.

See page f or additional

information about your seat belts and how to take care of them.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults and Teens

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6. Position

After all occupants have adjusted their seats and head restraints, and put on their seat belts, it is very important that they continue to sit upright, well back in their seats, with their feet on the floor, until the vehicle is parked and the engine is off.

Sitting improperly can increase the chance of injury during a crash. For example, if an occupant slouches, lies down, turns sideways, sits forward, leans forward or sideways, or puts one or both feet up, the chance of injury during a crash is greatly increased.

In addition, an occupant who is out of position in the front seat can be seriously or f atally injured in a crash by striking interior parts of the vehicle or being struck by an inflating front airbag.

Sitting improperly or out of position can result in serious injury or death in a crash.

Always sit upright, well back in the seat, with your feet on the floor.

Advice for Pregnant WomenMaintain a Proper Sitting

If you are pregnant, the best way to protect yourself and your unborn child when driving or riding in a vehicle is to always wear a seat belt, and keep the lap part of the belt as low as possible across the hips.

Protecting Adults and Teens

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When driving, remember to sit upright and adjust the seat as far back as possible while allowing full control of the vehicle. When riding as a front passenger, adjust the seat as far back as possible.

This will reduce the risk of injuries to both you and your unborn child that can be caused by a crash or an inflating front airbag.

Each time you have a checkup, ask your doctor if it’s okay for you to drive.

Additional Safety Precautions

same seat belt.

If they do, they could be very seriously injured in a crash.

Do not put any accessories on seat belts.

Devices intended to improve occupant comfort or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can reduce the protective capability of thebeltandincreasethechanceof serious injury in a crash.

Do not place hard or sharp objects between yourself and a front airbag.

Carrying hard or sharp objects on your lap, or driving with a pipe or other sharp object in your mouth, can result in injuries if your airbags inflate.

Keep your hands and arms away from the airbag covers.Two people should never use the

If your hands or arms are close to an airbag cover, they could be injured if the airbags inf late.

Do not attach or place objects on the f ront airbag covers.

Objects on the covers marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG’’ could interfere with the proper operation of the airbags or be propelled inside the vehicle and hurt someone if the airbags inflate.

Do not attach hard objects on or near a door.

If a side airbag or a side curtain airbag inflates, a cup holder or other hard object attached on or near the door could be propelled inside the vehicle and hurt someone.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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Seat Belt System Components

Your seat belt system includes lap/ shoulder belts in all five seating positions. The front seat belts are also equipped with automatic seat belt tensioners.

This system uses the same sensors as the front airbags to monitor whether the front seat belts are latched or unlatched, and how much weight is on the front passenger’s seat (see pages and ).

26 27

The seat belt system

includes an indicator on the instrument panel and a beeper to remind you and your passengers to fasten your seat belts.

This system monitors the front seat belts. If you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position before your seat belt is fastened, the beeper will sound and the indicator will flash. If your seat belt is not fastened before the beeper stops, the indicator will stop flashing but remain on.

If a front passenger does not fasten their seat belt, the indicator will come on about 6 seconds after the ignition switch is turned to the ON (II) position.

If either the driver or a front passenger does not fasten their seat belt while driving, the beeper will sound and the indicator will flash again at regular intervals.

You will also see a ‘‘FASTEN SEAT BELT’’ or ‘‘FASTEN PASSENGER SEAT BELT’’ message on the multiinformation display (see page ).

When no one is sitting in the front passenger’s seat, or a child or small adult is riding there, the indicator should not come on and the beeper should not sound.

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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If the indicator comes on or the beeper sounds when the driver’s seat belt is latched and there is no front seat passenger and no items on the front seat, something may be interfering with the monitoring system. Look for and remove:

Any items under the f ront passenger’s seat.

Any object(s) hanging on the seat or in the seat-back pocket.

Any object(s) touching the rear of the seat-back.

If no obstructions are found, have your vehicle checked by a dealer.

Lap/Shoulder Belt

The lap/shoulder belt goes over your shoulder, across your chest, and across your hips.

To fasten the belt, insert the latch plate into the buckle, then tug on the belt to make sure the buckle is latched (see page for how to

properly position the belt).

To unlock the belt, press the red PRESSbuttononthebuckle.Guide the belt across your body so that it retracts completely. Af ter exiting the vehicle, be sure the belt is out of the way and will not get closed in the door.

All seat belts have an emergency locking retractor. In normal driving, the retractor lets you move freely in your seat while it keeps some tension on the belt. During a collision or sudden stop, the retractor automatically locks the belt to help restrain your body.

The seat belts in all positions except the driver’s have a lockable retractor that must be activated to secure a child seat (see page ).

If the shoulder part of the belt is pulled all the way out, the lockable retractor will activate. The belt will retract, but it will not allow the passenger to move freely.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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To deactivate the lockable retractor, unlatch the buckle and let the seat belt fully retract. To refasten the seat belt, pull it out only as far as needed.

Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners

For added protection, the front seat belts are equipped with automatic seat belt tensioners. When activated, the tensioners immediately tighten the belts to help hold the driver and a front passenger in position.

The tensioners are designed to activate in any collision severe enough to cause the front airbags to deploy.

If a side airbag or side curtain airbag deploys during a side impact, the tensioner on that side of the vehicle will also deploy.

The tensioners can also be activated during a collision in which the front airbags . In this case, the airbags would not be needed, but the additional restraint could be helpful.

When the tensioners are activated, the seat belts will remain tight until they are unbuckled.

do not deploy

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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Seat Belt Maintenance

For safety, you should check the condition of your seat belts regularly.

Pull each belt out fully, and look for frays, cuts, burns, and wear. Check that the latches work smoothly and the belts retract easily. If a belt does not retract easily, cleaning the belt may correct the problem (see page

). Any belt that is not in good

303

condition or working properly will not provide good protection and should be replaced as soon as possible.

Acura provides a limited warranty on seat belts. See your

Information

booklet for details.

Acura Warranty

If a seat belt is worn during a crash, it must be replaced by your dealer. A belt that has been worn during a crash may not provide the same level of protection in a subsequent crash.

The dealer should also inspect the anchors for damage and replace them if needed. If the automatic seat belt tensioners activate during a crash, they must be replaced.

Not checking or maintaining seat belts can result in serious injury or death if the seat belts do not work properly when needed.

Check your seat belts regularly and have any problem corrected as soon as possible.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Airbags

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Airbag System Components

(1) Driver’s Front Airbag (2) Passenger’s Front Airbag (3) Control Unit (4) Front Seat Belt Tensioners (5) Side Airbags (6) Driver’s Seat Position Sensor (7) Front Passenger’s Weight Sensors (8) Front Impact Sensors (9) Passenger Airbag Off Indicator (10) Side Impact Sensors (11) Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) Sensors (12) SRS Indicator (13) Side Curtain Airbags (14) Front Passenger’s Weight Sensors Control Unit/

OPDS Sensors Control Unit

(8)

(3)

(1)

(12)

(13)

(8)

(10)

(9)

(6)

(2) (13)

(5)

(4)

(14)

(11)

(5)

(4)

(10)

(7)

Additional Information About Your Airbags

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Your airbag system includes:

Two SRS (supplemental restraint system) front airbags. The driver’s airbag is stored in the center of the steering wheel; the front passenger’sairbagisstoredinthe dashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG’’ (see page ).

Two side airbags, one for the driver and one for a front passenger. The airbags are stored in the outer edges of the seatbacks. Both are marked ‘‘SIDE AIRBAG’’ (see page ).

Two side curtain airbags, one f or each side of the vehicle. The airbags are stored in the ceiling, above the side windows. The front and rear pillars are marked ‘‘SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG’’ (see page

Automatic front seat belt tensioners (see page ).

Sensors that can detect a moderate to severe front impact or side impact.

Sensors that can detect whether a child is in the passenger’s side airbag path and signal the control unit to turn the airbag off (see

page ).

Sensors that can detect whether the driver’s seat belt and the front passenger’s seat belt are latched or unlatched (see page ).

A driver’s seat position sensor that monitors the distance of the seat from the front airbag. If the seat is too far forward, the airbag will inflate with less force (see page

Weight sensors that monitor the weight on the front passenger’s seat. If the weight is about 65 lbs (29 kg) or less (the weight of an infant or small child), the passenger’s front airbag will be turned off (see page ).

A sophisticated electronic system that continually monitors and records information about the sensors, the control unit, the airbag activators, the seat belt tensioners, and driver and front passenger seat belt use when the ignition switch is in the ON (II) position.

An indicator on the instrument panel that alerts you that the passenger’s side airbag has been turned off (see page ).

Driver and Passenger Safety

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An indicator on the instrument panel that alerts you to a possible problem with your airbags, sensors, or seat belt tensioners (see page ).

An indicator on the dashboard that alerts you that the passenger’s front airbag has been turned off (see page ).

Emergency backup power in case your vehicle’s electrical system is disconnected in a crash.

How Your Front Airbags Work

If you ever have a moderate to severe f rontal collision, sensors will detect the vehicle’s rapid deceleration.

If the rate of deceleration is high enough, the control unit will instantly inflate the driver’s and f ront passenger’s airbags, at the time and with the force needed.

During a frontal crash, your seat belt restrains your lower body and torso, and the front airbag helps protect your head and chest.

Although both airbags normally inflate within a split second of each other, it is possible for only one airbag to deploy.

This can happen if the severity of a collision is at the margin, or threshold, that determines whether or not the airbags will deploy. In such cases, the seat belt will provide sufficient protection, and the supplemental protection offered by the airbag would be minimal.

Only the driver’s airbag can deploy if there is no passenger in the front seat, or if the advanced airbag system has turned the passenger’s airbag off (see page ).

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After inf lating, the front airbags immediately deflate, so they won’t interfere with the driver’s visibility, or the ability to steer or operate other controls.

The total time for inflation and deflation is one-tenth of a second, so fast that most occupants are not aware that the airbags deployed until they see them lying in their laps.

After a crash, you may see what looks like smoke. This is actually powder from the airbag’s surface. Although the powder is not harmful, people with respiratory problems mayexperiencesometemporary discomfort. If this occurs, get out of the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

Dual-Stage Airbags

Your front airbags are dual-stage airbags. This means they have two inflation stages that can be ignited sequentially or simultaneously, depending on crash severity.

more severe

In a crash, both stages will ignite simultaneously to provide the quickest and greatest protection.

less severe

In a crash, one stage will ignite first, then the second stage will ignite a split second later. This provides longer airbag inflation time with a little less force.

Dual-Threshold Airbags

Your front airbags are also dualthreshold airbags. Airbags with this feature have two deployment thresholds that depend on whether sensors detect the occupant is wearing a seat belt or not.

If the occupant’s belt is ,

not latched

the airbag will deploy at a slightly lower threshold, because the occupant would need extra protection.

If the occupant’s belt is , the

latched

airbag will inf late at a slightly higher threshold, when the airbag would be needed to supplement the protection provided by the seat belt.

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Advanced Airbags

Your front airbags are also advanced airbags. The main purpose of this feature is to help prevent airbagcaused injuries to short drivers and children who ride in front.

For both advanced airbags to work properly:

Occupants must sit upright and wear their seat belts properly.

Do not spill any liquids on or under the seats, cover the sensors, or put any cargo or metal objects under the front seats.

Back-seat passengers should not put their f eet under the front seats.

Failure to follow these instructions could damage the sensors or prevent them from working properly.

DRIVER’S SEAT POSITION SENSOR

The driver’s advanced front airbag system includes a seat position sensor under the seat. If the seat is too far forward, the airbag will inflate with less force, regardless of the severity of the impact.

If there is a problem with the sensor, the SRS indicator will come on, and the airbag will inflate in the normal manner regardless of the driver’s seating position.

PASSENGER’S SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR

The passenger’s advanced f ront airbag system has weight sensors under the seat. Although Acura does not encourage carrying an infant or small child in front, if the sensors detect the weight of an infant or small child (up to about 65 lbs or 29 kg), the system will automatically turn the passenger’s front airbag off.

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Be aware that objects placed on the passenger’s seat can also cause the airbag to be turned off.

When the airbag is turned off, a ‘‘passenger airbag off’’ indicator in the center of the dashboard comes on (see page ).

If the weight sensors detect there is no passenger in the front seat, the airbag will be off. However, the passenger airbag off indicator will not come on.

To ensure that the passenger’s advanced front airbag system will work properly,

that would increase or decrease the weight on the front passenger’s seat.

do not do anything

This includes:

A rear passenger pushing or pulling on the back of the front passenger’s seat.

Moving the front seat or seat-back forcibly back against cargo on the seat or f loor behind it.

Hanging heavy items on the front passenger seat, or placing heavy items in the seat-back pocket.

Also,makesurethefloormatbehind the front passenger’s seat is hooked to the floor mat anchor (see page

). If it is not, the mat may

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interfere with the proper operation of the sensors and operation of the seat.

How Your Side Airbags Work

Driver and Passenger Safety

If you ever have a moderate to severe side impact, sensors will detect rapid acceleration and signal the control unit to instantly inf late either the driver’s or the passenger’s side airbag and activate the seat belt tensioner on the affected side.

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