Acura TSX 2006 Owner's Manual

2006 TSX Online Reference Owner's Manual

Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through this reference. For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.helminc.com.

Owner's Identification Form

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

A Few Words About Safety.................................................................................................................ii

Your Vehicle at a Glance.....................................................................................................................4

Driver and Passenger Safety

Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System.

Instruments and Controls

Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.

Features ............................................................................................................................................159

How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.

Before Driving..................................................................................................................................227

What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.

Driving ..............................................................................................................................................239

The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.

Maintenance.....................................................................................................................................263

The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take you r vehicle to the dealer.

Taking Care of the Unexpected......................................................................................................311

This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, an d how to handle them.

Technical Information.....................................................................................................................335

ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.

Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................349

A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact us.

Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)......................................................................................................353

How to order manuals and other technical literature.

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

Service Information Summary

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

..............................................................................................................7

.................................................................................................................59

Contents

Owner’s Identification

Table of Contents

OWNER

ADDRESS

STREET

CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/

POSTAL CODE

V. I. N.

DELIVERY DATE

(Date sold to original retail purchaser)

DEALER NAME DEALER NO.

ADDRESS

STREET

CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/

POSTAL CODE

OWNER’S SIGNATURE

DEALER’S SIGNATURE

This owner’s manual should be considered a permanent part of the vehicle and should remain with the vehicle when it is sold.

This Owner’s Manual covers all models of theTSX.Youmayfinddescriptionsof equipment and features that are not on your particular model.

The inf ormation and specifications included in this publication were in effect at the time of approval for printing. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. reserves the right, however, to discontinue or change specif ications or design at any time without notice and without incurring any obligation whatsoever.

Introduction

Table of Contents

Congratulations! Your selection of a 2006 Acura TSX 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 information that is preceded by a symbol. This information is intended to help you avoid damage to your vehicle, other property, or the environment.

California Proposition 65 Warning

WARNING:

or emits chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

Event Data Recorders

This vehicle is equipped with one or more recording devices commonly referred to as event data recorders or sensing and diagnostic modules.

This product contains

AFewWordsAboutSafety

Table of Contents

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 find this important safety information in a variety of forms, including:

Safety Labels Safety Messages

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

Safety Headings

Safety Precautions.

Safety Section Instructions

This entire book is filled with important safety information please read it carefully.

−

on the vehicle.

−

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.

−

such as Important Safety Reminders or Important

−

such as Driver and Passenger Safety.

−

how to use this vehicle correctly and safely.

−

Your Vehicle at a Glance

Table of Contents

DRIVER’S FRONT AIRBAG(P.11, 28) INSTRUMENT PANEL (P.61) DRIVING POSITION

MEMORY SYSTEM (P.142)

MIRROR CONTROLS

(P.146)

MASTER DOOR LOCK SWITCH (P.128)

POWER WINDOW SWITCHES

(P.147)

HOOD RELEASE HANDLE

TRUNK RELEASE LEVER (P.135) FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE HANDLE

Vehicle without navigation system is shown.

(P.230)

(P.229)

GAUGES(P.68)

PASSENGER’S FRONT AIRBAG(P.11, 28)

PARKING BRAKE LEVER

(P.151)

AUDIO SYSTEM (P.170)

MASTER DOOR LOCK SWITCH (P.129)

CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM (P.160)

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (P.244) MANUAL TRANSMISSION (P.242)

HEADLIGHTS/FOG LIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS

Table of Contents

(P. 120-121)

REMOTE AUDIO CONTROL BUTTONS (P. 200)

MOONROOF SWITCH (P. 150)

VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA) OFF SWITCH

(P. 256)

HANDSFREELINK BUTTONS/ VOICE CONTROL BUTTONS

＊

(P. 212)

STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENT

(P. 124)

LEVER

Vehicle without navigation system is shown.

INSTRUMENT PANEL BRIGHTNESS CONTROL

HORN

(P. 122)

＊

MULTI-INFORMATION BUTTONS

(P. 70, 72)

Your Vehicle at a Glance

WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS (P. 119)

HAZARD WARNING BUTTON (P. 123)

REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER BUTTON (P. 123)

CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS

(P. 204)

SEAT HEATER SWITCHES (P. 137)

＊＊ Only on vehicles equipped with navigation system. Refer to the navigation system manual.

To use the horn, press the pad around the ‘‘Acura’’ logo.1:

Table of Contents

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

Table of Contents

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 . 8

.......Your Vehicle’s Safety Features . 9

.....................................Seat Belts . 10

.........................................Airbags . 11

.........Protecting Adults and Teens . 13

.....1. Close and Lock the Doors . 13

...........2. Adjust the Front Seats . 14

............3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . 15

...4. Adjust the Head Restraints . 16

5. Fasten and Position the Seat

.....................................Belts . 17

6. Maintain a Proper Sitting

................................Position . 18

.....Advice for Pregnant Women . 19

...Additional Safety Precautions . 20

Additional Information About

.......................Your Seat Belts . 21

..Seat Belt System Components . 21

......................Lap/Shoulder Belt . 22

Automatic Seat Belt

...............................Tensioners . 23

...............Seat Belt Maintenance . 24

Additional Information About

...........................Your Airbags . 25

How Your Front Airbags

.........................................Work . 28

How Your Side Curtain Airbags

.........................................Work . 33

How the Side Airbag Off

......................Indicator Works . 34

How the Passenger Airbag Off

......................Indicator Works . 35

.............................Airbag Service . 35

Protecting Children General

All Children Must Be

All Children Should Sit in the

−

................................Guidelines . 37

...............................Restrained . 37

.................................Back Seat . 38

......Airbag System Components . 25

...How Your Side Airbags Work . 32

..How the SRS Indicator Works . 34

...Additional Safety Precautions . 36

The Passenger’s Front Airbag

If You Must Drive with Several

...................................Children . 40

If a Child Requires Close

..................................Attention . 40

Protecting Infants and

.........................Small Children . 42

.......................Protecting Infants . 42

.....................Selecting a Child Seat . 45

....................Installing a Child Seat . 46

Installing a Child Seat

............................with LATCH . 47

...........................with a Tether . 50

...............Checking Seat Belt Fit . 52

..................Using a Booster Seat . 53

When Can a Larger Child Sit

....................................in Front . 54

.............Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 56

...................................Safety Labels . 57

.........Can Pose Serious Risks . 38

Driver and Passenger Safety

...Additional Safety Precautions . 41

.........Protecting Small Children . 43

......with a Lap/Shoulder Belt . 49

...........Protecting Larger Children . 52

...Additional Safety Precautions . 55

Important Safety Precautions

Table of Contents

You’ll find many safety 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 ).

−

37 55

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 follow 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 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 ).

264

(3)

Table of Contents

(7)

(8)

(10)

(9)

(1)

(2)

(4)

(9)

(8)

(11)

(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) Seat Belt Tensioners

(6)

(2)

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

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.

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 following pages explain how you cantakeanactiveroleinprotecting yourself and your passengers.

. In fact, some safety

always wear

Driver and Passenger Safety

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

Table of Contents

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

Seat belts are the single most 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 frontal, side, and rear impacts and rollovers.

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

Table of Contents

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

Driver and Passenger Safety

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 frontal collision (see page

for more information on how

your front airbags work).

Your vehicle 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 for more information on how

your side airbags work).

Your vehicle also has side curtain airbags to help protect the heads of the driver, front 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).

CONTINUED

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

Table of Contents

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 offer no protection in rear impacts, or minor f rontal or side collisions.

Airbags can pose 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 information about how you can maximize your safety.

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

Introduction Close and Lock the Doors1.

Table of Contents

The following pages provide instructions on how to properly protect the driver, adult passengers,

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

and teenage children who are large enough and mature enough to drive or ride in the front.

Your vehicle has a door and trunk open monitor on the multiinformation display to indicate when

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

−

37 55

a specific door or the trunk is not tightly closed. You will see the appropriate light/lights and the message for each condition.

vehicle.

Protecting Adults and Teens

Driver and Passenger Safety

When one or more doors are not tightly closed, the ‘‘DOOR OPEN’’ message will come on.

CONTINUED

Protecting Adults and Teens

Table of Contents

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 for how to lock the

128

doors.

Adjust the Front Seats2.

Adjust the driver’s seat as far to the 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.

Protecting Adults and Teens

Table of Contents

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 in and out and up and down (see page ).

124

If you cannot get far enough away from the steering wheel and still reach the controls, we recommend that you investigate whether some type of adaptive equipment may help.

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

138

front seats.

Adjust the Seat-Backs3.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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 comf ortable, upright position.

CONTINUED

Protecting Adults and Teens

Table of Contents

Adjust the Head Restraints4.

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

138

seat-backs.

Adjust the driver’s head restraint so 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.

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

139

head restraints.

Fasten and Position the Seat

Table of Contents

5. Belts

Insert the latch plate into the buckle, then tug on the belt to make sure the belt is securely latched. 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 the belt so the lap part fits snugly. This lets your strong pelvic bones take the force of a crash and reduces the chance of internal injuries.

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.

Protecting Adults and Teens

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.

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults and Teens

Table of Contents

RELEASE BUTTONS

The front seats have adjustable seat belt anchors. To adjust the height of an anchor, press and hold the release buttons, 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 for additional

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

Maintain a Proper Sitting

6. Position

After all occupants have adjusted their seats and put on 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.

Protecting Adults and Teens

Table of Contents

In addition, an occupant who is out of position in the front seat can be seriously or fatally 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 Women

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.

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.If you are pregnant, the best way to

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults and Teens

Table of Contents

Additional Safety Precautions

Two people should never use the 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 the seat belt and increase the chance of 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 f ront airbag inflates.

Keep your hands and arms away from the airbag covers.

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

Do not attach or place objects on the front 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.

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

Table of Contents

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.

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 f ront 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 ‘‘PASSENGER FASTEN SEAT BELT’’ message in the multiinformation display (see page ).

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

The seat belts use the same monitoring system as the front airbags. The system may not work properly under these conditions:

Placing heavy items on the front passenger’s seat.

The front passenger is not sitting properly.

The front passenger’s seat-back is pressed forward by a folded-down rear seat.

Have your vehicle checked by a dealer if the indicator comes on or the beeper sounds when there is no front passenger or objects on the front seat.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

Table of Contents

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. After 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 an additional locking mechanism 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 locking mechanism will activate. The belt will retract, but it will not allow the passenger to move freely.

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

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

Table of Contents

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 place.

The tensioners are designed to activate primarily in frontal collisions, andtheyshouldactivateinany collision severe enough to cause front-airbag inflation.

The tensioners can also be activated during a collision in which the front airbags . In this case, the

do not deploy

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 in the normal manner.

If the front seat belt tensioners ever activate, they must be replaced as the belts will no longer retract properly.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

Table of Contents

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

299

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

Acura provides a lifetime warranty on seat belts for U.S. models. See

Acura Warranty Information

your booklet for details.

If a seat belt is worn during a crash, it must be replaced by the 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.

Airbag System Components

Table of Contents

Additional Information About Your Airbags

(8)

(1) Driver’s Airbag

(2) Front Passenger’s 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 (First)

(11) Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) Sensors

(12) Front Passenger’s Weight Sensors/OPDS Sensors Control Unit

(13) Side Impact Sensors (Second)

(14) Side Curtain Airbags

(1)

(3)

(6)

(10)

(5)

(9)

(4)

(2)

(12)

(13)

(11)

(14)

(10)

(7)

Driver and Passenger Safety

(14)

(5)

(13)

(4)

CONTINUED

Additional Information About Your Airbags

Table of Contents

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 for 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 ).

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

Additional Information About Your Airbags

Table of Contents

Weight sensors that monitor the weight on the front passenger’s seat. These automatically turn off the passenger’s front airbag if they detect an infant or a small childmaybeintheseat(seepage

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 to a possible problem with your airbags, sensors, or seat belt tensioners (see page ).

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

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Airbags

Table of Contents

How Your Front Airbags Work

If you ever have a moderate to severe frontal 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 front 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 f ront 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 will 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 ).

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

Additional Information About Your Airbags

Table of Contents

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.

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 AirbagsDual-Stage Airbags

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

If the occupant’s belt is ,

not latched

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

It the occupant’s belt is , the

latched

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

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger Safety

+ 336 hidden pages