Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System

1 Main Menu Table of Contents Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System The Vehicle Stability Assist System The VSA System cannot enhance the VSA Activation Indicator helps to stabilize the Vehicle during car's driving Stability in all situations cornering if the car turns more or and does not control your Vehicle 's less than desired. It also assists you entire braking System . It is still your in maintaining traction while responsibility to drive and corner at accelerating on loose or slippery reasonable speeds and to leave a road surfaces. It does this by sufficient margin of safety. regulating the engine's output, and by selectively applying braking. When VSA activates, you may notice that the engine does not respond to the accelerator in the same way it VSA ACTIVATION INDICATOR. does at other times. You will also see the VSA Activation Indicator blink. When VSA activates, you will see the VSA Activation indicator blink. For a technical description of the Vehicle Stability Assist System , see page 300.

2 CONTINUED. Driving .. Main Menu Table of Contents Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System VSA System Indicator If the VSA indicator comes on while VSA Off Switch driving, pull to the side of the road VSA System INDICATOR when it is safe and turn off the engine. Reset the System by restarting the engine, and watch the VSA System indicator. If the indicator remains on, or comes back on while driving, have the VSA. System inspected by your Acura dealer. If the indicator does not come on when the ignition switch is turned ON (II), there may be a problem The VSA System indicator (see page with the VSA System . Have your This switch is under the left vent. 56 ) comes on and stays on when dealer inspect your car as soon as Press it to turn the Vehicle Stability there is a problem with the VSA possible. Assist System on and off. System . Without VSA, your car will have When VSA is off, the VSA Activation normal braking and cornering ability, Indicator light comes on as a but it will not have VSA traction and reminder.

3 Pressing the switch again Stability enhancement. turns the System back on. Driving .. Main Menu Table of Contents Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System VSA is turned on every time you VSA and Tire Sizes start the engine, even if you turned it Driving with varying tire or wheel off the last time you drove the car. sizes may cause the VSA to malfunction. When replacing tires, make sure they are of the same size and type as your original tires (see page 245). Deactivate the VSA System if you need to drive with the compact spare tire installed (see page 270). If you install winter tires, make sure they are the same size as those that were originally supplied with your car. Exercise the same caution during winter driving as you would if your car was not equipped with VSA. Driving .. Main Menu Table of Contents Driving in Bad Weather Driving Technique Always drive Exercise extra caution when driving slower than you would in dry in rain after a long dry spell. After weather.

4 It takes your car longer to months of dry weather, the first react, even in conditions that may rains bring oil to the surface of the seem just barely damp. Apply roadway, making it slippery. smooth, even pressure to all the controls. Abrupt steering wheel movements or sudden, hard appli- cation of the brakes can cause loss of control in wet weather. Be extra cautious for the first few miles (kilometers) of driving while you adjust to the change in driving Rain, fog, and snow conditions re- conditions. This is especially true in quire a different driving technique snow. A person can forget some because of reduced traction and snow-driving techniques during the visibility. Keep your car well- summer months. Practice is needed maintained and exercise greater to relearn those skills. caution when you need to drive in bad weather. The cruise control should not be used in these condi- tions. Driving .. Main Menu Table of Contents Driving in Bad Weather Visibility Being able to see Traction Check your tires clearly in all directions and being frequently for wear and proper visible to other drivers are important pressure.

5 Both are important in in all weather conditions. This is preventing "hydroplaning" (loss of more difficult in bad weather. To be traction on a wet surface). In the seen more clearly during daylight winter, mount snow tires on all four hours, turn on your headlights. wheels for the best handling. Inspect your windshield wipers and Watch road conditions carefully, washers frequently. Keep the wind- they can change from moment to shield washer reservoir full of the moment. Wet leaves can be as slip- proper fluid. Have the windshield pery as ice. "Clear" roads can have wiper blades replaced if they start to patches of ice. Driving conditions streak the windshield or leave parts can be very hazardous when the Be very cautious when passing, or unwiped. Use the defroster and air outside temperature is near freezing. being passed by other vehicles. The conditioning to keep the windows The road surface can become spray from large vehicles reduces from fogging up on the inside (see covered with areas of water puddles your visibility, and the wind buffeting pages 126 and 131).

6 Mixed with areas of ice, so your can cause you to lose control. traction can change without warning. Be careful when downshifting. If traction is low, you can lock up the drive wheels for a moment and cause a skid. Driving .. Main Menu Table of Contents Towing a Trailer Your Acura has been designed Load Limits Tongue Load: The weight that primarily to carry passengers and Total Trailer Weight: The total the tongue of a fully-loaded trailer their cargo. You can use it to tow a weight of the trailer and puts on the hitch should be trailer if you carefully observe the everything loaded in it must not approximately 10 percent of the load limits, use the proper equipment, exceed 2,000 Ibs (900 kg). Towing trailer weight. Too little tongue and follow the guidelines in this a load that is too heavy can load can make the trailer unstable section. seriously affect your car's and cause it to sway. Too much handling and performance. It can tongue load reduces front-tire also damage the engine and traction and steering control.

7 Drivetrain. To achieve a proper tongue load, start by loading 60 percent of the load toward the front of the trailer and 40 percent toward the rear, then readjust the load as needed. Driving .. Main Menu Table of Contents . Towing a Trailer Gross Vehicle Weight Rating Checking Loads (GVWR): The best way to confirm that Vehicle The total weight of the Vehicle , all Exceeding load limits or and trailer weights are within limits occupants, all cargo, and the improperly loading your Vehicle is to have them checked at a public tongue load must not exceed: and trailer can cause a crash in scale. 4,830 Ibs (2,190 kg) which you can be seriously injured or killed. Using a suitable scale or a special Gross Axle Weight Rating tongue load gauge, check the tongue (GAWR): Check the loading of your load the first time you set up a The total weight of the Vehicle , all Vehicle and trailer carefully towing combination (a fully-loaded occupants, all cargo, and the before starting to drive.)

8 Vehicle and trailer), then recheck the tongue load must not exceed: tongue load whenever the conditions change. 2,570 Ibs (1,165 kg). on the front axle 2,260 Ibs (1,025 kg). on the rear axle Driving .. Main Menu Table of Contents Towing a Trailer Towing Equipment and Hitches Trailer Brakes Accessories Any hitch used on your Vehicle must Acura recommends that any trailer Towing can require a variety of be properly bolted to the underbody. having a total weight of 1,000 Ibs equipment, depending on the size of (450 kg) or more be equipped with your trailer, how it will be used, and Safety Chain its own electric or surge-type brakes. how much load you are towing. Always use a safety chain. Make sure that it is secured to both the If you choose electric brakes, be Discuss your needs with your trailer trailer and hitch, and that it crosses sure they are electronically actuated. sales or rental agency, and follow the under the tongue so it can catch the Do not attempt to tap into your guidelines in the rest of this section.

9 Trailer if it becomes unhitched. Vehicle 's hydraulic System . No Also make sure that all equipment is Leave enough slack to allow the matter how successful it may seem, properly installed and that it meets trailer to turn corners easily, but do any attempt to attach trailer brakes federal, state, province, and local not let the chain drag on the ground. to your Vehicle 's hydraulic System regulations. will lower braking effectiveness and create a potential hazard. Driving .. Main Menu Table of Contents Towing a Trailer Trailer Lights Your Vehicle has a trailer lighting GROUND BACK-UP LIGHT LEFT TURN SIGNAL. (BLACK) (GREEN/BLACK) (PINK/BLUE). connector located in the trunk by the left taillight. To use the connector, undo the fastener on the left side of the trunk lining. Refer to the drawing in this page for the wiring color code and purpose of each pin. If you use a converter, you can get the connector and pins that mate with the connector in your Vehicle from your Acura dealer.

10 Since lighting and wiring vary with trailer type and brand, you should also have a qualified technician install a suitable connector between the Vehicle and the trailer. RIGHT TURN SIGNAL BRAKE LIGHT TAILLIGHT. (GREEN/YELLOW) (GREEN/WHITE) (RED/BLACK). CONTINUED. Driving .. Main Menu Table of Contents Towing a Trailer Additional Trailer Equipment Pre-Tow Checklist Your Vehicle tires and spare are Many states and Canadian provinces When preparing to tow, and before properly inflated (see page 242 ), require special outside mirrors when driving away, be sure to check the and the trailer tires and spare are towing a trailer. Even if they don't, following: inflated as recommended by the you should install special mirrors if trailer maker. you cannot clearly see behind you, or The Vehicle has been properly if the trailer creates a blind spot. serviced, and the tires, brakes, suspension, and cooling System Ask your trailer sales or rental are in good operating condition.