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Acura TSX 2009-2014: General Information and Recommended Maintenance Schedule

Buying a car is a big investment, and you want to make sure the vehicle you purchased runs right for years to come. Read on to find out more about the 2009-2014 Acura TSX.

By Kate Halse - April 27, 2016
Contributors: 09TSXMN

This article applies to the Acura TSX (2009-2014).

The Acura TSX is generally a reliable vehicle. As with most cars, however, certain model years and trims may be prone to issues. Before you spend a lot of money on your next ride, you'll want to check out this article.

Component Breakdown

Maintenance Minder

Maintenance Needed
Maintenance Minder A
  • Change the engine oil according to the Maintenance Minder, or annually, whichever comes first.
Maintenance Minder B
  • Change the engine oil according to the Maintenance Minder, or annually, whichever comes first.
  • Inspect front and rear brakes.
  • Check parking brake adjustment.
  • Inspect tie rod ends, steering gear box, and boots.
  • Inspect suspension components.
  • Inspect driveshaft boots.
  • Inspect brake hoses and lines (including ABS).
  • Inspect all fluid levels and condition of fluids.
  • Inspect exhaust system.
  • Inspect fuel lines and connections.
Maintenance Minder 1
  • Rotate the tires.
  • Independent of the Maintenance Minder information, replace the brake fluid every three years.
  • Inspect idle speed every 160,000 miles.
  • Adjust the valves only if they are noisy.
Maintenance Minder 2
  • Replace air cleaner element.
  • Replace dust and pollen filter.
  • Inspect drive belt.
  • Independent of the Maintenance Minder information, replace brake fluid every three years.
  • Inspect idle speed every 160,000 miles.
  • Adjust the valves during services only if they are noisy.
Maintenance Minder 3
  • Replace transmission fluid.
  • Independent of the Maintenance Minder information, replace the brake fluid every three years.
  • Inspect idle speed every 160,000 miles.
  • Adjust the valves only if they are noisy.
Maintenance Minder 4
  • Replace the spark plugs.
  • Replace timing belt and inspect water pump.
  • Inspect valve clearance.
  • Independent of the Maintenance Minder information, replace brake fluid every three years.
  • Inspect idle speed every 160,000 miles.
Maintenance Minder 5
  • Replace the engine coolant.
  • Independent of the Maintenance Minder information, replace brake fluid every three years.
  • Inspect idle speed every 160,000 miles.

Oil Changes

Many newer Acura models have a Maintenance Minder system. Instead of performing an oil change based on recommendations in the owner's manual, your vehicle's oil life monitoring system will let you know when it's time for an oil change. Depending on the year and model, you may see a reminder when the oil has reached 15 percent, as well as five and zero percent. Any miles driven past the zero percent mark will be display in negative numbers. Remember to reset your oil life monitoring system after each oil change.

Maintenance Minder oil life reset
Figure 1. Resetting oil life.

Air Cleaner Element and Pollen Filter

The air cleaner element should be replaced every 15,000 miles if you frequently drive in dusty conditions. Replace the dust and pollen filter at the same interval (every 15,000 miles) if you do most of your driving in urban areas with high soot concentrations.

Replacing air cleaner element and pollen filter
Figure 2. Replace the air cleaner element and pollen filter.

Transmission Fluid

If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, replace the fluid every 60,000 miles if you regularly tow a trailer or drive in mountainous areas. Replace the transmission fluid at subsequent 30,000 mile intervals.

Transmission fluid
Figure 3. Replace transmission fluid every 60,000 miles depending on driving habits.

Common Questions

Should I use regular or premium fuel?

Although there is a debate among TSX owners about which type of fuel works best, the general agreement is that it's worth the extra expense to use premium fuel. Those who use premium fuel note slightly better gas mileage. Occasionally, drivers using regular fuel report hearing unusual engine noises also known as engine pinging.

Are there any hidden features?

One TSX owner lists a number of hidden features. Examples include:

  • A membrane switch under the trunk lid above the license plate that will open the trunk from the outside without having to go to the trunk release button on the fob/door.
  • The rear view mirror will automatically go down if you leave the mirror switch left in the far right position; it will not if you leave it any other way.
  • The fuel door lid will not open if you have the car locked.
  • You can disable the trunk switch on the door from inside the glove box.
  • The car will re-lock itself if you activate the unlock button but do not open any doors within 30 seconds, thinking that you accidentally unlocked the car.

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