Acura MDX 2003 Owner's Manual

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2003 MDX 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

Important Handling Information.............................................................................................................iii

Your Vehicle at a Glance...............................................................................................................................2

Driver and Passenger Safety.......................................................................................................................5

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

Instruments and Controls...........................................................................................................................65

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

Comfort and Convenience Features.......................................................................................................133

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

Before Driving .............................................................................................................................................235

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

Driving...........................................................................................................................................................249

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

Maintenance.................................................................................................................................................293

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

Appearance Care.........................................................................................................................................351

Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your vehicle ever needs body repairs.

Taking Care of the Unexpected...............................................................................................................359

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

Technical Information...............................................................................................................................387

ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.

Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada) ......................................................................399

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

Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)...............................................................................................................403

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.

Contents

Page 2

Owner’s Identif ication

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OWNER

ADDRESS

STREET

CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/

V. I. N.

DELIVERY DATE

(Date sold to original retail purchaser)

DEALER NAME DEALER NO.

ADDRESS

STREET

CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/

OWNER’S SIGNATURE

DEALER’S SIGNATURE

POSTAL CODE

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 theMDX.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.

POUR CLIENTS CANADIEN AVIS IMPORTANT: Si vous avez besoin d’un Manuel du Conducteur en français, veuillez demander à votreconcessionnairede commander le numéro de pièce 33S3V820

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Introduction

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Congratulations! Your selection of a 2003 Acura MDX was a wise investment. It will give you years of driving pleasure.

One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new Acura 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 Acura. Read the warranty booklet thoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rights and responsibilities.

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

California Proposition 65 Warning

WARNING:

California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

This product contains or emits chemicals known to the State of

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 Acura, other property, or the environment.

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AFewWordsAboutSafety

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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 inf ormation 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 saf ety 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 saf ety 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 Saf ety Reminders or Important

−

such as Driver and Passenger Safety.

−

how to use this vehicle correctly and safely.

−

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Important Handling Information

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Your MDX has higher ground clearance than a passenger vehicle designed for use only on pavement. Higher ground clearance has many advantages for off-highway driving. It allows you to travel over bumps, obstacles, and rough terrain. It also provides good visibility so you can anticipate problems earlier.

These advantages come at some cost. Because your vehicle is taller and rides higher off the ground, it has a high center of gravity. This means your vehicle can tip or roll over if you make abrupt turns. Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles. In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. As a reminder, make sure you and your passengers always wear seat belts.

For information on how to reduce the risk of rollover, read ‘‘Driving Guidelines’’ on page of this manual and the

Off-Highway Guidelines

accident.

section on page . Failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or an

285

250

iii

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Your Vehicle at a Glance

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POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCHES (P.93)

MIRROR CONTROLS (P.116)

POWER WINDOW SWITCHES (P.111)

HOOD RELEASE HANDLE (P.238)

INDICATOR LIGHTS GAUGES

(P.74)

FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE (P.237)

(P.67)

SHIFT LEVER (P.254)

PARKING BRAKE PEDAL (P.117)

CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM

REAR A/C CONTROL ACCESSORY POWER SOCKET (P.143) (P.125)

(P.136)

AUDIO SYSTEM (P.145, 163, 183)

GLOVE BOX (P.100)

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(P.82)

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(P.259)

Your Vehicle at a Glance

REAR WINDOW DEFOGGERVTM-4 LOCKINSTRUMENT PANEL BRIGHTNESS (P.88)

HEADLIGHTS/ TURN SIGNALS (P.79/83)

MOONROOF SWITCH (P.114)

VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST SYSTEM OFF SWITCH

CRUISE CONTROL (P.216)

FOG LIGHTS (P.88)

＊＊To use the horn, press the pad around the ‘‘A’’ logo.:

(P.267)

REMOTE AUDIO CONTROLS (P.181) (P.89)

STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENT

HORN

CRUISE CONTROL (P.216) (P.83/87)

WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS

PASSENGER AIRBAG CUTOFF INDICATOR (P.58)

HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS (P.87)

LIGHT CONTROL SWITCH (P.128)

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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 properly. It explains your Supplemental Restraint System. And it tells you how to properly restrain inf ants and children in your vehicle.

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

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

.....................Seats & Seat-Backs . 10

..........................Head Restraints . 10

..................................Door Locks . 10

............................Protecting Adults . 12

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

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

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

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

........Pre-Drive Safety Checklist . 11

.....1. Close and Lock the Doors . 12

5. Fasten and Position the Seat

.....................................Belts . 15

....6. Adjust the Steering Wheel . 18

7. Maintain a Proper Sitting

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

.....Advice for Pregnant Women . 19

........................Protecting Children . 21

All Children Must Be

...............................Restrained . 21

Children Should Sit in the Back

...........................................Seat . 22

The Passenger’s Front Airbag

Can Pose Serious Risks to

...............................Children . 23

If You Must Drive with Several

...................................Children . 25

If a Child Requires Close

..................................Attention . 25

General Guidelines for Using

...............................Child Seats . 27

.......................Protecting Infants . 31

.........Protecting Small Children . 35

.......Protecting Larger Children . 38

...4. Adjust the Head Restraints . 14

...Additional Safety Precautions . 19

...Additional Safety Precautions . 26

Using Child Seats with

.....................................Tethers . 42

.............................Using LATCH . 44

Additional Information About Your

.................................Seat Belts . 46

..Seat Belt System Components . 46

......................Lap/Shoulder Belt . 46

Automatic Seat Belt

...............................Tensioners . 48

...............Seat Belt Maintenance . 49

Additional Information About Your

.....................................Airbags . 50

........................SRS Components . 50

How Your Front Airbags

.........................................Work . 51

...How Your Side Airbags Work . 55

How the SRS Indicator Light

.......................................Works . 56

How The Side Airbag Cutoff

...........Indicator Light Works . 57

How the Passenger Airbag

..........Cutoff indicator Works . 58

.............................Airbag Service . 60

...Additional Safety Precautions . 61

.............Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 62

...................................Safety Labels . 63

Driver and Passenger Safety

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Important Safety Precautions

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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 supplement seat belts, but airbags are designed to inflate only in a moderate to severe f rontal collision. 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 .)15

Restrain All Children

Children are safest when they are properly restrained in a back seat, notthefrontseat.Achildwhoistoo smallforaseatbeltmustbeproperly restrained in a child safety seat. (See page .)

Driver and Passenger Safety

Be Aware of Airbag Hazards Control Your Speed

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. (See page

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

Keep Your Vehicle in Safe

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.

Condition

Having a tire blowout or a mechanical f ailure 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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Table of Contents

(7)

(9) (3) (1) (4)

(10)

(5)

(7) (8)

(2)

(6)(10)

(2)

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

Your vehicle is equipped with many features that work together to protect you and your passengers during a crash. Some safety features do not require anyactiononyourpart.These include a strong steel framework that forms a safety cage around the passenger compartment; f ront and rear crush zones that are designed to crumple and absorb energy during a crash; a collapsible steering column; and seat belt tensioners that automatically tighten the front seat belts in the event of a crash.

These safety features are designed to reduce the severity of injuries in a crash. However, you and your passengers can’t take full advantage of these safety features unless you remain sitting in a proper position

always wear your seat belts

and

properly.

In fact, some safety features can contribute to injuries if they are not used properly.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

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Seat Belts

Foryoursafety,andthesafetyof your passengers, your vehicle is equipped with seat belts in all seating positions.

Your seat belt system also

includes a light on the instrument panel 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.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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 if you have 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 inf lating 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.

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Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

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Airbags

Your vehicle has a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) with dualstage, dual-threshold front airbags to help protect the heads and chests of the driver and a f ront seat passenger during a moderate to severe frontal collision.

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.

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, rollovers, or minor frontal or side collisions.

Airbags can pose serious hazards.

To do their job, airbags must inflate with tremendous force and speed. 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 as possible from the steering wheel or dashboard.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

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Seats & Seat-Backs

Your vehicle’s seats are designed to keep you in a comfortable, upright position so you can take full advantage of the protection offered by seat belts and the energy absorbing materials in the seats.

How you adjust your seats and seatbacks can also affect your safety. For example, sitting too close to the steering wheel or dashboard increases the risk of you or your passenger being injured by striking theinsideof thevehicle,orbyan inflating airbag.

Reclining a seat-back too f ar reduces the seat belt’s effectiveness and increases the chance that the seat’s occupant will slide under the seat belt in a crash and be seriously injured.

Driver and Passenger Safety

What you should do:

Move the front seats as far back as possible, and keep adjustable seat-backs in an upright position whenever the vehicle is moving.

Head Restraints

Head restraints can help protect you from whiplash and other injuries. For maximum protection, the back of your head should rest against the center of the head restraint.

Door Locks

Keeping your doors locked reduces thechanceofbeingthrownoutof the vehicle during a crash. It also helps prevent occupants from accidentally opening a door and falling out, and outsiders from unexpectedly opening your doors.

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Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

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Pre-Drive Saf ety Checklist

To make sure you and your passengers get the maximum protection from your vehicle’s safety features, check the following each time before you drive away:

All adults, and children who have outgrown child safety seats, are wearing their seat belts and wearingthemproperly(seepage

Any infant or small child is properly restrained in a child seat in a back seat (see page ).

Frontseatoccupantsaresitting upright and as far back as possible from the steering wheel and dashboard (see page ).

Seat-backs are upright (see page

Head restraints are properly adjusted (see page ).

Alldoorsandthetailgateare closed and locked (see page ).

All cargo is properly stored or secured (see page ).

245

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 injuries or deaths that can occur in severe crashes, even when seat belts are properly worn and the airbags deploy.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Page 16

Protecting Adults

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Introduction Adjust the Front Seats

The f ollowing pages provide instructions on how to properly protect the driver and other adult occupants.

Your vehicle has a door and tailgate

These instructions also apply to children who have outgrown child seats and are large enough to wear lap/shoulder belts. (See page for

monitor light on the instrument panel to indicate when a specific door or the tailgate is not tightly closed.

important additional guidelines on how to properly protect larger children.)

For safety, locking the doors reduces the chance that a passenger, especially a child, will open a door

Close and Lock the Doors1.

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

while the vehicle is moving and accidentally fall out. It also reduces the chance of someone being thrown out of the vehicle during a crash.

Any driver who sits too close to the steering wheel is at risk of being seriously injured or killed by striking the steering wheel or from being struck by an inflating front airbag

For security, locked doors can

during a crash. prevent an outsider from unexpectedly opening a door when you come to a stop.

See page f or how to lock the

doors.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Page 17

Protecting Adults

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Table of Contents

To reduce the chance of injury, wear your seat belt properly, sit upright with your back against the seat, and movetheseatawayfromthe steering wheel to the farthest distance that allows you to maintain full control of the vehicle.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada recommend that drivers adjust the seat so the center of the chest is at least 10 inches away from the center of the steering wheel. In addition to adjusting the seat, you can adjust the steering wheel in and out (see page ).

Also make sure your front seat passenger moves the seat as far to the rear as possible.

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.

Most shorter drivers can get f ar enough away from the steering wheel and still reach the pedals. However, if you are concerned about sitting too close, we recommend that you investigate whether some type of adaptive equipment may help.

Once your seat is adjusted correctly, rock it back and forth to make sure the seat is locked in position.

See page f or how to adjust the

101

front seats.

Adjust the Seat-Backs3.

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. If you

sit too close to the steering wheel,

you could be injured if the f ront

airbag inflates.

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger Safety

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Protecting Adults

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Table of Contents

A front passenger should also adjust the seat-back to an upright position, but as far f rom the dashboard as possible. A passenger who sits too close to the dashboard could be injured if the airbag inflates.

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.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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

Adjusttheseat-backtoan upright position and sit well back in the seat.

See page f or how to adjust seat-

102

backs.

Adjust the Head Restraints4.

Before driving, make sure everyone

with an adjustable head restraint has

properly positioned the head

restraint. The restraint should be

positioned so the back of the

occupant’s head rests against the

center of the restraint. A taller

person should adjust the restraint as

high as possible.

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Improperly positioning head

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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 f or how to adjust the head restraints.

Fasten and Position the Seat

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.

In the second row center seat and thethirdrowseats,besurethe detachable anchors are also latched (see page ).

109

Check that the seat belt is not twisted, because a twisted belt can cause serious injuries in a crash.105

Protecting Adults

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.

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger Safety

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Protecting Adults

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If necessary, pull up on the shoulder belt again to remove any slack from the shoulder belt, 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.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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

To adjust the height of a f ront seat

belt anchor, squeeze the two release

buttons and slide the anchor up or

down as needed (it has four

positions).

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Never place the shoulder portion of a

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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 as it should, it may not protect the occupant in a crash.

sit in a seat with an inoperative seat belt.

Anyone using a seat belt that is

No one should

not working properly can be seriously injured or killed. Have your Acura dealer check the belt as soon as possible.

Protecting Adults

See page for additional

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

Driver and Passenger Safety

Page 22

Protecting Adults

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Adjust the Steering Wheel Maintain a Proper Sitting

6. 7.

Adjust the steering wheel, if needed, so that the wheel points toward your chest, not toward your face.

Pointing the steering wheel toward your chest provides optimal protection from the airbag.

See page f or how to adjust the

steering wheel.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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.

In addition, an occupant who is out of position in the front seat can be seriously or f atally injured by striking interior parts of the vehicle, or by being struck by an inf lating front airbag. Being struck by an inflating side airbag can result in possibly serious injuries.

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.

Remember, to get the best protection from your vehicle’s airbags and other safety features, you must sit properly and wear your seat belt properly.

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Protecting Adults

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Advice for Pregnant Women Additional Safety Precautions

Pregnant women should also sit upright and as far back as possible from the steering wheel or dashboard. This will reduce the risk of injuries to both the mother and her unborn child that can be caused by a crash or an inflating airbag.

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

Never let passengers ride in the cargo area or on top of a foldeddown back seat.

must sit in locked, upright seats andbeproperlyrestrainedbyseat belts.

Passengers should not stand up or change seats while the vehicle is moving.

A passenger who is not wearing a seat belt during a crash or emergency stop can be thrown against the inside of the vehicle,

Because protecting the mother is the best way to protect her unborn child,

against other occupants, or out of the vehicle.

a pregnant woman should always wear a seat belt whenever she drives or rides in a vehicle.

Two people should never use the same seat belt.

If they do, they

could be very seriously injured in a

Remember to keep the lap portion of

crash.

the belt as low as possible across your hips.

Driver and Passenger Safety

All passengers

CONTINUED

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Protecting Adults

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Do not put any accessories on seat belts.

occupant comf ort or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can severely compromise 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.

objects on your lap, or driving with a pipe or other sharp objects in your mouth, can result in injuries if your front airbag inflates.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Devices intended to improve

Carrying hard or sharp

Keep your hands and arms away from the airbag covers.

If your hands or arms are close to the airbag covers in the center of the steering wheel and on top of the dashboard, they could be injured if the airbags inflate.

Do not attach or place objects on the front airbag covers.

Any object attached to or placed on the covers marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG’’ in the center of the steering wheel and on top of the dashboard could interfere with the proper operation of the airbags. Or, if the airbags inflate, the objects could be propelled inside the car and hurt someone.

Do not attach hard objects on or near a front door.

If a side airbag inflates,acupholderorotherhard object attached on or near the door could be propelled inside the car and hurt someone.

Do not modif y the front seats.

This could make the driver’s seat position sensor or the front passenger’s seat weight sensors ineffective.

Do not place any items under the front seats.

This could cause problems with the driver’s seat position sensor or the front passenger’s seat weight sensors.

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Protecting Children

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All Children Must BeRestrained

Each year, many children are injured

Children who are unrestrained or improperly restrained can be seriously injured or killed in a crash.

Any child too small for a seat belt should be properly restrained in a child seat. A larger child should be properly restrained with a seat belt.

Children depend on adults to protect them. However, despite their best intentions, many parents and other adults may not know how to

properly

protect young passengers. (See page

So if you have children, or if you ever need to drive with a grandchild or other children in your vehicle, be sure to read this section.

or killed in vehicle crashes because they are either unrestrained or not properly restrained. In fact, vehicle accidents are the number one cause of death of children ages 12 and under.

To reduce the number of child deaths and injuries, every state and Canadian province requires that infants and children be restrained whenever they ride in a vehicle.

Anychildwhoistoosmalltoweara seat belt should be properly restrained in a child seat.

A larger child should always be restrained with a seat belt, and use a booster, if needed.

(See page .)38

Driver and Passenger Safety

Page 26

Protecting Children

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Additional Precautions to Parents

Neverholdaninfantorchildon your lap.

If you are not wearing a seat belt in a crash, you could be thrown forward into the dashboard and crush the child.

Ifyouarewearingaseatbelt,the child can be torn from your arms during a crash. For example, if your vehicle crashes into a parked vehicleat30mph(48km/h),a 20-lb (9 kg) infant will become a 600-lb (275 kg) force, and you will not be able to hold on.

Never put a seat belt over yourself and an infant or child.

crash, the belt could press deep into the child and cause very serious injuries.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Children Should Sit in the Back Seat

According to accident statistics, children of all ages and sizes are safer when they are restrained in the back seat, not the front seat. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada recommend that all children ages 12 and under be properly restrained in a back seat.

In a back seat, children are less likely to be injured by striking hard interior parts during a collision or hard braking. Also, children cannot be injured by an inflating airbag when they ride in the back.During a

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Protecting Children

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The Passenger’s Front Airbag Can Pose Serious Risks

Front airbags have been designed to help protect adults in a moderate to severe f rontal collision. To do this, the passenger’s front airbag is quite large, and it can inflate with enough force to cause very serious injuries.

To help prevent airbag-caused deaths and injuries to children, this vehicle has an advanced airbag system.

With an advanced airbag system, the front passenger’s airbag is turned off if sensors detect a total weight of less than about 65 lbs (30 kg) in the seat, and the ‘‘Passenger Airbag Cutoff’’ indicator is turned on. (See page for additional information on

how the passenger’s airbag works.)

Even if the passenger’s front airbag is turned off, we strongly recommend that inf ants, small children, and larger children ride properly restrained in a back seat wheretheywillbesafer.

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Protecting Children

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U.S. Models Canadian Models

To remind you of the passenger’s front airbag hazards, and that children must be properly restrained in a back seat, your vehicle has warninglabelsonthedashboardand on the driver’s and front passenger’s visors. Please read and follow the instructions on these labels.

To remind you of the front airbag hazards, your vehicle has warning labels on the driver’s and f ront passenger’s visors. Please read and follow the instructions on these labels.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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Protecting Children

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If You Must Drive with Several Children

Your vehicle has two rows of back seats where children can be properly restrained.

If you ever have to carry a group of children (when carpooling f or example), and a child must ride in front:

Place the largest child in the front seat, provided the child is large enough to wear a seat belt properly (see page ).

Move the vehicle seat as far to the rear as possible (see page ).

Have the child sit upright and well backintheseat(seepage ).

Make sure the seat belt is properly positioned and secured (see page

If a Child Requires Close Attention

Many parents say they prefer to put an infant or small child in the front passenger seat so they can watch the child, or because the child requires attention.

Placing a child in the front seat exposes the child to hazards from the passenger’s front airbag, and paying close attention to a child distracts the driver from the important tasks of driving, placing both of you at risk.

If a child requires physical attention or frequent visual contact, we strongly recommend that another adult ride with the child in a back seat. The back seat is far safer for a child than the front.

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Protecting Children

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Additional Safety Precautions

Use childproof door locks to prevent children from opening the doors.

Using this feature will prevent children from opening the doors and accidentally f alling out (see page ).

Use the main power window switch to prevent children f rom opening the rear windows.

this feature will prevent children from playing with the windows, which could expose them to hazards or distract the driver (see page ).

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Using

Do not leave children alone in your vehicle.

Leaving children without adult supervision is illegal in most states and Canadian provinces, and can be very hazardous. For example, infants and small childrenleftinavehicleonahot day can die from heatstroke. And children left alone with the key in the ignition can accidentally set the vehicle in motion, possibly injuring themselves or others.

Lock all doors and the tailgate when your vehicle is not in use.

Children who play in vehicles can accidentally get trapped inside the vehicle. Teach your children not to play in or around vehicles.

Keep vehicle keys and remote transmitters out of the reach of children.

Even very young children learn how to unlock vehicle doors, turn on the ignition, and open the tailgate, which can lead to accidental injury or death.

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General Guidelines f or Using

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Child Seats

The f ollowing pages give general guidelines for selecting and installing child seats for infants and small children.

Selecting a Child Seat

To provide proper protection, a child seat should meet three requirements:

The child seat should meet safety

1. standards.

The child seat should meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 (FMVSS 213) or Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 (CMVSS 213). Look for the manufacturer’s statement of compliance on the box and seat.

The child seat should be of the

2. proper type and size to f it the child.

Protecting Children

Infants: Small Children:

year old should be restrained in a rear-f acing, reclining child seat. Only a rear-facing seat provides the proper support to protect an infant’s head, neck, and back. See page

protecting infants.

Childrenuptoaboutone

for additional information on

large for a rear-facing child seat, and who can sit up without support, should be restrained in a forwardfacing child seat. See page for additional inf ormation on protecting small children.

A child who is too

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The child seat should fit the

3. vehicle seating position (or positions) where it will be used.

Due to variations in the design of child seats, vehicle seats, and seat belts, all child seats will not fit all vehicle seating positions.

However, Acura is conf ident that one or more child seat models can fit and be properly installed in all recommended seating positions in your vehicle.

Before purchasing a child seat, we recommend that parents test the child seat in the specific vehicle seating position (or positions) where they intend to use the seat. If a previously purchased child seat does not fit, you may need to buy a different one that will fit.

Your vehicle has lower anchors installed f or use with LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) - compatible child seats. For more inf ormation, see page .

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Protecting Children

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Placing a Child Seat Front Passenger’s Seat

This page briefly summarizes Acura’s recommendations on where to place rear-facing and forward-facing child seats in your vehicle.

Airbags Pose Serious

Risks to Children

The passenger’s front airbag inflates with enough force to kill or seriously injure an infant in a rear-facing child seat.

A small child in a forward-facing child seat is also at risk. If the vehicle seat is too far f orward, or the child’s head is thrown forward during a collision, an inflating airbag can kill or seriously injure the child.

If a small child must ride in the front, follow the instructions provided in this section.

Infants:

Never in the front seat, due

to the front airbag hazard.

Small children:

Not recommended, due to the front airbag hazard. If a small child must ride in f ront, move the vehicle seat to the rearmost position and secure a frontfacing child seat with the seat belt (see page ).3636

Back Seats Infants:

Recommended positions. Properlysecurearear-facingchild seat (see page ).

Small children:

Recommended positions. Properly secure a f rontfacing child seat (see page ).

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Protecting Children

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Installing a Child Seat Secure the child in the child seat.

After selecting a proper child seat, and a good position to install the seat, there are three main steps in installing the seat:

To provide security during normal driving maneuvers as well as during a collision, we recommend that parents secure a child seat as f irmly as possible.

Make sure the child is properly strappedinthechildseat according to the child seat maker’s instructions. A child who is not properly secured in a child seat

Properly secure the child seat to

1. the vehicle.

All child seats are designed to be secured to the vehicle with the lap part of a lap/ shoulder belt. Some child seats can be secured to the vehicle’s LATCH anchorage system instead. A child whose seat is not properly secured to the vehicle can be endangered in a crash. See pages

, and for instructions on

443632

howtoproperlysecurechildseats in this vehicle.

However, a child seat does not need to be ‘‘rock solid.’’ In some vehicles or seating positions, it may be diff icult to install a child seat so that it does not move at all. Some side-toside or back-and-forth movement can be expected and should not reduce the child seat’s ef fectiveness.

If the child seat is not secure, try installing it in a different seating position, or use a dif ferent style of child seat that can be firmly secured

canbethrownoutoftheseatina crash and be seriously injured.

Storing a Child Seat

When you are not using a child seat, either remove it and store it in a safe place, or make sure it is properly secured. An unsecured child seat can be thrown around the vehicle during a crash or sudden stop and injure someone.

in the desired seating position.

Make sure the child seat is firmly

2. secured.

After installing a child seat, push and pull the seat forward and f rom side to side to verify that it is secure.

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Protecting Children

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Protecting Infants

Child Seat Type

Only a rear-facing child seat provides proper support f or a baby’s head, neck, and back.

Two types of seats may be used: a seat designed exclusively for infants, or a convertible seat used in the rearfacing, reclining mode.

Placing a rear-facing child seat in the front seat can result in serious injury or death during a collision.

Always place a rear-facing child seat in the back seat, not the front.

We recommend that an infant be restrained in a rear-facing child seat until the infant is at least one year old, reaches the seat maker’s weight or height limit, and is able to sit up without support.

Child Seat Placement

We strongly recommend placing a rear-facing child seat in a back seat, not the front. Even with advanced airbags, which can automatically turn the passenger’s front airbag off (see page ), a back seat is the

safest place for an infant.

If an infant must be closely watched, have another adult sit in a back seat next to the baby.

Do not put a rear-facing child seat in a forward-facing position.

If placed facing forward, an infant could be very seriously injured during a frontal collision.

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Installing a Rear-Facing Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Belt

The lap/shoulder belts in the back seats have a locking mechanism that must be activated to secure a child seat.

The f ollowing pages provide instructions on how to secure a rearfacing child seat with this type of seat belt.

If you have a child seat designed to attach to the vehicle’s LATCH anchorage system, follow the instructions on page .

Before installing a child seat in the

1. center seat of the second row or either of the third row seats, make sure the seat belt detachable anchor is latched (see page ).

109

With the child seat in the desired

2. 3. back seating position, route the belt through the child seat according to the seat maker’s instructions, then insert the latch plate into the buckle.

To activate the lockable retractor, slowly pull the shoulder part of the belt all the way out until it stops, then let the belt feed back into the retractor (you might hear a clicking noise as the belt retracts).

Driver and Passenger Safety

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After the belt has retracted, tug on

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4. it. If the belt is locked, you will not be able to pull it out. If you can pull the belt out, it is not locked and you will need to repeat these steps.

Protecting Children

After confirming that the belt is

5. 6. locked, grab the shoulder part of the belt near the buckle and pull up to remove any slack from the lap part of the belt. Remember, if the lap part of the belt is not tight, the child seat will not be secure. To remove slack, it may help to putweightonthechildseat,or push on the back of the seat, while pulling up on the belt.

Push and pull the child seat forward and f rom side to side to verify that it is secure enough to stay upright during normal driving maneuvers. If the child seat is not secure, unlatch the belt, allow it to retract fully, then repeat these steps.

To deactivate the locking mechanism and remove a child seat, unlatch the buckle, unroute the seat belt, and let the belt fully retract.

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Rear-Facing Child Seat Installation Tips

Forproperprotection,aninfantmust ride in a reclined, or semi-reclined position. To determine the proper reclining angle, check with the baby’s doctor or f ollow the seat maker’s recommendations.

To achieve the desired reclining angle, it may help to put a rolled up towel under the toe of the child seat, as shown.

Driver and Passenger Safety

When properly installed, a rearfacing child seat may prevent the driver or a front-seat passenger from moving the seat as far back as recommended (see page ). Or it

may prevent them f rom locking the seat-back in the desired upright position (see page ).

In either case, we recommend that you place the child seat in another back seating position, or leave the affected seat unoccupied. If the problem cannot be solved, you may wish to get a smaller rear-f acing child seat.

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Protecting Small Children

Child Seat Type

A child at least one year old who can sit up without support, and who fits within the child seat maker’s weight and height limits, should be restrained in a forward-facing, upright child seat.

Of the different seats available, we recommend those that have a fivepoint harness system as shown.

We also recommend that a small child stay in the child seat as long as possible, until the child reaches the weight or height limit f or the seat.

Child Seat Placement

We strongly recommend placing a forward-facing child seat in a back seat,notthefront.Evenwith advanced airbags, which can automatically turn the passenger’s front airbag off (see page ), a

back seat is the safest place for a small child.

If an child must be closely watched, have another adult sit in a back seat next to the child.

If it is necessary to put a forwardfacing child seat in the front, move the vehicle seat as far to the rear as possible, be sure the child seat is firmly secured to the vehicle, and the child is properly strapped in the seat.

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Improperly placing a forwardfacing child seat in the front seat can result in serious injury or death if the front airbags inflate.

Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/ Shoulder Belt

The lap/shoulder belts in the outer back and front passenger seating positions have a locking mechanism that must be activated to secure a child seat.

Ifyoumustplaceaforwardfacing child seat in front, move the vehicle seat as far back as possible and properly restrain the child.

Driver and Passenger Safety

The f ollowing pages provide instructions on how to secure a forward-f acing child seat with this type of seat belt.

If you have a child seat designed to attach to the vehicle’s LATCH anchorage system, follow the instructions on page

Before installing a child seat in the

1. center seat of the second row or either of the third row seats, make sure the seat belt detachable anchor is latched (see page ).

109

With the child seat in the desired

2. seating position, route the belt through the child seat according to the seat maker’s instructions, then insert the latch plate into the buckle.

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To activate the lockable retractor,

3. slowly pull the shoulder part of the belt all the way out until it stops, then let the belt feed back into the retractor (you might hear a clicking noise as the belt retracts).

After the belt has retracted, tug on

4. it. If the belt is locked, you will not be able to pull it out. If you can pull the belt out, it is not locked and you will need to repeat these steps.

After confirming that the belt is

5. 6. locked, grab the shoulder part of the belt near the buckle and pull up to remove any slack from the lap part of the belt. Remember, if the lap part of the belt is not tight, the child seat will not be secure. It mayhelptoputweightonthe child seat, or push on the back of the seat, while pulling up on the belt.

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To deactivate the locking mechanism in order to remove a child seat, unlatch the buckle, unroute the seat belt, and let the belt fully retract.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Larger Children

When a child reaches the recommended weight or height limit for a forward-facing child seat, the child should sit in the back seat on a booster and wear a lap/shoulder belt.

We recommend that the child use a booster seat until the child is tall enough to use the seat belt without a booster.

The f ollowing pages give instructions on how to check proper seat belt fit, what kind of booster seat to use if one is needed, and important precautions f or a child who must sit in the front seat.

Allowing a larger child to sit improperly in the front seat can result in injury or death if the passenger’s front airbag inflates.

If a larger child must sit in front, make sure the child moves the seat as far back as possible, uses a booster seat if needed, and wears the seat belt properly.

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Checking Seat Belt Fit Do not let a child wear a seat belt

If the shoulder part of the belt rests over the child’s collarbone and against the center of the chest, and the lap belt rests over the child’s

across the neck or over the stomach.

This could result in serious neck and

internal injuries during a crash. hipbones and touches the tops of their thighs as shown, the child is probably big enough to wear the seat belt.

Do not let a child put the shoulder

part of a seat belt behind the back or

under the arm.

This could cause

very serious injuries during a crash. However, if the shoulder belt touchesorcrossesthechild’sneck, or if the lap belt crosses the child’s

It also increases the chance that the

child will slide under the belt in a

crash and be injured. stomach, the child needs to use a

Do not put any accessories on a seat

belt.

Devices intended to improve occupant comf ort or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt, severely compromise the protective capability of the seat belt and increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.

Two children should never use the same seat belt.

If they do, they could

To determine if a lap/shoulder belt properly fits a child, have the child sit in a rear seat, all the way back against the seat, and put on the seat belt. Follow the instructions on page

. Then check how the belt fits.

booster seat.

be very seriously injured in a crash.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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Using a Booster Seat When Can a Larger Child Sit in Front

If a child who uses a booster must ride in front, move the vehicle seat as far to the rear as possible, and be sure the child is wearing the seat belt properly.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada recommend that all children ages 12 and under be properly restrained in a back seat.

A child may continue using a booster seat until the tops of the ears are even with the top of the seat-back. A child of this height should be tall

Even with advanced front airbags, the back seat is the safest place for a child of any age or size.

enough to use the lap/shoulder belt without a booster.

If the passenger’s front airbag is on, and it inflates in a moderate to severe f rontal collision, the airbag can cause serious injuries to a child who is unrestrained, improperly restrained, sitting too close to the airbag, or out of position.

The side airbag also poses risks. If

We strongly recommend that a child whousedaboosterrideinaback seat,notthefront.Evenifthe passenger’s front airbag is off, a back seat is the safest place for the child.

Even then, the child may still need to use a booster seat. Note that some states now require children to use boosters until they reach a certain ageand/orweight.Besuretocheck current laws in the state or states where you intend to drive.

any part of a larger child’s body is in

Whichever style you select, follow the booster seat maker’s instructions.

the path of a deploying airbag, the child could receive possibly serious injuries.

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Of course, children vary widely. And while age may be one indicator of when a child can safely ride in the front, there are other important factors you should consider. 15 39

Physical Size

Physically, a child must be large enough for the lap/shoulder belt to properly fit over the hips, chest, and shoulder (see pages and ). If the seat belt does not f it properly, the child should not sit in the front.

Maturity

To safely ride in front, a child must be able to f ollow the rules, including sitting properly and wearing the seat belt properly throughout a ride.

If you decide that a child can safely ride up front, be sure to:

Carefully read the owner’s manual and make sure you understand all seat belt instructions and all safety information.

Move the vehicle seat to the rearmost position.

Have the child sit up straight, back against the seat, and feet on or near the floor.

Check that the child’s seat belt is properly positioned and secured.

Remind the child not to lean toward the door because of the side airbag.

Supervise the child. Even mature children sometimes need to be reminded to fasten the seat belts or sit properly.

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Using Child Seats with Tethers

Your vehicle has attachment points for a tether-style child seat to be installed on the second or third row as shown.

Since a tether can provide additional security, we recommend using a tether whenever one is required or available. (Tethers are required in Canada.)

Driver and Passenger Safety

Second Seat Installation: Third Seat Installation:

TETHER ANCHORAGE POINT

Each second row seat has a tether anchorage point behind the seat back.

There are two anchorage points on the tailgate sill. Select the anchorage point you want to use, and remove the cover with a small flat-tipped screwdriver or fingernail file.

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Lift the head restraint, then route the tether strap over the seat-back between the legs of the head restraint.

Attach the tether strap hook to the tether attachment point, and tighten the strap according to the child seat maker’s instructions. Make sure the strap is not twisted.

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Using LATCH

MARKS

LOWER ANCHORS

Your vehicle is equipped with LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) at the second row seats. The lower anchors are located between the seat-back and seat bottom and are to be used only with a child seat designed for use with LATCH.

Driver and Passenger Safety

The exact location of each lower anchorage is marked with a small button above the lower anchorage point.

To install a LATCH-compatible child seat:

Move the seat belt buckle or seat

1. belt tongue away from the lower anchors.

Make sure there are no foreign

2. objects around the anchors. Foreign objects could get in the way of a secure connection between the child seat and the anchors.

RIGID TYPE

Put the child seat in a second row

3. vehicle seat and attach the child seat to the lower anchors according to the child seat maker’s instructions.

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FLEXIBLE TYPE

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Protecting Children

Lower Universal Anchorage System Symbol

Follow the child seat maker’s

4. 5. instructions for any additional advice on adjusting or tightening the fit.

Attach the attaching clip to the tether anchor fitting and tighten the strap according to the child seat maker’s instructions. Make sure the strap is not twisted.

Push and pull the child seat

6. forward and f rom side to side to verify that it is secure enough to stay upright during normal driving maneuvers.

This symbol on rear or forward facing child seats or booster cushions indicates the presence of LATCH compatible hardware.

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Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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Seat Belt System Components Lap/Shoulder Belt

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

The seat belt system also

includes a light on the instrument panel to remind you and your passengers to fasten your belts. If the driver’s seat belt is not fastened before the ignition is turned ON (II), the light will come on and a beeper will also sound. The beeper will stop after a few seconds, but the light will stay on until the driver’s seat belt is fastened.

The lap/shoulder belts in the center seat of the second row and both of the third row seats are equipped with a detachable anchor that has two parts: a small latch plate and a buckle.

The detachable anchor should normally be latched whenever the seats-backs are in an upright position. For more inf ormation about the detachable anchors, see page .

Driver and Passenger Safety

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

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Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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To fasten the belt, insert the latch plate into the buckle, then tug on the belt to make sure the buckle is latched.

To unlock the belt, push 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. 15

The seat belts in all seating positions except the driver’s have an additional locking mechanism that must be activated to secure a child seat. (See pages and f or instructions on

3632

how to secure child seats with this type of seat belt.)

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 f ully retract. To refasten the belt, pull it out only as far as needed.

See page for instructions on how to wear the lap/shoulder belt properly.

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Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners

Your Acura has automatic seat belt tensioners f or added protection during a moderate to severe frontal collision.

Driver and Passenger Safety

If your airbags inf late, the tensioners immediately tighten the front seat belts to help hold the occupants in place. The belts will remain tight until you unbuckle them in the normal way.

The SRS indicator light will

come on if there is a problem with your automatic seat belt tensioners (see page ).

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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 that the lap/shoulder belts retract easily. Any belt not in good condition or not working properly will not provide good protection and should be replaced as soon as possible.

U.S. Models

Acura provides a lifetime warranty on seat belts. Acura will repair or replace any seat belt component that fails to function properly during normal use. Please see your

Warranty Information

booklet for

Acura

details.

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.

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.

Automatic seat belt tensioners that deployed during a crash must be replaced.

For information on how to clean your seat belts, see page .

Driver and Passenger Safety

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

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SRS Components

(5)

(4)

(1) Driver’s Airbag (2) Front Passenger’s Airbag (3) Control Unit (4) Seat Belt Tensioners (5) Side Airbags (6) Driver’s Seat Position Sensor (7) Front Passenger’s Weight Sensors (8) Front Sensor (9) Side Impact Sensors (10) Passenger Airbag Cutoff Indicator

Driver and Passenger Safety

(6)

(9)

Your Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) includes:

(8)(1)

(5)(7)

(4)

(10)

(9)

(2)

(7)

(8)

(3)

Two 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.’’

Automatic seat belt tensioners (see page ).

Sensors that can detect a moderate to severe frontal collision.

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

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

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A driver’s seat position sensor that monitors the driver’s seat position and adjusts the inflation and timing of the driver’s airbag (see page ).

Front passenger’s weight sensors monitor the weight on the seat. These prevent the passenger’s airbag from inflating if the weight is less than about 65 lbs (30 kg) (see page ).

An indicator light on the instrument panel that alerts you to a possible problem with the system (see page ).

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

How Your Front Airbags Work

Your vehicle is equipped with dualstage, dual-threshold airbags to help reduce the chance of airbag-caused injuries.

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

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If you ever have a moderate to severe f rontal collision, the sensors will detect the vehicle’s rapid deceleration. If the rate of deceleration is high enough, the control unit will instantly inflate the front airbags.

During a frontal crash, your seat belts help restrain your lower body and torso. Your airbag provides a cushion to help restrain and protect your head and chest.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Since both airbags use the same sensors, both airbags normally inflate at the same time. However, it is possible for only one airbag to inflate.

This can occur when 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.

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.

The total time for inflation and deflation is approximately 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.

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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.

Driver’s Seat Position Sensor

Your vehicle has a driver’s seat position sensor as a part of the advanced airbag system. The sensor is located on the inside of the left seat rail under the driver’s seat. This sensor monitors the driver’s seat sliding position and sends the information to control unit. The control unit will control adequate inflation and timing of the driver’s airbag.

Do not put any cargo or metal objects under the driver’s seat, and do not cover the sensor with anything, including the rear seat passenger’s feet. This will cause the sensor to work improperly and will damage it.

If there is a problem in the sensor, the SRS indicator in the instrument panel comes on. In this case, the driver’s airbag will inf late normally during a crash regardless of the driver’s seating position.

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger Safety

Page 58

Additional Information About Your Airbags

Main Menu

Table of Contents

Front Passenger’s Weight Sensors

Your vehicle has front passenger’s weightsensorsaspartofthe advanced airbag system. They are located under both of the front passenger’s seat rails. These sensors monitor the weight on the seat at the seat cushion, seat-back, seat-back pocket, and seat rails.

If the total weight on the seat is about65lbs(30kg)orless,the system shuts off the front passenger’s airbag and the passenger airbag cutoff indicator comes on. It reminds you that the front passenger’s airbag will not inflate during a crash.

If there is no passenger in the front passenger’s seat, the passenger airbag cutoff indicator does not come on, however the system shuts off the f ront passenger’s airbag.

Driver and Passenger Safety

The driver’s and front passenger’s seat sensors may not work properly if:

You do not wear your seat belt properly.

You do not sit upright and as far back as possible from the steering wheel or the dashboard (see page

You do not secure the child seat properly, and move the front seat as far back as possible.

Be caref ul not to spill any liquids. Spilled liquids could damage the sensors under the front seats.

If your vehicle sustains a severe impact, have the driver’s seat position sensor and the front passenger’s weight sensors inspected by your Honda dealer.

U.S. Owners

For additional information on how your airbags work, see the booklet

SRS: What You Need to Know

titled

About Airbags

that came with your

owner’s manual.

Canadian Owners

For additional information on how your airbags work, ask your dealer for a copy of the booklet titled

What You Need to Know About Airbags

SRS:

Page 59

Additional Information About Your Airbags

Main Menu

Table of Contents

How Your Side Airbags Work

Your vehicle is equipped with side airbags for the driver and a front seat passenger. The airbags are stored in the outer edges of the front seat-backs, and both are marked ‘‘SIDE AIRBAG.’’

If you ever have a moderate to severe side impact, the sensors will detect rapid deceleration and signal the control unit to instantly inflate either the driver’s or the passenger’s side airbag.

Only one airbag will deploy during a side impact. If the impact is on the passenger’s side, the passenger’s side airbag will deploy even if there is no passenger.

To get the best protection from the side airbags, front seat occupants should wear their seat belts and sit upright and well back in their seats.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Page 60

Additional Information About Your Airbags

Main Menu

Table of Contents

How the SRS Indicator Light Works

The SRS indicator light

alerts you to a potential problem with your front airbags and automatic seat belt tensioners.

This light will also alert you to a potential problem with your side airbags, passenger’s side airbag automatic cutoff system (see page

), or the driver’s seat position

sensor and the front passenger’s weight sensors (see pages and

When you turn the ignition ON (II), this indicator will light brief ly then go out. This tells you that the system is working properly.

Driver and Passenger Safety

If the light comes on at any other time, or does not come on at all, you should have the system checked by your dealer. For example:

If the SRS indicator light does not come on after you turn the ignition switch to ON (II).

If the light stays on after the engine starts.

If the light comes on or flashes on andoff whileyoudrive.

If you see any of these indications, your front or side airbags may not deploy, your passenger’s side airbag automatic cutoff system may not work properly, your seat belt tensioners may not work, or the sensors under the front seats may not work properly when you need them. See your Acura dealer as soon as possible.

Ignoring the SRS indicator light can result in serious injury or death if the airbags, cutoff system, or tensioners do not work properly.

Have your vehicle checked by a dealer as soon as possible if the SRS light alerts you to a potential problem.

Page 61

Additional Information About Your Airbags

Main Menu

Table of Contents

How the Side Airbag Cutoff Indicator Light Works

This light alerts you that the passenger’s side airbag

has been automatically shut off.

It does not mean there is a problem with your side airbags. It means that thesideairbagcutoffsystemhas activated to prevent the side airbag from deploying.

To reduce the risk of injury from an inflating side airbag, your vehicle has an automatic cutoff system for the passenger’s side airbag.

Although Acura does not encourage children to ride in the front, this system is designed to shut off the side airbag if a child leans sideways and the child’s head is in the side airbag deployment path.

If a small-statured adult leans sideways, or larger adult slouches and leans sideways into the deployment path of the side airbag, the system may also shut of f the side airbag.

If the side airbag cutof f indicator light comes on, you should have the passenger sit upright. Once the passenger is out of the deployment path of the side airbag, the system will turn the airbag back on and the light will go out.

A front seat passenger should not use a cushion or other object as a backrest. It may prevent the cutoff system f rom working properly.

When you turn the ignition switch to ON (II), the indicator should light briefly and go out (see page ). If it

doesn’t light, stays on, or comes on while driving without a passenger in the front seat, have the system checked.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Page 62

Additional Information About Your Airbags

Main Menu

Table of Contents

How the Passenger Airbag Cutoff Indicator Works

PASSENGER AIRBAG CUTOFF INDICATOR

This light alerts you that the front passenger’s airbag is shut off.

Driver and Passenger Safety

If the light is on, it does not mean there is a problem with the front passenger’s airbag. If there is a problem in the weight sensors, the SRS indicator in the instrument panel comes on. In this case, the passenger airbag cutoff indicator turns off, and the front passenger’s airbag will inflate during a crash.

To reduce the chance of airbagcaused injuries, the system shuts off the front passenger’s airbag when the total weight on the front passenger’s seat is about 65 lbs (30 kg) or less. The passenger airbag cutoff indicator comes on to remind you the front passenger’s airbag will not inf late during a crash.

If there is no passenger in the front passenger’s seat, this indicator does not come on, however the system shuts off the front passenger’s airbag.

If this indicator comes on with no passenger in the front passenger’s seat,orwithanadultintheseat, there may be a problem in the advanced airbag system. Have the vehicle checked by the dealer as soon as possible.

This indicator may come on or off repeatedly, if some objects are put on the front passenger’s seat, or if the temperature of the vehicle’s interior changes suddenly when a door is opened.

Page 63

Additional Information About Your Airbags

Main Menu

Table of Contents

To ensure the front passenger’s seat weight sensors keep the passenger’s airbag activated when an adult or large child weighing about 65 lbs/ 30 kg or more sits in the front passenger’s seat, do not allow anything to decrease the weight on the seat. This includes, but is not limited to, these examples:

Rear passengers pushing up the frontpassenger’sseatwiththeir feet.

Front passenger’s seat forcibly pushed up by luggage or other items placed under it.

Front passenger’s seat forcibly moved backward into luggage or other items placed behind it.

If a passenger is tall enough to use the seat belt and sit properly, but the passenger airbag cutoff indicator comes on and off repeatedly, we recommend that the passenger sits in a rear seat. If the passenger must sit on the front seat, move the seat as far to the rear as possible, have the passenger sit upright, and make sure the seat belt is worn securely.

To ensure the front passenger’s seat weight sensors keep the passenger’s airbag deactivated when an infant or small child weighing about 65 lbs/ 30 kg or less sits in the f ront passenger’s seat, do not allow anything to increase the weight on the seat. This includes, but is not limited to, these examples:

Rear passengers pushing or pulling the front passenger’s seatback or pushing the seat rails with their feet.

Heavy items placed in the front passenger’s seat-back pocket.

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger Safety

Page 64

Additional Information About Your Airbags

Main Menu

Table of Contents

If the passenger airbag cutof f indicator does not light, or comes on and off repeatedly while a child seat is secured on the front passenger’s seat, remove the child seat, then secure it on a rear seat.

When you turn the ignition switch to ON (II), the passenger airbag cutoff indicator will light brief ly then go out. This tells you that the system is working properly.

The indicator may come on or off a few seconds later if the weight on the front passenger’s seat changes.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Airbag Service

Your front and side airbag systems are virtually maintenance-f ree, and there are no parts you can safely service. However, you must have your vehicle serviced if:

Your airbags ever inflate.

Any airbag that has deployed must be replaced along with the control unit, automatic seat belt tensioners and other related parts. Do not try to remove or replace anyairbagbyyourself.Thismust be done by an Acura dealer or a knowledgeable body shop.

The SRS indicator light alerts you to a problem.

Take your vehicle to an authorized Acura dealer as soon as possible. If you ignore this indication, the airbags might not inflate when you need them.

Page 65

Additional Information About Your Airbags

Main Menu

Table of Contents

Additional Safety Precautions

Donotattempttodeactivateyour airbags.

Together, airbags and seat belts provide the best protection.

Do not tamper with airbag components or wiring for any reason.

Tampering could cause the airbags to deploy, possibly causing very serious injury.

Do not expose the front seat-backs to water.

If rain or spilled water soaks into a seat-back, it can prevent the side airbag system from working properly.

Do not place any items under the front seats.

This could make the driver’s seat position sensor and the front passenger’s weight sensors ineffective.

Do not cover or replace front seatback covers without consulting an Acura dealer.

Improperly replacing or covering front seatback covers can prevent your side airbags from inf lating during a collision.

Do not modif y the front seats.

This could make the driver’s seat position sensor and the front passenger’s weight sensors ineffective.

If it is necessary to modify an advanced front airbag system to accommodate a person with disabilities,

first contact Acura

Client Services at 800-382-2238.

See page f or further information

244

and precautions relating to your airbags.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Page 66

Carbon Monoxide Hazard

Main Menu

Table of Contents

Your vehicle’s exhaust contains carbon monoxide gas. You should have no problem with carbon monoxide entering the vehicle in normal driving if you maintain your vehicle properly. Have the exhaust system inspected for leaks whenever:

The vehicle is raised for an oil change. You notice a change in the sound of the exhaust. The vehicle was in an accident that may have damaged the underside.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Carbon monoxide gas is toxic. Breathing it can cause unconsciousness and even kill you.

Avoid any enclosed areas or activities that expose you to carbon monoxide.

High levels of carbon monoxide can collect rapidly in enclosed areas, such as a garage. Do not run the engine with the garage door closed. Even with the door open, run the engine only long enough to move the vehicle out of the garage.

With the tailgate open, air flow can pull exhaust gas into your vehicle’s interior and create a hazardous condition. If you must drive with the tailgate open, open all the windows and set the heating and cooling system/climate control system as shown below.

If you must sit in your parked vehicle, even in an unconf ined area, with the engine running, adjust the heating and cooling system/climate control system as follows:

Select the Fresh Air mode.

Select the mode.

Turn the fan on high speed.

Set the temperature control to a

comfortable setting.

Page 67

Safety Labels

Main Menu

Table of Contents

These labels are in the locations shown. They warn you of potential hazards that could cause serious injury. Read these labels carefully.

If a label comes off or becomes hard to read, contact your Acura dealer for a replacement.

HOOD

RADIATOR CAP

DASHBOARD

U.S. models only U.S. models

BATTERY LABEL

SUN VISOR

Canadian models

Driver and Passenger Safety

Page 68

Main Menu

Page 69

Instruments and Controls

Main Menu

This section gives information about the controls and displays that contribute to the daily operation of your Acura. All the essential controls are within easy reach.

...........................Control Locations . 66

...............................Indicator Lights . 67

.............................................Gauges . 74

Controls Near the Steering

.......................................Wheel . 78

...................................Headlights . 79

....................Automatic Lighting . 80

Automatic Lighting Off

.....................................Feature . 81

............Daytime Running Lights . 82

................................Turn Signals . 83

.....................Windshield Wipers . 83

..................Windshield Washers . 87

Rear Window Wiper and

.....................................Washer . 87

..........................Hazard Warning . 87

.............Rear Window Defogger . 88

.....................................Fog Light . 88

...............................Keys and Locks . 90

..............................................Keys . 90

....................Immobilizer System . 91

............................Ignition Switch . 92

......................Power Door Locks . 93

...................Remote Transmitter . 95

..............Childproof Door Locks . 99

........................................Tailgate . 99

..................................Glove Box . 100

...............................................Seats . 101

..........Power Seat Adjustments . 101

.........Driver’s Lumbar Support . 102

....Instrument Panel Brightness . 82

......Steering Wheel Adjustment . 89

Second and Third Row seat

..........................Adjustments . 104

........................Head Restraints . 105

......................Rear Seat Access . 106

.................Detachable Anchors . 109

..................................Seat Heaters . 110

............................Power Windows . 111

.......................................Moonroof . 114

...........................................Mirrors . 115

...............................Parking Brake . 117

Driving Position Memory

........................................System . 118

...........................Beverage Holder . 121

.................Console Compartment . 123

.......................Rear Compartment . 123

.................................Cargo Hooks . 123

........................Sunglasses Holder . 124

........................................Sun Visor . 124

................................Vanity Mirror . 125

........................................Coin Box . 127

......................................Coat Hook . 127

...............................Interior Lights . 128

Instruments and Controls

........Manual Seat Adjustments . 103

..........Folding the Second Seat . 106

.............Folding the Third Seat . 107

............Accessory Power Sockets . 125

Page 70

Control Locations

Main Menu

Table of Contents

POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCHES (P.93)

MIRROR CONTROLS (P.116)

POWER WINDOW SWITCHES (P.111)

HOOD RELEASE HANDLE (P.238)

Instruments and Controls

INDICATOR LIGHTS GAUGES

(P.74)

FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE (P.237)

(P.67)

SHIFT LEVER (P.254)

PARKING BRAKE PEDAL (P.117)

CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM

REAR A/C CONTROL ACCESSORY POWER SOCKET (P.143) (P.125)

(P.136)

AUDIO SYSTEM (P.145, 163, 183)

GLOVE BOX (P.100)

Page 71

Indicator Lights

Main Menu

Table of Contents

MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP

LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR

CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATOR

MAINTENANCE REQUIRED INDICATOR

A/T TEMPERATURE INDICATOR

VTM-4 INDICATOR

＊

The U.S. instrument panel is shown. Differences for the Canadian models are noted in the text.

(P.376)

(P.68)

(P.76)

(P.72)

CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR

(P.71)

HIGH BEAM INDICATOR

DOOR AND TAILGATE OPEN MONITOR

(P.70)

LOW FUEL INDICATOR

VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST SYSTEM (VSA) INDICATOR

(P.71)

(P.73)

SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM INDICATOR

IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM INDICATOR

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR

(P.69)

＊

(P.69)

(P.68)

WASHER LEVEL INDICATOR

LIGHTS ON INDICATOR

VSA ACTIVATION INDICATOR

SIDE AIRBAG CUTOFF INDICATOR (P.68)

PARKING BRAKE AND BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR

＊

BRAKE LAMP INDICATOR

SEAT BELT REMINDER LIGHT

CONTINUED

Instruments and Controls

(P.71)

(P.72)

(P.73)

(P.69)

(P.70)

(P.68)

Page 72

Indicator Lights

Main Menu

Table of Contents

The instrument panel has many indicators to give you important information about your vehicle. See page .

Seat Belt Reminder Light

This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch ON (II). It is a reminder to you and your passengers to protect yourselves by fastening the seat belts. A beeper also sounds if you have not fastened your seat belt.

If you do not fasten your seat belt, the beeper will stop after a few seconds but the light stays on until you do. Both the light and the beeper stay off if you fasten your seat belt before turning on the ignition.

Instruments and Controls

Malfunction Indicator Lamp

375

Low Oil Pressure Indicator

The engine can be severely damaged if this light f lashes or stays on when the engine is running. For complete information, see page .

373

Charging System Indicator

If this light comes on when the engine is running, the battery is not being charged. For complete information, see page .

374

Supplemental Restraint

System Indicator

This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch ON (II). If it comes on at any other time, it indicates a potential problem with your front airbags or automatic seat belt tensioners. This light will also alert you to a potential problem with your side airbags, passenger’s side airbag automatic cutoff system, driver’s seat position sensor, or front passenger’s weight sensors. For complete information, see page .

Side Airbag Cutof f

Indicator

This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch ON (II). If it comes on at any other time, it indicates that the passenger’s side airbag has automatically shut off. For complete information, see page

Page 73

Indicator Lights

Main Menu

Table of Contents

U.S. Canada CanadaU.S.

Parking Brake and Brake System Indicator

This light has two functions:

This indicator comes on when you

1. turn the ignition switch ON (II). It is a reminder to check the parking brake. A beeper sounds if you try to drive with the parking brake not fully released. Driving with the parking brake not fully released can damage the brakes and tires.

If the indicator remains lit after

2. you have f ully released the parking brake while the engine is running, or if it comes on while driving, it can indicate a problem in the brake system. For complete information, see page .

377

Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) Indicator

This light normally comes on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition switch ON (II), and when the ignition switch is turned to START (III). If this light comes on at any other time, there is a problem in theABS.Ifthishappens,takethe vehicle to your dealer to have it checked. With the light on, your vehicle still has normal braking ability but no anti-lock. For complete information, see page .

264

Immobilizer System Indicator

This indicator comes on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition switch ON (II). It will then go off if you have inserted a properly-coded ignition key. If it is not a properlycoded key, the indicator will blink and the engine will not start (see page ).

This indicator also blinks several times when you turn the ignition switch from ON (II) to ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0).

Instruments and Controls

Page 74

Indicator Lights

Main Menu

Table of Contents

Turn Signal and Hazard Warning Indicators

The lef t or right turn signal light blinks when you signal a lane change or turn. If the light does not blink or blinks rapidly, it usually means one of the turn signal bulbs is burned out (see page ). Replace the bulb as

342

soon as possible, since other drivers cannot see that you are signaling.

WhenyouturnontheHazard Warning switch, both turn signal lights blink. All turn signals on the outside of the vehicle should flash.

Instruments and Controls

If a brake light does not work, the

BRAKE LAMP

indicator comes on when you push the brake pedal with the ignition switch ON (II).

A burned out brake light is a hazard when drivers behind you cannot tell you are braking. Have your brake lights repaired right away.

Door and Tailgate Open MonitorBrake Lamp Indicator

The appropriate light comes on in this display if the tailgate or any door is not closed tightly.

All the lights in the monitor display come on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition switch to ON (II).

Page 75

Indicator Lights

Main Menu

Table of Contents

‘‘Daytime Running Lights’’ Indicator

Canadian models only

This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch to ON (II) with the headlight switch off and the parking brake set. It should go off if youturnontheheadlightsorrelease the parking brake. If it comes on at any other time, it means there is a problem with the DRL. There may also be a problem with the high beam headlights.

Cruise Control Indicator

This lights when you set the cruise control. See page for information

216

on operating the cruise control.

High Beam Indicator

This light comes on with the high beam headlights. See page for

information on the headlight controls.

On Canadian models, this indicator comes on with reduced brightness when the Daytime Running Lights (DRL) are on (see page ).

Low Fuel Indicator

This light comes on as a reminder that you must refuel soon.

Washer Level Indicator

This light comes on when the washer fluid level is low. Add washer fluid when you see this light come on (see page ).

316

Instruments and Controls

Page 76

Indicator Lights

Main Menu

Table of Contents

Lights On Indicator (U.S. models only)

On cars with automatic lighting (see page )80

This indicator reminds you that the exterior lights are on. It comes on when the light switch is in either the

or position. This indicator will come on when the light switch is in AUTO and the lights turn on automatically. If you turn the ignition switch to ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0) without turning off the light switch, this indicator will remain on. A reminder chime will also sound when you open the driver’s door.

Instruments and Controls

Indicator

This indicator monitors the temperature of the automatic transmission fluid. The indicator should come on for a f ew seconds when you turn the ignition switch ON (II). If it comes on while driving, it indicates the transmission fluid temperature is too high. Pull to the side of the road when it is saf e, shift to Park, and let the engine idle until the indicator goes out.

Continuing to drive with the A/T Temperature indicator lit may cause serious damage to the transmission.

VTM-4 IndicatorA/T Temperature

This light normally comes on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition switch ON (II). If this light comes on at any other time, there is a problem in the 4WD system. Take the vehicle to your dealer to have it checked.

If the indicator blinks while driving, pull to the side of the road when it is safe, shift to Park, and let the engine idle until the indicator goes out.

Continuing to drive with the VTM-4 indicator blinking may cause serious damage to the system.

Page 77

Indicator Lights

Main Menu

Table of Contents

Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System Indicator

This indicator normally comes on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition switch ON (II).

If this light comes on and stays on at any other time, or it does not come on when you turn the ignition switch ON (II), there is a problem with the VSA system. Take the car to your dealer to have it checked. Without VSA, your car still has normal driving ability, but will not have VSA traction and stability enhancement. See page for more information

266

on the VSA system.

VSA Activation Indicator

This indicator has three functions:

Itcomesonasareminderthatyou

1. have turned off the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) system.

It flashes when VSA is active (see

2. page ).

266

It comes on along with the VSA

3. system indicator if there is a problem with the VSA system.

This indicator normally comes on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition switch ON (II). See page

for more information on the

266

VSA system.

Instruments and Controls

Page 78

Gauges

Main Menu

Table of Contents

TACHOMETER

MAINTENANCE REQUIRED INDICATOR

Speedometer

U.S. Models

This shows your speed in miles per hour (mph). The smaller inner numbers are the speed in kilometers per hour (km/h).

Canadian Models

This shows your speed in kilometers per hour (km/h). The smaller inner numbers are the speed in miles per hour (mph).

Instruments and Controls

TRIP METER

FUEL GAUGESPEEDOMETER

ODOMETER

TRIP METER RESET BUTTON

TEMPERATURE GAUGE

TRIP METER SELECT BUTTON

Tachometer

The tachometer shows the engine speed in revolutions per minute (rpm). To protect the engine from damage, never drive with the tachometer needle in the red zone.

Odometer

The odometer shows the total distance your vehicle has been driven. It measures miles in U.S. models and kilometers in Canadian models. It is illegal under U.S. federal law and Canadian provincial regulations to disconnect, reset, or alter the odometer with the intent to change the number of miles or kilometers indicated.

Page 79

Gauges

Main Menu

Table of Contents

Trip Meter

SELECT BUTTON

RESET BUTTON

This meter shows the number of miles (U.S.) or kilometers (Canada) driven since you last reset it.

There are two trip meters: Trip A and Trip B. Switch between these displays by pressing the Select button repeatedly. Each trip meter works independently, so you can keep track of two different distances. When you turn the ignition switch ON (II), what you last selected is

displayed.

To reset a trip meter, display it, and then press and hold the Reset button until the number resets to ‘‘0.0’’. Both trip meters will reset if the vehicle’s battery goes dead or is disconnected.

Temperature Gauge

This shows the temperature of the engine’s coolant. During normal operation, the pointer should rise from the bottom blue mark to about the middle of the gauge. In severe driving conditions, such as very hot weather or a long period of uphill driving, the pointer may rise to the upper white mark. If it reaches the red (Hot) mark, pull safely to the side of the road. Turn to page for

371

instructions and precautions on checking the engine’s cooling system.

Fuel Gauge

This shows how much fuel you have. It is most accurate when the vehicle is on level ground. It may show slightly more or less than the actual amount when you are driving on curvy or hilly roads.

The needle returns to the bottom after you turn off the ignition. The gauge shows the fuel level reading immediately after you turn the ignition switch back ON (II).

Avoid driving with an extremely low fuel level. Running out of fuel could cause the engine to misfire, damaging the catalytic converter.

Instruments and Controls

Page 80

Gauges

Main Menu

Table of Contents

Maintenance Required Indicator

MAINTENANCE REQUIRED INDICATOR

This indicator reminds you that it is time to take your vehicle in for scheduled maintenance. Refer to the Maintenance Schedules for Normal and Severe Driving Conditions on pages and .

Instruments and Controls

298 300

For the first 6,000 miles (9,600 km) after the Maintenance Required Indicator is reset, it will come on for two seconds when you turn the ignition switch to ON (II).

Between 6,000 miles (9,600 km) and 7,500 miles (12,000 km) this indicator will light for two seconds when you first turn the ignition switch to ON (II), and then flash for ten seconds.

If you exceed 7,500 miles (12,000 km) without having the scheduled maintenance performed, this indicator will remain on as a constant reminder.

Your dealer will reset this indicator after completing the scheduled maintenance. If this maintenance is done by someone other than your Acura dealer, reset the indicator as follows.

Page 81

SELECT BUTTON

Main Menu

Table of Contents

RESET BUTTON

Turn of f the engine.

Press and hold the select and reset

2. buttons on the instrument panel, then turn the ignition switch ON (II).

Hold the buttons for

3. approximately ten seconds until the indicator resets.

Gauges

Instruments and Controls

Page 82

Controls Near the Steering Wheel

Main Menu

Table of Contents

Thetwoleversonthesteering column contain controls for driving features you use most often. The left lever controls the turn signals, headlights, and high beams. The right lever controls the windshield washers and wipers.

The switches for the hazard warning lights and rear window defogger are located to the right of the steering column.

The controls under the left air vent areforthecruisecontrol,the moonroof, the fog lights, and the VSA light.

The tilt adjustment lever on the underside of the steering column allows you to tilt the steering wheel.

＊

To use the horn, press the pad around the ‘‘A’’ logo.

Instruments and Controls

HEADLIGHTS/ TURN SIGNALS (P.79/83)

FOG LIGHTS

(P.88)

VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST SYSTEM OFF SWITCH (P.267)

CRUISE CONTROL

(P.216)

MOONROOF SWITCH

(P.114)

REMOTE AUDIO CONTROLS (P.181)

STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENT

BRIGHTNESS

(P.82)

HORN

(P.89)

＊

CRUISE CONTROL (P.216)

VTM-4 LOCKINSTRUMENT PANEL (P.259)

LIGHT CONTROL SWITCH (P.128)

WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS (P.83/87)

REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER

(P.88)

PASSENGER AIRBAG CUTOFF INDICATOR (P.58)

HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS (P.87)

Page 83

Controls Near the Steering Wheel

Main Menu

Table of Contents

Headlights

The rotating switch on the left lever controls the lights. Turning this switch to the ‘‘ ’’ position turns on the parking lights, taillights, instrument panel lights, side-marker lights, and rear license plate lights. Turning the switch to the ‘‘ ’’ position turns on the headlights.

If you leave the lights on with the ignition switch in ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0), you will hear a reminder chime when you open the driver’s door.

On vehicles with automatic lighting

When the light switch is in either of these positions, the Lights On indicator comes on as a reminder. This light remains on if you leave the light switch on and turn the ignition switch to ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0).

To change between low beams and high beams, pull the turn signal lever until you hear a click, then let go. The blue high beam indicator will light (see page ).

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To flash the high beams, pull the turn signal lever back lightly, then release it. The high beams will come onand go off.

The high beams will stay on for as long as you hold the lever back, no matter what position the headlight switch is in.

Instruments and Controls

Automatic Lighting

AUTO POSITION

On Touring Model

The Automatic Lighting feature turns on the headlights, all other exterior lights, and the instrument panel lights when it senses low ambient light.

To turn on automatic lighting, turn the light switch to AUTO at any time. The lights will come on automatically when the outside light level becomes low (at dusk, for example). The Lights On indicator comes on as a reminder. The lights and indicator will turn of f automatically when the system senses high ambient light.

The lights will remain on when you turn off the ignition switch. They will turn off automatically when you open the driver’s door. To turn them on again, either turn the ignition switch to ON (II) or turn the light switch to

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Even with the automatic lighting feature turned on, we recommend thatyouturnonthelightsmanually when driving at night or in a dense fog, or when you enter dark areas, such as long tunnels or parking structures.

Do not leave the light switch in AUTO if you will not be driving the vehicle for an extended period (a weekormore).Youshouldalsoturn off the lights if you plan to leave the

LIGHT SENSOR

engine idling or the engine of f for a long time. The automatic lighting feature is

controlledbyasensorlocatedontop of the dashboard. Do not cover this sensor or spill liquids on it.

Automatic Lighting Off Feature

Without Touring Package

The Automatic Lighting Off f eature turns off the headlights, fog lights, parking lights, taillights, side marker lights, license plate lights and instrument panel lights within 15 seconds of removing the key from the ignition switch and closing the driver’s door.

This feature activates if you leave the headlight switch in the or

position, remove the key, open, then close the driver’s door. If you remove the key from the ignition switch with the headlight switch on, but do not open the door and get out, the lights will turn off after 10 minutes.

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The lights will turn on again when you unlock or open the driver’s door. If you unlock the door, but do not open it within 15 seconds, the lights will go off. With the driver’s door open, you will hear a lights-on reminder chime.

Instruments and Controls

(Canadian Models)

With the headlight switch off, the high beam headlights come on with reduced brightness when you turn the ignition switch to ON (II) and release the parking brake. They remain on until you turn the ignition off, even if you set the parking brake.

The headlights revert to normal operation when you turn them on with the switch.

Instrument Panel BrightnessDaytime Running Lights

INSTRUMENT PANEL BRIGHTNESS CONTROL DIAL

The dial on the instrument panel controls the brightness of the instrument panel lights. Turn the dial to adjust the brightness.

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Turn Signals Windshield Wipers

To signal a lane change, push lightly on the turn signal lever in the proper

Without Touring Package

direction and hold it. The lever will return to the center position as soon as you release it.

TURN SIGNAL LEVER

Signal a turn or lane change with this lever. Push down on the lever to signal a left turn, and up to signal a right turn. If you push it up or down all the way, the turn signal continues to blink even when you release the lever. It shuts off automatically as you complete the turn.

The right lever controls the windshield wipers and washers. The rotary switch at the end of the lever has three positions;

INT: intermittent

: low speed

: high speed

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If you turn the INT TIME ring to the shortest delay, the wipers will change from intermittent to low speed operation when vehicle speed exceeds 12 mph (20 km/h).

In intermittent, the wipers operate every few seconds. You can vary how often the wipers sweep the windshield by turning the INT TIME ring next to the rotary switch. The sweep interval will change slightly with speed; getting shorter as you drive faster. In low speed and high speed the wipers run continuously.

Instruments and Controls

To operate the wipers in mist mode, push the control lever down. The wipers run at high speed until you release the lever. This gives you a quick way to clear the windshield.

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Automatic Wipers

Touring Model

The automatic wiper system senses rainfall and automatically turns on the windshield wipers. To ehable sensing, turn the rotary switch at the end of the wiper lever to AUTO.

When the system senses rainfall, it turns on the windshield wipers and varies their speed (intermittent, low speed, or high speed) depending on how hard it is raining.

Whentherotaryswitchisinthe (low speed) or (high speed) position, the windshield wipers run at that speed. Automatic sensing is disabled.

You can adjust the sensitivity of the system by turning the AUTO SENS ring next to the rotary switch.

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RAINFALL SENSOR

If you try to clean the windshield around the rainfall sensor using a cloth soaked with water with the ignition switch in the ON (II) position and the wiper switch in the AUTO position, the wiper may operate unexpectedly and you may get injured. Make sure to turn off the wipers before you wash your vehicle.

To operate the wipers in mist mode, push the control lever down. The wipers run at high speed until you release the lever. This gives you a quick way to clear the windshield.

Instruments and Controls

The rainfall sensor is located in the windshield near the rearview mirror. If the sensor is covered with mud, oil, dust, etc., the wipers may not operate properly or may operate unexpectedly.

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Hazard WarningRear Window Wiper and WasherWindshield Washers

To clean the windshield, pull back on the wiper control lever. The washers spray until you release the lever. The wipers run at low speed while you’re pulling the lever, then complete one more sweep of the windshield after you release it.

The rear window wiper switch is located next to the windshield wiper switch.

To activate the rear windshield wiper, turn the switch ‘‘ON’’. The wiper operates intermittently. If you wish to use the wiper and washer, turn and hold the switch one position up from ‘‘ON’’.

Push the red button to the right of the display to turn on the hazard warning lights (f our-way flashers). This causes all four outside turn signals and both indicators in the instrument panel to flash. Use the hazard warning lights if you need to park in a dangerous area near heavy traf fic, or if your vehicle is disabled.

Instruments and Controls

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Rear Window Defogger Fog Lights

Make sure the rear window is clear and you have good visibility before starting to drive.

Thedefoggerwiresontheinsideof the rear window can be accidentally damaged. When cleaning the glass, always wipe side to side.

The rear window defogger will clear fog,frost,andthinicefromthe window. Push the defogger button to turn it on and of f . The light above the button lights to show the defogger is on. If you do not turn it off , the defogger will shut itself off after about 15 minutes. It also shuts off when you turn off the ignition. You have to turn it on again when you restart the vehicle.

Instruments and Controls

Turn the fog lights on and off by pressing the button. The indicator in the button lights to show the f og lights are on.

You can use the fog lights only when the headlights are on low beam. They will go of f when you turn the headlights of f or onto high beam.

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Steering Wheel Adjustment

See page for important safety information about how to properly position the steering wheel.

Make any steering wheel adjustment before you start driving.

Adjusting the steering wheel position while driving may cause you to lose control of the vehicle and be seriously injured inacrash.

Adjust the steering wheel only when the vehicle is stopped.

To adjust the steering wheel upward or downward:

Push the lever under the steering

1. column all the way down.

Move the steering wheel to the

2. desired position, making sure the wheel points toward your chest, not toward your f ace. Make sure you can see the instrument panel gauges and the indicator lights.

Push the lever up to lock the

3. steering wheel in that position.

Make sure you have securely

4. locked the steering wheel in place by trying to move it up and down.

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Keys

KEY NUMBER TAG

MASTER KEYS (BLACK)

Your vehicle comes with two master keys and a valet key. The master key fits all the locks on your vehicle:

• Ignition

• Driver’s Door

•Glovebox

Instruments and Controls

VALET KEY (GRAY)

The valet key works only in the ignition and the door locks. You can keepthegloveboxlockedwhenyou leave your vehicle and valet key at a parking facility.

Youshouldhavereceivedakey number tag with your keys. You will need this key number if you ever have to get a lost key replaced. Keep the tag stored in a safe place. If you need to replace a key, use only an Acura-approved key blank.

These keys contain electronic circuits that are activated by the Immobilizer System. They will not work to start the engine if the circuits are damaged.

Protect the keys from direct sunlight, high temperature, and high humidity.

Donotdropthekeysorsetheavy objects on them.

Keep the keys away from liquids. If they get wet, dry them immediately with a soft cloth.

The keys do not contain batteries. Do not try to take them apart.

Remote Transmitter

Your vehicle also comes with two remote transmitters; see page for

an explanation of their operation.

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Immobilizer System

The Immobilizer System protects your vehicle f rom theft. A properlycoded master or valet key must be used in the ignition switch for the engine to start. If an improperlycoded key (or other device) is used, the engine’s fuel system is disabled.

When you turn the ignition switch to ON (II), the Immobilizer System indicator should come on for a few seconds, then go out. If the indicator starts to blink, it means the system does not recognize the coding of the key. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK (0), remove the key, reinsert it, and turn the switch to ON (II) again.

The system may not recognize your key’s coding if another immobilizer key or other metal object is near the ignition switch when you insert the key. To make sure the system recognizes the key code:

Do not keep other immobilizer keys on the same key ring.

Use a plastic or leather key fob, not metal.

Keep other keys away from your vehicle’s key and the ignition switch while trying to start the engine.

If the system repeatedly does not recognize the coding of your key, contact your Acura dealer.

The Immobilizer System indicator will also blink several times when you turn the ignition switch from ON (II) to ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0).

Do not attempt to alter this system or add other devices to it. Electrical problems could result that may make your vehicle undriveable.

If you have lost your key and you cannot start the engine, contact your Acura dealer.

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As required by the FCC: This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmf ul interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

This device complies with Industry Canada Standard RSS-210. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.

Instruments and Controls

The ignition switch is on the right side of the steering column. It has four positions:

•LOCK(0)

• ACCESSORY (I)

• ON (II)

• START (III)

LOCK (0)Ignition Switch

−

You can insert or remove the key only in this position. To switch from ACCESSORY to LOCK, you must push the key in slightly as you turn it. The shift lever must also be in Park. The anti-theft lock will lock the steering column when you remove the key.

If the front wheels are turned, the anti-theft lock may sometimes make it difficult to turn the key from LOCK to ACCESSORY. Firmly turn the steering wheel to the left or to the right as you turn the key.

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ACCESSORY (I)

− Use this position

you can operate the audio system and the accessory power socket.

ON (II)

−

This is the normal key position when driving. All features and accessories on the vehicle are usable. Several of the lights on the instrument panel come on as a test when you turn the ignition switch from ACCESSORY to ON.

In this position,

START (III) Power Door Locks

−

only to start the engine. The switch returns to ON (II) when you let go of

MASTER DOOR LOCK SWITCH

the key.

The engine will not start if the Immobilizer System does not recognize the key’s coding (see page

You will hear a reminder beeper if you leave the key in the ignition switch in the LOCK (0) or ACCESSORY (I) position and open thedriver’sdoor.Removethekeyto turn off the beeper.

Each front door has a master door lock switch. Either switch locks and unlocks all doors and the tailgate. Push the switch down to lock all doors and the tailgate, and up to unlock them.

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Each door has a lock tab on the top. Whenyoupushdownthelocktabon the driver’s door, all the doors and the tailgate lock. Pulling up the lock tab on the driver’s door unlocks only that door. The lock tabs on the other doors lock and unlock only that door.

To lock the front passenger’s door when getting out of the vehicle, push the lock tab down and close the door. To lock the driver’s door, along with

Instruments and Controls

LOCK TAB

the remaining doors and the tailgate, push the lock tab down or push the master switch down, then close the door.

All doors and the tailgate can be locked from the outside by using the key in the driver’s door. To unlock only the driver’s door from the outside, turn the key and release it. If you turn the key and hold it, all doors and the tailgate will unlock.

Lockout Prevention

If you forget and leave the key in the ignition switch, Lockout Prevention will not allow you to lock the driver’s door. With the driver’s door open andthekeyintheignition,both master door lock switches are disabled. However, if the driver’s door is not open, the master door lock switches are not disabled. Pushing the switch down on the open passenger’s door will lock all doors. If you try to lock an open driver’s door by pushing down the lock tab, the tabs on all doors pop up. Pushingdownthelocktabonthe passenger’s door only locks that door.

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Remote Transmitter

LED

UNLOCK BUTTON

You can lock and unlock your vehicle with the remote transmitter. When you push the LOCK button, all doors and the tailgate lock. The parking lights, side marker lights, taillights and instrument panel lights flash once.

LOCK BUTTON

PANIC BUTTON

When you push the LOCK button a second time within 5 seconds after you have locked the doors, you will hear a beep to verify that the security system has set.

When you push the UNLOCK button once, only the driver’s door unlocks. The remaining doors and the tailgate unlock when you push the button a second time. The parking lights, side marker lights, taillights and instrument panel lights flash twice when you push the button.

When you press the UNLOCK button, the front and rear individual map lights and the cargo area light, depending on their switch positions, will come on (see page ). If you

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do not open any door or the tailgate, the lights stay on for about 30 seconds, then go out. If you relock thedoorsandthetailgatewiththe remote transmitter before 30 seconds have elapsed, the lights will

go off immediately.

If you unlock the doors and the tailgate with the remote transmitter, but do not open any door or the tailgate within 30 seconds, all doors and the tailgate automatically relock.

You cannot lock the doors and the tailgate with the remote transmitter if any door or the tailgate is not fully closed. You cannot lock or unlock thedoorsandthetailgatewiththe key in the ignition switch.

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Panic Mode Replacing the Battery

Panic mode allows you to remotely activate your vehicle’s horn and lights to attract attention. When activated, the horn will sound, and the headlights, parking lights, side marker lights, taillights and instrument panel lights will f lash for about 30 seconds. To activate panic mode,pressandholdthePANIC button for about one second.

To cancel Panic mode before 30 seconds, press any button on the remote transmitter. You can also turn the ignition switch to ON (II).

Panic mode will not activate if the key is in the ON (II) position.

When the remote transmitter’s battery begins to get weak, it may take several pushes on the button to lock or unlock the doors and the tailgate, and the LED will get dim. Replace the battery as soon as possible.

Battery type: CR2025

To replace the battery, place a cloth on the edge of the transmitter and remove the upper half by carefully prying on the edge with a small flattip screwdriver.

Instruments and Controls

Acura MDX 2003 Owner's Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual