Acura MDX 2008 User Manual

2008 MDX

Owner’s Manual (Unlinked)

This document does not contain hyperlinks and may be formatted for printing instead of web us. This is due to changes in content and specifications of the vehicle that happen throughout the model year. This manual will be replaced with a hyperlinked version at the end of the model year.

© 2007 Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

P/N 00X31-STX-6102

Owner s Identification

OWNER

ADDRESS

STREET

CITY

STATE/PROVINCE

ZIP CODE/

V. I. N.

POSTAL CODE

DELIVERY DATE

(Date sold to original retail purchaser)

DEALER NAME

DEALER NO.

ADDRESS

STREET

CITY

STATE/PROVINCE

ZIP CODE/

OWNER’S SIGNATURE

POSTAL CODE

DEALER’S SIGNATURE

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

This Owner’s Manual covers all models of the MDX. You may find descriptions of equipment and features that are not on your particular model.

The information 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 specifications 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 fran ais, veuillez demander votre concessionnaire de commander le numØro de piŁce 33STXC10

Introduction

Congratulations! Your selection of a 2008 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 vehicle is to read this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls and convenience items. Afterwards, keep this owner’s manual in your vehicle so you can refer to it at any time.

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

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

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

i

Introduction

California Proposition 65 Warning

WARNING: This product contains or emits chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

Event Data Recorders

This vehicle is equipped with one or more devices commonly referred to as event data recorders. These devices record front seat belt use, front passenger seat occupancy, airbag deployment data, and the failure of any airbag system component. This data belongs to the vehicle owner and may not be accessed by anyone else except as legally required or with the permission of the vehicle owner.

Service Diagnostic Recorders

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

ii

A Few Words About Safety

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

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

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

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

Safety Labels on the vehicle.

Safety Messages preceded by a safety alert symbol and one of three signal words: DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION.

These signal words mean:

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.

Safety Headings such as Important Safety Reminders or Important Safety Precautions.

Safety Section such as Driver and Passenger Safety. Instructions how to use this vehicle correctly and safely.

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

iii

Important Handling Information

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 338 of this manual and the Off-Highway Driving Guidelines section on page 377 . Failure to operate your vehicle correctly might result in loss of control or an accident.

iv

Contents

Your Vehicle at a Glance (main controls) ...............................................................................................	. 3
Driver and Passenger Safety (seat belts, SRS, and child protection) ............................................................	. 5
Instruments and Controls (indicators, gauges, multi-information display, dashboard, and steering column) .......	. 61
Features (climate control, audio, rear entertainment, steering wheel, security, cruise control, and other convenience items)......	. 169
Before Driving (fuel, vehicle break-in, and cargo loading) .......................................................................	. 321
Driving (engine and transmission operation).........................................................................................	. 337
Maintenance (minder, fluid checking, minor services, and vehicle storage).................................................	. 381
Taking Care of the Unexpected (flat tire, dead battery, overheating, and fuses) .........................................	. 423
Technical Information (vehicle specifications, tires, and emissions controls)..............................................	. 449
Warranty and Client Relations (U.S. and Canada only) (warranty and contact information) .......................	. 465
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only) (how to order) ..................................................................................	. 469
Index ................................................................................................................................................	. I
Service Information Summary (fluid capacities and tire pressures) ...................................................	last page
	1

INDEX

Overview of Contents

Contents

A convenient reference to the sections in this manual.

Your Vehicle at a Glance

A quick reference to the main controls in your vehicle.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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

Instruments and Controls

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

Features

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

2

Before Driving

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

Driving

The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park; plus what you need to know if you’re planning to tow a trailer.

Maintenance

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

Taking Care of the Unexpected

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

Technical Information

ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.

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

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

Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)

How to order manuals and other technical literature.

Index

Service Information Summary

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

Your Vehicle at a Glance

DRIVER’S FRONT	INSTRUMENT PANEL	HomeLink BUTTONS	MOONROOF SWITCH MIRROR CONTROL
AIRBAG(P.9, 27)	INDICATORS (P.63)	(P.276)	(P.152)	AUTO BUTTON
DRIVING POSITION	GAUGES (P.72)			(P.154)
MEMORY SYSTEM				PASSENGER’S
(P.157)
				FRONT AIRBAG
POWER DOOR LOCK				(P.9, 27)
MASTER SWITCH				CLIMATE CONTROL
(P.130)
PARKING BRAKE				SYSTEM (P.170)
RELEASE HANDLE				AUDIO SYSTEM
(P.153)
				(P.180)
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES				AUTOMATIC
(P.149)
				TRANSMISSION
FUEL FILL DOOR				(P.341)
RELEASE BUTTON
(P.323)				REAR CLIMATE
POWER TAILGATE				CONTROL SYSTEM
				(P.175)
BUTTON (P.132)
HOOD RELEASE	PARKING BRAKE	AUXILIARY INPUT JACKS		HEADPHONE CONNECTORS
HANDLE (P.325)	PEDAL (P.153)	(P.267)		(P.268)
: If equipped				CONTINUED

3

Vehicle Your a at Glance

Your Vehicle at a Glance

	HEADLIGHT WASHER		HEADLIGHT/TURN SIGNAL/		STEERING WHEEL	WINDSHIELD	INSTRUMENT PANEL
			FRONT FOG LIGHTS		AUDIO CONTROLS	WIPERS/WASHERS	BRIGHTNESS
	SWITCH 2
	(P.117)		(P.118)		(P.233)	(P.116)	(P.123)
							PASSENGER AIRBAG
	VEHICLE STABILITY
							OFF INDICATOR
	ASSIST SYSTEM						(P.34)
	OFF SWITCH						HAZARD WARNING
	(P.360)
	MIRROR CONTROLS						BUTTON
							(P.122)
	(P.155)						REAR WINDOW
	DRIVING POSITION						DEFOGGER
	MEMORY SYSTEM						(P.122)
	(P.157)						ACCESSORY POWER
	POWER DOOR LOCK						SOCKETS
	MASTER SWITCH						(P.166)
	(P.130)
	PARKING BRAKE
	RELEASE HANDLE						SEAT HEATER
	(P.153)
					1		SWITCHES
	POWER WINDOW				HORN		(P.148)
	SWITCHES						ACTIVE DAMPER
	(P.149)
		POWER TAILGATE		HOOD RELEASE	STEERING WHEEL	CRUISE CONTROL	SYSTEM SWITCH 2
	FUEL FILL DOOR						(P.361)
	RELEASE BUTTON	BUTTON 2		HANDLE	ADJUSTMENTS	BUTTONS
	(P.323)	(P.132)		(P.325)	(P.124)	(P.270)

1: To use the horn, press the center pad of the steering wheel.2: If equipped

4

Driver and Passenger Safety

This section gives you important		Additional Information About		All Children Should Sit in a
information about how to protect		Your Seat Belts ........................	20	Back Seat ..................................	38
yourself and your passengers. It		Seat Belt System Components...	20	The Passenger’s Front Airbag
shows you how to use seat belts. It		Lap/Shoulder Belt.......................	21	Can Pose Serious Risks ..........	38
explains how your airbags work. And		Automatic Seat Belt		If You Must Drive with Several
it tells you how to properly restrain		Tensioners................................	22	Children ....................................	40
infants and children in your vehicle.		Seat Belt Maintenance ................	23	If a Child Requires Close
		Additional Information About		Attention ...................................	40
		Your Airbags ............................	24	Additional Safety Precautions....	41
		Airbag System Components.......	24	Protecting infants and
Important Safety Precautions	6	How Your Front Airbags		Small Children..........................	42
		Work..........................................	27	Protecting Infants........................	42
Your Vehicle’s Safety Features.......	. 7	How Your Side Airbags Work....	30	Protecting Small Children ..........	43
Seat Belts .......................................	. 8	How Your Side Curtain Airbags		Selecting a Child Seat......................	45
Airbags...........................................	. 9	Work..........................................	32	Installing a Child Seat .....................	46
Protecting Adults and Teens..........	11	How the SRS Indicator Works...	33	With LATCH................................	47
1. Close and Lock the Doors ......	11	How The Side Airbag Off		With a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt..	50
2. Adjust the Front Seats ............	12	Indicator Works.......................	33	With a Tether...............................	51
3. Adjust the Seat-Backs .............	13	How the Passenger Airbag		Protecting Larger Children ............	54
4. Adjust the Head Restraints ....	14	Off Indicator Works................	34	Checking Seat Belt Fit ................	54
5. Fasten and Position the Seat		Airbag Service..............................	35	Using a Booster Seat ...................	55
Belts ......................................	15	Additional Safety Precautions....	35	When Can a Child Sit in Front ...	56
6. Maintain a Proper Sitting		Protecting Children General		Additional Safety Precautions....	57
Position .................................	17	Guidelines.................................	37	Carbon Monoxide Hazard ..............	58
Advice for Pregnant Women......	18	All Children Must Be		Safety Labels ....................................	59
Additional Safety Precautions....	19	Restrained ................................	37
					5

and Driver Saf Passenger

ety

Important Safety Precautions

You’ll find many safety recommendations throughout this section, and throughout this manual. The recommendations on this page are the ones we consider to be the most important.

Always Wear Your Seat Belt

A seat belt is your best protection in all types of collisions. Airbags are designed to supplement seat belts, not replace them. So even though your vehicle is equipped with airbags, make sure you and your passengers always wear your seat belts, and wear them properly (see page 15 ).

Restrain All Children

Children age 12 and under should ride properly restrained in a back seat, not the front seat. Infants and small children should be restrained in a child seat. Larger children should use a booster seat and a lap/ shoulder belt until they can use the belt properly without a booster seat (see pages 37 57 ).

Be Aware of Airbag Hazards

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

Don tDrink and Drive

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

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

Control Your Speed

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

Keep Your Vehicle in Safe Condition

Having a tire blowout or a mechanical failure can be extremely hazardous. To reduce the possibility of such problems, check your tire pressures and condition frequently, and perform all regularly scheduled maintenance (see page 415 ).

6

Your Vehicle sSafety Features

(1) (4) (9)

(3)

(7)

	(6)		(8)	(2)
			(10)
(5)	(11)	(1) Safety Cage
		(2) Crush Zones
		(3) Seats and Seat-Backs
	(2)	(4) Head Restraints
		(5) Collapsible Steering Column

(6) Seat Belts

(7) Front Airbags

(8) Side Airbags

(9) Side Curtain Airbags

(10) Front Seat Belt Tensioners

(11) Door Locks

	Your vehicle is equipped with many
	features that work together to
	protect you and your passengers
	during a crash.	Driver
	Some features do not require any
	action on your part. These include a	and
	strong steel framework that forms a
		Passenger
	safety cage around the passenger
	compartment, front and rear crush
	zones, a collapsible steering column,
	and tensioners that tighten the front	Saf
	seat belts in a crash.
		ety
	However, you and your passengers
	can’t take full advantage of these
	features unless you remain sitting in
	a proper position and always wear
	your seat belts. In fact, some safety
	features can contribute to injuries if
	they are not used properly.
	The following pages explain how you
	can take an active role in protecting
	yourself and your passengers.

7

Your Vehicle sSafety Features

Seat Belts

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

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

Why Wear Seat Belts

Seat belts are the single most effective safety device for adults and larger children. (Infants and smaller children must be properly restrained in child seats.)

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

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

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

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

When properly worn, seat belts:

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

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

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

Keep you from being thrown out of the vehicle.

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

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

What you should do: Always wear your seat belt, and make sure you wear it properly.

8

Your Vehicle sSafety Features

Airbags

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

27 for more information on how your front airbags work).

Your vehicle also has side airbags to help protect the upper torso of the driver or a front seat passenger during a moderate to severe side impact (see page 30 for more information on how your side airbags work).

and Driver

Saf Passenger

ety In addition, your vehicle has side

curtain airbags to help protect the heads of the driver, front passenger, and passengers in the outer rear seating positions during a moderate to severe side impact or rollover (see page 32 for more information on how your side curtain airbags work).

CONTINUED

9

Your Vehicle sSafety Features

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

Airbags do not replace seat belts.

They are designed to supplement the seat belts.

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

Airbags can pose serious hazards.

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

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

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

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

10

Protecting Adults and Teens

Introduction

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

See pages 37 41 for important guidelines on how to properly protect infants, small children, and larger children who ride in your vehicle.

1. Close and Lock the Doors

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

Your vehicle has a door and tailgate monitor on the multi-information display to indicate when a specific door or the tailgate is not tightly closed. You will see the appropriate indicator and the message for each condition.

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

				Driverand PassengerSaf ety
When the tailgate is not tightly
closed, the ‘‘TAILGATE OPEN’’
message will come on.

CONTINUED

11

Protecting Adults and Teens

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

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

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

Your vehicle has the auto door locking/unlocking feature. For more information, see page 130 .

2.Adjust the Front Seats

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

12

Protecting Adults and Teens

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada recommend that drivers allow at least 10 inches (25 cm) between the center of the steering wheel and the chest. In addition to adjusting the seat, you can adjust the steering wheel up and down, and in and out (see page 124 ).

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

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

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

See page 140 for how to adjust the front seats.

3.Adjust the Seat-Backs

and Driver

Saf Passenger

ety Adjust the driver’s seat-back to a comfortable, upright position,

leaving ample space between your chest and the airbag cover in the center of the steering wheel.

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

CONTINUED

13

Protecting Adults and Teens

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

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

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

See page 140 for how to adjust the seat-backs.

4.Adjust the Head Restraints

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

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

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

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

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

See page 141 for how to adjust the head restraints and how the driver’s and front passenger’s active head restraints work.

14

Protecting Adults and Teens

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

The second row center seat, and both third row seats, have a detachable shoulder belt that can be unlatched and retracted, to allow the seats to be folded down. See page 146 for how to unlatch and relatch the seat belts.

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

	If necessary, pull up on the belt again
	to remove any slack, then check that
	the belt rests across the center of
	your chest and over your shoulder.				Driver
	This spreads the forces of a crash
	over the strongest bones in your				and
	upper body.
					Passenger
	Improperly positioning the seat
					Saf
	belts can cause serious injury
					ety
	or death in a crash.

Make sure all seat belts are properly positioned before driving.

CONTINUED

15

Protecting Adults and Teens

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

RELEASE

BUTTON

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

Never place the shoulder portion of a

lap/shoulder belt under your arm or behind your back. This could cause very serious injuries in a crash.

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

No one should sit in a seat with an

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

See page 20 for additional information about your seat belts and how to take care of them.

16

Protecting Adults and Teens

6.Maintain a Proper Sitting Position

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

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

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

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

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

17

and Driver Saf Passenger

ety

Protecting Adults and Teens

Advice for Pregnant Women

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

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

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

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

18

Protecting Adults and Teens

Additional Safety Precautions

Never let passengers ride in the

cargo area or on top of a foldeddown back seat. If they do, they could be very seriously injured in a crash.

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, against other occupants, or out of the vehicle.

Two people should never use the same seat belt. If they do, they could be very seriously injured in a crash.

Do not put any accessories on seat belts. Devices intended to improve occupant comfort or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can reduce the protective capability of the belt and increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.

Do not place hard or sharp objects

between yourself and a front airbag. Carrying hard or sharp objects on your lap, or driving with a pipe or other sharp object in your mouth, can result in injuries if your front airbag inflates.

Keep your hands and arms away from the airbag covers. If your hands or arms are close to an

airbag cover, they could be injured if the airbag inflates.

Do not attach or place objects on the front airbag covers. Objects on the covers marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG’’ could interfere with the proper operation of the airbags or be propelled inside the vehicle and hurt someone if the airbags inflate.

Do not attach hard objects on or near a door. If a side airbag or a side curtain airbag inflates, a cup holder or other hard object attached on or near the door could be propelled inside the vehicle and hurt someone.

19

and Driver Saf Passenger

ety

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

Seat Belt System Components

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.

This system uses the same sensors as the front airbags to monitor whether the front seat belts are latched or unlatched, and how much weight is on the front passenger’s seat (see pages 29 and 30 ).

The seat belt system includes an indicator on the

instrument panel and a beeper to remind you and your passengers to fasten your seat belts.

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

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

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

You will also see a ‘‘FASTEN SEAT BELT’’ or ‘‘FASTEN PASSENGER SEAT BELT’’ message on the multiinformation display (see page 81 ).

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

20

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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

Any items under the front passenger’s seat.

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

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

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

Lap/Shoulder Belt

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

To fasten the belt, insert the latch plate into the buckle, then tug on the belt to make sure the buckle is latched (see page 15 for how to properly position the belt).

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

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

The seat belts in all positions except the driver’s have a lockable retractor that must be activated to secure a child seat (see page 50 ).

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

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

CONTINUED

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Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

DETACHABLE ANCHOR

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 seat belt should normally be latched whenever the seat-backs are in an upright position. For more information about the detachable seat belt, see page 144 .

Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners

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

The tensioners are designed to activate in any collision severe enough to cause the front airbags to deploy, or if a sensor detects your vehicle is about to roll over (see page 32 ).

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

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

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

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Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

Seat Belt Maintenance

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

Pull each belt out fully, and look for frays, cuts, burns, and wear. Check that the latches work smoothly and the belts retract easily. If a belt does not retract easily, cleaning the belt may correct the problem (see page 409 ). Any belt that is not in good condition or working properly will not provide good protection and should be replaced as soon as possible.

Acura provides a limited warranty on seat belts. See your Acura Warranty Information booklet for details.

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

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

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

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

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

Airbag System Components

(6)

(1)

(11)

(8)

(5)

(4)

(1)Driver’s Front Airbag

(2)Passenger’s Front Airbag

(3)Control Unit

(4)Front Seat Belt Tensioners

(5)Side Airbags

(6)Driver’s Seat Position Sensor

(7)Front Passenger’s Weight Sensors

(8)Passenger Airbag Off Indicator

(9)Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) Sensors

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

(11)SRS Indicator

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(2)

(3)

(5)

(10)

(9)

(7)

(4)