Acura MDX 2009 User Manual

2009 MDX

Owner’s Manual

(Unlinked)

This document does not contain hyperlinks and may be formatted for printing instead of web use. 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.

© 2008 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. P/N 00X31-STX-6200

08/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu

Owner's Identification

OWNER _________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS _______________________________________________________

STREET

_________________________________ _________________________________ ___________________

CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/

POSTAL CODE

V. I. N. ___________________________________________________________

DELIVERY DATE __________________________________________________

(Date sold to original retail purchaser)

DEALER NAME ___________________ DEALER NO. ___________________

ADDRESS _______________________________________________________

STREET

_________________________________ _________________________________ ___________________

CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/

POSTAL CODE

OWNER'S SIGNATURE ___________________________________________

DEALER'S SIGNATURE ___________________________________________

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

This Owner's Manual covers all models of 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 français, veuillez demander à
votre concessionnaire de
commander le numéro de pièce
33STXC20

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Introduction

Congratulations! Your selection of a 2009 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.

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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.

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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,orCAUTION.

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.

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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

control or an accident.

section on page 378. Failure to operate your vehicle correctly might result in loss of

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Contents

Your Vehicle at a Glance (main controls)

Driver and Passenger Safety (seat belts, SRS, and child protection)

Instruments and Controls (indicators, gauges, multi-information display, dashboard, and steering column)

Features (

Before Driving (fuel, vehicle break-in, and cargo loading)

Driving (engine and transmission operation)

Maintenance (minder, fluid checking, minor services, and vehicle storage)

Taking Care of the Unexpected (flat tire, dead battery, overheating, and fuses)

Technical Information (vehicle specifications, tires, and emissions controls)

Warranty and Client Relations (U.S. and Canada only) (warranty and contact information)

Index

Service Information Summary (fluid capacities and tire pressures)

climate control, audio, rear entertainment, steering wheel, security, cruise control, and other convenience items

..............................................................................................................................................................................

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)..169

321

337

381

423

449

465

last page

3

5

61

INDEX

I

1

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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.

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.

Index
Service Information Summary

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

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Your Vehicle at a Glance

DRIVER'S FRONT
AIRBAG (P. 9, 27)

DRIVING POSITION
MEMORY SYSTEM
(P. 157)

POWER DOOR LOCK
MASTER SWITCH
(P. 130)

PARKING BRAKE
RELEASE HANDLE
(P. 153)

POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
(P. 149)

FUEL FILL DOOR
RELEASE BUTTON
(P. 323)

POWER TAILGATE
BUTTON

ꭧ

(P. 132)

HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE (P. 325)

ꭧ: If equipped

INSTRUMENT PANEL
INDICATORS (P. 63)
GAUGES (P. 72)

PARKING BRAKE
PEDAL (P. 153)

®

HomeLink

BUTTONS

(P. 276)

AUXILIARY INPUT JACKS
(P. 267)

MOONROOF SWITCH
(P. 152)

ꭧ

HEADPHONE CONNECTORS
(P. 268)

MIRROR CONTROL
AUTO BUTTON

ꭧ

(P. 154)

PASSENGER'S
FRONT AIRBAG
(P. 9, 27)

CLIMATE CONTROL
SYSTEM (P. 170)

AUDIO SYSTEM
(P. 180)

AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
(P. 341)

REAR CLIMATE
CONTROL SYSTEM
(P. 175)

ꭧ

CONTINUED

Your Vehicle at a Glance

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Your Vehicle at a Glance

HEADLIGHT WASHER
SWITCH
(P. 117)

ꭧ2

HEADLIGHT/TURN SIGNAL/
FRONT FOG LIGHTS
(P. 118)

STEERING WHEEL
AUDIO CONTROLS
(P. 233)

VEHICLE STABILITY
ASSIST SYSTEM
OFF SWITCH
(P. 359)

MIRROR CONTROLS
(P. 155)

DRIVING POSITION
MEMORY SYSTEM
(P. 157)

POWER DOOR LOCK
MASTER SWITCH
(P. 130)

PARKING BRAKE
RELEASE HANDLE
(P. 153)

POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
(P. 149)

FUEL FILL DOOR
RELEASE BUTTON
(P. 323)

POWER TAILGATE
BUTTON

ꭧ2

(P. 132)

HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE
(P. 325)

STEERING WHEEL
ADJUSTMENTS
(P. 124)

ꭧ1: To use the horn, press the center pad of the steering wheel.
ꭧ2: If equipped

4

HORN

WINDSHIELD
WIPERS/WASHERS
(P. 116)

INSTRUMENT PANEL
BRIGHTNESS
(P. 123)

PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF INDICATOR
(P. 34)

HAZARD WARNING
BUTTON
(P. 122)

REAR WINDOW
DEFOGGER
(P. 122)

ACCESSORY POWER
SOCKETS
(P. 166)

ꭧ1

SEAT HEATER
SWITCHES
(P. 148)

CRUISE CONTROL
BUTTONS

ACTIVE DAMPER
SYSTEM SWITCH
(P. 361)

ꭧ2

(P. 270)

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Driver and Passenger Safety

This section gives you important
information about how to protect
yourself and your passengers. It shows
you how to use seat belts. It explains
how your airbags work. And it tells you
how to properly restrain infants and
children in your vehicle.

Important Safety Precautions
Your Vehicle's Safety Features

Seat Belts
Airbags

Protecting Adults and Teens

1. Close and Lock the Doors

2. Adjust the Front Seats

3. Adjust the Seat-Backs

4. Adjust the Head Restraints

5. Fasten and Position the Seat

6. Maintain a Proper Sitting

Advice for Pregnant Women
Additional Safety Precautions

Additional Information About Your

Seat Belt System Components

.....................................

........................................

Belts

...................................

Position

Seat Belts

...............................

...............................

.............

..........

...........

.........

..............

...............

.......

.........

.......

......

Lap/Shoulder Belt
Automatic Seat Belt

Tensioners

Seat Belt Maintenance

Additional Information About Your

Airbags
Airbag System Components
How Your Front Airbags

Work

6

How Your Side Airbags Work

7

How Your Side Curtain Airbags

8

9
11
11
12
13
14

15

17
18
19

20
20

Work
How the SRS Indicator Works
How the Side Airbag Off Indicator

Works
How the Passenger Airbag Off

Indicator Works
Airbag Service
Additional Safety Precautions

Protecting Children － General

Guidelines
All Children Must Be

Restrained
All Children Should Sit in a Back

Seat
The Passenger's Front Airbag Can

Pose Serious Risks

..............................

..................................

......................................

......................................

.....................................

.............................

..............................

...............................

........................................

.......................

.................

.........

.......

......

......................

.......

..................

21

22
23

24
24

27
30

32
33

33

34
35
35

37

37

38

38

If You Must Drive with Several

Children

If a Child Requires Close

Attention

Additional Safety Precautions

Protecting Infants and Small

Children
Protecting Infants
Protecting Small Children

Selecting a Child Seat
Installing a Child Seat

Installing a Child Seat with

LATCH
Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/

Shoulder Belt
Installing a Child Seat with a

Tether

Protecting Larger Children

Checking Seat Belt Fit
Using a Booster Seat
When Can a Larger Child Sit in

Front
Additional Safety Precautions

Carbon Monoxide Hazard
Safety Labels

.................................

...................................

....................................

......................................

..................................

.................................

.................................

.......

........................

............

.....................

.....................

..........................

.............

.................

....................

.......

...............

40

40
41

42
42
43
45
46

47

50

51
54
54
55

56
57
58
59

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

5

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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't Drink and Drive

Alcohol and driving don't mix. Even
one drink can reduce your ability to
respond to changing conditions, and
your reaction time gets worse with
every additional drink. So don't drink
and drive, and don't let your friends
drink and drive, either.

Control Your Speed

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

Keep Your Vehicle in Safe
Condition

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

6

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Your Vehicle's Safety Features

(7)

(5)

(3)

(1)

(2)

(9)(4)

(6)

(1) Safety Cage

(11)

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

(8)

(10)

(2)

Your vehicle is equipped with many
features that work together to protect
you and your passengers during a
crash.

Some features do not require any
action on your part. These include a
strong steel framework that forms a
safety cage around the passenger
compartment, front and rear crush
zones, a collapsible steering column,
and tensioners that tighten the front
seat belts in a crash.

However, you and your passengers
can't take full advantage of these
features unless you remain sitting in
a proper position and

your seat belts.

features can contribute to injuries if
they are not used properly.

The following pages explain how you
can take an active role in protecting
yourself and your passengers.

always wear

In fact, some safety

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

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Your Vehicle's Safety 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 impacts

–

side impacts

–

rear impacts

–

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

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Airbags

Your Vehicle's Safety Features

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

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).

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

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Your Vehicle's Safety 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

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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
open indicator on the multi­information 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.

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

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

CONTINUED

11

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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

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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

Driver and Passenger Saf 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

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Protecting Adults and Teens

4. Adjust the Head Restraints

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.

14

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.

08/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu

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.

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.

CONTINUED

15

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

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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

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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.

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

17

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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

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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.

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

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Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

Seat Belt System Components

Your seat belt system includes lap/
shoulder belts in all 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.

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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

21

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

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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 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

Information

booklet for details.

Acura Warranty

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.

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

Airbag System Components

(1) (11) (8)(6)

(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

24

(10)

(9)

(2)

(3)

(5)

(7) (4)

08/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu

(16)

(13)

(17)

(15)

(12) Front Impact Sensors
(13) Side Curtain Airbags
(14) Side Impact Sensors (First)
(15) Side Impact Sensors (Second)
(16) Roll Rate Sensor
(17) Safing Sensor

Additional Information About Your Airbags

Your Airbag System (SRS) includes:

●

Two SRS (Supplemental Restraint
System) front airbags. The driver's

(12)

(14)

airbag is stored in the center of the
steering wheel; the front
passenger's airbag is stored in the
dashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRS
AIRBAG’’ (see page 27).

●

Two side airbags, one for the
driver and one for a front
passenger. The airbags are stored
in the outer edges of the seat­backs. Both are marked ‘‘SIDE
AIRBAG’’ (see page 30).

●

Two side curtain airbags, one for
each side of the vehicle. The
airbags are stored in the roof
above the side windows. The front
and rear pillars are marked ‘‘SIDE
CURTAIN AIRBAG’’ (see page 32).

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

CONTINUED

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

●

Automatic front seat belt
tensioners (see page 22).

●

Sensors that can detect a moderate
to severe front impact, side impact,
or if your vehicle is about to
rollover.

●

Sensors that can detect whether a
child is in the passenger's side
airbag path and signal the control
unit to turn the airbag off (see
page 31).

●

Sensors that can detect whether
the driver's seat belt and the front
passenger's seat belt are latched or
unlatched (see page 20).

●

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

29).

●

Weight sensors that monitor the
weight on the front passenger's
seat. If the weight is about 65 lbs
(29 kg) or less (the weight of an
infant or small child), the
passenger's front airbag will be
turned off (see page 29).

●

A rollover sensor that can detect if
your vehicle is about to roll over
and signal the control unit to
deploy both side curtain airbags
and front seat belt tensioners (see
page 32).

●

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

●

An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you to a possible
problem with your airbags,
sensors, or seat belt tensioners
(see page 33).

●

An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you that the
passenger's side airbag has been
turned off (see page 33).

●

An indicator on the dashboard that
alerts you that the passenger's
front airbag has been turned off
(see page 34).

●

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

26

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

How Your Front Airbags Work

If you ever have a moderate to severe
frontal collision, sensors will detect
the vehicle's rapid deceleration.

If the rate of deceleration is high
enough, the control unit will instantly
inflate the driver's and front
passenger's airbags, at the time and
with the force needed.

During a frontal crash, your seat belt
restrains your lower body and torso,
and the front airbag helps protect
your head and chest.

Although both airbags normally
inflate within a split second of each
other, it is possible for only one
airbag to deploy.

This can happen if the severity of a
collision is at the margin, or
threshold, that determines whether
or not the airbags will deploy. In
such cases, the seat belt will provide
sufficient protection, and the
supplemental protection offered by
the airbag would be minimal.

Only the driver's airbag can deploy if
there is no passenger in the front
seat, or if the advanced airbag
system has turned the passenger's
airbag off (see page 34).

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

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.

CONTINUED

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

The total time for inflation and
deflation is one-tenth of a second, so
fast that most occupants are not
aware that the airbags deployed until
they see them lying in their laps.

After a crash, you may see what
looks like smoke. This is actually
powder from the airbag's surface.
Although the powder is not harmful,
people with respiratory problems
may experience some temporary
discomfort. If this occurs, get out of
the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so.

Dual-Stage Airbags

Your front airbags are dual-stage
airbags. This means they have two
inflation stages that can be ignited
sequentially or simultaneously,
depending on crash severity.

In a

more severe

crash, both stages
will ignite simultaneously to provide
the quickest and greatest protection.

In a

less severe

crash, one stage will
ignite first, then the second stage will
ignite a split second later. This
provides longer airbag inflation time
with a little less force.

Dual-Threshold Airbags

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

If the occupant's belt is

not latched,

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

If the occupant's belt is

latched,

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

28

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Advanced Airbags

Your front airbags are also advanced
airbags. The main purpose of this
feature is to help prevent airbag­caused injuries to short drivers and
children who ride in front.

For both advanced airbags to work
properly:

●

Occupants must sit upright and
wear their seat belts properly.

●

Do not spill any liquids on or
under the seats, cover the sensors,
or put any objects or metal items
under the front seats.

●

Second-row passengers should not
put their feet under the front seats.

Failure to follow these instructions
could damage the sensors or prevent
them from working properly.

The driver's advanced front airbag
system includes a seat position
sensor under the seat. If the seat is
too far forward, the airbag will inflate
with less force, regardless of the
severity of the impact.

If there is a problem with the sensor,
the SRS indicator will come on, and
the airbag will inflate in the normal
manner regardless of the driver's
seating position.

Additional Information About Your Airbags

DRIVER'S
SEAT
POSITION
SENSOR

PASSENGER'S
SEAT
WEIGHT
SENSOR

The passenger's advanced front
airbag system has weight sensors
under the seat. Although Acura does
not encourage carrying an infant or
small child in front, if the sensors
detect the weight of an infant or
small child (up to about 65 lbs or 29
kg), the system will automatically
turn the passenger's front airbag off.

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

CONTINUED

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

Be aware that objects placed on the
passenger's seat can also cause the
airbag to be turned off.

When the airbag is turned off, a
‘‘passenger airbag off’’ indicator in
the center of the dashboard comes
on (see page 34).

If the weight sensors detect there is
no passenger in the front seat, the
airbag will be off. However, the
passenger airbag off indicator will
not come on.

To ensure that the passenger's
advanced front airbag system will
work properly,

that would increase or decrease the
weight on the front passenger's seat.

do not do anything

This includes:

●

A second-row passenger pushing
or pulling on the back of the front
passenger's seat.

●

Moving the front seat forcibly back
against cargo on the seat or floor
behind it.

●

Hanging heavy items on the front
passenger seat, or placing heavy
items in the seat-back pocket.

●

Moving the front passenger's seat
or seat-back forcibly back against
the folded right-side second-row
seat.

Also, make sure the floor mat behind
the front passenger's seat is hooked
to the floor mat anchor (see page

410). If it is not, the mat may
interfere with the proper operation of
the sensors and operation of the seat.

How Your Side Airbags Work

If you ever have a moderate to severe
side impact, sensors will detect rapid
acceleration and signal the control
unit to instantly inflate either the
driver's or the passenger's side
airbag and activate the seat belt
tensioner on the affected side.

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

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.

Side Airbag Cutoff System

Your vehicle has a side airbag cutoff
system designed primarily to protect
a child riding in the front passenger's
seat.

Although Acura does not encourage
children to ride in front, if the
position sensors detect a child has
leaned into the side airbag's
deployment path, the airbag will shut
off.

The side airbag may also shut off if a
short adult leans sideways, or a
larger adult slouches and leans
sideways into the airbag's
deployment path.

Objects placed on the front
passenger seat can also cause the
side airbag to be shut off.

If the side airbag off indicator comes
on (see page 33), have the passenger
sit upright. Once the passenger is
out of the airbag's deployment path,
the system will turn the airbag back
on, and the indicator will go out.

There will be some delay between
the moment the passenger moves
into or out of the airbag deployment
path and when the indicator comes
on or goes off.

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

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

How Your Side Curtain Airbags
Work

In a Side Impact

In a moderate to severe side impact,
sensors will detect rapid acceleration
and signal the control unit to
instantly inflate the side curtain
airbag and activate the seat belt
tensioner on the driver's or the
passenger's side of the vehicle.

If the impact is on the passenger's
side, the passenger's side curtain
airbag will inflate even if there are no
occupants on that side of the vehicle.

In a Rollover

If the rollover sensor detects your
vehicle is about to roll over, it signals
the control unit, which immediately
deploys both side curtain airbags and
activates both front seat belt
tensioners.

The airbag on the passenger's side
will deploy, and the seat belt
tensioner will activate, even if there
are no passengers on that side of the
vehicle.

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

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

How the SRS Indicator Works

The SRS indicator alerts

you to a potential problem
with your airbags or seat belt
tensioners.

When you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, this indicator
comes on briefly then goes off. This
tells you the system is working
properly.

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

●

If the indicator stays on after the
engine starts.

●

If the indicator comes on or flashes
on and off while you drive.

You will also see a ‘‘CHECK AIRBAG
SYSTEM’’ message on the multi­information display (see page 81).

If you see any of these indications,
the airbags and seat belt tensioners
may not work properly when you
need them.

Ignoring the SRS indicator can
result in serious injury or death
if the airbag systems or
tensioners do not work
properly.

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

How the Side Airbag Off Indicator
Works

U.S. Canada

This indicator

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.

When you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, the indicator
should come on briefly and then go
out (see page 66). If it does not come
on, stays on, or comes on while
driving without a passenger in the
front seat, you will also see a
‘‘PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OFF’’
message on the multi-information
display. Have the system checked
(see page 81).

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

How the Passenger Airbag Off
Indicator Works

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR

U.S.

Canada

This indicator alerts you that the
passenger's front airbag has been
shut off because weight sensors
detect about 65 lbs (29 kg) or less
(the weight of an infant or small
child) on the front passenger's seat.
It does

not mean

there is a problem

with the airbag.

Be aware that objects placed on the
front seat can cause the indicator to
come on.

If no weight is detected on the front
seat, the airbag will be automatically
shut off. However, the indicator will
not come on.

The passenger airbag off indicator
may come on and off repeatedly if the
total weight on the seat is near the
airbag cutoff threshold.

If an adult or teenage passenger is
riding in front, move the seat as far to
the rear as possible, and have the
passenger sit upright and wear the
seat belt properly.

If the indicator comes on with no
front seat passenger and no objects
on the seat, or with an adult riding
there, something may be interfering
with the weight sensors. 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), such as a folded­down back seat, that are touching
the rear of the seat-back.

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

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

Airbag Service

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

●

An airbag ever inflates.

Any airbag
that has deployed must be
replaced along with the control
unit and other related parts. Any
seat belt tensioner that activates
must also be replaced.

Do not try to remove or replace
any airbag by yourself. This must
be done by an authorized dealer or
a knowledgeable body shop.

●

The SRS indicator alerts you to a
problem.

Take your vehicle to an
authorized dealer as soon as
possible. If you ignore this
indication, your airbags may not
operate properly.

●

If your vehicle has a moderate to
severe impact.

Even if your airbags
do not inflate, your dealer should
inspect the driver's seat position
sensor, the front passenger's
weight sensors, the front seat belt
tensioners, and all seat belts and
their anchors worn during a crash
to make sure they are operating
properly.

Additional Safety Precautions

●

Do not attempt to deactivate your
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
passenger's seat-back to liquid.

water or another liquid soaks into
a seat-back, it can prevent the side
airbag cutoff system from working
properly.

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

If

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

●

Do not remove or modify a front
seat without consulting your
dealer.

This could make the
driver's seat position sensor or the
front passenger's weight sensors
ineffective. If it is necessary to
remove or modify a front seat to
accommodate a person with
disabilities, first contact Acura
Client Services at 800-382-2238.

●

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

Improperly replacing
or covering front seat-back covers
can prevent your side airbags from
inflating during a side impact.

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All Children Must Be Restrained

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

To reduce the number of child
deaths and injuries, every state and
Canadian province requires that

Children depend on adults to protect
them. However, despite their best
intentions, many adults do not know
how to

properly

protect child

passengers.

If you have children, or ever need to
drive with a child in your vehicle, be

infants and children be properly
restrained when they ride in a
vehicle.

Infants and small children must be
restrained in an approved child seat
that is properly secured to the vehicle

(see pages 42 － 53).

sure to read this section. It begins
with important general guidelines,
then presents special information for
infants, small children, and larger
children.

Protecting Children － General Guidelines

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 and
use a booster seat if necessary.

Larger children must be rest rained
with a lap/shoulder belt and ride on a
booster seat until the seat belt fits
them properly

(see pages 54 － 57).

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

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Protecting Children － General Guidelines

All Children Should Sit in a Back
Seat

According to accident statistics,
children of all ages and sizes are
safer when they are restrained in a
back seat.

The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that all children
aged 12 and under be properly
restrained in a back seat. Some
states have laws restricting where
children may ride.

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

The Passenger's Front Airbag Can
Pose Serious Risks

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

Even though your vehicle has an
advanced front airbag system that
automatically turns the passenger's
front airbag off (see page 34), please
follow these guidelines:

Infants
Never put a rear-facing child seat in
the front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger's front airbag.

If the
airbag inflates, it can hit the back of
the child seat with enough force to
kill or very seriously injure an infant.

Small Children
Placing a forward-facing child seat in
the front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger's front airbag can be
hazardous.

If the vehicle seat is too
far forward, or the child's head is
thrown forward during a collision, an
inflating front airbag can strike the
child with enough force to kill or
very seriously injure a small child.

Larger Children
Children who have outgrown child
seats are also at risk of being injured
or killed by an inflating passenger's
front airbag.

Whenever possible,
larger children should sit in the back
seat, on a booster seat if needed, and
be properly restrained with a seat
belt. (See page 54 for important
information about protecting larger
children.)

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Protecting Children － General Guidelines

To remind you of the passenger's
front airbag hazards, and that
children must be properly restrained
in a back seat, your vehicle has
warning labels on the dashboard
(U.S. models) and on the front visors.
Please read and follow the
instructions on these labels.

U.S. Models

SUN VISORS

Canadian Models

SUN VISORS

DASHBOARD

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

CONTINUED

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Protecting Children － General Guidelines

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, and a child must
ride in front:

●

Place the largest child in the front
seat, provided the child is large
enough to wear the lap/shoulder
belt properly (see page 54).

●

Move the vehicle seat as far to the
rear as possible (see page 12).

●

Have the child sit upright and well
back in the seat (see page 17).

●

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

15).

If a Child Requires Close
Attention

Many parents say they prefer to put
an infant or a 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 in a
frontal collision, 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 close 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 － General Guidelines

Additional Safety Precautions

●

Never hold an infant or child on
your lap.

If you are not wearing a
seat belt in a crash, you could be
thrown forward and crush the
child against the dashboard or a
seat-back. If you are wearing a seat
belt, the child can be torn from
your arms and be seriously hurt or
killed.

●

Never put a seat belt over yourself
and a child.

During a crash, the
belt could press deep into the child
and cause serious or fatal injuries.

●

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

This can prevent
children from accidentally falling
out (see page 131).

●

Make sure any unused seat belt
that a child can reach is buckled,
the lockable retractor is activated,
and the belt is fully retracted and
locked.

If a child wraps a loose
seat belt around their neck, they
can be seriously or fatally injured.
(See pages 50 and 51 for how to
activate and deactivate the
lockable retractor.)

●

Never let two children use the
same seat belt.

If they do, they
could be very seriously injured in a
crash.

●

Do not leave children alone in a
vehicle.

Leaving children without
adult supervision is illegal in most
states and Canadian provinces, and
can be very hazardous.

For example, infants and small
children left in a vehicle on a hot
day can die from heatstroke. A
child left alone with the key in the
ignition switch 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.
Teach your children not to play in
or around vehicles.

●

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

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

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

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Protecting Infants and Small Children

Protecting Infants

Child Seat Type

An infant must be properly restrained
in a rear-facing, reclining child seat
until the child reaches the seat
maker's weight or height limit for the
seat, and the child is at least one year
old.

Only a rear-facing child seat provides
proper support for 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.

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.

Rear-facing Child Seat Placement

A rear-facing child seat can be placed
in any seating position in the back
seat, but not in the front.

rear-facing child seat in the front seat.

Never put a

If the passenger's front airbag
inflates, it can hit the back of the
child seat with enough force to kill or
seriously injure an infant.

When properly installed in the
second row, a rear-facing child seat
may prevent the driver or a front
passenger from moving their seat as
far back as recommended, or from
locking their seat-back in the desired
position.

It can also interfere with proper
operation of the passenger's
advanced front airbag system.

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Protecting Infants and Small Children

In any of these situations, we
strongly recommend that you install
the child seat directly behind the
front passenger's seat, move the seat
as far forward as needed, and leave it
unoccupied. Or, you may wish to get
a smaller rear-facing child seat.

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.

Protecting Small Children

Child Seat Type

A child who is at least one year old,
and who fits within the child seat
maker's weight and height limits,
should be restrained in a forward­facing, 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 use the child seat until the child
reaches the weight or height limit for
the seat.

CONTINUED

43

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

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Protecting Infants and Small Children

Child Seat Placement

We strongly recommend placing a
forward-facing child seat in a back
seat, not the front.

Placing a forward-facing child seat in
the front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger's airbag can be
hazardous.

If the vehicle seat is too
far forward, or the child's head is
thrown forward during a collision, an
inflating airbag can strike the child
with enough force to cause very
serious or fatal injuries.

Even with advanced front airbags
that automatically turn the
passenger's front airbag off (see page

34), a back seat is the safest place for
a small 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.

Placing a forward-facing child
seat in the front seat can result
in serious injury or death if the
front airbag inflates.

If you must place a forward­facing child seat in front, move
the vehicle seat as far back as
possible, and properly restrain
the child.

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Selecting a Child Seat

When buying a child seat, you need
to choose either a conventional child
seat, or one designed for use with
the lower anchors and tethers for
children (LATCH) system.

Conventional child seats must be
secured to a vehicle with a seat belt,
whereas LATCH-compatible seats
are secured by attaching the seat to
hardware built into the second-row
seats.

Since LATCH-compatible child seats
are easier to install and reduce the
possibility of improper installation,
we recommend selecting this style.

In seating positions and vehicles not
equipped with LATCH, a LATCH­compatible child seat can be installed
using a seat belt.

Whatever type of seat you choose, to
provide proper protection, a child
seat should meet three
requirements:

1.

The child seat should meet U.S. or
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213.

Look for FMVSS

213 or CMVSS 213 on the box.

2.

The child seat should be of the
proper type and size to fit the child.

Rear-facing for infants, forward­facing for small children.

3.

The child seat should fit the vehicle
seating position (or positions)
where it will be used.

Before purchasing a conventional
child seat, or using a previously
purchased one, we recommend that
you test the seat in the specific
vehicle seating position or positions
where the seat will be used.

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

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Installing a Child Seat

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

1.

Properly secure the child seat to
the vehicle.

All child seats must be
secured to the vehicle with the lap
part of a lap/shoulder belt or with
the LATCH (lower anchors and
tethers for children) system. A
child whose seat is not properly
secured to the vehicle can be
endangered in a crash.

2.

Make sure the child seat is firmly
secured.

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

A child seat secured with a seat belt
should be installed as firmly as
possible. However, it does not need
to be ‘‘rock solid.’’ Some side-to-side
movement can be expected and
should not reduce the child seat's
effectiveness.

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

3.

Secure the child in the child seat.

Make sure the child is properly
strapped in the child seat
according to the child seat maker's
instructions. A child who is not
properly secured in a child seat
can be seriously injured in a crash.

The following pages provide
guidelines on how to properly install
a child seat. A forward-facing child
seat is used in all examples, but the
instructions are the same for a rear­facing child seat.

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Installing a Child Seat

Installing a Child Seat with
LATCH

Your vehicle is equipped with
LATCH (lower anchors and tethers
for children) at each of 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.

The location of each lower anchor is
indicated by a small button above the
anchor point.

MARKS

LOWER ANCHORS

When you install a child seat in rear
seating position, use the lower
anchors as shown in the illustration.
You can install up to three child seats
at a time with LATCH.

Do not attach two child seat
connectors to a single lower anchor
at a time.

Using the Outer LATCH

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

To install a LATCH-compatible child
seat in either outer second row seat:

1. Move the seat belt buckle or
tongue away from the lower
anchors.

2. Make sure there are no objects
near the anchors that could
prevent a secure connection
between the child seat and the
anchors.

CONTINUED

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Installing a Child Seat

RIGID TYPE

3. Place the child seat on the vehicle
seat, then attach the seat to the
lower anchors according to the
child seat maker's instructions.

Some LATCH-compatible seats
have a rigid-type connector as
shown above.

48

FLEXIBLE TYPE

Other LATCH-compatible seats
have a flexible-type connector as
shown above.

4. Whatever type you have, follow the
child seat maker's instructions for
adjusting or tightening the fit.

TETHER STRAP

5. Lift the head restraint (see page

141), then route the tether strap
through the legs of the head
restraint and over the seat-back,
making sure the strap is not
twisted.

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Installing a Child Seat

6. Attach the tether strap hook to the
tether anchor, then tighten the
strap as instructed by the child
seat maker.

7. Push and pull the child seat
forward and from side-to-side to
verify that it is secure.

Using the Center LATCH

To install a LATCH-compatible child
seat in the center seating position on
the second row seat, use the center
lower anchors as shown above.

1. Pull up the cover below the
armrest and find one of the
anchors. The other anchor is
located underneath the flap at the
bottom of the outer seat's inner
bolster.

2. Follow step 1 through 4 as
described previously to secure the
child seat.

3. Lower the head restraint first.
Route the tether strap over the
head restraint and seat-back, then
attach the tether strap hook to the
anchor, making sure the strap is
not twisted.

4. Push and pull the child seat
forward and from side-to-side to
verify that it is secure.

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

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Installing a Child Seat

Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/
Shoulder Belt

When not using the LATCH system,
all child seats must be secured to the
vehicle with the lap part of a lap/
shoulder belt.

In addition, the lap/shoulder belts in
all seating positions except the
driver's have a lockable retractor that
must be activated to secure a child
seat.

If you intend to install a child seat in
the center seating position of second
row seat, make sure the detachable
seat belt is securely latched (see
page 146).

1. With the child seat in the desired
seating position, route the belt
through the child seat according to
the seat maker's instructions, then
insert the latch plate into the
buckle.

2. 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.

3. After the belt has retracted, tug on
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.

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Installing a Child Seat

Installing a Child Seat with a
Tether

A child seat with a tether can be
installed in any seating position in
the second or third row.

Since a tether can provide additional
security to the lap/shoulder belt
installation, we recommend using a
tether whenever one is required or
available.

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

4. After confirming that the belt is
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 put
weight on the child seat, or push
on the back of the seat while
pulling up on the belt.

5. Push and pull the child seat
forward and from 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 lockable retractor
and remove a child seat, unlatch the
buckle, unroute the seat belt, and let
the belt fully retract.

CONTINUED

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Installing a Child Seat

Second Row Installation

TETHER ANCHORAGE POINT

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

TETHER STRAP

Outer Seating Position

1. After properly securing the child
seat (see page 50), lift the head
restraint, then route the tether
strap over the seat-back and
through the head restraint legs.

For the center seat, lower the head
restraint, then route the tether strap
over the head restraint and seat-back.

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Third Row Installation

Installing a Child Seat

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

2. Attach the tether strap hook to the
anchor, making sure the tether
strap is not twisted.

3. Tighten the strap according to the
seat maker's instructions.

Each third row seat has a tether
anchorage point on the tailgate sill.

1. Select the anchor point you want to
use. Then open the anchor cover
with a small flat-tip screwdriver.

2. Secure the child seat in the
desired position (see page 50).

3. Route the tether strap over the
head restraint, then attach the
tether strap hook to the anchor,
making sure the strap is not
twisted.

4. Tighten the strap according to the
seat maker's instructions.

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Protecting Larger Children

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

The following 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 for a child who must sit
in front.

Checking Seat Belt Fit

Allowing a child age 12 or under
to sit in front can result in injury
or death if the passenger's front
airbag inflates.

If a child must ride in front,
move the vehicle seat as far
back as possible, use a booster
seat if needed, have the child
sit up properly and wear the
seat belt properly.

To determine if a lap/shoulder belt
properly fits a child, have the child
put on the seat belt, then ask
yourself:

1. Does the child sit all the way back
against the seat?

2. Do the child's knees bend
comfortably over the edge of the
seat?

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Protecting Larger Children

3. Does the shoulder belt cross
between the child's neck and arm?

4. Is the lap part of the belt as low as
possible, touching the child's
thighs?

5. Will the child be able to stay
seated like this for the whole trip?

If you answer yes to all these
questions, the child is ready to wear
the lap/shoulder belt correctly. If
you answer no to any question, the
child needs to ride on a booster seat.

Using a Booster Seat

A child who has outgrown a forward­facing child seat should ride in a
back seat and use a booster seat until
the lap/shoulder belt fits them
properly without the booster.

Some states and Canadian provinces
also require children to use a booster
seat until they reach a given age or
weight (e.g., 6 years or 60 lbs). Be
sure to check current laws in the
states or provinces where you intend
to drive.

Booster seats can be high-back or
low-back. Whichever style you select,
make sure the booster seat meets
federal safety standards (see page

45) and that you follow the booster
seat maker's instructions.

CONTINUED

55

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

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Protecting Larger Children

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

A child may continue using a booster
seat until the tops of their ears are
even with the top of the vehicle's or
booster's seat-back. A child of this
height should be tall enough to use
the lap/shoulder belt without a
booster seat.

When Can a Larger Child Sit in
Front

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

If the passenger's front airbag
inflates in a moderate to severe
frontal 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.

A side airbag also poses risks. If any
part of a larger child's body is in the
path of a deploying side airbag, the
child could receive possibly serious
injuries.

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

Physical Size

Physically, a child must be large
enough for the lap/shoulder belt to
properly fit (see pages 15 and 54). If
the seat belt does not fit properly,
with or without the child sitting on a
booster seat, the child should not sit
in front.

Maturity

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

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Protecting Larger Children

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 and securely positioned.

●

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

Additional Safety Precautions

●

Do not let a child wear a seat belt
across the neck.

This could result
in serious neck injuries during a
crash.

●

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. It also increases the chance
that the child will slide under the
belt in a crash and be injured.

●

Two children 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 a
seat belt.

Devices intended to
improve a child's comfort or
reposition the shoulder part of a
seat belt can make the belt less
effective and increase the chance
of serious injury in a crash.

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

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Carbon Monoxide Hazard

Your vehicle's exhaust contains
carbon monoxide gas. Carbon
monoxide should not enter the
vehicle in normal driving if you
maintain your vehicle properly and
follow the information on this page.

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.

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, airflow 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 climate control system as
shown below.

If you must sit in your parked vehicle
with the engine running, even in an
unconfined area, adjust the climate
control system as follows:

1. Select the fresh air mode.

2. Select the

mode.

3. Turn the fan on high speed.

4. Set the temperature control to a
comfortable setting.

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Safety Labels

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

If a label comes off or becomes hard to read (except
for the U.S. dashboard label which may be removed
by the owner), contact your dealer for a replacement.

HOOD

RADIATOR CAP

DASHBOARD

U.S. models only

BATTERY LABEL

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

CONTINUED

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Safety Labels

SUN VISOR

U.S. models

Canadian models

U.S. models

60

DOORJAMBS

U.S. models Canadian models

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Instruments and Controls

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

Control Locations
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Indicators
Gauges
Multi-Information Display
Controls Near the Steering

Windshield Wipers and

Turn Signal and Headlights
Hazard Warning Button
Rear Window Defogger
Instrument Panel

Steering Wheel Adjustments
Keys and Locks
Immobilizer System
Ignition Switch
Door Locks

Tailgate

Remote Transmitter

..........................................

Wheel

.....................................

Washers

Rear Window Wiper and

Washer

Brightness

Childproof Door Locks

.......................................

Power Tailgate

.......................... 62

..........................

............. 73

..............................

...............................

..............

...............

..............................

...........................

.................... 128

............................

................................. 130

............

........................ 132

....................

63

.......... 64

72

115

116

117

........ 118

122
122

123

....... 124

126

129

131
131

135

Seats

........................................... 140

Detachable Anchor
Seat Heaters
Power Windows
Moonroof
Parking Brake
Mirrors
Driving Position Memory

System
Interior Lights
Interior Convenience Items

Beverage Holders
Console Compartment
Storage Compartment
Glove Box
Sunglasses Holder
Cargo Hooks
Sun Visor
Vanity Mirror
Accessory Power Sockets
AC Power Outlet

................................ 148

.................................... 152

.............................

.......................................

....................................

............................. 159

...............................

................................

.................

..........................

................... 163

............

.............

..................

........................... 165

.......................... 166

..................... 167

.........

.......

146

149

153
154

157

162

164
164
164
165

166

166

Instruments and Cont rols

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Control Locations

DRIVING POSITION
MEMORY SYSTEM
(P. 157)

POWER DOOR LOCK
MASTER SWITCH
(P. 130)

PARKING BRAKE
RELEASE HANDLE
(P. 153)

POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
(P. 149)

FUEL FILL DOOR
RELEASE BUTTON
(P. 323)

POWER TAILGATE
BUTTON

ꭧ

(P. 132)

HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE (P. 325)

ꭧ: If equipped

62

INSTRUMENT PANEL
INDICATORS (P. 63)
GAUGES (P. 72)

PARKING BRAKE
PEDAL (P. 153)

®

HomeLink

BUTTONS

(P. 276)

AUXILIARY INPUT JACKS
(P. 267)

MOONROOF SWITCH
(P. 152)

ꭧ

HEADPHONE CONNECTORS
(P. 268)

MIRROR CONTROL
AUTO BUTTON

ꭧ

(P. 154)

CLIMATE CONTROL
SYSTEM (P. 170)

AUDIO SYSTEM
(P. 180)

AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
(P. 341)

REAR CLIMATE
CONTROL SYSTEM
(P. 175)

ꭧ

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Instrument Panel

MULTI-INFORMATION DISPLAY (P. 73)MESSAGE INDICATOR

SEAT BELT REMINDER INDICATOR (P. 64)

LIGHTS ON INDICATOR
(P. 70)

SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM INDICATOR (P. 66)

CRUISE MAIN INDICATOR (P. 70)

SECURITY SYSTEM INDICATOR (P. 71)

PARKING BRAKE AND BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR (P. 65)

VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA) SYSTEM INDICATOR (P. 67)

VSA ACTIVATION INDICATOR (P. 67)

ACTIVE DAMPER SYSTEM
INDICATOR

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR (P. 66)

MALFUNCTION
INDICATOR LAMP
(P. 437)

SH-AWD INDICATOR
(P. 69)

IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM
INDICATOR (P. 70)

CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATOR
(P. 65)

A/T TEMPERATURE INDICATOR
(P. 68)

LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR
(P. 65)

FOG LIGHT INDICATOR (P. 70)

(P. 69)

HIGH BEAM INDICATOR
(P. 70)

ꭧ

(P. 71)

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

SIDE AIRBAG OFF
INDICATOR
(P. 66)

LOW TIRE PRESSURE
INDICATOR (P. 68)

LOW FUEL
INDICATOR (P. 71)

CRUISE CONTROL
INDICATOR (P. 70)

Instruments and Cont rols

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Instrument Panel Indicators

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

Seat Belt Reminder
Indicator

This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position. It reminds you and your
passengers to fasten your seat belts.
A beeper also sounds if you have not
fastened your seat belt.

If you turn the ignition switch to the
ON (II) position before fastening
your seat belts, the beeper sounds,
and the indicator flashes. If you do
not fasten your seat belts before the
beeper stops, the indicator stops
flashing but remains on.

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

If either of you do not fasten your
seat belt while driving, the beeper
will sound and the indicator will flash
again at regular intervals, and you
will also see a ‘‘FASTEN SEAT
BELT’’ or ‘‘FASTEN PASSENGER
SEAT BELT’’ message on the multi­information display (see page 81).

For more information, see page 20.

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Instrument Panel Indicators

Low Oil Pressure
Indicator

The engine can be severely damaged
if this indicator flashes or stays on
when the engine is running, or if a
‘‘CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL’’
message is on the multi-information
display. For more information, see
page 436.

Charging System
Indicator

If this indicator comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged, and you will also see
a ‘‘CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM’’
message on the multi-information
display. For more information, see
page 436.

Malfunction Indicator
Lamp

You will also see a ‘‘CHECK
EMISSION SYSTEM’’ message on
the multi-information display. For
more information, see page 437.

U.S. Canada Parking Brake

and Brake
System Indicator

This indicator has two functions:

1. It comes on when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. It is a reminder to check
the parking brake. Driving with
the parking brake not fully
released can damage the rear
brakes, axles, and tires.

If you drive without releasing the
parking brake, a beeper will
sound, and you will also see a
‘‘RELEASE PARKING BRAKE’’
message on the multi-information
display (see page 81).

2. If it stays on after you have fully
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. You will also see a ‘‘LOW
BRAKE FLUID’’ or ‘‘CHECK
BRAKE SYSTEM’’ message on the
multi-information display (see
pages 81). For more information,
see page 438.

CONTINUED

Instruments and Cont rols

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Instrument Panel Indicators

Supplemental Restraint
System Indicator

This indicator comes on briefly when
you turn the ignition switch to the
ON (II) position. If it comes on at any
other time, it indicates a potential
problem with your front airbags. This
indicator will also alert you to a
potential problem with your side
airbags, passenger's side airbag
automatic cutoff system, side curtain
airbags, or automatic seat belt
tensioners. You will also see a
‘‘CHECK AIRBAG SYSTEM’’
message on the multi-information
display (see page 81). For more
information, see page 33.

U.S. Canada

Side Airbag Off
Indicator

This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position. If it comes on at any
other time, it indicates that the
passenger's side airbag has
automatically shut off. You will also
see a ‘‘PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG
OFF’’ message on the multi­information display (see page 81).
For more information, see page 33.

Anti-lock Brake System
(ABS) Indicator

This indicator normally comes on for
a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. If this indicator comes on at
any other time, there is a problem in
the ABS. If this happens, take the
vehicle to your dealer to have it
checked. With this indicator on, your
vehicle still has normal braking
ability but no anti-lock function. You
will also see a ‘‘CHECK ABS
SYSTEM’’ message on the multi­information display (see page 81).
For more information, see page 357.

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Instrument Panel Indicators

Vehicle Stability Assist
(VSA) System Indicator

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

If it comes on and stays on at any
other time, or it does not come on
when you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, there is a
problem with the VSA system. You
will also see a ‘‘CHECK VSA
SYSTEM’’ message on the multi­information display (see page 81).
Take your vehicle to a dealer to have
it checked. Without VSA, your
vehicle still has normal driving
ability, but will not have VSA traction
and stability enhancement. For more
information, see page 359.

This indicator may also come on if
there is a problem with the trailer
stability assist function (see page

376).

VSA Activation Indicator

This indicator normally comes on for
a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. For more information, see
page 359.
This indicator has four functions.

1. It comes on as a reminder that you
have turned off the vehicle stability
assist (VSA) system.

2. It flashes when VSA is active (see
page 359).

3. It flashes when trailer stability
assist is activating (see page 376).

4. It comes on along with the VSA
system indicator if there is a
problem with the VSA system. You
will also see a ‘‘CHECK VSA
SYSTEM’’ message and a
‘‘CHECK TRAILER STABILITY
ASSIST’’ message on the multi­information display (see page 81).

Turn Signal and
Hazard Warning
Indicators

The left or right turn signal indicator
blinks when you signal a lane change
or turn. If an indicator does not blink
or blinks rapidly, it usually means
one of the turn signal bulbs is burned
out (see page 404). Replace the bulb
as soon as possible, since other
drivers cannot see that you are
signaling.

When you press the hazard warning
button, both turn signal indicators
and all turn signals on the outside of
the vehicle flash.

CONTINUED

67

Instruments and Cont rols

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Instrument Panel Indicators

Low Tire Pressure/
TPMS Indicator

This indicator normally comes on for
a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position.
This indicator has two functions:

1. If it comes on while driving, it
indicates that one or more of your
vehicle's tires are significantly low
on pressure.

You will also see a ‘‘CHECK TIRE
PRESSURE’’ message on the multi­information display (see page 82).

Check the tire pressure monitor on
the multi-information display and
determine the cause (see page 352).

If this happens, pull to the side of the
road when it is safe, check which tire
has lost pressure on the multi­information display, and determine
the cause. If it is because of a flat tire,
have the flat tire repaired as soon as
possible. If two or more tires are
underinflated, call a professional
towing service. For more
information, see page 446.

2. If this indicator begins to flash,
there is a problem with the tire
pressure monitoring system
(TPMS). You will also see a
‘‘CHECK TPMS SYSTEM’’
message on the multi-information
display. The indicator continues to
flash for a while (approximately 1
minute), then stays on. If this
happens, have your dealer check
the system as soon as possible.
For more information, see page

354.

A/T Temperature
Indicator

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

You will also see an ‘‘A/T TEMP
HIGH’’ message on the multi­information display (see page 82).

Continuing to drive with the A/T
temperature indicator on may cause
serious damage to the transmission.

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Instrument Panel Indicators

Message Indicator

This indicator comes on when there
is a system message on the multi­information display. Press the INFO
button on the steering wheel (see
page 73) to see the message (see
page 81).

Most of the time, this indicator
comes on along with other indicators
in the instrument panel such as the
seat belt reminder indicator, SRS
indicator, VSA system indicator, etc.

Super Handling-All
Wheel Drive (SH-AWD)
Indicator

This indicator normally comes on for
a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. If this indicator comes on at
any other time, there is a problem in
the SH-AWD system. You will also
see a ‘‘CHECK SH-AWD SYSTEM’’
message on the multi-information
display (see page 82). Take your
vehicle to a dealer to have it checked.
For more information, see page 348.

If the indicator blinks while driving,
it indicates the differential
temperature is too high.
You will also see a ‘‘SH-AWD DIFF
TEMP. HIGH’’ message on the multi­information display (see page 82).

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 SH-AWD
indicator blinking may cause serious
damage to the system.

CONTINUED

69

Instruments and Cont rols

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Instrument Panel Indicators

Immobilizer System
Indicator

This indicator comes on briefly when
you turn the ignition switch to the
ON (II) position. It will then go off if
you have inserted a properly coded
ignition key. If it is not a properly
coded key, the indicator will blink,
and the engine's fuel system will be
disabled (see page 128).

Lights On Indicator

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

Fog Light Indicator

This indicator comes on when you
turn on the fog lights. For more
information, see page 120.

High Beam Indicator

This indicator comes on with the
high beam headlights. For more
information, see page 118.

Cruise Main Indicator

This indicator comes on when you
turn on the cruise control system by
pressing the CRUISE button (see
page 270).

Cruise Control Indicator

This indicator comes on when you
set the cruise control. See page 270
for information on operating the
cruise control.

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Instrument Panel Indicators

Active Damper System
Indicator

This indicator normally comes on for
a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. If this indicator comes on at
any other time, there is a problem in
the system. While this indicator is
on, the comfort button will not work,
and the system will remain in the
sport mode. You will also see a
‘‘CHECK ADS SYSTEM’’ message
on the multi-information display.
Have the vehicle checked by your
dealer as soon as possible. For more
information, see page 361.

Low Fuel Indicator

LOW FUEL INDICATOR

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

When the indicator comes on, there
is about 2.9 U.S. gal (10.8 ꤲ) of fuel
remaining in the tank.

When the needle reaches E, there is
a very small amount of fuel in the
tank.

Security System Indicator

Instruments and Cont rols

SECURITY SYSTEM INDICATOR

This indicator comes on when the
security system is set. See page 269
for more information on the security
system.

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Gauges

TACHOMETER SPEEDOMETER

TEMPERATURE
GAUGE

FUEL GAUGE

Temperature Gauge

This shows the temperature of the
engine's coolant. During normal
operation, the pointer should rise to
about the middle of the gauge. In
severe driving conditions, the pointer
may rise to the upper zone. If it
reaches the red (hot) mark, pull
safely to the side of the road. For
instructions and precautions on
checking the engine's cooling
system, see page 434.

Fuel Gauge

This shows how much fuel you have.
It may show slightly more or less
than the actual amount.

U.S. model is shown.

72

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

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Multi-Information Display

The multi-information display in the
instrument panel displays various
information and messages when the
ignition switch is in the ON (II)
position. Some of the messages help
you operate your vehicle more
comfortably.Others help to keep you
aware of the periodic maintenance
your vehicle needs for continued
trouble-free driving.

When you open the driver's door, a
‘‘Welcome’’ message is shown on the
multi-information display. When you
turn the ignition switch from the ON
(II) position to the ACCESSORY (I)
position, a ‘‘Goodbye’’ message is
shown on the display.

INFO (▲/▼)
BUTTON

SEL/
RESET
BUTTON

To change the display, press the
INFO (▲/▼) button on the steering
wheel repeatedly until the main
menu appears (see page 74).

With the ignition switch in the ON
(II) position, the multi-information
display changes as shown on the
next page each time you press the
INFO (▲/▼) button or SEL/RESET
button.

When you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, your last
selection is displayed.

In the multi-information display, the
system message is also displayed
(see page 80) and you can customize
your vehicle control settings (see
page 83).

CONTINUED

73

Instruments and Cont rols

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Multi-Information Display

Main Menu

Go to Customize Menu (See page 83)

Go to HandsFreeLink Menu (See page 278)

INFO button

SEL/RESET button

(See page 75)

Trip Computer (See page 78)

(See page 75)

74

(See page 75)

Tire Pressure for each tire (See page 77)

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Multi-Information Display

When the main menu is blank,
SH-AWD or TIRE PRESSURE,
pressing the SEL/RESET button
changes the display to ‘‘trip meter/
odometer’’ ‘‘outside temperature/
odometer’’ and ‘‘engine oil life/
odometer’’.

Odometer

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.

Trip Meter

TRIP METER

Instruments and Cont rols

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. Each trip meter works
independently, so you can keep track
of two different distances.

To reset a trip meter, display it, and
then press and hold the SEL/RESET
button until the number resets to
‘‘0.0.’’

CONTINUED

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Multi-Information Display

When you reset Trip A, average fuel
economy A is reset at the same time.
When you reset Trip B, average fuel
economy B is reset.

In the customizing mode, you can set
Trip A and average fuel economy A
to reset at the same time when you
refuel your vehicle (see page 92).

Outside Temperature

OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE

U.S.

CANADA

This shows the outside Fahrenheit
temperature in U.S. models, and
Celsius temperature in Canadian
models.

The temperature sensor is in the
front bumper. The temperature
reading can be affected by heat
reflection from the road surface,
engine heat, and the exhaust from
surrounding traffic. This can cause
an incorrect temperature reading
when your vehicle speed is under 19
mph (30 km/h). When you start your
trip, the sensor is not fully
acclimatized, therefore it may take
several minutes until the proper
temperature is displayed.

In certain weather conditions,
temperature readings near freezing
(32°F, 0°C) could mean that ice is
forming on the road surface.
You can adjust the outside
temperature display (see page 91).

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Multi-Information Display

Engine Oil Life

ENGINE OIL LIFE

This shows the remaining life of the
engine oil. It shows 100% after the
engine oil is replaced and the display
is reset. The engine oil life is
calculated based on engine operating
conditions and accumulated engine
revolutions. For more information,
see page 383.

SH-AWD Torque Distribution
Monitor

This monitor shows how much
torque is being delivered to each
wheel. For more information, see
page 348.

Tire Pressure Monitor

Instruments and Cont rols

U.S.

Canada

When the tire pressure monitor is
shown on the multi-information
display, press the SEL/RESET
button. The display changes as
shown.
You can see the pressure of each tire
in this monitor. If one or more tires
are low, inflate them to the correct
pressure. For more information, see
page 351.

CONTINUED

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Multi-Information Display

HandsFreeLink™

You can receive or make phone calls
from your cell phone through your
vehicle's Bluetooth

®

HandsFreeLink
(HFL) system without touching your
cell phone.

To use the system, your cell phone
and the HFL system must be linked.
Not all cell phones are compatible
with this system. Refer to page 278
for instructions on how to link your
cell phone to the HFL and how to
receive or make phone calls, or visit
the handsfreelink.com website.

®

Trip Computer

When the main menu displays ‘‘TRIP
COMPUTER’’, pressing the SEL/
RESET button changes the display to

‘‘AVERAGE FUEL A/RANGE’’ to
‘‘AVERAGE FUEL B/RANGE’’ and

to ‘‘AVERAGE SPEED/ELAPSED
TIME’’.

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Multi-Information Display

AVERAGE FUEL A/B

This shows your vehicle's average
fuel economy in mpg (U.S. models)
or liter/100 km (Canadian models)
since you last reset the Trip A or Trip
B.

You can customize the Trip A and
AVERAGE FUEL A reset condition
on the multi-information display (see
page 92).

RANGE

This shows the estimated distance
you can travel on the fuel remaining
in the fuel tank. This distance is
estimated from the fuel economy you
received over the last several miles
(U.S.) or kilometers (Canada), so it
will vary with changes in speed,
traffic, etc.

AVERAGE SPEED

This shows the average speed you
are traveling in miles per hour (mph)
for U.S. models or kilometers per
hour (km/h) for Canadian models.

To reset the AVERAGE SPEED you
have traveled, press and hold the
SEL/RESET button until the number
resets.

ELAPSED TIME

This shows the time passed traveled
since you last reset it. When you turn
the ignition switch to the ON (II)
position, ELAPSED TIME is reset.

If you want to reset the ELAPSED
TIME manually, go to the trip
computer's ELAPSED TIME display,
and press and hold the SEL/RESET
button until the number resets.

You can customize the ELAPSED
TIME reset condition on the multi­information display (see page 94).

CONTINUED

79

Instruments and Cont rols

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Multi-Information Display

System Messages

SYSTEMMESSAGE INDICATOR

If there is a problem with your
vehicle, for example, the engine oil
level is low or a door is not fully
closed, the multi-information display
will show you the problem. It does
this by interrupting the current
display with one or more messages.

The system message(s) triggers the
appropriate indicator(s) on the
instrument panel, including the
system message indicator, to come
on. The system message indicator
does not go off until the problem(s)
is corrected.

You will also hear a beep when the
system message comes on for the
first time.

Most of the messages are displayed
for about 5 seconds, and then the
normal display returns. If there are
several system messages to be
shown, the display switches these
messages every 5 seconds.

To cancel the message(s) before 5
seconds elapsed, press the INFO
(▲/▼) button on the steering
wheel.

Even if you press the INFO (▲/▼)
button, some messages stay on or
come on again at regular intervals
until the problem is corrected.

You can see the message(s) again by
pressing the INFO (▲/▼) button
repeatedly if the system message
indicator remains lit on the
instrument panel.

Here is a list of all messages:

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Multi-Information Display

U.S.

Canada

See page

11

See page

20

See page

20

See page

33

See page

33

U.S.

Canada

U.S.

Canada

U.S.

Canada

See page

153

See page

438

See page

438

See page

436

See page

437

See page

436

See page

358

See page

359

See page

377

CONTINUED

81

Instruments and Cont rols

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Multi-Information Display

U.S.

Canada

82

See page

352

See page

354

See page

351

See page

68

See page

134

See page

348

See page

348

See page

341

See page

363

See page

398

See page

71

See page

340

See page

118

See page

383

See page

324

08/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu

Multi-Information Display

Customize Settings

When the main menu displays
‘‘Keyless Memory Settings™,’’ you
can customize some vehicle control
settings.
To enter the customizing mode,
press the SEL/RESET button.
To change the settings, the ignition
switch must be in the ON (II)
position, and the vehicle must be
stopped with the transmission in
Park.

If you turn the ignition switch to the
ACCESSORY (I) or the LOCK (0)
position, or move the shift lever out
of Park, the display will change to the
normal screen.

You can customize some vehicle
control settings for ‘‘DRIVER 1’’ and
‘‘DRIVER 2’’ separately. If ‘‘DRIVER
1’’ or ‘‘DRIVER 2’’ is not displayed,
customizing is not possible.

To have the driver's ID detected,
make sure your remote transmitter is
linked to the system (see Keyless
Memory Settings™ on page 139).

Instruments and Cont rols

If you want the settings as they were
when the vehicle left the factory,
select DEFAULT ALL, as described
on page 86.
If you want to change any vehicle
control settings, select CHG
SETTING, then press the SEL/
RESET button.

Refer to the table on the following
pages about the settings you want to
customize.

CONTINUED

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Multi-Information Display

Group Setup Menu Item Description Setting Option Page

METER SETUP
(P.89)

LANGUAGE SELECTION Changes the language used in the display. ENGLISH

SPANISH

ADJUST OUTSIDE
TEMP. DISPLAY

TRIP A & AVG. FUEL
RESET with REFUEL

ADJUST
ALARM VOLUME

Changes the outside temperature reading above or
below its current reading.

Causes trip meter A and the average fuel economy to
reset when you refuel.

－5°F～ꭗ0°F
－3°C～ꭗ0°C

(Canada)
ON 92
OFF

Changes the indicator alarm volumes into three levels. HIGH

ꭧ

ꭧ

～5°F (U.S.)

ꭧ

～3°C

ꭧ

ꭧ

LOW

ELAPSED TIME RESET Resets the elapsed time of your current trip. MANUAL ONLY

ꭧ

TRIP B

TRIP A

POSITION SETUP
(P.97)

AUTO INTERIOR
ILLUMINATION

MEMORY POSITION LINK Changes the driver's seat, the steering wheel, and the

AUTO TILT & TELESCOPE
STEERING WHEEL

Changes the interior light sensitivity to your liking. MAX LOW

ꭧ

outside mirror positions to a stored setting.

Moves the steering wheel fully in and up when the key
is removed.

MID
ON
OFF
ON
OFF

ꭧ

ꭧ

OFF

ꭧ: Default setting

90FRENCH

91

93MID

94IGN OFF

95HIGH MIN

98

99

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Multi-Information Display

Group Setup Menu Item Description Setting Option Page

LIGHTING SETUP
(P.100)

DOOR/WINDOW
SETUP
(P.105)

WIPER SETUP
(P.113)

DEFAULT ALL
(P.86)

ꭧ: Default setting

INTERIOR LIGHT
DIMMING TIME

HEADLIGHT
AUTO OFF TIMER

AUTO LIGHT
SENSITIVITY

AUTO DOOR LOCK Changes the setting of when to automatically lock the

AUTO DOOR UNLOCK Changes the setting of when to automatically unlock

KEY AND REMOTE
UNLOCK MODE

KEYLESS LOCK
ACKNOWLEDGMENT

SECURITY RELOCK TIMER Changes how long it takes (in seconds) for the doors

WIPER ACTION Changes the wiper operation between two settings

Changes how long (in seconds) the interior lights stay
on after you close the doors and the tailgate.

Changes how long (in seconds) the exterior lights stay
on after you close the driver's door.

Changes the timing of when the headlights come on.
The headlight switch needs to be in the AUTO
position.

doors.

the driver's/all the doors.

Changes which doors unlock with the remote
transmitter in a first push.

The exterior lights flash each time you press the
LOCK or UNLOCK button. A beeper will also sound
when you press the LOCK button twice.

to relock and the security system to set after you
unlock but do not open the door.

when the wiper switch is in the INT position.

Set/Cancel all the customized settings as default. SET 86

60 sec 15 sec 101

ꭧ

30 sec
60 sec

ꭧ

15 sec
MAX LOW

ꭧ

MID
SHIFT FROM P

ꭧ

OFF
SHIFT TO PꭧDRIVER DOOR/

OFF
DRIVER DOOR
ALL DOORS

ꭧ

ON

ALL DOORS

ꭧ

90 sec

ꭧ

30 sec
INTERMITTENT 113
WITH VEH SPD

ꭧ

CANCEL

10230 sec 0 sec

Instruments and Cont rols

103HIGH MIN

106WITH VEH SPD

107IGN OFF

109

110OFF

11160 sec

CONTINUED

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Multi-Information Display

DEFAULT ALL

If you want to set the default settings,
press the INFO (▲/▼) button to
select DEFAULT ALL, then press the
SEL/RESET button.

86

To set the default settings, press the
INFO (▲/▼) button to select SET
then press the SEL/RESET button.

If you want to cancel DEFAULT ALL,
select CANCEL, then press the SEL/
RESET button. The screen goes back
to the previous display.

When DEFAULT ALL is set, you will
see the above display for several
seconds, then the screen returns to
CUSTOMIZE ENTRY.

If the setting is not successfully
completed, ‘‘FAILED’’ is shown for
several seconds, and then the screen
goes back to the normal message
mode. Repeat the same procedure to
select DEFAULT ALL.

08/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu

Multi-Information Display

Customize Settings

You can customize some of the
vehicle control settings to your
preference. Here are the settings you
can customize:

●

METER SETUP

●

POSITION SETUP

●

LIGHTING SETUP

●

DOOR/WINDOW SETUP

●

WIPER SETUP

When you want to change the
vehicle control settings, press the
INFO (▲/▼) button to select CHG
SETTING, then press the SEL/
RESET button.

Each time you press the INFO
(▲/▼) button, the screen changes
as shown on the next page. Press the
INFO (▲/▼) button, until you see
the setup you want to customize,
then press the SEL/RESET button to
enter your selection.

CONTINUED

87

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Multi-Information Display

Select ‘‘EXIT’’

METER SETUP
see page 89

POSITION SETUP
see page 97

LIGHTING SETUP
see page 100

88

Select ‘‘CANCEL’’

Select
‘‘DEFAULT ALL’’

SEL/RESET BUTTON

INFO (▲/▼) BUTTON

DOOR/WINDOW SETUP
see page 105

WIPER SETUP
see page 113

08/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu

Meter Setup

Here are the six custom settings for
the meter setup:

●

LANGUAGE SELECTION

●

ADJUST OUTSIDE TEMP.
DISPLAY

●

TRIP A & AVG. FUEL RESET with
REFUEL

●

ADJUST ALARM VOLUME

●

ELAPSED TIME RESET

●

AUTO INTERIOR
ILLUMINATION

While METER SETUP is shown,
press the SEL/RESET button to
enter the customize mode.

Each time you press the INFO
(▲/▼) button, the screen changes
as shown in the illustration. Press the
INFO (▲/▼) button until you see
the setting you want to customize,
then press the SEL/RESET button to
enter your selection.

Multi-Information Display

Instruments and Cont rols

SEL/RESET
BUTTON

INFO (▲/▼)
BUTTON

CONTINUED

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Multi-Information Display

Language Selection

There are three language selections
you can make: English, French, and
Spanish. To choose the language you
want, follow these instructions:

You can choose this customize item
from ‘‘METER SETUP’’ by pressing
the INFO (▲/▼) button repeatedly.

90

Press the SEL/RESET button to see
the selections.

Select the desired language by
pressing the INFO (▲/▼) button,
then enter your selection by pressing
the SEL/RESET button.

When your selection is successfully
completed, the display changes as
shown above, and then goes back to
the customize item screen.

If the ‘‘SETTING INCOMPLETE’’
message appears, go back to
‘‘LANGUAGE SELECTION’’ and
repeat the procedure again.

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Multi-Information Display

Adjust Outside Temp. Display

If you sometimes find that the
temperature reading is a few degrees
above or below the actual
temperature, you can adjust it by
following these instructions:

You can choose this customize item
from ‘‘METER SETUP’’ by pressing
the INFO (▲/▼) button repeatedly.

U.S. models

Canadian models

Adjust the outside temperature value
by pressing the INFO (▲/▼) button
repeatedly. Press the SEL/RESET
button to set the desired value.

U.S. models

Canadian models

When your selection is successfully
completed, the display changes as
shown above, and then goes back to
the customize item screen.

If the ‘‘SETTING INCOMPLETE’’
message appears, go back to
‘‘ADJUST OUTSIDE TEMP.
DISPLAY’’ and repeat the procedure
again.

CONTINUED

Instruments and Cont rols

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Multi-Information Display

Trip A & Avg. Fuel Reset With Refuel

To cause Trip A and AVG. FUEL to
reset every time you refuel your
vehicle, follow these instructions:

You can choose this customize item
from ‘‘METER SETUP’’ by pressing
the INFO (▲/▼) button repeatedly.

92

Press the SEL/RESET button to see
the selections.

Select ON or OFF by pressing the
INFO (▲/▼) button, then enter
your selection by pressing the SEL/
RESET button.

When your selection is successfully
completed, the display changes as
shown above, and then goes back to
the customize item screen.

If the ‘‘SETTING INCOMPLETE’’
message appears, go back to ‘‘TRIP A
& AVG. FUEL RESET with
REFUEL’’ and repeat the procedure
again.

08/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu

Adjust Alarm Volume

Multi-Information Display

Instruments and Cont rols

Select the warning alarm volume
from three levels.

You can choose this customize item
from ‘‘METER SETUP’’ by pressing
the INFO (▲/▼) button repeatedly.

Press the SEL/RESET button to see
the selections.

Select the desired level by pressing
the INFO (▲/▼) button, then enter
your selection by pressing the SEL/
RESET button.

When your selection is successfully
completed, the display changes as
shown above, and then goes back to
the customize item screen.

If the ‘‘SETTING INCOMPLETE’’
message appears, go back to
‘‘ADJUST ALARM VOLUME’’ and
repeat the procedure again.

CONTINUED

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Multi-Information Display

Elapsed Time Reset

There are four elapsed time reset
choices you can make:

MANUAL ONLY － You can reset
the elapsed time, when Trip
Computer's Elapsed Time is
displayed (see page 79).

IGN OFF － The elapsed time is
reset when you turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK (0) position.

TRIP A － The elapsed time is reset
when the Trip A is reset.

TRIP B － The elapsed time is reset
when the Trip B is reset.

You can choose this customize item
from ‘‘METER SETUP’’ by pressing
the INFO (▲/▼) button repeatedly.

Press the SEL/RESET button to see
the selections.

Select the desired setting by
pressing the INFO (▲/▼) button,
then enter your selection by pressing
the SEL/RESET button.

94