Acura RDX 2011 User Manual

Introduction

Congratulations! Your selection of a 2011 Acura RDX 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 MinderTM 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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2011 RDX

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.

California Perchlorate Contamination Prevention Act

The airbags, seat belt tensioners, and CR type batteries in this vehicle may contain perchlorate materials - special handling may apply. See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate/

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2011 RDX

A Few Words About Safety

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

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

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

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

●Safety Labels on the vehicle.

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

These signal words mean:

You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLY

HURT if you don't follow instructions.

You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY

HURT if you don't follow instructions.

You CAN be HURT if you don't follow instructions.

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

●Safety Section such as Driver and Passenger Safety.

●Instructions how to use this vehicle correctly and safely.

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

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2011 RDX

Important Handling Information

Your RDX 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 372 of this manual and the Off-Highway Driving Guidelines section on page 405. Failure to operate your vehicle correctly might result in loss of control or an accident.

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2011 RDX

2011 RDX Online Reference Owner's Manual	Contents
Owner's Identification Form
Your Vehicle at a Glance (main controls) ....................................................................................................................		3
Driver and Passenger Safety (seat belts, SRS, and child protection)...........................................................................		5
Instruments and Controls (indicators, gauges, multi-information display, dashboard, and steering column) ...........		61
Features (climate control, audio, steering wheel, security, cruise control, HomeLink®, and other convenience items)...		163
Before Driving (fuel, vehicle break-in, and cargo loading).......................................................................................		351
Driving (engine and transmission operation) ...........................................................................................................		371
Maintenance (minders, fluid checking, minor services, and vehicle storage)..........................................................		409
Taking Care of the Unexpected (flat tire, jump starting, overheating, and fuses) ...................................................		453
Technical Information (vehicle specifications, tires, and emissions controls) ........................................................		477
Warranty and Client Relations (U.S. and Canada only) (warranty and contact information)...............................		493
Index..............................................................................................................................................................................		I
Service Information Summary (fluid capacities and tire pressures)

00X31-STK-6400	1
© 2010 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. - All Rights Reserved

2011 RDX

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, and other convenience features.

2

Before Driving

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

Driving

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

Maintenance

The Maintenance MinderTM 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.

2011 RDX

Your Vehicle at a Glance

INSTRUMENT PANEL	AUDIO SYSTEM 1 REARVIEW MONITOR 1			CEILING CONSOLE 3	MIRROR CONTROL
INDICATORS (P. 63)	(P. 174)	(P. 348)			AUTO BUTTON
GAUGES (P. 73)					(P. 146)
DRIVER'S FRONT AIRBAG					PASSENGER'S
(P. 10, 26)					FRONT AIRBAG
DRIVING POSITION					(P. 10, 26)
					CLIMATE CONTROL
MEMORY SYSTEM
(P. 148)					SYSTEM
POWER DOOR LOCK					(P. 164)
					POWER DOOR LOCK
MASTER SWITCH
					MASTER SWITCH
(P. 126)
					(P. 126)
POWER WINDOW
					POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
(P. 142)					SWITCH
HOOD RELEASE HANDLE					(P. 142)
(P. 355)					AUDIO SYSTEM 2
FUEL FILL DOOR					(P. 216)
RELEASE HANDLE	PARKING BRAKE PEDAL		USB ADAPTER CABLE		AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
(P. 353)	(P. 150)	ACCESSORY POWER	(P. 199, 207, 263, 274)		(P. 376)
Vehicle with navigation system is shown.		SOCKET (P. 157)

1: On models without navigation system.2: On models with navigation system.3: HomeLink® buttons (P. 303)

Moonroof Switch (P. 144)

Front Ceiling Light Switch (P. 151)

CONTINUED

3

Glance a at Vehicle Your

2011 RDX

Your Vehicle at a Glance

HEADLIGHTS/TURN	PADDLE SHIFTERS
SIGNAL/FOG LIGHTS	(P. 380)
(P. 116/119)

REMOTE AUDIO CONTROL BUTTONS (P. 289)

VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA) OFF SWITCH (P. 396)

MIRROR CONTROLS (P. 146)

VOICE CONTROL

BUTTONS 3

BLUETOOTH HANDSFREELINK

BUTTONS (P. 306)

STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENTS (P. 122)

Vehicle with navigation system is shown.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS/ REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER

(P. 114/115)

HORN 1

MULTI-INFORMATION BUTTONS (P. 74)

UPPER DISPLAY 3	HAZARD WARNING BUTTON
(P. 173)	(P. 121)
	NAVIGATION SYSTEM 3/
	CENTER DISPLAY 2
	(P. 172)
	PASSENGER AIRBAG
	OFF INDICATOR
	(P. 33)
	REAR WINDOW
	DEFOGGER/
	HEATED MIRROR
	BUTTON
	(P. 121/147)
	AUXILIARY INPUT JACK
	(P. 291)
	ACCESSORY POWER
	SOCKET
	(P. 157)
CRUISE CONTROL	SEAT HEATER SWITCHES
BUTTONS (P. 300)	(P. 141)

1: To use the horn, press the center pad of the steering wheel.2: On models without navigation system.

3: Only on vehicles equipped with navigation system. Refer to the navigation system manual.

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2011 RDX

Driver and Passenger Safety

This section gives you important			......................Lap/Shoulder Belt	21	If You Must Drive with Several
information about how to protect			Automatic Seat Belt		Children ................................	39
yourself and your passengers. It shows			Tensioners.............................	22	If a Child Requires Close
you how to use seat belts properly. It			Seat Belt Maintenance ................	23	Attention................................	39
explains how your airbags work, and it			Additional Information About Your		Additional Safety Precautions ......	40
tells you how to properly restrain			Airbags ..................................	24	Protecting Infants and Small
infants and children in your vehicle.			Airbag System Components ........	24	Children.................................	41
Important Safety Precautions		6	How Your Front Airbags Work....	26	Protecting Infants .......................	41
			How Your Side Airbags Work......	30	Protecting Small Children ...........	42
Your Vehicle's Safety Features ..........		8	How Your Side Curtain Airbags		Selecting a Child Seat .....................	44
Seat Belts.....................................		9	Work .....................................	31	Installing a Child Seat .....................	45
Airbags ......................................		10	How the SRS Indicator Works .....	32	Installing a Child Seat with
Protecting Adults and Teens ...........		12	How the Side Airbag Off		LATCH ..................................	46
1.	Close and Lock the Doors........	12	Indicator Works .....................	32	Installing a Child Seat with a
2.	Adjust the Front Seats .............	13	How the Passenger Airbag Off		Lap/Shoulder Belt..................	50
3.	Adjust the Seat-Backs..............	14	Indicator Works .....................	33	Installing a Child Seat with a
4.	Adjust the Head Restraints ......	15	Airbag Service............................	34	Tether ...................................	51
5.	Fasten and Position the Seat		Additional Safety Precautions ......	35	Protecting Larger Children .............	53
	Belts ..................................	15	Protecting Children General		Checking Seat Belt Fit ................	53
6.	Maintain a Proper Sitting		Guidelines..............................	36	Using a Booster Seat...................	54
	Position..............................	17	All Children Must Be		When Can a Larger Child Sit in
Advice for Pregnant Women........		18	Restrained..............................	36	Front .....................................	55
Additional Safety Precautions ......		19	All Children Should Sit in a Back		Additional Safety Precautions ......	56
Additional Information About Your			Seat .......................................	37	Carbon Monoxide Hazard ...............	57
	Seat Belts ...............................	20	The Passenger's Front Airbag		Safety Labels..................................	58
Seat Belt System Components.....		20	Can Pose Serious Risks...........	37

Safety Passenger and Driver

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2011 RDX

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.

6

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 36 56).

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.

2011 RDX

Important Safety Precautions

Pay Appropriate Attention to the Task of Driving Safely

Engaging in mobile phone conversation or other activities that keep you from paying close attention to the road, other vehicles and pedestrians could lead to a crash. Remember, situations can change quickly, and only you can decide when it is safe to divert attention away from driving.

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 444).

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Safety Passenger and Driver

2011 RDX

Your Vehicle's Safety Features

(8) (9) (6) (12) (4) (3) (9) (4) (6)

(10)

(7)(8)

					(10)
					(11)
			(1)	Safety Cage
(5)	(7)	(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
(2)	(2)		(10)		Door Locks
			(11)		Front Seat Belt Tensioners
(1)			(12)		Occupant Position Detection

System (OPDS) Sensor

8

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 the correct position and always wear your seat belts. In fact, some safety features can contribute to injuries if they are not used properly.

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

2011 RDX

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.

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Safety Passenger and Driver

2011 RDX

Your Vehicle's Safety Features

Airbags

Your vehicle has a supplemental restraint system (SRS) with front airbags to help protect the heads and chests of the driver and a front seat passenger during a moderate to severe frontal collision (see page 26 for more information on how your front airbags work).

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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 31 for more information on how your side curtain airbags work).

2011 RDX

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.

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Safety Passenger and Driver

2011 RDX

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 36 56 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.

12

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.

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

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

You will also hear a beep when you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position, and each time you open any door or the tailgate with the key in the ON (II) position.

2011 RDX

Protecting Adults and Teens

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

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

See page 126 for how to lock the doors and the tailgate.

This vehicle has auto door locking/ unlocking features. See pages 103 and 111 for how to set them.

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.

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 122).

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.

Safety Passenger and Driver

CONTINUED

13

2011 RDX

Protecting Adults and Teens

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 134 for how to adjust the front seats.

14

3. Adjust the Seat-Backs

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.

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 134 for how to adjust the seat-backs.

2011 RDX

Protecting Adults and Teens

4. Adjust the Head Restraints

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

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

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

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

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

See page 135 for how to adjust the head restraints and how the driver's and front passenger's active head restraints work.

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.

Safety Passenger and Driver

CONTINUED

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2011 RDX

Protecting Adults and Teens

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.

16

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.

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, press and hold the release button and slide the anchor up or down as needed (it has four positions).

2011 RDX

Protecting Adults and Teens

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.

6.Maintain a Proper Sitting Position

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

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

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

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

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

17

Safety Passenger and Driver

2011 RDX

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.

18

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.

2011 RDX

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	Driver
	operation of the airbags or be
	propelled inside the vehicle and	and
	hurt someone if the airbags inflate.
		Passenger
●	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	Safety
	attached on or near the door could
	be propelled inside the vehicle and
	hurt someone.
●	Do not cover or replace front
	seat-back covers without
	consulting your dealer.
	Improperly replacing or covering
	front seat-back covers can prevent
	your side airbags from inflating
	during a side impact.

19

2011 RDX

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.

20

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.

In addition to the seat belt reminder indicator in the instrument panel, you will also see a ‘‘FASTEN SEAT BELT’’ or ‘‘FASTEN PASSENGER SEAT BELT’’ message. This remains displayed if you ignore it and do not fasten the seat belt while driving.

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.

2011 RDX

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).

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Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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.

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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 can 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.

If the tensioner is activated, the SRS indicator comes on and the tensioner must be replaced.

2011 RDX

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 438). Any belt that is not in good condition or working properly will not provide good protection and should be replaced as soon as possible.

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

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

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

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

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

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Safety Passenger and Driver

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

Airbag System Components

			(10)	(9)	(2)	(8)(13)	(6)	(12)	(5)
		(9)	(14)
									(6)
(1)	Driver's Front Airbag
(2)	Passenger's Front Airbag								(4)
(3)	Control Unit
(4)	Front Seat Belt Tensioners		(1)
(5)	Side Airbags
(6)	Side Curtain Airbags		(3)
(7)	Driver's Seat Position Sensor
(8)	Front Passenger's Weight Sensors
(9)	Front Impact Sensors		(7)
(10)		Passenger Airbag Off Indicator							(16)
(11)		Side Impact Sensors (First)
(12)		Occupant Position Detection	(11)
		System (OPDS) Sensors
(13)		Front Passenger's Weight Sensors/						(15)
		OPDS Sensors Control Unit	(4)				(4)
(14)
		Supplemental Restraint System		(5)
		(SRS) Indicator				(16)
(15)		Rollover Sensor
(16)		Side Impact Sensors (Second)

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

Your airbag system includes:

●Two SRS (supplemental restraint system) front airbags. The driver's 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 26).

●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 ceiling, above the side windows. The front and rear pillars are marked ‘‘SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG’’ (see page 31).

●Automatic front seat belt tensioners (see page 22).

●Sensors that can detect a moderate to severe front impact, side impact, or 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 30).

●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 28).

●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 28).

●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 (see page 31).

●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.

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

●An indicator on the instrument panel that alerts you to a possible problem with your airbag system components (see page 32).

●An indicator on the instrument panel that alerts you that the passenger's side airbag has been turned off (see page 32).

●An indicator on the dashboard that alerts you that the passenger's front airbag has been turned off (see page 33).

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

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 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 will 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 33).

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