Acura ZDX 2010 Owner Manual

Introduction

2010 ZDX

Congratulations! Your selection of a 2010 Acura ZDX was a wise investment.
It will give you years of driving pleasure.

One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new vehicle is to read
this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls and
convenience items. Afterwards, keep this owner's manual in your vehicle so
you can refer to it at any time.

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

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

As you read this manual, you will find
information that is preceded by a

symbol. This information is
intended to help you avoid damage to
your vehicle, other property, or the
environment.

i

Introduction

2010 ZDX

California Proposition 65 Warning

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

Event Data Recorders

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

except as legally required or with the permission of the vehicle owner.

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

ii

A Few Words About Safety

2010 ZDX

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.

iii

Important Handling Information

2010 ZDX

Your ZDX 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 472 of this manual and the

Off-Highway Driving Guidelines

control or a crash.

section on page 528. Failure to operate your vehicle correctly might result in loss of

iv

Contents

00X31-SZN-6000
© American Honda Motor Co., Inc. - All Rights Reserved

2010 ZDX Online Reference Owner's Manual

2010 ZDX

Owner's Identification Form

Your Vehicle at a Glance (main controls).................................................................................................................... 3

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, jump starting, 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, steering wheel, security, cruise control, HomeLink®, and other convenience items

....................................................................................... 453

........................................................................................................... 471

.............................................................................................................................................................................. I

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

........................................................... 531

................................................... 577

........................................................ 605

5

........... 61

)........... 219

............................... 621

1

Overview of Contents

2010 ZDX

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 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.

Your Vehicle at a Glance

2010 ZDX

DRIVER'S FRONT
AIRBAG (P. 10, 28)

POWER TAILGATE
BUTTON (P. 153)

DRIVING POSITION
MEMORY SYSTEM
(P. 180)

POWER DOOR LOCK
MASTER SWITCH
(P. 151)

POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
(P. 171)

PARKING BRAKE
PEDAL (P. 176)

HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE (P. 457)

Vehicle with navigation system is shown.

INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS (P. 63)
GAUGES (P. 76)

MULTI-INFORMATION DISPLAY (P. 78)

ACCESSORY POWER
SOCKETS (P. 217)

ꭧ: If equipped

REAR SEAT HEATER
SWITCHES

ꭧ

(P. 170)

HOMELINK BUTTONS
(P. 396)

AUXILIARY INPUT JACKS (P. 371)
USB ADAPTER CABLE
(P. 257, 266, 342, 351)

PANORAMIC GLASS
ROOF SWITCH (P. 174)

MIRROR CONTROL
AUTO BUTTON
(P. 177)

PASSENGER'S
FRONT AIRBAG
(P. 10, 28)

PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF INDICATOR (P. 36)

HAZARD WARNING
BUTTON (P. 143)

CLIMATE CONTROL
SYSTEM (P. 220)

AUDIO SYSTEM
(P. 228)

AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
(P. 477)

INTEGRATED DYNAMICS
SYSTEM (IDS) SWITCH
(P. 519)

ꭧ

CONTINUED

Your Vehicle at a Glance

3

Your Vehicle at a Glance

2010 ZDX

BLIND SPOT INFORMATION SYSTEM
(BSI) ALERT INDICATOR

ꭧ2

(P. 514)

REMOTE AUDIO CONTROL
BUTTONS (P. 371)

HEADLIGHT/TURN SIGNALS/
FOG LIGHTS (P. 139, 141)

PADDLE SHIFTERS
(P. 482)

INSTRUMENT PANEL
BRIGHTNESS (P. 144)

BLUETOOTH HANDSFREELINK
SYSTEM VOICE CONTROL
BUTTONS (P. 399, 417)

COLLISION MITIGATION
BRAKING SYSTEM (CMBS)
OFF BUTTON

ꭧ2

(P. 502)

MIRROR CONTROLS
(P. 178)

VEHICLE STABILITY
ASSIST (VSA) SYSTEM
OFF BUTTON (P. 509)

ꭧ1

HEADLIGHT WASHER
BUTTON

ꭧ2

(P. 138)

BLIND SPOT
INFORMATION
SYSTEM (BSI)
OFF BUTTON
(P. 517)

Vehicle with navigation system is shown.

STEERING
WHEEL

ꭧ2

ADJUSTMENTS
(P. 145)

HORN

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

4

WINDSHIELD
WIPERS/WASHERS
(P. 137)

ADAPTIVE CRUISE
CONTROL (ACC)
DISTANCE BUTTON
(P. 390)

CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS
(P. 379)
ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
(ACC) BUTTONS

KEYLESS ACCESS
REMOTE SLOT

REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER/
HEATED MIRROR BUTTON

ꭧ2

ꭧ2

(P. 205)

(P. 382)

(P. 143, 179)

ENGINE START/STOP
BUTTON

ꭧ2

(P. 194)

MULTI-INFORMATION
DISPLAY BUTTONS (P. 79)

IGNITION SWITCH

ꭧ2

(P. 150)

ACCESSORY POWER
SOCKET (P. 217)

FRONT SEAT HEATER
SWITCHES (P. 167)

ꭧ2

FRONT SEAT HEATER
AND SEAT VENTILATION
SWITCHES

ꭧ2

(P. 168)

2010 ZDX

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

..................................... 9

....................................... 10

................................... 16

Belts

Position

Seat Belts

............................... 18

............................... 21

.............. 6

............ 8

............. 12

.......... 12

............... 14

................ 15

......... 15

.......... 19

........ 20

....... 21

Lap/Shoulder Belt
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners
Seat Belt e-pretensioners
Seat Belt Maintenance

Additional Information About Your

Airbags
Airbag System Components
How Your Front Airbags Work
How Your Side Airbags Work
How Your Side Curtain Airbags

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

................................... 26

...................................... 33

..................................... 35

........................................ 40

........................ 22

............... 24

.................. 25

.......... 26

........ 32

....................... 36

............................. 37

........ 37

.............................. 39

............................... 39

................... 40

..... 23

...... 28

....... 34

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

.................................. 42

................................. 42

................................. 44

......................... 44

............. 45

...................... 47

...................... 48

................................... 49

........................... 51

..................................... 53

............... 54

.................. 54

.................... 55

....................................... 56

................ 58

.................................. 59

Driver and Passenger Safety

........ 42

........ 57

5

Important Safety Precautions

2010 ZDX

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 16).

6

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 39 － 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.

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

2010 ZDX

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 567).

Important Safety Precautions

Driver and Passenger Safety

7

Your Vehicle's Safety Features

2010 ZDX

(6)

(9)

(8)

(10)

(7)

(2)

On models with Collision Mitigation

ꭧ:

Braking System (CMBS)

(1)

8

(2)

(12)

(5)

(3)

(9)

(4)

(8)

(10)

(11)

(1) Safety Cage
(2) Crush Zones

(7)

(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) Door Locks
(11) Front Seat Belt Tensioners/

Seat Belt e-pretensioners

(12) Occupant Position Detection

System (OPDS) Sensor

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

your seat belts.

In fact, some safety

always wear

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

The following pages explain how you
can take an active role in protecting

ꭧ

yourself and your passengers.

Your Vehicle's Safety Features

2010 ZDX

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 the driver
and front passenger 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 and territories
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.

Driver and Passenger Safety

9

Your Vehicle's Safety Features

2010 ZDX

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 28
for more information on how your
front airbags work).

10

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 32 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 33 for more information on how
your side curtain airbags work).

Your Vehicle's Safety Features

2010 ZDX

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.

Driver and Passenger Safety

11

Protecting Adults and Teens

2010 ZDX

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 39 － 57 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 (red)
on the instrument panel to indicate
when any door or the tailgate is
open.

See page 151 for how to lock the
doors, and page 69 for how the door
and tailgate open indicator works.

12

Your vehicle also has a door and
tailgate open indicator on the multi­information display to indicate when
a specific door or the tailgate is open.
You will see the appropriate
indicator(s) and the message for
each condition.

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

ꭧ: Models equipped with the
keyless access system have an
engine start/stop button instead of
an ignition switch. ON mode is the
equivalent of ON (II). For more
information, see pages 194 and 196.

ꭧ

to the ON

When one or more doors are open,
the ‘‘ DOOR OPEN’’ message will
come on.

When the tailgate is open, the

2010 ZDX

‘‘TAILGATE OPEN’’ message will
come on.

When the tailgate or one or more
doors are open, the corresponding
indicator for each condition will
come on.

The above illustration shows that all
doors and the tailgate are open.

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.

Your vehicle has the auto door
locking/unlocking feature. For more
information, see page 128.

Driver and Passenger Safety

13

Protecting Adults and Teens

2010 ZDX

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.

14

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 145).

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 161 for how to adjust the
front seats.

Protecting Adults and Teens

2010 ZDX

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 161 for how to adjust the
seat-backs.

4. Adjust the Head Restraints

Driver and Passenger Safety

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.

CONTINUED

15

Protecting Adults and Teens

2010 ZDX

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.

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.

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

See page 162 for how to adjust the
head restraints and how the driver's
and front passenger's active head
restraints work.

16

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.

Protecting Adults and Teens

2010 ZDX

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.

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.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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).

CONTINUED

17

Protecting Adults and Teens

2010 ZDX

Never place the shoulder portion of a
lap/shoulder belt under your arm or
behind your back.

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.

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 21 for additional
information about your seat belts and
how to take care of them.

This could cause

Using a seat

18

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 safely 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.

Protecting Adults and Teens

2010 ZDX

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.

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.

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger Safety

19

Protecting Adults and Teens

2010 ZDX

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.

20

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.

Protecting Adults and Teens, Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

2010 ZDX

●

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.

●

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.

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, and on models with
collision mitigation braking system
(CMBS), seat belt e-pretensioners.

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.

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger Safety

ꭧ

21

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

2010 ZDX

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 90).

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.

ꭧ:Models equipped with the keyless
access system have an engine start/
stop button instead of an ignition
switch. ON mode is the equivalent of
ON (II). For more information, see
pages 194 and 196.

22

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 16 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.

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

2010 ZDX

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 51).

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.

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
airbags would not be needed, but the
extra tension in the seat belt could be
helpful.

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

do not deploy.

In this case, the

23

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

2010 ZDX

Seat Belt e-pretensioners

On models with Collision Mitigation
Braking System™ (CMBS™)

For added safety, the front seat belts
are equipped with e-pretensioners
that work in combination with the
collision mitigation braking system™
(CMBS™) (see page 498) and the
brake pedal assist function (see page

495).

24

If your vehicle gets too close to the
vehicle ahead of it in your lane, the
driver's e-pretensioner slightly
retracts the seat belt to alert the
driver of the approaching vehicle. If a
collision with the vehicle in front of
you is likely, the e-pretensioners on
both front seats retract the seat belts
with enough force to properly
restrain you and your front
passenger. After they activate, the e­pretensioners release the retracted
seat belts.

To get the full benefit of the e­pretensioners, you and your front
passenger must sit normally in your
seats and wear your seat belts
properly (see page 16).

The e-pretensioners do not activate
when the vehicle stability assist
(VSA) off indicator on the instrument
panel is on.

If the automatic seat belt tensioners
are activated by a collision, both front
seat belts and all related components
must be replaced (see page 25). If
only the e-pretensioners were
activated, no components need to be
replaced.

In addition, the front passenger's e­pretensioner does not activate when
the passenger's airbag is
automatically turned off because the
weight sensor detects a child in the
front passenger's seat.

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

2010 ZDX

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

562). 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 Safety

25

Additional Information About Your Airbags

2010 ZDX

Airbag System Components

(1) Driver's Front Airbag
(2) Passenger's Front Airbag
(3) Control Unit/Rollover Sensor
(4) Front Seat Belt Tensioners/

(5) Side Airbags
(6) Driver's Seat Position Sensor
(7) Front Passenger's Weight Sensors
(8) Front Impact Sensors

(9) Passenger Airbag Off Indicator
(10) Side Impact Sensors (First)
(11) Occupant Detection System (ODS) Sensors
(12) Front Passenger's Weight Sensor Control Unit/

(13) Side Impact Sensors (second)
(14) Side Curtain Airbags
(15) Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Indicator
(16) Safing Sensor
(17) e-pretensioner Control Unit
ꭧ: On models with CMBS

26

Seat Belt e-pretensioners

ODS Sensors Control Unit

(2)

(7)

(12)

(11)

(5)

(4)

(15)

(3)

(9)

(8)

(1)

(14)

(8)

(5)

ꭧ

(6)

(10)

(4)

(13)

(14)

(17)

ꭧ

(13)

(16)