clock Acura MDX 2002 User Guide

Make sure the engine and radiator
are cool.
Turn the radiator cap counter-
clockwise, without pressing down
on it, until it stops. This relieves
any pressure remaining in the
cooling system.
Remove the radiator cap by
pushing down and turning
counterclockwise.The coolant level should be up to
the base of the f iller neck. Add
coolant if it is low.
Put the radiator cap back on.
Tighten it f ully.
Pour coolant into the reserve tank.
Fill it to half way between the MAX
and MIN marks. Put the cap back
on the reserve tank.Do not add any rust inhibitors or
other additives to your vehicle’s
cooling system. They may not be
compatible with the coolant or
engine components.
3. 4.
5.
6.
1.
2.
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance266
R RE
ES
SE ER
RV V E
E T
TA
A N
NK K
01/09/07 12:37:51 31S3V610_271

The spark plugs in your vehicle are a
special platinum-tipped design f or
longer lif e. The spark plugs should
be replaced according to the time
and distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule.Loosen the two holding clips by
turning the heads one-quarter turn
counterclockwise with a f lat-tipped
screwdriver. Remove the cover on
the f ront cylinder bank by pulling
it straight up.
Clean up any dirt and oil that have
collected around the ignition coils.
Clean the hood latch assembly with a
mild cleaner, then lubricate it with a
multipurpose grease. Lubricate all
the moving parts (as shown),
including the pivot. Follow the time
and distance recommendations in
the Maintenance Schedule. If you
are not sure how to clean and grease
the latch, contact your Acura dealer. 1.
2.
CONT INUED
Hood L atch
Spark PlugsReplacement
Hood L at ch, Spark Plugs
Maint enance277
L LAA T
TC
CH H A
AS
SSSEEM
M B
BLLYY
H
HO
OL LDD I
INNG G C
CLLIIPP
01/09/07 12:39:30 31S3V610_282

´
µ
Torque the spark plug. (If you do
not have a torque wrench, tighten
the spark plug two-thirds of a turn
af ter it contacts the cylinder head.)
Tightening torque:Spark Plug Gap:
Install the ignition coil. Reinstall
the hexagon socket head cap bolt.
Push the wire connector onto the
ignition coil. Make sure it locks in
place.
Repeat this procedure f or the
other f ive spark plugs.
Reinstall the cover on the front
cylinder bank while putting its
mounting clip in the hole on the
passenger’s side. Secure the cover
by turning the heads of the two
holding clips one-quarter turn
clockwise with a f lat-tipped
screwdriver. NGK:
DENSO:
7. 8.
9.
10.
11. Specif ications:
Spark Plugs
Maint enance279
13 lbf·ft (18 N·m , 1.8 kgf·m)
0.04 in (1.1 mm)
PKJ16CR-L11 PZFR5F-11
0
0.1 mm
Tighten the spark plugs caref ully. A
spark plug that is too loose can
overheat and damage the engine.
Overtightening can cause damage to
the threads in the cylinder head.
01/09/07 12:39:52 31S3V610_284

Open the hood.
Theheadlightswereproperlyaimed
when your vehicle was new. If you
regularly carry heavy items in the
cargo area or pull a trailer,
readjustment may be required.
Adjustment of the headlights should
be perf ormed by a Acura technician
or other qualif ied mechanic.
Remove the bulb by turning it
approximately one-quarter turn
counterclockwise.
Your vehicle has halogen headlight
bulbs, two on each side. When
replacing a bulb, handle it by its steel
base and protect the glass from
contactwithyourskinorhard
objects. If you touch the glass, clean
it with denatured alcohol and a clean
cloth.
1.
2.
CONT INUED
Replacing a Headlight Bulb
Headlight A iming
Lights
Maint enance295
C CO ON NNNEEC
CT TO
OR R
B
BU
UL LBBHalogen headlight bulbs get very hot
when lit. Oil, perspiration, or a scratch
on the glass can cause the bulb to
overheat and shatter.
01/09/07 12:42:20 31S3V610_300

Remove the electrical connector
f rom the bulb by squeezing the
connector to unlock the tab, then
slide the connector of f the bulb. Remove the socket f rom theheadlight assembly by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise.
Push the electrical connector onto
the new bulb.
Insert the new bulb into the hole
and turn it one-quarter turn clock-
wise to lock it in place.
Turn on the headlights to test the
new bulb. To remove the f ront turn signal
bulb, push it in slightly and turn it
counterclockwise. To remove the
side marker bulb, pull it straight
out of its socket.
Testthelightstomakesurethe
new bulb is working. Insert the socket back into the
headlight assembly. Turn it
clockwise to lock it in place. Install the new bulb into the
socket.
1.
2. 3.
4.
5.
3.
4.
5.
6. Replacing Front Turn Signal/
Parking and Side Marker Light
Bulbs
Lights
Maint enance296
T T
A
A B
B
01/09/07 12:42:34 31S3V610_301

Remove the bulb by turning it
approximately one-quarter turn
counterclockwise.
Your car uses halogen f og light
bulbs. See page f or inf ormation
on replacing a halogen bulb.
Remove the electrical connector
fromthebulbbysqueezingthe
connector to unlock the tab, then
slide the connector of f the bulb.
Push the electrical connector onto
the new bulb.
Use a wrench to loosen the light
assembly’s mounting bolt.
Remove the light assembly f rom
the bumper.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
295
CONT INUED
ReplacingaFogLightBulb
Lights
Maint enance297
C CO
ON NNNEEC
CT TO
OR R
B
BO
OL LTT
01/09/07 12:42:44 31S3V610_302

Turn on the headlights to test the
new bulb. Insert the new bulb into the hole
and turn it one-quarter turn clock-
wise to lock it in place.
Put the light assembly into the
bumper. Tighten the mounting
bolt.Remove the socket by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise.
Open the tailgate. Use a
screwdriver protected with a cloth
to pry open the two covers.
Determine which of the f our bulbs
is burned out: stop/taillight, turn
signal/hazard lights, side marker
light, or back-up light. Remove the two screws and
remove the rear light assembly
f rom the rear pillar. Remove the burned out bulb. To
remove the stop/taillight, back-up
or side marker light bulb, pull the
bulb straight out of its socket. To
remove the turn signal/hazard
light bulb, push it in and turn it
counterclockwise until it unlocks.
1.
2.
3.
4.
8. 6.
7.
5.
Replacing Rear Bulbs
Lights
Maint enance298
01/09/07 12:42:57 31S3V610_303

Put the socket back into the light
assembly and turn it clockwise to
lock it in place. Test the light to make sure the
new bulb is working. Pull the bulb straight out of its
socket.
Push the new bulb straight into
the socket until it bottoms.
Install the new bulb into the
socket.
Push the socket into the light
assembly and turn it clockwise
until it locks.
Testthelightstomakesurethe
new bulb is working.
Install the rear light assembly in
the body.Tighten the two screws.
Snap the covers back into position.
Remove the light assembly cover
by prying caref ully with a cloth-
covered screwdriver in the
notches along the top edge.Then
pivot the cover out and down.
Remove the socket f rom the light
assembly by turning it one-quarter
turn counterclockwise.Place the cover back into the light
assembly. Push it up until it locks
in place.
1. 4.
5.
6.
2. 3.
6.
7.
8.
9. Replacing a High-mount Brake
Light Bulb
Lights
Maint enance299
01/09/07 12:43:09 31S3V610_304

Open the tailgate.Take the tools out of the storage
compartment.
Turn the jack’s end bracket
counterclockwise to loosen it, then
remove the jack.
Thetoolsandjackarebehinda
cover in the cargo area on the
driver’s side. Remove the cover by
pushing the top of the cover. The spare tire is stored
underneath the rear cargo area.
Remove the plastic cover on the
cargo area lining to access the
shaft for the spare tire hoist.
3.
4.
5.
6.7.
Changing a Flat T ire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed316
C CO
OV VE
ER
R C
CO
OV VE
ER
R
01/09/07 12:45:32 31S3V610_321

Loosen the f ive wheel nuts 1/2
turn with the wheel wrench.
Put the wheel nut wrench on the
hoist shaf t.Turn the wrench
counterclockwise to lower the
spare tire on the ground. Keep turning the wheel wrench to
create slack in the cable.
Remove the bracket from the
spare tire.11.
10.
8. 9.
CONT INUED
Changing a Flat T ire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed317
S SP
PA
A R
REE T
TI
IRRE E W
WR REEN
NC CHH B
BR
RAA C
CKKEET
T
01/09/07 12:45:42 31S3V610_322