Acura MDX 2002 Owner's Manual

CONT INUED
Turn the ignition ON (II). Set the
Climate control system to 90°F(32
°C). Turn the ignition off.
Openthehood.Makesurethe
engine and radiator are cool to the
touch.
Remove the radiator cap.Loosen the drain plug on the
bottom of the radiator. The
coolant will drain through the
splash guard.
Thecoolingsystemshouldbe
completely drained and ref illed with
new coolant according to the time
and distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule. Only use
Honda All Season Antif reeze/
Coolant Type 2. Use of any non-
Honda coolant or plain water can
result in corrosion and deposits in
the cooling system.
Draining the coolant requires access
to the underside of the vehicle.
Unless you have the tools and
knowledge, you should have this
maintenance done by a skilled
mechanic.
1.
3.
2.
Replacing Engine Coolant
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance267
D D
R
RAA I
INN P
PL
LUUG G
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When the coolant stops draining,
tightenthedrainplugatthe
bottom of the radiator.
Tighten the drain bolt at the rear
of the engine cylinder block
securely.
Tightening torque:
Remove the reserve tank f rom its
holder by pulling it straight up.
Drain the coolant, then put the
tank back in its holder.
Install a rubber hose on the drain
bolt in the back of the engine
block. Loosen the drain bolt. 6.
4. 5. 7.
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance268
R RE
ES
SE ER
RV V E
E T
TA
A N
NK K
H
H O
OL LDD E
ER
R R
RE
ES
SE ER
RV V E
E
T
T A
A N
NK K C
CAA P
P
D
D
R
RAA I
INN B
BOOL LTT
7 lbf·ft (10 N·m , 1.0 kgf·m)
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Fill the reserve tank to the MAX
mark. Install the reserve tank cap.
Install the radiator cap, and
tighten it to the first stop.
Start the engine and let it run until
the radiator cooling f an comes on
at least twice. Then stop the
engine.
Remove the radiator cap. Fill the
radiator with coolant up to the
base of the f iller neck.
Install the radiator cap, and
tighten it fully.
Pour Honda All Season
Antif reeze/Coolant Type 2 into
the radiator up to the base of the
f iller neck. This coolant is a
mixture of 50 percent antif reeze
and 50 percent water. Pre-mixing
is not required.
The cooling system capacity is: 10.
11.
12.
13. 9.
8.
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance269
F FI ILLL LEE R
R N
NEEC
CK K
F
Fi illll u
u p
p t
too h
he
erree
2.01 US gal (7.6, 1.67 Imp gal)
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Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer f luid. This
increases the cleaning capability and
prevents f reezing in cold weather.
When you ref ill the reservoir, clean
the edges of the windshield wiper
blades with windshield washer f luid
on a clean cloth. This will help to
condition the blade edges.
The low washer level indicator will
light when the level is low (see page
).
65
Windshield Washers
Maint enance270
Do not use engine antif reeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir.
Antif reeze can damage your vehicle’s
paint, while a vinegar/water solution
can damage the windshield washer
pump.
Use only commercially-available
windshield washer f luid.
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Check the f luid level with the engine
at normal operating temperature.Park the vehicle on level ground.
Shut of f the engine.
Remove the dipstick (yellow loop)
f rom the transmission and wipe it
with a clean cloth.
Insert the dipstick all the way into
the transmission.
Remove the dipstick and check the f luid level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
To thoroughly f lush the
transmission, the technician
should drain and ref ill it with
Honda ATF-Z1 (Automatic
Transmission Fluid), then drive
the vehicle a short distance. Do
this three times. Then drain and
ref ill the transmission a f inal time.
If you are not sure how to add f luid,
contact your Acura dealer. The transmission should be drained
and ref illed with new f luid according
to the time and distance recommen-
dations in the maintenance schedule. Insert the dipstick all the way back
in the transmission.
If the level is below the lower
mark, add f luid into the tube to
bring it to the upper mark. Always
use Honda ATF-Z1 (Automatic
Transmission Fluid). If it is not
available, you may use a
DEXRON
III automatic
transmission f luid as a temporary
replacement. However, continued use can affect shift quality. Have
the transmission f lushed and
ref illed with Honda ATF-Z1 as
soon as it is convenient.
1.
2.
3. 5.
6.
4.
Maint enance
Automatic Transmission Fluid
271
U UP PP
PE
ER
R M
M A
AR
RKK
L
LO OW WE ER
R M
M A
AR
RKK
D
D I
IPP S
ST TI
ICCK K D
D
I
IPP S
ST TI
ICCK K
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Put a new washer on the f iller bolt,
then reinstall the f iller bolt. Tighten
it securely. Tightening torque:
The dif f erential should be drained
and ref illed with new f luid according
to the time and distance
recommendations in the
maintenance schedule.
Check the f luid level with the
dif f erential at normal operating
temperature and the vehicle sitting
on level ground. Remove the
dif f erential f luid f iller bolt and
washer and caref ully f eel inside the
bolt hole with your f inger. The f luid
level should be up to the edge of the
bolt hole. If it is not, slowly add
VTM-4 Dif f erential Fluid until it
starts to run out of the hole.
Maint enance
Dif f erential Fluid
272
F FI ILLL LEE R
R B
BOOL LTT
C
CO OR RRREEC
CT T L
LEE V
V E
EL
L
33 lbf·ft (45 N·m , 4.6 kgf·m)
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The f luid level should be between
theMINandMAXmarksontheside
of the reservoir. If the level is at or
below the MIN mark, your brake
system needs attention. Have the
brake system inspected f or leaks or
worn brake pads.
Always use Honda Heavy Duty
Brake Fluid DOT 3. If it is not
available, you should use only DOT 3
or DOT 4 f luid, f rom a sealed
container, as a temporary
replacement. However, the use of
any non-Honda brake fluid can cause
corrosion and decrease the lif e of the
system. Have the brake system
f lushed and ref illed with Honda
Heavy Duty Brake Fluid DOT 3 as
soon as possible.
Check the f luid level in the brake
f luid reservoir monthly.
The brake f luid should be replaced
accordingtothetimeanddistance
recommendations in the mainte-
nance schedule.
Brake f luid marked DOT 5 is not
compatible with your vehicle’s
braking system and can cause
extensive damage.Brake System
Brake Fluid
Maint enance273
M M
A
AX
X
M
MI
INN
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Always use Honda Power Steering
Fluid. If it is not available, you may
use another power steering f luid as
an emergency replacement.
However, continued use can cause
increased wear and poor steering in
cold weather. Have the power
steering system f lushed and ref illed
with Honda PSF as soon as possible.
Check the level when the engine is
cold. Look at the side of the
reservoir. The f luid should be
between the UPPER LEVEL and
LOWER LEVEL. If it is below the
LOWER LEVEL, add power steering
f luid to the UPPER LEVEL. A low power steering f luid level can
indicate a leak in the system. Check
the f luid level f requently and have
the system inspected as soon as
possible.
Power Steering
Maint enance274
U UP
PP
PE
ER
R L
LEE V
V E
EL
L
L
LO OW WE ER
R L
LEE V
V E
EL
L
T urning the steering wheel to f ull lef t
or right lock and holding it there can
damage the power steering pump.
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To replace it: The air cleaner element is inside the
air cleaner housing on the driver’s
side of the engine compartment.Disconnect the cable from the air
cleaner housing cover by pushing
the plastic clip and pulling on it.
Remove the cable from connector. Loosen the f our bolts with a
Phillips-head screwdriver.
The air cleaner element should be
replaced according to the time and
distance recommendations in the
maintenance schedule.
1.2.
CONT INUED
Replacement
A ir Cleaner Element
Maint enance275
B BO
OL LTT S
S
C
CO ON NNNEEC
CT TO
OR R C
CL
LIIPP
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Remove the old air cleaner
element.
Caref ully clean the inside of the
air cleaner housing with a damp
rag.Place the new air cleaner element
in the air cleaner housing.
Reinstall the air cleaner housing
cover. Tighten the f our bolts.
Reinstall the clip on the cover.
Clamp the cable with the
connector.
3.
4. 6. 5.
A ir Cleaner Element
Maint enance276
A A
I
IRR C
CLLEE A
A N
NE ER
R E
EL
LEE M
M E
EN
NT T
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