automatic transmission fluid Acura MDX 2002 Owner's Manual

This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
This section also includes
Maintenance Schedules f or normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions f or simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself .
If you have the skills and tools to per-
f orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your Acura, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Acura
dealer.......................
Maintenance Saf ety .248
.
Important Safety Precautions .249
.................
Maintenance Schedule .250
...
Required Maintenance Record .257
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks .259
..............................
Fluid Locations .260
......................................
Engine Oil .261
..................................
Adding Oil .261
....................
Recommended Oil .261
..............................
Synthetic Oil .262
....................................
Additives .262
.....
Changing the Oil and Filter .263
.............................
Cooling System .265
............
Adding Engine Coolant .265
.......
Replacing Engine Coolant .267
....................
Windshield Washers .270
....
Automatic Transmission Fluid .271
..........................
Dif f erential Fluid .272
....................................
Brake Fluid .273
............................
Brake System .273
..............................
Power Steering .274
.....................
Air Cleaner Element .275
....................................
Hood Latch .277
....................................
Spark Plugs .277
..............................
Replacement .277
............................
Specif ications .279 ...........................................
Battery .280
.................................
Wiper Blades .282
..............
Air Conditioning System .284
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter .285
.....................................
Drive Belts .285
....................................
Timing Belt .286
...............................................
Tires .286
......................................
Inf lation .286
..................................
Inspection .288
..............................
Maintenance .289
.............................
Tire Rotation .289
...
Replacing Tires and Wheels .290
......................
Wheels and Tires .291
..........................
Winter Driving .291
.............................
Snow Tires .292
............................
Tire Chains .292
.............................................
Lights .293
.....................
Headlight Aiming .295
........................
Replacing Bulbs .295
....................
Storing Your Vehicle .303
357
Maintenance
Maint enance247
01/09/07 12:34:33 31S3V610_252

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
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01/09/07 12:38:41 31S3V610_276

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Specif ications
T echnical Inf ormation342
Dimensions Capacities
Air Conditioning Weights Length
Width
Height
Wheelbase
Track See the tire information label atta-
ched to the driver’s doorjamb. Fuel tank
Engine
coolant
Engine oil
Automatic
transmission
fluid
Rear
differential
fluid
Windshield
washer
reservoir2.01 US gal (7.6
, 1.67 Imp gal)
2.30 US gal (8.7, 1.91 Imp gal)
5.0 US qt (4.7
, 4.1 Imp qt)
4.5 US qt (4.3
, 3.8 Imp qt)
5.8 US qt (5.5
, 4.8 Imp qt)
4.0 US qt (3.8, 3.3 Imp qt)
9.0 US qt (8.5, 7.5 Imp qt)
Including the coolant in the reserve tank and that remaining in the
engine.
Reserve tank capacity:
0.16 US gal (0.6
, 0.13 Imp gal)
Excluding the oil remaining in the engine. 19.3 US gal (73
, 16.1 Imp gal)
3.0 US qt (2.8
, 2.5 Imp qt)
188.5 in (4,789 mm)
76.3 in (1,938 mm)
68.7 in (1,744 mm)
71.3 in (1,811 mm)
106.3 in (2,700 mm)
66.3 in (1,685 mm)
66.5 in (1,690 mm)
9,700 lbs (4,400 kg)
4.8 US qt (4.5
, 4.0 Imp qt)
Refrigerant type
Charge quantity
Lubricant type HFC-134a (R-134a)
24.7 26.5 oz (700 750 g) ND-OIL8
Gross vehicle weight rating
Gross combined weight
rating (GCWR)
Approx.
Front
Rear
1:
2:
Standard
Premium
Equipped with transmission fluid cooler and power steering fluid
cooler. Change
Total
Change
Including
filter
Without
filter
Total
Change
Total
Change
The GCWR must be reduced 2 percent for every 1,000 feet (305
meters) of elevation.
1:
2:
2 1
2
1
01/09/07 12:49:39 31S3V610_347

CONT INUED
...
Accessories and Modif ications .201
................................
Accessories .201
...
Additional Safety Precaution .202
............................
Modif ications .202
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) .82
............
Accessory Power Sockets .115
....................
Additives, Engine Oil .262
...............................
Airbag (SRS) .9,50
.....................
Air Cleaner Element .275
..............
Air Conditioning System .124
..............................
Maintenance .284
.....................
Rear A/C Control .130
.........................................
Usage .124
.......................
Air Outlets (Vents) .122
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .286
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline .346
.......
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning .307
......................................
Antif reeze .265
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
....................
Indicator Light .63,222
...................................
Operation .221
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System .170
.
Anti-thef t Steering Column Lock .81 ..........................
Appearance Care .305
........................
Audio System .133,151
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners .48
...
Automatic Lighting Off Feature .73
.............
Automatic Speed Control .172
..............
Automatic Transmission .211
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .342
...............
Checking Fluid Level .271
.......................................
Shif ting .212
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator .211
................
Shif t Lever Positions .212
....................
Shif t Lock Release .215
Battery Charging System ...........................
Indicator .62,328
............................
Jump Starting .323
..............................
Maintenance .280
............................
Specif ications .343
..............................
Bef ore Driving .193
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,46
.........................
Beverage Holders .110
...................................
Body Repair .312 Brakes
...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) .221
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 194
...........................................
Fluid .273
....................
Bulb Replacement .298
.......................................
Parking .106
.................
System Indicator . 63,331
........................
Wear Indicators .220
.............................
Braking System .220
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle . 194
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 73
........................
Brights, Headlights .72
Bulb Replacement ..........................
Back-up Lights .298
..............................
Brake Lights .298
......................
Cargo Area Light .301
................
Front Parking Lights . 296
........
Front Side Marker Lights . 296
.................................
Headlights .295
.........
High-mount Brake Light . 299
..............
Individual Map Lights . 300
...................
License Plate Light . 300
.................................
Rear Bulbs .298
............................
Specif ications .343
............
Turn Signal Lights . 296,298
Index
A
B
I
01/09/07 12:52:14 31S3V610_364

CONT INUED
............................
Fabric, Cleaning .309
...................................
Fan, Interior .126 Features, Comfort and
..............................
Convenience .121
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank .195
Filters
...............................................
Air .275
.......................
Air Conditioning .285
...............................................
Oil .263
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 76
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 315
Fluids ..........
Automatic Transmission . 271
..........................................
Brake .273
..........................
Power Steering .274
..................
Windshield Washer . 270
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception .157
........................................
Fog Lights .77
...................
Folding the Third Seat . 96
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 347
..........................
Four-way Flashers .76
..............................
Economy, Fuel .200
............
Emergencies on the Road . 313
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 323
...........
Brake System Indicator . 331
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 315
.....
Charging System Indicator . 328
..................
Checking the Fuses . 333
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 327
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 329
..................
Overheated Engine . 325
.........................
Emergency Brake .106
......................
Emergency Flashers .76
......................
Emergency Towing .338 .......................
Emissions Controls .348
Engine ....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 68
.................................
Drive Belts .285
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp .62, 329
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 62,327
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 261
...............................
Overheating .325
............................
Specif ications .343
............................
Speed Limiter .215
.......................................
Starting .210
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .346
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 348
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .56
Exhaust Gas Recirculation ........................................
System .349
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .19
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 306
....................
Lockout Prevention . 83
......................
Power Door Locks .82
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 344
.....................................
Drive Belts .285
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5
...........................................
Driving .207
....................................
Economy .200
.........................
In Bad Weather .224
................
In Foreign Countries . 347
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 285
Index
E
F
III
01/09/07 12:52:26 31S3V610_366

Î
Technical Descriptions......
DOT Tire Quality Grading .344
.....
Emissions Control Systems .348
.....................
Oxygenated Fuels .346
Three Way Catalytic
...............................
Converter .350
.......................
Temperature Gauge .68
...................
Tensioners, Seat Belts .48
........
Testing of Readiness Codes .351
............................
Thef t Protection .170
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter .350
....................................
Timing Belt .286
....................................
Tire Chains .292
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat .315
...............................................
Tires .286
..............................
Air Pressure .286
...................................
Balancing .289
.........................
Checking Wear .288
..........................
Compact Spare .314
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading .344
......................................
Inf lation .286
..................................
Inspection .288
...................................
Replacing .290
......................................
Rotating .289
...........................................
Snow .292
............................
Specif ications .343 ................................
Tire Chains .292
Towing .....................................
A Trailer .226
................
Emergency Wrecker .338
Your Vehicle Behind a
............................
Motorhome .238
Transmission ...............
Checking Fluid Level .271
...........................
Fluid Selection .271
..............
Identif ication Number .340
.............
Shif ting the Automatic .211
.....................................
Treadwear .344
.......................................
Trip Meter .68
....................................
Turn Signals .74
...................
Tools, Tire Changing .315
.....................
Underside, Cleaning .311
Unexpected, Taking Care
..........................................
of the .313
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading .344
........................
Unleaded Gasoline .194
.....................
Upholstery Cleaning .308
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of .264 ................................
Vanity Mirror .114
.................
Vehicle Capacity Load .204
......................
Vehicle Dimensions .342
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number .340
.............................
Vehicle Storage .303
.....................................
Ventilation .122
.................................................
VIN .340
...............................
Vinyl Cleaning .309
..................................
Viscosity, Oil .262
..................................
VTM-4 Lock .217
.............
WARNING, Explanation of .ii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of .57
..................
Warranty Coverages .355
Washer, Windshield
........
Checking the Fluid Level .270
............................
Level Indicator .65
.....................................
Operation .76
.........................................
Washing .306
..................
Waxing and Polishing .307
Wheels
...............
Adjusting the Steering .78
Index
V
W
U
VIII
01/09/07 12:53:01 31S3V610_371

Service Inf ormat ion Summary
Gasoline:Tire Pressure (measured cold):
Power Steering Fluid:
Brake Fluid:
Fuel Tank Capacity:
Recommended Engine Oil:
Automatic Transmission Fluid: Rear Differential Fluid: 32 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm
)
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm
)
Honda Power Steering Fluid
preferred, or another brand of
power steering fluid as a
temporary replacement. Do not
use ATF (see page ).
Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid
DOT 3 preferred, or a DOT 3 or
DOT 4 brake fluid as a temporary
replacement (see page ). Front/Rear:
Compact Spare Tire:
Premium unleaded gasoline,
pump octane number of 91 or
higher.
5.0 US qt (4.7
, 4.1 Imp qt)
Oil change capacity (including
filter):
Honda ATF-Z1 (Automatic
Transmission Fluid) preferred, or
aDEXRON
III ATF as a
temporary replacement (see page ). Honda VTM-4 Differential Fluid
(see page ).
API Service SJ ‘‘Energy
Conserving’’ oil, SAE 5W-20
viscosity (see page ). 274
273
271 261
272
19.3 US gal (73, 16.1 Imp gal)
01/09/07 12:53:25 31S3V610_375