Acura MDX 2003 Owner's Manua

The rear window wiper switch is
located next to the windshield wiper
switch.
To clean the windshield, pull back on
the wiper control lever. The washers
spray until you release the lever. The
wipers run at low speed while you’re
pulling the lever, then complete one
more sweep of the windshield af ter
you release it. Push the red button to the right of
the display to turn on the hazard
warning lights (f our-way f lashers).
This causes all f our outside turn
signals and both indicators in the
instrument panel to f lash. Use the
hazard warning lights if you need to
park in a dangerous area near heavy
traf f ic, or if your vehicle is disabled.
To activate the rear windshield wiper,
turn the switch ‘‘ON’’. The wiper
operates intermittently. If you wish
to use the wiper and washer, turn
and hold the switch one position up
f rom ‘‘ON’’. Hazard Warning
Rear Window Wiper and Washer
Windshield Washers
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols87

The rear window def ogger will clear
fog,frost,andthinicefromthe
window. Push the def ogger button to
turn it on and of f . The light above
the button lights to show the
def ogger is on. If you do not turn it
of f , the def ogger will shut itself of f
af ter about 15 minutes. It also shuts
of f when you turn of f the ignition.
You have to turn it on again when
you restart the vehicle.Make sure the rear window is clear
and you have good visibility bef ore
starting to drive.
Thedefoggerwiresontheinsideof
the rear window can be accidentally
damaged. When cleaning the glass,
always wipe side to side.
Turn the f og lights on and of f by
pressing the button. The indicator in
the button lights to show the f og
lights are on.
You can use the f og lights only when
the headlights are on low beam.
They will go of f when you turn the
headlights of f or onto high beam.
Rear Window Def ogger
Fog Lights
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols88

Push the lever up to lock the
steering wheel in that position.
Make sure you have securely
locked the steering wheel in place
by trying to move it up and down.
To adjust the steering wheel upward
or downward: Push the lever under the steering
column all the way down.
Move the steering wheel to the
desired position, making sure the
wheel points toward your chest,
not toward your f ace. Make sure
you can see the instrument panel
gauges and the indicator lights.
Make any steering wheel adjustment
bef ore you start driving.
3.
4.
1.
2.
See page f or important saf ety inf ormation about how to properlyposition the steering wheel. 18
Steering Wheel A djustment
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols89
Adjusting the steering wheel
position while driving may
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle and be seriously injured
inacrash.
Adjust the steering wheel only
when the vehicle is stopped.

Your vehicle comes with two master
keys and a valet key.
The master key fits all the locks on
your vehicle:
 Ignition
 Driver’s Door
GloveboxThe valet key works only in the
ignition and the door locks. You can
keepthegloveboxlockedwhenyou
leave your vehicle and valet key at a
parking f acility.
Youshouldhavereceivedakey
number tag with your keys. You will
need this key number if you ever
have to get a lost key replaced. Keep
the tag stored in a safe place. If you
need to replace a key, use only an
Acura-approved key blank.
These keys contain electronic
circuits that are activated by the
Immobilizer System. They will not
work to start the engine if the
circuits are damaged.
Protect the keys f rom direct
sunlight, high temperature, and
high humidity.
Donotdropthekeysorsetheavy
objects on them.
Keep the keys away f rom liquids.
If they get wet, dry them
immediately with a sof t cloth.
The keys do not contain batteries.
Do not try to take them apart.
Your vehicle also comes with two
remote transmitters; see page for
an explanation of their operation. 95
Keys
Remote Transmitter
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols90
KEY
NUMBER
TAG
MASTER
KEYS
(BLACK) VALET KEY
(GRAY)

The Immobilizer System protects
your vehicle f rom thef t. A properly-
coded master or valet key must be
used in the ignition switch f or the
engine to start. If an improperly-
coded key (or other device) is used,
the engine’s f uel system is disabled.
When you turn the ignition switch to
ON (II), the Immobilizer System
indicator should come on f or a f ew
seconds, then go out. If the indicator
starts to blink, it means the system
does not recognize the coding of the
key. Turn the ignition switch to
LOCK (0), remove the key, reinsert
it, and turn the switch to ON (II)
again.The system may not recognize your
key’s coding if another immobilizer
key or other metal object is near the
ignition switch when you insert the
key. To make sure the system
recognizes the key code:
Do not keep other immobilizer
keys on the same key ring.
Use a plastic or leather key f ob,
not metal.
Keep other keys away f rom your
vehicle’s key and the ignition
switch while trying to start the
engine. If the system repeatedly does not
recognize the coding of your key,
contact your Acura dealer.
The Immobilizer System indicator
will also blink several times when
you turn the ignition switch f rom ON
(II) to ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0).
Do not attempt to alter this system
or add other devices to it. Electrical
problems could result that may make
your vehicle undriveable.
If you have lost your key and you
cannot start the engine, contact your
Acura dealer.
CONT INUED
Immobilizer System
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols91

µ
If the f ront wheels are turned, the
anti-thef t lock may sometimes make
it difficult to turn the key from
LOCK to ACCESSORY. Firmly turn
the steering wheel to the lef t or to
the right as you turn the key. You can insert or
remove the key only in this position.
To switch f rom ACCESSORY to
LOCK, you must push the key in
slightly as you turn it. The shif t lever
must also be in Park. The anti-thef t
lock will lock the steering column
when you remove the key.
The ignition switch is on the right
side of the steering column. It has
f our positions:
LOCK(0)
 ACCESSORY (I)
 ON (II)
 START (III)As required by the FCC: This device complies with Part 15 of theFCC rules. Operation is subject to thef ollowing two conditions: (1) This devicemay not cause harmf ul interf erence, and(2) this device must accept anyinterf erence received, includinginterf erence that may cause undesiredoperation.
Changes or modif ications not expresslyapproved by the party responsible f orcompliance could void the user’sauthority to operate the equipment.
This device complies with IndustryCanada Standard RSS-210.Operation is subject to the f ollowing twoconditions: (1) this device may not causeinterf erence, and (2) this device mustaccept any interf erence that may causeundesired operation of the device.LOCK (0)
Ignition Switch
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols92

µ
µ µ
Use this position
only to start the engine. The switch
returns to ON (II) when you let go of
the key.
This is the normal key
position when driving. All f eatures
and accessories on the vehicle are
usable. Several of the lights on the
instrument panel come on as a test
when you turn the ignition switch
f rom ACCESSORY to ON. The engine will not start if the
Immobilizer System does not
recognize the key’s coding (see page
).
In this position,
you can operate the audio system
and the accessory power socket.
You will hear a reminder beeper if
you leave the key in the ignition
switch in the LOCK (0) or
ACCESSORY (I) position and open
thedriver’sdoor.Removethekeyto
turn of f the beeper.Each f ront door has a master door
lock switch. Either switch locks and
unlocks all doors and the tailgate.
Push the switch down to lock all
doors and the tailgate, and up to
unlock them.
91
CONT INUED
ST A RT (III)
Power Door L ocks
ON (II) A CCESSORY (I)
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols93
MASTER DOOR LOCK SWITCH

Each door has a lock tab on the top.
Whenyoupushdownthelocktabon
the driver’s door, all the doors and
the tailgate lock. Pulling up the lock
tab on the driver’s door unlocks only
that door. The lock tabs on the other
doors lock and unlock only that door.
To lock the f ront passenger’s door
when getting out of the vehicle, push
the lock tab down and close the door.
To lock the driver’s door, along withthe remaining doors and the tailgate,
push the lock tab down or push the
master switch down, then close the
door.
All doors and the tailgate can be
locked f rom the outside by using the
key in the driver’s door. To unlock
only the driver’s door f rom the
outside, turn the key and release it.
If you turn the key and hold it, all
doors and the tailgate will unlock.
If you f orget and leave the key in the
ignition switch, Lockout Prevention
will not allow you to lock the driver’s
door. With the driver’s door open
andthekeyintheignition,both
master door lock switches are
disabled. However, if the driver’s
door is not open, the master door
lock switches are not disabled.
Pushing the switch down on the
open passenger’s door will lock all
doors. If you try to lock an open
driver’s door by pushing down the
lock tab, the tabs on all doors pop up.
Pushingdownthelocktabonthe
passenger’s door only locks that door.
L ockout Prevent ion
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols94
LOCK TAB

You can lock and unlock your vehicle
with the remote transmitter. When
you push the LOCK button, all doors
and the tailgate lock. The parking
lights, side marker lights, taillights
and instrument panel lights f lash
once.When you push the LOCK button a
second time within 5 seconds after
you have locked the doors, you will
hear a beep to verify that the
security system has set.
When you push the UNLOCK button
once, only the driver’s door unlocks.
The remaining doors and the tailgate
unlock when you push the button a
second time. The parking lights, side
marker lights, taillights and
instrument panel lights f lash twice
when you push the button.
If you unlock the doors and the
tailgate with the remote transmitter,
but do not open any door or the
tailgate within 30 seconds, all doors
and the tailgate automatically relock.
You cannot lock the doors and the
tailgate with the remote transmitter
if any door or the tailgate is not f ully
closed. You cannot lock or unlock
thedoorsandthetailgatewiththe
key in the ignition switch.
When you press the UNLOCK
button, the f ront and rear individual
map lights and the cargo area light,
depending on their switch positions,
will come on (see page ). If you
do not open any door or the tailgate,
the lights stay on for about 30
seconds, then go out. If you relock
thedoorsandthetailgatewiththe
remote transmitter before 30
seconds have elapsed, the lights will go of f immediately.
128
CONT INUED
Remote Transmitter
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols95
LED
UNLOCK
BUTTON PANIC
BUTTON LOCK
BUTTON

Panic mode allows you to remotely
activate your vehicle’s horn and
lights to attract attention. When
activated, the horn will sound, and
the headlights, parking lights, side
marker lights, taillights and
instrument panel lights will f lash f or
about 30 seconds. To activate panic
mode,pressandholdthePANIC
button f or about one second.When the remote transmitter’s
battery begins to get weak, it may
take several pushes on the button to
lock or unlock the doors and the
tailgate, and the LED will get dim.
Replace the battery as soon as
possible.
Battery type: CR2025To replace the battery, place a cloth
on the edge of the transmitter and
remove the upper half by carefully
prying on the edge with a small f lat-
tip screwdriver.
To cancel Panic mode bef ore 30
seconds, press any button on the
remote transmitter. You can also
turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Panic mode will not activate if the
key is in the ON (II) position.
Panic Mode
Replacing t he Bat t ery
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols96