tow Acura MDX 2003 Owner's Manua

·µ
Following are the steps f or
determining the correct cargo and
luggage load limit.
The resulting f igure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity.
The maximum load limit f or your
vehicle is 1,158 lbs (525 kg). This
f igure includes the total weight of all
occupants, cargo, accessories, and
the tongue weight if you are towing a
trailer.
Locate the statement, ‘‘the
combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed 1,158
lbs (525 kg)’’ on your vehicle’s
placard (on the driver’s doorjamb).
Determine the combined weight
of the driver and passengers that
will be riding in your vehicle.
(Seven is the seating capacity of
your vehicle.) Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers f rom
1,158 lbs (525 kg).
For example, if there will be f ive 150
lbs (70 kg) occupants in your vehicle,
the amount of available cargo and
luggage load capacity is 408 lbs (175
kg).
5 150 lbs (70 kg) = 750 lbs (350
kg)
1,158 lbs (525 kg) 750 lbs (350 kg)
= 408 lbs (175 kg) If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, load f rom your trailer will
be transf erred to your vehicle.
Consult this manual to determine
how this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load capacity of
your vehicle.
Determine the combined weight
of accessories, luggage, and cargo
beingloadedinthevehicle.The
weight may not saf ely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load
capacity calculated in step 4 [408
lbs(175kg)inthisexample].
1.
2. 3.
4.
5.
6.
Load Limit
Bef ore Driving
Carrying Cargo
246
Overloading or improper
loading can affect handling and
stability and cause a crash in
which you can be hurt or killed.
Follow all load limits and other
loading guidelines in this
manual.

........................
Driving Guidelines .250
........................
Preparing to Drive .251 .......................
Starting the Engine .252
Starting in Cold Weather ....................
at High Altitude .252
..............
Automatic Transmission . 253
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 253
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 254
..............
Engine Speed Limiter . 257
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 257
Variable Torque Management ..............................
4WD System .259
..............................
VTM-4 Lock .259
...........................................
Parking .261
.....................
The Braking System .262
.............
Brake Wear Indicators . 262
...............
Brake System Design . 263
.......................
Anti-lock Brakes .263
Important Saf ety .........................
Reminders .264
........................
ABS Indicator .264
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) ........................................
System .266
...............
Driving in Bad Weather . 269
...........................
Towing a Trailer .271
Towing Your Vehicle Behind a ................................
Motorhome .283
..............
Of f -Highway Guidelines . 285
This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
automatic transmission. It also
includes important inf ormation on
parking your vehicle, the braking
system, the VTM-4 System, the VSA
system, and f acts you need if you are
planning to tow a trailer.
Driving
Driving249

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Always use the parking brake when
you park your vehicle. The indicator
on the instrument panel shows that
the parking brake is not f ully
released; it does not indicate that the
parking brake is f irmly set. Make
sure the parking brake is set f irmly
or your vehicle may roll if it is
parked on an incline.
Set the parking brake bef ore you put
the transmission in Park. This keeps
the vehicle from moving and putting
pressure on the parking mechanism
in the transmission making it
easier to move the shif t lever out of
Park when you want to drive away. If the vehicle is f acing uphill, turn
the f ront wheels away f rom the curb.
If the vehicle is f acing downhill, turn
the f ront wheels toward the curb.
Make sure the parking brake is f ully
released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes.
Make sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on
fire. Lockthedoorswiththekeyorthe
remote transmitter. Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the cargo area or take them
with you. Turn of f the lights.
Parking T ips
Parking
Driving261

Your MDX has been designed to tow
a trailer, as well as f or carrying
passengers and their cargo.
To saf ely tow a trailer, you should
observe the load limits, use the
proper equipment, and f ollow the
guidelines in this section.
Be sure to read thesectiononpage if you
plan to tow off paved surfaces.
The
maximum weight you can tow
depends on several f actors. See
page f or limits f or your towing
situation. Towing a load that is too
heavy can seriously af f ect your
vehicle’s handling and
perf ormance. The weight that
the tongue of a f ully loaded trailer
puts on the hitch should be 5 to 10
percent of total trailer weight f or
boat trailers, and 8 to 15 percent of
total trailer weight for all other
trailers. See page f or limits f or
your towing situation.
285
273 273
Off-Highway
Guidelines
CONT INUED
Load Limits
T otal T railer Weight: T ongue L oad:
Towing a Trailer
Driving271
Exceeding any load limit or
improperly loading your vehicle
and trailer can cause a crash in
which you can be seriously hurt
or killed.
Check the loading of your
vehicle and trailer carefully
beforestartingtodrive.

Too much tongue load reduces f ront-
tire traction and steering control.
Too little tongue load can make the
trailer unstable and cause it to sway.The GCWR must be reduced 2
percent f or every 1,000 f eet (305
meters) of elevation. The maximum allowable weight of
the f ully loaded vehicle and trailer is
9700 lbs (4410 kg) with the proper
hitch and f luid coolers (See pagef or inf ormation about f luid
coolers.)
The maximum allowable weight of
the vehicle, all occupants, all cargo
and the tongue load is 5730 lbs (2600
kg).
The maximum allowable weights on
the vehicle axles are 2890 lbs (1310
kg) on the f ront axle, and 2945 lbs
(1335 kg) on the rear axle. 277
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR):
Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GA WR): Gross Combined Weight Rating
(GCWR):
Towing a Trailer
Driving272

Î
Î
ÎNumber of
Occupants 2
3
4
5
6
7 T owing is Not Recommended
Number of
Occupants 2
3
4
5
6
7 T owing is Not Recommended
Equipped with transmission cooler and power steering f luid cooler.
Max. T ongue Load
Max. T railer Weight
Max. T ongue Load
Max. T railer Wight Equipped with transmission cooler and power steering f luid cooler.
Towing a Trailer
Driving273
Total Trailer Weight and Tongue Load Limits: BOAT TRAILERS
Total Trailer Weight and Tongue Load Limits: OTHER TYPES OF TRAILERS
The corresponding weight limits assume occupants fill seats from the front of the vehicle to the back, each occupant weighs 150 lbs (70 kg) and each has 1 5lbs(7
kg) of luggage in the cargo area.
450 lbs (205 kg)
410 lbs (185 kg)
310 lbs (140 kg)
215 lbs (100 kg) 90 lbs (40 kg)
4500 lbs (2045 kg)
4500 lbs (2045 kg)
4500 lbs (2045 kg)
4000 lbs (1820 kg)
1700 lbs (770 kg)
450 lbs (205 kg)
410 lbs (185 kg)
310 lbs (140 kg)
215 lbs (100 kg)90 lbs (40 kg)
3500 lbs (1590 kg)
3500 lbs (1590 kg)
3000 lbs (1365 kg)
2000 lbs (910 kg)
1000 lbs (455 kg)

Thebestwaytoconfirmthatall
loads are within limits is to check
them at a public scale.
To help ensure a saf e drive to a scale,
or if you cannot get to a public scale
to check the weights of your rig, we
recommended that you estimate
your total trailer weight and tongue
load as described below.
To estimate your total trailer weight,
add the weight of the trailer (as
quoted by the trailer manuf acturer)
together with everything in or on the
trailer. Then ref er to the tables on
page to conf irm that you do not
exceed the limit f or your conditions.To estimate tongue load:
Park the vehicle on level ground.
Measure f rom the ground to the
bottom of the trailer hitch. Write
this number down.
Connect the f ully loaded trailer to
the hitch.
Measure again f rom the ground to
the same spot on the bottom of the
hitch.
Subtract the result f rom Step 4
f rom the result in Step 2 and ref er
to the chart (Fig. 1). If thedifferenceis:
1½ = 150 lbs (68 kg)
2¼ = 250 lbs (114 kg)3 = 350 lbs (159 kg)
3¾ = 450 lbs (204 kg) 4 = over 450 lbs (204 kg)
If thedifferenceismorethan4 ,
you have too much tongue load
at the rear. Move or remove
cargo f rom the trailer and the
vehicle, and measure again.
If the estimated total trailer weight
and tongue load do not exceed the
limits f or your towing situation (see
page ), caref ully drive your
trailer to a public scale. Be sure your
vehicle and trailer are f ully loaded,
with all occupants and cargo you
plan to take on the road.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
273
273
Estimating Loads
T ot al T railer Weight
Tongue Load
Fig. 1
Towing a Trailer
Driving274
’’
’’
’’
’’
’’ ’’

Thebestwaytoconfirmthatyour
vehicle and trailer loads are within
limits is to have them checked at a
public scale. The vehicle and trailer
should be f ully loaded, and all
occupants should stay in the vehicle.Check the f ront gross axle weight.
Limit: 2890 lbs (1310 kg)Check the gross vehicle weight.
Limit: 5730 lbs (2600 kg)
If you cannot weigh the rear axle
directly, calculate the rear gross
axle weight. Subtract the weight in
Step 1 f rom the weight in Step 2.
Limit: 2945 lbs (1335 kg)
1.
2.
3.
CONT INUED
Checking L oads
Towing a Trailer
Driving275

Check the gross combined weight. Check the weight of the hitchedtrailer. Write this number down.Check the weight of the unhitched
trailer. Limit: See page .
Calculate the tongue load.
Subtract the weight in Step 5 f rom
the weight in step 6.
Limit: See page .
Range: 5-10% f or boat trailers
8-15% f or other trailers
Gross combined weight should be
decreased 2% f or every 1000 f eet
(305 meters) of elevation.
4.
5.6.
7.
Limit:
273
273
Towing a Trailer
Driving276
9700 lbs (4410 kg)

Discuss any additional needs with
your trailer sales or rental agency,
and make sure all equipment is
properly installed and maintained.
Since local requirements may vary,
check with appropriate state
authorities to be sure that your
equipment will meet all regulations
in the areas where you plan to tow. Towing generally requires a variety
of supplemental equipment. To
ensure the best quality, we
recommend that you purchase Acura
equipment whenever possible. Your
dealer offers a trailer package that
includes a hitch, a ball mount, a
wiring harness, a transmission f luid
cooler and a heavy-duty power
steering f luid cooler.We strongly recommend that you
have your Acura dealer install a
genuine Acura hitch and the
required f luid coolers. Using non-
Acura equipment may result in
serious damage to your vehicle.
A weight distributing hitch is not
recommended f or use with your
MDX as an improperly adjusted
weight distributing hitch may reduce
handling stability and braking
perf ormance.
Always use saf ety chains when you
tow a trailer. Make sure the chains
are secured to the trailer and hitch,
and that they cross under the tongue
so they can catch the trailer if it
becomes unhitched. Leave enough
slack to allow the trailer to turn
corners easily, but to do not let the
chains drag on the ground.This device is recommended if your
trailer tends to sway. Your trailer
maker can tell you what kind of sway
control you need and how to install it.
To help prevent overheating, a
heavy-duty transmission f luid cooler
and a heavy-duty power steering
f luid cooler are required f or trailer
towing. These coolers are available
only f rom your Acura dealer.
CONT INUED
T owing Equipment and
A ccessoriesHitch
Weight Distributing HitchSaf et y Chains Sway Cont rol
T ransmission Fluid Cooler andPower St eering Fluid Cooler
Towing a Trailer
Driving277