service Acura MDX 2003 Owner's Manua

Acura dealership personnel are
trained prof essionals. They should
be able to answer all your questions.
If you encounter a problem that your
dealership does not solve to your
satisf action, please discuss it with
the dealership’s management. The
Service Manager or General
Manager can help. Almost all
problems are solved in this way.
If you are dissatisf ied with the
decision made by the dealership’s
management, contact the Acura
Customer Relations Of f ice.
U.S. Owners:When you call or write, please give
us this inf ormation:
Vehicle Identif ication Number
(see page )
Name and address of the dealer
who services your vehicle
Date of purchase
Mileage on your vehicle
Your name, address, and tele-
phone number
A detailed description of the
problem
Name of the dealer who sold the
vehicle to you
In Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands:
Vortex Motor Corp.
Bella International
P.O. Box 190816
San Juan, PR 00919-0816
Tel:(787) 250-4327
Canadian Owners:
Honda Canada Inc.
715 Milner Avenue
Toronto, ON
M1B 2K8
Tel:1-888-9-ACURA-9
Fax:Toll-f ree 1-877-939-0909
Toronto (416) 287-4776 388
Cust omer Relat ions Inf ormat ion
Warrant y and Cust omer Relat ions402
CUSTOMER RELATIONS
RELATIONS AVEC LA CLIENTÉLE
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Acura Client Services
Mail Stop 500-2N-7E
1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501-2746
Tel: (800) 382-2238

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Valid only f or sales within the U.S. Canadian owners should contact their authorized Acura dealer.
T he publications shown below can be purchased f rom Helm
Incorporated. You can order in any of three ways:
Detach and mail the order f orm on the right half of this page
Call Helm Inc. at 1-800-782-4356
Go online at
If you are interested in other years or models, contact Helm Inc. at 1-
800-782-4356
(credit card orders only)
Purchasing Factory Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)
Authorized Manuals
405
ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-782-4356
OR
(NOTE: For Credit Card Holder Orders Only)
MINIMUM CREDIT CARD PURCHASE $10.00
Publication
Form Number 61S3V02
61S3V02EL
61S3V30
31S3V620
31S3V820
31S3V900
31S3VQ00 ACU-R Form Description
2003 Acura MDX Service Manual 2001-03 Acura MDX
Electrical Troubleshooting Manual 2001-03 Acura MDXBody Repair Manual
2003 Acura MDX Owner’s Manual 2003 Acura MDX
Navigation Manual
2003 Acura MDX Maintenance Journal 2003 Acura MDX Quick Start Guide Order Form for Previous Years-
Indicate Year and Model Desired Price
Each
$69.00
$47.00
$44.00
$37.00
$29.00
$10.00
$10.00 FREE
PUBLICATION NUMBER VEHICLE MODEL
Name Year Qty
Price
Each Total
Price
GRAND TOTAL HANDLING CHARGE Mich. Purchases
Add 6% Sales Tax TOTAL MATERIAL
$6.00
Monday-Friday 8:00 A.M. 6:00 P.M. EST
By completing this form you can order the materials desired. You can
pay by check or money order, or charge to your credit card. Mail to
Helm Incorporated at the address shown on the back of the order form.
Prices are subject to change without
notice and without incurring obligation.
Orders are mailed within 10 days. Please
allow adequate time for delivery.
Prices are subject to change without notice and without incurring
obligation. www. helminc. com

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) This manual complements the Service Manual by
providing in-depth troubleshooting inf ormation f or each
electrical circuit in your vehicle.
This manual describes the procedures involved in the
replacement of damaged body parts. This manual covers maintenance and recommended
procedures f or repair to engine and chassis components.
It is written f or the Journeyman mechanic, but is simple
enough f or most mechanically-inclined owners to under-
stand. Service Manual:
Electrical T roubleshooting Manual:
Body Repair Manual:
Authorized Manuals
406
NOTE: Dealers and Companies please provide dealer or company name,
and also the name of the person to whose attention the shipment should
be sent. For purchases outside U.S.A. please write to the address shown
below for a quotation.
P.O. BOX 07280·DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48207·1-800-782-4356
Customer Name Attention
Apartment Number
State & Zip Code
City
Daytime Telephone Number
Check or money order enclosed payable to Helm Inc U.S. funds only.
Do not send cash
Master
Card VISA
Check here if your billing address is different
from the shipping address shown above.
Account Number Expiration: Mo. Yr.
CUSTOMER SIGNATURE DATE
Street Address No P.O. Box Number
()
These Publications cannot be returned for credit without receiving advance authorization within 14
days of delivery. On returns, a restocking fee may be applied against the original order.

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CONT INUED
................................
Timing Belt .332
...........................................
Tires .336
.............................
Wiper Blades .328
Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a ............................................
Crash .49
...
Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant . 241
..................
Reverse Gear Position . 255
................................
Rotation, Tire .335
..................................
Saf ety Belts .8, 46
.........
Safety Defects, Reporting . 404
.................................
Saf ety Features .7
..........................................
Air bags .9
..................................
Door Locks .10
..........................
Head Restraints .10
.......................................
Seat Belts .8
.....................
Seats & Seat-Backs .10
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of . 63
...............................
Saf ety Messages .ii
.....................................
Seat Belts .8, 46
...............
Additional Information . 46
Automatic Seat Belt ...............................
Tensioners .48
.....................................
Cleaning .355 ......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt .46
................................
Maintenance .49
Reminder Light and ................................
Beeper .46, 58
...................
System Components . 46
...............
Use During Pregnancy . 19
...
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt . 15
...............................................
Seats .101
..........
Folding the Second Seat . 106
.............
Folding the Third Seat . 107
........................
Head Restraints .105
.......
Reclining the Second Seat . 104
..........
Reclining the Third Seat . 104
......................
Rear Seat Access .106
...............................
Serial Number .388
...........................
Service Intervals .296
...........................
Service Manual .405
.........
Service Station Procedures . 237
Shif ting the Automatic .............................
Transmission .254
.....
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 253
........................
Shif t Lock Release .257
Side Marker Lights, Bulb .........................
Replacement in .342
...............................
Signaling Turns .83
.....................................
Snow Tires .338 ...................
Solvent-type Cleaners . 352
.................
Sound System . 145,163,183
Spare Tire ......................................
Inf lating .360
............................
Specif ications .391
....................................
Spark Plugs .323
....................
Specif ications Charts . 390
................................
Speed Control .216
...................................
Speedometer .74
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation . 50
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 61
..
How the SRS Indicator Works . 56
How Your Front Airbags .........................................
Work .51
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 55
........................
SRS Components .50
..................................
SRS Service .60
.............................
SRS Indicator .56 ,68
....
START (Ignition Key Position) . 93
.......................
Starting the Engine .252
In Cold Weather at High ..................................
Altitude .252
................
With a Dead Battery . 369
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine . 371
Index
S
VII

Service Inf ormat ion Summary
Gasoline:Tire Pressure (measured cold):
Power Steering Fluid:
Brake Fluid:
Fuel Tank Capacity:
Recommended Engine Oil:
Rear Differential Fluid:
Automatic Transmission Fluid: Transfer Assembly 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.
Honda VTM-4 Differential Fluid
(see page ).
API Premium grade 5W-20
detergent oil (see page ).
Oil change capacity (including
filter):
4.5 US qt (4.3
)
Honda ATF-Z1 (Automatic
Transmission Fluid) preferred, or
aDEXRON
III ATF as a
temporary replacement (see page ). SAE 90 or SAE 80W-90 viscosity
hypoid gear oil, API service
classified GL4 or GL5 only (see
page ).
307
320
319
318
317 319
19.21 US gal (72.7)