belt Acura MDX 2003 Owner's Manua

Your vehicle is equipped with side
airbags f or the driver and a f ront
seat passenger. The airbags are
stored in the outer edges of the f ront
seat-backs, and both are marked
‘‘SIDE AIRBAG.’’If you ever have a moderate to
severe side impact, the sensors will
detect rapid deceleration and signal
the control unit to instantly inf late
either the driver’s or the passenger’s
side airbag.
Only one airbag will deploy during a
side impact. If the impact is on the
passenger’s side, the passenger’s
side airbag will deploy even if there
is no passenger.
To get the best protection f rom the
side airbags, front seat occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.
How Your Side A irbags Work
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety55

If the light comes on at any other
time, or does not come on at all, you
should have the system checked by
your dealer. For example:If the SRS indicator light does not
come on after you turn the ignition
switch to ON (II).
If the light stays on after the
engine starts.
If the light comes on or f lashes on
andoff whileyoudrive.
The SRS indicator light
alerts you to a potential
problem with your f ront airbags and
automatic seat belt tensioners.
This light will also alert you to a
potential problem with your side
airbags, passenger’s side airbag
automatic cutoff system (see page ), or the driver’s seat position
sensor and the f ront passenger’s
weight sensors (see pages and ).
When you turn the ignition ON (II),
this indicator will light brief ly then
go out. This tells you that the system
is working properly. If you see any of these indications,
your f ront or side airbags may not
deploy, your passenger’s side airbag
automatic cutoff system may not
work properly, your seat belt
tensioners may not work, or the
sensors under the f ront seats may
not work properly when you need
them. See your Acura dealer as soon
as possible.
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How the SRS Indicator L ight
Works
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety56
Ignoring the SRS indicator light
can result in serious injury or
death if the airbags, cutoff
system, or tensioners do not
work properly.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS light alerts you to a
potential problem.

To ensure the f ront passenger’s seat
weight sensors keep the passenger’s
airbag activated when an adult or
large child weighing about 65 lbs/
30 kg or more sits in the front
passenger’s seat, do not allow
anything to decrease the weight on
the seat. This includes, but is not
limited to, these examples:Rear passengers pushing up the
frontpassenger’sseatwiththeir
f eet.
Front passenger’s seat f orcibly
pushed up by luggage or other
items placed under it.
Front passenger’s seat f orcibly
moved backward into luggage or
other items placed behind it. If a passenger is tall enough to use
the seat belt and sit properly, but the
passenger airbag cutof f indicator
comes on and of f repeatedly, we
recommend that the passenger sits
in a rear seat. If the passenger must
sit on the f ront seat, move the seat
as far to the rear as possible, have
the passenger sit upright, and make
sure the seat belt is worn securely.
To ensure the f ront passenger’s seat
weight sensors keep the passenger’s
airbag deactivated when an infant or
small child weighing about 65 lbs/
30 kg or less sits in the f ront
passenger’s seat, do not allow
anything to increase the weight on
the seat. This includes, but is not
limited to, these examples:
Rear passengers pushing or
pulling the f ront passenger’s seat-
back or pushing the seat rails with
their f eet.
Heavy items placed in the f ront
passenger’s seat-back pocket.
CONT INUED
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety59

If the passenger airbag cutof f
indicator does not light, or comes on
and of f repeatedly while a child seat
is secured on the f ront passenger’s
seat, remove the child seat, then
secure it on a rear seat.
When you turn the ignition switch to
ON (II), the passenger airbag cutof f
indicator will light brief ly then go out.
This tells you that the system is
working properly.
The indicator may come on or of f a
f ew seconds later if the weight on
the f ront passenger’s seat changes.Your f ront and side airbag systems
are virtually maintenance-f ree, and
there are no parts you can saf ely
service. However, you must have
your vehicle serviced if :
Any
airbag that has deployed must be
replaced along with the control
unit, automatic seat belt
tensioners and other related parts.
Do not try to remove or replace
anyairbagbyyourself.Thismust
be done by an Acura dealer or a
knowledgeable body shop.
Take your vehicle to
an authorized Acura dealer as
soon as possible. If you ignore this
indication, the airbags might not
inf late when you need them.
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Airbag Service
Your airbags ever inf late.
T he SRS indicat or light alert s yout o a problem.
60

Together, airbags and
seat belts provide the best
protection.
Tampering could cause
the airbags to deploy, possibly
causing very serious injury.
If rain or spilled water
soaks into a seat-back, it can
prevent the side airbag system
f rom working properly. Improperly
replacing or covering f ront seat-
back covers can prevent your side
airbags f rom inf lating during a
collision.
This could make the
driver’s seat position sensor and
the f ront passenger’s weight
sensors inef f ective. See page f or f urther inf ormation
and precautions relating to your
airbags.
This could make the driver’s seat
position sensor and the f ront
passenger’s weight sensors
inef f ective. first contact Acura
Client Services at 800-382-2238. 244
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Additional Saf ety Precautions
Donotattempttodeactivateyour
airbags.
Do not t amper wit h airbagcomponent s or wiring f or anyreason.
Do not expose t he f ront seat -backsto water. Do not cover or replace f ront seat -
back covers wit hout consult ing anAcura dealer.
Do not place any it ems under t he front seats. Do not modif y t he f ront seat s.
If it is necessary t o modif y anadvanced f ront airbag syst em t oaccommodat e a person wit hdisabilities,
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Î
Î
Î
The U.S. instrument panel is shown. Dif f erences f or the Canadian models are noted in the text.
CONT INUED
Indicator L ights
Inst rument s and Cont rols67
VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST
SYSTEM (VSA) INDICATOR
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR
LAMP
LOW OIL PRESSURE
INDICATOR
CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR
A/T TEMPERATURE
INDICATOR MAINTENANCE
REQUIRED
INDICATOR
VTM-
4INDICATOR DOOR AND TAILGATE
OPEN MONITOR
LOW FUEL INDICATOR
SEAT BELT REMINDER LIGHTBRAKE LAMP INDICATOR SIDE AIRBAG
CUTOFF INDICATOR
PARKING BRAKE
AND BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR WASHER LEVEL
INDICATOR
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR
IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM
INDICATOR SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM INDICATOR
CRUISE CONTROL
INDICATOR
HIGH BEAM INDICATOR
LIGHTS ON
INDICATOR
VSA ACTIVATION
INDICATOR
(P.376)
(P.68)
(P.68)
(P.76)
(P.72) (P.72) (P.70)
(P.71)
(P.73) (P.
68)
(P.
70)
(P.
69)
(P.
68) (P.73)
(P.
72)
(P.71)
(P.69)
(P.
69) (P.
68)
(P.71)
(P.71)

The instrument panel has many
indicators to give you important
inf ormation about your vehicle. See page .The engine can be severely damaged
if this light f lashes or stays on when
the engine is running. For complete
inf ormation, see page .
If this light comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged. For complete
inf ormation, see page .
This indicator lights when you turn
the ignition switch ON (II). It is a
reminder to you and your passengers
to protect yourselves by f astening
the seat belts. A beeper also sounds
if you have not fastened your seat
belt.
If you do not f asten your seat belt,
the beeper will stop af ter a f ew
seconds but the light stays on until
you do. Both the light and the beeper
stay of f if you f asten your seat belt
bef ore turning on the ignition. This indicator lights when you turn
the ignition switch ON (II). If it
comes on at any other time, it
indicates a potential problem with
your f ront airbags or automatic seat
belt tensioners. This light will also
alert you to a potential problem with
your side airbags, passenger’s side
airbag automatic cutoff system,
driver’s seat position sensor, or f ront
passenger’s weight sensors. For
complete inf ormation, see page .
This indicator lights when you turn
the ignition switch ON (II). If it
comes on at any other time, it
indicates that the passenger’s side
airbag has automatically shut off.
For complete inf ormation, see page
.
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Indicator L ights
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Supplemental Restraint
System Indicator
Malf unction Indicator
Lamp
L ow Oil Pressure
Indicator
Charging System
Indicator
Seat Belt Reminder L ight
Side A irbag Cutof f
Indicator
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Open the glove box by squeezing the
handle. Close it with a f irm push.
Lock or unlock the glove box with
the master key. Glove Box
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols100
GLOVE BOX
An open glove box can cause
serious injury to your passenger
inacrash,evenifthe
passenger is wearing the seat
belt.
Always keep the glove box
closed while driving.

To get into the third row seats, pull
uptheleveronthesideof the
passenger’s side second row seat-
back. The seat-back will tilt f orward,
and the seat will slide f orward.
After you return the seat-back to the
upright position, push the whole seat
backwards until it latches. Make
sure the seat is f ully latched bef ore
sitting in it.The lef t and right halves of the
second seat can be f olded up
separately to create more cargo
space.
If you are f olding the lef t half of
the seat, use the ignition key to
release the center seat belt from
the detachable anchor. Allow the
seat belt to retract into the roof.
Insert the latch plate into the roof
holder. Fold the seat-back forward.
Reverse this procedure to return the
seat to the upright position. Make
sure the seat is locked securely
bef ore driving.
(Lef t half ) Remove the center seat
belt f rom its holder in the roof , and
connect it to the detachable anchor
(see page ).
Pull up the handle on the outside
of the seat-back. Lower the head restraint to its
lowest position.
2.
3.
1.
4.
109
Rear Seat A ccess
Folding the Second Seat
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols106
RELEASE LEVER HANDLE

Use the ignition key to release the
seat belt from the detachable
anchor.
To create more cargo space, you can
fold the third seat forward.
To fold the third seat:
Remove the head restraints by
pushing the release buttons and
pulling the restraints out. Store the head restraints in the
storage compartment. Make sure
the head restraints are f ace up
(storing them face down can
damage the compartment or the
headrests), then insert the shaf ts
into the holes in the sides of the
storage compartment.
1. 2.
3.
CONT INUED
Folding the T hird Seat
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols107
RELEASE BUTTON