climate control Acura MDX 2003 Owner's Manua

2003 MDX Online Reference Owner's Manual Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.helminc.com.
Contents
Owner's Identification Form
Introduction........................................................................\
...................................................... .......................i
A Few Words About Safety ........................................................................\
.................................................. ii
Important Handling Information........................................................................\
.................................... .iii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
.......................................................2
Driver and Passenger Safety........................................................................\
...............................................5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System. Instruments and Controls ........................................................................\
................................................... 65
Instrument panel indica tor and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
............................... 133
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.
Before Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... 235
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new ve hicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
................................................................................... 249
The proper way to start the engine, shift the tr ansmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.
Maintenance ........................................................................\
......................................................................... 293
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Care ........................................................................\
................................................................. 351
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected ........................................................................\
....................................... 359
This section covers several problems motorists someti mes experience, and how to handle them.
Technical Information ........................................................................\
....................................................... 387
ID numbers, dimensions, capaciti es, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada) ......................................................................399
A summary of the warranties covering yo ur new Acura, and how to contact us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only) ........................................................................\
....................................... 403
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index........................................................................\
...........................................................................................I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

Your Vehicle at a Glance
2
INDICATOR LIGHTS
POWER DOOR LOCK
SWITCHES
MIRROR
CONTROLS
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE FUEL FILL DOOR
RELEASE PARKING BRAKE
PEDAL REAR A/C CONTROL ACCESSORY POWER SOCKET GLOVE BOX AUDIO SYSTEM
CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM
SHIFT LEVER
(P.67)
GAUGES (P.74)
(P.93)
(P.116)
(P.111)
(P.238) (P.237) (P.117) (P.143)
(P.125)(P.100) (P.145,
163,183)
(P.136)
(P.254)

Your vehicle’s exhaust contains
carbon monoxide gas. You should
have no problem with carbon
monoxide entering the vehicle in
normal driving if you maintain your
vehicle properly.
Have the exhaust system inspected
f or leaks whenever:The vehicle is raised f or an oil
change.
You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust.
The vehicle was in an accident
that may have damaged the under-
side. High levels of carbon monoxide can
collect rapidly in enclosed areas,
such as a garage. Do not run the
engine with the garage door closed.
Even with the door open, run the
engine only long enough to move the
vehicle out of the garage. With the tailgate open, air flow can
pull exhaust gas into your vehicle’s
interior and create a hazardous
condition. If you must drive with the
tailgate open, open all the windows
and set the heating and cooling
system/climate control system as
shown below.
Select the Fresh Air mode.
Select the mode.
Turn the f an on high speed.
Set the temperature control to a
comfortable setting.
If you must sit in your parked vehicle,
even in an unconf ined area, with the
engine running, adjust the heating
and cooling system/climate control
system as f ollows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
Driver and Passenger Saf ety62
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and even kill
you.
Avoid any enclosed areas or
activities that expose you to
carbon monoxide.

Control L ocations
Inst rument s and Cont rols66
MIRROR
CONTROLS
HOOD RELEASE
HANDLEPARKING BRAKE
PEDALREAR A/C CONTROL ACCESSORY POWER SOCKET GLOVE BOX AUDIO SYSTEM
CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM
SHIFT LEVER
INDICATOR LIGHTS
GAUGES
POWER DOOR LOCK
SWITCHES
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES FUEL FILL DOOR
RELEASE(P.67)
(P.74)
(P.93)
(P.116)
(P.111)
(P.238) (P.237) (P.117) (P.143)
(P.125)(P.100) (P.145,
163,183)
(P.136)
(P.254)

...............
Climate Control System . 134
.......
Fully-automatic Operation . 136
.......
Semi-automatic Operation . 137
........
Mode Button/Mode Icon . 139
Sunlight Sensor/ ............
Temperature Sensor . 141
...........................
Rear A/C Unit .142
................................
Audio System .145
AM/FM/Cassette/CD changer ........................
Audio System .145
.................
Operating the Radio . 146
.................
Adjusting the Sound . 149
............
Audio System Lighting . 149
..............................
Digital Clock .150
Operating the Cassette .....................................
Player .151
............
Tape Search Functions . 152
.....
Operating the CD Changer . 155
CD Changer Error .............................
Indications .162
................................
Audio System .163
AM/FM/Cassette/CD Stereo ........................
Audio System .163
.................
Operating the Radio . 164
.................
Adjusting the Sound . 168
............
Audio System Lighting . 169....................
Radio Frequencies . 169
........................
Radio Reception .169
.........
Operating the CD Player . 171
.....
Operating the CD Changer . 173
.......
Protecting Compact Discs . 174
....
CD Player Error Indications . 175
CD Changer Error .............................
Indications .176
Operating the Cassette .....................................
Player .177
............
Tape Search Functions . 178
Caring f or the Cassette .....................................
Player .180
...........
Remote Audio Controls . 181
.......................
Thef t Protection .182
Audio System (Optional on .....................
Touring model) .183
AM/FM/CD/DVD Audio ....................................
System .183
.................
Operating the Radio . 185
.................
Adjusting the Sound . 189
..............................
Digital Clock .190
............
Audio System Lighting . 190
Operating the Cassette .....................................
Player .191
.........
Operating the CD Player . 194 .....
Operating the CD Changer . 196
....
CD Player Error Indications . 197
CD Changer Error .............................
Indications .198
........
Rear Entertainment System . 199
............................
Security System .215
...............................
Cruise Control .216
..............................
Trip Computer .219
.
(Without Navigation System) . 219
HomeLink Universal .................................
Tranceiver .229
.
Rear View Camera and Monitor . 234
Comf ort and Convenience Features
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures133

For the climate control system to
provide heating and cooling, the
engine must be running.
The automatic climate control
system in your Acura picks the
proper combination of air condi-
tioning, heating, and ventilation to
maintain the interior temperature
you select. The system also adjusts
the fan speed and air flow levels.
Your vehicle also has a rear A/C unit
that allows the rear passengers to
adjust the heating, cooling, and air
f low (see page ).
The direction of air f low f rom the
vents in the center and each corner
of the dashboard is adjustable.
Move the tab in the center of each
vent up-and-down and side-to-side.
The vents in the corners of the
dashboard can be opened and closed
with the dials underneath them.
The climate control system draws air
through the exterior vents at the
bottom of the windshield. Keep
these vents clear of leaves and other
debris.
142
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures134
CENTER VENTS
CORNER VENT

Û
Ý
Pressing the OFF button shuts the
climate control system completely
of f . Keep the system completely of f
only f or short periods. To keep stale
air and mustiness f rom collecting,
you should have the f an running at
all times.
To put the Automatic Climate
Control in f ully-automatic mode,
press the AUTO button. Then set
the desired temperature by pressing
either side of the TEMP button:
to raise the temperature above the
displayed value, or to lower the
temperature.
The system automatically selects the
proper mix of conditioned and/or
heated air that will, as quickly as
possible, raise or lower the interior
temperature f rom its current level to
the set temperature.
When you set the temperature to its
lower limit (60°F/18°C) or its upper
limit (90°F/32°C), the system runs
at f ull cooling or heating only. It does
not regulate the interior temperature.
When the temperature is set
between the lower and upper limits,
the system regulates the interior
temperature to the set value.
In cold weather, the f an will not
come on automatically until the
vehicle has been driven f or a short
time and the heater starts to develop
warm air.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Fully-automatic Operation
136
TEMPERATURE DISPLAY
AUTO BUTTON REAR A/C CONTROL BUTTON
OFF BUTTON TEMPERATURE BUTTON

CONT INUED
When you turn the A/C of f , the
system cannot regulate the inside
temperature if you set it below the
outside temperature. With the A/C
on, use the temperature buttons to
adjust the temperature of the air
flow to a comfortable setting. Pressing the A/C button or touching
the A/C icon turns the air
conditioningonandoff.Youwillsee
A/C ON or A/C OFF displayed. You can manually select various
f unctions of the Climate Control
system when it is in FULL AUTO.
All other f eatures remain auto-
matically controlled. Some of these
f unctions appear in the Trip
Computer/Navigation System
display. With the Navigation System,
press the A/C-Trip button next to
the display to show these functions.
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Semi-automatic Operation
A ir Condit ioning (A /C) But t ons
137
RECIRCULATION BUTTONTEMPERATURE BUTTONS
(without Navigation System) (with Navigation System)
AIR CONDITIONING (A/C) BUTTON/ICON

Theclimatecontrolsystemhastwo
sensors. A sunlight sensor is located
in the top of the dashboard and a
temperature sensor is next to the
steering column. Do not cover the
sensors or spill any liquid on them. Sunlight Sensor/T emperature
Sensor
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures141
SUNLIGHT SENSORTEMPERATURE SENSOR

Your vehicle has two controls f or the
rear A/C unit. The rear A/C control
button is located on the climate
control panel, and the rear A/C
passenger control panel is on the
back of the center console.
You can adjust the heating, cooling,
and air f low of the rear A/C unit with
these control dials. Rear A/C Unit
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
142
REAR A/C
CONTROL BUTTONREAR CENTER VENT
REAR A/C PASSENGER
CONTROL PANEL