ECU Acura MDX 2004 User Guide

When not using the LATCH system,
all child seats must be secured to the
vehicle with the lap part of a lap/
shoulder belt.
In addition, the lap/shoulder belts in
the back seating positions, and in the
f ront passenger seat, have a locking
mechanism that must be activated to
secure a child seat.With the child seat in the desired
seating position, route the belt
through the child seat according
to the seat maker’s instructions,
then insert the latch plate into the
buckle.To activate the lockable retractor,
slowly pull the shoulder part of the
belt all the way out until it stops,
then let the belt f eed back into the
retractor.
Af ter the belt has retracted, tug on
it. If the belt is locked, you will not
be able to pull it out. If you can pull
thebeltout,itisnotlocked,and
you will need to repeat these steps.
1.
2.
3.
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Installing a Child Seat with a L ap/
Shoulder Belt
44

CONT INUED
To remove slack, it may help to
putweightonthechildseat,or
push on the back of the seat while
pulling up on the belt.Push and pull the child seat
f orward and f rom side to side to
verif y that it is f irmly secured. If
the child seat is not secure,
unlatch the belt, allow it to retract
f ully, then repeat these steps.
To deactivate the locking
mechanism and remove a child seat,
unlatch the buckle, unroute the seat
belt, and let the belt f ully retract. A child seat with a tether can be
installed in any seating position in
the second or third row.
Since a tether can provide additional
security to the lap/shoulder belt
installation, we recommend using a
tether whenever one is required or
available. (Tethers are required in
Canada.)
Conf irm that the belt is locked,
then grab the shoulder part of the
belt near the buckle, and pull up to
remove any slack from the lap part
of the belt. Remember, if the lap
part of the belt is not tight, the
child seat will not be secure.
4.
5.
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Installing a Child Seat with a
Tether
45

Each second row seat has a tether
anchorage point behind the seat
back.Af ter securing the child seat in the
desired position (see page ),
route the tether strap over the top
of the seat-back and between the
head restraint legs.Attach the tether strap hook to the
anchor as shown above, then
tighten the strap according to the
child seat maker’s instructions.
Make sure the strap is not twisted.
2.
1.
44
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Installing a Child Seat
Second Row Inst allat ion
46
TETHER ANCHORAGE POINT

To saf ely ride in f ront, a child must
be able to f ollow the rules, including
sitting properly, and wearing the seat
belt properly throughout a ride.
Physically, a child must be large
enough f or the lap/shoulder belt to
properly f it (see page ). If the seat
belt does not f it properly, with or
without the child sitting on a booster,
the child should not sit in the f ront.If you decide that a child can saf ely
ride up f ront, be sure to:
Caref ully read the owner’s manual,
and make sure you understand all
seat belt instructions and all saf ety
inf ormation.
Move the vehicle seat to the rear-
most position.
Have the child sit up straight, back
against the seat, and feet on or
near the f loor.
Check that the child’s seat belt is
properly and securely positioned.
Supervise the child. Even mature
children sometimes need to be
reminded to f asten the seat belts
or sit properly. This could result in
serious neck injuries during a crash.
This could cause
very serious injuries during a crash.
It also increases the chance that the
child will slide under the belt in a
crash and be injured.
If they do, they could
be very seriously injured in a crash.
Devices intended to improve a
child’s comf ort or reposition the
shoulder part of a seat belt can make
the belt less ef f ective, and increase
the chance of serious injury in a
crash.
Of course, children vary widely. And
while age may be one indicator of
when a child can saf ely ride in f ront.
There are other important f actors
youshouldconsider.
48
Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
MaturityPhysical Size A ddit ional Saf et y Precaut ions
Do not let a child wear a seat beltacross t he neck.
Do not let a child put the shoulderpart of a seat belt behind t he back orunder t he arm.
T wo children should never use t hesame seat belt .
Do not put any accessories on a seatbelt.
50

See page f or important saf etyinf ormation about how to properlyposition the steering wheel. 16
Make any steering wheel adjustment
bef ore you start driving.
Push the lever under the steering
column all the way down.
Move the steering wheel so it
points toward your chest, not
toward your f ace. Make sure you
can see the instrument panel
gauges and indicators.Push the lever up to lock the
steering wheel in position.
Make sure you have securely
locked the steering wheel in place
by trying to move it up and down.
3.
4.
1.
2.
Steering Wheel A djustment
Inst rument s and Cont rols76
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.

µµ
µ Press this button once
to unlock the driver’s door and the
tailgate. Push it twice to unlock the
other doors. Some exterior and
interior lights will f lash twice when
you push the button. If you do not
open any door or the tailgate within
30 seconds, they will automatically
relock.
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. Pressthisbuttonfor
about 1 second to attract attention;
thehornwillsoundandtheexterior
lights will f lash f or about 30 seconds.
To cancel panic mode, press any
other button on the remote
transmitter or turn the ignition
switch to ON (II).
Avoid dropping or throwing the
transmitter.
Protect the transmitter from
extreme temperature.
Do not immerse the transmitter in
any liquid.
Press this button once to
lock all doors and the tailgate. Some
exterior and interior lights will f lash.
When you push LOCK twice within 5
seconds, you will hear a beep to
verify that the doors and tailgate are
locked and the security system has
set. This button does not work if any
door or tailgate is not f ully closed. If you lose a transmitter, the
replacement needs to be
reprogrammed by an Acura dealer.
96
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Remote Transmitter
UNL OCK
PA NIC
LOCK
Remote Transmitter Care
81
LED
UNLOCK
BUTTON PANIC
BUTTON LOCK
BUTTON

The left and right halves can be
f olded up separately.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.
To change the seat-back angle of the
seats in the second row, pull up on
thehandleontheoutsideof theseat-
back. 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.
Lower the head restraint to its
lowest position.
Pull up the handle on the outside
of the seat-back.
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. 2.
3. 1.
4. Folding the Second Seat
A djusting the Second Seat T hird Row A ccess
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols87
HANDLERELEASE LEVER

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.
Pull on the handle on the back of the
seat-back, move the seat-back to the
desired position, and release the
handle. Let the seat-back latch in the
new position.
Use the ignition key to release the
seat belt from the detachable
anchor.Unlock the seat-back by pulling
the handle. Push the seat-back
forward.
Make sure the outer shoulder belts
are positioned on each hook
whenever the third seat is f olded.
Remove the head restraints by
pushing the release buttons and
pulling the restraints out. To f old the third row seat,
the second row must be f olded down
or completely up right.
Reverse this procedure to return the
seat to the upright position. Make
sure the seat is locked securely
bef ore driving. Reinstall the head
restraints. Reconnect the seat belts
to the detachable anchors.
Make sure all items in the cargo area
are secured. Loose items can f ly
f orward and cause injury if you have
to brake hard. See
on page .
1. 2.
3.4.
165
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols
A djusting the T hird Row Seat
Folding the T hird Row Seat Carrying Cargo
88
NOTE:
HANDLE
THIRD
SEAT

Storage compartments are located in
the armrests f or the third row seat.
To open a compartment, pull the
lever and lif t the lid.
The hooks on the f loor of the cargo
area enable you to tie down items
stored in the back. Make sure all
stored items are secured bef ore
driving.Whenusingthesunvisorforthe
side window, remove the support rod
f rom the clip and swing it out. Slide
the extension out to get more
coverage on the side window.
Make sure you put the sun visor
back in place when you are getting
into or out of the vehicle. Do not use
the sun visor extension over the rear
view mirror.Pull up the vanity mirror cover to use
it.
The light comes on only when the
parking lights or headlights are on.
Rear Compartment
Cargo Hooks
Sun Visor
Vanity Mirror
Interior Convenience Items
Inst rument s and Cont rols100
EXTENSION
SUN VISOR

The climate control system in your
Acura provides a comf ortable driving
environment in all weather
conditions.
The standard audio system has
many f eatures. This section de-
scribes those f eatures and how to
use them. (If you selected an
optional audio system, ref er to the
operating instructions that came
with it.)
Your Acura has an anti-theft audio
system that requires a code number
to enable it..............
Vents, Heating, and A/C . 104
.............................
Airflow Buttons .105
...................
Rear Climate Control . 109
..............
Climate Control Sensors . 109
..........................
Playing the Radio .110
............................
Radio Reception .113
..................................
Playing a CD .115
....................
Protecting Your CDs .119
.........
CD Player Error Messages . 120
.....
CD Changer Error Messages . 122
...............................
Playing a Tape .125
.............
Steering Wheel Controls . 128
.................
Radio Thef t Protection . 129
..........................
Setting the Clock .130
........
Rear Entertainment System . 131
............................
Security System .143
...............................
Cruise Control .144
..............................
Trip Computer .146
........................
Rear View Camera .152
HomeLink Universal ................................
Transceiver .153
Comf ort and Convenience Features
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures103