key Acura MDX 2004 User Guide

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

Your vehicle is equipped with a f lip-
over center console lid that provides
a tray and a beverage holder f or the
second row passengers. To open the
beverage holders, pull up the center
lever on the center console and lif t
the lid.
Be caref ul when you are using the
beverage holders. A spilled liquid
that is very hot can scald you or your
passengers. Spilled liquids can also
damage the upholstery, carpeting,
and electrical components in the
interior.
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.
Open the f ront beverage holder by
pushing on the lid.
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Interior Convenience Items
Beverage Holders Console Compartment Glove Box
99
LEVER
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.

If you see an error message in the
display while operating the CD
changer, find the cause in the
f ollowing charts. If you cannot clear
theerrormessage,takeyourvehicle
to an Acura dealer.Without Touring Package
Solution
Error Message Cause
See an Acura dealer.
Press the magazine eject button, and insert an
empty magazine.
If the message disappears within a f ew seconds,
unit is OK. If it does not, see an Acura dealer.
Press the magazine eject button and pull it out
the magazine, check for error message. Insert
the magazine again. If the magazine can not be
pulled out, see an Acura dealer.
Press the magazine eject button. If the maga-
zine does not eject, see an Acura dealer.
Will disappear when the temperature returns to
normal.
See an Acura dealer.
Insert CD magazine.
Insert CD in magazine.
Disc changer
malf unction.
Disc is in changer
mechanism.
Disc changer
malf unction.
Disc changer
malf unction.
CD magazine ejection
impossible.
High temperature.
Misconnection or
disconnection of CD
changer.
No CD magazine in the
CD changer.
No CD in magazine.
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
CD Changer Error Messages
122

The security system automatically
sets 15 seconds after you lock the
doors, hood, and the tailgate. For the
system to activate, you must lock the
doors f rom the outside with the key,
lock tab, door lock switch, or remote
transmitter. The security system
indicator next to the driver’s door
lock starts blinking immediately to
show you the system is setting itself .The security system will not set if
the hood, tailgate, or any door is not
f ully closed. If the system will not set,
check the Door and Tailgate Open
Monitor on the instrument panel
(see page ) to see if the doors and
tailgate are f ully closed. Since it is
notpartofthemonitordisplay,
manually check the hood.
Do not attempt to alter this system
or add other devices to it.
The security system helps to protect
your vehicle and valuables f rom thef t.
The horn sounds and a combination
of headlights, parking lights, side
marker lights and taillights f lashes if
someone attempts to break into your
vehicleorremovetheradio.This
alarm continues f or two minutes,
then the system resets. To reset an
alarming system before the two
minutes have elapsed, unlock the
driver’s door with the key or the
remote transmitter.
Once the security system is set,
opening any door or the tailgate
without using the key or the remote
transmitter, or the hood, will cause it
to alarm. It also alarms if the radio,
navigation and DVD components are
removed f rom the dashboard or the
wiring is cut. 60
Security System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures143
SECURITY SYSTEM LIGHT

Apply the parking brake.
In cold weather, turn of f all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.
Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal.
If the engine does not start within
15 seconds, or starts but stalls
right away, repeat step 4 with the
accelerator pedal pressed halfway
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal
so the engine does not race.If the engine fails to start, press
the accelerator pedal all the way
downandholdittherewhile
starting to clear flooding. If the
engine still does not start, return
to step 5.
Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to the
START (III) position. Do not hold
the key in START (III) f or more
than 15 seconds at a time. If the
engine does not start right away,
pause f or at least 10 seconds
bef ore trying again.
5. 6.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Starting the Engine
Driving171
NOTICE: The engine is harder to start
in cold weather. Also, the thinner air
f ound at altitudes above 8,000 f eet
(2,400 meters) adds to this problem.

µµµµµ
µ
CONT INUED
This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning of f or
starting the engine. To shif t out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal.
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see on
page .
To avoid transmission damage, come
to a complete stop bef ore shif ting
into Park. The shif t lever must be in
Park bef ore you can remove the key
from the ignition switch. Press the brake
pedal to shift from Park to Reverse.
To shif t f rom Reverse to Neutral,
come to a complete stop and then
shif t.
Your vehicle has a reverse lockout so
you cannot accidentally shif t to
Reverse from Neutral or any other
driving position when the vehicle
speed exceeds 7 9 mph (12 14
km/h).
If you cannot shif t to Reverse when
the vehicle is stopped, press the
brake pedal and slowly shift to
Neutral, and then to Reverse.
If there is a problem in the reverse
lockout system, or your vehicle’s
battery is disconnected or goes dead,
you cannot shif t to Reverse. (Ref er
to Shif t Lock Release on page ). Use Neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop brief ly with
the engine idling. Shif t to the Park
position if you need to leave your
vehicle for any reason. Press on the
brake pedal when you are moving
the shift lever from Neutral to
another gear.
Use this position f or
normal driving. The transmission
automatically selects a suitable gear
f or your speed and acceleration. You
may notice the transmission shif ting
up at higher speeds when the engine
is cold. This helps the engine warm
up f aster.
175
175
Automatic Transmission
Driving
Park (P)Shif t L ock Release Reverse (R)
Neutral (N)
Drive (D )
5
173

Set the Parking brake.
Make sure the ignition switch is in
the LOCK (0) position.
To release the Reverse Lockout,
make sure the ignition switch is in
the ACCESSORY (I) position. Put a cloth on the edge of the Shif tLock Release slot cover. Using a
key, caref ully pry on the edge of
the cover to remove it.
Insert the key in the Shift Lock
Release slot.
Push down on the key and move
the shift lever out of Park to
Neutral.To release the reverse lockout,
move the shift lever from Neutral
to Reverse, then to Park.
Remove the key from the Shift
Lock Release slot, then install the
cover. Press the brake pedal, and
restart the engine.
If you need to use the Shif t Lock
Release, it means your vehicle is
developing a problem. Have it
checked by an Acura dealer.
Do this if pushing on the brake pedal
does not shif t the transmission out of
Park. This procedure is also used to
release the Reverse Lockout.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.6.
Automatic Transmission
Driving
Shif t L ock Release
175
COVER
SHIFT LOCK RELEASE SLOT

Diagnosing why the engine won’t
start f alls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III):You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine’s starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly.
You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
f aster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run.
When you turn the ignition switch to
START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying to
start. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all.
Check these things: Check the transmission interlock.
The transmission must be in Park
orNeutralorthestarterwillnot
operate.
Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Turn on the headlights, and check
their brightness. If the headlights
are very dim or don’t light at all,
the battery is discharged. See
on page .
Turn the ignition switch to START
(III). If the headlights do not dim,
check the condition of the f uses. If
thefusesareOK,thereis
probably something wrong with
the electrical circuit f or the
ignition switch or starter motor.
You will need a qualif ied
technician to determine the
problem (see
on page ). If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is dis-
charged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal connec-
tions (see page ). You can
then try jump starting the vehicle
f rom a booster battery (see page
).
In this case, the starter motor’s
speed sounds normal, or even f aster
than normal, when you turn the
ignition switch to START (III), but
the engine does not run. Are you using a properly coded
key? An improperly coded key will
cause the immobilizer system
indicator in the dash panel to blink
rapidly(seepage ).
238
244 226
238
78
CONT INUED
If Your Engine Won’t Start
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly Jump Starting
Emergency T owing T he Starter Operates Normally
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed237

CONT INUED
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 163
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) .79
............
Accessory Power Sockets . 101
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 206
...............................
Airbag (SRS) .9, 22
..............
Air Conditioning System . 104
.....................
Rear A/C Control .109
.........................................
Usage .105
.......................
Air Outlets (Vents) .106
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .221
......................................
Antif reeze .208
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) ....................
Indicator Light .59, 181
...................................
Operation .181
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System . 129
.
Anti-thef t Steering Column Lock . 79
................
Audio System . 110,115,125
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners . 20
.........................
Automatic Lighting .73
.............
Automatic Speed Control . 144
..............
Automatic Transmission . 172
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .254
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 210.......................................
Shif ting .172
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 172
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 172
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 175
...........................
Automatic Wipers .70
Battery Charging System ...........................
Indicator .58, 242
............................
Jump Starting .238
..............................
Maintenance .226
............................
Specif ications .255
..............................
Bef ore Driving .157
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,19
...........................
Beverage Holders .99
..................................
Booster Seats .48
Brakes ...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 181
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 158
...........................................
Fluid .212
....................
Bulb Replacement .216
.........................................
Parking .92
.................
System Indicator . 59,244
........................
Wear Indicators .180 .............................
Braking System .180
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle . 158
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 74
........................
Brights, Headlights .72
Bulb Replacement ..........................
Back-up Lights .216
..............................
Brake Lights .216
................
Front Parking Lights . 215
........
Front Side Marker Lights . 215
.................................
Headlights .214
.........
High-mount Brake Light . 217
.................................
Rear Bulbs .216
............................
Specif ications .255
....................
Turn Signal Lights . 215
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .214
Index
A
B
I

.................................................
Fuel .158
......................
Fill Door and Cap .159
...........................................
Gauge .66
................
Octane Requirement . 158
...............................
Oxygenated .158
........................
Reserve Indicator .61
........................
Tank, Filling the .159
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .246
.............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs . 214
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers . 74
........................................
Headlights .72
........................................
Aiming .214
....................
Automatic Lighting .73
............
Daytime Running Lights . 74
..................
High Beam Indicator . 61
...........
High Beams, Turning on . 72
............
Low Beams, Turning on . 72
.........................
Reminder Chime .72
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs . 214
...................................
Turning on .72
...................................
Headphones .141
..............................
Head Restraints .86
.................................
Heated Mirror .93
.................................
Heaters, Seats .89
.....................
Heating and Cooling .104 .................
High-Low Beam Switch . 72
HomeLink Universal ................................
Transceiver .153
....................................
Hood Latch .214
.......................
Hood, Opening the .160
..................................................
Horn .68
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 162
.........................................
Gasoline .158
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 61
...........................................
Gauge .66
................
Octane Requirement . 158
........................
Tank, Filling the .159
................
Gas Station Procedures . 159
Gauges ...
Engine Coolant Temperature . 67
...............................................
Fuel .66
...............................
Speedometer .66
.................................
Tachometer .66
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight .......................................
Rating) .185 GCWR (Gross Combined Weight
.......................................
Rating) .185
............
Gearshif t Lever Positions . 172
........................................
Glove Box .99
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight .......................................
Rating) .185
...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle . 252
Ignition ..............................................
Keys .77
...........................................
Switch .79
............
Timing Control System . 260
........................
Immobilizer System .78
.........
Important Safety Precautions . 6
.........
Indicators, Instrument Panel . 58
...............
ABS (Anti-lock Brake) . 59
....................................
A/T Temp .62
Brake (Parking and Brake ....................................
System) .59
.................................
Brake Lamp .60
........................
Charging System .58
.............................
Cruise Control .61
DRL (Daytime Running ......................................
Lights) .61
Index
G HI
IV