timing belt Acura MDX 2004 Owner's Manual

This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
This section also includes
Maintenance Schedules f or normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions f or simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself .
If you have the skills and tools to per-
f orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your Acura, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Acura
dealer.......................
Maintenance Saf ety .196
.................
Maintenance Schedule . 197
....................
Maintenance Record .201
..............................
Fluid Locations .204
........................
Adding Engine Oil .205
.........
Changing the Oil and Filter . 206
..............................
Engine Coolant .208
....................
Windshield Washers .209
....
Automatic Transmission Fluid . 210
..........................
Dif f erential Fluid .211
.............
Transf er Assembly Fluid . 211
....................................
Brake Fluid .212
....................
Power Steering Fluid . 213
....................................
Timing Belt .213
....................................
Hood Latch .214
.............................................
Lights .214
.......................................
Seat Belts .218
.....................................
Floor Mats .218
.................................
Wiper Blades .219
...............................................
Tires .221
...................
Checking the Battery . 226
.............................
Vehicle Storage .227
269
Maintenance
Maint enance195

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Maint enance199
Service the items listed at the indicated distance (or time, if given).
miles x 1,000
km x 1,000 Check oil and coolant at each fuel stop
Check inflation and condition once a month
Every 7,500 miles (12,000 km)
Every 3 years (independent of mileage)
At 120,000 miles (192,000 km) or 10 years, then every 60,000 miles (96,000 km) or 5 years
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Every 7,500 miles (12,000 km) or every 1 year, whichever comes first
At every 15,000 miles (24,000 km) up to 30,000 miles (48,000 km) or every 1 year, then every 30,000 miles (48,000 km) or 2 years. At 45,000 miles (72,000 km) or 3 years, then every 30,000 miles (48,000 km) or 2 years.
See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, middle column, page .
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168
Check engine oil and coolant
Check tires
Replace engine oil
Rotate tires (follow pattern on page 223)
Replace engine oil filter
Check front and rear brake wear
Check parking brake adjustment
Inspect the following items: Tie-rod ends, steering gearbox, and boots
Suspension components
Driveshaft boots
Brake hoses and lines (including ABS)
All fluid levels and condition of fluids
Exhaust system
Fuel lines and connections
Inspect drive belts
Replace dust and pollen filter
Replace air cleaner element
Inspect valve clearance
Replace automatic transmission fluid
Replace transfer fluid
Replace VTM-4 rear differential fluid
Inspect idle speed
Replace spark plugs
Replace timing belt and inspect water pump
Replace engine coolant
Replace brake fluid
1:
2:: 198
1
1 2
Maintenance Schedule for Normal Conditions

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Maint enance200
Service the items listed at the indicated distance (or time, if given).
miles x 1,000
km x 1,000 Check oil and coolant at each fuel stop
Check inflation and condition once a month
Every 7,500 miles (12,000 km)
Every 3,750 miles (6,000 km) or every 6 months, whichever comes first
7.5
12 15
2430
4845
7260
9675
120 90
144 105
168 135
216150
240
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Every 15,000 miles (24,000 km) (Use normal schedule except in dusty conditions)
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At 120,000 miles (192,000 km) or 10 years, then every 60,000 miles (96,000 km) or 5 years
Every 3 years (independent of mileage)
At every 7,500 miles (12,000 km) up to 15,000 miles (24,000 km) or every 6 months, then every 15,000 miles (24,000 km) or 1 year.
See timing belt on page for replacement information under special driving conditions. Follow this schedule for rear differential fluid replacement if you use your vehicle for off-highway driving, trailer towing, mainly in stop-and-go driving. Otherwise, use
the fluid replacement schedule in the Maintenance Schedule for Normal Conditions.
See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, middle column, page . Every 7,500 miles (12,000 km) or every 6 months, whichever comes first
120
192
Check engine oil and coolant
Check tires
Replace engine oil and oil filter
Rotate tires (follow pattern on page 223)
Check front and rear brake wear
Inspect the following items: Tie-rod ends, steering gearbox, and boots
Suspension components, Driveshaft boots
Check parking brake adjustment
Lubricate all hinges, locks and latches
Inspect the following items: Brake hoses and lines (including ABS)
All fluid levels and condition of fluids
Exhaust system
Fuel lines and connections
Lights and controls/vehicle underbody
Inspect drive belts
Replace dust and pollen filter
Replace automatic transmission fluid
Replace transfer fluid
Replace air cleaner element
Inspect valve clearance
Replace VTM-4 rear differential fluid
Inspect idle speed
Replace spark plugs
Replace timing belt , and inspect water pump
Replace engine coolant
Replace brake fluid 1:
2:
3: : 198
213
1, 2
,3
Maintenance Schedule for Severe Conditions

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Always use Honda Power Steering
Fluid. You may use another power
steering f luid as an emergency
replacement, but have the power
steering system f lushed and ref illed
with Honda PSF as soon as possible.
A low power steering f luid level can
indicate a leak in the system. Check
the f luid level f requently, and have
the system inspected as soon as
possible.
The timing belt should be replaced
at the intervals shown in the
maintenance schedule.
Replace the belt at 60,000 miles
(100,000 km) if you regularly drive
your vehicle in one or more of these
conditions:
In very high temperatures
(over 110°F, 43°C).
In very low temperatures
(under 20°F, 29°C).
Frequently tow a trailer.
Check the level on the side of the
reservoir when the engine is cold.
The f luid should be between the
UPPER LEVEL and LOWER LEVEL.
If not add power steering f luid to the
UPPER LEVEL mark.
Power Steering Fluid, Timing Belt
Maint enance
Timing Belt
Power Steering Fluid
213
NOTICE:
UPPER LEVEL
LOWER
LEVEL
T urning the steering wheel to
f ull lef t or right lock and holding it
there can damage the power steering
pump.

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CONT INUED
Replacement Inf ormation................
Engine Oil and Filter . 206
..........................................
Fuses .246
................................
Light Bulbs .214
....................................
Schedule .197
................................
Timing Belt .213
...........................................
Tires .221
.............................
Wiper Blades .219
Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a ............................................
Crash .21
...
Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant . 162
..................
Reverse Gear Position . 173
................................
Rotation, Tire .223
..................................
Saf ety Belts .8, 19
.........
Safety Defects, Reporting . 268
.................................
Saf ety Features .7
...........................................
Airbags .9
..................................
Door Locks .11
..........................
Head Restraints .13
.................................
Seat Belts .8, 14
...............
Seats & Seat-Backs . 11,12
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of . 52
...............................
Saf ety Messages .ii .....................................
Seat Belts .8, 19
...............
Additional Information . 19
Automatic Seat Belt ...............................
Tensioners .20
.....................................
Cleaning .218
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt .19
................................
Maintenance .21
Reminder Light and ................................
Beeper .19, 58
...................
System Components . 19
...............
Use During Pregnancy . 17
...
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt . 14
.................................................
Seats .84
.........
Adjusting the Second Seat . 87
...........
Adjusting the Third Seat . 88
............
Folding the Second Seat . 87
...............
Folding the Third Seat . 88
..........................
Head Restraints .86
.......................
Third Row Access .87
...............................
Serial Number .252
...........................
Service Intervals .199
...........................
Service Manual .269
.........
Service Station Procedures . 159
Shif ting the Automatic .............................
Transmission .172
.....
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 172........................
Shif t Lock Release .175
....................................
Side Airbags .27
......................
Side Curtain Airbags .28
Side Marker Lights, Bulb .........................
Replacement in .215
...............................
Signaling Turns .72
.....................................
Snow Tires .225
................
Sound System . 110,115,125
Spare Tire ..............................
Inf lating .222, 230
............................
Specif ications .255
....................
Specif ications Charts . 254
................................
Speed Control .144
...................................
Speedometer .66
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation . 22
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 32
......
Airbag System Components . 22
.............................
Airbag Service .31
..
How the SRS Indicator Works . 28
How Your Front Airbags .........................................
Work .23
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 27
How Your Side Curtain Airbags .........................................
Work .28
Index
S
VII

.............................
SRS Indicator .28 ,58
....
START (Ignition Key Position) . 79
.......................
Starting the Engine .171
................
With a Dead Battery . 238
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine . 240
Steering Wheel ..................................
Adjustment .76
.............
Anti-theft Column Lock . 79
...
Stereo Sound System . 110,115,125
....................
Storing Your Vehicle .227
........................................
Sun Visor .100
Supplemental Restraint System ......................................
Servicing .31
.........................
SRS Indicator .28 ,58
...................
System Components . 22
..................................
Synthetic Oil .206
.....................................
Tachometer .66
......
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in . 216
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected . 229
....................................
Tape Player .125
Technical Descriptions ......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 256
.....
Emissions Control Systems . 259Three Way Catalytic
...............................
Converter .261
.......................
Temperature Gauge .67
...................
Tensioners, Seat Belts . 20
............................
Thef t Protection .129
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 261
....................................
Timing Belt .213
....................................
Tire Chains .225
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 231
.................................
Tire Labeling .258
Tire Pressure Monitoring ....................
System (TPMS) .178
Low Tire Pressure ...........................
Indicator .64, 177
.......
Tire Pressure Monitor . 64,178
..................
TPMS Indicator . 64,178
...............................................
Tires .221
..............................
Air Pressure .221
.........................
Checking Wear .222
..........................
Compact Spare .230
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 256
......................................
Inf lation .221
..................................
Inspection .222
..............................
Maintenance .223
...................................
Replacing .224
......................................
Rotating .223 ...........................................
Snow .225
............................
Specif ications .255
................................
Tire Chains .225
Towing .....................................
A Trailer .188
................
Emergency Wrecker . 244
....
Equipment and Accessories . 188
.............................
Weight Limit .185
Your Vehicle Behind a ............................
Motorhome .190
.........................
Trailer Loading .185
.................
Trailer Towing Tips . 189
.............
Transf er Assembly Fluid . 211
Transmission ...............
Checking Fluid Level . 210
...........................
Fluid Selection .210
..............
Identif ication Number . 252
.............
Shif ting the Automatic . 172
.....................................
Treadwear .256
.......................................
Trip Meter .67
....................................
Turn Signals .72
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 231
Index
T
VIII