light Acura MDX 2005 Owner's Manual

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To use the horn, press the pad around the ‘‘A’’ logo.
:
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Your Vehicle at a Glance
5
HEADLIGHTS/
TURN SIGNALS
FOG LIGHTS REMOTE AUDIO
CONTROLS STEERING WHEEL
ADJUSTMENT CRUISE CONTROL
HORN
WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS
VEHICLE STABILITY
ASSIST SYSTEM
OFF SWITCH
CRUISE CONTROL INSTRUMENT PANEL BRIGHTNESS
REAR WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VTM-4
LOCK
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
INDICATOR
HAZARD WARNING
BUTTON
(P.74)
(P.212)
(P.146)
(P.77) (P.130) (P.78) (P.147)
(P.71) (P.
77)
(P.
33)
(P.204)
(P.76)
(P.76)

µ
This section gives you important
inf ormation about how to protect
yourself and your passengers. It
shows you how to use seat belts
properly. It explains how your
airbags work, and it tells you how to
properly restrain infants and
children in your vehicle.
.........
Important Safety Precautions . 8
.......
Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features . 9
.........
Protecting Adults and Teens . 13
.....
1. Close and Lock the Doors . 13
...........
2. Adjust the Front Seats . 13
............
3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . 14
...
4. Adjust the Head Restraints . 15
5. Fasten and Position the Seat .....................................
Belts .16
6. Maintain a Proper Sitting ................................
Position .18
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 18
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 19Additional Inf ormation About Your
.................................
Seat Belts .21
..
Seat Belt System Components . 21
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt .21
........ 22
...............
Seat Belt Maintenance . 23
Additional Inf ormation About Your .....................................
Airbags .24
......
Airbag System Components . 24
......... 26
........................
Advanced Airbag .28
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 29
How Your Side Curtain Airbag .........................................
Work .31
How the SRS Indicator Light .......................................
Works .32
How The Side Airbag Of f ......................
Indicator Works .32
How the Passenger Airbag ...............
Of f Indicator Works . 33
.............................
Airbag Service .33
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 34
Protecting Children General ................................
Guidelines .35
All Children Must Be ...............................
Restrained .35 All Children Should Sit in a Back
...........................................
Seat .36
The Passenger’s Front Airbag Can Pose Serious Risks to ...............................
Children .36
If You Must Drive with Several ...................................
Children .38
If a Child Requires Close ..................................
Attention .38
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 38
Protecting inf ants and .........................
Small Children .40
.......................
Protecting Inf ants .40
.........
Protecting Small Children . 41
.....................
Selecting a Child Seat .43
....................
Installing a Child Seat .44
...............................
With LATCH .45
..........................
With a Seat Belt .47
..............................
With a Tether .48
...........
Protecting Larger Children . 50
...................
Checking Seat Belt Fit . 51
......................
Using a Booster Seat .51
......
When Can a Child Sit in Front . 52
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 54
...................................
Saf ety Labels .55
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners
How Your Front Airbags Work
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
7

Your f ront airbags are also dual-
threshold airbags. Airbags with this
f eature have two deployment
thresholds that depend on whether
or not the occupant is wearing a seat
belt.
If the occupant’s belt , the
airbag will inf late at a slightly higher
threshold, when the airbag would be
needed to supplement the protection
provided by the seat belt.
Your f ront airbags are dual-stage
airbags. This means they have two
inf lation stages that can be ignited
sequentially or simultaneously,
depending on crash severity.
In a
crash, both stages
will ignite simultaneously to provide
the quickest and greatest protection.
In a crash, one stage will
ignite first, then the second stage
will ignite a split second later. This
provides longer airbag inf lation time
with a little less force.
The total time for inflation and
def lation is one-tenth of a second, so
f ast that most occupants are not
aware that the airbags deployed until
they see them lying in their laps.
After a crash, you may see what
looks like smoke. This is actually
powder f rom the airbag’s surf ace.
Although the powder is not harmf ul,
people with respiratory problems
mayexperiencesometemporary
discomf ort. If this occurs, get out of
the vehicle as soon as it is saf e to do
so.
If the occupant’s belt is
,
the airbag will deploy at a slightly
lower threshold, because the
occupant would need extra
protection.
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Dual-T hreshold A irbags
is latched
Dual-Stage A irbags
more severeless severe not lat ched
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
27

This section gives inf ormation about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your vehicle. All the essential
controls are within easy reach............................
Control Locations .58
............................
Instrument Panel .59
....................
Instrument Indicators .60
.............................................
Gauges .68
Controls Near the Steering ...........................................
Wheel .70
Windshield Wipers and ...................................
Washers .71
Rear Window Wiper and .....................................
Washer .73
...........
Turn Signal and Headlights . 74
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 76
.................
Hazard Warning Button . 76
.................
Rear Window Def ogger . 77
.........................................
Fog Light .77
..........
Steering Wheel Adjustment . 78
..................................................
Keys .79
........................
Immobilizer System .80
................................
Ignition Switch .81
......................................
Door Locks .82
.......................
Remote Transmitter .83
.................................................
Seats .86
....................................
Seat Heaters .91
..............................
Power Windows .92
.........................................
Moonroof .93
.................................
Parking Brake .94 .............................................
Mirrors .95
Driving Position Memory ..........................................
System .97
.................................
Interior Lights .99
.........
Interior Convenience Items . 101
.....................
Beverage Holders .102
.............
Console Compartment . 102
..................................
Glove Box .102
...................
Rear Compartment . 103
.............................
Cargo Hooks .103
...................................
Sun Visor .103
............................
Vanity Mirror .103
........
Accessory Power Sockets . 104
Instruments and Controls
Inst rument s and Cont rols
57

Î
The U.S. instrument panel is shown. Dif f erences f or the Canadian models are noted in the text.
CONT INUED
Instrument Panel
Inst rument s and Cont rols
59
VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST
SYSTEM (VSA) INDICATOR
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR
LAMP
LOW OIL PRESSURE
INDICATOR
IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM
INDICATORSUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM INDICATOR
DOOR AND TAILGATE
OPEN MONITOR
TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR
LOW FUEL INDICATOR LIGHTS ON
INDICATOR
WASHER LEVEL
INDICATOR
SEAT BELT
REMINDER
INDICATOR PARKING
BRAKE AND
BRAKE
SYSTEM
INDICATOR
TPMS INDICATOR
LOW TIRE PRESSURE
INDICATOR
BRAKE LAMP
INDICATOR
VSA ACTIVATION
INDICATOR SIDE AIRBAG OFF
INDICATOR
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR
CRUISE CONTROL
INDICATOR
HIGH BEAM INDICATOR
MAINTENANCE
REQUIRED
INDICATOR
VTM-4 INDICATOR
A/T TEMPERATURE
INDICATOR CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR (P.273)
(P.60)
(P.60)
(P.67) (P.64)
(P.64) (P.62)/
(P.66)
(P. 63)
(P.65) (P.
62)
(P. 65) (P.
61)
(P.66)
(P.
66)
(P.60)
(P.60) (P.64) (P.63)
(P.61) (P.
60)
(P.63)
(P.63) (P.
61)

If a brake light does not work, theindicator comes on
when you push the brake pedal with
the ignition switch to ON (II).
A burned out brake light is a hazard
when drivers behind you cannot tell
you are braking. Replace the bulb as
soon as possible (see page ). The appropriate indicator comes on
in this display if the tailgate or any
door is not closed tightly.
All of the indicators in the monitor
display come on f or a f ew seconds
when you turn the ignition switch to
ON (II).
When you press the Hazard Warning
button, both turn signal lights blink.
All turn signals on the outside of the
vehicle should f lash. The lef t or right turn signal indicator
blinks when you signal a lane change
or turn. If the indicator does not
blink or blinks rapidly, it usually
means one of the turn signal bulbs is
burned out (see page ). Replace
the bulb as soon as possible, since
other drivers cannot see that you are
signaling. 246
247
Turn Signal and
Hazard Warning
Indicators
Brake L amp Indicator Door and Tailgate Open Monitor
Instrument Panel Indicators
62
BRAKE LAMP

This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch to ON (II)
with the headlight switch off and the
parking brake set. It should go of f if
youturnontheheadlightsorrelease
the parking brake. If it comes on at
any other time, it means there is a
problem with the DRL. There may
also be a problem with the high
beam headlights.
This indicator comes on when you
set the cruise control. See pagef or inf ormation on operating the
cruise control. This indicator comes on with the
high beam headlights. See page
f or inf ormation on the headlight
controls.
On Canadian models, this indicator
comes on with reduced brightness
when the Daytime Running Lights
(DRL) are on (see page ).
This indicator comes on as a
reminder that you must ref uel soon. This indicator comes on when the
washer f luid level is low. Add washer
fluidwhenyouseethisindicator
comes on (see page ).
146 74
76 241
Canadian models only
‘‘Daytime Running
Lights’’ Indicator
Cruise Control Indicator High Beam Indicator
Low Fuel Indicator
Washer Level Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
Inst rument s and Cont rols
63

This indicator monitors the
temperature of the automatic
transmission f luid. The indicator
should come on f or a f ew seconds
when you turn the ignition switch to
ON (II). If it comes on while driving,
it indicates the transmission f luid
temperature is too high. Pull to the
side of the road when it is saf e, shif t
to Park, and let the engine idle until
the indicator goes out.This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to ON (II). If this
indicator comes on at any other time,
there is a problem in the 4WD
system. Take the vehicle to your
dealer to have it checked.
If the indicator blinks while driving,
pull to the side of the road when it is
saf e, shif t to Park, and let the engine
idle until the indicator goes out.
This indicator reminds you that the
exterior lights are on. It comes on
when the light switch is in either the
or position. This indicator
will also come on when the light
switch is in AUTO and the lights
turn on automatically.
If you turn the ignition switch to
ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0)
without turning of f the light switch,
this indicator will remain on. A
reminder chime will also sound when
you open the driver’s door.
U.S. models only
U.S. Models except Touring
Lights On Indicator A/T Temperature
IndicatorVTM-4 Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
64
Continuing to drive with the VTM-4
indicator blinking may cause serious
damage to the system.
Continuing to drive with the A/T
Temperature indicator on may cause
serious damage to the transmission.

This indicator reminds you that it is
time to take your vehicle in for
scheduled maintenance.
Ref er to the maintenance schedule
f or normal and severe driving
conditions on pages and .
For the f irst 6,000 miles (9,600 km)
af ter the Maintenance Required
Indicator is reset, it will come on f or
2 seconds when you turn the ignition
switch to ON (II).Turn of f the engine.
Press and hold the Select and
Reset buttons on the instrument
panel, then turn the ignition switch
to ON (II).
Hold the buttons for
approximately 10seconds until the
indicator goes of f .
Between 6,000 miles (9,600 km) and
7,500 miles (12,000 km), this
indicator will light f or 2 seconds
when you first turn the ignition
switch to ON (II), and then flash for
10 seconds.
Your dealer will reset this indicator
af ter completing the scheduled
maintenance. If this maintenance is
done by someone other than your
Acura dealer, reset the indicator as
f ollows. If you exceed 7,500 miles (12,000
km) without having the scheduled
maintenance perf ormed, this
indicator will remain on as a constant
reminder.
1.
2.
3.
231 232
Instrument Panel Indicators
Maintenance Required
Indicator
Inst rument s and Cont rols
67
RESET BUTTON
SELECT BUTTON

This shows the total distance your
vehicle has been driven. It measures
miles in U.S. models and kilometers
in the Canadian models.
It is illegal under U.S. f ederal law and
Canadian provincial regulations to
disconnect, reset, or alter the
odometer with the intent to change
the number of miles or kilometers
indicated.
This shows how much f uel you have.
It may show slightly more or less
than the actual amount. The needle
returns to the bottom after you turn
of f the ignition.
Gauges
Odometer
Fuel Gauge
68
TACHOMETERTEMPERATURE
GAUGE
FUEL GAUGE
SPEEDOMETER
TRIP METER RESET
BUTTON
TRIP METER
ODOMETER TRIP METER
SELECT
BUTTON
Avoid driving with an extremely low
f uel level. Running out of f uel could
cause the engine to misf ire, damaging
the catalytic converter.