brake Acura MDX 2007 Owner's Guide

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Trailer lights and equipment must
comply with f ederal, state, province,
and local regulations. Check trailer
light requirements f or the areas
where you plan to tow, and use only
equipment designed f or your vehicle. If you use a non-Acura trailer
lighting harness and converter, you
cangetthematingconnectorand
pins that mate with the connector in
your vehicle f rom your dealer.
Since lighting and wiring vary with
trailer type and brand, you should
also have a qualif ied mechanic install
a suitable connector between the
vehicle and the trailer.
Your vehicle is equipped with a
connector to install an optional trailer
lighting connector that mates with
your vehicle. You can get this
optional connector f rom your dealer. Ref er to the above illustration f or
wiring information.
We recommend that you have your
dealer install an Acura wiring
harness and converter. This harness
has been designed f or your vehicle.
Towing a Trailer
Trailer Lights
Driving
363
BACK-UPLIGHT ( )
TAILLIGHTS ELECTRIC BRAKE
ACCESSORY OPTION
TRAILER HAZARD
LIGHT
RIGHT TURN
SIGNAL BRAKE
DIAGNOSTIC
TRAILER BACK-UP LIGHT
B CHARGE
LEFT TURN
SIGNAL
ILLUMINATION
LIGHTS
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Your vehicle tires and spare are in
good condition and properly
inflated.
When
preparing to tow, and before
driving away, be sure to check the
following: The trailer tires and spare are in
good condition and inflated as
recommended by the trailer
maker.
The
vehicle has been properly
serviced, and the brakes,
suspension, cooling system, and
lights are in good operating
condition.
The trailer has been properly
serviced and is in good condition.
All weights and loads are within
limits.
Thehitch,safetychains,andany
other attachments are secure.
Allitemsonandinthetrailerare
properly secured and cannot shift
while you drive. The
added weight, length, and
height of a trailer will affect your
vehicl e’s handling and performance,
so driving with a trailer requires
some special driving skills and
techniques.
Foryoursafetyandthesafetyof
others,taketimetopracticedriving
mane uvers before heading for the
open road, and follow the guidelines
below.
Avoid towing a trailer during your
vehicle’s f irst 600 miles (1,000 km)
(see page ). 316
Towing a Trailer
Pre-T ow Checklist Driving Saf ely With a T railer
Break-In Period
364
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CONTINUED
If the autom atic transmission fluid
temperature increases and exceeds
the speci fied limit, the A/T
temperature indicator comes on (see
page ). You will also see a ‘‘A/T
TEMP HIGH’’ message on the multi-
information display.
Make turnsmoreslowlyandwider
than normal. The trailer tracks a
smaller arc than your vehicle, and it
canhitorrunoversomethingthe
vehicle misses.
Allow more time and distance for
braking. Do not brake or turn
suddenly as this could cause the
trailer to jackknife or turn over.
When
driving uphill and downhill,
use the Sequential SportShift mode
to provide the proper engine power
and engine braking on each gear.
Select fourth, third, second, or first
gear; dep ending on the vehicle
speeds and road condition. Do not
use fifth gear. The recommended
speed range for each gear position is
showninthetable.
Gear position
1
2
3
4 Speed
range
019mph
(0 30 km/h)
19 31 mph
(30 50 km/h)
31 41 mph
(50 65 km/h)
over 41 mph
(over 65 km/h)
Drive
slower than normal in all
driving situations, and obey posted
speed limits for vehicles with trailers.
Use D position when towing a trailer
on level roads. D is the proper shif t
lever position to use when towing a
trailer in hilly terrain. (See ‘‘ ’’onthenextpagefor
additional gear information.)
When towing a f ixed-sided trailer (e.
g., camper), do not exceed 55 mph
(88 km/h). At higher speeds, the
trailer may sway or affect vehicle
handling. 68
3
Towing a Trailer
Making T urns and Braking
T owing Speeds and Gears
Driving
on Hills
Driving
365
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When climbing hills, closely watch
your temperature gauge. If it nears
the red (Hot) mark, turn the air
conditioning off, reduce speed and, if
necessary, pull to the side of the
ro ad to let the engine cool.
If the transmission shifts frequently
while going up a hill, shift to D3.
If you must stop when facing uphill,
use the foot brake or parking brake.
Do not try to hold the vehicle in
placebypressingontheaccelerator,
as this can cause the automatic
transmission to overheat.
When driving down hills, reduce
your speed and shift down to D . Do
not ‘‘ride’’ the brakes. Al
ways drive slowly and have
someone guide you when backing up.
Grip the of the steering wheel,
then turn the wheel to the left to get
the trailer to move to the left. Turn
the wheel to the right to move the
trailer to the right.
Follow all norm al precau tions when
parking, including putting the
transmission in Park and firmly
setting the parking brake. Also, place
wheel chocks at each of the trailer’s
tires. If
the vehicles tires slip when
retr ieving a boat from the water,
keep D position and do not use the
sequential sport shif t mode. This
prevents the transmission damage.
Your vehicle is not designed to be
towed behind a motor home. If your
vehicle needs to be towed in an
emergency, see page .
Crosswinds and air turbulence
caused by passing trucks can disrupt
your steering and cause the trailer to
sway. When being passed by a large
vehicle, keep a constant speed, and
steer straight ahead. Do not try to
make quick steering or braking
corrections.
433
3
bottom
Driving on Hills Handling Crosswinds and Buf f et ing
Backing UpParking Ret rieving a Boat
Remember, it
takes longer to slow down and
stop when towing a trailer. Towing Your Vehicle
Towing a Trailer
366
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Under these conditions, trailer
stability assist begins to stabilize the
vehicl e/trailer combination by
reducing the vehicle speed. The
control unit sends signals to
selectively apply the brakes and
regulate the engine output. The
brake lights of your vehicle will be
turned on automatically by the
system even if you do not keep the
pressu re on the brake pedal.
Your
vehicle is equipped with trailer
stability assist function. This
function works on the same sensors
as the vehicle stability assist (VSA)
system. This function helps to
stabilize the vehicl e/trailer
combination when the trailer
severely sways or oscillates. For
more information of the VSA system,
see page .
When the brakes are applied, the
trailer’s brake lights come on along
wi th the vehicle brake lights.
When the trailer stability assist
activates, you will see the VSA
activation indicator blink. There may
also be some noise from the VSA
hydraulic system. Trailer
stability assist cannot prevent
a loss of control. Always reduce the
ve hicle speed and steer firmly. Do
not brake suddenly or make quick
steering motion. It could cause the
trailertojackknifeorturnoverand
the system becomes ineffective.
Trailer stability assist cannot prevent
swaying that can occur in crosswinds
and in normal and emergency
driving maneuvers. It helps only to
stabilize the vehicl e/trailer
combination in these conditions,
after the oscillation becomes severe.
If
the function detects the vehicle/
trailer instability, it checks if the
swaying is caused by the trailer, and
if the trailer swaying or oscillation is
increasing.
The vehicle/trailer combination is
more affected by crosswinds,
buffeting, and improper tongue load.
These conditions can make the
trailer unstable, and cause it to sway. Always obey the recommended
speed limits f or towing a trailer, see
page . Trailer stability assist will also be
inef f ective while driving at high
speed or towing a trailer with a high
center or gravity.
351
365
T railer Stability A ssist
Driving
367
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IfyouturnofftheVSA,thetrailer
stability assist function also shuts off.
Press and hold the VSA off switch
until you hear a beep (see page ).
The VSA activation indicator comes
on as a reminder. Press and hold the
switch again to turn the system on.
The function turns on every time you
start the engine along with the VSA,
even if you turned it off the last time
you drove the vehicle.
The control unit monitors the VSA
circuitry and the braking system. If
there is a problem with the brake
lighting system, the trailer stability
assist function shuts down and the
‘‘CHECK TRAILER STABILITY
ASSIST’’ message appears on the
multi-info rmation display.
If you see this message, have your
vehicle checked at your dealer as
soon as possible. In
this case, your vehicle still has the
VSA traction and stability
enhancem ent, but it will not have the
trailer stability assist function.
Ifth erei saproblemwiththeVSA
system,thesystemand Trailer
Stability Assist shuts off. TheVSA
systemandVSAactivationindica tors
al socomeon(seepage).
The ABS indicator and the brake
system indicator may also come on
along with the VSA system indicator.
If you see these warning indicators,
have your vehicle checked at your
dealer as soon as possible. 351
352
T railer Stability A ssist
Trailer Stability Assist Failure
368
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Before you leave the pavement, be
sure to do all scheduled maintenance
and service, and inspect your vehicle
f or any problems. Pay special
attention to the condition of the tires,
and check the tire pressures.
After you return to the pavement,
caref ully inspect your vehicle to
make sure there is no damage that
could make driving it unsaf e.
Recheck the condition of the tires
and the tire pressures.
The route presents limits (too steep
or bumpy roads). You have limits
(driving skill and comfort). And your
vehicle has limits (traction, stability,
and power).
Driving of f -highway can be
hazardous if you f ail to recognize
limits and take the proper
precautions.Forbettertractiononallsurfaces,
accelerate slowly and gradually build
up speed. If you try to start too fast
on wet soil, mud, snow, or ice, you
might not have enough traction to
get underway, and you may dig
yourself a hole. Starting with the
shif t lever in D position will help you
have a smoother start on snow or ice.
Keep in mind that you will usually
need more time and distance to
brake to a stop on unpaved surf aces.
Avoid hard braking. Do not ‘‘pump’’
the brakes; let the anti-lock braking
system pump them f or you.
Debris in the road can damage your
suspension or other components.
Because your vehicle has a high
center of gravity, driving over a large
obstacle, or allowing a wheel to drop
into a deep hole can cause your
vehicle to tip or roll over.If you can’t clearly see all conditions
or obstacles on a slope, walk the
slope bef ore you drive on it. If you
have any doubt whether or not you
can saf ely drive on the slope, don’t
do it. Find another route.
If you are driving up a hill and f ind
that you cannot continue,
. Your vehicle could roll
over. Slowly back down the hill,
f ollowing the same route you took up
the hill.
Bef ore driving through water, stop,
get out if necessary, and make sure
that: The water is not deep enough to
cover your wheel hubs, axles, or
exhaust pipe. You could stall and
not be able to restart your engine.
The water can also damage
important vehicle components.
do not try to
turn around
Check Out Your Vehicle
Remember Accelerating and Braking
Avoiding ObstaclesDriving on Slopes
Crossing a Stream
Of f -Highway Driving Guidelines
370
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The banks are sloped so you can
drive out.
The water is not f lowing too f ast.
Deep rushing water can sweep you
downstream. Even very shallow
rushingwatercanwashthe
ground f rom under your tires and
cause you to lose traction and
possibly roll over.
The banks and surf ace under the
water provide good traction. The
water may hide hazards such as
rocks, holes, or mud.If the water is deeper than the wheel
hubs, some additional service may
be required. This service is not
covered by your warranties.
If you decide it is saf e to drive
through water, choose a suitable
speed, and proceed without shif ting,
changing speeds, stopping, or
shutting of f the engine. If you get stuck, caref ully try to go in
the direction (f orward or reverse)
that you think will get you unstuck.
Donotspinthetiresathighspeeds.
It will not help you get out and may
cause damage to the transmission or
SH-AWD system.
After driving through water, test
your brakes. If they got wet, gently
‘‘pump’’ them while driving slowly
until they operate normally. If you are still unable to f ree yourself ,
your vehicle is equipped with f ront
and rear tow hooks designed f or this
purpose.
Use a nylon strap to attach the MDX
to the recovery vehicle and caref ully
take out the slack in the strap. Once
the strap is tight, the recovery
vehicle should apply f orce.
Remember that the recovery vehicle
needs good traction to avoidbecoming stuck, too.
You should never use a jack to try to
get unstuck. Your vehicle could
easily slip of f the jack and hurt you
or someone else.
You may be able to safely tow a
lightweight trailer (such as a
motorcycle or small tent trailer) of f -
road if you f ollow these guidelines.
Do not exceed 1,000 lbs (450 kg)
or a tongue weight of 100 lbs (45
kg).
Stay on smooth, level dirt roads,
and avoid driving in hilly terrain.
Allow extra room f or starting,
stopping, and turning.
Slow down if you encounter bumps
or other obstacles.
If You Get Stuck
Towing a Trailer Off-Road
Of f -Highway Driving Guidelines
Driving
371
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This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and how to follow basic
maintenance safety precautions.
If you have the skills and tools to
perform more complex maintenance
tasks on your vehicle, you may want
to purchase the service manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your dealer. This section also includes
instructions on how to read the
maintenance messages in the multi-
inf ormation display, a maintenance
record, and instructions f or simple
maintenance tasks you may want to
take care of yourself . ......................
Maintenance Saf ety .374
....................
Maintenance Minder .375
....................
Maintenance Record .383
..............................
Fluid Locations .385
.......
Engine Compartment Cover .386
........................
Adding Engine Oil .387
Changing the Engine Oil and
...........................................
Filter .388
..............................
Engine Coolant .390
....................
Windshield Washers .392
....
Automatic Transmission Fluid .393
....................................
Brake Fluid .395
....................
Power Steering Fluid .396
....................................
Timing Belt .396
.............................................
Lights .397
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter .403
................
Cleaning the Seat Belts .403
.....................................
Floor Mats .404
.................................
Wiper Blades .405
...........................................
Wheels .408
...............................................
Tires .409
...................
Checking the Battery .415
.............................
Vehicle Storage .416
463
Maintenance
Maint enance
373
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To eliminate potential hazards, read
the instructions bef ore you begin,
and make sure you have the tools
and skills required.Make sure your vehicle is parked
on level ground, the parking brake
is set, and the engine is of f .
To clean parts, use a commercially
available degreaser or parts
cleaner, not gasoline.
To reduce the possibility of f ire or
explosion, keep cigarettes, sparks,
and flames away from the battery
and all f uel-related parts. Wear eye protection and
protective clothing when working
with the battery or compressed air.
All service items not detailed in this
section should be perf ormed by a
certif ied technician or other qualif ied
mechanic.
Some of the most important saf ety
precautions are given here. However,
we cannot warn you of every
conceivable hazard that can arise in
perf orming maintenance. Only you
can decide whether or not you
should perf orm a given task.Do
not run the engine unless
instructed to do so.
Let the engine and exhaust system cool
down bef ore touching any parts.
Be sure there is
adequate ventilation whenever you
operate the engine.
Maintenance Saf ety
Important Saf ety Precautions Injury f rom moving parts.
Burns f rom hot parts. Carbon Monoxide poison f rom
engine exhaust.
Potential Vehicle Hazards
374
Improperly maintaining this
vehicle, or failing to correct a
problem before driving can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection
and maintenance
recommendations and
schedules in this owner’s
manual. Failure to properly follow
maintenance instructions and
precautions can cause you to
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures
and precautions in this owner’s
manual.
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