ground clearance Acura MDX 2007 Owner's Manual

Your MDX has higher ground clearance than a passenger vehicle designed for use only on pavement. Higher ground
clearance has many advantages for off-highway driving. It allows you to travel over bumps, obstacles, and rough
terrain. It also pro vides good visibility so you can anticipate problems earlier.
Th ese advantages come at some cost. Because your vehicle is taller and rides higher off the ground, it has a high
center of gravi ty. This means your vehicle can tip or roll over if you make abrupt turns. Utility vehicles have a
significantly higher rollover rate than oth er types of vehicles. In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is signifi cantly
more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. As a reminder, make sure you and your passengers always wear
seat belts.
For information on how to reduce the risk of rollover, read ‘‘Driving Guidelines’’ on page of this manual and the
section on page . Failure to operate your vehicle correctly might result in loss of
control or an accident. 369 330
Off-Highway
Driving Guidelines
Important Handling Inf ormation
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Some examples are:Larger or smaller wheels and tires
can interf ere with the operation of
your vehicle’s anti-lock brakes and
other systems.
Removing parts f rom your vehicle,
or replacing components with
af termarket components could
seriously af f ect your vehicle’s
handling, stability, and reliability. Modif ying your steering wheel or
any other part of your vehicle’s
safety features can make the
systems inef f ective.
If you plan to modif y your vehicle,
consult your dealer.
Lowering your vehicle with a
non-Acura suspension kit that
signif icantly reduces ground
clearance can allow the
undercarriage to hit speed bumps
or other raised objects, which
could cause the airbags to deploy.
Raising your vehicle with a non-
Acura suspension kit can af f ect
the handling and stability.
Non-Acura wheels, because they
are a universal design, can cause
excessive stress on suspension
components and will not be
compatible with the tire Pressure
Monitoring System.
Modif ying Your Vehicle
A ccessories and Modif ications
Bef ore Driving
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Because your vehicle rides higher
off the ground, it has a high center
of gravity that can cause it to roll
over if you make abrupt turns. Utility
vehicl es have a signifi cantly higher
roll over rate than other types of
ve hicles.
To prevent rollovers or loss of
control:
Take corners at slower speeds
than you would with a passenger
vehicle.
Avoid sharp turns and abrupt
maneuvers whenever possible. Do
not modify your vehicle in any
way that would raise the center of
gravity.
Do not carry heavy cargo on the
roof.
Your
vehicle has higher ground
clearance that allows you to travel
over bumps, obstacles, and rough
terrain. It also provides good
visibility so you can anticipate
problems earlier. Youshoulddothefollowingchecks
and
adjustmen ts before you drive
your vehicle.
Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove frost, snow,
or ice.
Check that the hood is fully closed.
Vi sually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.
Check that any items you may be
carrying are stored properly or
fastened down securely.
Check the seat adjustment (see
page ).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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See page f or of f -highway driving
guidelines. 369
Driving Guidelines, Preparing to Drive
Driving Guidelines
Preparing to Drive
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To avoid loss of control or rollover,
be sure to follow all precau tions and
recommendations.
Be sure to store cargo properly
and do not exceed your cargo load
limits (see page and ).
Whenever you drive, make sure
you and your passengers always
wear seat belts.
Keep your speed low, and never
go faster than the conditions allow.
It’s up to you to continually assess
the situation and drive within the
limits.
Your vehicle has been designed
primarily f or use on pavement. But
its higher ground clearance and
super handling-all wheel drive (SH-
AWD) system allow you to
occasionally travel on unpaved roads,
to campgrounds, picnic sites, and
similar locations. It is not designed
f or trailblazing, mountain climbing,
or other challenging of f -road
activities.
If you decide to drive on unpaved
roads, you will f ind that it requires
somewhat dif f erent driving skills.
Your vehicle will also handle
somewhat dif f erently than it does on
pavement. Be sure to pay extra
attention to the precautions and tips
in this section, and get acquainted
with your vehicle bef ore leaving the
pavement.
325 327
Important Saf ety Precautions
General Inf ormation
Of f -Highway Driving Guidelines
Driving
369
Improperly operating this
vehicle on or off-pavement can
cause an accident or rollover in
which you and your passengers
could be seriously injured or
killed.
Follow all instructions and
guidelines in this owner’s
manual.
Keep your speed low, and
don’t drive faster than
conditions permit.
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