instrument panel Acura MDX 2008 Owner's Guide

Once the security system is set,
opening any door, the tailgate, or the
hood without using the key or the
remote transmitter, will cause it to
alarm. It also alarms if the radio is
removed f rom the dashboard or the
wiring is cut.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 that the doors, the tailgate and
the hood are f ully closed.
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, position lights, side
marker lights and taillights f lashes if
someone attempts to break into your
vehicle or remove the audio unit.
This alarm continues f or 2 minutes,
then the system resets. To reset an
alarming system before the 2
minutes have elapsed, unlock the
driver’s door with the key or the
remote transmitter.
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
doorsandthetailgatefromthe
outside with the key, driver’s lock
tab, door lock master switch, or
remote transmitter. The security
system indicator on the instrument
panel starts blinking immediately to
show you the system is setting itself .
Security System
Features
269
SECURITY SYSTEM INDICATOR
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2008 MDX

Cruise control allows you to maintain
asetspeedabove25mph(40km/h)
without keeping your f oot on the
accelerator pedal. It should be used
f or cruising on straight, open
highways. It is not recommended f or
city driving, winding roads, slippery
roads, heavy rain, or bad weather.Push in the CRUISE button on the
steering wheel. The CRUISE
MAIN indicator on the instrument
panel comes on.Press and release the SET/
DECELbuttononthesteering
wheel. The CRUISE CONTROL
indicator on the instrument panel
comes on to show the system is
now activated.
Accelerate to the desired cruising
speedabove25mph(40km/h).
Thecruisecontrolsystemcanbe
lefton,evenwhenitisnotinuse.
1.
2. 3.
Using Cruise Control
Cruise Control
270
CRUISE BUTTON
CANCEL BUTTON RES/ACCEL
BUTTON
SET/DECEL
BUTTON
Improper use of the cruise
control can lead to a crash.
Use the cruise control only
when traveling on open
highways in good weather.
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You can increase the set cruising
speed in any of these ways:You can decrease the set cruising
speed in any of these ways:
Press and hold the RES/ACCEL
button. When you reach the
desired cruising speed, release the
button.
Push on the accelerator pedal.
Accelerate to the desired cruising
speed, then press the SET/
DECEL button. Press and hold the SET/DECEL
button. Release the button when
you reach the desired speed.
Cruise control may not hold the set
speed when you are going up and
down hills. If your vehicle speed
increases going down a hill, use the
brakes to slow down. This will cancel
thecruisecontrol.Toresumetheset
speed, press the RES/ACCEL button.
The CRUISE CONTROL indicator
on the instrument panel will come
back on.
When climbing a steep hill, the
automatic transmission may
downshif t to hold the set speed. To slow down in very small
amounts, tap the SET/DECEL
button. Each time you do this,
your vehicle will slow down about
1 mph (1.6 km/h).
Tap the brake pedal lightly with
your f oot. The CRUISE
CONTROL indicator on the
instrument panel will go out.
When the vehicle slows to the
desired speed, press the SET/
DECEL button.
To increase the speed in very
small amounts, tap the RES/
ACCEL button. Each time you do
this, your vehicle will speed up
about 1 mph (1.6 km/h).
CONT INUED
Changing the Set Speed
Cruise Control
Features
271
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When an indicator comes on or a
message is displayed on the Multi-
Inf ormation Display (MID),
AcuraLink can provide inf ormation
about the cause of the indicator or
message and the recommended
action to address it. This helps you
handle the problem as it occurs,
preventing or limiting costly repairs.When an indicator comes on or a
message is displayed on the MID,
AcuraLink immediately notif ies you
with the message, ‘‘An indicator is on.
AcuraLink can help you decide what
to do.’’ If you do not want the
inf ormation right away, select the
Check Later option. If you want the
inf ormation now, select the Check
Now option. (If the navigation screen
is not active, you must select OK
from the navigation disclaimer
screen bef ore you can check theinf ormation.)
Depending on the severity of the
problem, the message will let you
know if you should see your dealer
immediately or if you can wait until a
later date.
The AcuraLink system cannot
determinesomemechanical
problems (such as squeaks or
rattles) that are not triggered by the
diagnostic indicator monitors.
For more inf ormation on the
instrument panel indicators, see page .
64
CONT INUED
Diagnostic Inf o
AcuraLink
Features
315
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2008 MDX

Help assure your vehicle’s f uture
reliability and perf ormance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period:Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration.
Avoidhardbrakingforthefirst
200 miles (300 km). Your vehicle is designed to operate
on premium unleaded gasoline with a
pump octane of 91 or higher. If this
octane grade is unavailable, regular
unleaded gasoline with a pump
octane of 87 or higher may be used
temporarily. The use of regular
unleaded gasoline can cause metallic
knocking noises in the engine and
will result in decreased engine
perf ormance. The long-term use of
regular-grade gasoline can lead to
engine damage.
We recommend quality gasolines
containing detergent additives that
help prevent f uel system and engine
deposits.
In addition, in order to maintain good
perf ormance, f uel economy, and
emissions control, we strongly
recommend, in areas where it is
available, the use of gasoline that
does NOT contain manganese-based
f uel additives such as MMT. Some gasoline today is blended with
oxygenates such as ethanol or
MTBE. Your vehicle is designed to
operate on oxygenated gasoline
containing up to 10% ethanol by
volume and up to 15% MTBE by
volume. Do not use gasoline
containing methanol.
If you notice any undesirable
operating symptoms, try another
service station or switch to another
brand of gasoline.
For f urther important f uel-related
inf ormation, please ref er to your
.
Do not change the oil until the
multi-inf ormation display indicates
it is needed.
Do not tow a trailer.
You should also f ollow these
recommendations with an
overhauled or exchanged engine, or
when the brakes are replaced. Use of gasoline with these additives
may adversely af f ect perf ormance,
and cause the malfunction indicator
lamp on your instrument panel to
come on. If this happens, contact
your dealer f or service.
Break-in Period Fuel Recommendation
Quick Start Guide
Break-in Period, Fuel Recommendation
322
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CONT INUED
Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page ).
Check the steering wheel
adjustment (see page ).
Make sure the doors and tailgate
are securely closed and locked.
Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have f astened
their seat belts (see page ).
When you start the engine, check
the gauges and indicators in the
instrument panel, and the
messages on the multi-inf ormation
display (see pages , and). Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition switch to
the START (III) position, then
release the ignition switch. You do
not need to hold the ignition
switch in the START (III) position
to start the engine. Depending on
the outside temperature, the starter motor runs f or about 6 to 9
seconds until the engine starts.
If you hold the ignition switch in
the START (III) position f or more
than 7 seconds, the starter motor,
depending on the outside
temperature, runs f or about 10 to
25 seconds until the engine starts.
If the engine does not start, wait at
least 10 seconds bef ore trying
again.
Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal. In cold weather, turn of f all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery. Apply the parking brake.
Your vehicle’s starting system has an
auto control mode. When you turn
the ignition switch to the START
(III) position, this f eature keeps the
engine’s starter motor running until
the engine starts. Follow these
instructions to start the engine:
1.
2.
3.
4.
6.
7.
8.
9.
15
124
81
10.
63 72
154
Preparing to Drive, Starting the Engine
Starting the Engine
Driving
339
T he immobilizer system protects your
vehicle f rom thef t. If an improperly-
coded key (or other device) is used, the
engine’s f uel system is disabled. For
more inf ormation, see page .
128
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2008 MDX

The ‘‘D’’ indicator comes on f or a
f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. If it f lashes while driving (in
any shif t position), it indicates a
possible problem in the transmission.
If the malf unction indicator lamp
comes on along with the ‘‘D’’
indicator, there is a problem with the
automatic transmission control
system. Avoid rapid acceleration, and
have the transmission checked by
your dealer as soon as possible.
When the ‘‘D’’ indicator warns of a
possible problem with the
transmission, you will see a ‘‘CHECK
TRANSMISSION’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display (see page).
These indicators on the instrument
panel show which position the shif t
lever is in. In the Sequential
SportShif t Mode, the ‘‘M’’ indicator
next to the ‘‘D’’ indicator comes on,
and the illuminated number under
the charging system indicator shows
you the gear you have selected. To shif t f rom Park to any position,
pressfirmlyonthebrakepedal,and
pressthereleasebuttononthefront
of the shift lever, then move the
lever. You cannot shift out of Park
when the ignition switch is in the
LOCK (0) or ACCESSORY (I)
position.
82
CONT INUED
Shif t L ever Position Indicators Shif ting
Automatic Transmission
Driving
341
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µ
´
With the shif t lever in ‘‘D’’ position,
you can select the Sequential
SportShift mode to shift gears much
like a manual transmission, but
without a clutch pedal.
To enter the Sequential SportShif t
mode, move the shif t lever f urther to
the driver’s side. To return to ‘‘D,’’
move the shift lever to the
passenger’s side.
In Sequential SportShif t mode, each
time you push f orward on the shif t
lever, the transmission shifts to a
higher gear. Pull back on the lever to
downshif t. The number of the gear
selected is displayed on the
instrument panel.
When you move the shif t lever f rom
‘‘D’’ to ‘‘M’’ position, the display
shows the selected gear. The transmission remains in the
selectedgear(5,4,3,2,or1).There
is no automatic downshif t when you
push the accelerator pedal to the
f loor.
When you accelerate away f rom a
stop, the transmission starts in f irst
gear. You have to manually upshift
between f irst and f if th gears. Make
sure you upshif t bef ore the engine
speed reaches the tachometer’s red
zone.
CONT INUED
Sequential SportShif t Mode
Automatic Transmission
Driving
343
SELECTED GEAR
( ) DOWN SHIFT
( ) UP SHIFT
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2008 MDX

Your vehicle still has normal f ront-
wheel drive with vehicle stability
assist (VSA), but does not have
your vehicle checked by a dealer
as soon as possible.
instrument panel stays on, and the
message also appears on the multi-
inf ormation display, there is problem
driving, it indicates the dif f erential
temperature is too high. You will also
HIGH’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display. If this happens,
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. If
the indicator does not go out, take
your vehicle to a dealer to have it checked.
Driving
349
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SuperHandling-AllWheelDrive(SH-AWD®) System
®If the SH-AWD
indicator blinks while
seean‘‘SH-AWD®DIFF TEMP.
IftheSH-AWD®indicator on the
‘‘CHECKSH-AWD®SYSTEM’’
withtheSH-AWD®system.
theadvantagesofSH-AWD®. Have
2008 MDX

Check the indicator on the
instrument panel to verif y that the
security system is set.
If the vehicle is f acing uphill, turn
the front wheels away from the
curb.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The hot three way
catalytic converter could cause
these materials to catch on fire.
Make sure the parking brake is
f ully released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or
damage the rear brakes.
Make sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.
Turn of f the lights.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.
in the cargo area or take them
with you.
Lock the doors and the tailgate.
Always use the parking brake when
you park your vehicle. Make sure
the parking brake is set f irmly, or
your vehicle may roll if it is parked
on an incline.
Set the parking brake bef ore you put
the transmission in Park. This keeps
the vehicle from moving and putting
pressure on the parking mechanism
in the transmission. If the vehicle is f acing downhill,
turn the front wheels toward the
curb.
Parking
Parking T ips
350
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