jump start Acura MDX 2008 Owner's Manual

This section covers the more
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you inf ormation about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also f ind instructions
on getting your vehicle towed.......................
Compact Spare Tire .424
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .425
.............
If the Engine Won’t Start .431
................................
Jump Starting .432
..............
If the Engine Overheats .434
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .436
..........
Charging System Indicator .436
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .437
...............
Brake System Indicator .438
..............................................
Fuses .439
..............................
Fuse Locations .443
Opening the Fuel Fill Door
....................................
Manually .446
......................
Emergency Towing .446
..........
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck .447
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
423
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2008 MDX

Diagnosing why the engine won’t
start f alls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
ignition switch to the START (III)
position:You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine’s starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly.
You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
f aster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run.
When you turn the ignition switch to
the START (III) position, you do not
hear the normal noise of the engine
trying to start. You may hear a
clicking sound, a series of clicks, or
nothing at all. If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is
discharged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal connec-
tions (see page ). You can
then try jump starting the vehicle
f rom a booster battery (see page
).
In this case, the starter motor’s
speed sounds normal, or even f aster
than normal, when you turn the
ignition switch to the START (III)
position, but the engine does not run. Are you using a properly coded
key? An improperly coded key will
cause the immobilizer system
indicator in the instrument panel
to blink rapidly (see page ).
Check these things:
Check the transmission interlock.
The transmission must be in Park
or neutral or the starter will not
operate.
Turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position. Turn on the
headlights, and check their
brightness. If the headlights are
very dim or do not come on at all,
the battery is discharged. See
on page .
Turn the ignition switch to the
START (III) position. If the
headlights do not dim, check the
condition of the f uses. If the f uses
areOK,thereisprobably
something wrong with the
electrical circuit for the ignition
switch or starter motor. You will
need a qualif ied technician to
determine the problem. See on page . 421
432
432
446 70
CONT INUED
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly T he Starter Operates Normally
Jump Starting
Emergency T owing
If theEngineWon’tStart
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
431
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2008 MDX

Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Ref er toon page .
Do you have f uel? Check the f uel
gauge; the warning indicator may
not be working.
There may be an electrical
problem, such as no power to the
f uel pump. Check all the f uses
(see page ).
If youfindnothingwrong,youwill
need a qualif ied technician to f ind
the problem. See on page . Although this seems like a simple
procedure, you should take several
precautions.
You cannot start your vehicle by
pushing or pulling it. Put the transmission in neutral or
Park, and set the parking brake.
Turn of f all the electrical acces-
sories: heater, A/C, climate
control, audio system, lights, etc.
Open the hood, and check the
physical condition of the battery.
In very cold weather, check the
condition of the electrolyte. If it
seems slushy or f rozen, do not try
jump starting until it thaws.
1.
2.
339
440 446 Starting the
Engine
Emergency
Towing Jump Starting
If the Engine Won’t Start, Jump Starting
To Jump Start Your Vehicle:
432
A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyone
nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.
If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can f reeze.
Attempting to jump start with a f rozen
battery can cause it to rupture.
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µ
´ ´ Start your vehicle. If the starter
motor still operates slowly, check
that the jumper cables have good
metal-to-metal contact.
If the booster battery is in another
vehicle, have an assistant start
that vehicle and run it at a fast idle.
Connect the second jumper cable
to the negative ( ) terminal on
the booster battery. Connect the
other end to the grounding strap
as shown. Do not connect this
jumper cable to any other part of
the engine.
The numbers in the illustration show
you the order to connect the jumper
cables.
Connect one jumper cable to the
positive ( ) terminal on your
vehicle’s battery. Connect the
other end to the positive ( )
terminal on the booster battery. Once the vehicle is running,
disconnect the negative cable f rom
your vehicle, then f rom the
booster battery. Disconnect the
positive cable f rom your vehicle,
and then from the booster battery.
Keep the ends of the jumper cables
away from each other and any metal
on the vehicle until everything is
disconnected. Otherwise, you may
cause an electrical short.
5.
7.
4. 6.
3.
Jump Starting
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
433
BOOSTER BATTERY
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2008 MDX

CONT INUED
...
Accessories and Modif ications .330
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key
.....................................
Position) .129
............
Accessory Power Sockets .166
...........................
AC Power Outlet .167
................
Active Damper System .361
.....................................
Acura Link .308
....................
Additives, Engine Oil .394
...............................
Airbag (SRS) .9,24
..............
Air Conditioning System .170
.....................
Rear A/C Control .175
.......................
Air Outlets (Vents) .177
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .415
......................................
Antif reeze .396
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
....................
Indicator Light .66,357
...................................
Operation .357
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System .235
Anti-thef t Steering Column
............................................
Lock .129
................
Audio System .180,181,200
Auto Control Mode, Starting
........................................
Engine .339
..........
Automatic Climate Control .170 .......................
Automatic Lighting .119
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners .22
.............
Automatic Speed Control .270
..............
Automatic Transmission .341
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .452
...............
Checking Fluid Level .399
.......................................
Shif ting .341
Shif t Lever Position
...............................
Indicators .341
................
Shif t Lever Positions .342
....................
Shif t Lock Release .346
................................
Cancel Button .272
............................
Capacities Chart .452
Battery
Charging System ...........................
Indicator .65,436
............................
Jump Starting .432
..............................
Maintenance .421
............................
Specif ications .453
..............................
Bef ore Driving .321
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,20
.........................
Beverage Holders .163
..................................
Booster Seats .55
Brakes
...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) .357 .............
Break-in, New Linings .322
...........................................
Fluid .401
.......................................
Parking .153
.................
System Indicator .65,438
........................
Wear Indicators .357
.............................
Braking System .356
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle .322
Brightness Control,
...............................
Instruments .123
......................
Brights, Headlights .118
Bulb Replacement
..........................
Back-up Lights .407
................
Front Parking Lights .404
........
Front Side Marker Lights .404
.................................
Headlights .403
.................................
Rear Bulbs .406
............................
Specif ications .453
....................
Turn Signal Lights .404
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .403
Index
A
BC
INDEX
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2008 MDX

CONT INUED
............................
Disc Player .190,218
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .395
Doors
............
Locking and Unlocking .130
..................
Lockout Prevention .131
........................................
Monitor .11
....................
Power Door Locks .130
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading .454
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety .5
...........................................
Driving .337
....................................
Economy .327
Driving Position Memory ........................................
System .157
......
DVD Player Error Messages .265
...................................
DVD Player .240 ...................................
Fan, Interior .173
Features, Comfort and
..............................
Convenience .169
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank .323
Filters
...............................................
Oil .394
...........
Flashers, Hazard Warning .122
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a .425
.....................................
Floor Mats .410
Fluids
..........
Automatic Transmission .399
..........................................
Brake .401
..........................
Power Steering .402
..................
Windshield Washer .398
..............................
Economy, Fuel .327
..................................
Emergencies .423
.............
Battery, Jump Starting .432
...........
Brake System Indicator .438
................
Changing a Flat Tire .425
.....
Charging System Indicator .436
..................
Checking the Fuses .440
...........
Driving with a Flat Tire .424 .......
Hazard Warning Flashers .122
............................
Jump Starting .432
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .436
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .437
..................
Overheated Engine .434
Opening the Fuel Fill Door
................................
Manually .446
.......................................
Towing .446
.........................
Emergency Brake .153
....................
Emergency Flashers .122
......................
Emergency Towing .446
.......................
Emissions Controls .460
........................
Emissions Testing .463
Engine
............
Check Starting System .340
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge .72
.........................
If it Won’t Start .431
Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp .65,437
.......................................
Oil Lif e .383
........
Oil Pressure Indicator .65,436
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use .393
...............................
Overheating .434
............................
Specif ications .453
............................
Speed Limiter .346
.......................................
Starting .339 .
Evaporative Emissions Controls .460
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .58
Exhaust Gas Recirculation
........................................
System .461
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .18
Index
E F
INDEX
III
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2008 MDX

CONT INUED
.................
Jacking up the Vehicle .428
.......................................
Jack, Tire .425
................................
Jump Starting .432 ................................................
Keys .126
...........
Keyless Memory Settings .139
.......................
Label, Certif ication .450
...............
Lane Change, Signaling .118
..................
Lap/Shoulder Belts .15,21
....................
Light Control Switch .159
Lights
....................
Bulb Replacement .403
.......................................
Indicator .63
.......................................
Interior .159
.......................................
Parking .118
.............................
Load Limit .333,364
....
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) .129
Ignition
............................................
Keys .126
.........................................
Switch .129
............
Timing Control System .461
......................
Immobilizer System .128
.........
Important Safety Precautions .6
.........
Indicators, Instrument Panel .63
......
Active Damper System .71,361
...............
ABS (Anti-lock Brake) .66
....................................
A/T Temp .68
Brake (Parking and Brake
............................
System) .65,438
................
Charging System .65,436
.............................
Cruise Control .70
.................................
Cruise Main .70
...................................
Fog Lights .70
...................................
High Beam .70
........
Key (Immobilizer System) .70
.....................................
Lights On .70
......................................
Low Fuel .71
................
Low Oil Pressure .65,436
......................
Low Tire Pressure .68
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .437
..........................
Security System .71
...........................
Side Airbag Of f .66
.......................................
Seat Belt .64 ...............................................
SRS .66
...................
System Message .69,80
...............
Tire Pressure Monitor .68
Turn Signal and Hazard
...................................
Warning .67
............................
VSA Activation .67
.................................
VSA System .67
..................
Individual Map Lights .160
...............................
Inf ant Restraint .42
......................................
Inf ant Seats .42
...................
Inf lation, Proper Tire .415
.................................
Inside Mirror .154
.............................
Inspection, Tire .417
........................
Instrument Panel .4,63
......
Instrument Panel Brightness .123
........................
Interf ace Dial .200,308
...............................
Interior Lights .159
........................................
Introduction .i
Index
J L K
INDEX
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SH-AWD®............................
.69,348
2008 MDX