headlights Acura MDX 2009 User Guide

Adjust the brightness of the
instrument panel by pressing the＋
or － button. Press the ＋button to
increase the brightness and the －
button to decrease it. The brightness
can be set differently for when the
headlights are on, and when they are
off.
The level of brightness is shown on
the multi-information display while
you adjust it. It goes out 5 seconds
after you finish adjusting. To reduce glare at night, the
instrument panel illumination dims
when you turn the light switch to
or
. To cancel the glare reduction
function, set the brightness to the
highest level, then press the ＋
button. You will hear a beep when it
is canceled.
You can customize when the glare
reduction function starts. To change
‘‘ AUTO INTERIOR
ILLUMINATION ’’, see page95for
more information.
Instrument Panel Brightness
123
Inst rument s and Cont rols
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Driving the vehicle with the parking
brake applied can damage the rear
brakes and axles. A beeper will sound if
the vehicle is driven with the parking
brake on.Mirrors
Keep the inside and outside mirrors
clean and adjusted for best visibility.
Be sure to adjust the mirrors before
you start driving.
The inside mirror can automatically
darken to reduce glare. To turn on
this feature, press the button on the
bottom of the mirror. The AUTO
indicator comes on as a reminder.
When it is on, the mirror darkens
when it senses the headlights of a
vehicle behind you, then returns to
normal visibility when the lights are
gone. Press the button again to turn
off this feature.INDICATOR
AUTO BUTTON SENSOR
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2009 MDX

The security system helps to protect
your vehicle and valuables from
theft. The horn sounds and a
combination of headlights, position
lights, side marker lights and
taillights flashes if someone attempts
to break into your vehicle or remove
the audio unit. This alarm continues
for 2 minutes, then the system
resets. To reset an activated 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
doors and the tailgate from the
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.
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 from the dashboard or the
wiring is cut.The security system will not set if the
hood, tailgate, or any door is not fully
closed. If the system will not set,
check that the doors, the tailgate and
the hood are fully closed.
Do not attempt to alter this system or
add other devices to it.
SECURITY SYSTEM INDICATOR
Security System
269
Feat ures
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U.S. Vehicles:
Maintenance, replacement, or
repair of emissions control
devices and systems may be done
by any automotive repair
establishment or individual using
parts that are‘‘certified’’to EPA
standards.
According to state and federal
regulations, failure to perform
maintenance on the items marked
with ＃will not void your emissions
warranties. However, Acura
recommends that all maintenance
services be performed in accordance
with the intervals indicated by the
multi-information display. Owner's Maintenance Checks
You should check the following
items at the specified intervals. If you
are unsure of how to perform any
check, turn to the appropriate page
listed.
●Engine oil level
－Check every
time you fill the fuel tank. See page
326.●Engine coolant level －Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
you fill the fuel tank. See page326.●Automatic transmission －Check
the fluid level monthly. See page
399.●Brakes －Check the fluid level
monthly. See page401.●Tires －Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread for
wear and foreign objects. See page
416.
●Lights －Check the operation of
the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light,
and license plate lights monthly.
See page403.
Maintenance Minder
389
Maint enance
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Headlight Aiming
The headlights were properly aimed
when your vehicle was new. If you
regularly carry heavy items in the
trunk or pull a trailer, readjustment
may be required. Adjustments
should be done by your dealer or
another qualified technician.
Low Beam Headlight Bulb
Replacement
The low beam headlight bulbs are a
type of high voltage discharge tube.
High voltage can remain in the
circuit even with the light switch off
and the key removed. Because of
this, you should not attempt to
examine or change a low beam
headlight bulb yourself. If a low
beam headlight bulb fails, take the
vehicle to your dealer to have it
replaced.Replacing a High Beam Headlight
Bulb
Your vehicle has halogen headlight
bulbs. When replacing a bulb, handle
it by its base, and protect the glass
from contact with your skin or hard
objects. If you touch the glass, clean
it with denatured alcohol and a clean
cloth.
Halogen headlight bulbs get very hot
when lit. Oil, perspiration, or a scratch
on the glass can cause the bulb to
overheat and shatter.
1. Open the hood.
2. Remove the front bulkhead cover
(see page392).
3. Remove the electrical connectorfrom the bulb by pushing on the
tab and pulling the connector
down.
4. Remove the bulb by turning it about one-quarter turn
counterclockwise.
BULB
CONNECTORCONTINUED
Lights
403
Maint enance
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5. Insert the new bulb into the hole,and turn it one-quarter turn
clockwise to lock it in place.
6. Push the electrical connector onto the new bulb.
7. Turn on the headlights to test the new bulb. Replacing Front Turn Signal/
Parking and Side Marker Light
Bulbs
1. Open the hood.
2. Remove the front bulkhead cover
(see page392).
3. Remove the socket by turning it one-quarter turn counterclockwise.
4. Pull the bulb straight out of its socket.
5. Push the new bulb straight intothe socket until it bottoms.
6. Insert the socket back into the headlight assembly. Turn it
clockwise to lock it in place.
7. Turn on the lights to make sure the new bulb is working.
FRONT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT BULB
SOCKET
BULB
PARKING LIGHT
SOCKET
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Diagnosing why the engine won't
start falls 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
faster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run.
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
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. 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
Jump Starting
on page432.●Turn the ignition switch to the
START (III) position. If the
headlights do not dim, check the
condition of the fuses. If the fuses
are OK, there is probably
something wrong with the
electrical circuit for the ignition
switch or starter motor. You will
need a qualified technician to
determine the problem. See
Emergency Towing on page446.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
connections (see page421).You
can then try jump starting the
vehicle from a booster battery (see
page432).
The Starter Operates Normally
In this case, the starter motor's speed
sounds normal, or even faster 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 page70).
CONTINUED
If the Engine Won't Start
431
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
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Checking and Replacing Fuses
If something electrical in your
vehicle stops working, the first thing
you should check for is a blown fuse.
Determine from the chart on pages
443,444,and445, or the diagram on
the fuse box lid, which fuse or fuses
control that device. Check those
fuses first, but check all the fuses
before deciding that a blown fuse is
the cause. Replace any blown fuses,
and check if the device works.
1. Turn the ignition switch to the LOCK (0) position. Make sure the
headlights and all other
accessories are off.
2. Remove the cover from the fuse box.
3. Check each of the large fuses inthe under-hood fuse boxes by
looking through the top at the wire
inside. Removing these fuses
requires a Phillips-head
screwdriver.FUSE BLOWN
BLOWN
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PRIMARY UNDER-HOOD FUSE BOX
No. Amps. Circuits Protected1 120 A Main fuse － Not Used
2 － 1 － Not Used
2 － 2 － Not Used
2 － 3 30 A Rear Blower Motor
2 － 4 40 A ABS VSA
2 － 5 40 A Trailer Main
2 － 6 40 A Power Seats, Driver's Position
Memory System, Subwoofer
2 － 7 40 A Front Heated Seat, TPMS,
Moonroof, Driver's Lumbar
Support
2 － 8 － Not Used
3 － 1 60 A Fog Lights, Front Blower
Motor
3 － 2 40 A Headlights, Daytime Running
Lights
3 － 3 60 A Cooling Fan, Condenser Fan,
MG Clutch, Headlight
Washer
ꭧ
3－ 4 50 A Ignition Switch Main
ꭧ : Canadian model No. Amps. Circuits Protected
3 － 5 50 A Power Window
3 － 6 60 A SH-AWD, Power Tailgate
Open/Closer, Rear ACC
Socket, Cargo Area Light,
Rear Defroster
3 － 7 30 A ECU (PCM)
3 － 8 － Not Used
4 40 A Audio, Door Lock, Interior Lights
5 － Not Used
6 － Not Used
7 30 A Active Damper Control Unit
8 30 A Audio Amplifier
9 7.5 A Rear Entertainment System
10 15 A Hazard
11 15 A Horn, Stop
12 20 A ABS VSA
13 20 A Trailer (Brake)
14 20 A Rear Heated Seat
15 20 A A/C Inverter
CONTINUED
Fuse Locations
443
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
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LightsHeadlights High 12 V－60 W (HB3)
Low
ꭧ
12 V －35 W (D2S)
Daytime running lights 12 V－60 W (HB3)
Front side marker lights 12 V－3CP
Front turn signal lights 12 V－21 W
Parking lights 12 V－3CP
Fog light 12 V－55 W (H11)
Rear turn signal lights 12 V－21 W
Rear side marker lights 12 V－3CP
Backup lights 12 V－18 W
License plate lights 12 V－3CP
Individual map lights Front 12 V －5W
Rear 12 V －5W
Cargo area lights 12 V－8W
Tailgate lights 12 V－3.4 W
Vanity mirror lights 12 V－2W
Door lights 12 V－3.4 W
ꭧ : The low beam headlights are high voltage discharged type.
Replacement of a low beam headlight bulb should be performed by
your dealer.
Battery Capacity 12 V－65AH/5 HR
12 V －76AH/20 HR
Fuses
Interior See page445or the fuse label attached
to the inside of the fuse box lid.
Rear See page444or the fuse label attached
to the inside of the fuse box lid.
Under-hood See page443and 444or the fuse box
cover.
Engine Type Water-cooled, 4-stroke SOHC VTEC V6
gasoline engine
Bore x Stroke 3.54 x 3.78 in (90.0 x 96.0 mm)
Displacement 223.5 cu-in (3,664 cm
3)
Compression ratio 11.0 : 1
Spark plugs DENSO:
NGK:SKJ20DR-M11
IZFR6K11
Alignment Toe-in Front 0.00 in (0.0 mm)
Rear 0.08 in (2.0 mm)
Camber Front －0°30’
Rear －0°30’
Caster Front 4 ° 12’
Tires Size Front/Rear P255/55R18 104H
Spare T165/80D17 104M
Pressure Front/Rear 32 psi (220 kPa, 2.2 kgf/cm2)
Spare 60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2 kgf/cm2)
Specifications
453
T echnical Inf ormat ion
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2009 MDX