seats Acura MDX 2009 Owner's Guide

3. Place the child seat on the vehicleseat, then attach the seat to the
lower anchors according to the
child seat maker's instructions.
Some LATCH-compatible seats
have a rigid-type connector as
shown above.
Other LATCH-compatible seats
have a flexible-type connector as
shown above.
4. Whatever type you have, follow the child seat maker's instructions for
adjusting or tightening the fit.
5. Lift the head restraint (see page141),then route the tether strap
through the legs of the head
restraint and over the seat-back,
making sure the strap is not
twisted.
RIGID TYPE
FLEXIBLE TYPE
TETHER STRAP
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2009 MDX

Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/
Shoulder Belt
When not using the LATCH system,
all child seats must be secured to the
vehicle with the lap part of a lap/
shoulder belt.
In addition, the lap/shoulder belts in
all seating positions except the
driver's have a lockable retractor that
must be activated to secure a child
seat.
If you intend to install a child seat in
the center seating position of second
row seat, make sure the detachable
seat belt is securely latched (see
page146).
1. With the child seat in the desiredseating position, route the belt
through the child seat according to
the seat maker's instructions, then
insert the latch plate into the
buckle.
2. To activate the lockable retractor,slowly pull the shoulder part of the
belt all the way out until it stops,
then let the belt feed back into the
retractor.
3. After the belt has retracted, tug on it. If the belt is locked, you will not
be able to pull it out. If you can pull
the belt out, it is not locked, and
you will need to repeat these steps.
Installing a Child Seat5008/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX

3. Does the shoulder belt crossbetween the child's neck and arm?
4. Is the lap part of the belt as low as possible, touching the child's
thighs?
5. Will the child be able to stay seated like this for the whole trip?
If you answer yes to all these
questions, the child is ready to wear
the lap/shoulder belt correctly. If
you answer no to any question, the
child needs to ride on a booster seat. Using a Booster Seat
A child who has outgrown a forward-
facing child seat should ride in a
back seat and use a booster seat until
the lap/shoulder belt fits them
properly without the booster.Some states and Canadian provinces
also require children to use a booster
seat until they reach a given age or
weight (e.g., 6 years or 60 lbs). Be
sure to check current laws in the
states or provinces where you intend
to drive.
Booster seats can be high-back or
low-back. Whichever style you select,
make sure the booster seat meets
federal safety standards (see page
45)and that you follow the booster
seat maker's instructions.
CONTINUED
Protecting Larger Children
55
Driver and Passenger Saf et y
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2009 MDX

This section gives information about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your vehicle. All the essential
controls are within easy reach.Control Locations
..........................
62
Instrument Panel
..........................
63
Instrument Panel Indicators
..........
64
Gauges
..........................................
72
Multi-Information Display
.............
73
Controls Near the Steering
Wheel
.....................................
115
Windshield Wipers and Washers
..............................
116
Rear Window Wiper and Washer
...............................
117
Turn Signal and Headlights
........
118
Hazard Warning Button
..............
122
Rear Window Defogger
...............
122
Instrument Panel
Brightness
..............................
123
Steering Wheel Adjustments
.......
124
Keys and Locks
...........................
126
Immobilizer System
....................
128
Ignition Switch
............................
129
Door Locks
.................................
130
Childproof Door Locks
............
131
Tailgate
.......................................
131
Power Tailgate
........................
132
Remote Transmitter
....................
135 Seats
...........................................
140
Detachable Anchor
.................
146
Seat Heaters
................................
148
Power Windows
..........................
149
Moonroof
....................................
152
Parking Brake
.............................
153
Mirrors
.......................................
154
Driving Position Memory System
....................................
157
Interior Lights
.............................
159
Interior Convenience Items
.........
162
Beverage Holders
...................
163
Console Compartment
............
164
Storage Compartment
.............
164
Glove Box
...............................
164
Sunglasses Holder
..................
165
Cargo Hooks
...........................
165
Sun Visor
................................
166
Vanity Mirror
..........................
166
Accessory Power Sockets
.......
166
AC Power Outlet
.....................
167
Instruments and Controls
61
Inst rument s and Cont rols
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Front Seat Power AdjustmentsSeepages 12－14for important safety
information and warnings about how to properly position the seats and seat-backs.The controls for the power adjustable
front seats are on the outside edge of
each seat bottom. You can adjust the
seats with the ignition switch in any
position. Make all seat adjustments
before you start driving.
The passenger seat has the same
adjustments as the driver's seat but
without any lumbar adjustment.
Moves the seat forward
and backward.
Moves the front of the
seat up or down.
Raises or lowers the seat. Moves the whole seat up
and forward, or down
and backward. The front
of the seat also tilts up or
down at the same time.
Adjusts the seat-back
angle forward or
backward.
Increases or decreases
the lumbar support.
(Driver's seat only)
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2009 MDX

Head RestraintsSeepage 14for important safety
information and a warning about improperly positioning head restraints.Your vehicle is equipped with head
restraints in all seating positions to
help protect you and your
passengers from whiplash and other
injuries.
They are most effective when you
adjust them so the center of the back
of the occupant's head rests against
the center of the restraint.
Adjusting the Head RestraintThe head restraints adjust for height.
You need both hands to adjust the
restraint. Do not attempt to adjust it
while driving. To raise it, pull
upward. To lower the restraint, push
the release button sideways, and
push the restraint down.FRONT
SEAT-
BACK
LEGS RELEASE BUTTONCUSHION
CONTINUED
Seats
141
Inst rument s and Cont rols
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2009 MDX

Removing the Head RestraintTo remove a head restraint for
cleaning or repair, pull it up as far as
it will go. Push the release button,
then pull the restraint out of the seat-
back.When reinstalling a head restraint,
put the legs back in place. Then
adjust it to the appropriate height
while pressing the release button.
Make sure the head restraint locks in
position when you reinstall it.
Failure to reinstall the head
restraints can result in severe
injury during a crash.
Always replace the head
restraints before driving.
SECOND CENTER AND THIRD ROW
LEGS RELEASE BUTTON
CUSHIONSeats14208/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
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Active Head RestraintsThe driver's and front passenger's
seats have active head restraints. If
the vehicle is struck severely from
the rear, the occupant properly
secured with the seat belt will be
pushed against the seat-back and the
head restraint will automatically
move forward.
This reduces the distance between
the restraint and the occupant's
head. It also helps protect the
occupants against whiplash and
injuries to the neck and upper spine.After a collision, the activated
restraint should return to its normal
position.
If the restraints do not return to their
normal position, or in the event of a
severe collision, have the vehicle
inspected by an Acura dealer.
For a head restraint system to work
properly:
●Do not hang any items on the head
restraints, or from the restraint
legs.●Do not place any object between
an occupant and the seat-back.●Install each restraint in its proper
location.●Only use genuine Acura
replacement head restraints.
CONTINUED
Seats
143
Inst rument s and Cont rols
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Adjusting the Second Row SeatsTo change the seat-back angle of the
seats in the second row, pull up on
the handle on the outside of the seat-
back, and push the seat-back.
Overall, the seat-back has six
different positions.Folding the Second Row Seats
The left and right halves can be
folded separately.
1. To unlatch the detachable anchor
before folding the seat-back, insert
the latch plate into the slot on the
side of the anchor buckle (see
page146)and allow the seat belt to
retract. Store the detachable
anchor and seat belt latch plates in
the retractor housing.
2. Lower the head restraints to their lowest positions.
3. Pull up the handle on the outside of the seat-back.
4. Fold the seat-back forward.
Reverse this procedure to return the
seat to the upright position. Make
sure the seat is locked securely
before driving. Make sure that the folded seat-back
does not press against the front
passenger's seat, as this could cause
the weight sensors to work
improperly.
HANDLE
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2009 MDX

Third Row AccessTo get into the third row seats, pull
up the lever on the side of the
passenger's side second row seat-
back. The seat-back will tilt forward,
and then can be slid forward.
After you return the seat-back to the
upright position, push the whole seat
backwards until it latches. Make sure
the seat is fully latched before sitting
in it.Folding the Third Row Seat
1. Use the latch plate to release the
seat belt from the detachable
anchor (see page146).
2. Lower the head restraints to their lowest positions.
NOTE: To fold the third row seat, the
second row seat-back must be folded
down or in the full up right position.
3. Unlock the seat-back by pulling the handle. Push the seat-back
forward.
Make sure the outer shoulder belts
are positioned on each hook on the
side panel whenever the third seat is
folded.
RELEASE LEVER
THIRD SEAT HANDLE
CONTINUED
Seats
145
Inst rument s and Cont rols
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2009 MDX