tailgate Acura MDX 2009 Owner's Guide

If you try to drive off with the tailgate
not closed completely, a beeper
sounds and a‘‘DOOR & TAILGATE
OPEN ’’message is shown on the
multi-information display.
Keep the tailgate closed at all times
while driving to avoid damaging the
tailgate and to prevent exhaust gas
from getting into the interior. See
Carbon Monoxide Hazard on page
58.
If there is a problem in the power
tailgate system, you will see a
‘‘ CHECK POWER TAILGATE ’’
message on the multi-information
display. Have the system checked by
your dealer.
With this message shown on the
multi-information display, you can
still open or close the tailgate
manually. Unlocking the Tailgate
Models with power tailgateIf the power door lock system cannot
unlock the tailgate, unlock it
manually.
Use a small flat-tipped screwdriver to
remove the cover on the back of the
tailgate.
Push the release lever to the right as
shown.
If you need to unlock the tailgate
manually, it means there is a
problem with the tailgate. Have the
vehicle checked by your dealer.
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2009 MDX

Models without power tailgateIf you cannot open the tailgate,
remove the cover on the back of the
tailgate (see page134).Push the
release lever to the right as shown,
then pull the outer handle to open
the tailgate.Remote Transmitter
LOCK
－Press this button once to
lock all doors and the tailgate. Some
exterior lights will flash. When you
push LOCK twice within 5 seconds,
you will hear a beep to verify that the
doors and tailgate are locked and the
security system has set. This button
does not work if any door or tailgate
is not fully closed.
To change the ‘‘KEYLESS LOCK
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ’’setting,
see page110.
Models without power tailgate
UNLOCK
BUTTON LOCK
BUTTON
PANIC
BUTTON
Models with power tailgate
UNLOCK
BUTTON LOCK
BUTTON
PANIC
BUTTON
TAILGATE
BUTTON
CONTINUED
Tailgate, Remote Transmitter
135
Inst rument s and Cont rols
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2009 MDX

UNLOCK－Press this button once
to unlock the driver's door. Push it
twice to unlock the other doors.
Some exterior lights will flash twice
when you push the button. If you do
not open any door or the tailgate
within 30 seconds, they will
automatically relock.
To change the ‘‘KEY AND REMOTE
UNLOCK MODE ’’setting, see page
109.
To change the ‘‘SECURITY RELOCK
TIMER ’’setting, see page111. When you press the UNLOCK
button, the front and rear individual
map lights and the cargo area light,
depending on their switch positions,
will come on (see page160).If you
do not open any door or the tailgate,
the lights stay on for about 30
seconds, then go out. If you relock
the doors and the tailgate with the
remote transmitter before 30 seconds
have elapsed, the lights will go off
immediately.
Models with power tailgateTAILGATE
－Press and hold the
TAILGATE button to open or close
the power tailgate. When the tailgate
begins to move, you will hear a beep,
and some front and rear lights will
flash. If you push the same button again
while the tailgate is opening or
closing, three beeps sound, the
tailgate stops moving, reverses
direction and stops in the fully
opened or fully closed position.
PANIC
－Press and hold this
button for about 1 second to attract
attention; the horn will sound, and
the exterior lights will flash for about
30 seconds. To cancel panic mode,
press any other button on the remote
transmitter, or turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position. Panic
mode does not work when the key is
in the ignition switch.
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2009 MDX

Remote Transmitter Care●Avoid dropping or throwing the
transmitter.●Protect the transmitter from
extreme temperature.●Do not immerse the transmitter in
any liquid.●If you lose a transmitter, the
replacement needs to be
reprogrammed by your dealer.Replacing the Transmitter Battery
If it takes several pushes on the
button to lock or unlock the doors
and the tailgate, replace the battery
as soon as possible.
Battery type: CR1616
To replace the battery:
1. Remove the screw at the base of
the transmitter with a small
Phillips-head screwdriver.
2. Separate the keypad from the transmitter by pushing any button
from outside.SCREW KEYPAD
CONTINUED
Remote Transmitter
137
Inst rument s and Cont rols
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2009 MDX

Light Control SwitchThe light control switch has three
positions: OFF, Door Activated, and
ON.When the switch is in the OFF position:●The individual door lights or the
tailgate lights will operate when a
door or the tailgate is opened.●The individual map lights in the
front can be turned on and off by
pressing the lenses.
●The individual map lights in the
second row and the cargo area
light in the third row cannot be
turned on.When the switch is in the door activatedposition:●The individual map lights in the
front and second rows come on
when any door or the tailgate is
opened, or when the remote
transmitter is used to unlock the
doors (see page135).When the
doors and the tailgate are closed,
each light can be turned on and off
by pushing the lens.●The cargo area light comes on
when any door or the tailgate is
opened if the light control switch is
in the door activated (center)
position. When the doors and the
tailgate are closed, the cargo area
light can be turned on with the
switch in the light. After all doors are closed tightly, the
lights dim slightly, then fade out in
about 30 seconds.
To change the
‘‘INTERIOR LIGHT
DIMMING TIME’’ setting, see page
101.
With any door or the tailgate left
open, the lights stay on about 3
minutes, then go out.
The lights also come on when the
key is removed from the ignition
switch.
DOOR ACTIVATED POSITION
ON
OFF
CONTINUED
Interior Lights
159
Inst rument s and Cont rols
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2009 MDX

Cargo Area LightThe cargo area light has a three-
position switch. In the OFF position,
the light does not come on. In the
center position, it comes on when
you open the tailgate. In the ON
position, it stays on continuously.Tailgate Lights
The lights in the tailgate have an on-
off switch to control if the lights
come on when the tailgate is opened.
The tailgate lights do not come on
when any other doors are opened.
Individual Interior Lights
The courtesy lights in all four doors
come on when you open any door.
The light around the ignition switch
comes on when any door is opened.
After you close the door, the ignition
switch light stays on for about 30
seconds regardless of the interior
light dimming time setting (see page
101).
ON
OFF
Interior Lights
161
Inst rument s and Cont rols
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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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2009 MDX

Carrying Cargo in the Passenger
Compartment●Store or secure all items that could
be thrown around and hurt
someone during a crash.●Be sure items placed on the floor
behind the front seats cannot roll
underneath and interfere with the
proper operation of the seats, the
sensors under the seats, or the
driver's ability to operate the
pedals.
Also, keep all cargo below the
bottom of the windows. If it is
higher, it could interfere with the
proper operation of the side
curtain airbags.●Keep the glove box closed while
driving. If it is open, a passenger
could injure their knees during a
crash or sudden stop.Carrying Cargo in the Cargo Area
or on a Roof Rack
●Distribute cargo evenly on the
floor of the cargo area, placing the
heaviest items on the bottom and
as far forward as possible. Tie
down items that could be thrown
about the vehicle during a crash or
sudden stop.●If you fold down the second or
third row seats, tie down items that
could be thrown about the vehicle
during a crash or sudden stop.
●If you carry large items that
prevent you from closing the
tailgate, exhaust gas can enter the
passenger area. To avoid the
possibility of
carbon monoxide
poisoning, follow the instructions
on page58.●If you carry any items on a roof
rack, be sure the total weight of
the rack and the items does not
exceed 165 lbs (75 kg).
If you use an accessory roof rack,
the roof rack weight limit may be
lower. Refer to the information that
came with your roof rack.
CONTINUED
Carrying Cargo
335
Bef ore Driving
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6. Check the adjustment of the insideand outside mirrors (see page
154).
7. Check the steering wheel adjustment (see page 124).
8. Make sure the doors and tailgate are securely closed and locked.
9. Fasten your seat belt. Check that your passengers have fastened
their seat belts (see page 15).
10. When you start the engine, check the gauges and indicators in the
instrument panel, and the
messages on the multi-information
display (see pages 63,72and 81). Starting the Engine
Your vehicle's starting system has an
auto control mode. When you turn
the ignition switch to the START (III)
position, this feature keeps the
engine's starter motor running until
the engine starts. Follow these
instructions to start the engine:
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. In cold weather, turn off all
electrical accessories to reduce the
drain on the battery.
3. Make sure the shift lever is in Park. Press on the brake pedal.
4. 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 for about 6 to 9
seconds until the engine starts. If you hold the ignition switch in
the START (III) position for more
than 7 seconds, the starter motor,
depending on the outside
temperature, runs for about 10 to
25 seconds until the engine starts.
If the engine does not start, wait at
least 10 seconds before trying
again.
The immobilizer system protects your
vehicle from theft. If an improperly-
coded key (or other device) is used, the
engine's fuel system is disabled. For
more information, see page
128.
CONTINUED
Preparing to Drive, Starting the Engine
339
Driving
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2009 MDX

Always use the parking brake when
you park your vehicle. Make sure the
parking brake is set firmly, or your
vehicle may roll if it is parked on an
incline.
Set the parking brake before you put
the transmission in Park. This keeps
the vehicle from moving and putting
pressure on the parking mechanism
in the transmission.Parking Tips
●Make sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.●Turn off the lights.●Place any packages, valuables, etc.
in the cargo area or take them with
you.●Lock the doors and the tailgate.
●Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other flammable
materials. The hot three way
catalytic converter could cause
these materials to catch on fire.●If the vehicle is facing uphill, turn
the front wheels away from the
curb.●If the vehicle is facing downhill,
turn the front wheels toward the
curb.●Check the indicator on the
instrument panel to verify that the
security system is set.●Make sure the parking brake is
fully released before driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or
damage the rear brakes.
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2009 MDX