belt Acura MDX 2011 Service Manual

When a child reaches the
recommended weight or height limit
for a forward-facing child seat, the
child should sit in a back seat on a
booster seat and wear the lap/
shoulder belt.
The following pages give instructions
on how to check proper seat belt fit,
what kind of booster seat to use if
one is needed, and important
precautions for a child who must sit
in front.
Allowing a child age 12 or under
to sit in front can result in injury
or death if the passenger's front
airbag inflates.
If a child must ride in front,
move the vehicle seat as far
back as possible, use a booster
seat if needed, have the child
sit up properly and wear the
seat belt properly.Checking Seat Belt Fit
To determine if a lap/shoulder belt
properly fits a child, have the child
put on the seat belt, then ask
yourself:
1. Does the child sit all the way back
against the seat?
2. Do the child's knees bend comfortably over the edge of the
seat?
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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, Canadian provinces and
territories 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, provinces or
territories 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
47) and that you follow the booster
seat maker's instructions.
CONTINUED
Protecting Larger Children
57
Driver and Passenger Safety
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If a child who uses a booster seat
must ride in front, move the vehicle
seat as far back as possible and be
sure the child is wearing the seat belt
properly.
A child may continue using a booster
seat until the tops of their ears are
even with the top of the vehicle's or
booster's seat-back. A child of this
height should be tall enough to use
the lap/shoulder belt without a
booster seat.When Can a Larger Child Sit in
Front
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that all children
age 12 and under be properly
restrained in a back seat.
If the passenger's front airbag
inflates in a moderate to severe
frontal collision, the airbag can cause
serious injuries to a child who is
unrestrained, improperly restrained,
sitting too close to the airbag, or out
of position.
A side airbag also poses risks. If any
part of a larger child's body is in the
path of a deploying side airbag, the
child could receive possibly serious
injuries.Of course, children vary widely. And
while age may be one indicator of
when a child can safely ride in front,
there are other important factors you
should consider.
Physical SizePhysically, a child must be large
enough for the lap/shoulder belt to
properly fit (see pages 16 and 56). If
the seat belt does not fit properly,
with or without the child sitting on a
booster seat, the child should not sit
in front.MaturityTo safely ride in front, a child must
be able to follow the rules, including
sitting properly, and wearing the seat
belt properly throughout a ride.
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If you decide that a child can safely
ride up front, be sure to:●
Carefully read the owner's manual,
and make sure you understand all
seat belt instructions and all safety
information.
●
Move the vehicle seat to the rear-
most position.
●
Have the child sit up straight, back
against the seat, and feet on or
near the floor.
●
Check that the child's seat belt is
properly and securely positioned.
●
Supervise the child. Even mature
children sometimes need to be
reminded to fasten the seat belts
or sit properly.Additional Safety Precautions
●
Do not let a child wear a seat belt
across the neck.
This could result
in serious neck injuries during a
crash.
●
Do not let a child put the shoulder part of a seat belt behind the back
or under the arm.
This could cause
very serious injuries during a
crash. It also increases the chance
that the child will slide under the
belt in a crash and be injured.
●
Two children should never use the
same seat belt.
If they do, they
could be very seriously injured in a
crash.
●
Do not put any accessories on a
seat belt.
Devices intended to
improve a child's comfort or
reposition the shoulder part of a
seat belt can make the belt less
effective and increase the chance
of serious injury in a crash.
Protecting Larger Children
59
Driver and Passenger Safety
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ꭧ: If equipped
The U.S. instrument panel is shown. Differences for the Canadian models are noted in the text.
MESSAGE INDICATOR (P. 71)
HIGH BEAM INDICATOR (P. 72) SH-AWD INDICATOR (P. 71)
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR (P. 68)
FOG LIGHT INDICATOR (P. 72)
DOOR/TAILGATE OPEN
INDICATOR (P. 74)
IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM
INDICATOR (P. 72)
CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR (P. 67)
VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST
(VSA) SYSTEM INDICATOR
(P. 69) SECURITY SYSTEM INDICATOR (P. 75)
ACTIVE DAMPER SYSTEM INDICATOR
ꭧ(P. 75)
PARKING BRAKE AND BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR (P. 67) LOW FUEL INDICATOR (P. 75)
SEAT BELT REMINDER INDICATOR (P. 66)
COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING
SYSTEM
™(CMBS ™) INDICATOR
ꭧ(P. 73)
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM INDICATOR (P. 68)
CRUISE MAIN INDICATOR
ꭧ(P. 73)/
ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL (ACC) INDICATOR
ꭧ(P. 73)
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR
LAMP (P. 67)
VSA OFF INDICATOR
(P. 69)
A/T TEMPERATURE
INDICATOR (P. 70) BLIND SPOT INFORMATION SYSTEM INDICATOR
ꭧ(P. 74)
CRUISE CONTROL
INDICATORꭧ(P. 73)
MULTI-INFORMATION DISPLAY (P. 77)
LOW TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR (P. 70)
LOW OIL PRESSURE
INDICATOR (P. 67) LIGHT ON INDICATOR (P. 72)
SIDE AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR (P. 68)
Instrument Panel
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Instruments and Controls
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The instrument panel has many
indicators to give you important
information about your vehicle.
Seat Belt Reminder
Indicator
This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position. It reminds you and your
passengers to fasten your seat belts.
A beeper also sounds if you have not
fastened your seat belt.
If you turn the ignition switch to the
ON (II) position before fastening
your seat belts, the beeper sounds,
and the indicator flashes. If you do
not fasten your seat belts before the
beeper stops, the indicator stops
flashing but remains on.
If your front passenger does not
fasten their seat belt, the indicator
comes on about 6 seconds after the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
(II) position. If either of you do not fasten your
seat belt while driving, the beeper
will sound and the indicator will flash
again at regular intervals, and you
will see a
‘‘FASTEN SEAT BELT ’’or
‘‘ FASTEN PASSENGER SEAT
BELT ’’message on the multi-
information display (see page 86).
For more information, see page 21.
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Message Indicator
This indicator comes on when there
is a system message on the multi-
information display. Press the INFO
button on the steering wheel (see
page 77) to see the message (see
page 86).
Most of the time, this indicator
comes on along with other indicators
in the instrument panel such as the
seat belt reminder indicator, SRS
indicator, VSA system indicator, etc.
Super Handling-All
Wheel Drive (SH-AWD)
Indicator
This indicator normally comes on for
a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. If this indicator comes on at
any other time, there is a problem in
the SH-AWD system. You will also
see a ‘‘CHECK SH-AWD SYSTEM ’’
message on the multi-information
display (see page 87). Take your
vehicle to a dealer to have it checked.
For more information, see page 446. If the indicator blinks while driving,
it indicates the differential
temperature is too high.
You will also see a
‘‘SH-AWD DIFF
TEMP. HIGH ’’message on the multi-
information display (see page 87).
Pull to the side of the road when it is
safe, shift to Park, and let the engine
idle until the indicator goes out.
Continuing to drive with the SH-AWD
indicator blinking may cause serious
damage to the system.
CONTINUED
Instrument Panel Indicators
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Instruments and Controls
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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 the likelihood of
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
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Instruments and Controls
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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
page 154) 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
Seats15210/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

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 page 154).
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 ROW SEAT HANDLE
CONTINUED
Seats
153
Instruments and Controls
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