ECO mode Acura MDX 2011 Owner's Manual

Seat Belt System Components
Your seat belt system includes lap/
shoulder belts in all seating
positions. The front seat belts are
also equipped with automatic seat
belt tensioners and, on models with
collision mitigation braking system™
(CMBS ™), seat belt e-pretensioners.
The seat belt system
includes an indicator on the
instrument panel and a beeper to
remind you and your passengers to
fasten your seat belts.
This system monitors the front seat
belts. If you turn the ignition switch
to the ON (II) position before your
seat belt is fastened, the beeper will
sound and the indicator will flash. If
your seat belt is not fastened before
the beeper stops, the indicator will
stop flashing but remain on.
If a front passenger does not fasten
their seat belt, the indicator will
come on about 6 seconds after the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
(II) position. If either the driver or a front
passenger does not fasten their seat
belt while driving, the beeper will
sound and the indicator will flash
again at regular intervals.
You will also see a
‘‘FASTEN SEAT
BELT ’’or ‘‘FASTEN PASSENGER
SEAT BELT ’’message on the multi-
information display (see page 86).
When no one is sitting in the front
passenger's seat, or a child or small
adult is riding there, the indicator
should not come on and the beeper
should not sound.
CONTINUED
Additional Information About Your Seat Belts
21
Driver and Passenger Safety
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Airbag System Componentsꭧ: On models with CMBS(5) Side Airbags
(6) Driver's Seat Position Sensor
(7) Front Passenger's Weight Sensors
(8) Passenger Airbag Off Indicator
(9) Occupant Position Detection System
(OPDS) Sensors
(10) Front Passenger's Weight Sensors/OPDS
Sensors Control Unit
(11) SRS Indicator
(1) (11)
(8)
(6) (2)
(3)
(5)
(10)
(9)
(7)
(4)
(5)
(4)
(1) Driver's Front Airbag
(2) Passenger's Front Airbag
(3) Control Unit
(4) Front Seat Belt Tensioners/Seat Belte-pretensioners
ꭧ
(12) e-pretensioner Control Unit
ꭧ
(13) Front Impact Sensors
(14) Side Curtain Airbags
(15) Side Impact Sensors (First)
(16) Side Impact Sensors (Second)
(17) Safing Sensor
(13) (13)
(14)
(15) (16) (16)
(17)
(12)
(14)
Additional Information About Your Airbags2610/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

How Your Front Airbags WorkIf you ever have a moderate to severe
frontal collision, sensors will detect
the vehicle's rapid deceleration.
If the rate of deceleration is high
enough, the control unit will inflate
the driver's and front passenger's
airbags, at the time and with the
force needed.During a frontal crash, your seat belt
restrains your lower body and torso,
and the front airbag helps protect
your head and chest.
Although both airbags normally
inflate within a split second of each
other, it is possible for only one
airbag to deploy.
This can happen if the severity of a
collision is at the margin, or
threshold, that determines whether
or not the airbags will deploy. In
such cases, the seat belt will provide
sufficient protection, and the
supplemental protection offered by
the airbag would be minimal.
Only the driver's airbag will deploy if
there is no passenger in the front
seat, or if the advanced airbag
system has turned the passenger's
airbag off (see page 36).
After inflating, the front airbags
immediately deflate, so they won't
interfere with the driver's visibility,
or the ability to steer or operate other
controls.
CONTINUED
Additional Information About Your Airbags
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To ensure that the passenger's
advanced front airbag system will
work properly,
do not do anything
that would increase or decrease the weight on the front passenger's seat.
This includes:●
A second-row passenger pushing
or pulling on the back of the front
passenger's seat.
●
Moving the front seat forcibly back
against cargo on the seat or floor
behind it.
●
Hanging heavy items on the front
passenger seat, or placing heavy
items in the seat-back pocket.
●
Moving the front passenger's seat
or seat-back forcibly back against
the folded right-side second-row
seat.
●
Second-row seat passenger should
not wedge objects or intentionally
force their feet under the front
passenger seat. Also, make sure the floor mat behind
the front passenger's seat is hooked
to the floor mat anchor (see page
529). If it is not, the mat may
interfere with the proper operation of
the sensors and operation of the seat.
How Your Side Airbags Work
If you ever have a moderate to severe
side impact, sensors will detect rapid
acceleration and signal the control
unit to instantly inflate either the
driver's or the passenger's side
airbag and activate the seat belt
tensioner on the affected side.
Additional Information About Your Airbags3210/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

All Children Should Sit in a Back
Seat
According to crash statistics,
children of all ages and sizes are
safer when they are restrained in a
back seat.
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that all children
aged 12 and under be properly
restrained in a back seat. Some
states have laws restricting where
children may ride.
Children who ride in the back are
less likely to be injured by striking
interior vehicle parts during a
collision or hard braking. Also,
children cannot be injured by an
inflating front airbag when they ride
in the back.The Passenger's Front Airbag Can
Pose Serious Risks
Front airbags have been designed to
help protect adults in a moderate to
severe frontal collision. To do this,
the passenger's front airbag is quite
large, and it can inflate with enough
force to cause very serious injuries.
Even though your vehicle has an
advanced front airbag system that
automatically turns the passenger's
front airbag off under certain
circumstances (see page 36), please
follow these guidelines:
Infants
Never put a rear-facing child seat inthe front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger's front airbag.
If the
airbag inflates, it can hit the back of
the child seat with enough force to
kill or very seriously injure an infant.
Small Children
Placing a forward-facing child seat inthe front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger's front airbag can be
hazardous.
If the vehicle seat is too
far forward, or the child's head is
thrown forward during a collision, an
inflating front airbag can strike the
child with enough force to kill or
very seriously injure a small child.
Larger Children
Children who have outgrown childseats are also at risk of being injuredor killed by an inflating passenger's
front airbag.
Whenever possible,
larger children should sit in the back
seat, on a booster seat if needed, and
be properly restrained with a seat
belt. (See page 56 for important
information about protecting larger
children.)
Protecting Children －General Guidelines4010/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

Protecting InfantsChild Seat TypeAn infant must be properly restrained
in a rear-facing, reclining child seat
until the child reaches the seat
maker's weight or height limit for the
seat, and the child is at least one year
old.
Only a rear-facing child seat provides
proper support for a baby's head,
neck, and back.Two types of seats may be used: a
seat designed exclusively for infants,
or a convertible seat used in the rear-
facing, reclining mode.
Do not put a rear-facing child seat in
a forward-facing position.
If placed
facing forward, an infant could be
very seriously injured during a
frontal collision.
Rear-facing Child Seat PlacementA rear-facing child seat can be placed
in any seating position in the back
seat, but not in the front.
Never put a
rear-facing child seat in the front seat.
If the passenger's front airbag
inflates, it can hit the back of the
child seat with enough force to kill or
seriously injure an infant.
When properly installed in the
second row, a rear-facing child seat
may prevent the driver or a front
passenger from moving their seat as
far back as recommended, or from
locking their seat-back in the desired
position.
It can also interfere with proper
operation of the passenger's
advanced front airbag system.
Protecting Infants and Small Children4410/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

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.
Protecting Larger Children5810/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

RADIATOR CAPDASHBOARD
BATTERY LABEL
U.S. models only
These labels are in the locations shown. They warn
you of potential hazards that could cause serious
injury or death. Read these labels carefully.
If a label comes off or becomes hard to read (except
for the U.S. dashboard label which may be removed
by the owner), contact your dealer for a replacement.
CONTINUED
Safety Labels
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Adaptive Cruise Control
(ACC) Indicator
On models with adaptive cruise control(ACC)This indicator normally comes on for
a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position.
When you push the MAIN button on
the steering wheel, this indicator
comes on green. You will also see
‘‘ ACC’’ on the multi-information
display.
If the indicator comes on amber,
there is a problem with the ACC
system. You will also see a ‘‘CHECK
ACC SYSTEM ’’message on the
multi-information display (see page
87). Take your vehicle to your dealer
to have it checked. For more
information, see page 345.
Cruise Main Indicator
On models without adaptive cruise control (ACC)This indicator comes on when you
turn on the cruise control system by
pressing the CRUISE button (see
page 342).
Cruise Control Indicator
On models without adaptive cruisecontrol (ACC)This indicator comes on when you
set the cruise control. See page 342
for information on operating the
cruise control.
Collision Mitigation
Braking System ™
(CMBS ™) Indicator
On models with collision mitigation
braking system ™(CMBS ™)This indicator normally comes on for
a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. It also comes on as a
reminder that you have turned off the
collision mitigation braking system ™
(CMBS ™).
The CMBS indicator also comes on if
dirt or other debris blocks the radar
sensor in the front grille. You will
also see a ‘‘CHECK CMBS RADAR
SENSOR ’’message on the multi-
information display. When you clean
the radar sensor, the indicator
should go off the next time you turn
the ignition switch to the ON (II)
position.
CONTINUED
Instrument Panel Indicators
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Instruments and Controls
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If the indicator comes on at any other
time, there is a problem with the
CMBS. You will also see a‘‘CHECK
CMBS SYSTEM ’’message on the
multi-information display. If this
happens, take your vehicle to your
dealer, and have it checked. For
more information, see page 457.
When this indicator is on, the CMBS
is not working.
Door/Tailgate Open
Indicator
This indicator comes on red if any
door or the tailgate is not closed
tightly.
You will also see a corresponding
indicator(s) on the multi-information
display to indicate which door and/
or the tailgate is not closed tightly
(see page 12).
Blind Spot Information
System (BSI) Indicator
On models with blind spot information system (BSI)This indicator normally comes on for
a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position.
The BSI indicator also comes on if
the rear bumper becomes dirty while
driving. You will see a ‘‘BLIND SPOT
NOT AVAILABLE ’’message on the
multi-information display.
When you clean the rear bumper, the
indicator should go off after you
begin driving again.
When you turn the system on, the
indicator will turn off. If the indicator comes on at any other
time, there is a problem with BSI.
You will also see a
‘‘CHECK BLIND
SPOT SYSTEM ’’message on the
multi-information display. If this
happens, take your vehicle to a
dealer, and have it checked (For
more information, see page 476).
When this indicator is on, BSI is not
working.
Instrument Panel Indicators7410/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu