sensor Acura MDX 2011 Owner's Manual

Your vehicle is equipped with many
features that work together to protect
you and your passengers during a
crash.
Some features do not require any
action on your part. These include a
strong steel framework that forms a
safety cage around the passenger
compartment, front and rear crush
zones, a collapsible steering column,
and tensioners that tighten the front
seat belts in a crash.
However, you and your passengers
can't take full advantage of these
features unless you remain sitting in
the correct position and
always wear
your seat belts.
In fact, some safety
features can contribute to injuries if
they are not used properly.
The following pages explain how you
can take an active role in protecting
yourself and your passengers.
(1) Safety Cage
(2) Crush Zones
(3) Seats and Seat-Backs
(4) Head Restraints
(5) Collapsible Steering Column
(6) Seat Belts
(7) Front Airbags
(8) Side Airbags
(9) Side Curtain Airbags
(10) Front seat Belt Tensioners/ Seat Belt e-pretensioners
ꭧ
(11) Door Locks
(12)Occupant Position DetectionSystem (OPDS) Sensor
(1) (3)
(7)
(5)
(2) (11)
(6)
(10) (8)
(2) (9)
(4)
On models with Collision Mitigation
Braking System™(CMBS ™)
ꭧ
:(11) (8)
(12)
(7)
Your Vehicle's Safety Features810/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

Seat Belt e-pretensionersOn models with Collision MitigationBraking System ™(CMBS ™)For added safety, the front seat belts
are equipped with e-pretensioners
that work in combination with the
collision mitigation braking system ™
(CMBS ™) (see page 457) and the
brake pedal assist function (see page
454). If your vehicle gets too close to the
vehicle ahead of it in your lane, the
driver's e-pretensioner slightly
retracts the seat belt to alert the
driver of the approaching vehicle. If a
collision with the vehicle in front of
you is likely, the e-pretensioners on
both front seats retract the seat belts
with enough force to properly
restrain you and your front
passenger. After they activate, the e-
pretensioners release the retracted
seat belts.
To get the full benefit of the e-
pretensioners, you and your front
passenger must sit normally in your
seats and wear your seat belts
properly (see page 16).
The e-pretensioners do not activate
when the vehicle stability assist
(VSA) off indicator on the instrument
panel is on.If the automatic seat belt tensioners
are activated by a collision, both front
seat belts and all related components
must be replaced (see page 25). If
only the e-pretensioners were
activated, no components need to be
replaced.
In addition, the front passenger's e-
pretensioner does not activate when
the passenger's airbag is
automatically turned off because the
weight sensor detects a child in the
front passenger's seat.Additional Information About Your Seat Belts2410/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

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

Your Airbag System (SRS) includes:●
Two SRS (Supplemental Restraint
System) front airbags. The driver's
airbag is stored in the center of the
steering wheel; the front
passenger's airbag is stored in the
dashboard. Both are marked‘‘SRS
AIRBAG ’’(see page 29).
●
Two side airbags, one for the
driver and one for a front
passenger. The airbags are stored
in the outer edges of the seat-
backs. Both are marked ‘‘SIDE
AIRBAG ’’(see page 32).
●
Two side curtain airbags, one for
each side of the vehicle. The
airbags are stored in the ceiling
above the side windows. The front
and rear pillars are marked ‘‘SIDE
CURTAIN AIRBAG ’’(see page 34).
●
On models with CMBS, front seat
belt e-pretensioners (see page 24).
●
Automatic front seat belt
tensioners (see page 23).
●
Sensors that can detect a moderate
to severe front impact, side impact,
or if your vehicle is about to
rollover.
●
Sensors that can detect whether a
child is in the passenger's side
airbag path and signal the control
unit to turn the airbag off (see
page 33).
●
Sensors that can detect whether
the driver's seat belt and the front
passenger's seat belt are latched or
unlatched (see page 21).
●
A driver's seat position sensor that
monitors the distance of the seat
from the front airbag. If the seat is
too far forward, the airbag will
inflate with less force (see page
30).
CONTINUED
Additional Information About Your Airbags
27
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●
Weight sensors that monitor the
weight on the front passenger's
seat. If the weight is about 65 lbs
(29 kg) or less (the weight of an
infant or small child), the
passenger's front airbag will be
turned off (see page 30).
●
A rollover sensor that can detect if
your vehicle is about to roll over
and signal the control unit to
deploy both side curtain airbags
(see page 34).
●
A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records information about the
sensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, the seat belt
tensioners, and driver and front
passenger seat belt use when the
ignition switch is in the ON (II)
position.
●
An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you to a possible
problem with your airbag system
components (see page 35).
●
An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you that the
passenger's side airbag has been
turned off (see page 35).
●
An indicator on the dashboard that
alerts you that the passenger's
front airbag has been turned off
(see page 36).
●
Emergency backup power in case
your vehicle's electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.
Additional Information About Your Airbags2810/06/29 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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The total time for inflation and
deflation is one-tenth of a second, so
fast that most occupants are not
aware that the airbags deployed until
they see them lying in their laps.
After a crash, you may see what
looks like smoke. This is actually
powder from the airbag's surface.
Although the powder is not harmful,
people with respiratory problems
may experience some temporary
discomfort. If this occurs, get out of
the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so.
Dual-Stage, Multiple-Threshold FrontAirbags (SRS)Your vehicle is equipped with dual-
stage, multiple-threshold front
airbags (SRS). During a frontal crash
severe enough to cause one or both
front airbags to deploy, the airbags
can inflate at different rates,
depending on the severity of the
crash, whether or not the seat belts
are latched, and/or other factors.
Front airbags are designed to
supplement the seat belts to help
reduce the likelihood of head and
chest injuries in frontal crashes.
Advanced AirbagsYour front airbags are also advanced
airbags. The main purpose of this
feature is to help prevent airbag-
caused injuries to short drivers and
children or small statured adults who
ride in front.
For both advanced airbags to work
properly:●
Occupants must sit upright and
wear their seat belts properly.
●
Do not spill any liquids on or
under the seats, cover the sensors,
or put any objects or metal items
under the front seats.
●
Objects placed or pushed under
the front passenger's seat may
cause the sensor to malfunction,
increasing the risk of injury in a
crash.
Failure to follow these instructions
could damage the sensors or prevent
them from working properly.
Additional Information About Your Airbags3010/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

The driver's advanced front airbag
system includes a seat position
sensor under the seat. If the seat is
too far forward, the airbag will inflate
with less force, regardless of the
severity of the impact.
If there is a problem with the sensor,
the SRS indicator will come on, and
the airbag will inflate in the normal
manner regardless of the driver's
seating position.
The passenger's advanced front
airbag system has weight sensors
under the seat. Although Acura does
not encourage carrying an infant or
small child in front, if the sensors
detect the weight of an infant or
small child (up to about 65 lbs or 29
kg), the system will automatically
turn the passenger's front airbag off.Be aware that objects placed on the
passenger's seat can also cause the
airbag to be turned off.
When the passenger airbag gets
turned off by the weight sensors, a
‘‘
passenger airbag off ’’indicator in
the center of the dashboard comes
on (see page 36).
If the weight sensors detect there is
no passenger in the front seat, the
airbag is automatically turned off.
However, the passenger airbag off
indicator in this situation will not
come on.
DRIVER'S
SEAT
POSITION
SENSOR
PASSENGER'S
SEAT
WEIGHT
SENSOR
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

Only one airbag will deploy during a
side impact. If the impact is on the
passenger's side, the passenger's
side airbag will deploy even if there
is no passenger.
To get the best protection from the
side airbags, front seat occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.
Side Airbag Cutoff SystemYour vehicle has a side airbag cutoff
system designed primarily to protect
a child riding in the front passenger's
seat.
Although Acura does not encourage
children to ride in front, if the
position sensors detect a child has
leaned into the side airbag's
deployment path, the airbag will shut
off.
The side airbag may also shut off if a
short adult leans sideways, or a
larger adult slouches and leans
sideways into the airbag's
deployment path.
Objects placed on the front
passenger seat can also cause the
side airbag to be shut off.If the side airbag off indicator comes
on (see page 35), have the passenger
sit upright. Once the passenger is
out of the airbag's deployment path,
the system will turn the airbag back
on, and the indicator will go out.
There will be some delay between
the moment the passenger moves
into or out of the airbag deployment
path and when the indicator comes
on or goes off.
A front seat passenger should not
use a cushion or another object as a
backrest. It may prevent the cutoff
system from working properly.
Additional Information About Your Airbags
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