steering Acura MDX 2011 Owner's Manual

Your Vehicle at a Glance(main controls)
....................................................................................................................
3
Driver and Passenger Safety (seat belts, SRS, and child protection)
...........................................................................
5
Instruments and Controls (indicators, gauges, multi-information display, dashboard, and steering column)
...........
63
Features (
climate control, audio, rear entertainment, steering wheel, security, cruise control, and other convenience items
)..
179
Before Driving (fuel, vehicle break-in, and cargo loading)
.......................................................................................
417
Driving (engine and transmission operation)
...........................................................................................................
433
Maintenance (minder, fluid checking, minor services, and vehicle storage)
...........................................................
499
Taking Care of the Unexpected (flat tire, Jump starting, overheating, and fuses)
...................................................
543
Technical Information (vehicle specifications, tires, and emissions controls)
........................................................
569
Warranty and Client Relations (U.S. and Canada only) (warranty and contact information)
...............................
585
Index
..............................................................................................................................................................................
I
INDEX
Service Information Summary (fluid capacities and tire pressures)
...............................................................
last page
Contents
1
10/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

Contents
A convenient reference to the
sections in this manual.
Your Vehicle at a Glance
A quick reference to the main
controls in your vehicle.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Important information about the
proper use and care of your vehicle's
seat belts, an overview of the
supplemental restraint system, and
valuable information on how to
protect children with child restraints.
Instruments and Controls
Explains the purpose of each
instrument panel indicator and
gauge, and how to use the controls
on the dashboard and steering
column.
Features
How to operate the climate control
system, the audio system, rear
entertainment system, and other
convenience features.Before Driving
What gasoline to use, how to break-
in your new vehicle, and how to load
luggage and other cargo.
Driving
The proper way to start the engine,
shift the transmission, and park; plus
what you need to know if you're
planning to tow a trailer.
Maintenance
The Maintenance Minder
™shows
you when you need to take your
vehicle to the dealer for maintenance
service. There is also a list of things
to check and instructions on how to
check them.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
This section covers several problems
motorists sometimes experience, and
details how to handle them. Technical Information
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities,
and technical information.
Warranty and Client Relations
(U.S. and Canada only)
A summary of the warranties
covering your new vehicle, and how
to contact us for any reason. Refer to
your warranty manual for detailed
information.
Index
Service Information Summary
A summary of the information you
need when you pull up to the fuel
pump.Overview of Contents210/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

ꭧ1: To use the horn, press the center pad of the steering wheel.
ꭧ 2: If equipped
ꭧ 3: Refer to the navigation system manual. For how to operate
Bluetooth
®HandsFreeLink by voice, see page 379.
BLIND SPOT INFORMATION
SYSTEM (BSI) OFF BUTTON
ꭧ2
(P. 476)VEHICLE STABILITY
ASSIST SYSTEM
OFF SWITCH
(P. 468)
MIRROR CONTROLS
(P. 164)BSI ALERT INDICATOR
ꭧ
2
(P. 473)
COLLISION MITIGATION
BRAKING SYSTEM ™(CMBS ™)
OFF BUTTON
ꭧ 2
(P.461)
HEADLIGHT WASHER
SWITCH
ꭧ 2
(P. 126)
HORN
ꭧ1
STEERING WHEEL
ADJUSTMENTS
(P. 133) HEADLIGHT/TURN SIGNAL/
FRONT FOG LIGHTS
(P. 127)
STEERING WHEEL
AUDIO CONTROLS
(P. 302) WINDSHIELD
WIPERS/WASHERS
(P. 125)
INSTRUMENT PANEL
BRIGHTNESS
(P. 132)
PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF INDICATOR
(P. 36)HAZARD WARNING
BUTTON
(P. 131)
REAR WINDOW
DEFOGGER
(P. 131) ACCESSORY POWER
SOCKETS
(P. 175)
SEAT HEATER SWITCHES
(P. 156) /
SEAT HEATER AND SEAT
VENTILATION BUTTONS
ꭧ 2
(P. 157)
ACTIVE DAMPER
SYSTEM SWITCH
ꭧ 2
(P. 478)
CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS (P. 342) /
ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL (ACC)
BUTTONS
ꭧ
2
(P. 350)
PADDLE SHIFTERS
(P. 441)
DISTANCE
BUTTONꭧ2
(P. 354)
BLUETOOTH
HANDSFREELINK
BUTTONS (P. 363) VOICE CONTROL
BUTTONS
ꭧ
3
Your Vehicle at a Glance410/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

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

The most important things you need
to know about your airbags are:●
Airbags do not replace seat belts.They are designed to supplement
the seat belts.
●
Airbags offer no protection in rearimpacts, or minor frontal or sidecollisions.
●
Airbags can pose serious hazards.To do their job, airbags must
inflate with tremendous force. So
while airbags help save lives, they
can cause minor injuries or more
serious or even fatal injuries if
occupants are not properly
restrained or sitting properly.
What you should do:
Always wear
your seat belt properly, and sit
upright and as far back from the
steering wheel as possible while
allowing full control of the vehicle. A
front passenger should move their
seat as far back from the dashboard
as possible. The rest of this section gives more
detailed information about how you
can maximize your safety.
Remember, however, that no safety
system can prevent all injuries or
deaths that can occur in a severe
crash, even when seat belts are
properly worn and the airbags
deploy.
Your Vehicle's Safety Features
11
Driver and Passenger Safety
10/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

2. Adjust the Front SeatsAdjust the driver's seat as far to the
rear as possible while allowing you to
maintain full control of the vehicle.
Have a front passenger adjust their
seat as far to the rear as possible.If you sit too close to the steering
wheel or dashboard, you can be
seriously injured by an inflating front
airbag, or by striking the steering
wheel or dashboard.
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that drivers
allow at least 10 inches (25 cm)
between the center of the steering
wheel and the chest. In addition to
adjusting the seat, you can adjust the
steering wheel up and down, and in
and out (see page 133).
If you cannot get far enough away
from the steering wheel and still
reach the controls, we recommend
that you investigate whether some
type of adaptive equipment may help.
Sitting too close to a front
airbag can result in serious
injury or death if the front
airbags inflate.
Always sit as far back from the
front airbags as possible.
See page 148 for how to adjust the
front seats.
Protecting Adults and Teens1410/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

3. Adjust the Seat-BacksAdjust the driver's seat-back to a
comfortable, upright position, leaving
ample space between your chest and
the airbag cover in the center of the
steering wheel.
Passengers with adjustable seat-
backs should also adjust their seat-
back to a comfortable, upright
position.
Reclining the seat-back too far
can result in serious injury or
death in a crash.
Adjust the seat-back to an
upright position, and sit well
back in the seat.
Reclining a seat-back so that the
shoulder part of the belt no longer
rests against the occupant's chest
reduces the protective capability of
the belt. It also increases the chance
of sliding under the belt in a crash
and being seriously injured. The
farther a seat-back is reclined, the
greater the risk of injury.
See page 148 for how to adjust the
seat-backs. 4. Adjust the Head Restraints
Adjust the driver's head restraint so
the center of the back of your head
rests against the center of the
restraint.
Have passengers adjust their head
restraints properly as well. Taller
persons should adjust their restraint
as high as possible.
CONTINUED
Protecting Adults and Teens
15
Driver and Passenger Safety
10/06/29 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
Driver and Passenger Safety
10/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

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
..........................
64
Instrument Panel
..........................
65
Instrument Panel Indicators
..........
66
Gauges
..........................................
76
Multi-Information Display
.............
77
Controls Near the Steering
Wheel
.....................................
124
Windshield Wipers and Washers
..............................
125
Rear Window Wiper and Washer
...............................
126
Turn Signal and Headlights
........
127
Hazard Warning Button
..............
131
Rear Window Defogger
...............
131
Instrument Panel Brightness
......
132
Steering Wheel Adjustments
.......
133
Keys and Locks
...........................
135
Immobilizer System
....................
137
Ignition Switch
............................
138
Door Locks
.................................
139
Childproof Door Locks
............
140
Tailgate
.......................................
140
Power Tailgate
........................
141
Remote Transmitter
....................
144 Seats
...........................................
148
Detachable Anchor
.................
154
Seat Heaters
................................
156
Seat Heaters and Seat
Ventilation
...............................
157
Power Windows
..........................
158
Moonroof
....................................
161
Parking Brake
.............................
163
Mirrors
.......................................
163
Driving Position Memory System
....................................
166
Interior Lights
.............................
168
Interior Convenience Items
.........
171
Beverage Holders
...................
172
Console Compartment
............
173
Storage Compartment
.............
173
Glove Box
...............................
173
Sunglasses Holder
..................
174
Sun Visor
................................
174
Vanity Mirror
..........................
175
Accessory Power Sockets
.......
175
AC Power Outlet
.....................
176
Instruments and Controls
63
Instruments and Controls
10/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

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
71
Instruments and Controls
10/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu