sensor Acura MDX 2012 Owner's Guide

MDX, Technology Package, and U.S.
Technology Package with Entertainment
modelsBoth front seats are equipped with
seat heaters. Because of the sensors
for the side airbag cutoff system,
there is no heater in the passenger's
seat-back. The ignition switch must
be in the ON (II) position to use the
heaters.
Push the front of the switch, HI, to
rapidly heat up the seat. After the
seat reaches a comfortable
temperature, select LO by pushing
the back of the switch. This will keep
the seat warm.
U.S. Technology Package with
Entertainment, Advance Package with
Entertainment and Canadian modelsThe outer second row seat cushions
and seat-backs are equipped with
seat heaters. Turning the switch on
the driver side warms the outer seat
behind the driver's seat only. The
passenger side switch warms the
outer seat behind the front passenger
seat.
Passenger's
Seat
HEATERSDriver's
Seat
Front seatHI
LOW
Second row seat
CONTINUED
Seat Heaters
157
Instruments and Controls

Keep the inside and outside mirrors
clean and adjusted for best visibility.
Be sure to adjust the mirrors before
you start driving.
The inside mirror can automatically
darken to reduce glare. To turn on
this feature, press the button on the
bottom of the mirror. The AUTO
indicator comes on as a reminder.
When it is on, the mirror darkens
when it senses the headlights of a
vehicle behind you, then returns to
normal visibility when the lights are
gone. Press the button again to turn
off this feature.
There is also a sensor on the back of
the mirror. Items hung on the mirror
may block this sensor and affect its
performance.
INDICATOR
AUTO BUTTONSENSOR
CONTINUEDMirrors
165
Instruments and Controls

NOTE:The AC power outlet is not
designed for electric appliances
which require high initial peak
wattage such as cathode-ray tube
type televisions, refrigerators,
electric pumps, etc. It is also not
suitable for devices that process
precise data such as medical
equipment or measuring
instruments. Any appliances that
require an extremely stable power
supply such as microcomputer-
controlled electric blankets, touch
sensor lamps, etc., should not be
connected to this outlet.
Interior Convenience Items
179
Instruments and Controls

When you set the temperature to its
lower limit (
) or its upper limit
(
), the system runs at full cooling
or heating only. It does not regulate
the interior temperature.
When you press a fan control button,
the fan is taken out of AUTO mode.
When the indicator in the dual
button is on, the driver's side and
passenger's side temperature can be
controlled independently (see page
189).
When the indicator in the rear button
is on, the temperature of the rear
passenger compartment can be
controlled independently (see page
189).
On models with navigation systemIn the Auto mode, the vehicle's
interior temperature is independently
regulated for the driver, front
passenger, and rear passengers
according to each adjusted
temperature. The system also
regulates each temperature based on
the information of the sun light
sensor and the sun's position which
is updated automatically by the
navigation's global positioning
system (GPS). For example, if the
driver's side of the vehicle is getting
too much sun, the system will adjust
to a lower temperature.
Dual ButtonYou can set the temperatures for the
driver's side and the passenger's side
separately when this button is
pressed (indicator is on). When the
indicator in the DUAL button is off,
the temperatures for both sides are
synchronized to the driver's side set
temperature. When defrost mode is
selected, dual mode operation is
canceled.
Climate Control System184

Sunlight and Temperature
SensorsTo regulate the interior temperature
and humidity, the climate control
system has two sensors. A sunlight
sensor is located in the top of the
dashboard and a temperature/
humidity sensor is next to the
steering column. Do not cover the
sensors or spill any liquid on them.
SUNLIGHT SENSOR
TEMPERATURE/HUMIDITY SENSOR
Climate Control System
191
Features

ACC ComponentsIf equippedAdaptive cruise control (ACC)
consists of a radar sensor in the front
grille, the MAIN buttons on the
steering wheel, and the ACC
functions of the multi-information
display.
The radar sensor for ACC is shared
with the collision mitigation braking
system™(CMBS™). For more
information on the radar sensor, see
page 464. For more information on
CMBS, see page 463.
MULTI-INFORMATION
DISPLAYACC INDICATOR
RES/ACCEL
BUTTON
MAIN
BUTTON
SET/DECEL
BUTTON DISTANCE
BUTTON CANCEL
BUTTON
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)348

Overview
Adaptive cruise control (ACC) allows
you to maintain a set speed and keep
the vehicle ahead of you and your
vehicle at a safe distance without
having to use the accelerator pedal or
the brake pedal.
When the vehicle ahead of you slows
down or speeds up, ACC senses the
change in distance and compensates
by adjusting your vehicle speed
accordingly. The distance between
vehicles is based on your speed: the
faster you go, the longer the distance
will be; the slower you go, the
shorter it will be.If the vehicle ahead of you slows
down suddenly or another vehicle
cuts in front of your vehicle, ACC
alerts you by sounding a beeper and
displaying a message on the multi-
information display.
The ACC radar sensor in the front
grille can detect and monitor the
distance of a vehicle up to 328 feet
(100 meters) ahead of your vehicle.
For more information on the radar
sensor, see page 464.
Important Safety Precautions
As with any system, there are limits
to ACC. Inappropriate use of ACC
can result in a serious accident. Use
the brake pedal whenever necessary,
and always keep a safe distance
between your vehicle and other
vehicles.Do not use ACC under these
conditions:
●
In poor visibility.
●
In heavy traffic.
●
When you must slow down and
speed up repeatedly.
●
On winding roads.
●
When you enter a toll gate,
interchange, service area, parking
area, etc. In these areas, there is
no vehicle ahead of you, but ACC
would still try to accelerate to your
set speed.
●
In bad weather (rain, fog, snow,
etc.)
●
On a slippery road (for example a
road covered with ice or snow).
CONTINUED
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
349
Features

Canceling the ACCACC is canceled whenever you do
any of these actions:●
Push the CANCEL button on the
steering wheel.
●
Tap the brake pedal.
●
Press the MAIN button. The ACC
indicator in the instrument panel
goes off.When you push the CANCEL button
or tap the brake pedal to cancel ACC,
the set cruising speed stays in
memory. When you turn on ACC
again, the speed is shown on the
multi-information display. To return
to that speed, accelerate to over 25
mph (40 km/h), then press the RES/
ACCEL button.
If you cancel ACC by pressing the
MAIN button, the previously set
cruising speed is erased from
memory.Automatic ACC Cancelation
When ACC is automatically canceled,
the beeper sounds for about 1
second, and the ACC OFF message
appears on the multi-information
display for 3 seconds.
Any of these conditions may cause
ACC to cancel:
●
The vehicle speed decreases
below 22 mph (35 km/h).
●
Poor weather (rain, fog, snow, etc.)
●
When the radar sensor in the front
grille gets dirty.
●
The vehicle ahead of you cannot
be detected.
●
An abnormal tire condition is
detected, or the tires are skidding.
CANCEL BUTTON
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)358

Messages on the Multi-
Information Display
The multi-information display shows
various messages related to ACC.
For a description of each ACC
message you may see, refer to the
chart on this and the following page.
Message Description
ACC is on.
ACC detects a vehicle ahead of you.
You will hear a beep when the vehicle
moves out of the ACC radar sensor's range.
ACC does not detect a vehicle ahead
of you.
You will hear a beep when ACC
detects a vehicle ahead of you.
CANADA U.S.CANADAU.S.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)360

Message Description Message Description
ACC has automatically canceled because its
radar sensor in the front
grille is dirty.
You will hear three beeps.Apply the brakes immediately.
Your vehicle is too close to the vehicle
ahead of it.
You will hear a continuous beep.
ACC has automatically canceled
because of bad weather or other conditions.
You will hear three beeps.ACC needs to be checked.
Have your vehicle checked by a dealer.
CONTINUED
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
361
Features