service Acura MDX 2012 Workshop Manual

The tires on your vehicle meet all U.
S. Federal Safety Requirements. All
tires are also graded for treadwear,
traction, and temperature
performance according to
Department of Transportation (DOT)
standards. The following explains
these gradings.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For
example:
Treadwear 200
Traction AA
Temperature A
All passenger car tires must conform
to Federal Safety Requirements in
addition to these grades.Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the wear
rate of the tire when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified
government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and one-half (1 1/2) times
as well on the government course as
a tire graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends upon
the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart
significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate.Traction
The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those
grades represent the tire's ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked
C may have poor traction
performance.
Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.
CONTINUED
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
581
Technical Information

Client Service Information
...........
594
Warranty Coverages
...................
595
Reporting Safety Defects
.............
596
Authorized Manuals
....................
597
Warranty and Client Relations
593
Warranty and Client Relations

Acura dealership personnel are
trained professionals. They should
be able to answer all your questions.
If you encounter a problem that your
dealership does not solve to your
satisfaction, please discuss it with the
dealership's management. The
service manager or general manager
can help. Almost all problems are
solved in this way.
If you are dissatisfied with the
decision made by the dealership's
management, contact Acura Client
Relations.
U.S. Owners:American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Acura Client Relations
Mail Stop 500-2N-7E
1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501-2746
Tel: (800) 382-2238
Canadian Owners:Honda Canada Inc.
Acura Client Services
180 Honda Boulevard
Markham, ON
L6C 0H9
Tel: 1-888-9-ACURA-9
Fax: 1-877-939-0909
E-Mail: [email protected] Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands:Vortex Motor Corp.
Bella International
P.O. Box 190816
San Juan, PR 00919-0816
Tel: (787) 620-7546
When you call or write, please give
us this information:●
Vehicle Identification Number (see
page 576)
●
Name and address of the dealer
who services your vehicle
●
Date of purchase
●
Odometer reading of your vehicle
●
Your name, address, and
telephone number
●
A detailed description of the
problem
●
Name of the dealer who sold the
vehicle to you
Client Service Information594

Purchasing Factory Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)The publications shown below can be purchased from Helm
Incorporated. You can order by phone or online:●
Call Helm Inc. at 1-800-782-4356 (credit card orders only)
●
Go online atwww. helminc. com
If you are interested in other years or models, contact Helm Inc.
at 1-800-782-4356.Publication
Form NumberForm Description
61STX05 2010-2012 Acura MDX Service Manual
61STX03EL 2010-2011 Acura MDX
Electrical Troubleshooting Manual
61STX30 2008 Acura MDX Body Repair Manual
31STX650 2012 Acura MDX Owner's Manual
31STX850 2012 Acura MDX
Navigation System Owner's Manual
31STXM50 2012 Acura MDX Maintenance Journal
31STXQ50 2012 Acura MDX Advance Technology Guide
ACU-R Order Form for Previous Years
Indicate Year and Model Desired
Service Manual:
Covers maintenance and recommended procedures for
repair to engine and chassis components. It is written
for the journeyman mechanic, but it is simple enough
for most mechanically inclined owners to understand.
Electrical Troubleshooting Manual:
Complements the Service Manual by providing in-depth
troubleshooting information for each electrical circuit in
your vehicle.
Body Repair Manual:
Describes the procedures involved in the replacement
of damaged body parts.
Authorized Manuals
597
Warranty and Client Relations

Brakes
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
...........
461
Break-in, New Linings
.............
422
Fluid
.......................................
525
Parking
...................................
164
System Design
........................
461
System Indicator
...............
69, 564
Wear Indicators
.......................
461
Braking System
..........................
460
Break-in, New Vehicle
................
422
Brightness Control,
Instruments
............................
133
Bulb Replacement
Back-up Lights
................
531, 532
Front Parking Lights
...............
529
Front Side Marker Lights
........
529
Headlights
..............................
527
High-mount Brake Light
.........
533
Rear Bulbs
..............................
531
Rear License Plate Lights
........
533
Specifications
..........................
579
Taillights
.................................
531
Bulbs, Halogen
..........................
527C
Capacities Chart
.........................
578
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
............
61
Cargo
.........................................
433
Cargo Hooks
..............................
437
Cargo, How to Carry
..................
433
Carrying Cargo
..........................
433
CAUTION, Explanation of
.............
iv
CD Care
.....................................
247
CD Error Messages
...................
246
CD Player
..................................
235
Certification Label
......................
576
Chains, Tires
..............................
546
Changing a Flat Tire
..................
551
Changing Oil
How to
....................................
518
When to
..................................
507
Charging System
Indicator
...........................
69, 562
Checklist, Before Driving
...........
441
Childproof Door Locks
...............
141
Child Safety
..................................
40
Booster Seats
...........................
58
Child Seats
....................
45, 46, 48Important Safety Reminders
.....
44
Infants
......................................
45
Larger Children
.......................
57
LATCH
.....................................
50
Risks with Airbags
...................
41
Small Children
.........................
46
Tethers
....................................
54
Warning Labels
........................
42
Where Should a Child Sit?
........
41
Child Seats
.............................
40, 48
LATCH Anchorage Points
........
50
Tether Anchorage Points
.........
54
Cleaning the Seat Belts
..............
534
Client Service Information
..........
594
Climate Control System
.............
182
Clock
..........................................
309
Code, Audio System
...................
308
CO in the Exhaust
................
61, 587
Cold Weather, Starting in
...........
442
Collision Mitigation Braking
System™(CMBS™)
...............
463
Compact Spare Tire
....................
550
Compass Operation
....................
342
Console Compartment
...............
175
Consumer Information
...............
594
Controls, Instruments and
............
65
IndexII

Reporting Safety Defects
............
596
Reserve Tank, Engine
Coolant
............................
427, 520
Restraint, Child
............................
40
Reverse Gear Position
................
445
Rotation, Tire
.............................
544
S
Safety Belts
..............................
9, 21
Safety Defects, Reporting
...........
596
Safety Features
..............................
8
Airbags
...............................
10, 27
Door Locks
..............................
12
Head Restraints
........................
15
Seat Belts
........................
9, 16, 21
Seats & Seat-Backs
..............
14, 15
Safety Labels, Location of
.............
62
Safety Messages
...........................
iv
Seat Belt e-pretensioners
..............
24
Seat Belts
.................................
9, 21
Additional Information
.............
21
Advice for Pregnant Women
....
19
Automatic Seat Belt
Tensioners
...........................
23Cleaning
..................................
534
e-pretensioner
..........................
24
Lap/Shoulder Belt
..............
16, 22
Maintenance
............................
25
Reminder Indicator and
Beeper
.............................
21, 68
System Components
................
21
Use During Pregnancy
.............
19
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder
Belt
..................................
16, 22
Seat Heaters and Seat
Ventilation
..............................
158
Seats
..........................................
149
Adjusting the Second Seat
.......
153
Air Ventilation
.........................
158
Folding the Second Seat
..........
153
Folding the Third Seat
............
154
Head Restraints
.......................
150
Heaters
...................................
157
Position Memory
....................
168
Third Row Access
...................
154
Seats, Adjusting the
...................
149
Security System
.........................
341
Security System Indicator
............
77
Sensors
Driver's Seat Position Sensor
...
31Front Passenger's Weight
Sensors
................................
31
Impact Sensors
........................
27
Serial Number
............................
576
Service Intervals
.........................
507
Service Station Procedures
........
424
SH-AWD
®...................................
452
Indicator
...................................
73
Shifting the Automatic
Transmission
..........................
444
Shift Lever Position Indicators
...
443
Shift Lock Release
......................
446
Side Airbags
.................................
33
How the Side Airbag Off
Indicator Works
...................
36
How Your Side Airbags Work
..
33
Side Curtain Airbags
....................
35
How Your Side Curtain Airbags
Work
....................................
35
Side Marker Lights, Bulb
Replacement in
.......................
529
Signaling Turns
............................
71
Snow Tires
.................................
546
Sound System
.....................
192, 212
CONTINUED
Index
IX
INDEX

Spare Tire
..................................
550
Inflating
...........................
540, 550
Specifications
..........................
580
Spark Plugs
................................
579
Specifications
.............................
578
Speed Control
............................
345
Speed Limiter
.............................
446
Speedometer
................................
78
SRS, Additional Information
.........
27
Additional Safety Precautions
...
39
Airbag Service
..........................
38
Airbag System Components
.....
27
How the Side Airbag Off
Indicator Works
...................
36
How the SRS Indicator Works
..
36
How Your Front Airbags
Work
....................................
30
How Your Side Airbags Work
..
33
How Your Side Curtain Airbags
Work
....................................
35
SRS Indicator
.........................
36, 70
START (Ignition Key
Position)
.................................
139
Starting the Engine
....................
442
Auto Control Mode
.................
442In Cold Weather at High
Altitude
................................
442
With a Dead Battery
................
558
State Emissions Testing
.............
590
Steam Coming from Engine
.......
560
Steering Wheel
Adjustments
............................
134
Anti-theft Column Lock
...........
139
Buttons
...........................
305, 345
Position Memory
....................
168
Stereo Sound System
..........
192, 212
Storage Compartment
................
175
Storing Your Vehicle
..................
548
Sunglasses Holder
.....................
176
Sun Visor
...................................
176
Super Handling-All Wheel Drive™
(SH-AWD
®) System
................
452
Supplemental Restraint
System
............................
10, 27
Servicing
..................................
38
SRS Indicator
......................
36, 70
System Components
................
27
Synthetic Oil
..............................
518T
Tachometer
..................................
78
Tailgate
......................................
141
Open Indicator
.........................
76
Opening the
............................
141
Power
......................................
142
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in
.....
531
Taking Care of the
Unexpected
............................
549
Technical Descriptions
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S.
Vehicles)
.............................
581
Emissions Control Systems
.....
587
Three Way Catalytic
Converter
............................
589
Tire Labeling
...........................
583
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)－Required Federal
Explanation
......................
585
Temperature Gauge
.....................
78
Temperature, Inside Sensor
.......
191
Temperature, Outside
..................
82
Tensioners, Seat Belts
..................
23
Tether Anchorage Points
.............
54
IndexX

Gasoline:
Premium unleaded gasoline,
pump octane number of 91 or
higher.
Fuel Tank Capacity:
21.00 US gal (79.5 L)
Recommended Engine Oil:
API Premium grade 5W-20
detergent oil (see page 517).
Oil change capacity (including
filter):
4.5 US qt (4.3 L)
Automatic Transmission Fluid:
Acura ATF DW-1 (automatic
transmission fluid) (see page 524).Rear Differential Fluid:
Use Acura All-Wheel Drive Fluid
(DPSF) only.
Capacity:
SH-AWD differential case
2.6 US qt (2.5 L)
Transfer Assembly Fluid:
SAE 90 or SAE 80W-90 viscosity
hypoid gear oil, API service
classified GL4 or GL5 only.
Power Steering Fluid:
Acura Power Steering Fluid
preferred, or another brand of
power steering fluid as a
temporary replacement. Do not
use ATF (see page 526).Brake Fluid:
Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid
DOT 3 preferred, or a DOT 3 or
DOT 4 brake fluid as a temporary
replacement (see page 525).
Tire Pressure (measured cold):
Front/Rear:
32 psi (220 kPa, 2.2 kgf/cm
2)
Compact Spare Tire:
60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2 kgf/cm2)
Service Information Summary