wheel Acura MDX 2020 Repair Manual

446
Driving
Before Driving
Driving Preparation
Check the following items before you start driving.
• Make sure there are no obstructions on th e windows, door mirrors, exterior
lights, or other parts of the vehicle.
u Remove any frost, snow, or ice.
u Remove any snow on the roof, as this can slip down and obstruct your field of
vision while driving. If frozen solid , remove ice once it has softened.
u When removing ice from around the wheel s, be sure not to damage the wheel
or wheel components.
• Make sure the hood is securely closed.
u If the hood opens while driving, your front view will be blocked.
• Make sure the tires are in good condition.
u Check air pressure, and check for damage and excessive wear.
2 Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 602
•Make sure there are no people or ob jects behind or around the vehicle.
u There are blind spots from the inside.
■Exterior Checks1Exterior Checks
NOTICE
When doors are frozen s hut, use warm water around
the door edges to melt any ice. Do not try to force
them open, as this can damage the rubber trim
around the doors. When done, wipe dry to avoid
further freezing.
Do not pour warm water into the key cylinder.
You will be unable to insert the key if the water
freezes in the hole.
Heat from the engine and exhaust can ignite
flammable material s left under the hood, causing a
fire. If you’ve parked y our vehicle for an extended
period, inspect and remove any debris that may have
collected, such as dried grass and leaves that have
fallen or have been carried in for use as a nest by a
small animal. Also check under the hood for leftover
flammable materials after you or someone else has
performed maintenance on your vehicle.
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Continued447
uuBefore Driving uDriving Preparation
Driving
• Store or secure all items on board properly.
u Carrying too much cargo, or improperly storing it, can affect your vehicle’s
handling, stability, sto pping distance, and tires, and make it unsafe.
2Maximum Load Limit P. 449
•Do not pile items higher than the seat height.
u They can block your view and may be thrown forward in the event of sudden
braking.
• Do not place anything in the front seat footwells. Make sure to secure the floor
mat.
u An object or unsecured floor mat can in terfere with your brake and accelerator
pedal operation while driving.
• If you have any animals on board, do not let them move around in the vehicle.
u They may interfere with driv ing and a crash could occur.
• Securely close and lock al l doors and the tailgate.
2Locking/Unlocking the Doors from the Inside P. 151
•Adjust your seating position properly.
u Adjust the head restraint, too.
2Adjusting the Seats P. 191
2 Adjusting the Front and Second Row Outer Head Restraint Positions P. 198
•Adjust the mirrors and steering wheel properly.
u Adjust them while sitting in the proper driving position.
2 Adjusting the Steering Wheel P. 187
2 Adjusting the Mirrors P. 188
■Interior Checks1Interior Checks
The headlight aim is set by the factory, and does not
need to be adjusted. Howeve r, if you regularly carry
heavy items in the cargo area or tow a trailer, have
the aiming readjusted at a dealer or by a qualified
technician.
Your vehicle is equipped with the automatic
headlight adjusting system that automatically adjusts
the vertical angle of the low beam headlights.
Models with automatic headlight adjusting system
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460
uuTowing a Trailer uDriving Safely with a Trailer
Driving
Driving Safely with a Trailer
• Have the trailer properly serviced and keep it in good condition.
• Make sure that all the weights and load in the vehicle and trailer are within limits.
2Towing Load Limits P. 452
•When towing more than 3,500 lbs (1,590 kg), use of gasoline with a pump
octane number of 91 or higher is recommended.
u Towing performance can be affected by high altitude, high temperature, or
steep uphill.
• Securely attach the hitch, safety chains, and other necessary parts to the trailer.
• Securely store all the items in and on the trailer so that they do not shift while
driving.
• Check if the lights and brakes on the trailer are working properly.
• Check the pressures of the traile r tires, including the spare.
• Turn off the Auto Idle Stop syst em using the Auto Idle Stop OFF button. The
trailer weight can affect your vehicle’s br ake effectiveness if Auto Idle Stop is
activated on a hill while towing a trailer.
• Drive slower than normal.
• Obey posted speed limits for vehicles with trailers.
• Use the
(D position when towing a trailer on level roads.
■Things You Need To Know Before Towing a Trailer
■Towing Speeds and Gears
1Driving Safely with a Trailer
Parking
In addition to the normal precautions, place wheel
chocks at each of the trailer’s tires.
1Towing Speeds and Gears
When towing a fixed-sided trailer (e.g., camper), do
not exceed 55 mph (88 km/h).
At higher speeds, the trai ler may sway or affect
vehicle handling.
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463
uuOff-Highway Driving Guidelines uAvoiding Trouble
Driving
Avoiding Trouble
• Check Out Your Vehicle before you leave the pavement and make sure that all
scheduled maintenance has been completed. Pay special attention to the
condition of the tires, and check the tire pressures.
• Remember the route you choose presents limi ts (too steep or bumpy), you have
limits (driving skill and comfort), and your ve hicle has limits (traction, stability, and
power). Failing to recognize these limits will likely put you and your passengers in
a hazardous situation.
• Accelerating and Braking should be done slowly and gradually. Trying to start
or stop too fast can cause a loss of traction and you could lose control.
• Avoiding Obstacles and Debris in the road reduces the likelihood of a rollover
or damage to your suspension or other components.
• Driving on Slopes increases your risk of a rollover, particularly if you attempt to
drive across a slope that is too steep. Goin g straight up or down a slope is usually
the safest. If you can’t clearly see all cond itions or obstacles on a slope, walk it
before you drive it. If there is any doubt whether you can safely pass, don’t try it.
Find another route. If you get stuck when climbing, do not try to turn around.
Back down slowly following the same route you took up the hill.
• Crossing a Stream - Avoid driving through deep water. If you encounter water
in your route (a small stream or large pu ddle, for example), evaluate it carefully
before going ahead. Make sure it is shallow, flowing slowly, and has firm ground
underneath. If you are not sure of the depth or the ground, turn around and find
another route. Driving thro ugh deep water can also damage your vehicle. The
water can get into the transmission and di fferential, diluting the lubricant and
causing an eventual failure. It can also wash the grease out of the wheel bearings.
• If You Get Stuck , carefully go in the direction that you think will get you
unstuck. Do not spin the tires as this will only make things worse and could
damage the transmission. If you are unable to free yourself, your vehicle will need
to be towed. Front and rear tow ho oks are provided for this purpose.
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uuWhen Driving uStarting the Engine
468
Driving
1Remote Engine Start with Vehicle Feedback*
While the engine is running, the vehicle will
automatically preconditi on inside the vehicle.
When it is warm outside:
•The climate control system is activated in
recirculation mode.
•The seat ventilation* is activated.
When it is cold outside:
•The defroster is activated at a moderately warm
temperature.
•The rear defogger and door mirror heaters are
activated.
•The seat heaters and heated steering wheel are
activated*.
2 Heated Steering Wheel* P. 216
2 Front Seat Heaters and Seat
Ventilation
* P. 217, 218
* Not available on all models
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470
uuWhen Driving uPrecautions While Driving
Driving
Precautions While Driving
Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles.
To prevent rollovers or loss of control:
• Take corners at slower speeds than yo u would with a passenger vehicle.
• Avoid sharp turns and abrupt maneuvers whenever possible.
• Do not modify your vehicle in any way that you would raise the center of gravity.
• Do not carry heavy cargo on the roof.
Never carry more than 165 lbs (75 kg) of cargo on the roof rack (Acura accessory).
Avoid driving in deep water and on flooded roads. This can damage the engine or
driveline, or cause elec trical component failure.
If there is a strong impact with something under the vehicle, stop in a safe location.
Check the underside of the vehicle for damage or any fluid leaks.
■Driving Guidelines for Your Utility Vehicle
■In Rain
■Other Precautions
1 Precautions While Driving
NOTICE
Do not change the gear position while pressing the
accelerator pedal. You could damage the
transmission.
NOTICE
If you repeatedly turn the steering wheel at an
extremely low speed, or hold the steering wheel in
the full left or right position for a while, the electric
power steering (EPS) system heats up. The system
goes into a protective mode, and limits its
performance. The steering wheel becomes harder
and harder to operate. Once the system cools down,
the EPS system is restor ed. Repeated operation under
these conditions can eventually damage the system.
If the power mode is set to ACCESSORY while
driving, the engine will shut down and all steering
and brake power assist functi ons will stop, making it
difficult to control the vehicle.
Do not change the gear position to
( N, as you will
lose engine braking (and acceleration) performance.
During the first 600 miles (1,000 km) of operation,
avoid sudden acceleration or full throttle operation so
as not to damage the engine or powertrain.
Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles (300 km).
You should also follow this when the brake pads are
replaced.
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478
uuWhen Driving uShifting
Driving
Use the paddle shifters to change betwee n 1st and 9th gears without releasing your
hands from the steering wheel. The transmiss ion will switch to the sequential mode.
■When the transmission is in (D:
The vehicle will go into the sequential mo de momentarily, and the sequential mode
gear selection indicator will come on.
Once you start traveling at a constant sp eed, the sequential mode will automatically
switch off, and the sequential mode gear selection indicator will go off.
Hold the
(+ paddle shifter for two seconds or push the button to return to
normal drive.
■When the transmi ssion is in (S
The vehicle will go into th e sequential mode, and the M (sequential mode) indicator
and sequential mode gear selection indicator will come on.
If the vehicle speed increases and the engi ne speed reaches near the tachometer’s
red zone, the transmission automatica lly shifts up to the next gear.
You can cancel this mode by holding the
(+ paddle shifter for two seconds or push
the button. When the sequential mode is canceled, the sequential mode
indicator and sequential mode gear selection indicator will turn off.
■Sequential Mode
D/S
D/S
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483
uuWhen Driving uAuto Idle Stop
Continued
Driving
■Auto Idle Stop may not activate when:
• The vehicle is stopped by braking suddenly.
• The steering wheel is operated.
• The fan speed is high.
• Altitude is high.
• The climate control system is in use, an d there is a significant difference between
the set temperature and the actual interior temperature.
• The climate control system is in use, and humidity in the interior is high.
• The rear fan is set to maximum speed.
u Auto Idle Stop may not activate under other conditions when the rear climate
control system is in use.
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uuWhen Driving uAuto Idle Stop
484
Driving
• The brake pedal is released (without the automatic brake hold system activated).
• The accelerator pedal is depressed (with the automatic brake hold system
activated).
2 Automatic Brake Hold P. 533
■The engine restarts even if the brake pedal is depressed*1 when:
• The Auto Idle Stop OFF button is pressed.
• A steering wheel is operated.
• The transmission is put into
(R or (S, or when it is set from (N to (D.
u If you put the transmission into
(P after the Auto Idle Stop activates, the Auto
Idle Stop continues to operate. In this case, the engine restarts when you
change the gear position other than
(P. When changing the gear position, the
brake pedal must be firmly depressed.
• The pressure on the brake pedal is redu ced and the vehicle starts moving while
stopped on an incline.
• The pressure on the brake pedal is repeated ly applied and released slightly during
a stop.
• The battery charge becomes low.
• The accelerator pedal is depressed.
• The driver’s seat belt is unlatched.
• is ON (indicator on).
• The climate control system is in us e, and the difference between the set
temperature and actual interior temperature becomes significant.
• The climate control system is bein g used to dehumidify the interior.
• The vehicle ahead of you starts again when your vehicle stops automatically with
ACC with Low Speed Follow.
■The Engine Automatically Restarts When:1 The Engine Automatically Restarts When:
If you are using an electroni c device during Auto Idle
Stop, the device may tempor arily be turned off when
the engine restarts.
1 The engine restarts even if the brake pedal is depressed*1 when:
*1: With the automatic brake hold system activated,
you can release the brake pedal during Auto Idle Stop
is in operation.
If the automatic brake hold system has been turned
off, or if there is a problem with the system, the
engine will restart automatically when you release
the brake pedal. 2 Automatic Brake Hold P. 533
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uuWhen Driving uAdaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow
490
Driving
■How to activate the system1Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow
When the MAIN button is pressed, both ACC with
Low Speed Follow and the Lane Keeping Assist
System (LKAS) are either turned on or off.
ACC with Low Speed Follow may not work properly
under certain conditions.
2 ACC with Low Speed Follow Conditions
and Limitations P. 496
When not using ACC with Low Speed Follow: Turn
off adaptive cruise by pressing the MAIN button. This
also will turn off the Lane Keeping Assist System
(LKAS).
Do not use ACC with Low Speed Follow under the
following conditions.
•On roads with heavy traf fic or while driving in
continuous stop and go traffic.
•On roads with sharp turns.
•On roads with steep downhill sections, as the set
vehicle speed can be exceeded by coasting. In such
cases, ACC with Low Speed Follow will not apply
the brakes to maintain the set speed.
•On roads with toll collection facilities or other
objects between lanes of traffic, or in parking
areas, or faci lities with driv e through access.
■Press the MAIN button on
the steering wheel. ACC
(green) is on in the
instrument panel.
ACC with Low Speed
Follow is ready to use.
How to use
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