light Acura MDX 2020 Manual Online

Continued457
uuTowing a Trailer uTowing Preparation
Driving
■Trailer light
Trailer lights and equipment must comply with federal, state, province/territory, and
local regulations. Check with your local trailer sales or rental agency for the
requirements in the area where you plan to tow.
We recommend that you have a dealer inst all a Acura wiring harness and converter.
They are designed for your vehicle.
■Hitches
Read the trailer manufacturer ’s instructions, and select the appropriate draw bar for
the height of the trailer you will be towing.
■Weight distribution hitches
Your vehicle is designed to tow without the need for a load distributing hitch. If you
wish to use one, please cons ult your trailer maker for proper installation and set-up.
Improper set-up could degrade the handling, stability, and braking performance of
your vehicle.
1 Trailer light
The trailer lighting connect or is located behind the
left side panel in the cargo area.
Even if you are planning to use the non-Acura trailer
lighting harness and converte r, ask a dealer for the
correct connector and pins.
+B Trailer Charge
+B Trailer Hazard Light +B Trailer Hazard Light +B Trailer Back Light
Back Light +B ELEC Brake
Right Turn Signal
Stop Light
Pins’ wiring color codes and their purposes:
+B Trailer Small IG2 H
AC
Left Turn Signal
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459
uuTowing a Trailer uTrailer Stability Assist
Driving
Trailer Stability Assist
Helps to stabilize the vehicle and tra iler when the trailer severely sways.
■How trailer stability assist works
When the vehicle and trailer become unstable while driving, trailer stability assist
determines the cause. If the trailer oscilla tion is detected as the cause, and the
swaying increases, the system applies the br akes or controls engine output to reduce
vehicle speed.
Both the vehicle and trailer brake lights co me on automatically if you brake to
reduce vehicle speed.
1 Trailer Stability Assist
Trailer stability assist is not a function that prevents
the vehicle and trailer from swaying. Avoid high
speeds, abrupt steering, improper trailer load, and
sudden braking to keep the trailer from swaying.
When swayed too severely, the system becomes
ineffective, and you may lose control of your vehicle,
causing the trailer to roll over or get damaged. 2 Driving Safely with a Trailer P. 460
Trailer towing sway is caused by:
•Crosswinds
•Improper towbar down load
•Excessive Speed
The VSA ® system indicator blinks during the trailer
stability assist operation. 2 VSA ® Operation P. 518
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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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464
Driving
When Driving
Starting the Engine
1.Make sure the parking brake is applied.
u The electric parking brake indicator
comes on for 15 seconds when you press
the electric parking brake switch.
2. Depress the brake pedal.
3. Press the ENGINE START/STOP button
without depressing the accelerator pedal.
The engine will crank until it starts.1 Starting the Engine
Keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal when
starting the engine.
The engine is harder to st art in cold weather and in
thinner air found at altit udes above 8,000 feet (2,400
meters).
When starting the engine in cold weather, turn off all
electrical accessories such as the lights, climate
control system, and rear de fogger in order to reduce
battery drain.
If you live in a region where winter is extremely cold,
an engine block heater will improve starting and
warming of the engine. Cons ult a dealer for details.
If exhaust system sounds abnormal or you can smell
exhaust gas inside the vehi cle, have your vehicle
checked by a dealer. There may be a problem with
the engine or exhaust system.
Bring the keyless access remote close to the ENGINE
START/STOP button if the batte ry in the keyless
access remote is weak. 2 If the Keyless Access Remote Battery is
Weak P. 650
The engine may not start if the keyless access remote
is subjected to strong radio waves.
Electric Parking Brake Switch
Brake Pedal
ENGINE START
STOP
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uuWhen Driving uShifting
474
Driving
■Shift Operation1Shift Operation
NOTICE
When you change (D to (R and vice versa, come to
a complete stop and keep the brake pedal depressed.
Operating the shift button before the vehicle has
come to a complete standstill can damage the
transmission.
Use the gear position indicator and the shift button
indicator to check the gear position before selecting
a shift button.
If the indicator of the currently selected gear position,
or all the gear position indicators are blinking
simultaneously, there is a problem with the
transmission.
Avoid sudden acceleration and have the transmission
checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
The fuel supply may be cut of f if you drive at engine
speeds in or over the tachometer’s red zone (engine
speed limit). If this happe ns, you may experience a
slight jolt.
When the engine speed is increased while the
transmission is in
( N, (P or (R, the fuel supply may
be cut off even without the engine speed entering
the tachometer’s red zone.
The beeper sounds once when you change to
( R.
2 Customized Features P. 126, 358
Gear Position Indicator
Tachometer’s red zone
Press the (P button.
Pull back the (R button.
Press the
( N button.
Press the button.
D/S
Shift Button
Indicator M
(sequential mode)
Indicator
Sequential Mode Gear
Selection Indicator
Press the button twice.
If the gear position is in
( D,
press the button again.
D/S
D/S
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479
uuWhen Driving uShifting
Driving
■Sequential Mode Operation1Sequential Mode Operation
Each paddle shift operation makes a single gear
change.
To change gears continuously, release the paddle
shifter before pulling it again for the next gear.
If the sequential mode gear selection indicator blinks
when you try to shift up or down, this means your
vehicle speed is not in its allowable gear range.
Slightly accelerate to shift up and decelerate to shift
down while the indi cator is blinking.
Downshifting when pulling
the paddle shifter.
(Changes to a lower gear)Upshifting when pulling
the paddle shifter.
(Changes to a higher gear)
Paddle Shifter
(Shift down) Paddle Shifter
(Shift up)
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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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489
uuWhen Driving uAdaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow
Continued
Driving
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed
Follow
Helps maintain a constant vehicle speed a nd a set following-interval behind a vehicle
detected ahead of yours and, if the detect ed vehicle comes to a stop, can decelerate
and stop your ve hicle, without yo u having to keep your foot on the brake or the
accelerator.
When ACC with Low Speed Follow slows your vehicle by applying the brakes, your
vehicle’s brake lights will illuminate.
1 Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow
Important Reminder
As with any system, there are limits to ACC with Low
Speed Follow. Use the brake pedal whenever
necessary, and always keep a safe interval between
your vehicle and other vehicles.
Be careful not to severely impact the radar sensor
cover.
3WARNING
Improper use of ACC with Low Speed
Follow can lead to a crash.
Use ACC with Low Spee d Follow only when
driving on expressways or freeways and in
good weather conditions.
3WARNING
ACC with Low Speed Follow has limited
braking capability and may not stop your
vehicle in time to avoid a collision with a
vehicle that quickly stops in front of you.
Always be prepared to apply the brake
pedal if the conditions require.
When to use
■Vehicle speed for ACC wi th Low Speed Follow: A vehicle is detected ahead
within ACC with Low Speed Follow range – ACC with Low Speed Follow
operates at speeds up to 90 mph (145 km/h).
No vehicle is detected within ACC with Low Speed Follow range – ACC with
Low Speed Follow operates at the speed of about 25 mph (40 km/h) or above.
■Gear position for ACC wi th Low Speed Follow: In (D or (S.
The radar sensor is
behind the emblem.
The camera is
located behind the
rearview mirror.
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Continued493
uuWhen Driving uAdaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow
Driving
■There is a vehicle ahead
ACC with Low Speed Follow monitors if a vehicle ahead of you enters the ACC with
Low Speed Follow range. If a vehicle is de tected doing so, the ACC with Low Speed
Follow system maintains or decelerates your vehicle’s set speed in order to keep the
vehicle’s set following-interval from the vehicle ahead.
2 To Set or Change Following-interval P. 499
When a vehicle whose speed is slower than
your set speed is detected in front of you, your
vehicle starts to slow down.
■When in Operation1 When in Operation
If the vehicle detected ahead of you slows down
abruptly, or if a nother vehicle is de tected cutting in
front of you, the beep er sounds and a message
appears on the MID, and the head-up warning lights
*
come on.
Depress the brake pedal, and keep an appropriate
interval from the vehicle ahead.
Even if the interval betw een your vehicle and the
vehicle detected ahead is short, ACC with Low Speed
Follow may start accelerati ng your vehicle under the
following circumstances:
•The vehicle ahead of you is going at almost the
same speed as, or faster than, your vehicle.
•A vehicle that cuts in front of you is going faster
than your vehicle, gradua lly increasing the interval
between the vehicles.
Beep
Head-up Warning
Lights
*
ACC with Low Speed Follow Range: 394 ft. (120 m)
A vehicle icon appears
on the MID.
* Not available on all models
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uuWhen Driving uAdaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow
494
Driving
■There is no vehicle ahead
Your vehicle maintains the set speed without
having to keep your foot on the brake or
accelerator pedal.
If there previously was a vehicle detected
ahead that kept your vehicle from traveling at
the set speed, ACC with Low Speed Follow
accelerates your vehicle to the set speed, and
then maintains it.
While stationary and no vehicle is detected,
ACC with Low Speed Follow automatically
cancels and a beeper sounds.
■When you depress the accelerator pedal
You can temporarily increase the vehicle speed. In this ca se, there is no audible or
visual alert even if a vehicle is in the ACC with Low Speed Follow range.
ACC with Low Speed Follow stays on unless you cancel it. Once you release the
accelerator pedal, the system resumes the set speed.
There are times when the vehicle speed will decrease when the accelerator pedal is
lightly applied.
A vehicle icon with dotted-line
contour appears on the MID.
1 When in Operation
You can also set the system to beep when a vehicle in
front of you comes in and goes out of the ACC with
Low Speed Follow detect ing range. Change the ACC
Forward Vehicle Detect Beep setting.
2 Customized Features P. 126, 358
Limitations
You may need to use the brake to maintain a safe
interval when using ACC with Low Speed Follow.
Additionally, ACC with Lo w Speed Follow may not
work properly under certain conditions.
2 ACC with Low Speed Follow Conditions
and Limitations P. 496
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