trailer ACURA MDX 2022 User Guide

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uuTowing a Trailer uTowing Preparation
Driving
Towing generally requires a vari ety of supplemental equipment.
To ensure the best quality, we reco mmend that you purchase Acura equipment
whenever possible.
■Towing Equipment and Accessories1 Towing Equipment and Accessories
Make sure that all equipmen t is properly installed and
maintained, and that it meets federal, state, province/
territory, and lo cal regulations.
Consult your trai ler maker for prope r installation and
setup of the equipment.
Improper installation and setup can affect the
handling, stability, and br aking performance of your
vehicle.
Consult your traile r sales or rental agency if any other
items are recommended or required for your towing
situation.
The lighting and wiring of tra ilers can vary by type
and brand. If a connector is required, it should only
be installed by a qua lified technician.
Trailer packages and products:
•Ball mount, hitch plug, hitch pin etc.•Wiring harness kit
•Trailer hitch kit (jum per harness included)
2 Trailer brakes P. 426
Are available at a dealer.
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uuTowing a Trailer uTowing Preparation
426
Driving
■Trailer brakes
Recommended for any trailer with a total weight of 1,000 lbs (450 kg) or more:
There are two common types of trailer brake s: surge and electric. Surge brakes are
common for boat trailers, since the brakes will get wet.
If you choose electric brakes, be sure th ey are electronically actuated. Do not
attempt to attach trailer brakes to your ve hicle’s hydraulic system, as it will lower
braking effectiveness and create a potential hazard.
The 4-pin gray connector installed in your vehicle has all of the circuits required to
install most electric trailer brake controllers.
Have a qualified mechanic install your trailer
brake controller following the trailer brake
controller manufacturer’s instructions. Failure
to properly install the trailer brake controller
may increase the distance it takes for you to
stop your vehicle when towing a trailer.1 Trailer brakes
The 4-pin gray connector is located under the left
side instrument panel.
Electric Brake
(Light Green)
Ground
(Brown) +B Electric Brake
(Yellow) (20A)
Stop
(Violet)
Trailer brake controller
connector’s terminals:
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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
rear panel lining 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.
Brake Diag
Pins’ wiring color codes and their purposes:
+B Back Up
Carg o L
i

ght
Rear Left Welcome
Light
Ground
Interior Light Cut
Relay Out 2
Hands Free Access
Signal
Right Small Light
Right Turn Signal +B Trailer Back Light
+B Trailer Small Light
+B Trailer Hazard Light
+B Trailer Charge
Electric Brake
Back Light
IG2 A/C
Left Turn Signal
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uuTowing a Trailer uTowing Preparation
Driving
■Safety chains
Always use safety chains when you tow a trailer. Leave enough slack to allow the
trailer to turn corners easily, but do not allow the chains to drag on the ground.
■Sway control
This device can be used if your trailer te nds to sway. Your trailer maker can tell you
what kind of sway control you need and how to install it. Improper installation could
degrade the handling and stability of your vehicle.
■Trailer mirrors
Many states, provinces and te rritories require special exterior mirrors when towing a
trailer. Install special mirrors whenever you cannot clearly see behind you, or if the
trailer creates a blind spot.
■Automatic transmission cooler
An additional ATF (automatic transmission fluid) cooler is required to keep the
transmission from overheating when towing more than 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg). You
can get the additional ATF cooler at a dealer.
AWD models
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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. 430
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. 463
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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. 422
•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 trailer tires.
• 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.
• Turn off the rear parking sensor system.
2 Turning off All Rear Sensors P. 565
•Turn off the Low Speed Braking Control syst em. It may activate if it detects the
towed object as an obstacle.
2 System On and Off P. 493
•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
Operating speed when towing a trailer must not
exceed 62 mph (100 km/h).
Parking
In addition to the normal precautions, place wheel
chocks at each of the trailer’s tires.
Remember to unhitch the tra iler before changing a
flat tire. Ask the trailer sales or rental agency where
and how to store the trailer’s spare tire.
Models with Low Speed Braking Control
1 Towing 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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uuTowing a Trailer uTowing Behind a Motorhome
Driving
• Turn more slowly and with a wider turning arc than normal.
• Allow more time and distance for braking.
• Do not brake or turn suddenly.
• Monitor your temperature gauge. If it nears the red (H) mark, turn off the climate
control system and reduce speed. Pull to the side of the road safely to cool down
the engine if necessary.
• Change the shift position to
(S position if the transmi ssion shifts frequently.
If the vehicle tires slip when retrieving a boat from the water, keep the transmission
in
(D and do not use the sequential shift mode in (S. This prevents damage to the
transmission.
Towing Behind a Motorhome
Your vehicle is not designed to be towed behind a motor home. If your vehicle needs
to be towed in an emergency, refer to the emergency towing information.
2Emergency Towing P. 685
■Turning and Braking
■Driving in Hilly Terrain
■Retrieving a Boat
1Driving in Hilly Terrain
If the automatic transmission fluid temperature
exceeds the specified limit, the transmission will also
automatically up shift, even in the sequential shift
mode.
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uuWhen Driving uBlind spot information System
472
Driving
■When the system detects a vehicle
Blind spot information System Alert Indicator:
Located near the pillar on both sides.
Comes on when:
•A vehicle enters the alert zone from behind
to overtake you with a speed difference of
no more than 31 mph (50 km/h) from your
vehicle.
• You pass a vehicle with a speed difference
of no more than 12 mph (20 km/h).
Blinks and the beeper sounds when:
You move the turn signal lever in the direction
of the detected vehicle. The beeper sounds
three times.1 Blind spot information System
The system is for your convenience only. Even if an
object is within the alert zone, the following
situations may occur.
•The blind spot informatio n system alert indicator
may not come on due to obstruction (splashes,
etc.) even without the Blind spot information
system not available driver information interface
appearing.
•The blind spot informatio n system alert indicator
may come on even with the message appearing.
You can change the setting for the blind spot
information system. 2 Customized Features P. 345
Turn the system off when towing a trailer.
The system may not work properly for the following
reasons:
•The added mass tilts the vehicle and changes the
radar coverage.
•The trailer itself can be detected by the radar
sensors, causing the blind spot information system
alert indicators to come on.
Comes On
Blinks
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uuAcuraWatchTMuCollision Mitigation Braking SystemTM (CMBSTM)
Continued
Driving
■Vehicle conditions
• Headlight lenses are dirty or the h eadlights are not properly adjusted.
• The outside of the windshield is blocked by dirt, mud, leaves, wet snow, etc.
• The inside of the windshield is fogged.
• An abnormal tire or wheel condition (wro ng size, varied size or construction,
improperly inflated, compact spare tire
*, etc.).
• When tire chains are installed.
• The vehicle is tilted due to a heavy load or suspension modifications.
• The camera temperature gets too high.
• Driving with the parking brake applied.
• When the radar sensor behind the emblem gets dirty.
• The vehicle is towing a trailer.
* Not available on all models
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uuAcuraWatchTMuAdaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow
Driving
The system may automatically shut off and the indicator will come on under
certain conditions. Some examples of thes e conditions are listed below. Other
conditions may reduce some of the AC C with Low Speed Follow functions.
2Front Sensor Camera P. 547
2 Radar Sensor P. 549
■Environmental conditions
Driving in bad weather (r ain, fog, snow, etc.).
■Roadway conditions
Driving on a roadway with reduced tractio n or obscured lane markings, vehicle
tracks, reflected lights, road spray, or high contrast.
■Vehicle conditions
• The outside of the windshield is blocked by dirt, mud, leaves, wet snow, etc.
• An abnormal tire or wheel condition (wro ng size, varied size or construction,
improperly inflated, compact spare tire
*, etc.).
• The camera temperature gets too high.
• The parking brake is applied.
• The front grille is dirty.
• The vehicle is tilted due to a heavy load or su spension modifications.
• Tire chains are installed.
• The vehicle is towing a trailer.
■ACC with Low Speed Follow Conditions and Limitations1ACC with Low Speed Follow Conditions and Limitations
The radar sensor for ACC with Low Speed Follow is
shared with the Collision Mitigation Braking System
TM
(CMBSTM).
2 Collision Mitigation Braking SystemTM
(CMBSTM) P. 479
* Not available on all models
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