Acura RDX 2007 Owner's Manual

Bef ore you begin driving your
vehicle, you should know what
gasoline to use and how to check the
levels of important f luids. You also
need to know how to properly store
luggage or packages. The
inf ormation in this section will help
you. If you plan to add any
accessories to your vehicle, please
read the information in this section
first..............................
Break-in Period .278
.................
Fuel Recommendation .278
.........
Service Station Procedures .279
....................................
Ref ueling .279
........
Check Fuel Cap Message .280
.....
Tighten Fuel Cap Message .281
Opening and Closing
................................
the Hood .282
...................................
Oil Check .283
.............
Engine Coolant Check . 283
...............................
Fuel Economy .284
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 285
.............................
Carrying Cargo .287
Bef ore Driving
Bef ore Driving
277
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Help assure your vehicle’s f uture
reliability and perf ormance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period:Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration.
Avoidhardbrakingforthefirst
200 miles (300 km).
Do not change the oil until the
scheduled maintenance time.
You should also f ollow these
recommendations with an
overhauled or exchanged engine, or
when the brakes are replaced. Do not tow a trailer. In addition, in order to maintain good
perf ormance, f uel economy, and
emissions control, we strongly
recommend, in areas where it is
available, the use of gasoline that
does NOT contain manganese-based
f uel additives such as MMT.
Use of gasoline with these additives
may adversely af f ect perf ormance,
and cause the malfunction indicator
lamp on your instrument panel to
come on. If this happens, contact
your authorized dealer f or service.
Your vehicle is designed to operate
on premium unleaded gasoline with a
pump octane of 91 or higher. If this
octane grade is unavailable, regular
unleaded gasoline with a pump
octane of 87 or higher may be used
temporarily. The use of regular
unleaded gasoline can cause metallic
knocking noises in the engine and
will result in decreased engine
perf ormance. The long-term use of
regular-grade gasoline can lead to
engine damage.
We recommend using quality
gasolines containing detergent
additives that help prevent fuel
system and engine deposits.
Break-in Period
Fuel Recommendation
Break-in Period, Fuel Recommendation
278
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CONT INUED
Park with the driver’s side closest
to the service station pump.
Some gasoline today is blended with
oxygenates such as ethanol or
MTBE. Your vehicle is designed to
operate on oxygenated gasoline
containing up to 10 % ethanol by
volume and up to 15 % MTBE by
volume. Do not use gasoline
containing methanol.
If your notice any undesirable
operating symptoms, try another
service station or switch to another
brand of gasoline.
For f urther important f uel-related
inf ormation, please ref er to your
. Open the f uel f ill door by pulling
onthehandleattheoutsideof the
driver’s seat.
1.
2. Ref ueling
Quick Start Guide
Fuel Recommendation, Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving
279
Pull
FUEL FILL CAP
FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE HANDLE
TETHER
Gasoline is highly flammable
and explosive. You can be
burned or seriously injured
when handling fuel.Stop the engine, and keep
heat, sparks, and flame away.
Handle fuel only outdoors.
Wipe up spills immediately.
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Screw the fuel fill cap back on
until it clicks at least once.
even though the tank is not full,
there may be a problem with your
vehicle’s fuel vapor recovery
system. The system helps keep
fu el vapors from going into the
atmosphere. Try filling at anoth er
pump. If this does not fix the
problem, consult your dealer.
Stop
filling the tank after the fuel
nozzle automatically clicks off. Do
not try to ‘‘top off’’ the tank. Leave
some room for the fuel to expand
with temperature changes.
Remove
the fuel fill cap slowly.
You may hear a hissing sound as
pressure inside the tank escapes.
Place the cap in the holder on the
fu el fill door. If you do not properly tighten the cap,
you will see a ‘‘CHECK FUEL CAP’’
message on the information display
(see the next column).
If you do not properly tighten the cap,
you will see a ‘‘TIGHTEN FUEL
CAP’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display (see page ). Push the f uel f ill door closed until
it latches. If your f uel f ill cap is loose or
missing, a ‘‘CHECK FUEL CAP’’
message appears on the information
display af ter you start the engine.
4.
5.
6.
3.
281
If the f uel nozzle keeps clicking of fOn RDX with Technology Package
model
On RDX model
On RDX model
Check Fuel Cap Message
Service Station Procedure
280
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ÛÝ
Turn the engine off, and confi
rm the
fuel fill cap is installed. If it is, loosen
it, then retighten it until it clicks at
least once. When you c an restart the
engine, the message appears again.
The message goes off after several
days of norm al driving once you
tighten or replace the fuel fill cap. To
scroll to another message, press the
INFO ( / ) button.
If your fuel fill cap is loose or
missing, a ‘‘TIGHTEN FUEL CAP’’
message appears on the multi-
information display after you start
the engine.
Turn the engine off, and confi
rm the
fuel fill cap is installed. If it is, loosen
it, then retighten it until it clicks at
le ast once. When you restart the
engine, the message appears again.
The message goes off after several
days of norm al driving once you
tighten or replace the fuel fill cap. To
scroll to another display, p ress the
Select/Reset knob.
If the system still detects a leak in
your vehicle’s evaporative emissions
system, the malfunction indicator
lamp (MIL) comes on. If the fuel fill
cap was not already tightened, turn
the engine off, and check or
retighten the fuel fill cap until it
clicks at least once. The MIL should
go off after several days of normal
driving once the cap is tightened or
replaced. If the MIL does not go off,
have your vehicle inspected by a
dealer. For more information, see
page .
If the system still detects a leak in
your vehicle’s evaporative emissions
system, the malfunction indicator
lamp (MIL) comes on. If the fuel fill
cap was not already tightened, turn
the engine off, and check or
retighten
the fuel fill cap until it
clicks at least once. The MIL should
go off after several days of normal
driving once the cap is tightened or
replaced. If the MIL does not go off,
have your vehicle inspected by a
dealer. For more inf ormation, see
page . 394
394
On RDX with Technology Package
modelTighten Fuel Cap Message
Service Station Procedure
Bef ore Driving
281
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Park the vehicle, and set the
parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower lef t corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.Put your f ingers under the f ront
edge of the hood near the center.
Slide your hand to the lef t until
you f eel the hood latch handle.
Push this handle up to release it.
Lif t up the hood.
If the hood latch handle moves
stif f ly, or if you can open the hood
without lifting the handle, the
mechanism should be cleaned and
lubricated. Holding the grip, pull the support
rod out of its clip. Insert the end
into the designated hole in the
hood.
To close the hood, lif t it up slightly to
remove the support rod f rom the
hole. Put the support rod back into
its holding clip. Lower the hood to
about a f oot (30 cm) above the
f ender, then let it drop. Make sure it
is securely latched.
1.
2.3.
Service Station Procedures
Opening and Closing the Hood
282
HOOD RELEASE HANDLE
LATCHGRIP
CLIP
SUPPORT ROD
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Park the vehicle on a level surface.
Wait a few minutes after turning the
engine off before you check the oil.
Remove the dipstick (orange loop).
Wipe off the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel.
Hold the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel, and then
insert it all the way back in its hole. Make
sure the ‘‘UP’’ mark on the
loop is facing up when you insert
the dipstick.
Remove the dipstick again, and
ch eck the level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
If it is near or below the lower mark,
see on page .Look
at the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it is
between the MAX and MIN lines. If
it is below the MIN line, see
on page for
info rmation on adding the proper
coolan t.
Refer to
on page f or inf ormation
about checking other items on your
vehicle.
1.
2.
3.
4.
347 351
342
Service Station Procedures
Oil Check
A dding Engine OilEngine Coolant Check
A dding
Engine Coolant
Owner’s Maintenance
Checks
Bef ore Driving
283
DIPSTICK
UPPER MARK
LOWER MARK
‘‘UP’’MARK
RESERVE TANK
MAX MIN
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Combine several short trips into
one.
The air conditioning puts an extra
load on the engine which makes it
usemorefuel.Usethefresh-air
ventilation when possible.
Drive
moderately. Rapid
acceleration, abrupt cornering,
and hard braking use more fuel.
Always drive in the highest gear
possible.
Try to maintain a constant speed.
Everytimeyouslowdownand
speed up, your vehic le uses extra
fuel. Use cruise control when
appropriate.
Always
maintain your vehicle
according to the maintenance
messages. See (page ).
an underinf lated tire
causes more ‘‘rolling resistance,’’
which uses more f uel.
The build-up of snow or mud on
your vehicle’s underside adds
weight and rolling resistance.
Frequent cleaning helps your f uel
mileage and reduces the chance of
corrosion. 342
For example,
Improving Fuel Economy
Owner’s
Maintenance Checks
Fuel Economy
284
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When properly installed, cellular
phones, alarms, two-way radios, and
low-powered audio systems should
not interf ere with your vehicle’s
computer controlled systems, such
as your airbags and anti-lock brakes.
Although non-Acura accessories may
f it on your vehicle, they may not
meet f actory specif ications, and
could adversely af f ect your vehicle’s
handling and stability. Your dealer has Acura accessories
that allow you to personalize your
vehicle. These accessories have
been designed and approved f or your
vehicle, and are covered by warranty.
Modif ying your vehicle, or installing
some non-Acura accessories, can
make your vehicle unsaf e. Bef ore
you make any modif ications or add
anyaccessories,besuretoreadthe
f ollowing inf ormation.
CONT INUED
A ccessories
A ccessories and Modif ications
Bef ore Driving
285
Improper accessories or
modifications can affect your
vehicle’s handling, stability, and
performance, and cause a
crash in which you can be hurt
or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner’s manual regarding
accessories and modifications.
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Non-Acura wheels can cause
excessive stress on suspension
components and are not
compatible with the tire pressu re
monitoring system.
Larger or smaller wheels and tires
can interfere with the operation of
your vehicle’s anti-lock brakes and
other systems.
Modifying your steering wheel or
any other part of your vehicle’s
safety features can make the
systems ineffective.
If you plan to modify your vehicle,
consult your dealer.
Removing
parts from your vehicle,
or replacing componen ts with non-
Acura components could seriously
affect your vehicl e’s handling,
stability, and reliability.
Herearesomeexamples:
Raising your vehicle with a non-
Acura suspension kit can affect
the handling and stability.
Befo
re installing any accesso ry:
Make sure the accessory does not
obscure any lights, or interfere
with proper vehicle operation or
perf ormance.
Be sure electronic accessories do
not overload electrical circuits
(see page ) or interf ere with
proper operation of your vehicle.
Bef ore installing any electronic
accessory, have the installer
contact your dealer f or assistance.
If possible, have your dealer
inspect the f inal installation.
Do not install accessories on the
side pillars or across the rear
windows. In these areas,
accessories may interf ere with
proper operation of the side
curtain airbags. Lowering the vehicle with a non-
Acura suspension kit that
signif icantly reduces ground
clearance can allow the
undercarriage to hit speed bumps
or other raised objects, which
could cause the airbags to deploy.
398 Modif ying Your Vehicle
A ccessories and Modif ications
286
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