Int time Acura RDX 2008 Owner's Guide

µThere are six message categories in
AcuraLink: Quick Tips, Feature
Guides, Maintenance Minders,
Recalls/Campaigns, Diagnostic Inf o,
and Dealer Appointment Reminders.
The system can store up to 256
messages.
Message categories can be added,
revised, or deleted through
broadcast messages f rom Acura.
For the Phone Data
Connection button to be active, you
need a Bluetooth
compatible and
enabled cellphone paired to the
Bluetooth
HandsFreeLink(HFL).
To complete the data connection
setup, the paired phone must have a
compatible data service. The def ault setting is prompt. When
a diagnostic inf o message appears,
and you select the Check Now
button, the system will prompt you
bef ore connecting to the Acura
server. If you do not wish to connect
at that time, select No at the prompt,
and you will see the inf ormation
from the onboard database. The
‘‘Auto’’ setting will remove the
prompt when you select the Check
Now button and will automatically
connect to the Acura server. This
setting only applies when you have a
Bluetooth
enabled phone that is
paired with the HFL and you have
completed the Phone-Data
Connection setup. Message Categories
Connect to the Acura Server
AcuraLink
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NOTE:
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To go back one step in a command
process, say, ‘‘Go back,’’ or press
the Back button.When you f inish a command
sequence, the HFL goes back to
its main menu. For example, when
you store the name, ‘‘Eric,’’ the
HFL response is, ‘‘Eric has been
stored.’’ The next time you press
the Talk button, you will be at the
main menu.
If nothing is said while the HFL is
listening f or a command, the HFL
will time out and stop its voice
recognition. The next time you
press the Talk button, the HFL
begins listening f rom the point at
which it timed out.
To end a command sequence at
any time, press and hold the Back
button, or press and release the
Talk button, wait f or the beep, and
say, ‘‘Cancel.’’ The next time you
press the Talk button, the HFL
begins f rom its main menu. Thevoiceof theHFLcanbesetto
male or f emale (U.S. models only).
Also, the incoming notif ication can
be set to a ring tone, a prompt, or no
notification.
Press and release the Talk button.
Af ter the beep, say ‘‘System.’’ The
HFL response is, ‘‘System options
are setup and clear.’’ Press and release the Talk button.
Af ter the beep, say ‘‘Setup.’’ The
HFL response is ‘‘Would you like
male or f emale prompts?’’
Press and release the Talk button.
Af ter the beep, say ‘‘Male’’ or
‘‘Female,’’ depending on the
system voice you want. The HFL
response is, ‘‘Male (Female)
prompts have been selected.
Would you like an audible
notif ication of an incoming call?’’
1. 2.
3.
To set up the system, do this:
Setting Up the System
BluetoothHandsFreeL ink
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Press and release the Talk button.
Af ter the beep, say the f our-digit
code you want to use. For example,
say‘‘1,2,3,4.’’TheHFLresponse
is,‘‘1,2,3,4.Isthiscorrect?’’
Press and release the Talk button.
Af ter the beep, say ‘‘Yes.’’ The
HFL response is ‘‘Searching f or a
Bluetooth phone. Make sure the
phone you are trying to pair is in
Discovery mode.’’Steps 5 and 6 show a
common way to get your phone into
its Discovery mode. If these steps do
not work on your phone, ref er to the
phone’s operating manual. Follow the prompts on your phone
togetitintoitsDiscoverymode.
The phone will search f or the HFL.
When it comes up, select
HandsFreeLink f rom the list of
options displayed on your phone.
When asked by the phone, enter
the four-digit code from step 3 into
your phone. The HFL response is
‘‘A new phone has been f ound.
What would you like to name this
phone?’’
Press and release the Talk button.
After the beep, say the name you
want to use. For example, say
‘‘Eric’s phone.’’ The HFL response
is ‘‘Eric’s phone has been
successf ully paired. Returning to
the main menu.’’
If you want to pair another phone,
repeat steps 1 through 7.Once the pairing process is
completed, AcuraLink may display a
connection conf irmation screen. This
screen is used to create a data
connection between your cell phone
and the AcuraLink system. You can
choose to set up the data connection
now, or do it later. If you want to do
it now, exit the HFL menu by
pressing the HFL Back button one
or more times.
4. 5.
6.
7.
3.
8.
BluetoothHandsFreeL ink
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NOTE:
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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.
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.
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.
Break-in Period Fuel Recommendation
Break-in Period, Fuel Recommendation
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The transmission downshif ts to f irst
gear and returns to drive mode (D)
when the vehicle comes to a
complete stop and the vehicle speed
is about 6 mph (10 km/h).
If there is a problem in the
transmission while you are driving
with the paddle shifters, the D
indicator f lashes, the D-paddle shif t
mode is canceled, and the
transmission returns to drive mode
(D).
Each time you pull either paddle
shif ter, the transmission shif ts one
gear up or down. If you want to shif t
up or down more than two gears, pull
the paddle shif ter twice, pause, and
then pull it again. The automatic transmission will not
allow you to change shif t if :
You downshif t bef ore the engine
speed reaches the upper limit of
the lower gear.
If you try to do this, the gear
position indicator will f lash the
numberof thelowergearseveral
times, then return to a higher gear.
You upshif t bef ore the engine
speed reaches the lower limit of
the higher gear.
You press both paddle shif ters at
thesametime.
You press one of the two paddle
shifters with another paddle
shif ter being pressed.
Driving with the Paddle Shif ters
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Whenthetransmissionreturnsto
drivemode(D),thedisplayedgear
numbergoesout.
Thetransmissionremainsinthe
selectedgearifyoudonotaccelerate.
The transmission control system
monitors the accelerator pedal use
and your driving conditions. When
you press the accelerator pedal as in
normal driving, the system
judges that you are driving at a
constant cruising speed without
using the paddle shif ters. Under
these conditions, D-paddle shif t
mode is canceled, and the
transmission automatically returns to
drive mode(D).
2008 RDX

If the ABS indicator and the brake
system indicator come on together,
and the parking brake is f ully
released, the EBD system may also
be shut down.It only helps with the
steering control during braking.
such as trying to take a
corner too f ast or making a sudden
lane change. Always drive at a safe
speed f or the road and weather
conditions.
Always steer moderately
when you are braking hard. Severe
or sharp steering wheel movement
can still cause your vehicle to veer
into oncoming traffic or off the road. on loose or
uneven surf aces, such as gravel or
snow, than a vehicle without anti-
lock.
Test your brakes as instructed on
page . If the brakes f eel normal,
drive slowly and have your vehicle
repaired by your dealer as soon as
possible. Avoid sudden hard braking
which could cause the rear wheels to
lock up and possibly lead to a loss of
control.
The VSA indicator will come on
alongwiththeABSindicator. 383
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
Important Saf ety Reminders
A BS does not reduce the time or
distance it takes to stop the
vehicle.
A BS will not prevent a skid that
results f rom changing direction
abruptly,
A BS cannot prevent a loss of
stability. A vehicle with A BS may require a
longer distance to stop
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Although your tire pressure is
monitored, you must manually check
thetirepressuresmonthly.
Each tire, including the spare, should
be checked monthly when the
vehicle is cold, and set to the
recommended inf lation pressure as
specif ied on the vehicle placard and
intheowner’smanual(seepage).
Toselectthetirepressuremonitor,
press the INFO button several times
with the ignition switch in the ON
(II) position.
You will see the above display on the
multi-inf ormation display when all
tire pressures are normal.
For example, if you check and f ill
your tires in a warm area, then drive
in extremely cold weather, the tire
pressure will be lower than
measured and could be underinf lated
and cause the low tire pressure/
TPMS indicator to come on. Or, if
youcheckandadjustyourtire
pressure in cooler conditions, and
drive into extremely hot conditions,
the tire may become overinf lated.
However, the low tire pressure/
TPMS indicator will not come on if
thetiresareoverinflated.
Refer to page for tire inflation
guidelines.
If there is a problem with the TPMS,
this indicator begins to f lash. It stops
flashing after approximately 1
minute, then stays on. You will also
see a ‘‘CHECK TPMS SYSTEM’’
message on the multi-inf ormation
display (see page ).
360
310 361
Tire Pressure Monitor
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
308
INFO BUTTON
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The vehicle stability assist (VSA)
system helps to stabilize the vehicle
during cornering if the vehicle turns
more or less than desired. It also
assists you in maintaining traction
while accelerating on loose or
slippery road surf aces. It does this
by regulating the engine’s output and
by selectively applying the brakes.When VSA activates, you will see the
VSA activation indicator blink (see
page ).
If this indicator comes on while
driving, pull to the side of the road
when it is saf e, and turn of f the
engine. Reset the system by
restarting the engine. If the VSA
system indicator stays on or comes
back on while driving, have the VSA
system inspected by your dealer.
If the indicator does not come on
when the ignition switch is turned to
the ON (II) position, there may be a
problem with the VSA system. Have
your dealer inspect your vehicle as
soon as possible.
When VSA activates, you may notice
that the engine does not respond to
the accelerator in the same way it
does at other times. There may also
be some noise f rom the VSA
hydraulic system. You will also see
the VSA activation indicator blink.
The VSA system cannot enhance the
vehicle’s driving stability in all
situations and does not control your
vehicle’s entire braking system. It is
still your responsibility to drive and
corner at reasonable speeds and to
leave a sufficient margin of safety. You will also see a ‘‘CHECK VSA
SYSTEM’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display if there is a
problem with the VSA system.
If the low tire pressure/TPMS
indicator comes on (see page ),
or the multi-information display
shows a ‘‘CHECK TPMS SYSTEM’’
message with the indicator flashing
(see page ), the VSA system
automatically turns on even when
the VSA system is turned of f with
the VSA OFF switch. In this case,
you cannot turn the VSA system of f
by pressing the VSA OFF switch
again.
Without VSA, your vehicle will have
normal braking and cornering ability,
but it will not have VSA traction and
stability enhancement.
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307
310
VSA A ctivation Indicator
Vehicle Stability Assist
(VSA ) System Indicator
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System
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This switch is under the driver’s side
vent. To turn the VSA system on and
of f , press and hold it until you hear a
beep.
When VSA is off, the VSA activation
indicator comes on as a reminder.
VSA is turned on every time you
start the engine, even if you turned it
off the last time you drove the
vehicle.Driving with varying tire or wheel
sizes may cause the VSA to
malf unction. When replacing tires,
make sure they are the same size
and type as your original tires (see
page ).
If you install winter tires, make sure
they are the same size as those that
were originally supplied with your
vehicle. Exercise the same caution
during winter driving as you would if
your vehicle was not equipped with
VSA.
In certain unusual conditions when
your vehicle gets stuck in shallow
mud or f resh snow, it may be easier
to free it with the VSA temporarily
switched of f . When the VSA system
is of f , the traction control system is
alsooff.Youshouldonlyattemptto
f ree your vehicle with the VSA of f if
you are not able to f ree it when the
VSA is on.
Immediately af ter f reeing your
vehicle, be sure to switch the VSA on
again. We do not recommend driving
your vehicle with the VSA and
traction control systems switched off.
364
VSA Of f Switch VSA and Tire Sizes
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System
Driving
313
VSA OFF SWITCH
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µµ µ
To achieve a proper tongue load,
start by loading 60 % of the load
toward the front of the trailer and
40 % toward the rear, then re-adjust
the load as needed.
The maximum
allowable weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, all accessories, all cargo,
and the tongue load is 4,894 lbs
(2,220 kg).
The maximum
allowable weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, all accessories, all cargo,
and the tongue load must not exceed
2,546 lbs (1,155 kg) on the f ront axle,
and 2,381 lbs (1,080 kg) on the rear
axle. The maximum
allowable weight of the f ully loaded
vehicle and trailer is 6,394 lbs (2,900
kg)
Towing can require a variety of
equipment, depending on the size of
your trailer, how it will be used, how
much load you are towing, and
where you tow.
Discuss your needs with your trailer
sales or rental agency, and f ollow the
guidelines in this section. Also make
sure that all equipment is properly
installed and maintained, and that it
meets f ederal, state, province, and
local regulations.
If you normally pull the same load
each time you tow a trailer, you can
use a suitable scale or a special
tongue load gauge to check the
tongue load the f irst time you set up
a towing combination (a f ully loaded
vehicle and trailer), then recheck the
tongue load whenever the conditions
change.
Thebestwaytoconfirmthatall
loads are within limits is to check
them at a public scale. For public
scales in your area, check your local
phone book, or contact your trailer
dealer or rental agency for
assistance.
If you cannot get to a public scale,
you can estimate the total trailer
weight by adding the weight of your
trailer (as quoted by the
manuf acturer) with everything in or
on the trailer.
CONT INUED
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR)
Gross Axle Weight Ratings
(GA WR) Gross Combined Weight Rating
(GCWR)
T owing Equipment and
A ccessories
Checking L oads
Towing a Trailer
Driving
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