engine ACURA RDX 2010 Service Manual

Using the Paddle Shifters in the S
position (Sequential Shift Mode)
With the shift lever in the S position,
you can select the sequential shift
mode to shift gears; much like a
manual transmission using the
paddle shifters, but without a clutch
pedal.
To enter the sequential shift mode,
press the release button on the front
of the shift lever, move the lever to
the S position, then pull either paddle
shifter. To cancel the sequential shift
mode and return to the ordinary
automatic transmission, move the
shift lever from the S position. When
moving the shift lever, be careful not
to operate incorrectly. While you are
driving in the sequential shift mode,
the transmission will not
automatically return to ordinary
automatic transmission.
When you move the shift lever from
‘‘D ’’to ‘‘S ’’ position and pull either
paddle shifter, the gear position
indicator displays ‘‘M’’ along with the
selected gear number.
To upshift, pull the ＋(right) paddle
shifter. To downshift, pull the －
(left) paddle shifter. When you accelerate from a stop, the
transmission starts in first gear, and
you must manually upshift between
first and fifth gears. Make sure you
upshift before the engine speed
reaches the tachometer's red zone.
The transmission remains in the
selected gear (5, 4, 3, 2, or 1). There
is no automatic downshift when you
push the accelerator pedal to the
floor.
When you are driving in 4th or 5th
gear, the transmission downshifts to
the lower gear under the following
conditions:
●The vehicle slows down to a
certain speed.●You press the brake pedal.
GEAR POSITION INDICATOR
‘‘ M’’ INDICATOR
Driving with the Paddle Shifters38209/07/07 15:02:04 10 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK630 enu
ProCarManuals.com
2010 RDX

Downshifting with the paddle shifter
allows you to increase the engine
braking when going down steep or
long hills, and provides more power
when climbing uphills. You can
upshift the transmission manually to
reduce the rpm.
The transmission also shifts
automatically as the vehicle comes to
a complete stop. It downshifts to first
gear when the vehicle speed reaches
6 mph (10 km/h) or less.The automatic transmission will not
allow you to shift up or down if:
●You downshift before the engine
speed reaches the highest
threshold of the lower gear.
If you try to do this, the gear
position indicator will flash the
number of the lower gear several
times, then return to a higher gear.●You upshift before the engine
speed reaches the lowest
threshold of the higher gear.●You try to shift to third or a higher
gear when the vehicle is
stationary.●You pull both paddle shifters at the
same time.●You pull one of the two paddle
shifters while continuously pulling
on the other one.Here are the speed ranges for
upshifting and downshifting.
To shift
from Speed range
1 → 2 over 0 mph (0 km/h)
2 → 3 over 8 mph (13 km/h)
3 → 4 over 17 mph (27 km/h)
4 → 5 over 47 mph (75 km/h)
To shift from Speed range
2 → 1 under 29 mph (47 km/h)
3 → 2 under 63 mph (100 km/h)
4 → 3 under 94 mph (150 km/h)
5 → 4 under 114 mph (182 km/h)
CONTINUED
Driving with the Paddle Shifters
383
Driving
09/07/07 15:02:04 10 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK630 enu
ProCarManuals.com
2010 RDX

Starting in Second GearWhen you are in sequential shift
mode, and the vehicle is stopped,
pull the＋(right) paddle shifter to
shift to second gear. You will see
‘‘ M2’’ in the display. Starting in
second gear helps to reduce
wheelspin in deep snow or on a
slippery surface.Recommended Shift PointsDrive in the highest gear that lets the
engine run and accelerate smoothly.
This will give you good fuel economy
and effective emissions control. The
following shift points are
recommended:
Shift up Normal acceleration
1st to 2nd 15 mph (24 km/h)
2nd to 3rd 25mph (40 km/h)
3rd to 4th 40 mph (64 km/h)4th to 5th 47 mph (76 km/h) Super Handling-All Wheel Drive
™
(SH-AWD
®) System
If equippedThe super handling-all wheel drive
(SH-AWD) system is a full time all-
wheel-drive system that
automatically controls and transfers
varying amounts of engine torque to
all wheels independently, according
to the driving conditions.
While the SH-AWD system helps to
enhance the vehicle's driving
stability in all situations, it is still
your responsibility to drive and
corner at reasonable speeds and to
leave a sufficient margin of safety. SH-AWD Torque Distribution
Monitor
The SH-AWD torque distribution
monitor on the multi-information
display shows you the amount of
torque being sent to the wheels.
Each wheel
ꭚright front (RF), left
front (LF), right rear (RR), and left
rear (LR) ꭚhas its own torque
indicator.
TORQUE INDICATOR
TORQUE INDICATOR
Driving with the Paddle Shifters, Super Handling-All Wheel Drive ™(SH-AWD
®) System
38409/07/07 15:02:04 10 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK630 enu
ProCarManuals.com
2010 RDX

Each torque indicator is displayed as
a bar graph divided into 5 segments.
The number of segments represents
the amount of torque distributed to
each wheel.
When there is only a slight change in
torque distribution while driving,
such as cruising on level roads at the
same speed, the torque distribution
monitor may stop displaying the
amount of torque. This is not a
system problem. The monitor will
show the amount if the system
senses any change in torque
distribution.
If the SH-AWD indicator blinks while
driving, it indicates the differential
temperature is too high. You will also
see an‘‘SH-AWD DIFF TEMP
HIGH ’’message on the multi-
information display. If this happens,
pull to the side of the road when it is
safe, shift to Park, and let the engine
idle until the indicator goes out. If
the indicator does not go out, take
your vehicle to a dealer to have it
checked.
If the SH-AWD indicator on the
instrument panel stays on, and the
‘‘ CHECK SH-AWD SYSTEM ’’
message also appears on the multi-
information display, there is a
problem with the SH-AWD system.
Your vehicle still has normal front-
wheel drive with vehicle stability
assist (VSA), but does not have the
advantages of SH-AWD. Have your
vehicle checked by a dealer as soon
as possible.
Super Handling-All Wheel Drive ™(SH-AWD
®) System
385
Driving
09/07/07 15:02:04 10 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK630 enu
ProCarManuals.com
2010 RDX

Your vehicle is equipped with disc
brakes at all four wheels. A power
assist using negative pressure
generated by the engine and the
electric vacuum pump helps reduce
the effort needed on the brake pedal.
The anti-lock brake system (ABS)
helps you retain steering control
when braking very hard.
When the electric vacuum pump is in
operation, it makes some mechanical
noises come from the engine
compartment. This is normal.
When you drive in cold weather or
thinner air at high altitude, the
electric vacuum pump operates more
frequently after the engine is started.
For more information about the
electric vacuum pump, see page468.Resting your foot on the pedal keeps
the brakes applied lightly, builds up
heat, and reduces their effectiveness
and reduces brake pad life. In
addition, fuel economy can be
reduced. It also keeps your brake
lights on all the time, confusing
drivers behind you.
Constant application of the brakes
when going down a long hill builds
up heat and reduces their
effectiveness. Use the engine to
assist the brakes by taking your foot
off the accelerator and downshifting
to a lower gear.
Check your brakes after driving
through deep water. Apply the
brakes moderately to see if they feel
normal. If not, apply them gently and
frequently until they do. Be extra
cautious and alert in your driving. Braking System Design
The hydraulic system that operates
the brakes has two separate circuits.
Each circuit works diagonally across
the vehicle (the left-front brake is
connected with the right-rear brake,
etc.). If one circuit should develop a
problem, you will still have braking
at two wheels.
Brake Pad Wear Indicators
All four brakes have audible brake
wear indicators.
If the brake pads need replacing, you
will hear a distinctive, metallic
screeching sound when you apply
the brake pedal. If you do not have
the brake pads replaced, they will
screech all the time. It is normal for
the brakes to occasionally squeal or
squeak when you apply them.
Braking System
387
Driving
09/07/07 15:02:04 10 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK630 enu
ProCarManuals.com
2010 RDX

Your vehicle is equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
that turns on every time you start the
engine and monitors the pressure in
your tires while driving.
Each tire has its own pressure
sensor. If the air pressure of a tire
becomes significantly low, the sensor
in that tire immediately sends a
signal that causes the low tire
pressure/TPMS indicator in the
instrument panel to come on. If this
happens, you will see which tire is
losing pressure on the multi-
information display along with a
‘‘CHECK TIRE PRESSURE ’’
message.
Low Tire Pressure/TPMS
Indicator
When the low tire pressure/TPMS
indicator is on, one or more of your
tires is significantly underinflated.
You should stop and check your tires
as soon as possible, and inflate them
to the proper pressure as indicated
on the vehicle's tire information
placard.
It is possible that the pressures
shown on the multi-information
display and the pressures you
manually measure are slightly
different.
If the difference is significant or you
cannot make the low tire pressure/
TPMS indicator and message on the
multi-information display go out after
inflating the tires to the specified
values, have your dealer check the
system as soon as possible. If you think you can safely drive a
short distance to a service station,
proceed slowly to the station, then
inflate the tire to the recommended
pressure.
If the tire is flat, or if the tire pressure
is too low to continue driving, replace
the tire with the compact spare tire
(see page
454).
Driving on a significantly under-
inflated tire causes the tire to
overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inflation also reduces fuel
efficiency and tire tread life, and may
affect the vehicle's handling and
stopping ability.
Because tire pressure varies by
temperature and other conditions,
the low tire pressure/TPMS
indicator may come on unexpectedly.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)39009/07/07 15:02:04 10 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK630 enu
ProCarManuals.com
2010 RDX

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 surfaces. It does this by
regulating the engine's output and by
selectively applying the brakes.
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 from 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.
VSA Activation Indicator
When VSA activates, you will see the
VSA activation indicator blink (see
page 69).Vehicle Stability Assist
(VSA) System Indicator
If this indicator comes on while
driving, pull to the side of the road
when it is safe, and turn off 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.
NOTE : The main function of the VSA
system is generally known as
Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
The system also includes a traction
control function. 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.
You will also see a
‘‘CHECK VSA
SYSTEM ’’message on the multi-
information display if there is a
problem with the VSA system.
If the low tire pressure/TPMS
indicator comes on (see page 390),
or the multi-information display
shows a ‘‘CHECK TPMS SYSTEM ’’
message with the indicator flashing
(see page 393), the VSA system
automatically turns on even if the
VSA system is turned off with the
VSA OFF switch. In this case, you
cannot turn the VSA system off by
pressing the VSA OFF switch again.
CONTINUED
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA
®), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
395
Driving
09/07/07 15:02:04 10 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK630 enu
ProCarManuals.com
2010 RDX

Without VSA, your vehicle will have
normal braking and cornering ability,
but it will not have VSA traction and
stability enhancement.
VSA OFF Switch
In certain unusual conditions when
your vehicle gets stuck in shallow
mud or fresh snow, it may be easier
to free it with the VSA temporarily
switched off. When the VSA system
is off, the traction control system is
also off. You should only attempt to
free your vehicle with the VSA off if
you are not able to free it when the
VSA is on.
Immediately after freeing 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.
This switch is under the driver's side
vent. To turn the VSA system on and
off, press and hold it until you hear a
beep.
When VSA is off, the VSA activation
indicator comes on as a reminder.
Press and hold the switch again. It
turns the system back on.
VSA is turned on every time you start
the engine, even if you turned it off
the last time you drove the vehicle.VSA and Tire Sizes
Driving with varying tire or wheel
sizes may cause the VSA to
malfunction. When replacing tires,
make sure they are the same size
and type as your original tires (see
page
448).
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.
VSA OFF SWITCH
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA
®), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
39609/07/07 15:02:04 10 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK630 enu
ProCarManuals.com
2010 RDX

Your vehicle has been designed
primarily to carry passengers and
their cargo. You can also use it to tow
a trailer if you carefully observe the
load limits, use the proper
equipment, and follow the guidelines
in this section.Break-In PeriodAvoid towing a trailer during your
vehicle's first 600 miles (1,000 km)
(see page352). Be sure to read the
Off-Highway
Driving Guidelines section on page
405 if you plan to tow off paved
surfaces.
Exceeding any load limit or
improperly loading your vehicle
and trailer can cause a crash in
which you can be seriously hurt
or killed.
Check the loading of your
vehicle and trailer carefully
before starting to drive. Load Limits
Total Trailer Weight:
The maximum
allowable weight of the trailer and
everything in or on it must not
exceed 1,500 lbs (680 kg). Towing a
load that is too heavy can seriously
affect your vehicle's handling and
performance. It can also damage the
engine and drivetrain.
CONTINUED
Towing a Trailer
397
Driving
09/07/07 15:02:04 10 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK630 enu
ProCarManuals.com
2010 RDX

Towing Speeds and GearsDrive slower than normal in all
driving situations, and obey posted
speed limits for vehicles with trailers.
Use the D position when towing a
trailer on level roads. See‘‘
Driving on
Hills
’’ in the next column for
additional gear information. Do not
exceed 55 mph (88 km/h). At higher
speeds, the trailer may sway or affect
vehicle handling. When driving uphill and downhill,
use the S position (without using the
paddle shifters) to provide the proper
engine power and engine braking on
each gear. You can also use the
paddle shifters. In this case, select
third, second, or first gear with the
paddle shifter; depending on the
vehicle speeds and road condition.
Do not use fourth and fifth gears.
The recommended speed range for
each gear position is shown in the
table.
Gear position Speed range 1 0 - 38 mph
0 - 60 km/h
2, 3 19 - 62 mph 30 - 100 km/h
Making Turns and BrakingMake turns more slowly and wider
than normal. The trailer tracks a
smaller arc than your vehicle, and it
can hit or run over something the
vehicle misses. Allow more time and
distance for braking. Do not brake or
turn suddenly as this could cause the
trailer to jackknife or turn over.
CONTINUED
Towing a Trailer
403
Driving
09/07/07 15:02:04 10 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK630 enu
ProCarManuals.com
2010 RDX