check engine Acura RDX 2011 Owner's Guide

6. Put a new washer on the drainbolt, then reinstall the drain bolt.
Tighten the drain bolt to:
29 lbf·ft (39 N·m , 4.0 kgf·m)
7. Refill the engine with the recommended oil.
Engine oil change capacity
(including filter):
5.0 US qt (4.7 L) 8. Reinstall the engine oil fill cap.
Start the engine. The oil pressure
indicator should go out within 5
seconds. If it does not, turn off the
engine, and check your work.
9. Let the engine run for several minutes, then check the drain bolt
and oil filter for leaks.
10. Turn off the engine and let it sit for several minutes, then check the oil
level on the dipstick. If necessary,
add more oil.
Improper disposal of engine oil can be
harmful to the environment. If you
change your own oil, please dispose of
the used oil properly. Put it in a sealed
container and take it to a recycling
center. Do not discard it in a trash bin
or dump it on the ground.
Changing the Engine Oil and Filter
423
Maintenance
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Adding Engine CoolantIf the coolant level in the reserve
tank is at or below the MIN line, add
coolant to bring it up to the MAX
line. Inspect the cooling system for
leaks.Always use Honda Long-life Anti-
freeze/Coolant Type 2. This coolant
is pre-mixed with 50 percent
antifreeze and 50 percent water.
Never add straight antifreeze or plain
water.
If Honda antifreeze/coolant is not
available, you may use another
major-brand non-silicate coolant as a
temporary replacement. Make sure it
is a high-quality coolant
recommended for aluminum
engines. Continued use of any non-
Honda coolant can result in
corrosion, causing the cooling
system to malfunction or fail. Have
the cooling system flushed and
refilled with Honda antifreeze/
coolant as soon as possible.If the reserve tank is completely
empty, you should also check the
coolant level in the radiator.
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.
RESERVE TANK
MAX
MINEngine Coolant42410/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu

Do not use engine antifreeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir. Antifreeze
can damage your vehicle's paint, while
a vinegar/water solution can damage
the windshield washer pump. Use only
commercially-available windshield
washer fluid.Automatic Transmission Fluid
The transmission should be drained
and refilled with new fluid when this
service is shown on a maintenance
message on the multi-information
display.
Check the fluid level with the engine
at normal operating temperature.
1. Park the vehicle on level ground.
Start the engine, let it run until the
radiator fan comes on, then shut
off the engine. For accurate
results, wait about 60 seconds (but
no longer than 90 seconds) before
doing step 2.
2. Remove the dipstick (yellow loop)from the transmission, and wipe it
with a clean cloth.
DIPSTICK
CONTINUED
Windshield Washers, Automatic Transmission Fluid
427
Maintenance
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3. Insert the dipstick all the way intothe transmission securely as
shown in the illustration.
4. Remove the dipstick and check the fluid level. It should be between
the upper and lower marks.
5. If the level is below the lowermark, remove the fill plug, then
add the fluid into the fill hole to
bring it to the level between the
upper and lower marks on the
dipstick.
Pour the fluid slowly and carefully
so you do not spill any. Clean up
any spills immediately; it could
damage components in the engine
compartment. Always use Acura ATF-Z1 (automatic
transmission fluid).
Use only Acura ATF-Z1 (automatic
transmission fluid). Do not mix with
other transmission fluids.
Using transmission fluid other than
Acura ATF-Z1 may cause deterioration
in transmission operation and
durability, and could result in damage
to the transmission.
Damage resulting from the use of
transmission fluid other than Acura
ATF-Z1 is not covered by the Acura
new vehicle warranty.
6. Insert the dipstick all the way back
into the transmission securely as
shown in the illustration.
If you are not sure how to add fluid,
contact your dealer.
HOT
MARK UPPER MARK
LOWER MARK
FILL PLUG
Automatic Transmission Fluid42810/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu

Check the level on the side of the
reservoir when the engine is cold.
The fluid should be between the
UPPER LEVEL and LOWER LEVEL.
If not, add power steering fluid to the
UPPER LEVEL.
Pour the fluid slowly and carefully so
you do not spill any. Clean up any
spills immediately; it could damage
components in the engine
compartment.Always use Acura Power Steering
Fluid. You may use another power
steering fluid as an emergency
replacement, but have the power
steering system flushed and refilled
with Acura PSF as soon as possible.
A low power steering fluid level can
indicate a leak in the system. Check
the fluid level frequently, and have
the system inspected as soon as
possible.
If you are not sure how to add fluid,
contact your dealer.
Turning the steering wheel to full left or
right lock and holding it there can
damage the power steering pump.
UPPER LEVEL
LOWER LEVEL
Power Steering Fluid43010/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu

Diagnosing why the engine won't
start falls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
ignition switch to the START (III)
position:●You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine's starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly.●You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
faster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run.Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
When you turn the ignition switch to
the START (III) position, you do not
hear the normal noise of the engine
trying to start. You may hear a
clicking sound, a series of clicks, or
nothing at all.
Check these things:
●Check the transmission interlock.
The transmission must be in Park
or neutral or the starter will not
operate.●Turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position. Turn on the
headlights, and check their
brightness. If the headlights are
very dim or do not come on at all,
the battery is discharged. See
Jump Starting
on page 461.
●Turn the ignition switch to the
START (III) position. If the
headlights do not dim, check the
condition of the fuses. If the fuses
are OK, there is probably
something wrong with the
electrical circuit for the ignition
switch or starter motor. You will
need a qualified mechanic to
determine the problem (see
Emergency Towing on page 475).
If the headlights dim noticeably or go
out when you try to start the engine,
either the battery is discharged or
the connections are corroded. Check
the condition of the battery and
terminal connections (see page 450).
You can then try jump starting the
vehicle from a booster battery (see
page 461).
CONTINUED
If the Engine Won't Start
459
Taking Care of the Unexpected
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The Starter Operates Normally
In this case, the starter motor's speed
sounds normal, or even faster than
normal, when you turn the ignition
switch to the START (III) position,
but the engine does not run.
●Are you using a properly coded
key? An improperly coded key will
cause the immobilizer system
indicator in the instrument panel
to blink rapidly (see page 124).●Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Refer toStarting the
Engine on page 374.
●Do you have fuel? Check the fuel
gauge; the low fuel indicator may
not be working.●There may be an electrical
problem, such as no power to the
fuel pump. Check all the fuses (see
page 470).
If you find nothing wrong, you will
need a qualified technician to find the
problem. See Emergency Towing on
page 475.
If the Engine Won't Start46010/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu

3. Connect one jumper cable to thepositive (＋ ) terminal on your
battery. Connect the other end to
the positive (＋ ) terminal on the
booster battery. 4. Connect the second jumper cable
to the negative (－ ) terminal on
the booster battery. Connect the
other end to the grounding point
as shown. Do not connect this
jumper cable to any other part of
the engine.
5. If the booster battery is in another vehicle, have an assistant start that
vehicle and run it at a fast idle.
6. Start your vehicle. If the starter motor still operates slowly, check
that the jumper cables have good
metal-to-metal contact. 7. Once your vehicle is running,
disconnect the negative cable from
your vehicle, then from the
booster battery. Disconnect the
positive cable from your vehicle,
then from the booster battery.
Keep the ends of the jumper cables
away from each other and any metal
on the vehicle until everything is
disconnected. Otherwise, you may
cause an electrical short.Jump Starting46210/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu

5. Look for any obvious coolantleaks, such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you find a leak, it
must be repaired before you
continue driving (see Emergency
Towing on page 475).
6. If you do not find an obvious leak, check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Add coolant
if the level is below the MIN mark.
7. If there was no coolant in the reserve tank, you may need to add
coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the reading
reaches the middle of the
temperature gauge or lower before
checking the radiator.
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.
8. Using gloves or a large heavy cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the first stop. After the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap, and turn it until it comes
off. 9. Start the engine, and set the
temperature to maximum heat
(climate control to AUTO at
‘‘
’’). Add coolant to the radiator
up to the base of the filler neck. If
you do not have the proper coolant
mixture available, you can add
plain water. Remember to have the
cooling system drained and refilled
with the proper mixture as soon as
you can.
10. Put the radiator cap back on tightly. Run the engine, and watch
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the H mark, the engine
needs repair (see Emergency
Towing on page 475).
11. If the temperature stays normal, check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has gone
down, add coolant to the MAX
mark. Put the cap back on tightly.
If the Engine Overheats46410/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu

Low Oil Pressure Indicator
This indicator should never
come on when the engine is
running. If it starts flashing or stays
on, the oil pressure has dropped very
low or lost pressure. Serious engine
damage is possible, and you should
take immediate action.
You will also see an ‘‘OIL PRESSURE
LOW ’’message on the multi-
information display (see page 79).
Running the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanical
damage almost immediately. Turn off
the engine as soon as you can safely get
the vehicle stopped. 1. Safely pull off the road, and shut
off the engine. Turn on the hazard
warning lights.
2. Let the vehicle sit for a minute. Open the hood, and check the oil
level (see page 356). An engine
very low on oil can lose pressure
during cornering and other driving
maneuvers.
3. If necessary, add oil to bring the level back to the full mark on the
dipstick (see page 420).
4. Start the engine, and watch the oil pressure indicator. If it does not go
out within 10 seconds, turn off the
engine. There is a mechanical
problem that needs to be repaired
before you can continue driving
(see Emergency Towing on page
475). Charging System Indicator
If the charging system
indicator comes on brightly
when the engine is running, the
battery is not being charged.
You will also see a ‘‘CHECK
CHARGING SYSTEM ’’message on
the multi-information display (see
page 79).
Immediately turn off all electrical
accessories. Try not to use other
electrically operated controls such as
the power windows. Keep the engine
running; starting the engine will
discharge the battery rapidly.
Go to a service station or garage
where you can get technical
assistance.
Low Oil Pressure Indicator, Charging System Indicator
465
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