airbag Acura RDX 2011 Service Manual

Modifying Your Vehicle
Removing parts from your vehicle, or
replacing components with non-
Acura components could seriously
affect your vehicle's handling,
stability, and reliability.
Here are some examples:●Lowering the vehicle with a non-
Acura suspension kit that
significantly reduces ground
clearance can allow the
undercarriage to hit speed bumps
or other raised objects, which
could cause the airbags to deploy.●Raising your vehicle with a non-
Acura suspension kit can affect the
handling, stability, and reliability.
●Non-Acura wheels, because they
are a universal design, can cause
excessive stress on suspension
components and will not be
compatible with the tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS).●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.
Accessories and Modifications
363
Before Driving
10/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu

Carrying Cargo in the Passenger
Compartment●Store or secure all items that could
be thrown around and hurt
someone during a crash.●Be sure items placed on the floor
behind the front seats cannot roll
underneath and interfere with the
proper operation of the seats, the
sensors under the seats, or the
driver's ability to operate the
pedals.
●If you fold the rear seats down, tie
down items that could be thrown
about the vehicle during a crash or
sudden stop. Also, keep all cargo
below the bottom of the windows.
If it is higher, it could interfere
with the proper operation of the
side curtain airbags.●Keep the glove box closed while
driving. If it is open, a passenger
could injure their knees during a
crash or sudden stop.●Do not put any items on top of the
cargo area cover. They can block
your view and be thrown around
the vehicle during a crash.Carrying Cargo in the Cargo Area
or on a Roof Rack
●Distribute cargo evenly on the
floor of the cargo area, placing the
heaviest items on the bottom and
as far forward as possible. Tie
down items that could be thrown
about the vehicle during a crash or
sudden stop.●If you fold the rear seats down, tie
down items that could be thrown
about the vehicle during a crash or
sudden stop. Keep all cargo below
the bottom of the windows. If it is
higher, it could interfere with the
proper operation of the side
curtain airbags.
CONTINUED
Carrying Cargo
367
Before Driving
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A
Accessories andModifications
..........................
362
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key Position)
.................................
125
Accessory Power Sockets
..........
157
AcuraLink
®(U.S. models
only)
.......................................
332
Additives, Engine Oil
.................
421
Adjusting the Sound
............
177, 224
Adjusting the Steering Wheel....
122
Advanced Airbags
........................
28
Airbag (SRS)
..........................
10, 24
Air Conditioning System
............
164
Usage
......................................
165
Air Pressure, Tires
..............
444, 445
Alcohol in Gasoline
....................
352
Antifreeze
...................................
424
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) Indicator
............................
66, 388
Operation
................................
388
Anti-theft, Audio System
.............
292
Anti-theft Steering Column Lock
.......................................
125 Armrests
....................................
138
Audio Antenna
...........................
439
Audio System
......................
172, 216
Automatic Lighting Off
Feature
...................................
118
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners...
22
Automatic Speed Control
...........
300
Automatic Transmission
............
376
Capacity, Fluid
........................
480
Checking Fluid Level
..............
427
Driving with the Paddle Shifters
................................
380
Shifting
...................................
376
Shift Lever Position Indicators
............................
376
Shift Lever Positions
...............
377
Shift Lock Release
...................
379
Auxiliary Input Jack
...................
291
B
Battery Charging System
Indicator
........................
65, 465
Jump Starting
..........................
461 Maintenance
...........................
450
Specifications
..........................
481
Before Driving
...........................
351
Belts, Seat
................................
9, 20
Beverage Holders
......................
156
Bluetooth
®Audio
................
212, 280
Bluetooth
®HandsFreeLink
®......
306
Booster Seats
...............................
54
Brakes Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
...........
388
Break-in, New Linings
.............
352
Bulb Replacement
...................
433
Fluid
.......................................
429
Parking
...................................
150
System Design
........................
387
System Indicator (Amber)
.......
468
System Indicator (Red)
...........
467
Wear Indicators
.......................
387
Braking System
..........................
387
Break-in, New Vehicle
................
352
Brightness Control,
Instruments
............................
120
CONTINUED
Index
I
INDEX
10/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu

Bulb ReplacementBack-up Lights
........................
433
Brake Lights
...........................
433
Fog Lights
...............................
435
Front Parking Lights
...............
432
Front Side Marker Lights
........
432
Headlights
..............................
431
High-mount Brake Light
.........
436
Rear Bulbs
......................
433, 434
Rear License Plate Lights........
437
Specifications
..........................
481
Taillights
.........................
433, 434
Turn Signal Lights
..........
432, 433
Bulbs, Halogen
..........................
431
C
Capacities Chart
.........................
480
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
............
57
Cargo
.........................................
364
Cargo Area Cover
.......................
160
Cargo Area Light
........................
153
Cargo, How to Carry
..................
364
Carrying Cargo
..........................
364
CAUTION, Explanation of
............
iii CD Care
.....................................
257
Ceiling Lights
.............................
151
Certification Label
......................
478
Chains, Tires
..............................
449
Changing a Flat Tire
..................
455
Changing Oil How to
....................................
422
When to
..................................
411
Charging System Indicator
...........................
65, 465
Checklist, Before Driving
...........
373
Childproof Door Locks
...............
127
Child Safety
..................................
36
Booster Seats
...........................
54
Child Seats
....................
41, 42, 44
Important Safety Reminders
.....
40
Infants
......................................
41
Larger Children
.......................
53
LATCH
.....................................
46
Risks with Airbags
...................
37
Small Children
.........................
42
Tethers
....................................
51
Warning Labels
........................
38
Where Should a Child Sit?
........
37
Child Seats
...................................
44
LATCH Anchorage Points
........
46 Tether Anchorage Points
.........
51
Cleaning the Seat Belts
..............
438
Client Service Information
..........
494
Climate Control Sensors
............
171
Climate Control System
.............
164
Clock
..........................................
293
Coat Hook
..................................
161
Code, Audio System
...................
292
CO in the Exhaust
................
57, 487
Cold Weather, Starting in
...........
374
Compact Spare Tire
....................
454
Compass Operation
..................
295
Console Compartment
...............
158
Consumer Information
...............
494
Controls, Instruments and
............
61
Coolant Adding
....................................
424
Checking
................................
357
Proper Solution
.......................
424
Courtesy Lights
..........................
153
Crankcase Emissions Control
System
...................................
487
Cruise Control Indicator
...............
69
Cruise Control Operation
...........
300
Cruise Main Indicator
..................
69
Cup Holders
...............................
156
IndexII10/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu

EngineAdding Engine Coolant
...........
424
If it Won't Start
........................
459
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp
.............................
65, 466
Oil Life Indicator
.....................
411
Oil Pressure Indicator
.......
65, 465
Overheating
............................
463
Specifications
..........................
480
Speed Limiter
..........................
378
Starting
...................................
374
Engine Coolant
..........................
424
Engine Number
.........................
479
Ethanol in Gasoline
....................
352
Evaporative Emissions Controls
..................................
487
Exhaust Emissions Controls
......
488
Exhaust Fumes
............................
57
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat Belts by
....................................
18
F
Fan, Interior
...............................
166
Features
.....................................
163 Filters
Dust and Pollen
.......................
439
Oil
...........................................
422
Flashers, Hazard Warning
.........
121
Flat Tire, Changing a
.................
455
Floor Mats
.................................
438
Fluids Automatic Transmission
.........
427
Brake
......................................
429
Location
..................................
419
Power Steering
........................
430
Windshield Washer
.................
426
FM/AM Radio Reception
...........
287
Fog Lights
..................................
119
Folding the Rear Seats Down
.....
138
Four-way Flashers
......................
121
Front Airbags
.........................
10, 26
Front Door Pockets
....................
155
Front Seat Heaters
...................................
141
Front Seat Power
Adjustments
...........................
134
Fuel
............................................
352
Economy
.................................
358
Fill Door and Cap
....................
353
Gauge
......................................
73 Low Fuel Indicator
...................
68
Octane Requirement
...............
352
Reserve Indicator
.....................
68
Tank, Filling the
......................
353
Tighten Fuel Cap
....................
354
Fuel Economy
............................
358
Fuses, Checking the
..................
470
G
Gas Mileage, Improving
.............
359
Gasoline
.....................................
352
Low Fuel Indicator
...................
68
Octane Requirement
...............
352
Tank, Refueling
.......................
353
Gas Station Procedures
..............
353
Gauges Fuel
..........................................
73
Speedometer
............................
73
Tachometer
..............................
73
Turbo Boost Meter
..................
73
Gearshift Lever Positions Automatic
Transmission
...............
376, 377
Glove Box
..................................
155
IndexIV10/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu

Gross Axle Weight Rating(GAWR)
.................................
398
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
.................................
398
H
HandsFreeLink
®........................
306
Hazard Warning Flashers
..........
121
Headlights Aiming
....................................
431
Automatic Lighting Off
............
118
Automatic Lighting On
............
117
Daytime Running Lights
.........
119
High Beam Indicator
................
69
High Beams, Turning on
.........
116
Lights On Indicator
..................
70
Low Beams, Turning on
..........
116
Reminder Chime
.....................
116
Turning on
..............................
116
Head Restraints
..........................
135
Heated Mirrors
..........................
147
Heaters, Seats
............................
141
Heating and Cooling
..................
164
High Altitude, Starting at
............
374 High-Low Beam Switch
..............
117
HomeLink
®Universal
Transceiver
............................
303
Hood, Opening and Closing
the
..........................................
355
Horn
......................................
4, 113
I
Identification Number, Vehicle
...................................
478
Ignition Keys
........................................
122
Switch
.....................................
125
Timing Control System
...........
488
Immobilizer System
...................
124
Important Safety Precautions
.........
6
Indicators, Instrument Panel
........
63
ABS (Anti-lock Brake)
.......
66, 388
A/T Temp
................................
65
Brake (Amber)
..................
67, 468
Brake (Red)
......................
67, 467
Charging System
..............
65, 465
Cruise Control
..........................
69
Cruise Main
.............................
69 Fog Lights
................................
70
High Beam
...............................
69
Key (Immobilizer System)
.......
66
Lights On
.................................
70
Low Fuel
..................................
68
Low Oil Pressure
..............
65, 465
Low Tire Pressure/ TPMS
............................
71, 390
Maintenance Minder ™
............
411
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
.............................
65, 466
Passenger Airbag Off
...............
33
Seat Belt Reminder
.............
20, 64
Security System
.......................
70
SH-AWD
®.................................
70
Side Airbag Off
....................
32, 66
SRS
.....................................
32, 65
System Message
......................
72
TPMS/Tire Pressure Monitor
.........................
71, 390
Turn Signal and Hazard
Warning
...............................
69
VSA Activation
.........................
69
VSA System
.............................
68
Individual Map Lights
................
152
CONTINUED
Index
V
INDEX
10/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu

Mirrors, Adjusting
......................
146
Modifications
.............................
363
Modifying Your Vehicle
.............
363
Moonroof
...................................
144
Multi-Information Display
............
74
N
Neutral Gear Position
.................
377
New Vehicle Break-in
.................
352
NOTICE, Explanation of
................
i
Numbers, Identification
.............
478
O
Octane Requirement, Gasoline
.................................
352
Odometer
.....................................
76
Odometer, Trip
............................
76
Off-Highway Driving Guidelines
..............................
405
Off-Road Precautions
..................
405
Oil Change, How to
......................
422
Change, When to
....................
411 Checking Engine
....................
356
Life, Engine
.............................
411
Pressure Indicator
.............
65, 465
Selecting Proper Viscosity
Chart
...................................
420
Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery
................................
488
ON (Ignition Key Position)
........
125
Outside Mirrors
.........................
146
Outside Temperature
...................
76
Overheating, Engine
..................
463
Owner's Maintenance Checks
....
417
Oxygenated Fuels
......................
352
P
Panel Brightness Control
...........
120
Park Gear Position
.....................
377
Parking
......................................
386
Parking Brake
............................
150
Parking Brake and Brake System Indicator
.................................
467
Parking Lights
...........................
116
Parking Over Things that Burn
................................
386, 489 Passenger Airbag Off Indicator
....
33
PGM-FI System
..........................
488
Playing an iPod
®..................
197, 260
Playing a USB Flash Memory
Device
.............................
204, 270
Playing Disc
...............................
185
Playing the FM/AM Radio
...............................
174, 217
Playing the XM
®Radio
........
179, 228
Pollen Filter
...............................
439
Power Door Locks
.....................
126
Power Seat Adjustments
............
134
Power Socket Locations
.............
157
Power Steering Fluid
.................
430
Power Windows
.........................
142
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts
........
18
Preparing to Drive
......................
373
Proper Seat Belt Usage
................
15
Protecting Adults and Teens
........
12
Additional Safety Precautions
...
19
Advice for Pregnant Women
....
18
CONTINUED
Index
VII
INDEX
10/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu

Protecting Children
......................
36
General Guidelines
..................
36
Protecting Infants
.....................
41
Protecting Larger Children
......
53
Protecting Small Children
........
42
Using Child Seats with Tethers
.................................
51
Using LATCH
..........................
46
R
Radiator Overheating
.................
463
Radio/CD Sound System
...........
172
Radio Theft Protection
...............
292
Readiness Codes
........................
490
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement
...........................
433
Rear Seat Folding Down
.............
138
Rearview Mirror
.........................
146
Rearview Mirror with Rearview Camera Display
......................
348
Rear Window Defogger
..............
121
Rear Window Wiper and
Washer
...................................
115 Recalling a Memorized Driving
Position
..................................
133
Reclining the Seat Backs
............
134
Refueling
....................................
353
Reminder Indicators
.....................
64
Remote Audio Controls
..............
289
Remote Transmitter
...................
130
Replacement Information Dust and Pollen Filter
.............
439
Engine Oil and Filter
...............
422
Fuses
......................................
469
Light Bulbs
.............................
431
Schedule
.................................
418
Spark Plugs
.............................
480
Tires
.......................................
447
Wiper Blades
..........................
440
Replacing Seat Belts After a Crash
........................................
23
Reporting Safety Defects (U.S. only)
.......................................
496
Required Engine Oil
..................
420
Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant
............................
357, 424
Restraint, Child
............................
36
Reverse Gear Position
................
377
Reverse Tilt Door Mirror
...........
147 Rotation, Tire
.............................
447
S
Safety Belts
..............................
9, 20
Safety Defects, Reporting (U.S. only)
.......................................
496
Safety Features
..............................
8
Airbags
...............................
10, 24
Door Locks
..............................
12
Head Restraints
........................
15
Seat Belts
........................
9, 15, 20
Seats & Seat-Backs
..............
13, 14
Safety Labels, Location of
.............
58
Safety Messages
..........................
iii
Seat Belts
.................................
9, 20
Additional Information
.............
20
Advice for Pregnant Women
....
18
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners
...........................
22
Cleaning
..................................
438
Lap/Shoulder Belt
..............
15, 21
Maintenance
............................
23
Reminder Indicator and Beeper
.............................
20, 64
IndexVIII10/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu

System Components
................
20
Use During Pregnancy
.............
18
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt
..................................
15, 21
Seats
..........................................
134
Armrest
...................................
138
Head Restraints
.......................
135
Heaters
...................................
141
Position Memory
....................
148
Seats, Adjusting the
...................
134
Security System
.........................
294
Security System Indicator
............
70
Sensors Driver's Seat Position Sensor
...
28
Front Passenger's Weight Sensors
................................
28
Impact Sensors
........................
24
Serial Number
............................
478
Service Intervals
.........................
411
Service Manual (U.S. only)
........
497
Service Station Procedures
........
353
Setting the Clock
........................
293
SH-AWD
®...................................
384
Indicator
...................................
70
Torque Distribution Monitor
...
384 Shifting the Automatic
Transmission
..........................
376
Shift Lever Position Indicators
...
376
Shift Lock Release
......................
379
Side Airbags
.................................
30
How the Side Airbag Off Indicator Works
...................
32
How Your Side Airbags Work..30
Side Curtain Airbags
....................
31
How Your Side Curtain Airbags Work
....................................
31
Side Marker Lights, Bulb
Replacement in
.......................
432
Signaling Turns
............................
69
Snow Tires
.................................
448
Sound System
.....................
172, 216
Spare Tire
..................................
454
Inflating
...........................
444, 454
Specifications
..........................
481
Spark Plugs
................................
480
Specifications
.............................
480
Speed Control
............................
300
Speed Limiter
.............................
378
Speedometer
................................
73
SRS, Additional Information
.........
24
Additional Safety Precautions
...
35 Airbag Service
..........................
34
Airbag System Components
.....
24
How the Side Airbag Off Indicator Works
...................
32
How the SRS Indicator Works..32
How Your Front Airbags Work
....................................
26
How Your Side Airbags Work..30
How Your Side Curtain Airbags Work
....................................
31
SRS Indicator
.........................
32, 65
START (Ignition Key
Position)
.................................
125
Starting the Engine
....................
374
Auto Control Mode
.................
375
In Cold Weather at High Altitude
................................
374
With a Dead Battery
................
461
State Emissions Testing
.............
490
Steam Coming from Engine
.......
463
Steering Wheel
Adjustments
............................
122
Anti-theft Column Lock
...........
125
Buttons
...........................
289, 300
Stereo Sound System
..........
172, 216
CONTINUED
Index
IX
INDEX
10/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu