service Acura RDX 2012 Owner's Manual

California Proposition 65 Warning
WARNING:This product contains or emits chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth
defects or other reproductive harm.Event Data Recorders
This vehicle is equipped with one or more devices commonly referred to as event data recorders. These
devices record front seat belt use, front passenger seat occupancy, airbag deployment data, and the failure of
any airbag system component. This data belongs to the vehicle owner and may not be accessed by anyone else
except as legally required or with the permission of the vehicle owner.Service Diagnostic Recorders
This vehicle is equipped with service-related devices that record information about powertrain performance. The data
can be used to verify emissions law requirements and/or help technicians diagnose and solve service problems. It
may also be combined with data from other sources for research purposes, but it remains confidential.California Perchlorate Contamination Prevention Act
The airbags, seat belt tensioners, and CR type batteries in this vehicle may contain perchlorate materials - special
handling may apply. See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate/Introductionii11/06/16 17:42:51 12 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK650 enu

Your Vehicle at a Glance(main controls)
....................................................................................................................
3
Driver and Passenger Safety (seat belts, SRS, and child protection)
...........................................................................
5
Instruments and Controls (indicators, gauges, multi-information display, dashboard, and steering column)
...........
61
Features (
climate control, audio, steering wheel, security, cruise control, HomeLink
®, and other convenience items
)...
163
Before Driving (fuel, vehicle break-in, and cargo loading)
.......................................................................................
351
Driving (engine and transmission operation)
...........................................................................................................
371
Maintenance (minders, fluid checking, minor services, and vehicle storage)
..........................................................
409
Taking Care of the Unexpected (flat tire, jump starting, overheating, and fuses)
...................................................
453
Technical Information (vehicle specifications, tires, and emissions controls)
........................................................
477
Warranty and Client Relations (U.S. and Canada only) (warranty and contact information)
...............................
493
Index
..............................................................................................................................................................................
I
INDEX
Service Information Summary (fluid capacities and tire pressures)
...............................................................
last page
Contents
1
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Contents
A convenient reference to the
sections in this manual.
Your Vehicle at a Glance
A quick reference to the main
controls in your vehicle.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Important information about the
proper use and care of your vehicle's
seat belts, an overview of the
supplemental restraint system, and
valuable information on how to
protect children with child restraints.
Instruments and Controls
Explains the purpose of each
instrument panel indicator and
gauge, and how to use the controls
on the dashboard and steering
column.
Features
How to operate the climate control
system, the audio system, and other
convenience features.Before Driving
What gasoline to use, how to break-
in your new vehicle, and how to load
luggage and other cargo.
Driving
The proper way to start the engine,
shift the transmission, and park; plus
what you need to know if you're
planning to tow a trailer.
Maintenance
The Maintenance Minder
TM
shows
you when you need to take your
vehicle to the dealer for maintenance
service. There is also a list of things
to check and instructions on how to
check them.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
This section covers several problems
motorists sometimes experience, and
details how to handle them. Technical Information
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities,
and technical information.
Warranty and Client Relations
(U.S. and Canada only)
A summary of the warranties
covering your new vehicle, and how
to contact us for any reason. Refer to
your warranty manual for detailed
information.
Index
Service Information Summary
A summary of the information you
need when you pull up to the fuel
pump.
Overview of Contents211/06/16 17:42:51 12 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK650 enu

This section gives you important
information about how to protect
yourself and your passengers. It shows
you how to use seat belts properly. It
explains how your airbags work, and it
tells you how to properly restrain infants
and children in your vehicle.
Important Safety Precautions
..............
6
Your Vehicle's Safety Features
............
8
Seat Belts
.....................................
9
Airbags
.......................................
10
Protecting Adults and Teens
.............
12
1. Close and Lock the Doors
..........
12
2. Adjust the Front Seats
...............
13
3. Adjust the Seat-Backs
................
14
4. Adjust the Head Restraints
.........
15
5. Fasten and Position the Seat Belts
...................................
15
6. Maintain a Proper Sitting Position
...............................
17
Advice for Pregnant Women
..........
18
Additional Safety Precautions
........
19
Additional Information About Your
Seat Belts
...............................
20
Seat Belt System Components
.......
20
Lap/Shoulder Belt
........................
21 Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners
.....
22
Seat Belt Maintenance
..................
23
Additional Information About Your Airbags
...................................
24
Airbag System Components
..........
24
How Your Front Airbags Work
......
26
How Your Side Airbags Work
........
30
How Your Side Curtain Airbags Work
......................................
31
How the SRS Indicator Works
.......
32
How the Side Airbag Off Indicator Works
.....................................
32
How the Passenger Airbag Off Indicator Works
.......................
33
Airbag Service
.............................
34
Additional Safety Precautions
........
35
Protecting Children －General
Guidelines
..............................
36
All Children Must Be Restrained
...............................
36
All Children Should Sit in a Back Seat
........................................
37
The Passenger's Front Airbag Can Pose Serious Risks
...................
37
If You Must Drive with Several Children
..................................
39 If a Child Requires Close
Attention
.................................
39
Additional Safety Precautions
........
40
Protecting Infants and Small Children
.................................
41
Protecting Infants
.........................
41
Protecting Small Children
.............
42
Selecting a Child Seat
......................
44
Important considerations when selecting a child seat
.................
44
Installing a Child Seat
......................
45
Installing a Child Seat with LATCH
...................................
46
Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/
Shoulder Belt
...........................
50
Installing a Child Seat with a Tether
.....................................
51
Protecting Larger Children
...............
53
Checking Seat Belt Fit
..................
53
Using a Booster Seat
....................
54
When Can a Larger Child Sit in Front
.......................................
55
Additional Safety Precautions
........
56
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
................
57
Safety Labels
..................................
58
Driver and Passenger Safety
5
Driver and Passenger Safety
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Airbag Service
Your airbag systems are virtually
maintenance free, and there are no
parts you can safely service.
However, you must have your
vehicle serviced if:●An airbag ever inflates.
Any airbag
that has deployed must be
replaced along with the control
unit and other related parts. Any
seat belt tensioner that activates
must also be replaced.
We recommend against the use of
salvaged airbag system
components, including the airbag,
tensioners, sensors, and control
unit.
Do not try to remove or replace
any airbag by yourself. This must
be done by an authorized dealer or
a knowledgeable body shop.
●The SRS indicator alerts you to a
problem.
Take your vehicle to an
authorized dealer as soon as
possible. If you ignore this
indication, your airbags may not
operate properly.
●If your vehicle has a moderate to
severe impact.
Even if your airbags
do not inflate, your dealer should
inspect the driver's seat position
sensor, the front passenger's
weight sensors, the front seat belt
tensioners, and all seat belts and
their anchor worn during a crash
to make sure they are operating
properly.
Additional Information About Your Airbags3411/06/16 17:42:51 12 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK650 enu

If this 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 (see page 80).
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.
For more information, see page 385.Continuing to drive with the SH-AWD
indicator blinking may cause serious
damage to the system.
Low Tire Pressure/TPMS
Indicator
This indicator normally comes on for
a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position.
This indicator has two functions:
1. If it comes on while driving, it indicates that one or more of your
vehicle's tires are significantly low
on pressure. You will also see a
‘‘CHECK TIRE
PRESSURE ’’message on the multi-
information display (see page 79).
Check the tire pressure monitor on
the multi-information display and
determine the cause (see page 392).
If this happens, pull to the side of the
road when it is safe, check which tire
has lost pressure on the multi-
information display, and determine
the cause. If it is because of a flat tire,
have the flat tire repaired as soon as
possible. If two or more tires are
underinflated, call a professional
towing service. For more
information, see page 475.
CONTINUED
Instrument Panel Indicators
71
Instruments and Controls
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Maintenance Minder
TM
The multi-information display in the
instrument panel shows you the
engine oil life and maintenance
service items when the ignition
switch is in the ON (II) position. This
information helps to keep you aware
of the periodic maintenance your
vehicle needs for continued trouble-
free driving. Refer to page 411 for
more information.
INST. MPG (U.S. models)/INST.
L/100 km (Canadian models)
This shows your instant fuel
economy.
When you turn off the engine, INST.
MPG or INST. L/100 km is also
reset.RANGE
This shows the estimated distance
you can travel on the fuel remaining
in the fuel tank. This distance is
estimated from the fuel economy you
received over the last several miles
(U.S.) or kilometers (Canada), so it
will vary with changes in speed,
traffic, etc.
When the battery is disconnected, or
you refuel, RANGE is also reset.
ELAPSED TIME
This shows the accumulated
traveling time since you last reset it.
When you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, ELAPSED
TIME is reset.
You can customize the ELAPSED
TIME reset condition on the multi-
information display (see page 95).AVG. SPEED
This shows the average speed you
are traveling in miles per hour (mph)
for U.S. models or kilometers per
hour (km/h) for Canadian models.
When you reset Trip A, AVG. SPEED
is also reset.
AVG. FUEL A/B
This shows your vehicle's average
fuel economy in mpg (U.S. models)
or liter/100 km (Canadian models)
since you last reset Trip A or Trip B.
You can customize the Trip A and
AVG. FUEL A reset condition on the
multi-information display (see page
93).
The average fuel economy will be
reset when you reset the trip meter,
or if the vehicle's battery goes dead
or is disconnected.
CONTINUED
Multi-Information Display
77
Instruments and Controls
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Receiving XM Radio Service
If your XM Radio service has expired
or you purchased your vehicle from a
previous owner, you can listen to a
sampling of the broadcasts available
on XM radio. With the ignition
switch in the ACCESSORY (I) or the
ON (II) position, push the PWR/VOL
knob to turn on the audio system,
and press the
button. A
variety of music types and styles will
play. If you decide to purchase XM Radio
service, contact XM Radio at
www.
xmradio.com,
or at 1-800-852-9696. In
Canada, contact XM CANADA at
www.xmradio.ca,
or at 1-877-209-
0079. You will need to give them
your radio I.D. number and your
credit card number. To get your
radio I.D. number, turn the TUNE
knob until ‘‘0’’ appears in the display.
Your I.D. will appear in the display.
After you've registered with XM
Radio, keep your audio system in the
satellite radio mode while you wait
for activation. This should take about
30 minutes. While waiting for activation, make
sure your vehicle remains in an open
area with good reception. Once your
audio system is activated,
‘‘CAT’’ or
‘‘ CH ’’will appear in the display, and
you'll be able to listen to XM Radio
broadcasts. XM Radio will continue
to send an activation signal to your
vehicle for at least 12 hours from the
activation request. If the service has
not been activated after 36 hours,
contact XM Radio. In Canada, contact
XM CANADA
®.
Playing the XM
®Radio (Models without navigation system)
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To delete a file, select it by turning
the selector knob, then push it to the
right. Select‘‘Delete All ’’or ‘‘Delete
Selected Item, ’’then press ENTER.
Receiving Radio ServiceIf your XM Radio service has expired
or you purchased your vehicle from a
previous owner, you can listen to a
sampling of the broadcasts available on
XM radio. With the ignition switch in
the ACCESSORY (I) or the ON (II)
position, push the PWR/VOL knob to
turn on the audio system, and press the
button. A variety of music types
and styles will play.
If you decide to purchase XM Radio
service, contact XM Radio at
www.
xmradio.com,
or at 1-800-852-9696. In
Canada, contact XM CANADA
®at
www.xmradio.ca,
or at 1-877-209-0079.
You will need to give them your radio I.
D. number and your credit card
number. To get your radio I.D.
number, turn the TUNE knob until ‘‘0 ’’
appears in the display. Your I.D. will
appear in the display.
After you've registered with XM
Radio, keep your audio system in the
satellite radio mode while you wait
for activation. This should take about
30 minutes.
While waiting for activation, make
sure your vehicle remains in an open
area with good reception. Once your
audio system is activated, ‘‘CAT’’ or
‘‘ CH ’’will appear in the upper
display, and you'll be able to listen to
XM Radio broadcasts. XM Radio will
continue to send an activation signal
to your vehicle for at least 12 hours
from the activation request. If the
service has not been activated after
36 hours, contact XM Radio. In
Canada, contact XM CANADA
®.
Playing the XM
®Radio (Models with navigation system)
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Delete－Select this option to delete
the current message.
Voice －Select this option to hear a
voice read the entire message. This
gives you more information than the
screen can display at one time. When
you select the Voice option, it
changes to a Stop Reading option.
Select the option again to stop the
voice.
Call －Select this button to call a
phone number embedded in the
message. When you select Call,theBluetooth
®HandsFreeLink
®(HFL)
dials the number for you.
To make a call, your
Bluetooth
®
compatible phone must be paired to
your vehicle's HandsFreeLink
system, have its power on, and be
inside the vehicle (see page 313). Find Nearest Acura Dealer
－
Select this option to find the nearest
Acura dealer using the navigation
system.
Call Your Acura Dealer －Select
this button to call the Acura dealer
you purchased your vehicle from.
AcuraLink also directs you to this
dealer so you can schedule a
maintenance appointment or receive
information about a message. If you
visit another dealer for service two
times within a 14-month period,
AcuraLink will reset to call that
dealer.
Diagnostic Info －Select this
button to get more information about
the current diagnostic message. To
use this option, your cell phone must
be linked to the HFL and have a
compatible data service available.
Access the Owner Link website to
find out which data services are
currently compatible with AcuraLink. Message Preferences
To set your AcuraLink preferences
(the types of messages you want to
receive, if any), visit the My Acura
website at
www.owners.acura.com
If you do not have internet access,
call Acura Client Relations at
(800) 382-2238; they can set your
message preferences for you.
AcuraLink
®(U.S. models only)
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