warning Acura RDX 2013 User Guide

52Safe Driving
Child SafetyProtecting Child PassengersEach year, many children are injured or killed in vehicle crashes because they are
either unrestrained or not properly restrained. In fact, vehicle accidents are the
number one cause of death of children age 12 and under.
To reduce the number of child deaths and injuries, every state, Canadian province
and territory requires that infants and children be properly restrained when they ride
in a vehicle.
Children should sit properly restrained in a rear seat. This is because:
• An inflating front or side airbag can injure
or kill a child sitting in the front seat.
• A child in the front seat is more likely to
interfere with the driver's ability to safely
control the vehicle.
• Statistics show that children of all sizes and
ages are safer when they are properly
restrained in a rear seat.
1Protecting Child Passengers
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport Canada recommend
that all children age 12 and under be properly
restrained in a rear seat. Some states or provinces/
territories have laws restricting where children may
ride.
3
WARNING
Children who are unrestrained or
improperly restrained can be seriously
injured or killed in a crash.
Any child too small for a seat belt should be
properly restrained in a child seat. A larger
child should be properly restrained with a
seat belt, using a booster seat if necessary.

53
uuChild Safety uProtecting Child Passengers
Safe Driving
• Any child who is too small to wear a seat belt correctly must be restrained in an
approved child seat that is properly secured to the vehicle using either the lap belt
portion of the lap/shoulder belt or the lower anchors of the LATCH system.
• Never hold a child on your lap because it is impossible to protect them in the
event of a collision.
• Never put a seat belt over yourself and a child. During a crash, the belt would
likely press deep into the child and cause serious or fatal injuries.
• Never let two children use the same seat belt. Both children could be very
seriously injured in a crash.
• Do not allow children to operate the doors, windows or seat adjustments.
• Do not leave children in the vehicle unattended, especially in hot weather when
the inside of the vehicle can get hot enough to kill them. They could also activate
vehicle controls causing it to move unexpectedly.
1Protecting Child Passengers
To deactivate a lockable retractor, release the buckle
and allow the seat belt to wind up all the way.
To remind you of the passenger's front airbag
hazards and child safety, your vehicle warning came
with a label on the dashboard (U.S. models) and has
labels on the front visors. Please read and follow the
instructions on these labels.
2 Safety Labels P. 65
3
WARNING
Allowing a child to play with a seat belt or
wrap one around their neck can result in
serious injury or death.
Instruct children not to play with any seat
belt and make sure any unused seat belt a
child can reach is buckled, fully retracted,
and locked.

54
uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
Safe Driving
Safety of Infants and Small ChildrenAn infant must be properly restrained in a rear-facing, reclining child seat until the
infant reaches the seat maker's weight or height limit for the seat, and the infant is
at least one year old.
■
Positioning a rear-facing child seat
Child seats must be placed and secured in a
rear seating position.
When properly installed, a rear-facing child seat may prevent the driver or a front
passenger from moving their seat all the way back, or from locking their seat-back
in the desired position.
It can also interfere with proper operation of the passenger's advanced front airbag
system.
2 Airbags P. 37
If this occurs, we recommend that you install the child seat directly behind the front
passenger's seat, move the seat as far forward as needed, and leave it unoccupied.
Or, you may wish to get a smaller rear-facing child seat.■
Protecting Infants
1Protecting Infants
Rear-facing child seats should never be installed in a
forward facing position.
Always refer to the child seat manufacturer’s
instructions before installation.
3
WARNING
Placing a rear-facing child seat in the front
seat can result in serious injury or death
during a crash.
Always place a rear-facing child seat in the
rear seat, not the front.

Continued
55
uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
Safe Driving
If a child is at least one year old and within the weight range indicated by the child
seat manufacturer, the child should be properly restrained in a firmly secured
forward-facing child seat.
■
Forward-facing child seat placement
We strongly recommend placing a forward-
facing child seat in a rear seating position.
Placing a forward-facing child seat in the front seat can be hazardous, even with
advanced front airbags that automatically turn the passenger's front airbag off. A
rear seat is the safest place for a child.
■
Protecting Smaller Children
1 Protecting Smaller Children
Educate yourself about the laws and regulations
regarding child seat use where you are driving, and
follow the child seat manufacturer's instructions.
Many experts recommend use of a rear-facing seat
up to age two, if the child’s height and weight are
appropriate for a rear-facing seat.
3
WARNING
Placing a forward-facing child seat in the
front seat can result in serious injury or
death if the front airbag inflates.
If you must place a forward-facing child
seat in front, move the vehicle seat as far
back as possible, and properly restrain the
child.

62
uuChild Safety uSafety of Larger Children
Safe Driving
Safety of Larger ChildrenThe following pages give instructions on how to check proper seat belt fit, what kind
of booster seat to use if one is needed, and important precautions for a child who
must sit in front.
When a child is too big for a child seat, secure the child in a rear seat using the lap/
shoulder seat belt. Have the child sit upright and all the way back, then answer the
following questions.
■
Checklist
• Do the child's knees bend comfortably over
the edge of the seat?
• Does the shoulder belt cross between the
child's neck and arm?
• Is the lap part of the seat belt as low as
possible, touching the child's thighs?
• Will the child be able to stay seated like this
for the whole trip?
If you answer yes to all these questions, the child is ready to wear the lap/shoulder
seat belt correctly. If you answer no to any question, the child needs to ride on a
booster seat until the seat belt fits properly without a booster seat.
■
Protecting Larger Children
■
Checking Seat Belt Fit
1 Safety of Larger Children
3
WARNING
Allowing a child age 12 or under to sit in
front can result in injury or death if the
passenger's front airbag inflates.
If a larger child must ride in front, move the
vehicle seat as far to the rear as possible,
have the child sit up properly and wear the
seat belt properly, using a booster seat if
needed.

64Safe Driving
Exhaust Gas HazardCarbon Monoxide GasThe engine exhaust from this vehicle contains carbon monoxide, a colorless,
odorless, and highly toxic gas. As long as you properly maintain your vehicle, carbon
monoxide gas will not get into the interior.■
Have the exhaust system inspected for leaks whenever
• The exhaust system is making an unusual noise.
• The exhaust system may have been damaged.
• The vehicle is raised for an oil change.
When you operate a vehicle with the tailgate open, airflow can pull exhaust gas into
the interior and create a hazardous condition. If you must drive with the tailgate
open, open all the windows and set the climate control system as shown below.
1. Select the fresh air mode.
2. Select the mode.
3. Set the fan speed to high.
4. Set the temperature control to a comfortable setting.
Adjust the climate control system in the same manner if you sit in your parked
vehicle with the engine running.
1 Carbon Monoxide Gas
An enclosed area such as a garage can quickly fill up
with carbon monoxide gas.
Do not run the engine with the garage door closed.
Even when the garage door is open, drive out of the
garage immediately after starting the engine.
3
WARNING
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause unconsciousness and
even kill you.
Avoid any enclosed areas or activities that
expose you to carbon monoxide.

67
Instrument Panel
This chapter describes the buttons, indicators, and gauges that are used while driving.
Indicators............................................ 68
Multi-Information Display Warning and
Information Messages ...................... 78
Gauges and Multi-Information Display
Gauges .............................................. 82
Multi-Information Display .... .............. 83

74
uuIndicators u
Instrument Panel
Indicator
Name
On/Blinking
Explanation
Message
EPS (Electric
Power Steering)
System Indicator
●Comes on when you set the power
mode to ON, and goes off when
the engine starts.●Comes on if there is a problem with
the EPS (Electric Power Steering)
System.
●Stays on constantly or does not come
on at all - Have the vehicle checked by a
dealer.
2If the EPS System Indicator Comes On
P. 335
Low Tire
Pressure/TPMS
Indicator
●Comes on for a few seconds when
you set the power mode to ON.●Comes on if the tire pressure of any
of the tires becomes significantly
low.●Blinks for about one minute, and
then stays on if there is a problem
with the TPMS, or when a compact
spare tire is temporarily installed.
●Comes on while driving - Stop in a safe
place, check tire pressures, and inflate the
tire(s) if necessary.●Blinks and remains on - Have the vehicle
checked by a dealer. If the vehicle is fitted
with a compact spare, get your regular tire
repaired or replaced and put back on your
vehicle as soon as you can.
Turn Signal
Indicators
●The turn signal indicators blink
when you operate the turn signal
lever.●If you press the hazard warning
button, both indicators and all turn
signals blink at the same time.
●Does not blink or blinks rapidly - A turn
signal light bulb has blown. Change the
bulb immediately.
2 Front Turn Signal/Parking Light and
Front Side Marker Light Bulbs P. 291
—
High Beam
Indicator
●Comes on when the high beam
headlights are on.
—
—

76
uuIndicators u
Instrument Panel
Indicator
Name
On/Blinking
Explanation
Message
Security System
Alarm Indicator
●Blinks when the security system
alarm has been set.
2Security System Alarm P. 113
—
System Message
Indicator
●Comes on for a few seconds when
you set the power mode to ON,
then goes off.●Comes on along with a beep when
a problem is detected. A system
message on the multi-information
display appears at the same time.
●While the indicator is on, press the /
(information) button to see the message
again.●Refer to the Indicators information in this
chapter when a system message appears
on the multi-information display. Take the
appropriate action for the message.●The multi-information display does not return to
the normal screen unless the warning is
canceled, or the / button is pressed.
—
CRUISE MAIN
Indicator
●Comes on when you press the
CRUISE button.
2 Cruise Control P. 248
—
CRUISE
CONTROL
Indicator
●Comes on if you have set a speed
for cruise control.
2 Cruise Control P. 248
—

78
uuIndicators uMulti-Information Display Warning and Information Messages
Instrument Panel
Multi-Information Display Warning and Information MessagesThe following messages appear only on the multi-information display. Press the / (information) button to see the message agai n
with the system message indicator on.
Message
Condition
Explanation
●Appears when the fuel fill cap is loose or is not
installed.
2 Tighten Fuel Cap Message P. 334
●Appears when the washer fluid is low.
●Refill washer fluid.
2Refilling Window Washer Fluid P. 286
●Appears while you are customizing the settings and
the shift lever is moved out of
(P
.
2Customized Features P. 87
Canadian models