side Acura RDX 2018 Owner's Manual

372
Maintenance
Checking and Maintaining Wiper Blades
Checking Wiper Blades
If the wiper blade rubber has deteriorated, it will leave streaks and the hard surfaces
of the blade may scratch the window glass.
Changing the Front Wiper Blade Rubber
1. Lift the driver side wiper arm first, then the
passenger side.
2. Place a cloth on the edge of the lock tab.
Push the lock tab up with a flat-tip screw
driver.
3. Slide the blade from the wiper arm.1Changing the Front Wiper Blade Rubber
NOTICE
Avoid dropping the wiper ar m; it may damage the
windshield.
Lock Tab

373
uuChecking and Maintaining Wiper Blades uChanging the Front Wiper Blade Rubber
Maintenance
4. Slide the wiper blade out from its holder by
pulling the tabbed end out.
5. Remove the retainers from the rubber blade
that has been removed, and mount to a
new rubber blade.
u Correctly align the rubber protrusion and
the retainer grooves.
6. Slide the new wiper bl ade onto the holder
from the bottom end.
u The tab on the holder should fit in the
indent of the wiper blade.
7. Slide the wiper blade onto the wiper arm,
then push down the lock tab.
8. Lower the passenger side wiper arm first,
then the driver side.
Blade
Top Retainer
Blade
Tab
Indent

376
Maintenance
Checking and Maintaining Tires
Checking Tires
To safely operate your vehicle, your tires must be of the proper type and size, in
good condition with adequate tread, and properly inflated.
■Inflation guidelines
Properly inflated tires provide the best combination of handling, tread life, and comfort.
Refer to the driver’s doorjamb label or spec ification’s page for the specified pressure.
Underinflated tires wear unevenly, adversely affect handling and fuel economy, and
are more likely to fail from overheating.
Overinflated tires make your vehicle ride harshly, are more prone to road hazards,
and wear unevenly.
Every day before you drive, look at each of the tires. If one looks lower than the
others, check the pressure with a tire gauge.
At least once a month and before long trip s, use a gauge to measure the pressure in
all tires, including the spare. Even tires in good condition can lose 1 to 2 psi (10 to
20 kPa, 0.1 to 0.2 kgf/cm
2) per month.
■Inspection guidelines
Every time you check inflation, also examine the tires and valve stems.
Look for:
• Bumps or bulges on the side or in the tread. Replace the tire if you find any cuts,
splits, or cracks in the si de of the tire. Replace it if you see fabric or cord.
• Remove any foreign objects and inspect for air leaks.
• Uneven tread wear. Have a deal er check the wheel alignment.
• Excessive tread wear.
2 Wear Indicators P. 381
•Cracks or other damage around valve stem.
1Checking Tires
Measure the air pressure when tires are cold. This
means the vehicle has been parked for at least three
hours, or driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km). If
necessary, add or releas e air until the specified
pressure is reached.
If checked when hot, tire pressure can be as much as
4–6 psi (30–40 kPa, 0.3–0.4 kgf/cm
2) higher than if
checked when cold.
Have a dealer check the tires if you feel a consistent
vibration while driving. Ne w tires and any that have
been removed and reinst alled should be properly
balanced.
3WARNING
Using tires that are excessively worn or
improperly inflated can cause a crash in
which you can be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instruction s in this owner’s
manual regarding ti re inflation and
maintenance.

uuChecking and Maintaining Tires uTire Labeling
378
Maintenance
The tire identification number (TIN) is a gr oup of numbers and letters that look like
the example in the side co lumn. TIN is located on the sidewall of the tire.
Cold Tire Pressure – The tire air pressure when the vehicle has been parked for at
least three hours or driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Load Rating – Means the maximum load that a ti re is rated to carry for a given
inflation pressure.
Maximum Inflation Pressure – The maximum tire air pressure that the tire can
hold.
Maximum Load Rating – Means the load rating for a tire at the maximum
permissible inflation pr essure for that tire.
Recommended Inflation Pressure – The cold tire inflation pressure recommended
by the manufacturer.
Treadwear Indicators (TWI) – Means the projections within the principal grooves
designed to give a visual indication of the degrees of wear of the tread.
■Tire Identification Number (TIN)
■Glossary of Tire Terminology
1 Tire Identification Number (TIN)
DOT B97R FW6X 2209
DOT: This indicates that the tire meets all
requirements of the U.S. Department of
Transportation.
B97R: Manufacturer’s identification mark.
FW6X: Tire type code.
22 09: Date of manufacture.
Year
Week

379
uuChecking and Maintaining Tires uDOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
Continued
Maintenance
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
The tires on your vehicle m eet all U.S. Federal Safety
Requirements. All tires are also graded for treadwear, traction,
and temperature performance according to Department of
Transportation (DOT) standards. The following explains these
gradings.
Quality grades can be found where applicable on th e tire sidewall
between tread shoulder and maximum section width.
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear
rate of the tire when tested un der controlled conditions on a
specified government test course. For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one and one-half (1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends upon the actual co nditions of their use, however,
and may depart significantly from the norm due to variations in
driving habits, service practi ces and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
■Uniform Tire Quality Grading
■Treadwear
1 Uniform Tire Quality Grading
For example:
Treadwear 200
Traction AA
Temperature A
All passenger car tires must conform
to Federal Safety Requirements in
addition to these grades.

382
uuChecking and Maintaining Tires uTire and Wheel Replacement
Maintenance
Tire and Wheel Replacement
Replace your tires with radials of the sa me size, load range, speed rating, and
maximum cold tire pressure ra ting (as shown on the tire’s sidewall). Using tires of a
different size or construction can cause the ABS, vehicle stability assist (VSA ®), hill
start assist, and the All-Wheel Drive (AWD) with intelligent control system
* to work
incorrectly.
It is best to replace all four tires at the same time. If that isn’t possible, replace the
front or rear tires in pairs.
If you replace a wheel, only use TPMS sp ecified wheels approved for your vehicle.
Make sure that the wheel’s specifications match those of the original wheels.
1 Tire and Wheel Replacement
3WARNING
Installing improper tires on your vehicle can
affect handling and stability. This can cause
a crash in which you can be seriously hurt or
killed.
Always use the size and type of tires
recommended in this owner’s manual.
* Not available on all models

383
uuChecking and Maintaining Tires uTire Rotation
Maintenance
Tire Rotation
Rotating tires according to the maintena nce messages on the multi-information
display helps to distribute wear more evenly and increase tire life.
■Tires without rotation marks
Rotate the tires as shown here.
■Tires with rotation marksRotate the tires as shown here.
1Tire Rotation
Tires with directional trea d patterns should only be
rotated front to back (not fr om one side to the other).
Directional tires should be mounted with the rotation
indication mark facing forward, as shown below.
FRONT
Rotation MarkFront
Front

389Continued
Maintenance
Cleaning
Interior Care
Use a damp cloth with a mixture of mild detergent and warm water to remove dirt.
Use a clean cloth to remove detergent residue.
Use a soft brush with a mixture of mild soap and warm water to clean the seat belts.
Let the belts air dry. Wipe the openings of the seat belt anchors using a clean cloth.
Wipe using a glass cleaner.
■Cleaning Seat Belts
1 Interior Care
Do not spill liquids inside the vehicle.
Electrical devices and systems may malfunction if
liquids are splashed on them.
Do not use silicone based sp rays on electrical devices
such as audio devices and switches.
Doing so may cause the items to malfunction or a fire
inside the vehicle.
If a silicone based spray is inadvertently used on
electrical devices, consult a dealer.
Depending on their compos ition, chemicals and
liquid aromatics may cause discoloration, wrinkles,
and cracking to resin-ba sed parts and textiles.
Do not use alkali solvents or organic solvents such as
benzene or gasoline.
After using chemical s, make sure to gently wipe them
off using a dry cloth.
Do not place used cloths on top of resin based parts
or textiles for long periods of time without washing.
Opening
■Cleaning the Window1Cleaning the Window
Wires are mounted to the in side of the rear window.
Wipe along the same direct ion as the wires with a
soft cloth so as not to damage them.

393
uuCleaning uExterior Care
Maintenance
The inside lenses of exterior lights (headlights, brake light s, etc.) may fog temporarily
if you have driven in the rain, or after the vehicle has been run through a car wash.
Dew condensation also may build up inside the lenses when there is a significant
enough difference between the ambient and inside lens temperatures (similar to
vehicle windows fogging up in rainy conditions).
These conditions are natura l processes, not structural design problems in the
exterior lights.
Lens design characteristics ma y result in moisture developing on the light lens frame
surfaces. This also is not a malfunction.
However, if you see large amounts wate r accumulation, or large water drops
building up inside the lenses, have your vehicle inspected by a dealer.
■Fogged Exterior Light Lenses

394
Maintenance
Accessories and Modifications
Accessories
When installing accessories, check the following:
• Do not install accessories on the windsh ield. They can obstruct your view and
delay your reaction to driving conditions.
• Do not install any accessorie s over areas marked SRS Airbag, on the sides or backs
of the front seats, on front or side pillars, or near the side windows.
Accessories installed in these areas may interfere with proper operation of the
vehicle’s airbags or may be propelled into you or another occupant if the airbags
deploy.
• Be sure electronic accessories do not over load electrical circuits or interfere with
proper operation of your vehicle.
2 Fuses P. 426
•Before installing any electronic accessory, have the inst aller contact a dealer for
assistance. If possible, have a d ealer inspect the final installation.
Modifications
Do not modify your vehicle in a manner that may affect its handling, stability, or
reliability, or install non-genuine Acura parts or accessories that may have a similar
effect.
Even minor modifications to vehicle systems can affect overall vehicle performance.
Always make sure all equipment is prop erly installed and maintained, and do not
make any modification to your vehicle or its systems that might cause your vehicle
to no longer meet federal, state, prov ince, territory, and local regulations.
Do not modify or attempt to repair any of the electrical components.
1Accessories and Modifications
Acura Genuine accessori es are recommended to
ensure proper operati on on your vehicle.
3WARNING
Improper accessories or modifications can
affect your vehicle’s handling, stability, and
performance, and cause a crash in which
you can be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instruction s in this owner’s
manual regarding accessories and
modifications.