Acura RDX 2018 Repair Manual
Manufacturer: ACURA, Model Year: 2018, Model line: RDX, Model: Acura RDX 2018Pages: 453, PDF Size: 20.13 MB
Page 61 of 453

uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
60
Safe Driving
6. Grab the shoulder part of the seat belt near 
the buckle, and pull up to remove any slack 
from the lap part of the belt.
u When doing this, place your weight on 
the child seat and push it into the vehicle 
seat.
7. Make sure the child seat is firmly secured by 
rocking it forward and back and side to 
side; less than one inch of movement 
should occur near the seat belt.
8. Make sure any unused se at belt that a child 
can reach is buckled, the lockable retractor 
is activated, and the be lt is fully retracted 
and locked.
2 Protecting Child Passengers P. 52
Two tether anchorage points are provided 
behind the rear outer seating positions and 
one in the ceiling for the rear center. A child 
seat that is installed with a seat belt and 
comes with a tether can use the tether for 
additional security.
1Installing a Child Seat with  a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt
To deactivate a lockable retractor, release the buckle 
and allow the seat belt to wind up all the way.
■Adding Security with a Tether1 Adding Security with a Tether
Since a tether can provide  additional security to the 
lap/shoulder seat belt in stallation, we recommend 
using a tether whenever one is available.
Tether Anchorage Points
Anchor 
Page 62 of 453

61
uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
Safe Driving
■Using an outer anchor
1. Put the head restraint to its upper-most 
position, then route the tether strap 
through the head restraint legs. Make sure 
the strap is not twisted.
2. Secure the tether strap hook onto the 
anchor.
3. Tighten the tether strap  as instructed by the 
child seat manufacturer.
■Using the center anchor
1. Lower the head restraint to its lowest 
position.
2. Open the anchor cover.
3. Route the tether strap over the head 
restraint. Make sure the strap is not twisted.
4. Secure the tether strap hook onto the 
anchor.
5. Tighten the tether strap  as instructed by the 
child seat manufacturer.
Tether 
Strap 
Hook
Anchor
Tether Strap 
Hook
Anchor 
Page 63 of 453

62
uuChild Safety uSafety of Larger Children
Safe Driving
Safety of Larger Children
The 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
3WARNING
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 ri de 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, us ing a booster seat if 
needed. 
Page 64 of 453

63
uuChild Safety uSafety of Larger Children
Safe DrivingIf a lap/shoulder seat  belt cannot be used 
properly, position the child in a booster seat in 
a rear seating position.  For the child’s safety, 
check that the child meets the booster seat 
manufacturer’s recommendations.
Your vehicle has a rear seat where children can be properly restrained. If you ever 
have to carry a group of children, and a child must ride in front:
• Make sure you read and fully understand  the instructions and safety information 
in this manual.
• Move the front passenger seat as far back as possible.
• Have the child sit upright and well back in the seat.
• Check that the seat belt is properly positi oned so that the child is secure in the 
seat.
■Monitoring child passengers
We strongly recommend that you keep an ey e on child passengers. Even older, more 
mature children sometimes need to be remind ed to fasten their seat belts and sit up 
properly.
■Booster Seats1 Booster Seats
When installing a booster seat, make sure to read the 
instructions that came with it, and install the seat 
accordingly.
There are high- and low-type  booster seats. Choose a 
booster seat that allows the child to wear the seat 
belt correctly.
Some U.S. states and Canadian provinces and 
territories require  children to use a booster seat until 
they reach a given age or  weight (e.g. 6 years or 60 
lbs). Be sure to check current laws in the state or 
province, or territory where you intend to drive.
■Protecting Larger Children-Final Checks 
Page 65 of 453

64
Safe Driving
Exhaust Gas Hazard
Carbon Monoxide Gas
The 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 in spected for leaks whenever
• The exhaust system is m aking 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 tailgat e open, airflow can pull exhaust gas into 
the interior and create a hazardous conditio n. 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 afte r starting the engine.
3WARNING
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. 
Page 66 of 453

65
Safe Driving
Safety Labels
Label Locations
These labels are in the locations shown. They warn you of potenti al hazards that can cause serious injury or death. Read these labels 
carefully.
If a label comes off or becomes hard to read (except for the U. S. dashboard label which may be removed by the owner), contact a  dealer 
for a replacement.
Sun Visor
U.S. models Canadian models
Radiator Cap
U.S. models only
Dashboard
U.S. models only
Sun Visor 
Page 67 of 453

66
Page 68 of 453

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 ...................... 84
Gauges and Multi-Information Display Gauges .............................................. 95
Multi-Information Display .................. 96 
Page 69 of 453

68
Instrument Panel
Indicators
*1:On the left: Models without full color display On the right: Models with full color display
IndicatorNameOn/BlinkingExplanationMessage*1
Parking Brake 
and Brake 
System Indicator 
(Red)
●Comes on for a few  seconds when you 
set the power mode to ON, then goes 
off if the parking brake has been 
released.
●Comes on when the parking brake is 
applied, and goes off when it is 
released.
●Comes on when the brake fluid level is 
low.
●Comes on if there is a problem with 
the brake system.
●The beeper sounds and the indicator 
comes on if you drive with the parking 
brake not fully released.
●Comes on while driving  - 
Make sure the parking brake is 
released. Check the brake fluid 
level.
2 What to do when the 
indicator comes on while 
driving  P. 424
●Comes on along with the ABS 
indicator  - Have the vehicle 
checked by a dealer.
2 If the Brake System 
Indicator (Red) Comes On  
P. 424
Brake System 
Indicator 
(Amber)
●Comes on for a few  seconds when you 
set the power mode to ON, then goes 
off.
●Comes on if there is a problem with a 
system related to braking other than 
the conventional brake system.
●Stays on constantly  - Have the 
vehicle checked by a dealer.
—
U.S.
Canada
(Red)
U.S.
Canada
(Amber)
U.S.U.S.
Canada 
Page 70 of 453

69
uuIndicators u
Continued
Instrument Panel
*1:On the left: Models wi thout full color display 
On the right: Models with full color display
IndicatorNameOn/BlinkingExplanationMessage*1
Low Oil Pressure 
Indicator
●Comes on when you set the power 
mode to ON, and goes off when the 
engine starts.
●Comes on when the engine oil 
pressure is low.
●Comes on while driving - 
Immediately stop  in a safe place.
2If the Low Oil Pressure 
Indicator Comes On  P. 422
Malfunction 
Indicator Lamp
●Comes on when you set the power 
mode to ON, and goes off either when 
the engine starts or after several 
seconds if the engine does not start. If 
“readiness codes” have not been set, 
it blinks five times before it goes off.
●Comes on if there is a problem with 
the emissions control system.
●Blinks when a misfire in the engine’s 
cylinders is detected.
●Readiness codes are part of the 
on board diagnostics for the 
emissions control systems.
2Testing of Readiness Codes  
P. 437
●Comes on while driving - Have 
the vehicle checked by a dealer.
●Blinks while driving  - Stop in a 
safe place where there are no 
flammable objects. Stop the 
engine for 10 minutes or more, 
and wait for it to cool down. 
Then, take the vehicle to a dealer.
2 If the Malfunction Indicator 
Lamp Comes On or Blinks  
P. 423