dashboard Acura RDX 2018 Owner's Manual
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: ACURA, Model Year: 2018, Model line: RDX, Model: Acura RDX 2018Pages: 453, PDF Size: 20.13 MB
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Quick Reference Guide
Climate Control System (P 182)
● Press the  AUTO button to activate the climate control system.
● Press the   button to turn  the system on or off.
● Press the   button to de frost the windshield.
The climate control system is voice operable. See the navigation system manual for complete details.
Models with navigation system
Driver’s Side Temperature 
Control Dial / (Fan Control) Buttons
 (Windshield Defroster) Button
A/C
 (Air Conditioning) Button
Air flows from floor and 
windshield defroster vents. Air flows from floor vents. Air flows from floor and 
dashboard vents. Air flows from dashboard 
vents.
SYNC  (Synchronized) Button
(Recirculation) Button
AUTO  Button Passenger’s Side Temperature 
Control Dial
MODE Control Button (On/Off) Button 
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Quick Reference Guide
Maintenance (P 345)
Under the Hood (P 353)
● Check engine oil, engine coolant, and windshield washer 
fluid. Add when necessary.
● Check brake fluid.
● Check the battery condition monthly.
aPull the hood release handle under the corner of the 
dashboard.
bLocate the hood latch lever, sl ide the lever, and lift up the 
hood.
cWhen finished, close the hood  and make sure it is firmly 
locked in place.
Lights (P 365)
● Inspect all lights regularly.
Wiper Blades (P 372)
● Replace blades if they leave streaks 
across the windshield.
Tires (P 376)
● Inspect tires and wheels regularly.
● Check tire pressures regularly.
● Install snow tires for winter 
driving.
* Not available on all models 
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uuAirbags uAirbag System Components
Safe Driving
The front, front side, and side curtain 
airbags are deployed  according to the 
direction and severity of impact. Both side 
curtain airbags are deployed in a rollover.
The airbag system includes:
aTwo SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) 
front airbags. The driver’s airbag is stored 
in the center of the steering wheel; the 
front passenger’s airbag is stored in the 
dashboard. Both are marked  SRS 
AIRBAG.
bTwo side airbags, one for the driver and 
one for a front passenger. The airbags are 
stored in the outer edges of the seat-
backs. Both are marked SIDE AIRBAG .
cTwo side curtain airbags, one for each 
side of the vehicle. The airbags are stored 
in the ceiling, above the side windows. 
The front and rear pillars are marked 
SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG.
dAn electronic control unit that, when the 
vehicle is on, continually monitors 
information about the various impact 
sensors, seat and buckle sensors, rollover 
sensor, airbag activators, seat belt 
tensioners, and other vehicle 
information. During  a crash event the 
unit can record such information.
eAutomatic front seat belt tensioners. In 
addition, the driver’s and front 
passenger’s seat belt buckles incorporate 
sensors that detect whether or not the 
belts are fastened.
fA driver’s seat position sensor. If the seat 
is too far forward, the airbag will inflate 
with less force.
gWeight sensors in the front passenger’s 
seat. The front passenger’s airbag will be 
turned off if the weight  on the seat is 65 
lbs (29 kg) or less (the weight of an infant 
or small child).
hImpact sensors that can detect a 
moderate-to-severe front or side impact.
iAn indicator on the dashboard that alerts 
you that the front passenger’s front 
airbag has been turned off.
jAn indicator on the instrument panel that 
alerts you to a possible problem with your 
airbag system or seat belt tensioners.
kA rollover sensor that detects whether 
the vehicle is about to roll over. 
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uuAirbags uAirbag System Components
Safe DrivingAirbags can pose serious hazards. To do  their job, airbags must inflate with 
tremendous force. So, while airbags help sa ve lives, they can cause burns, bruises, 
and other minor injuries, and sometimes  even fatal ones if occupants are not 
wearing their seat belts properly and sitting correctly.
What you should do: Always wear your seat belt  properly, and sit upright and as 
far back from the steering wheel as possibl e while allowing full control of the 
vehicle. A front passenger should move thei r seat as far back from the dashboard as 
possible.
Remember, however, that no safety system ca n prevent all injuries or deaths that 
can occur in a severe crash, even when s eat belts are properly worn and the airbags 
deploy.
Do not place hard or sharp objects between yourself and a front airbag.  
Carrying hard or sharp objects on your lap, or driving with a pipe or other sharp 
object in your mouth, can result in in juries if your front airbag inflates.
Do not attach or place objects on the front airbag covers.  Objects on the 
covers marked SRS AIRBAG  could interfere with the proper operation of the airbags 
or be propelled inside the vehicle an d hurt someone if the airbags inflate.
■Important Facts About Your Airbags1Important Facts About Your Airbags
Do not attempt to deactivate your airbags. Together, 
airbags and seat belts pr ovide the best protection.
When driving, keep hands and arms out of the 
deployment path of the fro nt airbag by holding each 
side of the steering wheel.  Do not cross an arm over 
the airbag cover. 
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uuAirbags uTypes of Airbags
Safe Driving
Types of Airbags
Your vehicle is equipped with three types of airbags:
• Front airbags:  Airbags in front of the driver ’s and front passenger’s seats.
• Side airbags:  Airbags in the driver’s and  front passenger’s seat-backs.
• Side curtain airbags: Airbags above the side windows.
Each is discussed in the following pages.
Front Airbags (SRS)
The front SRS airbags inflate in a moderate-to -severe frontal collision to help protect 
the head and chest of the driver and/or front passenger.
SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) indica tes that the airbags are designed to 
supplement seat belts, not replace them.  Seat belts are the occupant’s primary 
restraint system.
The front airbags are housed  in the center of the steering wheel for the driver, and 
in the dashboard for the front pass enger. Both airbags are marked SRS AIRBAG.
■Housing Locations
1Types of Airbags
The airbags can inflate whenever the power mode is 
in ON.
After an airbag inflates in a crash, you may see a 
small amount of smoke. This is from the combustion 
process of the infl ator material and  is not harmful. 
People with respiratory pr oblems may experience 
some temporary discomfort. If  this occurs, get out of 
the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
1 Front Airbags (SRS)
During a frontal crash severe  enough to cause one or 
both front airbags to deploy, the airbags can inflate 
at different rates, dependi ng on the severity of the 
crash, whether or not the se at belts are latched, and/
or other factors. Frontal airbags are designed to 
supplement the seat belts to help reduce the 
likelihood of head and chest injuries in frontal 
crashes. 
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uuAirbags uFront Airbags (SRS)
Safe DrivingYour front airbags have advanced features to help reduce the likelihood of airbag 
related injuries to smaller occupants.
The driver’s advanced front airbag system 
includes a seat position sensor.
If the seat is too far forward, the airbag 
inflates with less force, regardless of the 
severity of the impact.
The passenger’s advanced front airbag system 
has weight sensors.
We advise against allowi ng a child age 12 or 
under to ride in the front passenger’s seat. 
However,  if you do allow a child age 12 or 
under to ride in the front passenger’s 
seat,  note that the system will automatically 
turn off the front passenger’s airbag if the 
sensors detect that the child is approximately 
65 lbs (29 kg) or less.
■Advanced Airbags1 Advanced Airbags
If there is a problem with the driver’s seat position 
sensor, the SRS indicator wi ll come on and the airbag 
will inflate with full (normal) force, regardless of the 
driver’s seating position.
For both advanced front airbags to work properly:
•Do not spill any liquid on or under the seats.•Do not put any object under the passenger’s seat.
•Make sure any objects  are positioned properly on 
the floor. Improperly pos itioned objects can 
interfere with the advanced airbag sensors.
•All occupants should sit upri ght and wear their seat 
belts properly.
•Do not place any cover over the passenger side 
dashboard.
Driver’s 
Seat 
Position 
Sensor
Passenger’s 
Seat 
Weight 
Sensors 
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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 unatte nded, 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.1 Protecting 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 pa ssenger’s front airbag 
hazards and child safety, y our vehicle warning came 
with a label on the dashboard (U.S. models) and has 
labels on the front visors. Pl ease read and follow the 
instructions on these labels.
2 Safety Labels  P. 65
3WARNING
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. 
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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 
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uuOpening and Closing the Tailgate uOpening/Closing the Power Tailgate
Continued
Controls
Opening/Closing the Power Tailgate
The power tailgate can be operated by pr essing the power tailgate button on the 
remote transmitter, pressing the power tailgate switch on the dashboard, or 
pressing the button on the tailgate.
■The power tailgate can be opened when:
• The tailgate is fully closed.
• The shift lever is in 
(P.
■The power tailgate ca n be closed when:
• The tailgate is fully open.
• The shift lever is in 
(P.
1Opening/Closing the Power Tailgate
NOTICE
Do not push or pull on the power tailgate when it is 
being automatically opened or closed.
Forcibly opening or closing  the power tailgate while 
in operation can deform the tailgate frame.
When operating the power tailgate, make sure there 
is enough space around your ve hicle. People near the 
tailgate may be se riously hurt if the tailgate hits or 
closes on their heads. Be  especially cautious if 
children are around.
The power tailgate may not  open or close under the 
following conditions:
•You start the engine while the tailgate is automatically 
opening or closing.
•The vehicle is park ed on a steep hill.
•The vehicle is swayed in a strong wind.
•The tailgate or the roof is  covered with snow or ice.
If you close the power tail gate when all the doors are 
locked, the power tailgate locks automatically.
3WARNING
Closing a power tailga te while anyone is 
in the path of the tailgate can cause 
serious injury.
Make sure everyone is clear before 
closing the power tailgate. 
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Continued137
uuOpening and Closing the Tailgate uOpening/Closing the Power Tailgate
Controls
To open or close the power tailgate, press the 
power tailgate button on the dashboard for 
about one second. The beeper sounds and 
some exterior lights flash.
To reverse direction while the power tailgate is 
in operation, press the button again. The 
beeper sounds three times and the tailgate 
reverses direction.
Press the button on the tailgate to close the 
power tailgate.
If you press the button again while the power 
tailgate is closing, it stops and reverses 
direction.
If you manually close the power tailgate, it latches automatically.
■Power Tailgate Button
Power Tailgate Button
■Power Tailgate Close Button1 Power Tailgate Close Button
If you push the power tailga te close button while the 
tailgate is automaticall y opening or closing, the 
power tailgate ope ration stops. Use caution if the 
tailgate stops in the middle  of either operation. It may 
suddenly swing up or down.
Power Tailgate 
Close Button
■Auto-Closer
1 Auto-Closer
The auto-closer feature does  not activate if you push 
the tailgate release button while the power tailgate is 
closing.
Do not put any force on the  tailgate while the power 
tailgate is latching.
Keep your hands away from the tailgate when you 
manually close the tailga te and let it latch 
automatically. It is dange rous to put your hands 
around the tailgate as it st arts to latch itself.