brakes Acura ZDX 2012 Owner's Manual

U.S. Canada
Parking Brake
and Brake
System Indicator
This indicator has two functions:1. It comes on when you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. It is a reminder to check
the parking brake. Driving with
the parking brake not fully
released can damage the rear
brakes, axles, and tires.
If you drive without releasing the
parking brake, a beeper will
sound, and you will also see a
‘‘RELEASE PARKING BRAKE ’’
message on the multi-information
display (see page 90). 2. If it stays on after you have fully
released the parking brake while
the engine is running, or if it
comes on while driving, it can
indicate a problem in the brake
system. You will also see a ‘‘LOW
BRAKE FLUID ’’or ‘‘CHECK
BRAKE SYSTEM ’’message on the
multi-information display (see
pages 90). For more information,
see page 594.
Models equipped with the keyless
access system have an engine start/
stop button instead of an ignition
switch. ON mode is the equivalent of
ON (II). For more information, see
pages 194 and 196.
Supplemental Restraint
System Indicator
This indicator comes on briefly when
you turn the ignition switch
ꭧto the
ON (II) position. If it comes on at any
other time, it indicates a potential
problem with your front airbags. This
indicator will also alert you to a
potential problem with your airbag
system components. You will also
see a ‘‘CHECK AIRBAG SYSTEM ’’
message on the multi-information
display (see page 90). For more
information, see page 34.
ꭧ : Models equipped with the
keyless access system have an
engine start/stop button instead of
an ignition switch. ON mode is the
equivalent of ON (II), and START
mode is the equivalent of START
(III). For more information, see
pages 194 and 196.
Instrument Panel Indicators6609/10/28 17:15:37 10 ACURA ZDX KA KC New North America Own 50 31SZN600 enu

You can open and close the
panoramic glass roof and sunshade
for up to 10 minutes after you turn off
the ignition switch , or on models
with keyless access system, set the
power mode to VEHICLE OFF
(LOCK). Opening either front door
cancels this function.If you try to open the panoramic glass
roof in below-freezing temperatures, or
when it is covered with snow or ice, you
can damage the panoramic glass roof
panel or its motor.
You can use the remote transmitter/
keyless access remote or the key/
built-in key to operate the panoramic
glass roof and sunshade from the
outside. Refer to page 172 for details.Parking Brake
To apply the parking brake, push the
pedal down with your foot. To
release it, push on the pedal again.
The parking brake indicator on the
instrument panel should go out when
the parking brake is fully released
(see page 66).
If you drive without releasing the
parking brake, a beeper will sound,
and you will also see a
‘‘RELEASE
PARKING BRAKE ’’message on the
multi-information display (see page
90).
Driving the vehicle with the parking
brake applied can damage the rear
brakes and axles. A beeper will sound if
the vehicle is driven with the parking
brake on.
PARKING BRAKE PEDAL
Panoramic Glass Roof, Parking Brake17609/10/28 17:15:37 10 ACURA ZDX KA KC New North America Own 50 31SZN600 enu

Cruise control may not hold the set
speed when you are going up and
down hills. If your vehicle speed
increases going down a hill, use the
brakes to slow down. This will cancel
the cruise control. To resume the set
speed, press the RES/ACCEL
button. The CRUISE CONTROL
indicator on the instrument panel will
come back on.Changing the Set Speed
You can increase the set cruising
speed in any of these ways:
●Press and hold the RES/ACCEL
button. When you reach the
desired cruising speed, release the
button.●Push on the accelerator pedal.
Accelerate to the desired cruising
speed, then press the SET/
DECEL button.●To increase the speed in very
small amounts, tap the RES/
ACCEL button. Each time you do
this, your vehicle will speed up
about 1 mph (1.6 km/h).You can decrease the set cruising
speed in any of these ways:
●Press and hold the SET/DECEL
button. Release the button when
you reach the desired speed.●To slow down in very small
amounts, tap the SET/DECEL
button. Each time you do this,
your vehicle will slow down about
1 mph (1.6 km/h).●Tap the brake pedal lightly with
your foot. The CRUISE CONTROL
indicator on the instrument panel
will go out. When the vehicle
slows to the desired speed, press
the SET/DECEL button.
Cruise Control38009/10/28 17:15:37 10 ACURA ZDX KA KC New North America Own 50 31SZN600 enu

Limitations●ACC does not work below 25 mph
(40 km/h). It cannot bring your
vehicle to a complete stop.●ACC will not sound a beeper or
display a message on the multi-
information display to warn you of
vehicles going slower than 13 mph
(20 km/h) or vehicles that are
parked. In these cases, it is up to
you to maintain a safe distance by
using the brake pedal.●ACC may not recognize
motorcycles or other small
vehicles ahead of your vehicle.●ACC may react to vehicles beside
you or even a building beside you
by momentarily applying the
brakes or sounding a beeper
under conditions such as a sudden
curve or narrowing of the road, an
abrupt movement of the steering
wheel, or if you are in an unusual
position within your lane.Using the ACC
1. Push the MAIN button on the
steering wheel. The ACC indicator
on the instrument panel comes on,
and ‘‘ACC ’’is shown on the multi-
information display.
2. Accelerate to the desired speed above 25 mph (40 km/h).
3. Press and release the SET/DECEL button on the steering
wheel, then release the accelerator
pedal.
If you press the SET/DECEL button
when the vehicle speed is below 25
mph (40 km/h), you will hear a beep
about 1 second. This means ACC is
not activated, and you cannot set
your speed.
MAIN BUTTON
SET/DECEL BUTTON
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)38609/10/28 17:15:37 10 ACURA ZDX KA KC New North America Own 50 31SZN600 enu

MessageDescription MessageDescription
ACC has automatically canceled
because its radar sensor in the front
grille is dirty.
You will hear a beep for about 1
second. Apply the brakes immediately.
Your vehicle is too close to the
vehicle ahead of it.
You will hear a continuous beep.
If CMBS is turned off, there is no
multi-information display message
and the warning beep does not
sound.
ACC has automatically canceled
because of bad weather or other
conditions.
You will hear a beep for about 1
second. ACC needs to be checked.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)39409/10/28 17:15:37 10 ACURA ZDX KA KC New North America Own 50 31SZN600 enu

Break-in Period
Help assure your vehicle's future
reliability and performance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the first 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period:●Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration.●Avoid hard braking for the first 200
miles (300 km).●Do not change the oil until the
multi-information display indicates
it is needed.●Do not tow a trailer.
You should also follow these
recommendations with an
overhauled or exchanged engine, or
when the brakes are replaced. Fuel Recommendation
Your vehicle is designed to operate
on premium unleaded gasoline with
a pump octane of 91 or higher. If this
octane grade is unavailable, regular
unleaded gasoline with a pump
octane of 87 or higher may be used
temporarily. The use of regular
unleaded gasoline can cause metallic
knocking noises in the engine and
will result in decreased engine
performance. The long-term use of
regular-grade gasoline can lead to
engine damage.
We recommend quality gasolines
containing detergent additives that
help prevent fuel system and engine
deposits.
In addition, in order to maintain good
performance, fuel economy, and
emissions control, we strongly
recommend, in areas where it is
available, the use of gasoline that
does NOT contain manganese-based
fuel additives such as MMT.Use of gasoline with these additives
may adversely affect performance,
and cause the malfunction indicator
lamp on your instrument panel to
come on. If this happens, contact
your dealer for service.
Some gasoline today is blended with
oxygenates such as ethanol or
MTBE. Your vehicle is designed to
operate on oxygenated gasoline
containing up to 10% ethanol by
volume and up to 15% MTBE by
volume. Do not use gasoline
containing methanol.
If you notice any undesirable
operating symptoms, try another
service station or switch to another
brand of gasoline.Break-in Period, Fuel Recommendation45409/10/28 17:15:37 10 ACURA ZDX KA KC New North America Own 50 31SZN600 enu

Modifying your vehicle, or installing
some non-Acura accessories, can
make your vehicle unsafe. Before
you make any modifications or add
any accessories, be sure to read the
following information.
Accessories
Your dealer has Acura accessories
that allow you to personalize your
vehicle. These accessories have been
designed and approved for your
vehicle, and are covered by warranty.
Although non-Acura accessories may
fit on your vehicle, they may not
meet factory specifications, and could
adversely affect your vehicle's
handling, stability, and reliability.
Improper accessories or
modifications can affect your
vehicle's handling, stability, and
performance, and cause a
crash in which you can be hurt
or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner's manual regarding
accessories and modifications.
When properly installed, cellular
phones, alarms, two-way radios, and
low-powered audio systems should
not interfere with your vehicle's
computer controlled systems, such
as your airbags, anti-lock brakes, and
tire pressure monitoring system. Before installing any accessory:
●Make sure the accessory does not
obscure any lights, or interfere
with proper vehicle operation or
performance.●Be sure electronic accessories do
not overload electrical circuits (see
page 595) or interfere with proper
operation of your vehicle.●Do not install accessories on the
side pillars or across the rear
windows. Accessories installed in
these areas may interfere with
proper operation of the side
curtain airbags.●Before installing any electronic
accessory, have the installer
contact your dealer for assistance.
If possible, have your dealer
inspect the final installation.
CONTINUED
Accessories and Modifications
463
Before Driving
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Modifying Your Vehicle
Removing parts from your vehicle, or
replacing components with
non-Acura components could
seriously affect your vehicle's
handling, stability, and reliability.
Some examples are:●Lowering your vehicle with a non-
Acura suspension kit that
significantly reduces ground
clearance can allow the
undercarriage to hit speed bumps
or other raised objects, which
could cause the airbags to deploy.●Raising your vehicle with a non-
Acura suspension kit can affect the
handling, stability, and reliability.●Non-Acura wheels, because they
are a universal design, can cause
excessive stress on suspension
components and will not be
compatible with the tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS).
●Larger or smaller wheels and tires
can interfere with the operation of
your vehicle's anti-lock brakes and
other systems.
Modifying your steering wheel or
any other part of your vehicle's safety
features can make the systems
ineffective.
If you plan to modify your vehicle,
consult your dealer.
Accessories and Modifications46409/10/28 17:15:37 10 ACURA ZDX KA KC New North America Own 50 31SZN600 enu

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
automatic transmission. It also
includes important information on
parking your vehicle, the braking
system, the Super Handling-All
Wheel Drive™(SH-AWD
®) system,
the vehicle stability assist (VSA
®),
aka electronic stability control (ESC)
system, active damper system (if
equipped), the tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS), the
collision mitigation braking system ™
(CMBS ™) (if equipped), the blind
spot information system (BSI) (if
equipped), and facts you need if you
are planning to tow a trailer or drive
off-high way. Driving Guidelines
......................
472
Preparing to Drive
......................
472
Starting the Engine (Models without Keyless Access
System)
...........................
473
Check Starting System
Message
.............................
474
Starting the Engine (Models with Keyless Access System)
......
475
Check Starting System Message
.............................
476
Automatic Transmission
.............
477
Driving with the Paddle
Shifters
...................................
482
Super Handling-All Wheel
Drive ™(SH-AWD
®)
System
................................
487
Parking
.......................................
489
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
...................................
490
Braking System
..........................
495
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
...............
496
Collision Mitigation Braking System ™(CMBS ™)
...............
498Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA
®),
aka Electronic Stability Control
(ESC), System
.....................
508
Blind Spot Information System
(BSI)
.......................................
511
Integrated Dynamics System
(IDS)
.......................................
519
Towing a Trailer
..........................
522
Off-Highway Driving
Guidelines
...............................
528
Driving
471
Driving
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Always use the parking brake when
you park your vehicle. Make sure the
parking brake is set firmly, or your
vehicle may roll if it is parked on an
incline.
Set the parking brake before you put
the transmission in Park. This keeps
the vehicle from moving and putting
pressure on the parking mechanism
in the transmission.Parking Tips
●Make sure the panoramic glass
roof and the windows are closed.●Turn off the lights.●Place any packages, valuables, etc.
in the cargo area or take them with
you.●Lock the doors and the tailgate.
●Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other flammable
materials. The hot three way
catalytic converter could cause
these materials to catch on fire.●If the vehicle is facing uphill, turn
the front wheels away from the
curb.●If the vehicle is facing downhill,
turn the front wheels toward the
curb.●Check the indicator on the
instrument panel to verify that the
security system is set.●Make sure the parking brake is
fully released before driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or
damage the rear brakes.
Parking
489
Driving
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