manual transmission Acura ZDX 2012 Owner's Manual

Contents
A convenient reference to the
sections in this manual.
Your Vehicle at a Glance
A quick reference to the main
controls in your vehicle.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Important information about the
proper use and care of your vehicle's
seat belts, an overview of the
supplemental restraint system, and
valuable information on how to
protect children with child restraints.
Instruments and Controls
Explains the purpose of each
instrument panel indicator and
gauge, and how to use the controls
on the dashboard and steering
column.
Features
How to operate the climate control
system, the audio system, and other
convenience features.Before Driving
What gasoline to use, how to break-
in your new vehicle, and how to load
luggage and other cargo.
Driving
The proper way to start the engine,
shift the transmission, and park; plus
what you need to know if you're
planning to tow a trailer.
Maintenance
The maintenance minder shows you
when you need to take your vehicle
to the dealer for maintenance
service. There is also a list of things
to check and instructions on how to
check them.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
This section covers several problems
motorists sometimes experience, and
details how to handle them.
Technical Information
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities,
and technical information.
Warranty and Client Relations
(U.S. and Canada only)
A summary of the warranties
covering your new vehicle, and how
to contact us for any reason. Refer to
your warranty manual for detailed
information.
Index
Service Information Summary
A summary of the information you
need when you pull up to the fuel
pump.Overview of Contents209/10/28 17:15:37 10 ACURA ZDX KA KC New North America Own 50 31SZN600 enu

S position (S)－To shift into the S
position, press the release button on
the front of the shift lever, and move
the lever to S. This position is similar
to D, except only gears from first to
fifth are selected. (When shifting up
automatically, the vehicle speed is
higher than when in the D position.)
The S position keeps the
transmission from cycling between
fourth, fifth, and sixth gears in stop-
and-go driving.
With the shift lever in D or S, you
can also use the paddle shifters to
shift the transmission up or down.
With the paddle shifters, you can
operate the transmission much like a
manual transmission without a clutch
pedal. For more information on
driving with the paddle shifters, see
page 482. Engine Speed Limiter
If you exceed the maximum speed
for the gear you are in, the engine
speed will enter into the
tachometer's red zone. If this occurs,
you may feel the engine cut in and
out. This is caused by a limiter in the
engine's computer controls. The
engine will run normally when you
reduce the rpm below the red zone.
The engine may cut in and out in R
position or depending on the road
condition, even when the engine
speed is lower than the tachometer's
red zone. This is the engine's
computer working to protect the
transmission.
Shift Lock Release
This allows you to move the shift
lever out of Park if the normal
method of pushing on the brake
pedal and pressing the release button
does not work.
1. Set the parking brake.
2.
On models without keyless access
systemRemove the key from the ignition
switch.On models with keyless accesssystemRemove the built-in key from the
keyless access remote (see page
207).
Automatic Transmission48009/10/28 17:15:37 10 ACURA ZDX KA KC New North America Own 50 31SZN600 enu

Using the Paddle Shifters in the D
position (D-Paddle Shift Mode)
When you are driving in the D
position, you can shift the
transmission up or down manually
with the paddle shifters.To shift up or down, use the＋
(right) or －(left) paddle shifter on
either side of the steering wheel.
Each time you pull ＋(right), the
transmission shifts to a higher gear.
Pull －(left) to downshift. You will
see the selected gear number on the
instrument panel.
When you pull either paddle shifter,
the gear position indicator shows you
the selected gear number. Downshifting with the paddle shifter
allows you to increase the engine
braking when going down steep or
long hills, and provides more power
when climbing uphills. You can
upshift the transmission manually to
reduce the rpm.
GEAR POSITION INDICATOR
Driving with the Paddle Shifters48209/10/28 17:15:37 10 ACURA ZDX KA KC New North America Own 50 31SZN600 enu

Using the Paddle Shifters in the S
position (Sequential Shift Mode)
With the shift lever in the S position,
you can select the sequential shift
mode to shift gears; much like a
manual transmission using the
paddle shifters, but without a clutch
pedal.
Shifting between first and second
gears may occur automatically.
Downshifting from second to first
with the accelerator pedal off is not
allowed.To enter the sequential shift mode,
press the release button on the front
of the shift lever, move the lever to
the S position, then pull either paddle
shifter. To cancel the sequential shift
mode and return to the ordinary
automatic transmission, move the
shift lever from S position. When
moving the shift lever, be careful not
to operate incorrectly. While you are
driving in the sequential shift mode,
the transmission will not
automatically return to ordinary
automatic transmission.
When you move the shift lever from
‘‘
D ’’to ‘‘S ’’ and pull either paddle
shifter, the gear position indicator
displays ‘‘M’’ along with the selected
gear number.
To upshift, pull the ＋(right) paddle
shifter. To downshift, pull the －
(left) paddle shifter.
GEAR POSITION INDICATOR
‘‘ M’’ INDICATOR
Driving with the Paddle Shifters48409/10/28 17:15:37 10 ACURA ZDX KA KC New North America Own 50 31SZN600 enu

When you accelerate from a stop, the
transmission starts in first gear, and
shifts from first to second
automatically.You must manually
upshift between second and fifth
gears. Make sure you upshift before
the engine speed reaches the
tachometer's red zone.The transmission remains in the
selected gear (6, 5, 4, 3, or 2). There
is no automatic downshift when you
push the accelerator pedal to the
floor.
When you are driving, the
transmission downshifts to the lower
gear under the following conditions:
●The vehicle slows down to a
certain speed.●You press the brake pedal.●The vehicle detects that you are
driving uphill or downhill.Downshifting with the paddle shifter
allows you to increase the engine
braking when going down steep or
long hills, and provides more power
when climbing uphills. You can
upshift the transmission manually to
reduce the rpm.
The transmission also shifts
automatically as the vehicle comes to
a complete stop. It downshifts to first
gear when the vehicle speed reaches
6 mph (9 km/h) or less.
CONTINUED
Driving with the Paddle Shifters
485
Driving
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This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and how to follow basic
maintenance safety precautions.
This section also includes
instructions on how to read the
maintenance minder messages on
the multi-information display, and
instructions for simple maintenance
tasks you may want to take care of
yourself.
If you have the skills and tools to
perform more complex maintenance
tasks on your vehicle, you may want
to purchase the service manual. See
page 625 for information on how to
obtain a copy, or see your dealer.U.S. Vehicles:
Maintenance,
replacement, or repair of
emissions control devices and
systems may be done by any
automotive repair establishment
or individual using parts that are
‘‘certified’’ to EPA standards. Maintenance Safety
.....................
532
Maintenance Minder
..................
533
Fluid Locations
...........................
543
Engine Compartment Cover
........
544
Adding Engine Oil
......................
545
Changing the Engine Oil and
Filter
.......................................
546
Engine Coolant
...........................
548
Windshield Washers
...................
550
Automatic Transmission Fluid
....
551
Brake Fluid
.................................
553
Power Steering Fluid
..................
554
Timing Belt
.................................
554
Lights
..........................................
555
Dust and Pollen Filter
.................
562
Cleaning the Seat Belts
...............
562
Floor Mats
..................................
563
Wiper Blades
..............................
564
Tires
...........................................
567
Checking the Battery
..................
573
Vehicle Storage
...........................
575
Interior Care
...............................
576
Maintenance
531
Maintenance
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Cruise Main Indicator
..................
71
Cup Holders
...............................
213
Customize Settings
......................
94
D
DANGER, Explanation of
.............
iii
Dashboard
...............................
3, 62
Daytime Running Lights
............
141
Dead Battery
..............................
587
Defects, Reporting Safety
...........
624
Defogger, Rear Window
.............
143
Defrosting the Windows
............
225
Dimensions
................................
608
Dimming the Headlights
............
139
Dipstick Automatic Transmission
.........
551
Engine Oil
...............................
458
Directional Signals
...............
68, 139
Disc Brake Wear Indicators.......
495
Disc Care
...................................
365
Disc Changer
.............................
244
Disc Changer Error
Messages
...............................
254
Disc Player
..........................
244, 300 Disc Player Error Messages
......
311
Disposal of Used Oil
...................
547
Doors Childproof Door Locks
............
153
Locking and Unlocking
...........
151
Lockout Prevention
.................
152
Power Door Locks
..................
151
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
................................
610
Driver and Passenger Safety
..........
5
Driving
.......................................
471
Economy
.................................
460
Driving Guidelines
.....................
472
Driving Position Memory System
...................................
180
Driving with the Paddle Shifters
...................................
482
Dust and Pollen Filter
................
562
E
Economy, Fuel
...........................
460
Electric Power Steering (EPS)
Indicator
...................................
74 Emergencies on the Road
..........
577
Battery, Jump Starting
.............
587
Brake System Indicator
.....
66, 594
Changing a Flat Tire
...............
579
Charging System Indicator
........................
65, 592
Checking the Fuses
................
596
Driving with a Flat Tire
...........
578
Hazard Warning Flashers
.......
143
Jump Starting
..........................
587
Low Oil Pressure Indicator
........................
65, 591
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
.............................
65, 593
Opening the Fuel Fill Door Manually
.............................
602
Overheated Engine
.................
589
Towing
....................................
602
Emergency Brake
......................
176
Emergency Flashers
..................
143
Emergency Towing
....................
602
Emissions Controls
....................
616
Emissions Testing
......................
619
CONTINUED
Index
III
INDEX
09/10/28 17:15:37 10 ACURA ZDX KA KC New North America Own 50 31SZN600 enu

EngineAdding Engine Coolant
...........
548
Coolant Temperature Gauge
....
77
If it Won't Start
........................
585
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
.............................
65, 593
Oil Life Indicator
.....................
533
Oil Pressure Indicator
.......
65, 591
Oil, What Kind to Use
.............
545
Overheating
............................
589
Specifications
..........................
609
Speed Limiter
..........................
480
Engine Coolant
..........................
548
Ethanol in Gasoline
....................
454
Evaporative Emissions Controls
..................................
616
Exhaust Fumes
............................
58
Exhaust Gas Recirculation System
...................................
617
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat Belts by
....................................
19
F
Fan, Interior
...............................
223 Features
.....................................
219
Filters Dust and Pollen
.......................
562
Oil
...........................................
546
Flashers, Hazard Warning
.........
143
Flat Tire, Changing a
.................
579
Floor Mats
.................................
563
Fluids Automatic Transmission
.........
551
Brake
......................................
553
Location
..................................
543
Power Steering
........................
554
Windshield Washer
.................
550
FM/AM Radio Reception
...........
369
Fog Lights
..................................
141
Four-way Flashers
......................
143
Front Airbags
.........................
10, 28
Front Seat
..................................
161
Adjusting
.................................
161
Front Seat Heaters and Seat Ventilation
..............................
168
Fuel
............................................
454
Economy
.................................
460
Fill Door and Cap
....................
455
Gauge
......................................
76
Low Fuel Indicator
...................
72 Octane Requirement
...............
454
Opening the Fuel Fill Door Manually
.............................
602
Reserve Indicator
.....................
72
Tank, Filling the
......................
455
Tighten Fuel Cap
....................
456
Fuel Economy
............................
460
Fuses, Checking the
..................
596
G
Gas Mileage, Improving
.............
461
Gasoline
.....................................
454
Gauge
......................................
76
Low Fuel Indicator
...................
72
Octane Requirement
...............
454
Tank, Refueling
.......................
455
Gas Station Procedures
..............
455
Gauges Engine Coolant Temperature...
77
Fuel
..........................................
76
Speedometer
............................
76
Tachometer
..............................
76
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
...................................
523
IndexIV09/10/28 17:15:37 10 ACURA ZDX KA KC New North America Own 50 31SZN600 enu

Seat Belts
.................................
9, 21
Additional Information
.............
21
Advice for Pregnant Women
....
19
Automatic Seat Belt
Tensioners
...........................
23
Cleaning
..................................
562
e-pretensioner
..........................
24
Lap/Shoulder Belt
..............
16, 22
Maintenance
............................
25
Reminder Indicator and Beeper
.............................
21, 64
System Components
................
21
Use During Pregnancy
.............
19
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt
..................................
16, 22
Seats
..........................................
161
Head Restraints
.......................
162
Heaters
...........................
167, 168
Position Memory
....................
180
Ventilation
...............................
168
Seats, Adjusting the
...................
161
Security System
.........................
378
Security System Indicator
............
72
Sensors Driver's Seat Position Sensor
...
30 Front Passenger's Weight
Sensors
................................
30
Impact Sensors
........................
26
Serial Number
............................
606
Service Intervals
.........................
533
Service Manual (U.S. only)
........
625
Service Station Procedures
........
455
Setting the Clock
........................
375
SH-AWD
®...................................
487
Indicator
...................................
70
Shifting the Automatic Transmission
..........................
478
Shift Lever Position Indicators
...
477
Shift Lock Release
......................
480
Side Airbags
.................................
32
How the Side Airbag Off Indicator Works
...................
35
How Your Side Airbags Work..32
Side Curtain Airbags
....................
33
How Your Side Curtain Airbags Work
....................................
33
Side Marker Lights, Bulb Replacement in
.......................
555
Signaling Turns
............................
68
Snow Tires
.................................
571
Sound System
.....................
228, 277 Spare Tire
..................................
578
Inflating
...........................
567, 578
Specifications
..........................
609
Spark Plugs
................................
609
Specifications
.............................
608
Speed Control
............................
379
Speed Limiter
.............................
480
Speedometer
................................
76
SRS, Additional Information
.........
26
Additional Safety Precautions
...
37
Airbag Service
..........................
37
Airbag System Components
.....
26
How the Side Airbag Off Indicator Works
...................
35
How the SRS Indicator Works..34
How Your Front Airbags Work
....................................
28
How Your Side Airbags Work..32
How Your Side Curtain Airbags Work
....................................
33
SRS Indicator
.........................
34, 66
START (Ignition Key Position)
.................................
150
Starting the Engine With a Dead Battery
................
587
CONTINUED
Index
IX
INDEX
09/10/28 17:15:37 10 ACURA ZDX KA KC New North America Own 50 31SZN600 enu