Acura ZDX 2012 Owner's Manual

219
uuTowing a Trailer uTowing Your Vehicle
Driving
• Monitor your temperature gauge. If it n ears the red (Hot) mark, turn off the air
conditioning and reduce speed . Pull to the side of the road safely to cool down
the engine if necessary.
• Shift to the
S position if the transmi ssion shifts frequently.
Towing Your Vehicle
Your vehicle is not designed to be towed behind a motor home. If your vehicle needs
to be towed in an emergency, refe r to the emergency towing information.
2Emergency Towing P. 344
■Driving in Hilly Terrain1Driving in Hilly Terrain
If you use the paddle shifters when driving uphill and
downhill, select 2nd or 3rd gear, depending on the
vehicle speed and road conditions. Do not use 4th,
5th and 6th gears.

220
Driving
Off-Highway Driving Guidelines
General Information
Your vehicle has been designed primarily for use on pavement, however, its higher
ground clearance allows you to occasionally travel on unpaved roads.
It is not designed for tra il-blazing, or other challe nging off-road activities.
If you decide to drive on unpaved roads, you will find that it requires somewhat
different driving skills and that your vehicle will handle somewhat differently than it
does on pavement. Pay attention to the precautions and tips in this section, and get
acquainted with your vehicle before leaving the pavement.
Important Safety Precautions
To avoid loss of control or rollover, be sure to follow all precautions and
recommendations:
• Be sure to store cargo properly and do not exceed your cargo load limits.
2 Maximum Load Limit P. 213
•Whenever you drive, make sure you and your passengers always wear seat belts.
• Keep your speed low, and never go faster than the conditions allow.
• It’s up to you to continually assess the situation and drive within the limits.
1Off-Highway Driving Guidelines
Failure to operate your vehi cle correctly might result
in a crash or a roll over.
2 Important Handling Information P. 24
2 Precautions While Driving P. 226
3WARNING
Improperly operating this vehicle on or
off-pavement can cause a crash or
rollover in which you and your
passengers can be seriously injured or
killed.
•Follow all instructions and guidelines
in this owner’s manual.
• Keep your speed low, and don’t drive
faster than conditions permit.

221
uuOff-Highway Driving Guidelines uAvoiding Trouble
Continued
Driving
Avoiding Trouble
• Check Out Your Vehicle before you leave the paveme nt and make sure that all
scheduled maintenance has been comple ted. Pay special attention to the
condition of the tires, an d check the tire pressures.
• Remember the route you choose presents limits (too steep or bumpy), you have
limits (driving skill and comfort), and your vehicle has limits (traction, stability, and
power). Failing to recognize these limits will likely put you and your passengers in
a hazardous situation.
• Accelerating and Braking should be done slowly and gradually. Trying to start
or stop too fast can cause a loss of traction and you could lose control.
• Avoiding Obstacles and Debris in the road reduces the likelihood of a rollover
or damage to your suspension or other components.
• Driving on Slopes increases your risk of a rollov er, particularly if you attempt to
drive across a slope that is too steep. Going straight or down a slope is usually the
safest. If you can’t clearly see all conditions or obstacles on a slope, walk it before
you drive it. If there is any doubt whethe r you can safely pass, don’t try it. Find
another route. If you get stuck when climbing, do not try to turn around. Back
down slowly following the same route you took up the hill.

uuOff-Highway Driving Guidelines uAvoiding Trouble
222
Driving
• Crossing a Stream - Avoid driving through deep water. If you encounter water
in your route (a small stream or large pu ddle, for example), evaluate it carefully
before going ahead. Make sure it is shallow, flowing slowly, and has firm ground
underneath. If you are not sure of the depth or the ground, turn around and find
another route. Driving through deep wate r can also damage your vehicle. The
water can get into the transmission and differential, diluting the lubricant and
causing an eventual failure. It can also wash the grease out of the wheel bearings.
• If You Get Stuck, carefully go in the direction that you think will get you
unstuck. Do not spin the ti res as this will only make things worse and could
damage the transmission. If you are unable to free yourself, your vehicle will need
to be towed. Front and rear tow ho oks are provided for this purpose.
2Towing Hook P. 344
1Off-Highway Driving Guidelines
Spinning the tires can also damage the SH-AWD
system.

223Continued
Driving
When Driving
Starting the Engine
1.Make sure the parking brake is applied.
2. Check that the shift lever is in
P, then
depress the brake pedal.
u Although it is possible to start the vehicle
in
N, it is safer to start it in P.
3. You can start the engine in any power
mode. Press the ENGINE START/STOP
button and the brake pedal.
1 Starting the Engine
Keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal when
starting the engine.
The engine is harder to start in cold weather and in
thinner air found at altitu des above 8,000 feet (2,400
meters).
When starting the engine in cold weather, turn off all
electrical accessories such as the lights, climate
control system, and rear defogger in order to reduce
battery drain.
If the exhaust system sounds abnormal or you can
smell exhaust gas inside the vehicle, have your vehicle
checked by a dealer. There may be a problem with
the engine or exhaust system.
Insert the keyless access remo te into the slot if the
battery in the key is weak. 2 If the Keyless Access Remote Battery is
Weak P. 327
The engine may not start if the keyless access remote
is subjected to strong radio waves.
Models with keyless access remote
Brake Pedal
ENGINE START/STOP button
Brake Pedal
Models with keyless access remote

uuWhen Driving uStarting the Engine
224
Driving
3. Turn the ignition switch to START e
without depressing the accelerator pedal.
1. Keeping your right foot on the brake peda l, release the parking brake. Check that
the brake system indicator has gone off.
2 Parking Brake P. 253
2.Put the shift lever in D. Select R when reversing.
3. Gradually release the brake pedal and gent ly depress the accelerator pedal to pull
away.
You can turn the engine off when the vehicle is completely stopped.
1. Shift to
P.
2. Press the ENGINE START/STOP button with your foot on the brake pedal.
1Starting the Engine
You do not need to hold the ENGINE START/STOP
button to start the engine.
•Depending on the outside temperature, the starter
motor runs for about 6 to 9 seconds until the
engine starts. If you hold the ENGINE START/STOP
button for more than 7 seconds, the starter motor,
depending on the outside temperature, runs for
about 10 to 25 seconds until the engine starts.
•If the engine does not start, wait at least 10
seconds before trying again.
Do not hold the key in START
(e for more than 15
seconds.
•If the engine does not sta rt right away, wait for at
least 10 seconds before trying again.
•If the engine starts, but then immediately stops,
wait at least 10 seconds before repeating step 3
while gently depressing the accelerator pedal.
Release the accelerator pedal once the engine
starts.
The immobilizer system protects your vehicle from
theft. If an improperly co ded key (or other device) is
used, the engine’s fuel system is disabled. 2 Immobilizer System P. 120
Models with keyless access remote
Models without keyless access remote
Models without keyless access remote
■Starting to Drive
■Stopping the Engine
Models with keyless access remote

225
uuWhen Driving uStarting the Engine
Driving
■Hill start assist system
Hill start assist feature helps to prevent the vehicle from rolling on inclines as you
move your foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator.
Move the shift lever to
D or S when facing uphill, or R when facing downhill,
then release the brake pedal.
The brakes remain engaged briefl y as you release the brake pedal.
1Hill start assist system
Hill start assist may not prevent the vehicle from
rolling downhill on a very steep or slippery slope, and
will not operate on small inclines.
Hill start assist is not a replacement for the parking
brake.
Hill start assist will operate even when VSA is
switched off.

226
uuWhen Driving uPrecautions While Driving
Driving
Precautions While Driving
Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles.
To prevent rollovers or loss of control:
• Take corners at slower speeds than you would with a passenger vehicle.
• Avoid sharp turns and abrupt maneuvers whenever possible.
• Do not modify your vehicle in any way th at you would raise the center of gravity.
• Do not carry heavy cargo on the roof.
Avoid driving in deep water and on flooded roads. This can damage the engine or
cause electrical component failure.
If there is a strong impact with something under the vehicl e, stop in a safe location.
Check the underside of the vehicl e for damage or any fluid leaks.
■Driving Guidelines for Your Utility Vehicle
■In Rain
■Other Precautions
1Precautions While Driving
NOTICEDo not operate the shift lever while pressing the
accelerator pedal. You could damage the
transmission.
If the ignition switch is turned to ACCESSORY
(q or
LOCK (0*1 while driving, the engine will shut down
and all steering and brake power assist functions will
stop, making it difficult to control the vehicle.
Do not put the shift lever in
( N, as you will lose
engine braking (and acce leration) performance.
During the first 600 mile s (1,000 km) of operation,
avoid sudden acceleration or full throttle operation so
as not to damage the engine or powertrain.
Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles (300 km).
You should also follow this when the brake pads are
replaced.
1 Driving Guidelines for Your Utility Vehicle
Failure to operate your vehi cle correctly might result
in a crash or a roll over.
2 Important Handling Information P. 24
2 Off-Highway Driving Guidelines P. 220
*1: Models with the keyles s access system have an
ENGINE START/STOP button instead of an ignition
switch.

227
uuWhen Driving uAutomatic Transmission
Driving
Automatic Transmission
The following conditions caus e the engine to run at high revolutions, and increase
creeping:
• Immediately after the engine starts.
• When the climate control system is in use.
Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed when stopped.
Quickly depressing the accelerator pe dal while driving uphill may cause the
transmission to drop to a lower gear, unexpectedly increasing vehicle speed. Depress
the accelerator pedal carefully, especi ally on slippery roads and curves.
■Creeping
■Kickdown

228
uuWhen Driving uShifting
Driving
Shifting
Change the shift position in accordance with your driving needs.
■Shift lever positions
1Shifting
You cannot turn the ignition switch to LOCK
(0*1
and remove the key*1 unless the shift lever is in ( P.
You cannot change the power mode from ON to
VEHICLE OFF (LOCK) unless the shift lever is in
(P.
The vehicle may move forward very slightly even in
( N while the engine is cold.
Depress the brake pedal firmly and, when necessary,
apply the parking brake.
*1: Models with the keyles s access system have an
ENGINE START/STOP button instead of an ignition
switch.
Park
Used when parking or starting the
engine
Reverse
Used when reversing
Neutral
Used when idling
Drive
Used for:
●Normal driving (gears change
between 1st and 6t h automatically)
●Temporarily driving in the sequential
mode
Drive (S)
Used for:
●Automatically changing gears
between 1st and 5th (5 th gear is used
only at high speed)
●Driving in the sequential mode
Release Button