tailgate Acura ZDX 2012 Owner's Guide

114
Controls
Opening and Closing the Tailgate
Precautions for Opening/Closing the Tailgate
Always make sure individuals and objects are clear of the tailgate before opening or
closing it.
■Opening the tailgate
• Open the tailgate all the way.
u If it is not fully opened, the tailgate may begin to close under its own weight.
• Be careful when it is windy. The wind may cause the tailgate to close.
■Closing the tailgate
Keep the tailgate closed while driving to: uAvoid possible damage.
u Prevent exhaust gas from leaking into the vehicle.
2 Carbon Monoxide Gas P. 64
1Precautions for Openin g/Closing the Tailgate
Be careful not to hit your head on the tailgate or to
put your hands between the tailgate and the cargo
area when closing the gate.
When operating the power tailgate, make sure there
is enough space around your vehicle. People near the
tailgate may be seriously hurt if the tailgate hits their
head or closes on their hand s. Be especially cautious
if children are around.
When you are storing or picking up luggage from the
cargo area while the engine is idling, do not stand in
front of the exhaust pipe. You may get burned.
Do not allow any passenger in the cargo space.
They may get hurt during hard braking, a sudden
acceleration, or a crash.
3WARNING
Closing a power tailgate while anyone is
in the path of the tailgate can cause
serious injury.
Make sure everyone is clear before
closing the tailgate.

115
uuOpening and Closing the Tailgate uOpening/Closing the Tailgate
Controls
Opening/Closing the Tailgate
When all the doors are unlocked, the tailgate
is unlocked. Push up inside the tailgate handle
and lift open the tailgate.
If you are carrying the keyless access remote,
you do not have to unlock the tailgate before
opening it.
To manually close the ta ilgate, grab the inner
handle, pull the tailgate down, and push it
closed from outside.1 Opening/Closing the Tailgate
Even if the tailgate is locked, you can open the
tailgate when carrying the keyless access remote. A
person who is not carrying the keyless access remote
can also unlock the tailgate if a person who is
carrying it is within range.
If you leave the keyless a ccess remote inside the
vehicle and close the tailgate when all the doors are
locked, the beeper sounds and the driver's or all the
doors unlock, depend ing on the setting.
Models with keyless access system
Models with keyless access systemTailgate Open
Handle
Models with keyless access system
Inner Handle

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uuOpening and Closing the Tailgate uOpening/Closing the Power Tailgate
Controls
Opening/Closing the Power Tailgate
The power tailgate can be operated by pressing the power tailgate button on the
remote transmitter, pressing the power tail gate button in the instrument panel, 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.
• Press and hold the tailgate button on the remote transmitter for about one
second.
■The power tailgate can be closed when:
• The tailgate is fully open.
• The shift lever is in
P.
• Press and hold the tailgate button on the remote transmitter for about one
second.
*1: Models with the keyless access system have an ENGINE START/STOP button
instead of an ignition switch.
1 Opening/Closing the Power Tailgate
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 parked 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 tailg ate when all the doors are
locked, the power tailgate locks automatically.
If you replace the battery or the power tailgate fuse
while the tailgate is open, the power tailgate may be
disabled. The power tailgate resumes once you
manually close the tailgate.
Installing aftermarket components other than
genuine Acura accessories on the power tailgate may
prevent it from fully opening or closing.
Make sure the power tailgate is fully open before you
get your luggage in and out.
Make sure the power tailgate is fully closed before
you start the vehicle.
The beeper sounds when you turn the ignition switch
to ON
(w*1, and move the shift lever out of the (P
position while the power tailgate is still open, or
closing.

Continued117
uuOpening and Closing the Tailgate uOpening/Closing the Power Tailgate
Controls
To open or close the power tailgate, do the
following:
Press the unlock button twice and unlock all
doors and the tailgate first. Then, press and
hold the tailgate button for about one second.
The beeper sounds and some exterior light
flash.
To reverse direction whil e the power tailgate is
in operation, press the button again. The
beeper sounds three times and the tailgate
reverses direction.
To open or close the power tailgate, press the
tailgate button in the instrument panel for
about one second. The beeper sounds and
some exterior lights flash.
To reverse direction whil e the power tailgate is
in operation, press the button again. The
beeper sounds three times and the tailgate
reverses direction.
■Remote Transmitter1 Opening/Closing the Power Tailgate
If the power tailgate meets resistance while opening
or closing, the auto reve rse feature reverses the
direction. Thr ee beeps sound.
The auto reverse function stops sensing when the
tailgate is almost closed to make sure that it fully
closes.
Do not touch the sensors located on both sides of the
tailgate. The power tailgat e does not close if you
touch either sensor when you are trying to close the
tailgate.
Be careful not to scratch the sensors with a sharp
object. If scratched, they can be damaged, and the
power tailgate closing feature malfunctions.
Tailgate
Button
■Power Tailgate Button
Power
Tailgate
Button

uuOpening and Closing the Tailgate uOpening/Closing the Power Tailgate
118
Controls
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 ta ilgate, it latches automatically.
■Power Tailgate Close Button1Power Tailgate Close Button
If you push the tailgate release button inside the
handle while the tailgate is automatically opening or
closing, the power tailga te operation 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-Closer1 Auto-Closer
The auto-closer feature does not activate if you push
the tailgate open handle while the power tailgate is
closing.
Do not put any force on the tailgate while the power
tailgate is latching.
Keep your hands away fro m the tailgate when you
manually close the tailg ate and let it latch
automatically. It is dangerous to put your hands
around the tailgate as it starts to latch itself.

119
uuOpening and Closing the Tailgate uOpening/Closing the Power Tailgate
Controls
The power tailgate fail-safe mode detects if th ere is an extra load on the tailgate (for
example, it is covered with snow). If an extra load is detected, the tailgate opens
completely then lowers to the closed position.
■Power Tailgate Fail-Safe Mode1Power Tailgate Fail-Safe Mode
If you try to manually close the power tailgate
immediately after it fully opens, the power tailgate
fail-safe mode may activate.
Once the power tailgate fa il-safe mode activates,
wait until the power tailgate fully closes. Keep away
from the power tailgate when it is in motion.
If the power tailgate fail -safe mode constantly
activates, consult a dealer.

120
Controls
Security System
Immobilizer System
The immobilizer system prevents a key that has not been pre-registered from
starting the engine. Each key contains electronic transmitters that use electronic
signals to verify the key.
Pay attention to the following when inserti ng the key into the ignition switch or
selecting the ACCESSORY mode with an ENGINE START/STOP button
*:
• Do not allow objects that emit strong radio waves near the ignition switch.
• Make sure the key is not covered by or touching a metal object.
• Do not bring a key from another vehicle’s immobilizer system near the ignition
switch.
Security System Alarm
The security system alarm activates when the doors, tailgate, or hood are opened
without the key, remote transmitt er or keyless access remote*.
■When the security system alarm activates
The horn sounds intermittently and all of the exterior lights flash.
■To deactivate the security system alarm
Unlock the vehicle using the key, remo te transmitter or keyless access system*. The
system, along with the horn and flashing lights, is deactivated.
1 Immobilizer System
NOTICELeaving the ignition key in the vehicle can result in
theft or accidental movement of the vehicle.
Always take the ignition key with you whenever you
leave the vehicle unattended.
Do not alter the system or add other devices to it.
Doing so may damage the system and make your
vehicle inoperable.
1 Security System Alarm
The security alarm continues for a maximum of two
minutes until the security system deactivates.
* Not available on all models

Continued121
uuSecurity System uSecurity System Alarm
Controls
■Setting the security system alarm
The security system alarm automatically sets when the following conditions have
been met:
• The ignition switch is in LOCK
0, and the key has been removed from the
ignition switch.*1
• All doors and the tailgate are locked with the key, remote transmitter, or keyless
access system*.
■When the security system alarm sets
The security system alarm indicator in the instrument panel blinks. When the
blinking interval changes after about 15 seconds, the security system is set.
■To cancel the security system alarm
The security system is canc eled when the vehicle is unlocked using the key, remote
transmitter, keyless access system
*, or the ignition swit ch is turned to ON w*1. The
security system alarm indicato r goes off at the same time.
*1: Models with the keyless access system have an ENGINE START/STOP button
instead of an ig nition switch.
1Security System Alarm
Do not set the security sy stem alarm when someone
is in the vehicle or a window is open. The system can
accidentally activate when:
•Unlocking the door with the lock tab or the master
door lock switch.
•Opening the tailgate with the power tailgate
button in the instrument panel.
If the battery goes dead after you have set the
security system alarm, the security alarm may go off
once the battery is recharged or replaced.
If this occurs, deactivate the security system alarm by
unlocking a door using the key, remote transmitter or
keyless access system
*.
Do not attempt to alter this system or add another
device to it.
* Not available on all models

149
uuAdjusting the Seats uRear Seats
Controls
Rear Seats
1. Store the center seat belt buckle into the
pocket in the rear seat-back.
2. Lower the head restrain ts to their lowest
positions.
3. Pull the release lever and fold down the
seat-back.
■Folding Down the Rear Seats1Folding Down the Rear Seats
The rear seat-backs can be folded down to
accommodate bulkier it ems in the cargo area.
Never drive with the seat-back folded down and the
tailgate open. 2 Exhaust Gas Hazard P. 64
To lock the seat-back uprig ht, push it backwards until
it locks.
When returning the seat-back to its original position,
push it firmly back. Also, ma ke sure all rear shoulder
belts are positioned in front of the seat-back.
Make sure that the folded seat-back does not press
against the front passenger seat, as this can cause the
weight sensors in the front passenger seat to work
improperly. 2 Passenger Airbag Off Indicator P. 47
Make sure all items in th e cargo area or items
extending to th e rear seats are properly
secured. Loose items can fly forward if you have
to brake hard.
Pocket
Release
Lever

151Continued
Controls
Interior Lights/Interior Convenience Items
Interior Lights
■ON
The map lights come on regardless of whether
the doors or the tailgate is open or closed.
■Door activated
The map lights come on in the following
situations:
• When any of the doors or the tailgate is
opened.
• You unlock the driver’s door.
• You remove the key from the ignition
switch.
*1
•When any of the door s and the tailgate are
closed, then you press each (map light)
button.
■OFF
The front map lights can be turned on and off
by pressing each (map light) button.
The rear map lights remain off regardless of
whether the doors or the tailgate is open or
closed.
*1: Models with the keyless access system have an ENGINE START/STOP button
instead of an ig nition switch.
■Interior Light Switches1Interior Light Switches
In the door activated position, the map lights fade
out and go off about 30 seconds after the doors and
the tailgate are closed.
The lights go off after 30 seconds in the following
situations:
•When you unlock the driver’s door but do not open
it.
•When you remove the key*1 from the ignition
switch*1 but do not open a door.
You can change the interior lights dimming time.
2 Customized Features P. 94
The map lights go off immediately in the following
situations:
•When you lock the driver’s door.•When you close the driver’s door with the key in
the ignition switch or ACCESSORY mode*.•When you turn the ignition switch to ON (w*1.
If you leave any of the do ors or the tailgate open
without the key in the ignition switch, the interior
lights go off after about 15 minutes.
Door Activated
Position Off
On
* Not available on all models