ESP Acura ZDX 2012 Owner's Manual

Contents
Child Safety P. 50Exhaust Gas Hazard P. 64 Safety Labels P. 65
Opening and Closing the Tailgate P. 114 Security System P. 120 Opening and Closing the Windows P. 123
Operating the Switches Around the Steering Wheel P. 127 Adjusting the Mirrors P. 141
Interior Lights/Interior Convenience Items P. 151 Climate Control System P. 163
Audio Error Messages P. 188 Audio Remote Controls P. 190
HomeLink ® Universal Transceiver P. 195
When Driving P. 223 Braking P. 253 Parking Your Vehicle P. 261
Accessories and Modifications P. 267
Maintenance Under the Hood P. 277 Replacing Light Bulbs P. 291
Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 300 Battery P. 309 Remote Transmitter Care P. 310
Cleaning P. 313
Engine Does Not Start P. 326 Jump Starting P. 329 Shift Lever Does Not Move P. 331
Fuses P. 338 Emergency Towing P. 344
When You Cannot Open or Close the Tailgate P. 347
Devices that Emit Radio Waves P. 352 Reporting Safety Defects P. 353
Authorized Manuals P. 358 Client Service Information P. 359
Quick Reference GuideP. 2
Safe DrivingP. 21
Instrument PanelP. 67
ControlsP. 101
FeaturesP. 167
DrivingP. 209
MaintenanceP. 269
Handling the UnexpectedP. 317
InformationP. 349
IndexP. 361

20
Quick Reference Guide
A Few Words About Safety
Your safety, and the safety of others, is very important. And
operating this vehicle safely is an important responsibility.
To help you make informed decisions about safety, we have
provided operating procedures and other information on labels and
in this manual. This in formation alerts you to potential hazards that
could hurt you or others.
Of course, it is not practical or possible to warn you about all the
hazards associated with operating or maintaining your vehicle. You
must use your own good judgement. You will find this important safety information in a variety of forms,
including:
●
Safety Labels - on the vehicle.
● Safety Messages - preceded by a safety alert symbol
3 and
one of three signal words: DANGER, WARNING , or CAUTION .
These signal words mean:
● Safety Headings - such as Important Safety Precautions.
● Safety Section - such as Safe Driving.
● Instructions - how to use this vehi cle correctly and safely.
This entire book is fi lled with important safe ty information - please
read it carefully.
3 DANGERYou WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if
you don't follow instructions.
3WARNINGYou CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if
you don't follow instructions.
3CAUTIONYou CAN be HURT if you don't follow
instructions.

22
Safe Driving
For Safe Driving
The following pages explain your vehicle’s safety features and how to use them
properly. The safety precautions below are ones that we consider to be among the
most important.
Important Safety Precautions
■Always wear your seat belt
A seat belt is your best protection in all types of collisions. Airbags are designed to
supplement seat belts, not replace them. So even though your vehicle is equipped
with airbags, make sure you and your passe ngers always wear your seat belts, and
wear them properly.
■Restrain all children
Children age 12 and under should ride properly restrained in a back seat, not the
front seat. Infants and small children should be restrained in a child seat. Larger
children should use a booster seat and a lap/shoulder seat belt until they can use the
belt properly without a booster seat.
■Be aware of airbag hazards
While airbags can save lives, they can caus e serious or fatal injuries to occupants
who sit too close to them, or are not pr operly restrained. Infants, young children,
and short adults are at the greatest risk. Be sure to follow all instructions and
warnings in this manual.
■Don’t drink and drive
Alcohol and driving don’t mix. Even one dr ink can reduce your ability to respond to
changing conditions, and your reaction time gets worse with every additional drink.
So don't drink and drive, and don't let your friends drink and drive, either.
1 Important Safety Precautions
Some states, provinces and te rritories prohibit the use
of cell phones other than hands-free devices by the
driver while driving.

51
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 th e 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 s eat 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 unat tended, 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 re tractor, release the buckle
and allow the seat belt to wind up all the way.
To remind you of the passenger’s front airbag
hazards and child safety, your vehicle has warning
labels on the dashboard (U.S. models) and on the
front visors. Please read an d 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.

uuLocking and Unlocking the Doors uLocking/Unlocking the Doors from the Outside
108
Controls
When you carry the keyless access remote,
you can lock/unlock the doors and the
tailgate.
You can lock/unlock the doors within a radius
of about 32 inches (80 cm) of the outside door
handle. You can open the tailgate within
about 32 inches (80 cm) radius from the
tailgate release switch.
■Locking the vehicle
Press the door lock button on the front door
or lock button on the tailgate.uSome exterior lights flash; a beeper
sounds; all the doors and the tailgate
lock; and the security system sets.
■Using the Keyless Access System*1Using the Keyless Access System*
•The driver must carry the keyless access remote and
not leave it in the vehicle when you get out.
•A person who is not carrying the keyless access
remote can lock/unlock the doors if a person who
is carrying it is within range.
•The door may be unlocked if the door handle is
covered with water in heavy rain or in a carwash if
the keyless access remo te is within range.
•If you grip a front door handle wearing gloves, the
door sensor may be slow to respond or may not
respond by unlocking the doors.
•The door might not open if you pull it immediately
after gripping the door handle. Grip the handle
again and confirm that the door is unlocked before
pulling the handle.
Door Lock
Button
Lock Button
* Not available on all models

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.

uuInterior Lights/Interior Convenience Items uInterior Convenience Items
156
Controls
■Front seat beverage holders
Slide the lid and the tray to use the front seat
beverage holders.
■Rear seat beverage holders
Fold the armrest down and pull the lid to use
the rear seat beverage holders. To close the
lid, push it down until it latches.
■Beverage Holders1 Beverage Holders
NOTICESpilled liquids can damage th e upholstery, carpeting,
and electrical components in the interior.
Be careful when you are using the beverage holders.
Hot liquid can scald you.
When you put back the armrest in the center seat-
back, make sure the lid is closed properly.

uuBluetooth® HandsFreeLink ®u Using HFL
198
Features
• To hear general HFL information and help, say “Tutorial.”
• Say “Hands free help” any time to get help or hear a list of commands.
The multi-information display notifies you
when there is an incoming call.
■Help Features
■Information Display
1 Bluetooth ® HandsFreeLink ®
Bluetooth ® Wireless Technology
Bluetooth ® name and logos are registered
trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any
use of such marks by Honda Motors Co., Ltd., is
under license. Other trade marks and trade names are
those of their respective owners.
HFL Limitations
An incoming call on HFL will interrupt Bluetooth®
Audio when it is playing. Audio will resume when the
call is ended.
Signal Strength
HFL Mode Battery
Level
Status
Roam Status
Phone
Number
1Information Display
The information that appears on the multi-
information display varies between phone models.

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

243
uuWhen Driving uVSA ® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability Control), System
Continued
Driving
VSA ® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic
Stability Control), System
VSA ® helps to stabilize the vehicle during corn ering if the vehicle turns more or less
than what was intended. It also assists in maintaining traction on slippery surfaces.
It does so by regulating engine ou tput and selectively applying the brakes.
When VSA ® activates, you may notice that the
engine does not respon d to the accelerator.
You may also notice some noise from the
hydraulic system. You will also see the
indicator blink.
■VSA ® Operation
1 VSA ® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability
Control), System
The VSA ® may not function properly if tire type and
size are mixed. Make sure to use the same size and
type of tire, and the air pressures as specified.
When the VSA ® indicator comes on and stays on
while driving, there may be a problem with the
system. While this may no t interfere with normal
driving, have your vehi cle checked by a dealer
immediately.
VSA ® cannot enhance stability in all driving situations
and does not control the entire braking system. You
still need to drive and corner at speeds appropriate
for the conditions and always leave a sufficient
margin of safety.
The main function of the VSA ® system is generally
known as Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The
system also includes a traction control function.
VSA ® System
Indicator