check engine light 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

15
Quick Reference Guide
Maintenance (P 269)
Under the Hood (P 277)
● Check engine oil, engine coolant, and windshield washer
fluid. Add when necessary.
● Check brake fluid.
● Check the battery regularly.
aPull the hood release handle under the corner of the
dashboard.
bLocate the hood latch lever, pull the lever up, and lift up
the hood.
cWhen finished, close the hood and make sure it is firmly
locked in place.
Lights (P 291)
● Inspect all lights regularly.
Wiper Blades (P 298)
● Replace blades if they leave streaks
across the windshield.
Tires (P 300)
● Inspect tires and wheels regularly.
● Check tire pre ssures regularly.
● Install snow tires for winter
driving.

17
Quick Reference Guide
What to Do If
*1: Models with the keyless access system have an ENGINE START/STOP button instead of an ignition switch.
The ignition switch does
not turn from
0 to q*1.
Why?
●The steering wheel may be locked.●Try to turn the steering wheel left and right
while turning the ignition key.
●Move the steering wheel left and right while
pressing the ENGINE START/STOP button* at
the same time.
The ignition switch does
not turn from
q to 0*1
and I cannot remove the
key. Why?
The shift lever should be moved to P.
Why does the brake pedal
pulsate slightly when
applying the brakes?This can occur when the ABS acti vates, and does not indicate a
problem. Apply firm, steady pre ssure on the brake pedal. Never
pump the brake pedal.
The rear door cannot be
opened from inside the
vehicle. Why?Check if the childproo f lock is in the
LOCK position. If so, open the rear
door with the outside door handle.
To cancel this func tion, push the lever
to the UNLOCK position.
* Not available on all models

75
uuIndicators u
Continued
Instrument Panel
*1: Models with the keyless access system have an ENGINE START/STOP button instead of an ignition switch.
IndicatorNameOn/BlinkingExplanationMessage
Turn Signal
Indicators
●The turn signal indicators blink when
you operate the turn signal lever.
●If you press the hazard warning
button, both indicators and all turn
signals blink at the same time.
●Does not blink or blinks rapidly - A
turn signal light bulb has blown.
Change the bulb immediately.
2 Replacing Light Bulbs P. , 291 —
High Beam
Indicator●Comes on when the high beam
headlights are on.——
Lights On
Indicator
●Comes on whenever the light switch
is on, or in AUTO when the exterior
lights are on.●If you remove the key from the ignition
switch*1 while the lights are on, a chime
sounds when the driver’s door is
opened.—
Fog Light
Indicator●Comes on when the fog lights are
on.——
Side Airbag Off
Indicator
●Comes on for a fe w seconds when
you turn the igniti on switch to ON
(w*1, then goes off.●Comes on when the passenger side
airbag system is automatically shut
off.
●It does not mean there is a problem
with your side airbags.
●Comes on when nobody is sitting in
the passenger seat - Have the vehicle
checked by a dealer.
●Comes on when someone is sitting
in the seat - Have the passenger sit
properly.
U.S.
Canada

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

Continued229
uuWhen Driving uShifting
Driving
■Shift Lever Operation1Shift Lever Operation
NOTICEWhen you change the shift lever from (D to (R and
vice versa, come to a co mplete stop and keep the
brake pedal depressed.
Operating the shift lever before the vehicle has come
to a complete standstill ca n damage the transmission.
Use the shift lever position indicator to check the
lever position before pulling away.
Whichever position the shift lever is in when driving,
a blinking
( D indicator indicates a transmission
problem.
Avoid sudden acceleration and have the transmission
checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
The fuel supply may be cut off if you drive at engine
speeds in or over the ta chometer red zone (engine
speed limit). If this happen s, you may experience a
slight jolt.
It may not be possible to operate the shift lever if the
brake pedal is applied while the shift lever release
button is held down.
Depress the brake pedal first.
Tachometer’s red zone
Shift Lever Position Indicator
Depress the brake pedal and press
the shift lever release button to shift.
Shift without pressing the shift lever
release button.
Press the shift lever release button
and shift. M
(Sequential Shift mode) Indicator/
Gear Position Indicator

248
uuWhen Driving uTPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System)
Driving
TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System)
Monitors the tire pressure while you are driving. If your vehicle’s tire pressure
becomes significantly low, the low tire pressure/TPMS indicator comes on and a
message appears on the mu lti-information display.
To select the tire pressure monitor, turn the
ignition switch to ON
w*1 and press the /
button until you see the tire pressure screen.
If all the tire pressures are normal, TIRE
PRESSURE OK and the pressure of all four
tires will be displayed.
The pressure for each tire is displayed in PSI
(U.S.) or kPa (Canada).
*1: Models with the keyless access system have an ENGINE START/STOP button
instead of an ignition switch.
■Tire Pressure Monitor
1 TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System)
Conditions such as low ambient temperature and
altitude change directly affect tire pressure and can
trigger the low tire pressure / TPMS indicator to come
on. 2 If the Low Tire Pressure/TPMS Indicator
Comes On or Blinks P. 337
Tire pressure checked and inflated in:
•Warm weather can beco me under-inflated in
colder weather.
•Cold weather can become over-inflated in warmer
weather.
The low tire pressure/TPM S indicator will not come
on as a result of over inflation.
1 Tire Pressure Monitor
The pressure displayed on the multi-information
display can be slightly different from the actual
pressure as measured by a gauge. If there is a
significant difference between the two values, or if
the low tire pressure/TPMS indicator and the message
on the multi-information display do not go off after
you have inflated the tire to the specified pressure,
have the system checked by a dealer.
TPMS ERROR may appear if you drive with the
compact spare tire, or ther e is a problem with the
TPMS.
34

uuBraking uBrake System
254
Driving
Your vehicle is equipped with disc brakes at all four wheels. A power assist helps
reduce the effort needed on the brake pedal. The brake assist system increases the
stopping force when you depress the brake pe dal hard in an emergency situation.
The anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps you re tain steering control when braking very
hard.
2 Brake Assist System P. 256
2 ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) P. 255
■Foot Brake1Foot Brake
Check the brakes after driv ing through deep water,
or if there is a buildup of road surface water. If
necessary, dry the brakes by lightly depressing the
pedal several times.
If you hear a continuous metallic friction sound when
applying the brakes, the brake pads need to be
replaced. Have the vehicl e checked by a dealer.
Constantly using the brak e pedal while going down a
long hill builds up heat, which reduces the brake
effectiveness. Apply engine braking by taking your
foot off the accelerator pedal and downshifting to a
lower gear.
Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, as it will lightly apply the brakes and cause
them to lose effectiveness over time and reduce pad
life. It will also confuse drivers behind you.

255
uuBraking uABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Driving
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Helps prevent the wheels from locking up, an d helps you retain steering control by
pumping the brakes rapidly, much faster than you.
The electronic brake distribution (EBD) sy stem, which is part of the ABS, also
balances the front-to-rear braking distri bution according to vehicle loading.
You should never pump th e brake pedal. Let the ABS work for you by always
keeping firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal. This is sometimes referred to as
“stomp and steer.”
■ABS operation
The brake pedal may pulsate slightly when the ABS is working. Keep holding the
pedal firmly down. On dry pavement, you will need to press on the brake pedal very
hard before the ABS activates. However, you may feel the ABS activate immediately
if you are trying to stop on snow or ice.
When the vehicle speed goes under 6 mph (10 km/h), the ABS stops.
■ABS1 ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
NOTICEThe ABS may not function correctly if you use an
incorrect tire type and size.
When the ABS indicator comes on while driving,
there may be a problem with the system.
While normal braking is no t affected, there is a
possibility of the ABS not operating. Have the vehicle
checked by a dealer immediately.
The ABS does not reduce the ti me or distance it takes
to stop the vehicle. It only helps with steering control
during hard braking.
In the following cases, your vehicle may need more
stopping distance than a vehicle without the ABS:
•When driving on rough road surfaces, including
when driving on uneven surfaces, such as gravel or
snow.
•When tire chains are installed.
You may hear a motor sound coming from the
engine compartmen t while system checks are being
performed immediately after starting the engine or
while driving. This is normal.

269
Maintenance
This chapter discusses basic maintenance.
Before Performing MaintenanceInspection and Mainte nance ............ 270
Safety When Performing Maintenance..... 271Parts and Fluids Used in Maintenance
Service ........................................... 272
Maintenance Minder
TM..................... 273
Maintenance Under the Hood
Maintenance Items Under the Hood ..... 277Opening the Hood ........................... 278
Engine Compartment Covers ........... 279
Recommended Engine Oi l ................ 280
Oil Check ......................................... 281
Adding Engine Oil ............................ 282
Changing the Engine Oil and Oil Filter ..... 283Engine Coolant ................................ 285
Transmission Fluid ............................ 287
Brake Fluid ....................................... 288
Power Steering Fluid Check.............. 289
Refilling Window Washer Fluid......... 290
Replacing Light Bulbs ....................... 291
Checking and Maintaining Wiper
Blades .......................................... 298
Checking and Maintaining Tires
Checking Tires ................................. 300
Tire and Loading Information Label ...... 301Tire Labeling .................................... 301
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles) ...... 303Wear Indicators ............................... 305
Tire Service Life ................................ 305
Tire and Wheel Replacement ........... 306
Tire Rotation .................................... 307
Winter Tires ..................................... 308
Battery ............................................... 309
Remote Transmitter Care ................. 310
Climate Control System Maintenance..... 312Cleaning
Interior Care .................................... 313
Exterior Care.................................... 315