towing Acura ZDX 2013 User Guide

181
uuTowing a TraileruTowing Your Vehicle
Driving
•Monitor your temperature gauge. If it nears 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 transmission shifts frequently.
Towing Your VehicleYour vehicle is not designed to be towed behind a motor home. If your vehicle needs
to be towed in an emergency, refer to the emergency towing information.2Emergency Towing P. 301■Driving in Hilly Terrain
1Driving 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.

uuOff-Highway Driving GuidelinesuAvoiding Trouble
184Driving
•Crossing a Stream - Avoid driving through deep water. If you encounter water
in your route (a small stream or large puddle, 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 water 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 tires 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 hooks are provided for this purpose.
2Emergency Towing P. 301
1Off-Highway Driving Guidelines
Spinning the tires can also damage the SH-AWD
system.

198
uuWhen DrivinguForward Collision Warning (FCW)
Driving
FCW may not activate or may not detect a vehicle in front of your vehicle, and may activate even when you are aware of a vehicle ahead
of you, or when there is no vehicle ahead under the following conditions.■FCW Limitations
Condition
●The distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you is too short.●A vehicle cuts in front of you at a slow speed, and it brakes suddenly.●A vehicle suddenly crosses in front of you.●When either your vehicle or the vehicle ahead of you accelerates rapidly.●The vehicle ahead of you is a motorcycle, a small vehicle, or a unique vehicle such as a tractor.●When you drive off-road or on a mountain road, or curved and winding road for an extended period that makes it difficult for the sensor/camera to
properly detect a vehicle in front of you.●When there are pedestrians or animals in front of your vehicle.●When you drive in bad weather (rain, fog, etc.).●A heavy load in the rear or modifications to the suspension tilts your vehicle.●An abnormal tire condition is detected (wrong tire size, flat tire, etc.).●When the windshield is blocked by dirt, mud, leaves, wet snow, etc.●When the temperature inside the system is high.●A sudden change between light and dark such as an entrance or exit of a tunnel.●You drive into the sunlight (e.g. at dawn or dusk).●When the windshield is dirty or cloudy.●When streetlights are perceived as the taillight of a vehicle in front of yours.●When driving at night, the vehicle ahead of you is running with either taillight bulb burned out.●When you drive in the shadows of trees, buildings, etc.●When your vehicle is towing a trailer.

201
uuWhen DrivinguLane Departure Warning (LDW)
Driving
LDW may not activate or may not recognize lanes, and may activate even when
keeping in the middle of a lane under the following conditions.■LDW Limitations
Condition
●When you drive in bad weather (rain, fog, etc.).●A heavy load in the rear or modifications to the suspension tilts your vehicle.●An abnormal tire condition is detected (wrong tire size, flat tire, etc.).●When the windshield is blocked by dirt, mud, leaves, wet snow, etc.●When the temperature inside the system is high.●A sudden change between light and dark such as an entrance or exit of a tunnel.●You drive into the sunlight (e.g. at dawn or dusk).●When the windshield is dirty or cloudy.●When you drive in the shadows of trees, buildings, etc.●When your vehicle is towing a trailer.●When you drive on a wet road surface following another vehicle.uThe camera may perceive the tire tracks in the water as lane lines.
●When there is snow or wheel tracks on the side of the road.●When the road has many repaired area or an erased lane line.●When the vehicle is running over painted signs or crosswalk markings.●When you drive in a lane with specific lane markups (e.g., bots-dots).

uuWhen DrivinguBSI (Blind Spot Information)
206Driving
■When the system detects a vehicle Comes on when:●A vehicle enters the alert zone from
behind to overtake you with a speed
difference of no more than 31 mph
(50 km/h) from your vehicle.
Comes On

Blinks
BSI Alert Indicator: Located near the
outside rearview mirror on both sides.Blinks and a beeper sounds when:
You move the turn signal lever in the direction of the
detected vehicle. The beeper sounds three times.●You pass a vehicle with a speed difference of
no more than 12 mph (20 km/h).
1BSI (Blind Spot Information)
The BSI alert indicator may not come on under
following conditions:•A vehicle does not stay in the alert zone for more
than two seconds.•A vehicle is parked in a side lane.•The speed difference between your vehicle and the
vehicle you are passing is greater than 6 mph (10
km/h).•An object not detected by the radar sensors
approaches or passes your vehicle.
Turn the system off when towing a trailer. The system
does not work properly for the following reasons:•The added mass tilts the vehicle and changes the
radar coverage.•The trailer itself can be detected by the radar
sensors, chasing the BSI alert to come on.
BSI may be adversely affected when:•Objects (guard rails, poles, trees, etc,.) are
detected.•An object that does not reflect radio waves well,
such as a motorcycle, is in the alert zone.•Driving on a curved road.•A vehicle is moving from a far lane to the adjacent
lane.•The system picks up external electrical interference.•The rear bumper or the sensors have been
improperly repaired or the rear bumper has been
deformed.•The orientation of the sensors has been changed.•In bad weather (Heavy rain, snow, and fog).

233
uuMaintenance Minder
TMuTo Use Maintenance Minder
TM
Continued
Maintenance
■Maintenance Service Items
1Maintenance Service Items•Independent of the Maintenance Minder
information, replace the brake fluid every 3 years.•Inspect idle speed every 160,000 miles (256,000
km).•Adjust the valves during services A, B, 1, 2, or 3 if
they are noisy.
Maintenance Minder
Message System Message
Indicator
Sub Items Main
Item
*1: If the message SERVICE DUE NOW does not appear more than 12 months after the display is
reset, change the engine oil every year.
# : See information on maintenance and emissions warranty.
*2: If you drive in dusty conditions, replace the air cleaner element every 15,000 miles (24,000 km).
*3: If you drive primarily in urban areas that have high concentrations of soot in the air from industry and
from diesel-powered vehicles, replace the dust and pollen filter every 15,000 miles (24,000 km).CODE
Maintenance Main Items
A
●Replace engine oil
*1
B
●Replace engine oil
*1 and oil filter
●Inspect front and rear brakes●Check parking brake adjustment●Inspect these items:
•Tie rod ends, steering gear box, and boots
•Suspension components
•Driveshaft boots
•Brake hoses and lines (Including ABS/VSA)
•All fluid levels and condition of fluids
•Exhaust system
#
•Fuel lines and connections
#
*4: If you regularly drive in very high (over 110 °F, 43 °C) or very low (-20 °F, -29 °C) temperatures, or
regularly tow a trailer, replace every 60,000 miles/100,000 km.
*5: Driving in mountainous areas at very low vehicle speeds or trailer towing results in higher level of
mechanical (shear) stress to fluid. This requires differential fluid changes more frequently than
recommended by the Maintenance Minder. If you regularly drive your vehicle under these conditions,
have the differential fluid changed at 7,500 miles/12,000 km, then every 15,000 miles/24,000 km.CODE
Maintenance Sub Items
1
●Rotate tires
2
●Replace air cleaner element
*2
●Replace dust and pollen filter
*3
●Inspect drive belt
3●Replace transmission and transfer fluid
4
●Replace spark plugs●Replace timing belt and inspect water pump
*4
●Inspect valve clearance
5●Replace engine coolant
6
●Replace rear differential fluid
*5

275
Handling the Unexpected
This chapter explains how to handle unexpected troubles.
Tools
Types of Tools .................................. 276
If a Tire Goes Flat
Changing a Flat Tire ......................... 277
Engine Does Not Start
Checking the Engine ........................ 284If the Keyless Access Remote Battery is
Weak ..........................................285Emergency Engine Stop ................... 286
Jump Starting.................................... 287
Shift Lever Does Not Move.............. 289Overheating
How to Handle Overheating............. 290
Indicator, Coming On/Blinking
If the Low Oil Pressure Indicator Comes
On ............................................. 292If the Charging System Indicator Comes
On ................................................. 292
If the Malfunction Indicator Lamp Comes
On or Blinks ................................... 293If the Brake System Indicator (Red)
Comes On .................................. 294
If the Low Tire Pressure/TPMS Indicator
Comes On or Blinks ....................... 294
Fuses
Fuse Locations ................................. 295Circuit Protected and Amps for Each
Fuse............................................ 297Inspecting and Changing Fuses ........ 300
Emergency Towing........................... 301
When You Cannot Unlock the Fuel Fill
Door................................................. 302
When You Cannot Open or Close the
Tailgate............................................ 303

uuIf a Tire Goes FlatuChanging a Flat Tire
278Handling the Unexpected
1.Push the rear edge of the handle on the
front cargo floor lid and open the lid.
2.Take the jack, extension bar, and wheel nut
wrench out of the tool case.
3.Remove the cover on the cargo area lining
to access the shaft for the spare tire hoist.
■Getting Ready to Replace the Flat Tire
1Changing a Flat TireNOTICEDo not use the jack if it doesn’t work properly. Call a
dealer or a professional towing service.
The subwoofer, a large black enclosure, is located on
the right side under the lid. Do not store anything in
this area. Doing so may compromise vehicle audio
performance.
HandleTool Case
Spare TireCover

283
uuIf a Tire Goes FlatuChanging a Flat Tire
Handling the Unexpected
1.Remove the center cap and place the flat
tire face up under the hoist.
2.Insert the hoist bracket into the center hole
of the flat tire.
3.Turn the extension bar with the wheel nut
wrench clockwise until the flat tire rests
against the underbody of the vehicle and
you hear the hoist click.
4.Securely put the jack and wheel nut wrench
back in the tool case. Store the case in the
cargo area.
If you replace a flat tire with the spare tire, the low tire pressure/TPMS indicator
comes on while you are driving. After driving for a few miles (kilometers), the
indicator will start blinking for a short time and then stay on. CHECK TPMS
SYSTEM appears on the multi-information display, but this is normal.
If you replace the tire with a specified regular tire, the warning message on the
multi-information display and the TPMS indicator will go off after a few miles
(kilometers).
■Storing the Flat Tire
1Storing the Flat Tire
Always raise the spare tire hoist, even if you are not
stowing a tire. If the hoist is left down, it will be
damaged during driving and need to be replaced.
3
WARNING
Loose items can fly around the interior in a
crash and can seriously injure the
occupants.
Store the wheel, jack, and tools securely
before driving.
Extension Bar
Wheel Nut
Wrench
■TPMS and the Spare Tire
1TPMS and the Spare Tire
The system cannot monitor the pressure of the spare
tire. Manually check the spare tire pressure to be sure
that it is correct.
Use TPMS specific wheels. Each is equipped with a
tire pressure sensor mounted inside the tire behind
the valve stem.

284Handling the Unexpected
Engine Does Not StartChecking the EngineIf the engine does not start, check the starter.
Starter condition
Checklist
Starter doesn’t turn or turns
over slowly.
The battery may be dead. Check
each of the items on the right and
respond accordingly.
Check for a message on the multi-information display.●If the CHANGE KEYLESS REMOTE BATTERY message appears
2If the Keyless Access Remote Battery is Weak P. 285
Check brightness of the interior light.
Turn on interior lights and check brightness.●If the interior lights are dim or do not come on at all
2Checking the Battery P. 267
●If the interior lights come on normally
2 Fuses P. 295
The starter turns over normally
but the engine doesn’t start.
There may be a problem with the
fuse. Check each of the items on
the right and respond accordingly.Review the engine start procedure.
Follow its instructions, and try to start the engine again.
2 Starting the Engine P. 185
Check the immobilizer system indicator.
When the immobilizer system indicator is blinking, the engine cannot be started.2Immobilizer System P. 122Check the fuel level.
There should be enough fuel in the tank.
2 Fuel Gauge P. 86
Check the fuse.
Check all fuses, or have the vehicle checked by a dealer.2Inspecting and Changing Fuses P. 300If the problem continues:2Emergency Towing P. 301
1Checking the Engine
If you must start the vehicle immediately, use an
assisting vehicle to jump start it.
2Jump Starting P. 287