steering wheel Acura MDX 2002 Owner's Guide

Your MDX can be towed behind a
motorhome at legal highway speeds
up to 65 mph (100 km/h). Do not
exceed 65 mph (100 km/h).
Otherwise, severe transmission
damage will occur. To avoid damage
to the 4WD system, it must be towed
with all f our wheels on the ground
(f lat towing).
When purchasing a tow bar, make
sure you select a reputable
manuf acturer and installer. Follow
the manufacturer’s attachment
instructions caref ully.If you tow more than 8 hours in one
day, you should repeat the above
procedure at least every 8 hours.
(when you stop f or f uel, etc.)
Do the f ollowing to prepare your
MDX f or ‘‘f lat towing.’’ Perf orm this
procedure every day immediately
bef ore you begin towing, and f ollow
this procedure exactly; otherwise,
severe automatic transmission
damage will occur. Check the transmission f luid level
(see page ). Maintaining the correct f luid level
is very important.
Start the engine.
Leave the ignition switch in
ACCESSORY (I) so the steering
wheel does not lock. Make sure
the radio and any items plugged
into the accessory power sockets
are turned of f so you do not run
down the battery. Release the parking brake. ShifttoD ,thentoN.Letthe
engine run f or three minutes, then
turn of f the engine. Press on the brake pedal. Shif t the
lever through all the positions (P,
R,N,D,D,D,2,1)
271
Do not overf ill.
5
543
Towing Your Vehicle Behind a Motorhome
Driving
Ext ended T owing
238
01/09/07 12:33:13 31S3V610_243

Replace the transmission fluid every
two years or 30,000 miles (48,000
km), whichever comes f irst.
Driving
Towing Your Vehicle Behind a Motorhome
239
The steering system can be damaged if
the steering wheel is locked. Leave the
ignition switch in Accessory (I), and
make sure the steering wheel turns
f reely bef ore you begin towing.
Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Follow the
above procedure exactly. If you cannot
shif t the transmission or start the
engine, your vehicle must be
transported on a f lat-bed or trailer.
01/09/07 12:33:18 31S3V610_244

Test your brakes from time to time
to make sure they are operating
properly. This will also give you a
f eel f or how much traction you have
on a given surf ace.
Off-highway, the basic turning
technique is to drive at low speed
and gradually adjust the amount of
steering to suit the surf ace.
You should have no problem making
sharp turns at low speed on level
ground. But never make an abrupt
turn at higher speeds, on or of f
pavement. With a higher center of
gravity, your vehicle can more easily
tip or roll over.Bef ore driving up or down a hill, stop
and assess the situation. If you can’t
clearly see all road conditions (good
traction, no bumps, holes or other
obstacles, a safe way out, etc.) walk
the slope bef ore you drive on it. If
you have any doubt about whether
you can saf ely drive on the slope,
. Find another route.
If you are driving up a hill and f ind
that you cannot continue (because of
the steepness, a large obstacle, etc.), . Your vehicle
could roll over. Slowly back down the
hill, f ollowing the same route you
took up the hill. Bumps, holes, rocks, and other
obstacles can be hazardous. Debris
in the road can damage your
suspension or other components.
Even small rocks can cut your tires.
More important, because your
vehicle has a high center of gravity,
driving over a large obstacle, or
allowing a wheel to drop into a deep
hole, can cause your vehicle to tip or
roll over.
Drive slow enough to observe
obstacles ahead and maneuver
around them. If you can’t avoid a
serious obstacle, turn around and
look f or a better route.
don’t do it
do not try to turn around
Driving
T urning
Avoiding Obstacles
Driving on Slopes
Off-Highway Guidelines
243
01/09/07 12:33:56 31S3V610_248

This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
This section also includes
Maintenance Schedules f or normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions f or simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself .
If you have the skills and tools to per-
f orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your Acura, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Acura
dealer.......................
Maintenance Saf ety .248
.
Important Safety Precautions .249
.................
Maintenance Schedule .250
...
Required Maintenance Record .257
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks .259
..............................
Fluid Locations .260
......................................
Engine Oil .261
..................................
Adding Oil .261
....................
Recommended Oil .261
..............................
Synthetic Oil .262
....................................
Additives .262
.....
Changing the Oil and Filter .263
.............................
Cooling System .265
............
Adding Engine Coolant .265
.......
Replacing Engine Coolant .267
....................
Windshield Washers .270
....
Automatic Transmission Fluid .271
..........................
Dif f erential Fluid .272
....................................
Brake Fluid .273
............................
Brake System .273
..............................
Power Steering .274
.....................
Air Cleaner Element .275
....................................
Hood Latch .277
....................................
Spark Plugs .277
..............................
Replacement .277
............................
Specif ications .279 ...........................................
Battery .280
.................................
Wiper Blades .282
..............
Air Conditioning System .284
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter .285
.....................................
Drive Belts .285
....................................
Timing Belt .286
...............................................
Tires .286
......................................
Inf lation .286
..................................
Inspection .288
..............................
Maintenance .289
.............................
Tire Rotation .289
...
Replacing Tires and Wheels .290
......................
Wheels and Tires .291
..........................
Winter Driving .291
.............................
Snow Tires .292
............................
Tire Chains .292
.............................................
Lights .293
.....................
Headlight Aiming .295
........................
Replacing Bulbs .295
....................
Storing Your Vehicle .303
357
Maintenance
Maint enance247
01/09/07 12:34:33 31S3V610_252

Always use Honda Power Steering
Fluid. If it is not available, you may
use another power steering f luid as
an emergency replacement.
However, continued use can cause
increased wear and poor steering in
cold weather. Have the power
steering system f lushed and ref illed
with Honda PSF as soon as possible.
Check the level when the engine is
cold. Look at the side of the
reservoir. The f luid should be
between the UPPER LEVEL and
LOWER LEVEL. If it is below the
LOWER LEVEL, add power steering
f luid to the UPPER LEVEL. A low power steering f luid level can
indicate a leak in the system. Check
the f luid level f requently and have
the system inspected as soon as
possible.
Power Steering
Maint enance274
U UP
PP
PE
ER
R L
LEE V
V E
EL
L
L
LO OW WE ER
R L
LEE V
V E
EL
L
T urning the steering wheel to f ull lef t
or right lock and holding it there can
damage the power steering pump.
01/09/07 12:39:01 31S3V610_279

It is best to replace all f our tires at
thesametime.If thatisnotpossible
or necessary, then replace the two
f ront tires or the two rear tires as a
pair. Replacing just one tire can
seriously af f ect your vehicle’s han-
dling.
When shopping f or replacement
tires, you may find that some tires
are ‘‘directional.’’ This means they
are designed to rotate only in one
direction. If you use directional tires,
they should be rotated only front-to-
back.
The tires that came with your
vehicle were selected to match the
perf ormance capabilities of the
vehicle while providing the best
combination of handling, ride
comfort,andlonglife.Youshould
replace them with radial tires of the
same size, load range, speed rating,
and maximum cold tire pressure
rating (as shown on the tire’s
sidewall). Mixing radial and bias-ply
tires on your vehicle can reduce its
braking ability, traction, and steering
accuracy. Replacing T ires and Wheels
Tires
Maint enance290
Installing improper tires on your
vehicle can affect handling and
stability. This can cause a crash
in which you can be seriously
hurt or killed.
Always use the size and type of
tires recommended in this
owner’s manual.
01/09/07 12:41:40 31S3V610_295

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Specif ications
T echnical Inf ormation342
Dimensions Capacities
Air Conditioning Weights Length
Width
Height
Wheelbase
Track See the tire information label atta-
ched to the driver’s doorjamb. Fuel tank
Engine
coolant
Engine oil
Automatic
transmission
fluid
Rear
differential
fluid
Windshield
washer
reservoir2.01 US gal (7.6
, 1.67 Imp gal)
2.30 US gal (8.7, 1.91 Imp gal)
5.0 US qt (4.7
, 4.1 Imp qt)
4.5 US qt (4.3
, 3.8 Imp qt)
5.8 US qt (5.5
, 4.8 Imp qt)
4.0 US qt (3.8, 3.3 Imp qt)
9.0 US qt (8.5, 7.5 Imp qt)
Including the coolant in the reserve tank and that remaining in the
engine.
Reserve tank capacity:
0.16 US gal (0.6
, 0.13 Imp gal)
Excluding the oil remaining in the engine. 19.3 US gal (73
, 16.1 Imp gal)
3.0 US qt (2.8
, 2.5 Imp qt)
188.5 in (4,789 mm)
76.3 in (1,938 mm)
68.7 in (1,744 mm)
71.3 in (1,811 mm)
106.3 in (2,700 mm)
66.3 in (1,685 mm)
66.5 in (1,690 mm)
9,700 lbs (4,400 kg)
4.8 US qt (4.5
, 4.0 Imp qt)
Refrigerant type
Charge quantity
Lubricant type HFC-134a (R-134a)
24.7 26.5 oz (700 750 g) ND-OIL8
Gross vehicle weight rating
Gross combined weight
rating (GCWR)
Approx.
Front
Rear
1:
2:
Standard
Premium
Equipped with transmission fluid cooler and power steering fluid
cooler. Change
Total
Change
Including
filter
Without
filter
Total
Change
Total
Change
The GCWR must be reduced 2 percent for every 1,000 feet (305
meters) of elevation.
1:
2:
2 1
2
1
01/09/07 12:49:39 31S3V610_347

CONT INUED
...
Accessories and Modif ications .201
................................
Accessories .201
...
Additional Safety Precaution .202
............................
Modif ications .202
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) .82
............
Accessory Power Sockets .115
....................
Additives, Engine Oil .262
...............................
Airbag (SRS) .9,50
.....................
Air Cleaner Element .275
..............
Air Conditioning System .124
..............................
Maintenance .284
.....................
Rear A/C Control .130
.........................................
Usage .124
.......................
Air Outlets (Vents) .122
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .286
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline .346
.......
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning .307
......................................
Antif reeze .265
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
....................
Indicator Light .63,222
...................................
Operation .221
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System .170
.
Anti-thef t Steering Column Lock .81 ..........................
Appearance Care .305
........................
Audio System .133,151
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners .48
...
Automatic Lighting Off Feature .73
.............
Automatic Speed Control .172
..............
Automatic Transmission .211
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .342
...............
Checking Fluid Level .271
.......................................
Shif ting .212
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator .211
................
Shif t Lever Positions .212
....................
Shif t Lock Release .215
Battery Charging System ...........................
Indicator .62,328
............................
Jump Starting .323
..............................
Maintenance .280
............................
Specif ications .343
..............................
Bef ore Driving .193
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,46
.........................
Beverage Holders .110
...................................
Body Repair .312 Brakes
...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) .221
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 194
...........................................
Fluid .273
....................
Bulb Replacement .298
.......................................
Parking .106
.................
System Indicator . 63,331
........................
Wear Indicators .220
.............................
Braking System .220
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle . 194
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 73
........................
Brights, Headlights .72
Bulb Replacement ..........................
Back-up Lights .298
..............................
Brake Lights .298
......................
Cargo Area Light .301
................
Front Parking Lights . 296
........
Front Side Marker Lights . 296
.................................
Headlights .295
.........
High-mount Brake Light . 299
..............
Individual Map Lights . 300
...................
License Plate Light . 300
.................................
Rear Bulbs .298
............................
Specif ications .343
............
Turn Signal Lights . 296,298
Index
A
B
I
01/09/07 12:52:14 31S3V610_364

Î
CONT INUED
.....................................
Tachometer .67
......
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in .298
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected .313
...........................
Tape Player .139,165
Automatic Seat Belt
...............................
Tensioners .48
.....................................
Cleaning .309
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt .46
................................
Maintenance .49
Reminder Light and
................................
Beeper .46,62
...................
System Components .46
...............
Use During Pregnancy .19
...
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt .15
.................................................
Seats .90
............
Folding the Second Seat .95
...............
Folding the Third Seat .96
..........................
Head Restraints .94
.........
Reclining the Second Seat .93
............
Reclining the Third Seat .93
........................
Rear Seat Access .95
...............................
Serial Number .340
...........................
Service Intervals .250
...........................
Service Manual .357
.........
Service Station Procedures .195
Shif ting the Automatic
.............................
Transmission .212
.....
Shif t Lever Position Indicator .211
........................
Shif t Lock Release .215 Side Marker Lights, Bulb
.........................
Replacement in .296
...............................
Signaling Turns .74
.....................................
Snow Tires .292
...................
Solvent-type Cleaners .306
........................
Sound System .133,151
Spare Tire
......................................
Inf lating .314
............................
Specif ications .343
....................................
Spark Plugs .277
....................
Specif ications Charts .342
................................
Speed Control .172
...................................
Speedometer .67
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation .50
...
Additional Safety Precautions .55
..
How the SRS Indicator Works .53
How Your Front Airbags
.........................................
Work .50
...
How Your Side Airbags Work .52
........................
SRS Components .50
..................................
SRS Service .55
.............................
SRS Indicator .53,62
....
START (Ignition Key Position) .82
.......................
Starting the Engine .210
In Cold Weather at High ..................................
Altitude .210 ................
With a Dead Battery .323
..............
State Emissions Testing .351
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine .325
Steering Wheel
..................................
Adjustment .78
.............
Anti-theft Column Lock .81
...........
Stereo Sound System .133,151
....................
Storing Your Vehicle .303
........................
Sunglasses Holder .113
........................................
Sun Visor .114
Supplemental Restraint System
......................................
Servicing .55
.........................
SRS Indicator .53,62
...................
System Components .50
..................................
Synthetic Oil .262
Index
T
VII
01/09/07 12:52:54 31S3V610_370

Î
Technical Descriptions......
DOT Tire Quality Grading .344
.....
Emissions Control Systems .348
.....................
Oxygenated Fuels .346
Three Way Catalytic
...............................
Converter .350
.......................
Temperature Gauge .68
...................
Tensioners, Seat Belts .48
........
Testing of Readiness Codes .351
............................
Thef t Protection .170
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter .350
....................................
Timing Belt .286
....................................
Tire Chains .292
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat .315
...............................................
Tires .286
..............................
Air Pressure .286
...................................
Balancing .289
.........................
Checking Wear .288
..........................
Compact Spare .314
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading .344
......................................
Inf lation .286
..................................
Inspection .288
...................................
Replacing .290
......................................
Rotating .289
...........................................
Snow .292
............................
Specif ications .343 ................................
Tire Chains .292
Towing .....................................
A Trailer .226
................
Emergency Wrecker .338
Your Vehicle Behind a
............................
Motorhome .238
Transmission ...............
Checking Fluid Level .271
...........................
Fluid Selection .271
..............
Identif ication Number .340
.............
Shif ting the Automatic .211
.....................................
Treadwear .344
.......................................
Trip Meter .68
....................................
Turn Signals .74
...................
Tools, Tire Changing .315
.....................
Underside, Cleaning .311
Unexpected, Taking Care
..........................................
of the .313
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading .344
........................
Unleaded Gasoline .194
.....................
Upholstery Cleaning .308
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of .264 ................................
Vanity Mirror .114
.................
Vehicle Capacity Load .204
......................
Vehicle Dimensions .342
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number .340
.............................
Vehicle Storage .303
.....................................
Ventilation .122
.................................................
VIN .340
...............................
Vinyl Cleaning .309
..................................
Viscosity, Oil .262
..................................
VTM-4 Lock .217
.............
WARNING, Explanation of .ii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of .57
..................
Warranty Coverages .355
Washer, Windshield
........
Checking the Fluid Level .270
............................
Level Indicator .65
.....................................
Operation .76
.........................................
Washing .306
..................
Waxing and Polishing .307
Wheels
...............
Adjusting the Steering .78
Index
V
W
U
VIII
01/09/07 12:53:01 31S3V610_371