lock Acura MDX 2002 Workshop Manual

Youshoulddothefollowingchecks
and adjustments every day bef ore
you drive your vehicle.Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove f rost, snow,
or ice. Check the adjustment of the seat
(see page ).
Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page ).
Check the adjustment of the
steering wheel (see page ).
Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have f astened
their seat belts (see page ).Turn the ignition switch ON (II).
Check the indicator lights in the
instrument panel.
Start the engine (see page ).
Check the gauges and indicator
lights in the instrument panel (see
page ).
Check that any items you may be
carrying with you inside are stored
properly or f astened down
securely. Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure. Check that the hood and tailgate
arefullyclosed. Makesurethedoorsandtailgate are securely closed and locked.
3. 2.
1.
4. 5.
6.
7.
8.
9. 11.
12. 10.
15
92
104 78 61 210
Preparing to Drive
Driving209
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This indicator on the instrument
panel shows which position the shif t
lever is in.
Your Acura’s transmission has f ive
f orward speeds, and is electronically
controlled f or smoother shif ting. It
also has a ‘‘lock-up’’ torque converter
forbetterfueleconomy.Youmay
f eel what seems like another shif t
when the converter locks.
The ‘‘D ’’ indicator comes on f or a
f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch ON (II). If it f lashes
while driving (in any shif t position),
it indicates a possible problem in the
transmission. Avoid rapid
acceleration and have the
transmission checked by an
authorized Acura dealer as soon as
possible.
The malf unction indicator lamp may
come on along with the ‘‘D ’’
indicator if there is a problem in the
automatic transmission control
system.
5
5Shif t L ever Position Indicator
Automatic Transmission
Driving211
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µTo shift from:PtoR
RtoN
NtoD
DtoD
DtoD Dto22to1
1to2
2toD
DtoD
DtoD DtoN NtoRRtoP Do this:
Press the brake pedal, then
move the shift lever.
Move the lever.
543
5
54
43 3
3
34
45 5
The shif t lever has eight positions. It
must be in Park or Neutral to start
the engine. When you are stopped in
D,D,D,2,1,NorR,pressfirmly
on the brake pedal, and keep your
f oot of f the accelerator pedal. YoucannotshiftoutofParkwiththe
brake pedal depressed when the
ignition switch is in LOCK (0) or
ACCESSORY (I). This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning of f or
starting the engine. To shif t out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal.
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see Shif t Lock Release on page .
To avoid transmission damage, come
to a complete stop bef ore shif ting
into Park. The shif t lever must be in
Park bef ore you can remove the key
from the ignition switch. 215
Shif t L ever Positions Park (P)
Automatic Transmission
Driving212
S SH
H I
IFFT T L
LEE V
V E
ER
R
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µµ
µ
µµ
To shif t to Reverse
f rom Park, see the explanation under
Park. To shif t to Reverse f rom
Neutral, come to a complete stop and
then shift. Use Neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop brief ly with
the engine idling. Shif t to Park posi-
tion if you need to leave the vehicle
f or any reason. Press on the brake pe-
dal when you are moving the shif t
lever from Neutral to another gear.
Use this position f or
your normal driving. The
transmission automatically selects a
suitable gear for your speed and
acceleration. You may notice the
transmission shif ting up at higher
speeds when the engine is cold. This
helps the engine warm up f aster.
Your car has a reverse lockout so
you cannot accidentally shif t to
Reverse from Neutral or any other
driving position when the vehicle
speed exceeds 7 9 mph (12 14
km/h).
If you cannot shif t to Reverse when
the car is stopped, press the brake
pedal and slowly shif t to Neutral, and
then to Reverse.
If there is a problem in the reverse
lockout system, or your vehicle’s
battery is disconnected or goes dead,
you cannot shif t to Reverse. (Ref er
to Shif t Lock Release on page ).
215
Reverse (R) Neutral (N)
Drive (D )
5
Automatic Transmission
Driving213
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µµ
These positions
are similar to D , except when you
select the D position, only the f irst
f our gears are selected. When you
select D , only the f irst three gears
are selected. D can also keep the
transmission f rom cycling between
f ourth and f if th gears in stop-and-go
driving, and D can keep the
transmission f rom cycling between
third and f ourth gears. This position locks
the transmission in second gear. It
does not downshif t to f irst gear
when you come to a stop. Second
gives you more power when climbing,
and increased engine braking when
going down steep hills. Use second
gear when starting out on a slippery
surf ace or in deep snow. It will help
reduce wheelspin.
ForfasteraccelerationwheninD ,
D or D , you can get the
transmission to automatically
downshif t by pushing the accelerator
pedal to the f loor. The transmission
will shif t down one or two gears,
depending on your speed.
Use D to provide engine braking
when going down a steep hill. D
gives you more power and increased
engine braking.
5
4
3 4
3 3
45
3 3
Drive(D,D) Second(2)43
Automatic Transmission
Driving214
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µIf you exceed the maximum speed
f or the gear you are in, the engine
speed will enter into the tachometer’s
red zone. If this occurs, you may f eel
the engine cut in and out. This is
caused by a limiter in the engine’s
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
RPM below the red zone. Set the Parking brake.
With the lever in this
position, the transmission locks in
First gear.
If you shif t into First position when
the vehicle speed is above 31 mph
(50 km/h), the transmission shif ts
into Second gear f irst to avoid
sudden engine braking. This allows you to move the shif t
lever out of Park if the normal
method of pushing on the brake
pedal does not work. This procedure
is also used to release the Reverse
Lockout.
Make sure the key is in the
ignition switch LOCK (0) position.
To release the Reverse Lockout,
make sure the key is in the
ACCESSORY (I) position.
1.
2.
CONT INUED
Engine Speed Limiter
Shift Lock Release
First (1)
Automatic Transmission
Driving215
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Put a cloth on the edge of the Shif t
Lock Release slot cover next to
the shift lever.
Use a small flat-tipped screwdriver
or small metal plate (neither are
included in the tool kit) to remove
the cover. Caref ully pry on the
edge of the cover.Insert a screwdriver in the Shif t
Lock Release slot.
Push down on the screwdriver
while you press the release button
and move the shif t lever out of
Park to Neutral.
To release the Reverse Lockout,
move the shift lever from Neutral
to Reverse, then to Park.Remove the screwdriver f rom the
shif t lock release slot, then install
anewcover.
Depress the brake pedal and
restart the engine.
If you need to use the Shif t Lock
Release, it means your vehicle is
developing a problem. Have the
vehicle checked by your Acura
dealer.
3. 4. 5.6.
Automatic Transmission
Driving216
C CO
OV VE
ER
R S
SH
H I
IFFT T L
LOOC CKK R
REEL
LEE A
A S
SEE S
SLLOOT T
01/09/07 12:29:32 31S3V610_221

The Variable Torque Management
4WD System (VTM-4) automatically
transf ers varying amounts of engine
torque to the rear wheels under low
traction conditions.If more traction is needed when your
MDX is stuck or is likely to become
stuck, you can use the VTM-4 Lock
button to increase torque to the rear
wheels. As soon as this feature is no
longer needed, press the VTM-4
Lock button again to disengage the
VTM-4 Lock.
Variable Torque Management 4WD System
Driving
VTM-4 Lock
217
Do not use the VTM-4 Lock button on
dry, paved roads. Driving on dry,
paved roads with VTM-4 Lock ON may
damage the rear dif f erential when
making a turn. Strange noises and
vibration can also result.
01/09/07 12:29:39 31S3V610_222

To engage the VTM-4 Lock:To disengage the VTM-4 Lock, do
one of the f ollowing:
Press the VTM-4 Lock button.
Move the shift lever to D , D or
D.
Turn the ignition to OFF (0).
When you restart your MDX, the
VTM-4 Lock f eature will be of f .
The VTM-4 Lock will temporarily
disengage when the vehicle speed
exceeds 18 mph (30 km/h). It will
automatically engage again as the
speed slows below 18 mph (30
km/h). The light in the VTM-4 Lock
button will remain on the whole time.
The vehicle must be stopped.
Move the shift lever to first (1),
second (2) or reverse (R) gear.
Press the VTM-4 Lock button.
The light in the button will come
on.
To get unstuck, apply light pressure
to the accelerator pedal. Do not spin
the f ront tires f or more than a f ew
seconds. Because of the amount of
torque applied to the rear tires, they
should not spin. This is normal. If
you are not able to get the vehicle to
move, apply the brakes to stop the
wheels, then reverse direction. 1.
2.
3.
34
5
Driving
Variable Torque Management 4WD System
218
Do not continuously spin the f ront tires
of your MDX. Continuously spinning
the f ront tires can cause transmission
or rear dif f erential damage.
01/09/07 12:29:49 31S3V610_223

µ
Always use the parking brake when
you park your vehicle. The indicator
on the instrument panel shows that
the parking brake is not f ully
released; it does not indicate that the
parking brake is f irmly set. Make
sure the parking brake is set f irmly
or your vehicle may roll if it is
parked on an incline.
Set the parking brake bef ore you put
the transmission in Park. This keeps
the vehicle from moving and putting
pressure on the parking mechanism
in the transmission making it
easier to move the shif t lever out of
Park when you want to drive away. If the vehicle is f acing uphill, turn
the f ront wheels away f rom the curb.
If the vehicle is f acing downhill, turn
the f ront wheels toward the curb.
Make sure the parking brake is f ully
released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes.
Make sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on
fire. Lockthedoorswiththekeyorthe
remote transmitter. Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the cargo area or take them
with you. Turn of f the lights.
Parking T ips
Parking
Driving219
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