tailgate Acura MDX 2002 Owner's Manual
Page 15 of 372
To make sure you and your
passengers get the maximum
protection f rom your vehicle’s saf ety
f eatures, check the f ollowing each
time before you drive away:All adults, and children who have
outgrown child saf ety seats, are
wearing their seat belts and
wearingthemproperly(seepage ).
Any inf ant or small child is
properly restrained in a child seat
in a back seat (see page ).
Frontseatoccupantsaresitting
upright and as f ar back as possible
f rom the steering wheel and
dashboard (see page ).
Seat-backs are upright (see page ). Head restraints are properly
adjusted (see page ).
Alldoorsandthetailgateare
closed and locked (see page ).
The rest of this section gives more
detailed inf ormation about how you
can maximize your saf ety.
Remember, however, that no saf ety
system can prevent all injuries or
deaths that can occur in severe
crashes, even when seat belts are
properly worn and the airbags deploy. All cargo is properly stored or
secured (see page ).
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12
13 14
12
203
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features
Pre-Drive Saf ety Checklist
11
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The f ollowing pages provide
instructions on how to properly
protect the driver and other adult
occupants.
These instructions also apply to
children who have outgrown child
seats and are large enough to wear
lap/shoulder belts. (See page f or
important additional guidelines on
how to properly protect larger
children.)Your vehicle has a door and tailgate
monitor light on the instrument
panel to indicate when a specif ic
door or the tailgate is not tightly
closed.
For security, locked doors can
prevent an outsider f rom
unexpectedly opening a door when
you come to a stop.
See page f or how to lock the
doors. For saf ety, locking the doors reduces
the chance that a passenger,
especially a child, will open a door
while the vehicle is moving and
accidentally f all out. It also reduces
the chance of someone being thrown
out of the vehicle during a crash.
Af ter everyone has entered the
vehicle, be sure the doors and
tailgate are closed and locked. Any driver who sits too close to the
steering wheel is at risk of being
seriously injured or killed by striking
the steering wheel or f rom being
struck by an inflating front airbag
during a crash.
38
82
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Protecting Adults
Introduction A djust the Front Seats
Close and L ock the Doors
1. 2.
12
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Your vehicle has attachment points
for a tether-style child seat to be
installed on the second or third row
as shown.
Since a tether can provide additional
security, we recommend using a
tether whenever one is required or
available.There are two anchorage points on
the tailgate sill. Select the anchorage
point you want to use, and remove
the cover with a small f lat-tipped
screwdriver or f ingernail f ile.
Each second row seat has a tether
anchorage point behind the seat
back.
Second Seat Installation:
Third Seat Installation:Using Child Seats with T ethers
Protecting Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety42
T TE
ET
TH
H E
ER
R A
AN
NC CHH O
OR RAA G
GE E P
PO
OI INNT T
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Your vehicle’s exhaust contains
carbon monoxide gas. You should
have no problem with carbon
monoxide entering the vehicle in
normal driving if you maintain your
vehicle properly.
Have the exhaust system inspected
f or leaks whenever:The vehicle is raised f or an oil
change.
You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust.
The vehicle was in an accident
that may have damaged the under-
side. High levels of carbon monoxide can
collect rapidly in enclosed areas,
such as a garage. Do not run the
engine with the garage door closed.
Even with the door open, run the
engine only long enough to move the
vehicle out of the garage. With the tailgate open, air flow can
pull exhaust gas into your vehicle’s
interior and create a hazardous
condition. If you must drive with the
tailgate open, open all the windows
and set the heating and cooling
system/climate control system as
shown below.
Select the Fresh Air mode.
Select the mode.
Turn the f an on high speed.
Set the temperature control to a
comfortable setting.
If you must sit in your parked vehicle,
even in an unconf ined area, with the
engine running, adjust the heating
and cooling system/climate control
system as f ollows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
Driver and Passenger Saf ety56
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and even kill
you.
Avoid any enclosed areas or
activities that expose you to
carbon monoxide.
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This section gives inf ormation about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your Acura. All the essential controls
are within easy reach............................
Control Locations .60
...............................
Indicator Lights .61
.............................................
Gauges .67
Controls Near the Steering
.......................................
Wheel .71
...................................
Headlights .72 Automatic Lighting Off
.....................................
Feature .73
............
Daytime Running Lights .73
....
Instrument Panel Brightness .73
................................
Turn Signals .74
.....................
Windshield Wipers .74
..................
Windshield Washers .76
Rear Window Wiper and
.....................................
Washer .76
..........................
Hazard Warning .76
.............
Rear Window Def ogger .77
.....................................
Fog Light .77
......
Steering Wheel Adjustment .78
...............................
Keys and Locks .79
..............................................
Keys .79
....................
Immobilizer System .80
............................
Ignition Switch .81
......................
Power Door Locks .82
...................
Remote Transmitter .84
..............
Childproof Door Locks .88
........................................
Tailgate .88
....................................
Glove Box .89
.................................................
Seats .90
............
Power Seat Adjustments .90
...........
Driver’s Lumbar Support .91
..........
Manual Seat Adjustments .92 Second and Third Row seat
............................
Adjustments .93
..........................
Head Restraints .94
........................
Rear Seat Access .95
............
Folding the Second Seat .95
...............
Folding the Third Seat .96
...................
Detachable Anchors .98
....................................
Seat Heaters .99
............................
Power Windows .100
.......................................
Moonroof .103
...........................................
Mirrors .104
...............................
Parking Brake .106
Driving Position Memory
........................................
System .107
...........................
Beverage Holder .110
.................
Console Compartment .112
.......................
Rear Compartment .112
.................................
Cargo Hooks .112
........................
Sunglasses Holder .113
........................................
Sun Visor .114
................................
Vanity Mirror .114
............
Accessory Power Sockets .115
........................................
Coin Box .116
......................................
Coat Hook .116
...............................
Interior Lights .117
Instruments and Controls
Inst rument s and Cont rols59
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The lef t or right turn signal light
blinks when you signal a lane change
or turn. If the light does not blink or
blinks rapidly, it usually means one
of the turn signal bulbs is burned out
(see page ). Replace the bulb as
soon as possible, since other drivers
cannot see that you are signalling.
WhenyouturnontheHazard
Warning switch, both turn signal
lights blink. All turn signals on the
outside of the vehicle should f lash.The appropriate light comes on in
this display if the tailgate or any door
is not closed tightly.
All the lights in the monitor display
come on f or a f ew seconds when you
turn the ignition switch ON (II).
If a brake light does not work, the
indicator comes on
when you push the brake pedal with
the ignition switch ON (II).
A burned out brake light is a hazard
when drivers behind you cannot tell
you are braking. Have your brake
lights repaired right away.
296
Indicator L ights
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Turn Signal and
Hazard Warning
Indicators Door and T ailgate Open Monitor
Brake L amp Indicator
64
BRAKE LAMP
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µ
µ µ
Use this position
only to start the engine. The switch
returns to ON (II) when you let go of
the key.
This is the normal key
position when driving. All f eatures
and accessories on the vehicle are
usable. Several of the lights on the
instrument panel come on as a test
when you turn the ignition switch
f rom ACCESSORY to ON. The engine will not start if the
Immobilizer System does not
recognize the key’s coding (see page
).
In this position,
you can operate the audio system
and the accessory power socket.
You will hear a reminder beeper if
you leave the key LOCK (0) or
ACCESSORY (I) position and open
thedriver’sdoor.Removethekeyto
turn of f the beeper. Each f ront door has a master doorlock switch. Either switch locks and
unlocks all doors and the tailgate.
Push the switch down to lock all
doors and the tailgate, and up to
unlock them.
80
ST A RT (III) Power Door L ocks
ON (II) A CCESSORY (I)
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols82
M M A
AS
STTE
ER
R D
DO
OO ORR L
LOOC CKK S
SWWI ITT C
CH H
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Each door has a lock tab on the top.
Whenyoupushdownthelocktabon
the driver’s door, all the doors and
the tailgate lock. Pulling up the lock
tab on the driver’s door unlocks only
that door. The lock tabs on the other
doors lock and unlock only that door.
To lock the f ront passenger’s door
when getting out of the vehicle, push
the lock tab down and close the door.
To lock the driver’s door, along withthe remaining doors and the tailgate,
push the lock tab down or push the
master switch down, then close the
door.
All doors and the tailgate can be
locked f rom the outside by using the
key in the driver’s door. To unlock
only the driver’s door f rom the
outside, turn the key and release it.
If you turn the key and hold it, all
doors and the tailgate will unlock. All
f our doors and the tailgate will
unlock when you unlock the
passenger’s door with the key.
If you f orget and leave the key in the
ignition switch, Lockout Prevention
will not allow you to lock the driver’s
door. With the driver’s door open
andthekeyintheignition,both
master door lock switches are
disabled. However, if the driver’s
door is not open, the master door
lock switches are not disabled.
Pushing the switch down on the
open passenger’s door will lock all
doors. If you try to lock an open
driver’s door by pushing down the
lock tab, the tabs on all doors pop out.
Pushingdownthelocktabonthe
passenger’s door only locks that door.
L ockout Prevent ion
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols83
L LO
OC CKK T
TA
A B
B
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You can lock and unlock your vehicle
with the remote transmitter. When
you push the LOCK button, all doors
and the tailgate lock. The parking
lights, side marker lights, taillights
and instrument panel lights f lash
once.When you push the LOCK button a
second time within 5 seconds after
you have locked the doors, you will
hear a beep to verify that the
security system has set.
When you push the UNLOCK button
once, only the driver’s door unlocks.
The remaining doors and the tailgate
unlock when you push the button a
second time. The parking lights, side
marker lights, taillights and
instrument panel lights f lash twice
when you push the button.
When you press the UNLOCK
button, the f ront and rear individual
map lights and the cargo area light,
depending on their switch positions,
will come on (see page ). If you
do not open any door or the tailgate,
the lights stay on for about 10
seconds, then go out. If you relock
thedoorsandthetailgatewiththe
remote transmitter before 10
seconds have elapsed, the lights willgo of f immediately.
If you unlock the doors and the
tailgate with the remote transmitter,
but do not open any door or the
tailgate within 30 seconds, all doors
and the tailgate automatically relock.
You cannot lock the doors and the
tailgate with the remote transmitter
if any door or the tailgate is not f ully
closed. You cannot lock or unlock
thedoorsandthetailgatewiththe
key in the ignition switch.
117
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Remote Transmitter
84
L LE E D
D
L
LOOC CKK
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N
U
UN NLLOOC CKK
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N P
P
A
A N
NI ICC
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N
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Panic mode allows you to remotely
activate your vehicle’s horn and
lights to attract attention. When
activated, the horn will sound, and
the headlights, parking lights, side
marker lights, taillights and
instrument panel lights will f lash f or
about 30 seconds. To activate panic
mode,pressandholdthePANIC
button f or about one second.When the remote transmitter’s
battery begins to get weak, it may
take several pushes on the button to
lock or unlock the doors and the
tailgate, and the LED will get dim.
Replace the battery as soon as
possible.
Battery type: CR2025To replace the battery, place a cloth
on the edge of the transmitter and
remove the upper half by carefully
prying on the edge with a small f lat-
tip screwdriver.
To cancel Panic mode bef ore 30
seconds, press any button on the
remote transmitter. You can also
turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Panic mode will not activate if the
key is in the ON (II) position.
CONT INUED
Panic Mode
Replacing t he Bat t ery
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols85
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