maintenance Acura MDX 2004 Owner's Guide

Î
ÎThe burning of gasoline in your
vehicle’s engine produces several by-
products. Some of these are carbon
monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen
(NOx) and hydrocarbons (HC).
Gasoline evaporating f rom the tank
also produces hydrocarbons. Con-
trolling the production of NOx, CO,
and HC is important to the environ-
ment. Under certain conditions of
sunlight and climate, NOx and HC
react to f orm photochemical ‘‘smog.’’
Carbon monoxide does not contri-
bute to smog creation, but it is a
poisonous gas. The United States Clean Air Act
sets standards f or automobile
emissions. It also requires that
automobile manufacturers explain to
owners how their emissions controls
workandwhattodotomaintain
them. This section summarizes how
the emissions controls work.
Scheduled maintenance is on page
.
In Canada, Acura vehicles comply
with the Canadian emission
requirements, as specif ied in an
agreement with Environment
Canada, at the time they are
manuf actured.
Your vehicle has a Positive
Crankcase Ventilation System. This
keeps gasses that build up in the
engine’s crankcase f rom going into
the atmosphere. The Positive Crank- case Ventilation valve routes them
from the crankcase back to the
intake manif old. They are then
drawn into the engine and burned.
As gasoline evaporates in the f uel
tank, an evaporative emissions
control canister f illed with charcoal
adsorbs the vapor. It is stored in this
canister while the engine is of f . Af ter
the engine is started and warmed up,
the vapor is drawn into the engine
and burned during driving.
The Onboard Ref ueling Vapor
Recovery (ORVR) system captures
the f uel vapors during ref ueling. The
vapors are adsorbed in a canister
f illed with activated carbon. While
driving, the f uel vapors are drawn
into the engine and burned of f .
199
Emissions Cont rols
The Clean Air Act
Crankcase Emissions Control
System Evaporative Emissions Control
System
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor
Recovery
T echnical Inf ormation259

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*
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Form Description
2004 Acura MDX Service Manual 2001-04 Acura MDX
Electrical Troubleshooting Manual 2001-03 Acura MDXBody Repair Manual
2004 Acura MDX Owner’s Manual 2004 Acura MDX
Navigation Manual
2004 Acura MDX Maintenance Journal 2004 Acura MDX Quick Start Guide Order Form for Previous Years-
Indicate Year and Model Desired
Publication
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61S3V04EL
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31S3V630
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PUBLICATION NUMBER VEHICLE MODEL
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allow adequate time for delivery.
www. helminc. com

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#
) This manual covers maintenance and recommended
procedures f or repair to engine and chassis components.
It is written f or the journeyman mechanic, but is simple
enough f or most mechanically-inclined owners to under-
stand.
This manual complements the Service Manual by
providing in-depth troubleshooting inf ormation f or each
electrical circuit in your vehicle.
This manual describes the procedures involved in the
replacement of damaged body parts.
Authorized Manuals
Service Manual:
Electrical T roubleshooting Manual:
Body Repair Manual:
270
NOTE: Dealers and Companies please provide dealer or company name,
and also the name of the person to whose attention the shipment should
be sent. For purchases outside U.S.A. please write to the address shown
below for a quotation.
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days of delivery. On returns, a restocking fee may be applied against the original order.

CONT INUED
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 163
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) .79
............
Accessory Power Sockets . 101
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 206
...............................
Airbag (SRS) .9, 22
..............
Air Conditioning System . 104
.....................
Rear A/C Control .109
.........................................
Usage .105
.......................
Air Outlets (Vents) .106
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .221
......................................
Antif reeze .208
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) ....................
Indicator Light .59, 181
...................................
Operation .181
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System . 129
.
Anti-thef t Steering Column Lock . 79
................
Audio System . 110,115,125
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners . 20
.........................
Automatic Lighting .73
.............
Automatic Speed Control . 144
..............
Automatic Transmission . 172
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .254
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 210.......................................
Shif ting .172
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 172
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 172
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 175
...........................
Automatic Wipers .70
Battery Charging System ...........................
Indicator .58, 242
............................
Jump Starting .238
..............................
Maintenance .226
............................
Specif ications .255
..............................
Bef ore Driving .157
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,19
...........................
Beverage Holders .99
..................................
Booster Seats .48
Brakes ...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 181
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 158
...........................................
Fluid .212
....................
Bulb Replacement .216
.........................................
Parking .92
.................
System Indicator . 59,244
........................
Wear Indicators .180 .............................
Braking System .180
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle . 158
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 74
........................
Brights, Headlights .72
Bulb Replacement ..........................
Back-up Lights .216
..............................
Brake Lights .216
................
Front Parking Lights . 215
........
Front Side Marker Lights . 215
.................................
Headlights .214
.........
High-mount Brake Light . 217
.................................
Rear Bulbs .216
............................
Specif ications .255
....................
Turn Signal Lights . 215
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .214
Index
A
B
I

CONT INUED
...................................
High Beam .61
........
Key (Immobilizer System) . 59
.....................................
Lights On .62
......................................
Low Fuel .61
........................
Low Oil Pressure .58
......................
Low Tire Pressure .64
...............
Maintenance Required . 65
...........................
Side Airbag Of f .58
.......................................
Seat Belt .58
...............................................
SRS .58
...............
Tire Pressure Monitor . 64
.............................
TPMS System .64
Turn Signal and Hazard ...................................
Warning .60
............................
VSA Activation .63
.................................
VSA System .63
..........................................
VTM-4 .62
..............................
Washer Level .61
....................
Individual Map Lights .97
...............................
Inf ant Restraint .38
......................................
Inf ant Seats .38
...................
Inf lation, Proper Tire . 221
...................................
Inside Mirror .92
.............................
Inspection, Tire .222
........................
Instrument Panel .2 ,57
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 74.................................
Interior Lights .96
........................................
Introduction .i
.................
Jacking up the Vehicle . 234
.......................................
Jack, Tire .231
................................
Jump Starting .238
..................................................
Keys .77
..................................
Maintenance .195
Owner’s Maintenance ...................................
Checks .198
.................................
Record .201-203
......................
Required Indicator .65
..........................................
Saf ety .196
.............................
Schedule .197-200
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 58,243
..............
Manual Seat Adjustments . 85
.......................
Label, Certif ication .252
.................
Lane Change, Signaling . 72
..................
Lap/Shoulder Belts . 14,19
......................
Light Control Switch .96
Lights ....................
Bulb Replacement .214
.......................................
Indicator .58
.........................................
Interior .96
.........................................
Parking .72
..................................
Turn Signal .72
.............................
Load Limit .166, 185 ......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) . 79
Locks .......
Anti-thef t Steering Column . 79
............................
Fuel Fill Door .159
....................................
Glove Box .99
....................
Lockout Prevention . 80
.................................
Power Door .80
........................
Low Coolant Level .162
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator .61
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 58,242
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart . 254
...............
Luggage, .165
storing (cargo)
Index
J
L K
M
V

.............
Memory, Driving Position . 94
...............................
Meters, Gauges .66
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .92
...............
Modif ying Your Vehicle . 164
.........................................
Moonroof .91
...................
Neutral Gear Position . 173
..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 158
...................
NOTICE, Explanation of . i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 252
...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 158
.........................................
Odometer .66
...............................
Odometer, Trip .67
....................
Of f -Highway Driving . 192
...................
Of f -Road Precautions . 192
Oil ........................
Change, How to .206
......................
Change, When to .199
......................
Checking Engine .161
..............
Pressure Indicator . 58,242 Selecting Proper Viscosity
......................................
Chart .205
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 79
..............................
Outside Mirrors .92
....................
Overheating, Engine .240
....
Owner’s Maintenance Checks . 198
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels .158
..............
Panel Brightness Control . 74
........................
Park Gear Position .173
...........................................
Parking .179
.................................
Parking Brake .92
.................................
Parking Lights .72
..
Parking Over Things that Burn . 261
.............................
PGM-FI System .260
................
Power Seat Adjustments . 84
...............
Power Socket Locations . 101
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . 17
.........
Protecting Adults and Teens . 11
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 17
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 17
........................
Protecting Children .33
.....................
General Guidelines .33
.......................
Protecting Inf ants .38 .......
Protecting Larger Children . 47
.........
Protecting Small Children . 39
Using Child Seats with .....................................
Tethers .45
.............................
Using LATCH .42
...................
Radiator Overheating . 240
Radio/CD/Cassette Sound .......................
System .110, 115,125
...............................
Rear A/C Unit .109
............
Rear Audio Control Panel . 135
........
Rear Entertainment System . 131
..
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement . 216
............................
Rear View Mirror .92
.................
Rear Window Def ogger . 75
.
Rear Window Wiper and Washer . 71
.........
Reclining the Seat Backs . 84,85
...........
Reclining the Second Seats . 87
................
Reclining the Third Seat . 88
.............................
Reminder Lights .58
................
Remote Audio Controls . 128
.................
Remote Control (RES) . 137
.......................
Remote Transmitter .81
Index
N
O P
R
VI

ÎÎ
CONT INUED
Replacement Inf ormation................
Engine Oil and Filter . 206
..........................................
Fuses .246
................................
Light Bulbs .214
....................................
Schedule .197
................................
Timing Belt .213
...........................................
Tires .221
.............................
Wiper Blades .219
Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a ............................................
Crash .21
...
Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant . 162
..................
Reverse Gear Position . 173
................................
Rotation, Tire .223
..................................
Saf ety Belts .8, 19
.........
Safety Defects, Reporting . 268
.................................
Saf ety Features .7
...........................................
Airbags .9
..................................
Door Locks .11
..........................
Head Restraints .13
.................................
Seat Belts .8, 14
...............
Seats & Seat-Backs . 11,12
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of . 52
...............................
Saf ety Messages .ii .....................................
Seat Belts .8, 19
...............
Additional Information . 19
Automatic Seat Belt ...............................
Tensioners .20
.....................................
Cleaning .218
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt .19
................................
Maintenance .21
Reminder Light and ................................
Beeper .19, 58
...................
System Components . 19
...............
Use During Pregnancy . 17
...
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt . 14
.................................................
Seats .84
.........
Adjusting the Second Seat . 87
...........
Adjusting the Third Seat . 88
............
Folding the Second Seat . 87
...............
Folding the Third Seat . 88
..........................
Head Restraints .86
.......................
Third Row Access .87
...............................
Serial Number .252
...........................
Service Intervals .199
...........................
Service Manual .269
.........
Service Station Procedures . 159
Shif ting the Automatic .............................
Transmission .172
.....
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 172........................
Shif t Lock Release .175
....................................
Side Airbags .27
......................
Side Curtain Airbags .28
Side Marker Lights, Bulb .........................
Replacement in .215
...............................
Signaling Turns .72
.....................................
Snow Tires .225
................
Sound System . 110,115,125
Spare Tire ..............................
Inf lating .222, 230
............................
Specif ications .255
....................
Specif ications Charts . 254
................................
Speed Control .144
...................................
Speedometer .66
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation . 22
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 32
......
Airbag System Components . 22
.............................
Airbag Service .31
..
How the SRS Indicator Works . 28
How Your Front Airbags .........................................
Work .23
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 27
How Your Side Curtain Airbags .........................................
Work .28
Index
S
VII

.............................
SRS Indicator .28 ,58
....
START (Ignition Key Position) . 79
.......................
Starting the Engine .171
................
With a Dead Battery . 238
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine . 240
Steering Wheel ..................................
Adjustment .76
.............
Anti-theft Column Lock . 79
...
Stereo Sound System . 110,115,125
....................
Storing Your Vehicle .227
........................................
Sun Visor .100
Supplemental Restraint System ......................................
Servicing .31
.........................
SRS Indicator .28 ,58
...................
System Components . 22
..................................
Synthetic Oil .206
.....................................
Tachometer .66
......
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in . 216
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected . 229
....................................
Tape Player .125
Technical Descriptions ......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 256
.....
Emissions Control Systems . 259Three Way Catalytic
...............................
Converter .261
.......................
Temperature Gauge .67
...................
Tensioners, Seat Belts . 20
............................
Thef t Protection .129
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 261
....................................
Timing Belt .213
....................................
Tire Chains .225
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 231
.................................
Tire Labeling .258
Tire Pressure Monitoring ....................
System (TPMS) .178
Low Tire Pressure ...........................
Indicator .64, 177
.......
Tire Pressure Monitor . 64,178
..................
TPMS Indicator . 64,178
...............................................
Tires .221
..............................
Air Pressure .221
.........................
Checking Wear .222
..........................
Compact Spare .230
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 256
......................................
Inf lation .221
..................................
Inspection .222
..............................
Maintenance .223
...................................
Replacing .224
......................................
Rotating .223 ...........................................
Snow .225
............................
Specif ications .255
................................
Tire Chains .225
Towing .....................................
A Trailer .188
................
Emergency Wrecker . 244
....
Equipment and Accessories . 188
.............................
Weight Limit .185
Your Vehicle Behind a ............................
Motorhome .190
.........................
Trailer Loading .185
.................
Trailer Towing Tips . 189
.............
Transf er Assembly Fluid . 211
Transmission ...............
Checking Fluid Level . 210
...........................
Fluid Selection .210
..............
Identif ication Number . 252
.............
Shif ting the Automatic . 172
.....................................
Treadwear .256
.......................................
Trip Meter .67
....................................
Turn Signals .72
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 231
Index
T
VIII