Acura MDX 2007 Owner's Manual

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The table shows the speed ranges
f or upshif ting and downshif ting. When you are in Sequential
SportShif t mode, and the vehicle is
stopped, push f orward on the shif t
lever to shif t to second gear. You
will see ‘‘2’’ in the display. Starting
out in second gear will help to
reduce wheelspin in deep snow or
on a slippery surf ace.
If you start out in second gear, the
transmission will be f ixed in that
gear.
To shift from
12
23
34
45 To shift from
32
43
54
Speed range
over 0 mph
(0 km/h)
over 10 mph
(16 km/h)
over 19 mph
(31 km/h)
over 37 mph
(60 km/h) Speed range
under 60 mph
(96 km/h)
under 93 mph
(150 km/h)
under 118 mph
(190 km/h)
The transmission will not
automatically downshif t to f irst gear
even when the vehicle speed is
under 10 mph (16 km/h). You need
to shif t down to f irst gear manually.
CONT INUED
St art ing in Second Gear
Automatic Transmission
Driving
337
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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.
Bef ore downshif ting, make sure the
engine will not go into the
tachometer’s red zone.
This position is
similar to D, except only the f irst
three gears are selected. Use D
when towing a trailer in hilly terrain,
or to provide engine braking when
going down a steep hill. D can also
keep the transmission f rom cycling
between third, f ourth, and f if th gears
in stop-and-go driving.
ForfasteraccelerationwheninD or
D, you can get the transmission to
automatically downshif t by pushing
the accelerator pedal to the floor.
The transmission will shif t down one,
two, or three gears, depending on
your speed. This allows you to move the shif t
lever out of Park if the normal
method of pushing on the brake
pedal and pressing the release
button does not work.
Remove the key from the ignition
switch. Set the parking brake.
1.
2.
3
3
3
Engine Speed Limiter Shift Lock Release
Drive (D )
Automatic Transmission
3
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If you need to use the shif t lock
release, it means your vehicle is
developing a problem. Have the
vehicle checked by a dealer.
Put a cloth on the edge of the shif t
lock release slot cover next to the
shif t lever. Use a small f lat-tipped
screwdriver or a metal f ingernail
f ile to remove the cover. Caref ully
pry on the edge of the cover. Push down on the key while you
pressthereleasebuttononthe
shif t lever and move the shif t lever
out of Park to neutral.Remove the key from the shift
lock release slot, then reinstall the
cover. Make sure the notch on the
cover is on the driver’s side. Press
the brake pedal, and restart the
engine.
Insert a key into the shift lock
release slot.
3. 4.
5.6.
Automatic Transmission
Driving
339
COVER
SHIFT LOCK RELEASE SLOT
RELEASE
BUTTON
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Each torque indicator is displayed
as a bar graph divided into 5
segments. The number of
segments represents the amount
of torque distributed to each
wheel.
The SH-AWD torque distribution
monitor on the multi-inf ormation
display shows you the amount of
torque being sent to the wheels.
Each wheel: right f ront (RF), lef t
front(LF),rightrear(RR),andleft
rear (LR), has its own torque
indicator.
The super handling-all wheel drive
(SH-AWD) system is a f ull time all-
wheel-drive system that
automatically controls and transfers
varying amounts of engine torque to
all wheels independently, according
to the driving conditions.
While the SH-AWD system helps to
enhance the vehicle’s driving
stability in all situations, it is still
your responsibility to drive and
corner at reasonable speeds and to
leave a sufficient margin of safety.
When there is only a slight change in
torque distribution while driving,
such as cruising on level roads at the
same speed, the torque distribution
monitor may stop displaying the
amount of torque. This is not a
system problem. The monitor will
show the amount if the system
senses any change in torque
distribution.
SH-AWD T orque Distribution
Monitor
Super Handling-A ll Wheel Drive (SH-A WD) System
340
TORQUE INDICATOR
TORQUE INDICATOR
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Your vehicle still has normal f ront-
wheel drive with vehicle stability
assist (VSA), but does not have
the advantages of SH-AWD. Have
your vehicle checked by a dealer
as soon as possible.
If the SH-AWD indicator on the
instrument panel stays on, and the
‘‘CHECK SH-AWD SYSTEM’’
message also appears on the multi-
inf ormation display, there is problem
with the SH-AWD system.
If the SH-AWD indicator blinks while
driving, it indicates the dif f erential
temperature is too high. You will also
see an ‘‘SH-AWD DIFF TEMP.
HIGH’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display. If this happens,
pull to the side of the road when it is
saf e, shif t to Park, and let the engine
idle until the indicator goes out. If
the indicator does not go out, take
your vehicle to a dealer to have it checked.
Super Handling-A ll Wheel Drive (SH-A WD) System
Driving
341
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Check the indicator on the
instrument panel to verif y that the
security system is set. If the vehicle is f acing uphill, turn
the front wheels away from the
curb. Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The hot three way
catalytic converter could cause
these materials to catch on fire.
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. If the vehicle is f acing downhill,
turn the front wheels toward the
curb, and set the parking brake.
Make sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.
Turn of f the lights.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.
in the cargo area or take them
with you.
Lock the doors and the tailgate.
Always use the parking brake when
you park your vehicle. 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.
Parking
Parking T ips
342
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Your vehicle is equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
that turns on every time you start the
engine and monitors the pressure in
your tires while driving.
Each tire has its own pressure
sensor. If the air pressure of a tire
becomes signif icantly low, the
sensor in that tire immediately sends
a signal that causes the low tire
pressure indicator in the instrument
panel to come on. If this happens,
you will see which tire is losing
pressure on the multi-inf ormation
display along with a ‘‘CHECK TIRE
PRESSURE’’ message.When the low tire pressure indicator
is on, one or more of your tires is
signif icantly underinf lated. You
should stop and check your tires as
soon as possible, and inf late them to
the proper pressure as indicated on
the vehicle’s tire inf ormation placard.
It is possible that the pressures
shown on the multi-inf ormation
display and the pressures you
manually measure are slightly
dif f erent.
If the dif f erence is signif icant or you
cannot make the low tire pressure
indicator and message on the multi-
inf ormation display go out af ter
inf lating the tires to the specif ied
values, have your dealer check the
system as soon as possible.
Becausetirepressurevariesby
temperature and other conditions,
the low tire pressure indicator may
come on unexpectedly. Driving on a signif icantly under-
inf lated tire causes the tire to
overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inf lation also reduces f uel
efficiency and tire tread life, and may
af f ect the vehicle’s handling and
stopping ability. If the tire is f lat, or if the tire
pressure is too low to continue
driving, replace the tire with the
compact spare tire.
CONT INUED
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Low Tire Pressure
Indicator
Driving
343
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The TPMS can misinterpret the tire
pressure because of differences in
the air temperatures. For example, if
youcheckandfillyourtiresina
warm area, then drive in extremely
cold weather, the tire pressure will
be lower than measured and could
be underinflated and cause the
TPMS indicators to come on. Or, if
youcheckandadjustyourtire
pressu re in cooler conditions, and
drive into extremely hot conditions,
thetiresmaybecomeoverinflated.
However, the TPMS indicators will
not come on if the tires are
overinflated.
Refer to page for tire inflation
guidelines. Al
though your tire pressure is
monito red, you must manually check
thetirepressuresmonthly.
Each tire, including the spare, should
be checked monthly when the
vehicle is cold, and set to the
recommended inflation pressure as
sp ecified on the vehicle placard and
intheowner’smanual(seepage ).
Toselectthetirepressuremonitor,
press the INFO button several times
with the ignition switch in the ON
(II) position.
You will see the above display on the
multi-inf ormation display when all
tire pressures are normal.
409 410 Tire Pressure Monitor
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
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CONT INUED
Each tire has its own pressure
sensor. If the air pressure of a tire
becomes signif icantly low, the
sensor in that tire immediately sends
a signal that causes the low tire
pressure indicator in the instrument
panel to come on. If this happens,
you will see which tire is losing
pressure on the multi-inf ormation
display along with a ‘‘CHECK TIRE
PRESSURE’’ message.
To see the inf lation pressures of all
f our tires, press the SEL/RESET
button. The display changes as
shown above.
Each tire pressure is shown in PSI
(U.S. models) or in kPa (Canadian
models).
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Driving
345
U.S. model
Canadian model This shows that front left tire is
losing pressure.
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If any of the tires has low pressure,
thetirepressuremonitoralsoshows
above message to warn you about
the low tire pressure when you select
the display by pressing the INFO
button several times. Following this
display, press the SEL/RESET
button to see each tire pressure.
When you continue driving af ter
installing the spare tire, you will also
see this message on the multi-
inf ormation display.If there is a problem with the TPMS,
thetirepressuremonitorshowsa
‘‘SYSTEM FUNCTION ERROR’’ and
the tire pressure readings are not
displayed. If this happens, f irst you
will see a system warning message
‘‘CHECK TPMS SYSTEM’’ on the
multi-inf ormation display.
If there is a problem with the TPMS,
you will see the above message on
the multi-information display.
If you see this message, the system
is of f and is not monitoring the tire
pressures. Have the system checked
by your dealer as soon as possible.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
TPMS System Failure
346
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