engine Acura MDX 2008 Owners Manual

T he publications shown below can be purchased f rom Helm
Incorporated. You can order by phone or online:Call Helm Inc. at 1-800-782-4356 (credit card orders only)
Go online at
If you are interested in other years or models, contact Helm Inc.
at 1-800-782-4356.Covers maintenance and recommended procedures f or
repair to engine and chassis components. It is written
f or the journeyman mechanic, but it is simple enough
f or most mechanically inclined owners to understand.
Complements the Service Manual by providing in-depth
troubleshooting inf ormation f or each electrical circuit
in your vehicle.
Describes the procedures involved in the replacement
of damaged body parts.
Authorized Manuals
Service Manual:
Electrical T roubleshooting Manual:
Body Repair Manual:
Purchasing Factory Authorized Manuals (U.S.only)
Authorized Manuals
469
Publication
Form Number 61STX01
61STX01EL
61STX30
31STX610
31STX810
31STXM10 31STXQ10 ACU-R Form Description
2007-2008 Acura MDX Service Manual 2008 Acura MDX
Electrical Troubleshooting Manual
2008 Acura MDX Body Repair Manual 2008 Acura MDX Owner’s Manual 2008 Acura MDX
Navigation System Owner’s Manual
2008 Acura MDX Maintenance Journal 2008 Acura MDX Quick Start Guide Order Form for Previous Years
Indicate Year and Model Desired
www. helminc. com
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2008 MDX

CONT INUED
...
Accessories and Modif ications .330
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key
.....................................
Position) .129
............
Accessory Power Sockets .166
...........................
AC Power Outlet .167
................
Active Damper System .361
.....................................
Acura Link .308
....................
Additives, Engine Oil .394
...............................
Airbag (SRS) .9,24
..............
Air Conditioning System .170
.....................
Rear A/C Control .175
.......................
Air Outlets (Vents) .177
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .415
......................................
Antif reeze .396
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
....................
Indicator Light .66,357
...................................
Operation .357
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System .235
Anti-thef t Steering Column
............................................
Lock .129
................
Audio System .180,181,200
Auto Control Mode, Starting
........................................
Engine .339
..........
Automatic Climate Control .170 .......................
Automatic Lighting .119
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners .22
.............
Automatic Speed Control .270
..............
Automatic Transmission .341
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .452
...............
Checking Fluid Level .399
.......................................
Shif ting .341
Shif t Lever Position
...............................
Indicators .341
................
Shif t Lever Positions .342
....................
Shif t Lock Release .346
................................
Cancel Button .272
............................
Capacities Chart .452
Battery
Charging System ...........................
Indicator .65,436
............................
Jump Starting .432
..............................
Maintenance .421
............................
Specif ications .453
..............................
Bef ore Driving .321
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,20
.........................
Beverage Holders .163
..................................
Booster Seats .55
Brakes
...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) .357 .............
Break-in, New Linings .322
...........................................
Fluid .401
.......................................
Parking .153
.................
System Indicator .65,438
........................
Wear Indicators .357
.............................
Braking System .356
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle .322
Brightness Control,
...............................
Instruments .123
......................
Brights, Headlights .118
Bulb Replacement
..........................
Back-up Lights .407
................
Front Parking Lights .404
........
Front Side Marker Lights .404
.................................
Headlights .403
.................................
Rear Bulbs .406
............................
Specif ications .453
....................
Turn Signal Lights .404
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .403
Index
A
BC
INDEX
I
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Î
...............
DANGER, Explanation of .iii
...................................
Dashboard .3,62
..............
Daytime Running Lights .120
.................................
Dead Battery .432
............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety .468
..............
Def ogger, Rear Window .122
..............
Def rosting the Windows .174
..........................
Dif f erential Fluid .452
....................................
Dimensions .452
.............
Dimming the Headlights .118
Dipstick
..........
Automatic Transmission .399
..................................
Engine Oil .326
..........................
Directional Signals .67
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators .357
.......................................
Disc Care .229
........................
Disc Changer .190,218
Disc Changer Error
...........................
Messages .199,228
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard .58
..........................
Cargo Area Light .161
...................................
Cargo Hook .336
....................
Cargo, How to Carry .332
.............
CAUTION, Explanation of .iii
........................
Certif ication Label .450
.................................
Chains, Tires .420
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .425
Changing Oil
........................................
How to .394
......................................
When to .383
...
Charging System Indicator .65,436
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving .338
................
Childproof Door Locks .131
.....................................
Child Saf ety .37
..............................
Booster Seats .55
.............................
Child Seats .42,45
.....
Important Saf ety Reminders .41
..........................................
Inf ants .42
..........................
Larger Children .54
.........................................
LATCH .47
......................
Risks with Airbags .38
.............................
Small Children .43
..........................................
Tether .51
.........
Where Should a Child Sit? .38 .......................................
Child Seats .45
........
LATCH Anchorage Points .47
....
Tether Anchorage Points .52,53
.......................
Cleaning Seat Belts .409
....................
Client Service Of f ice .466
...............
Climate Control System .170
..............................................
Clock .236
.....................
Code, Audio System .235
........................
CO in the Exhaust .460
......................
Compact Spare Tire .424
.................
Console Compartment .164
...............
Consumer Inf ormation .466
.............
Controls, Instruments and .61
Coolant
........................................
Adding .396
....................................
Checking .326
.........................
Proper Solution .396
...................
Temperature Gauge .72
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System .460
................
Cruise Control Indicator .70
............
Cruise Control Operation .270
...................................
Cup Holders .163
.........................
Customize Settings .83
................
Door/Window Setup .105
...........................
Lighting Setup .100 .................................
Meter Setup .89
..............................
Position Setup .97
........................
Setting to Def ault .86
...............................
Wiper Setup .113
Index
D
II
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2008 MDX

CONT INUED
............................
Disc Player .190,218
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .395
Doors
............
Locking and Unlocking .130
..................
Lockout Prevention .131
........................................
Monitor .11
....................
Power Door Locks .130
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading .454
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety .5
...........................................
Driving .337
....................................
Economy .327
Driving Position Memory ........................................
System .157
......
DVD Player Error Messages .265
...................................
DVD Player .240 ...................................
Fan, Interior .173
Features, Comfort and
..............................
Convenience .169
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank .323
Filters
...............................................
Oil .394
...........
Flashers, Hazard Warning .122
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a .425
.....................................
Floor Mats .410
Fluids
..........
Automatic Transmission .399
..........................................
Brake .401
..........................
Power Steering .402
..................
Windshield Washer .398
..............................
Economy, Fuel .327
..................................
Emergencies .423
.............
Battery, Jump Starting .432
...........
Brake System Indicator .438
................
Changing a Flat Tire .425
.....
Charging System Indicator .436
..................
Checking the Fuses .440
...........
Driving with a Flat Tire .424 .......
Hazard Warning Flashers .122
............................
Jump Starting .432
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .436
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .437
..................
Overheated Engine .434
Opening the Fuel Fill Door
................................
Manually .446
.......................................
Towing .446
.........................
Emergency Brake .153
....................
Emergency Flashers .122
......................
Emergency Towing .446
.......................
Emissions Controls .460
........................
Emissions Testing .463
Engine
............
Check Starting System .340
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge .72
.........................
If it Won’t Start .431
Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp .65,437
.......................................
Oil Lif e .383
........
Oil Pressure Indicator .65,436
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use .393
...............................
Overheating .434
............................
Specif ications .453
............................
Speed Limiter .346
.......................................
Starting .339 .
Evaporative Emissions Controls .460
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .58
Exhaust Gas Recirculation
........................................
System .461
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .18
Index
E F
INDEX
III
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2008 MDX

FM Stereo Radio...................................
Reception .205
.....................................
Fog Lights .120
..............
Folding the Second Seat .144
.................
Folding the Third Seat .145
........................
Four-way Flashers .122
..............................
Front Airbags .9,27
......................................
Front Seat .140
....................................
Adjusting .140
.....................................
Airbags .9,27
.......................................
Heaters .148
.................................................
Fuel .322
......................
Fill Door and Cap .323
...........................................
Gauge .72
................
Octane Requirement .322
Opening the Fuel Fill Door
................................
Manually .446
...............................
Oxygenated .322
........................
Reserve Indicator .71
........................
Tank, Filling the .323
......................
Tighten Fuel Cap .324
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .440
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving .327 .........................................
Gasoline .322
...........................................
Gauge .72
.....................
Low Fuel Indicator .71
................
Octane Requirement .322
........................
Tank, Ref ueling .323
................
Gas Station Procedures .323
Gauges
...
Engine Coolant Temperature .72
...............................................
Fuel .72
...............................
Speedometer .72
.................................
Tachometer .72
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight .......................................
Rating) .364
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight .......................................
Rating) .364
............
Gearshif t Lever Positions .342
......................................
Glove Box .164
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
.......................................
Rating) .364
.............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs .403
..........................
HandsFreeLink .280
..............................
HFL Buttons .281
............
Hazard Warning Flashers .122 .....................................
Headlights .118
........................................
Aiming .403
..................
Automatic Lighting .119
.........
Daytime Running Lights .120
..................
High Beam Indicator .70
.........
High Beams, Turning on .118
....................
Lights On Indicator .70
..........
Low Beams, Turning on .118
.......................
Reminder Chime .118
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs .403
.................................
Turning on .118
.....................................
Washers .117
...................................
Headphones .266
............................
Head Restraints .141
...............................
Heated Mirror .156
...............................
Heaters, Seats .148
.....................
Heating and Cooling .170
...............
High-Low Beam Switch .118
HomeLink Universal
................................
Transceiver .276
.......................
Hood, Opening the .325
................................................
Horn .115
...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle .450
TM
Index
G H
I
IV
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2008 MDX

Locks.....
Anti-thef t Steering Column .129
............................
Fuel Fill Door .323
..................................
Glove Box .164
..................
Lockout Prevention .131
...............................
Power Door .130
..............................
Tailgate .131,132
........................
Low Coolant Level .326
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator .71
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .65,436
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart .452
............
Luggage, Storing (cargo) .332
..................................
Maintenance .381
Owner’s Maintenance ...................................
Checks .389
........................................
Minder .383
..........................................
Saf ety .382
....................................
Schedule .390
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .437
...........
Memory, Driving Position .157
.............................
Message Display .80
..........................
Message Indicator .69
...............................
Meters, Gauges .72 ........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .155
.................................
Modif ications .331
...............
Modif ying Your Vehicle .331
.......................................
Moonroof .152
.............
Multi-Inf ormation Display .73
...................
Neutral Gear Position .342
..................
New Vehicle Break-in .322
...................
NOTICE, Explanation of .i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication .450
...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline .322
.........................................
Odometer .75
...............................
Odometer, Trip .75
....................
Of f -Highway Driving .377
...................
Of f -Road Precautions .377
Oil
........................
Change, How to .394
......................
Change, When to .383
......................
Checking Engine .326
...............................
Lif e, Engine .383
..............
Pressure Indicator .65,436 Selecting Proper Viscosity
......................................
Chart .393
.........
ON (Ignition Key Position) .129
............................
Outside Mirrors .154
.....................
Outside Temperature .76
....................
Overheating, Engine .434
....
Owner’s Maintenance Checks .389
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels .322
............
Panel Brightness Control .123
........................
Park Gear Position .342
...........................................
Parking .350
...............................
Parking Brake .153
Parking Brake and Brake
.................
System Indicator .65,438
...............................
Parking Lights .118
..
Parking Over Things that Burn .350
....
Passenger Airbag Of f Indicator .34
.............................
PGM-FI System .461
..............
Power Seat Adjustments .140
...............
Power Socket Locations .162
............................
Power Windows .149
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts .18
Index
N
O P
M
VI
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Î
CONT INUED
.........
Protecting Adults and Teens .11
...
Additional Safety Precautions .19
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women .18
........................
Protecting Children .37
.....................
General Guidelines .37
.......................
Protecting Inf ants .42
.......
Protecting Larger Children .54
.........
Protecting Small Children .43
Using Child Seats with
.....................................
Tethers .51
.............................
Using LATCH .47
..................................
Saf ety Belts .8,20
.........
Safety Defects, Reporting .468 .................................
Saf ety Features .7
...........................................
Airbags .9
..................................
Door Locks .11
..........................
Head Restraints .14
.................................
Seat Belts .8,15
...............
Seats & Seat-Backs .12,13
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of .59
..............................
Saf ety Messages .iii
...............
Satellite Radio, XM .185,210
.....................................
Seat Belts .8,15
...............
Additional Information .20
Automatic Seat Belt
...............................
Tensioners .22
.....................................
Cleaning .409
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt .21
................................
Maintenance .23
Reminder Light and
................................
Beeper .20,64
...................
System Components .20
...............
Use During Pregnancy .18
...
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt .15
...................
Radiator Overheating .434
...
Radio/Disc Sound System .181,201
...........................
Readiness Codes .462
...............................
Rear A/C Unit .175
............
Rear Audio Control Panel .241
........
Rear Entertainment System .237
..
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement .406
.
Rear View Camera and Monitor .320
..........................
Rear View Mirror .154
...............
Rear Window Def ogger .174
Rear Window Wiper and
.......................................
Washer .117 .............
Reclining the Seat Backs .140
.........
Reclining the Second Seats .144
.......................
Reminder Indicators .64
................
Remote Audio Controls .233
.................
Remote Control (RES) .242
.....................
Remote Transmitter .135
Replacement Inf ormation
................
Engine Oil and Filter .394
..........................................
Fuses .440
................................
Light Bulbs .403
....................................
Schedule .383
................................
Timing Belt .402
...........................................
Tires .418
.............................
Wiper Blades .411
Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a ............................................
Crash .23
...
Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant .326
...............................
Restraint, Child .37
..................
Reverse Gear Position .342
................................
Rotation, Tire .418
Index
INDEXS
R
VII
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Î
.....................................
Tachometer .72
...............................................
Seats .140
.......
Adjusting the Second Seat .144
..........
Folding the Second Seat .144
.............
Folding the Third Seat .145
........................
Head Restraints .141
.......................................
Heaters .148
......................
Position Memory .157
....................
Third Row Access .145
............................
Security System .269
Sensors
....
Driver’s Seat Position Sensor .29
Front Passenger’s Weight
.....................................
Sensors .29
......................
Impact Sensors .25,26
........
Sequential SportShif t Mode .343
...............................
Serial Number .450
...........................
Service Intervals .383
...........................
Service Manual .469
.........
Service Station Procedures .323
.......................................
Indicator .69
..
Torque Distribution Monitor .348
Shif ting the Automatic .............................
Transmission .341
.....
Shif t Lever Position Indicator .341
........................
Shif t Lock Release .346 ....................................
Side Airbags .30
................................
Of f Indicator .33
......................
Side Curtain Airbags .32
Side Marker Lights, Bulb
.........................
Replacement in .404
...............................
Signaling Turns .67
.....................................
Snow Tires .419
........................
Sound System .180,200
Spare Tire
..............................
Inf lating .416,424
............................
Specif ications .453
....................
Specif ications Charts .452
................................
Speed Limiter .346
................................
Speed Control .270
...................................
Speedometer .72
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation .24
...
Additional Safety Precautions .35
......
Airbag System Components .24
.............................
Airbag Service .35
..
How the SRS Indicator Works .33
How Your Front Airbags
.........................................
Work .27
...
How Your Side Airbags Work .30
How Your Side Curtain Airbags
.........................................
Work .32
.............................
SRS Indicator .33,66 ..
START (Ignition Key Position) .129
.......................
Starting the Engine .339
...................
Auto Control Mode .339
In Cold Weather at High
..................................
Altitude .340
................
With a Dead Battery .432
..............
State Emissions Testing .460
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine .434
Steering Wheel
................................
Adjustment .124
...........
Anti-thef t Column Lock .129
......................
Buttons .233,270,281
......................
Position Memory .157
...
Stereo Sound System .180,181,200
..................
Storage Compartment .164
....................
Storing Your Vehicle .422
........................................
Sun Visor .166
Supplemental Restraint System
......................................
Servicing .35
.........................
SRS Indicator .33,66
...................
System Components .24
..................................
Synthetic Oil .394
Index
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SH-AWD®...................................... .348
2008 MDX

Service Inf ormation Summary
Gasoline:
Fuel Tank Capacity:
Recommended Engine Oil:
Automatic Transmission Fluid:Brake Fluid:
Rear Differential Fluid:
Tire Pressure (measured cold):
Transfer Assembly Fluid:
Power Steering Fluid:
4.5 US qt (4.3
)
Premium unleaded gasoline,
pump octane number of 91 or
higher.
API Premium grade 5W-20
detergent oil (see page ).
Oil change capacity (including
filter):
21.00 US gal (79.5
)
Honda ATF-Z1 (Automatic
Transmission Fluid) (see page ). Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid
DOT 3 preferred, or a DOT 3 or
DOT 4 brake fluid as a temporary
replacement (see page ).
Front/Rear:
32 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm
)
Compact Spare Tire: 60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm
)
Use Honda ATF-Z1 (Automatic
Transmission Fluid) only.
Capacity:
2.6 US qt (2.5
)
SAE 90 or SAE 80W-90 viscosity
hypoid gear oil, API service
classified GL4 or GL5 only.
Honda Power Steering Fluid
preferred, or another brand of
power steering fluid as a
temporary replacement. Do not
use ATF (see page ).
393
400 401
402
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SH-AWD®differential case
2008 MDX