tailgate Acura MDX 2008 Owner's Guide

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Press this button once
to unlock the driver’s door. Push it
twice to unlock the other doors.
Some exterior lights will f lash twice
when you push the button. If you do
not open any door or the tailgate
within 30 seconds, they will
automatically relock.
To change the ‘‘KEY AND REMOTE
UNLOCK MODE’’ setting, see page
.
To change the ‘‘SECURITY
RELOCK TIMER’’ setting, see page . 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 30
seconds, then go out. If you relock
thedoorsandthetailgatewiththe
remote transmitter before 30
seconds have elapsed, the lights will
go of f immediately.
Press and hold the
TAILGATE button to open or close
the power tailgate. When the tailgate
begins to move, you will hear a beep,
and some f ront and rear lights will
flash.
If you push the same button again
while the tailgate is opening or
closing, three beeps sound, the
tailgate stops moving, reverses direction and stops in the f ully
opened or f ully closed position.
Press and hold this
button for about 1 second to attract
attention; the horn will sound, and
the exterior lights will f lash f or about
30 seconds. To cancel panic mode,
press any other button on the remote
transmitter, or turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position. Panic
mode does not work when the key is
in the ignition switch.
109
111 160
U.S. Entertainment Packages and
Canadian Elite Package models
Remote Transmitter
UNL OCK
TAILGATEPA NIC
136
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Avoid dropping or throwing the
transmitter.
Protect the transmitter from
extreme temperature.
Do not immerse the transmitter in
any liquid.
If you lose a transmitter, the
replacement needs to be
reprogrammed by your dealer.If it takes several pushes on the
button to lock or unlock the doors
and the tailgate, replace the battery
as soon as possible.
To replace the battery:Remove the screw at the base of
the transmitter with a small
Phillips-head screwdriver.
Separate the keypad from the
transmitter by pushing any button
f rom outside.
Battery type: CR1616
1.
2.
CONT INUED
Remote Transmitter CareReplacing the Transmitter
Battery
Remote Transmitter
Inst rument s and Cont rols
137
KEYPAD
SCREW
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The individual map lights in the
f ront can be turned on and of f by
pressing the lenses.
The light control switch has three
positions: OFF, Door Activated, and
ON.
Withanydoororthetailgateleft
open, the lights stay on about 3
minutes, then go out. After all doors are closed tightly, the
lights dim slightly, then f ade out in
about 30 seconds.
To change the ‘‘INTERIOR LIGHT
DIMMING TIME’’ setting, see page
.
The lights also come on when the
key is removed f rom the ignition
switch.
The individual map lights in the
second row and the cargo area
light in the third row cannot be
turned on.
The individual map lights in the
f ront and second rows come on
whenanydoororthetailgateis
opened, or when the remote
transmitter is used to unlock the
doors (see page ). When the
doors and the tailgate are closed,
eachlightcanbeturnedonandoff
by pushing the lens.
The cargo area light comes on
whenanydoororthetailgateis
opened if the light control switch
is in the door activated (center)
position. When the doors and the
tailgate are closed, the cargo area
lightcanbeturnedonwiththe
switch in the light.
The individual door lights or the
tailgate lights will operate when a
door or the tailgate is opened. 136
101
When the switch is in the OFF position: When the switch is in the door activated
position:
CONT INUED
L ight Control Switch
Interior Lights
Inst rument s and Cont rols
159
DOOR ACTIVATED POSITION
OFF ON
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The courtesy lights in all f our doors
come on when you open any door.
The light around the ignition switch
comes on when any door is opened.
Af ter you close the door, the ignition
switch light stays on f or about 30
seconds regardless of the interior
light dimming time setting (see page).
The lights in the tailgate have an on-
of f switch to control if the lights
come on when the tailgate is opened.
The tailgate lights do not come on
when any other doors are opened.
The cargo area light has a three-
position switch. In the OFF position,
the light does not come on. In the
center position, it comes on when
you open the tailgate. In the ON
position, it stays on continuously. 101
Interior Lights
Individual Interior L ights
Tailgate Lights
Cargo Area Light
Inst rument s and Cont rols
161
ON
OFF
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Once the security system is set,
opening any door, the tailgate, or the
hood without using the key or the
remote transmitter, will cause it to
alarm. It also alarms if the radio is
removed f rom the dashboard or the
wiring is cut.The security system will not set if
the hood, tailgate, or any door is not
f ully closed. If the system will not set,
check that the doors, the tailgate and
the hood are f ully closed.
Do not attempt to alter this system
or add other devices to it.
The security system helps to protect
your vehicle and valuables f rom thef t.
The horn sounds and a combination
of headlights, position lights, side
marker lights and taillights f lashes if
someone attempts to break into your
vehicle or remove the audio unit.
This alarm continues f or 2 minutes,
then the system resets. To reset an
alarming system before the 2
minutes have elapsed, unlock the
driver’s door with the key or the
remote transmitter.
The security system automatically
sets 15 seconds after you lock the
doors, hood, and the tailgate. For the
system to activate, you must lock the
doorsandthetailgatefromthe
outside with the key, driver’s lock
tab, door lock master switch, or
remote transmitter. The security
system indicator on the instrument
panel starts blinking immediately to
show you the system is setting itself .
Security System
Features
269
SECURITY SYSTEM INDICATOR
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2008 MDX

Store or secure all items that could
be thrown around and hurt
someone during a crash.
Be sure items placed on the f loor
behind the f ront seats cannot roll
underneath and interf ere with the
proper operation of the seats, the
sensors under the seats, or the
driver’s ability to operate the
pedals.If you carry large items that
prevent you f rom closing the
tailgate, exhaust gas can enter the
passenger area. To avoid the
possibility of
, f ollow the instructions
on page .
If you carry any items on a roof
rack,besurethetotalweightof
the rack and the items does not
exceed 165 lbs (75 kg).
If you use an accessory roof rack,
the roof rack weight limit may be
lower. Ref er to the inf ormation
that came with your roof rack.
Distribute cargo evenly on the
f loor of the cargo area, placing the
heaviest items on the bottom and
as far forward as possible. Tie
down items that could be thrown
about the vehicle during a crash or
sudden stop.
If youfolddownthesecondor
third row seats, tie down items
that could be thrown about the
vehicle during a crash or sudden
stop.
Keep the glove box closed while
driving. If it is open, a passenger
could injure their knees during a
crash or sudden stop.
Also, keep all cargo below the
bottom of the windows. If it is
higher, it could interf ere with the
proper operation of the side
curtain airbags. 58
Carrying Cargo in the Passenger
Compartment
carbon monoxide
poisoning
Carrying Cargo in the Cargo A rea
or on a Roof Rack
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving
335
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CONT INUED
Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page ).
Check the steering wheel
adjustment (see page ).
Make sure the doors and tailgate
are securely closed and locked.
Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have f astened
their seat belts (see page ).
When you start the engine, check
the gauges and indicators in the
instrument panel, and the
messages on the multi-inf ormation
display (see pages , and). Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition switch to
the START (III) position, then
release the ignition switch. You do
not need to hold the ignition
switch in the START (III) position
to start the engine. Depending on
the outside temperature, the starter motor runs f or about 6 to 9
seconds until the engine starts.
If you hold the ignition switch in
the START (III) position f or more
than 7 seconds, the starter motor,
depending on the outside
temperature, runs f or about 10 to
25 seconds until the engine starts.
If the engine does not start, wait at
least 10 seconds bef ore trying
again.
Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal. In cold weather, turn of f all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery. Apply the parking brake.
Your vehicle’s starting system has an
auto control mode. When you turn
the ignition switch to the START
(III) position, this f eature keeps the
engine’s starter motor running until
the engine starts. Follow these
instructions to start the engine:
1.
2.
3.
4.
6.
7.
8.
9.
15
124
81
10.
63 72
154
Preparing to Drive, Starting the Engine
Starting the Engine
Driving
339
T he immobilizer system protects your
vehicle f rom thef t. If an improperly-
coded key (or other device) is used, the
engine’s f uel system is disabled. For
more inf ormation, see page .
128
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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.
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. If the vehicle is f acing downhill,
turn the front wheels toward the
curb.
Parking
Parking T ips
350
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2008 MDX

Remove the electrical connector
f rom the bulb by pushing on the
tab and pulling the connector
down.
Remove the bulb f rom the f og
light assembly by turning it one-
quarter turn counterclockwise.Remove the two bolts, and remove
the rear light assembly f rom the
rear pillar.
Open the tailgate. Use a flat-tip
screwdriver protected with a cloth
to pry open the two covers.
Determine which of the two bulbs
is burned out: turn signal/hazard
lights or side marker light.
1. 2.
3.
3.
4.
Lights
Replacing Rear Bulbs
(in Rear Pillar)
406
CONNECTOR
INNER FENDER COVER
BOLT
BOLT
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CONT INUED
Remove the socket by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise.
Pull the bulb straight out of its
socket.Push the new bulb straight into
the socket until it bottoms.
Turn on the lights to make sure
the new bulb is working.
Put the socket back into the light
assembly, and turn it clockwise to
lock it in place.
Install the rear light assembly in
the rear pillar. Tighten the two
bolts. Snap the bolt covers into
position.
Open the tailgate. Place a cloth on
the edge of the light assembly
cover. Remove the cover by
caref ully prying in the notch on its
middle edge with a f lat-tip
screwdriver.
1.
4.
5. 6.
7.
8.
9.
Lights
Replacing a Back-up L ight Bulb
Maint enance
407
COVER
BULB SOCKET
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2008 MDX