remote control Acura MDX 2015 User Guide
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uuLocking and Unlocking the Doors uLocking/Unlocking the Doors from the Outside
118Controls
When you carry the keyless access remote, 
you can lock/unlock the doors and the 
tailgate.
You can lock/unlock the doors within a radius 
of about 32 inches (80 cm) of the outside door 
handle. You can open the tailgate within 
about 32 inches (80 cm) radius from the 
tailgate outer handle.
■
Using the Keyless Access System
1Using the Remote Transmitter
If the distance at which the remote transmitter works 
varies, the battery is probably low.
If the LED does not come on when you press a 
button, the battery is dead.
2 Replacing the Button Battery  P. 431
You can customize the door lock mode and keyless 
lock acknowledgement setting. 2 Customized Features P. 104, 249
Models without rear door touch sensorModels with rear door touch sensor 
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119
uuLocking and Unlocking the Doors uLocking/Unlocking the Doors from the Outside
Controls
■Locking the doors and tailgate
Press the door lock button on a front door, 
rear doors
* or the tailgate.
u Some exterior lights flash; the beeper 
sounds; all the doors and tailgate lock; 
and the security system sets.
1Using the Keyless Access System•Do not leave the keyless access remote in the 
vehicle when you get out. Carry it with you.•Even if you are not carrying the keyless access 
remote, you can lock/unlock the doors and unlock 
the tailgate while someone else with the remote is 
within range.•The door may be unlocked if the door handle is 
covered with water in heavy rain or in a car wash if 
the keyless access remote  is within range.•If you grip a door handle wearing gloves, the door 
sensor may be slow to respond or may not respond 
by unlocking the doors.•The door may not open if you pull it immediately 
after gripping the door handle. Grip the handle 
again and confirm that the door is unlocked before 
pulling the handle.•Even within the 32 inches (80 cm) radius, you may 
not be able to lock/unlock the doors with the 
keyless access remote if it is above or below the 
outside handle.•The keyless access remote may not operate if it is 
too close to the door and door glass.
Door Lock Button
Lock Button
* Not available on all models 
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uuLocking and Unlocking the Doors uLocking/Unlocking the Doors from the Outside
Controls
Fully insert the key and turn it.■Locking the front doors
Push the lock tab forward 
a or push the 
master door lock switch in the lock direction 
b, and close the door.■Locking the rear doors
Push the lock tab forward and close the door.
■Lockout prevention system
The doors and tailgate cannot be locked when the keyless access remote is inside 
the vehicle.■
Locking/Unlocking the Doors Using a Key
1 Locking/Unlocking the Doors Using a Key
When you lock the driver’s door with a key, all the 
other doors and tailgate lock at the same time. When 
unlocking, the driver’s door unlocks first. Turn the 
key a second time within a few seconds to unlock the 
remaining doors and the tailgate.
You can customize the door unlock mode setting.
2 Customized Features P. 104, 249
Lock
Unlock
■
Locking a Door Without Using a Key
1Locking a Door Without Using a Key
When you lock the driver’s door, all the other doors 
and tailgate lock  at the same time.
Make sure you have the key in your hand before 
locking the door to prevent it from being locked in 
the vehicle. 
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uuLocking and Unlocking the Doors uLocking/Unlocking the Doors from the Outside
122Controls
You can remotely check if your vehicle’s doors 
are all locked or any are unlocked from 
distance up to 328 feet (100 meters), using 
the keyless access remote.
Press the lock button, the Amber (LEFT) LED blinks once. Then after three seconds 
one of the following feedback will come:
• Green (center) comes on: Acknowledges that the doors are locked.
• Red (right) comes on: Acknowledges that doors are not locked, or any door is not 
completely closed.
• Red (right) blinks three times: The remote does not receive the door lock status 
from the vehicle.
■
Checking Door Lock Status
*
1Checking Door Lock Status
*
Operate the remote in an open space. If there are 
buildings or other obstacles between your vehicle 
and the remote, the remot e may not work even 
within the operable range. However, the range of 
unlock, all doors, and panic functions are the same as 
the standard keyless access remote. 2 Using the Remote Transmitter  P. 117
When checking the door lock status, you can also 
start or stop the engine. 2 Remote Engine Start with Vehicle 
Feedback
* P. 326
Red
Green
Amber
Lock 
Button* Not available on all models 
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123
uuLocking and Unlocking the Doors uLow Keyless Access Remote Signal Strength
Controls
Low Keyless Access Remote Signal StrengthThe vehicle transmits radio waves to locate the keyless access remote when locking/
unlocking the doors and tailgate, or to start the engine.
In the following cases, locking/unlocking the doors and tailgate, or starting the 
engine may be inhibited or  operation may be unstable:
• Strong radio waves are being transmitted by nearby equipment.
• You are carrying the keyless access remote together with telecommunications 
equipment, laptop computers, cell phones, or wireless devices.
• A metallic object is touching or covering the keyless access remote.
1Low Keyless Access Remote Signal Strength
Communication between the keyless access remote 
and the vehicle consumes the keyless access remote’s 
battery.
The keyless access remote battery lasts about two 
years. This changes by how often you use the remote.
The battery is consumed whenever the keyless access 
remote is receiving strong radio waves. Avoid placing 
it near electrica l appliances such as televisions and 
personal computers. 
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129
uuOpening and Closing the Tailgate uOpening/Closing the Tailgate Us ing the Tailgate Outer Handle
Controls
Opening/Closing the Tailgate Using the Tailgate Outer Handle
When all the doors are unlocked, the tailgate 
is unlocked. Press the tailgate outer handle for 
more than one second, and wait until you 
hear three beeps before you lift open the 
tailgate.
u Releasing the outer handle within one 
second with one beep enables the power 
tailgate operations.
2 Power Tailgate Outer Handle  P. 132
Even if the tailgate is locked, you can open the 
tailgate if you carry the keyless access remote.
To manually close the tailgate, grab the inner 
handle, pull the tailgate down, and push it 
closed from outside.
1Opening/Closing the Tailgate Using the Tailgate Outer Handle
Do not leave the keyless access remote inside the 
cargo area and close the tailgate. The beeper sounds 
and the tailgate cannot be closed.
Even if you are not carrying the keyless access 
remote, you can lock/unlock the doors while 
someone else with the remote is within range.
Tailgate Outer 
HandleInner Handle 
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uuOpening and Closing the Tailgate uOpening/Closing the Power Tailgate
Controls
Opening/Closing the Power TailgateThe power tailgate can be operated by pressing the power tailgate button on the 
remote transmitter or driver's door, or pressing the outer handle or button on the 
tailgate.■The power tailgate can be opened when:
• The tailgate is fully closed.
• The shift lever is in 
(P
.
• Press and hold the tailgate button on the remote transmitter for about one 
second when the power mode is in VEHICLE OFF (LOCK).
u If you have changed the  Keyless Open Mode setting to When Unlocked , 
you need to unlock the tailgate before you press the tailgate button to open it.
2 Customized Features  P. 104
■The power tailgate can be closed when:
• The tailgate is fully open.
• The shift lever is in 
(P
.
• Press and hold the tailgate button on the remote transmitter for about one 
second when the power mode is in VEHICLE OFF (LOCK).
1Opening/Closing the Power TailgateNOTICEDo not push or pull on the power tailgate when it is 
being automatically opened or closed.
Forcibly opening or closing the power tailgate while 
in operation can deform the tailgate frame.
The power tailgate may not open or close under the 
following conditions:•The vehicle is parked on a steep hill.•The vehicle is swayed in a strong wind.•The tailgate or the roof is covered with snow or ice.
If you close the power tailgate when all the doors are 
locked, the power tailgate locks automatically.
If you replace the battery or the power tailgate fuse 
while the tailgate is ope n, the power tailgate may be 
disabled. The power tailgate resumes once you 
manually close the tailgate.
Installing aftermarket components other than Acura 
genuine accessories on the power tailgate may 
prevent it from fully opening or closing.
Make sure the power tailgate is fully open before you 
get your luggage in and out.
Make sure the power tailgate is fully closed before 
you start the vehicle. 
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uuOpening and Closing the Tailgate uOpening/Closing the Power Tailgate
Controls
Press the power tailgate button for more than 
one second to operate when the power mode 
is in VEHICLE OFF (LOCK).
To reverse direction while the power tailgate is 
in operation, press the button again. The 
beeper sounds three times and the tailgate 
reverses direction.
■Customizing when to open the tailgate
Anytime:  The power tailgate unlocks and opens at the same time. This is the 
default setting.
When Unlocked:  The tailgate opens when all doors are unlocked.2Customized Features  P. 104, 249■
Remote Transmitter
1Opening/Closing the Power Tailgate
If the power tailga te meets resistance while opening 
or closing, the auto reverse feature reverses the 
direction. The beeper sounds three times.
The auto reverse function stops sensing when the 
tailgate is almost closed to make sure that it fully 
closes.
Do not touch the sensors located on both sides of the 
tailgate. The power tailgate does not close if you 
touch either sensor when you are trying to close the 
tailgate.
Be careful not to scratch the sensors with a sharp 
object. If scratched, they can be damaged, and the 
power tailgate closing feature malfunctions.
Power 
Tailgate 
Button 
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Controls
Security SystemImmobilizer SystemThe immobilizer system prevents a key that has not been pre-registered from 
starting the engine. Each key contains electronic transmitters that use electronic 
signals to verify the key.
Pay attention to the following when pressing the ENGINE START/STOP button:
• Do not allow objects that emit strong radio waves near the  ENGINE START/
STOP  button.
• Make sure the key is not covered by or touching a metal object.
• Do not bring a key from another vehicle’s immobilizer system with the keyless 
access remote.Security System AlarmThe security system alarm activates when the tailgate, hood, or doors are opened 
without the key, remote transmitter or keyless access system.■When the security system alarm activates
The horn sounds intermittently, and all of the exterior lights flash.■To deactivate the security system alarm
Unlock the vehicle using the key, remote transmitter, or keyless access system. The 
system, along with the horn and flashing lights, is deactivated.
1 Immobilizer SystemNOTICELeaving the keyless access remote in the vehicle can 
result in theft or accidental movement of the vehicle.
Always take the key with you whenever you leave the 
vehicle unattended.
Do not alter the system or add other devices to it.
Doing so may damage the system and make your 
vehicle inoperable.1Security System Alarm
The security alarm continues for a maximum of two 
minutes until the security system alarm deactivates. 
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uuSecurity System uSecurity System Alarm
136Controls
■Setting the security system alarm
The security system alarm automatically sets when the following conditions have 
been met:
• The power mode is set to VEHICLE OFF (LOCK).
• The hood is closed.
• All doors and the tailgate are locked from outside with the key, remote 
transmitter, or keyless access system.■When the security system alarm sets
The security system alarm indicator in the instrument panel blinks. When the 
blinking interval changes after about 15 seconds, the security system alarm is set.■To cancel the security system alarm
The security system alarm is canceled when the vehicle is unlocked using the key, 
remote transmitter, keyless access system, or the power mode is set to ON. The 
security system alarm indicator goes off at the same time.
1 Security System Alarm
Do not set the security system alarm when someone 
is in the vehicle or a window is open. The system can 
accidentally activate when unlocking the door with 
the lock tab.
If the battery goes dead after you have set the 
security system alarm, the  security alarm may go off 
once the battery is recharged or replaced.
If this occurs, deactivate the security system alarm by 
unlocking a door using the key, remote transmitter, 
or keyless access system.
Do not attempt to alter this system or add another 
device to it.