automatic transmission Acura RDX 2008 Owner's Manual

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Front Ceiling Light Switch
Moonroof Switch
1: On RDX model only
On RDX with Technology Package model only
3:
2:
(P.142)
HomeLink Buttons
(P.247)
(P.149)
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Your Vehicle at a Glance
3
HOOD RELEASE HANDLE POWER DOOR LOCK
MASTER SWITCHGAUGES
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PARKING BRAKE PEDAL CLIMATE CONTROL
SYSTEM
INSTRUMENT PANEL
INDICATORS
POWER DOOR LOCK
MASTER SWITCH
AUDIO SYSTEM
POWER WINDOW
SWITCH
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
FUEL FILL DOOR
RELEASE HANDLE DRIVER’S FRONT AIRBAG
ACCESSORY POWER
SOCKET AUDIO SYSTEM
DRIVING POSITION
MEMORY SYSTEM
CEILING CONSOLE MIRROR CONTROL
AUTO BUTTONPASSENGER’S
FRONT AIRBAG
(P.71) (P.61)
(P.9,25)
(P.146)
(P.123)
(P.140) (P.275)
(P.273) (P.148) (P.293)
(P.170)
(P.144) (P.9,32)
(P.160)
(P.123)
(P.140)
(P.189) (P.155)
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3
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2008 RDX

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Front Ceiling Light Switch Moonroof Switch
HomeLink Buttons
1: On RDX model only
2:
3:
On RDX Technology Package model only
(P.274)
(P.142) (P.149)
Control L ocations
60
POWER DOOR LOCK
MASTER SWITCH
HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSIONCLIMATE CONTROL
SYSTEM
POWER DOOR LOCK
MASTER SWITCH
PARKING BRAKE
PEDAL
FUEL FILL DOOR
RELEASE HANDLE POWER WINDOW
SWITCH
ACCESSORY POWER SOCKET AUDIO SYSTEM
DRIVING POSITION
MEMORY SYSTEM
INSTRUMENT PANEL
INDICATORS
GAUGES
AUDIO SYSTEM CEILING CONSOLE MIRROR CONTROL
AUTO BUTTON (P.144)
(P.61)
(P.71)
(P.146)
(P.123)
(P.140)
(P.275) (P.273) (P.148)
(P.293) (P.155)(P.140)
(P.170)
(P.160)
(P.189)
(P.123)
2
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2008 RDX

This indicator monitors the
temperature of the automatic
transmission f luid. If it comes on
while driving, it means the
transmission fluid temperature is too
high. 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.
You will also see a ‘‘CHECK
EMISSION SYSTEM’’ message on
the multi-information display. For
more information, see page .
The engine can be severely damaged
if this indicator f lashes or stays on
when the engine is running. For
more inf ormation, see page . You will also see a ‘‘CHECK
TRANSMISSION’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display (see page). This indicator comes on f or several
seconds when you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position. If it
comes on at any other time, it
indicates a potential problem with
your f ront airbags. This indicator will
also alert you to a potential problem
with your side airbags, passenger’s
side airbag automatic cutoff system,
automatic seat belt tensioners, side
curtain airbags, driver’s seat position
sensor, and the f ront passenger’s
weight sensors. You will also see a
‘‘CHECK AIRBAG SYSTEM’’
message on the multi-information
display (see page ). For more
inf ormation, see page .
If this indicator comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged, and you will also see
a ‘‘CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM’’
message on the multi-inf ormation
display. For more inf ormation, see
page .
You will also see a ‘‘OIL PRESSURE
LOW’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display (see page ). 382
381
77
381 78
7831
A/T Temperature
Indicator
Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS) Indicator
Malf unction Indicator
Lamp
L ow Oil Pressure
Indicator
Charging System
Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
Inst rument s and Cont rols
63
Continuing to drive with the A/T
temperature indicator on may cause
serious damage to the transmission.
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The wiper is not activated.
When you turn the wiper switch to
OFF while the rear window wiper is
in action, it will return to its parked
position.
Rotate the switch clockwise
to turn the rear window wiper ON.
The wiper operates intermittently. When the wiper control lever
position is INT, the rear wiper
operates intermittently. When it is
LO or HI, the rear wiper operates
continuously. The rear window washer uses the
same f luid reservoir as the wind-
shield washer.
When you shif t the transmission to
the reverse position with the f ront
windshield wipers activated, the rear
window wiper operates automatically.
ON
OFF
Rear Window Washer with Wiper
Rear Window Washer Only. Hold past ON to turn the rear
window wiper on and to spray the
rear window washer. The rear
window wiper makes one more
sweep after you release the switch.
Rotate the switch counterclockwise
f rom OFF to spray the window
washer without activating the wiper.
The washer will operate until you
release the switch.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Rear Window Wiper and Washer OFF
ON Rear Window Washer with Wiper
Rear Window Washer Only
Windshield Wipers and Washers
Inst rument s and Cont rols
113
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Cruise control allows you to maintain
asetspeedabove25mph(40km/h)
without keeping your f oot on the
accelerator pedal. It should be used
f or cruising on straight, open
highways. It is not recommended f or
city driving, winding roads, slippery
roads, heavy rain, or bad weather.Accelerate to the desired cruising
speedabove25mph(40km/h).
Push in the CRUISE button on the
steering wheel. The CRUISE
MAIN indicator on the instrument
panel comes on.Press and release the SET/
DECELbuttononthesteering
wheel. The CRUISE CONTROL
indicator on the instrument panel
comes on to show the system is
now activated.
Cruise control may not hold the set
speed when you are going up and
down hills. If your vehicle speed
increases going down a hill, use the
brakes to slow down. This will cancel
thecruisecontrol.Toresumetheset
speed, press the RES/ACCEL button.
The CRUISE CONTROL indicator
on the instrument panel will come
back on.
When climbing a steep hill, the
automatic transmission may
downshifttoholdthesetspeed.
1.
2. 3.
Using Cruise Control
Cruise Control
234
CRUISE BUTTON
CANCEL BUTTON RES/ACCEL
BUTTON
SET/DECEL
BUTTON
Improper use of the cruise
control can lead to a crash.
Use the cruise control only
when traveling on open
highways in good weather.
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2008 RDX

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
automatic transmission. It also
includes important inf ormation on
parking your vehicle, the braking
system, the super handling-all wheel
drive (SH-AWD) system, the vehicle
stability assist (VSA) system, the tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS),
and f acts you need if you are
planning to tow a trailer or drive off-
highway.........................
Driving Guidelines .290
........................
Preparing to Drive .291
.......................
Starting the Engine .292
..............
Automatic Transmission .293
Driving with the Paddle
.......................................
Shif ters .297
Super Handling-All Wheel Drive ...................
(SH-AWD) System .301
...........................................
Parking .303
.............................
Braking System .304
...............
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) .305
Tire Pressure Monitoring
........................
System (TPMS) .307
Vehicle Stability Assist ............................
(VSA) System .312
...........................
Towing a Trailer .314
Of f -Highway Driving
..................................
Guidelines .321
Driving
Driving
289
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These indicators on the instrument
panel show which position the shif t
lever is in.The ‘‘D’’ indicator comes on f or a
f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. If it f lashes while driving (in
any shif t position), it indicates a
possible problem in the transmission.
If the malf unction indicator lamp
comes on along with the ‘‘D’’
indicator, there is a problem with the
automatic transmission control
system. Avoid rapid acceleration, and
have the transmission checked by
your dealer as soon as possible.
To shif t f rom Park to any position,
press firmly on the brake pedal and
pressthereleasebuttononthefront
of the shif t lever, then pull the lever.
YoucannotshiftoutofParkwhen
the ignition switch is in the LOCK
(0) or the ACCESSORY (I) position.
When the ‘‘D’’ indicator warns of a
possible problem with the
transmission, you will see a ‘‘CHECK
TRANSMISSION’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display (see page
).
78
CONT INUED
Shif t L ever Position Indicators Shif ting
Automatic Transmission
Driving
293
SHIFT LEVER
RELEASE BUTTON
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If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see on
page . This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning of f or
starting the engine. To shif t out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal. Press the release
buttononthefrontof theshiftlever
to move it.
To avoid transmission damage, come
to a complete stop bef ore shif ting
into Park. You must also press the
release button to shift into Park. The
shif t lever must be in Park bef ore
you can remove the key f rom the
ignition switch. Press the brake
pedal and press the release button
on the f ront of the shif t lever to shif t
f rom Park to reverse. To shif t f rom
reverse to neutral, come to a
completestop,andthenshift.Press
the release button bef ore shif ting
into reverse f rom neutral.
Use neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop brief ly with
the engine idling. Shif t to the Park
position if you need to leave your
vehicle for any reason. Press on the
brake pedal when you are moving
the shift lever from neutral to
another gear.
296To shift from:
PtoR
RtoP
NtoR DtoS
StoD
DtoN
NtoD RtoN Do this:
Press the brake pedal, and
press the shift lever release
button.
Press the shift lever release
button.
Move the shift lever.
Automatic Transmission
Shif t L ock Release
Park (P) Reverse (R)
Neutral (N)
294
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Use this position f or
your normal driving. The transmis-
sion automatically adjusts to keep
the engine at the best speed f or the
driving conditions.
To shift into the S
position, press the release button on
the front of the shift lever, and move
the lever to S. This position is similar
to D, except only gears f rom f irst to
f ourth are selected. The S position
keeps the transmission f rom cycling
between fourth and fifth gears in
stop-and-go driving. With the shift lever in D or S, you
canalsousethepaddleshiftersto
shif t the transmission up or down.
Once you begin to use the paddle
shif ters in S, the transmission will no
longer upshif t or downshif t
automatically. For more inf ormation
of driving with the paddle shif ters,
see page .
If 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.
297
Automatic Transmission
Drive (D)
S position (S) Engine Speed L imiter
Driving
295
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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.Set the parking brake.
Remove the key from the ignition
switch.
Push down on the key while you
pressthereleasebuttononthe
shif t lever and move the shif t lever
out of Park to neutral.
Insert the key in the shift lock
release slot.
Putaclothonthenotchof the
shif t lock release slot cover. Using
a small f lat-tipped screwdriver or a
metal f ingernail f ile, caref ully pry
on the notch of the cover to
remove it. Remove the key from the shift
lock release slot, then install the
cover. Make sure the notch on the
cover is on the rear.
Return the key to the ignition
switch, press the brake pedal, and
restart the engine.
If you need to use the shif t lock
release, it means your vehicle is
developing a problem. Have it
checked by your dealer.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.6.
Shif t L ock Release
Automatic Transmission
296
COVER
RELEASE
BUTTON
NOTCH
SHIFT LOCK
RELEASE SLOTKEY
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2008 RDX