ABS Acura ZDX 2012 Owner's Manual

8
Quick Reference Guide
Instrument Panel (P 67)
System Indicators
Malfunction
Indicator Lamp Low Oil Pressure
Indicator
Charging System
IndicatorAnti-lock Brake
System (ABS)
Indicator
Vehicle Stability
Assist (VSA ®)
System Indicator VSA ® OFF Indicator
Low Tire Pressure/
TPMS Indicator Electronically
Controlled Power
Steering System
(ECPS) Indicator
*
Lights Reminders
Lights On Indicator
High Beam Indicator
Fog Light Indicator
Immobilizer System
Indicator
Seat Belt Reminder
Indicator
System Indicators
Cruise Control
Indicator*
System Message
Indicator
Parking Brake and
Brake System
Indicator Supplemental
Restraint System
Indicator
Side Airbag Off
Indicator
Door and Tailgate
Open Indicator
Cruise Main
Indicator
*
TachometerSpeedometer
Fuel Gauge
Security System
Indicator Shift Lever Position Indicator
Low Fuel Indicator
Gauges (P 87)/Multi-Information Display (P 88)/
System Indicators
(P 68)
Turn Signal and
Hazard Warning
Indicators
Temperature Gauge
SH-AWD Indicator
Keyless Access
System Indicator
*
Active Damper
System Indicator*
Blind Spot
Information
Indicator
*
Collision Mitigation
Braking SystemTM
(CMBSTM) Indicator*
Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC)
Indicator
*
System Indicators
Multi-Information Display
U.S.
Canada Canada
U.S.

17
Quick Reference Guide
What to Do If
*1: Models with the keyless access system have an ENGINE START/STOP button instead of an ignition switch.
The ignition switch does
not turn from
0 to q*1.
Why?
●The steering wheel may be locked.●Try to turn the steering wheel left and right
while turning the ignition key.
●Move the steering wheel left and right while
pressing the ENGINE START/STOP button* at
the same time.
The ignition switch does
not turn from
q to 0*1
and I cannot remove the
key. Why?
The shift lever should be moved to P.
Why does the brake pedal
pulsate slightly when
applying the brakes?This can occur when the ABS acti vates, and does not indicate a
problem. Apply firm, steady pre ssure on the brake pedal. Never
pump the brake pedal.
The rear door cannot be
opened from inside the
vehicle. Why?Check if the childproo f lock is in the
LOCK position. If so, open the rear
door with the outside door handle.
To cancel this func tion, push the lever
to the UNLOCK position.
* Not available on all models

40
uuAirbags uFront Airbags (SRS)
Safe Driving
■When front airbags should not deploy
Minor frontal crashes: Front airbags were designed to supplement seat belts and
help save lives, not to prevent minor scrapes, or even broken bones that might occur
during a less than modera te-to-severe frontal crash.
Side impacts: Front airbags can provide protection when a sudden deceleration
causes a driver or front passenger to move towards the front of the vehicle. Side
airbags and side curtain airbags have been specifically designed to help reduce the
severity of injuries that can occur during a moderate-to -severe side impact which
can cause the driver or passenger to move towards the side of the vehicle.
Rear impacts: Head restraints and seat belts are your best protection during a rear
impact. Front airbags cannot provide any si gnificant protection and are not designed
to deploy in such collisions.
Rollovers: Seat belts and, in vehicles equipped with a rollover sensor, side airbags
and side curtain airbag s offer the best protection in a rollover. Because front airbags
could provide little if any protection, they are not designed to deploy during a
rollover.
■When front airbags deploy with little or no visible damage
Because the airbag system senses sudden deceleration, a strong impact to the
vehicle framework or suspension might cause one or more of the airbags to deploy.
Examples include running into a curb, the edge of a hole, or other low fixed object
that causes a sudden deceleration in th e vehicle chassis. Since the impact is
underneath the vehicle, damage may not be readily apparent.
■When front airbags may not deploy, even though exterior damage
appears severe
Since crushable body parts absorb crash energy during an impact, the amount of
visible damage does not always indicate proper airbag operation. In fact, some
collisions can result in severe damage but no airbag deployment because the airbags
would not have been needed or would not have provided protection even if they
had deployed.

43
uuAirbags uSide Airbags
Continued
Safe Driving
■When a side airbag deploys wi th little or no visible damage
Because the airbag system se nses sudden acceleration, a strong impact to the side
of the vehicle’s framework can cause a side airbag to deploy. In such cases, there
may be little or no damage, but the side impact sensors detected a severe enough
impact to deploy the airbag.
■When a side airbag may not deploy, even though visible damage appears
severe
It is possible for a side airbag to not deploy during an impact that results in
apparently severe damage. This can occur when the point of impact was towards
the far front or rear of the vehicle, or when the vehicle’s crushable body parts
absorbed most of the crash energy. In either case, the side airbag would not have
been needed nor provided protection even if it had deployed.

68
Instrument Panel
Indicators
*1: Models with the keyless access system have an ENGINE START/STOP button instead of an ignition switch.
IndicatorNameOn/BlinkingExplanationMessage
Parking Brake
and Brake
System Indicator
(Red)
●Comes on for a few seconds when
you turn the ignition switch to ON
(w*1, then goes off.●Comes on when the parking brake
is applied, and goes off when it is
released.
●Comes on when the brake fluid
level is low.
●Comes on if there is a problem
with the brake system.
●The beeper sounds and the
indicator comes on if you drive
with the parking brake not fully
released.
●Comes on while driving - Make sure
the parking brake is released. Check the
brake fluid level.
2 What to do when the indicator
comes on while driving P. 336
●Comes on along with the ABS
indicator - Have the vehicle checked by a
dealer.
2 If the Brake System Indicator (Red)
Comes On P. 336
Low Oil Pressure
Indicator
●Comes on when you turn the
ignition switch to ON (w*1, and
goes off when the engine starts.
●Comes on when the engine oil
pressure is low.
●Comes on while driving - Immediately
stop in a safe place.
2 If the Low Oil Pressure Indicator
Comes On P. 334
U.S.
Canada

71
uuIndicators u
Continued
Instrument Panel
*1: Models with the keyless access system have an ENGINE START/STOP button instead of an ignition switch.
IndicatorNameOn/BlinkingExplanationMessage
Seat Belt
Reminder
Indicator
●Comes on and the beeper sounds if
you are not wearing a seat belt when
you turn the ignition switch to ON
(w*1. If the front passenger is not
wearing a seat belt, the indicator
comes on about a few seconds later.
●Blinks while driving if either you or
the front passenger has not fastened
a seat belt. The beeper sounds and
the indicator blinks at regular
intervals.
●The beeper stops and the indicator
goes off when you and the front
passenger fasten their seat belts.
●Stays on after you or the front
passenger has fastened the seat
belt - A detection error may have
occurred in the sensor. Have the
vehicle checked by a dealer.
2 Seat Belt Reminder P. 28
Low Fuel Indicator
●Comes on when the fuel reserve is
running low (approximately
2.9 U.S. gal./10.8 Liter left).
●Blinks if there is a problem with the
fuel gauge.
●Comes on - Refuel your vehicle as
soon as possible.
●Blinks - Have the vehicle checked by a
dealer.
ABS (Anti-lock
Brake System)
Indicator
●Comes on for a fe w seconds when
you turn the igniti on switch to ON
(w*1, then goes off.●If it comes on at any other time, there
is a problem with the ABS.
●Stays on constantly - Have the
vehicle checked by a dealer. With this
indicator on, your vehicle still has
normal braking ability but no anti-lock
function.
2 ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
P. 255

209
Driving
This chapter discusses driving, refueling, an d information on items such as accessories.
Before Driving
Driving Preparation .......................... 210
Maximum Load Limit........................ 213
Towing a Trailer Towing Preparation ..... ..................... 215
Driving Safely with a Trailer .............. 218
Towing Your Vehicle ........................ 219
Off-Highway Driving Guidelines General Information ......................... 220
Important Safety Prec autions............ 220
Avoiding Trouble ......... .................... 221
When Driving Starting the Engine .......................... 223
Precautions While Driving ................ 226
Automatic Transmission ................... 227
Shifting ............................................ 228
Cruise Control
*............................... 232
ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control)*....... 235VSA® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC
(Electronic Stability Control), System ...... 243
SH-AWD ® (Super Handling-All Wheel
DriveTM) .......................................... 245
BSI (Blind Spot Information)*........... 246TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) .. 248IDS (Integrated Dynamics System)*... 252 Braking
Brake System ................................... 253
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) ........... 255
Brake Assist System ......................... 256
CMBS
TM (Collision Mitigation Braking
SystemTM)*..................................... 257
Parking Your Vehicle ........................ 261
Rearview Camera
*............................ 262
Refueling ........................................... 263
Fuel Economy .................................... 266
Accessories and Modifications ........ 267
* Not available on all models

Continued241
uuWhen Driving uACC (Adaptive Cruise Control)*
Driving
To cancel adaptive cruise control, do any of
the following:
• Press the CANCEL button.
• Press the MAIN button.
u ACC indicator goes off.
• Depress the brake pedal.
■Automatic cancellan
The beeper sounds and a message appears on the multi-information display when
ACC is automatically canceled. Any of these conditions may cause the ACC
cancellation:
• The vehicle speed slows down to 22 mph (35 km/h) and below.
• Bad weather (rain, fog, snow, etc.)
• When the radar sensor in the front grille gets dirty.
• The vehicle ahead of you cannot be detected.
• An abnormal tire condition is detected, or the tires are skidding.
• Driving on a mountainous road, or dr iving off road for extended periods.
• Abrupt steering wheel movement.
• When the ABS or VSA is activated.
• When the VSA indicator comes on.
■To Cancel1To Cancel
Resuming the prior set speed: After you have
canceled adaptive cruise co ntrol, you can resume the
prior set speed while it is still displayed. Press the
RES/ACCEL button when driving at a speed of at
least 25 mph (40 km/h) or more.
You cannot set or resume in the following situations:
•When vehicle speed is less than 25 mph (40km/h)•When the MAIN button is turned off
CANCEL
Button MAIN
Button
1 Automatic cancellan
Even though adaptive cruise control has been
automatically canceled, you can still resume the prior
set speed. Wait until the condition that caused ACC
to cancel improves, then press the RES/ACCEL
button.

uuBraking uBrake System
254
Driving
Your vehicle is equipped with disc brakes at all four wheels. A power assist helps
reduce the effort needed on the brake pedal. The brake assist system increases the
stopping force when you depress the brake pe dal hard in an emergency situation.
The anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps you re tain steering control when braking very
hard.
2 Brake Assist System P. 256
2 ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) P. 255
■Foot Brake1Foot Brake
Check the brakes after driv ing through deep water,
or if there is a buildup of road surface water. If
necessary, dry the brakes by lightly depressing the
pedal several times.
If you hear a continuous metallic friction sound when
applying the brakes, the brake pads need to be
replaced. Have the vehicl e checked by a dealer.
Constantly using the brak e pedal while going down a
long hill builds up heat, which reduces the brake
effectiveness. Apply engine braking by taking your
foot off the accelerator pedal and downshifting to a
lower gear.
Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, as it will lightly apply the brakes and cause
them to lose effectiveness over time and reduce pad
life. It will also confuse drivers behind you.

255
uuBraking uABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Driving
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Helps prevent the wheels from locking up, an d helps you retain steering control by
pumping the brakes rapidly, much faster than you.
The electronic brake distribution (EBD) sy stem, which is part of the ABS, also
balances the front-to-rear braking distri bution according to vehicle loading.
You should never pump th e brake pedal. Let the ABS work for you by always
keeping firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal. This is sometimes referred to as
“stomp and steer.”
■ABS operation
The brake pedal may pulsate slightly when the ABS is working. Keep holding the
pedal firmly down. On dry pavement, you will need to press on the brake pedal very
hard before the ABS activates. However, you may feel the ABS activate immediately
if you are trying to stop on snow or ice.
When the vehicle speed goes under 6 mph (10 km/h), the ABS stops.
■ABS1 ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
NOTICEThe ABS may not function correctly if you use an
incorrect tire type and size.
When the ABS indicator comes on while driving,
there may be a problem with the system.
While normal braking is no t affected, there is a
possibility of the ABS not operating. Have the vehicle
checked by a dealer immediately.
The ABS does not reduce the ti me or distance it takes
to stop the vehicle. It only helps with steering control
during hard braking.
In the following cases, your vehicle may need more
stopping distance than a vehicle without the ABS:
•When driving on rough road surfaces, including
when driving on uneven surfaces, such as gravel or
snow.
•When tire chains are installed.
You may hear a motor sound coming from the
engine compartmen t while system checks are being
performed immediately after starting the engine or
while driving. This is normal.