2003 Acura MDX lock

Clean the hood latch assembly with a
mild cleaner, then lubricate it with a
multipurpose grease. Lubricate all
the moving parts (as shown),
including the pivot. Follow the time
and distance recommendations in
the Maintenance Schedule. If you
are not sure how to clean and grease
the latch, contact your Acura dealer.Clean off any dirt and oil that have
collected around the ignition coils.
The spark plugs in your vehicle
should be replaced according to the
time and distance recommendations
in the maintenance schedule.
Loosen the two holding clips by
turning the heads one-quarter turn
counterclockwise with a f lat-tipped
screwdriver. Remove the cover by
pulling it straight up.
Disconnect the cable from the
coveronthefrontcylinderbank
by pulling the cable out of the
holder.
1. 2.
3.
CONT INUED
Hood L atch
Spark Plugs
Hood L at ch, Spark Plugs
Maint enance
Replacement
323
LATCH ASSEMBLY
HOLDING CLIP

Disconnect the wire connector
f rom the ignition coil by pushing
on the lock tab and pulling on the
connector. Pull on the plastic
connector, not the wires.Remove the spark plug with
a f ive-eighths inch (16 mm) spark
plug socket. Use a wrench to remove the
hexagonsocketheadcapbolt
holding the ignition coil. Remove
the ignition coil by pulling it
straight out.Put the new spark plug into the
socket, then screw it into the hole.
Screw it in by hand so you do not
crossthread it.
4.
5.
6.7.
Maint enance
Spark Plugs
324
HEXAGON SOCKET HEAD CAP BOLT

Torque the spark plug. (If you do
not have a torque wrench, tighten
the spark plug two-thirds of a turn
af ter it contacts the cylinder head.)
Tightening torque:Install the ignition coil. Reinstall
the hexagon socket head cap bolt.
Push the wire connector onto the
ignition coil. Make sure it locks in
place.
Repeat this procedure f or the
other f ive spark plugs.
Reinstall the cover on the front
cylinder bank while putting its
mounting clip in the hole on the
passenger’s side. Secure the cover
by turning the heads of the two
holding clips one-quarter turn
clockwise with a f lat-tipped
screwdriver.NGK:
DENSO:
8. 9.
11.
12.
10. Specif ications:
Spark Plugs
Maint enance325
13 lbf·ft (18 N·m , 1.8 kgf·m) SKJ16DR-M11 IZFR5K-11
Tighten the spark plugs caref ully. A
spark plug that is too loose can
overheat and damage the engine.
Overtightening can cause damage to
the threads in the cylinder head.

Check the condition of the wiper
blades at least every six months.
Look f or signs of cracking in the
rubber, or areas that are getting
hard. Replace the blades if you f ind
these signs, or if they leave streaks
and unwiped areas when used.To replace a wiper blade: Disconnect the blade assembly
fromthewiperarmbypushingin
the lock tab. Hold the lock tab in
while you push the blade assembly
toward the base of the arm.
Raise the wiper arm of f the
window.
Windshield: Raise the driver’s side
first, then the passenger’s side. Front only:
2.
1.
Wiper Blades
Maint enance328
WIPER ARMS
LOCK TAB

Slide the new wiper blade into the
holder until the tabs lock.
Examine the new wiper blades. If
they have no plastic or metal rein-
f orcement along the back edge,
remove the metal reinf orcement
strips f rom the old wiper blade and
install them in the slots along the
edge of the new blade.
Remove the blade f rom its holder
by grasping the tabbed end of the
blade. Pull f irmly until the tabs
come out of the holder. Slide the wiper blade assembly
onto the wiper arm. Make sure it
locks in place. Front only:
Lower the wiper arm down against
the window.
Windshield: Lower the passenger’s
side first, then the driver’s side.
6.
7.
4. 5.
3.
Wiper Blades
Maint enance329
BLADE BLADE
REINFORCEMENT

Run the air conditioning at least once
a week during the cold weather
months. Run it f or at least ten
minutes while you are driving at a
steady speed with the engine at
normal operating temperature. This
circulates the lubricating oil con-
tained in the ref rigerant.If the air conditioning does not get as
cold as before, have your dealer
check the system. Recharge the
system with Ref rigerant HFC-134a
(R-134a). (See Specif ications on page
.)
Your vehicle’s air conditioning is a
sealed system. Any major mainte-
nance, such as recharging, should be
done by a qualif ied mechanic. You
can do a couple of things to make
sure the air conditioning works
ef f iciently.
Periodically check the engine’s
radiator and air conditioning
condenser f or leaves, insects, and
dirt stuck to the f ront surf ace. These
block the air f low and reduce cooling
ef f iciency. Use a light spray f rom a
hose or a sof t brush to remove them. 390
A ir Condit ioning Syst em
Maint enance330
AIR CONDITIONING
CONDENSER
Whenever you have the air conditioning
system serviced, make sure the service
f acility uses a ref rigerant recycling
system. This system captures the
ref rigerant f or reuse. Releasing
ref rigerant into the atmosphere can
damage the environment.
The condenser and radiator f ins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or sof t-bristle brush to clean them.

Open the hood.
Theheadlightswereproperlyaimed
when your vehicle was new. If you
regularly carry heavy items in the
cargo area or pull a trailer,
readjustment may be required.
Adjustment of the headlights should
be perf ormed by a Acura technician
or other qualif ied mechanic.
Remove the bulb by turning it
approximately one-quarter turn
counterclockwise.
Your vehicle has halogen headlight
bulbs, two on each side. When
replacing a bulb, handle it by its steel
base and protect the glass from
contactwithyourskinorhard
objects. If you touch the glass, clean
it with denatured alcohol and a clean
cloth.
Remove the electrical connector
fromthebulbbysqueezingthe
connector to unlock the tab, then
slide the connector of f the bulb.
1. 2.
3.
CONT INUED
Replacing a Headlight Bulb
Headlight A iming
Lights
Maint enance341
BULB
CONNECTORHalogen headlight bulbs get very hot
when lit. Oil, perspiration, or a scratch
on the glass can cause the bulb to
overheat and shatter.

Remove the socket from the
headlight assembly by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise.
To remove the f ront turn signal
bulb, push it in slightly and turn it
counterclockwise. To remove the
side marker bulb, pull it straight
out of its socket.Testthelightstomakesurethe
new bulb is working. Insert the socket back into the
headlight assembly. Turn it
clockwise to lock it in place. Install the new bulb into the
socket.
Push the electrical connector onto
the new bulb.
Insert the new bulb into the hole
and turn it one-quarter turn clock-
wise to lock it in place.
Turn on the headlights to test the
new bulb. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
4.
5.
6. Replacing Front Turn Signal/
Parking and Side Marker Light
Bulbs
Lights
Maint enance342
TAB