2003 Acura MDX headlight

The rear window def ogger will clear
fog,frost,andthinicefromthe
window. Push the def ogger button to
turn it on and of f . The light above
the button lights to show the
def ogger is on. If you do not turn it
of f , the def ogger will shut itself of f
af ter about 15 minutes. It also shuts
of f when you turn of f the ignition.
You have to turn it on again when
you restart the vehicle.Make sure the rear window is clear
and you have good visibility bef ore
starting to drive.
Thedefoggerwiresontheinsideof
the rear window can be accidentally
damaged. When cleaning the glass,
always wipe side to side.
Turn the f og lights on and of f by
pressing the button. The indicator in
the button lights to show the f og
lights are on.
You can use the f og lights only when
the headlights are on low beam.
They will go of f when you turn the
headlights of f or onto high beam.
Rear Window Def ogger
Fog Lights
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols88

Panic mode allows you to remotely
activate your vehicle’s horn and
lights to attract attention. When
activated, the horn will sound, and
the headlights, parking lights, side
marker lights, taillights and
instrument panel lights will f lash f or
about 30 seconds. To activate panic
mode,pressandholdthePANIC
button f or about one second.When the remote transmitter’s
battery begins to get weak, it may
take several pushes on the button to
lock or unlock the doors and the
tailgate, and the LED will get dim.
Replace the battery as soon as
possible.
Battery type: CR2025To replace the battery, place a cloth
on the edge of the transmitter and
remove the upper half by carefully
prying on the edge with a small f lat-
tip screwdriver.
To cancel Panic mode bef ore 30
seconds, press any button on the
remote transmitter. You can also
turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Panic mode will not activate if the
key is in the ON (II) position.
Panic Mode
Replacing t he Bat t ery
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols96

The inside mirror can automatically
darken to reduce glare. To turn on
this feature, press the button on the
bottom of the mirror. The AUTO
indicator comes on as a reminder.
When it is on, the mirror darkens
when it senses the headlights of a
vehicle behind you, then returns to
normal visibility when the lights are
gone. Press the button again to turn
of f this sensing.
Keeptheinsideandoutsidemirrors
clean and adjusted f or best visibility.
Be sure to adjust the mirrors bef ore
you start driving.
Mirrors
Inst rument s and Cont rols115
SENSOR
AUTO SWITCH
INDICATOR

CONT INUED
Make sure you put the sun visor
back in place when you are getting
into or out of the vehicle. Do not use
the sun visor extension over the rear
view mirror.Touseavanitymirroronthebackof
the sun visor, pull up the cover.
The light beside the mirror comes
on only when the parking lights or
headlights are on.Your vehicle has three accessory
power sockets. The f ront accessory
power socket is located under the
audio system. The second socket is
located in the center console
compartment. The rear socket is
behind the third seat on the driver’s
side.
Sun Visor, Vanity Mirror, Accessory Power Sockets
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Vanity Mirror
Accessory Power Sockets
125
FRONT
(Without Rear Entertainment System)

The security system helps to protect
your vehicle and valuables f rom thef t.
The horn sounds and a combination
of headlights, parking lights, side
marker lights and taillights f lashes if
someone attempts to break into your
vehicleorremovetheradio.This
alarm continues f or two minutes,
then the system resets. To reset an
alarming system before the two
minutes have elapsed, unlock the
driver’s f ront door with the key or
the remote transmitter.Do not attempt to alter this system
or add other devices to it. 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 the Door and Tailgate Open
Monitor on the instrument panel
(see page ) to see if the doors and
tailgate are f ully closed. Since it is
notpartofthemonitordisplay,
manually check the hood.
The security system sets auto-
matically fifteen seconds after you
lock the doors, hood, and tailgate.
For the system to activate, you must
lock the doors f rom the outside with
the key, lock tab, door lock switch,
or remote transmitter. The security
system light next to the driver’s door
lock starts blinking immediately to
show you the system is setting itself . Once the security system is set,
opening any door or the tailgate
(without using the key or the remote
transmitter), or the hood, will cause
it to alarm. It also alarms if the radio
and DVD components are removed
f rom the dashboard or the wiring is
cut. 70
Security System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures215
SECURITY SYSTEM LIGHT

Always use a sof t cloth and mild
glass/plastic cleaner (such as
cleaners f or computer monitor
screens) to clean the display.
When you wipe the screen, some
black lines may appear because of
static electricity build-up. This is
normal. They will disappear in five to
ten minutes.
The Brightness control has seven
positions. In the middle f ive positions
the display will dim when you turn
on the parking lights or headlights.
Moving the control to the far left
position turns of f the display. It will
come back on f or several seconds if
you press any of the buttons.
In the f ar right (maximum
brightness) position, the display will
notdimwhenyouturnonthe
parking lights.
Trip Computer
Cleaning the Display
BRIGHT NESS control
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures228

µµAlways drive
slower than you would in dry
weather. It takes your vehicle longer
to react, even in conditions that may
seem just barely damp. Apply
smooth, even pressure to all the
controls. Abrupt steering wheel
movements or sudden, hard appli-
cation of the brakes can cause loss of
control in wet weather. Be extra
cautious f or the f irst f ew miles
(kilometers) of driving while you
adjust to the change in driving
conditions. This is especially true in
snow. A person can f orget some
snow-driving techniques during the
summer months. Practice is needed
to relearn those skills.
Exercise extra caution when driving
in rain af ter a long dry spell. Af ter
months of dry weather, the f irst
rains bring oil to the surf ace of the
roadway, making it slippery.
Rain, f og, and snow conditions re-
quire a dif f erent driving technique
because of reduced traction and
visibility. Keep your vehicle well-
maintained and exercise greater
caution when you need to drive in
bad weather. The cruise control
should not be used in these condi-
tions. Being able to see
clearly in all directions and being
visible to other drivers are important
in all weather conditions. This is
more dif f icult in bad weather. To be
seen more clearly during daylight
hours, turn on your headlights.
Inspect your windshield wipers and
washers f requently. Keep the wind-
shield washer reservoir f ull of the
proper f luid. Have the windshield
wiper blades replaced if they start to
streak the windshield or leave parts
unwiped. Use the def rosters and air
conditioning to keep the windows
f rom f ogging up on the inside (see
page ). 140
CONT INUED
Driving T echnique Visibility
Driving in Bad Weather
Driving269

This section explains the importance
of keeping your vehicle well
maintained and why you should
f ollow basic maintenance saf ety
precautions.
This section also includes
Maintenance Schedules f or normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions f or simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself .......................
Maintenance Saf ety .294
.
Important Safety Precautions . 295
.................
Maintenance Schedule . 296
...
Required Maintenance Record . 303
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 305
..............................
Fluid Locations .306
......................................
Engine Oil .307
..................................
Adding Oil .307
....................
Recommended Oil .307
..............................
Synthetic Oil .308
....................................
Additives .308
.....
Changing the Oil and Filter . 309
.............................
Cooling System .311
............
Adding Engine Coolant . 311
.......
Replacing Engine Coolant . 313
....................
Windshield Washers .316
....
Automatic Transmission Fluid . 317
..........................
Dif f erential Fluid .318
.............
Transf er Assembly Fluid . 318
....................................
Brake Fluid .319
............................
Brake System .319
..............................
Power Steering .320
.....................
Air Cleaner Element .321
....................................
Hood Latch .323
....................................
Spark Plugs .323
..............................
Replacement .323 ............................
Specif ications .325
...........................................
Battery .326
.................................
Wiper Blades .328
..............
Air Conditioning System . 330
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 331
.....................................
Drive Belts .331
....................................
Timing Belt .332
...............................................
Tires .332
......................................
Inf lation .332
..................................
Inspection .334
..............................
Maintenance .335
.............................
Tire Rotation .335
...
Replacing Tires and Wheels . 336
......................
Wheels and Tires .337
..........................
Winter Driving .337
.............................
Snow Tires .338
............................
Tire Chains .338
.............................................
Lights .339
.....................
Headlight Aiming .341
........................
Replacing Bulbs .341
....................
Storing Your Vehicle .349
If you have the skills and tools to per-
f orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your Acura, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Acura
dealer.
405
Maintenance
Maint enance293