2003 Acura MDX Owner's Manua

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.
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Replacing a Headlight Bulb
Headlight A iming
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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
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TAB

Remove the bulb by turning it
approximately one-quarter turn
counterclockwise.
Your car uses halogen f og light
bulbs. See page f or inf ormation
on replacing a halogen bulb.
Remove the electrical connector
fromthebulbbysqueezingthe
connector to unlock the tab, then
slide the connector of f the bulb.
Push the electrical connector onto
the new bulb.
Use a wrench to loosen the light
assembly’s mounting bolt.
Remove the light assembly f rom
the bumper.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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ReplacingaFogLightBulb
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BOLT
CONNECTOR

Turn on the headlights to test the
new bulb. Insert the new bulb into the hole
and turn it one-quarter turn clock-
wise to lock it in place.
Put the light assembly into the
bumper. Tighten the mounting
bolt.Remove the socket by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise.
Open the tailgate. Use a
screwdriver protected with a cloth
to pry open the two covers.
Remove the two screws and
remove the rear light assembly
f rom the rear pillar.
Determine which of the f our bulbs
is burned out: brake/taillight, turn
signal/hazard lights, side marker
light, or back-up light. Remove the burned out bulb. To
remove the brake/taillight, back-
up or side marker light bulb, pull
the bulb straight out of its socket.
To remove the turn signal/hazard
light bulb, push it in and turn it
counterclockwise until it unlocks.
1.
2.
3.
4.
8. 6.
7.
5.
Replacing Rear Bulbs
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Put the socket back into the light
assembly and turn it clockwise to
lock it in place. Test the light to make sure the
new bulb is working. Pull the bulb straight out of its
socket.
Push the new bulb straight into
the socket until it bottoms.
Install the new bulb into the
socket.
Push the socket into the light
assembly and turn it clockwise
until it locks.
Testthelightstomakesurethe
new bulb is working.
Install the rear light assembly in
the body.Tighten the two screws.
Snap the covers back into position.
Remove the light assembly cover
by prying caref ully with a cloth-
covered screwdriver in the
notches along the top edge.Then
pivot the cover out and down.
Remove the socket f rom the light
assembly by turning it one-quarter
turn counterclockwise.Place the cover back into the light
assembly. Push it up until it locks
in place.
1. 4.
5.
6.
2. 3.
6.
7.
8.
9. Replacing a High-mount Brake
Light Bulb
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The individual map lights, cargo area
light, tailgate light, and the vanity
mirror lights come apart the same
way. They do not all use the same
bulb.Removethelensbycarefully
prying on the edge of the lens with
a f ingernail f ile or a small f lat-tip
screwdriver. Do not pry on the
edge of the housing around the
lens.
Use a small phillips screwdriver to
remove the lens f rom the license
plate light assembly.
Remove the bulb by pulling it
straight out. Push the new bulb
into the socket.
Reinstall the lens.
1.
2.
3. 1.
Replacing a Rear License Plate
Bulb
Replacing Bulbs in the Interior
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FRONT INDIVIDUAL MAP LIGHT

Remove the bulb by pulling it
straight out of its metal tabs.Push the new bulb into the metal
tabs. Snap the lens back in place.
Front individual map light:
Pry on the f ront edge in f ront of both
map lights.
Rear individual map light:
Pryontherearedgeof thelensin
the middle.
Tailgate light:
Pry on the upper edge to the lef t and
right of center. Cargo area light:
Pry on the rear edge to the lef t and
right of center.
3.
2.
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REAR INDIVIDUAL MAP LIGHT CARGO AREA LIGHT

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SUN VISORDOOR LIGHT
TAILGATE LIGHT