2003 Acura MDX Owner's Manua

After a crash, you may see what
looks like smoke. This is actually
powder f rom the airbag’s surf ace.
Although the powder is not harmf ul,
people with respiratory problems
mayexperiencesometemporary
discomf ort. If this occurs, get out of
the vehicle as soon as it is saf e to do
so.Your vehicle has a driver’s seat
position sensor as a part of the
advanced airbag system. The sensor
is located on the inside of the lef t
seat rail under the driver’s seat. This
sensor monitors the driver’s seat
sliding position and sends the
inf ormation to control unit. The
control unit will control adequate
inf lation and timing of the driver’s
airbag.
Do not put any cargo or metal
objects under the driver’s seat, and
do not cover the sensor with
anything, including the rear seat
passenger’s f eet.
This will cause the sensor to work
improperly and will damage it.If there is a problem in the sensor,
the SRS indicator in the instrument
panel comes on. In this case, the
driver’s airbag will inf late normally
during a crash regardless of the
driver’s seating position.
CONT INUED
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver’s Seat Posit ion Sensor
53

Your vehicle has front passenger’s
weightsensorsaspartof the
advanced airbag system. They are
located under both of the f ront
passenger’s seat rails. These sensors
monitor the weight on the seat at the
seat cushion, seat-back, seat-back
pocket, and seat rails.
If the total weight on the seat is
about65lbs(30kg)orless,the
system shuts of f the f ront passenger’s
airbag and the passenger airbag
cutof f indicator comes on. It reminds
you that the f ront passenger’s airbag
will not inf late during a crash.
If there is no passenger in the f ront
passenger’s seat, the passenger
airbag cutoff indicator does not
come on, however the system shuts
of f the f ront passenger’s airbag.The driver’s and f ront passenger’s
seat sensors may not work properly
if :
For additional information on how
your airbags work, see the booklet
titled
that came with your
owner’s manual.
For additional information on how
your airbags work, ask your dealer
f or a copy of the booklet titled
You do not wear your seat belt
properly.
You do not sit upright and as f ar
back as possible f rom the steering
wheel or the dashboard (see page
).
You do not secure the child seat
properly, and move the f ront seat
as far back as possible.
Be caref ul not to spill any liquids.
Spilled liquids could damage the
sensors under the f ront seats.
If your vehicle sustains a severe
impact, have the driver’s seat
position sensor and the f ront
passenger’s weight sensors
inspected by your Honda dealer. 18
SRS: What You Need to Know
About Airbags
SRS:
What You Need to Know About Airbags
.
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Front Passenger’s Weight Sensors
Canadian Owners
U.S. Owners
54

Your vehicle is equipped with side
airbags f or the driver and a f ront
seat passenger. The airbags are
stored in the outer edges of the f ront
seat-backs, and both are marked
‘‘SIDE AIRBAG.’’If you ever have a moderate to
severe side impact, the sensors will
detect rapid deceleration and signal
the control unit to instantly inf late
either the driver’s or the passenger’s
side airbag.
Only one airbag will deploy during a
side impact. If the impact is on the
passenger’s side, the passenger’s
side airbag will deploy even if there
is no passenger.
To get the best protection f rom the
side airbags, front seat occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.
How Your Side A irbags Work
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety55

If the light comes on at any other
time, or does not come on at all, you
should have the system checked by
your dealer. For example:If the SRS indicator light does not
come on after you turn the ignition
switch to ON (II).
If the light stays on after the
engine starts.
If the light comes on or f lashes on
andoff whileyoudrive.
The SRS indicator light
alerts you to a potential
problem with your f ront airbags and
automatic seat belt tensioners.
This light will also alert you to a
potential problem with your side
airbags, passenger’s side airbag
automatic cutoff system (see page ), or the driver’s seat position
sensor and the f ront passenger’s
weight sensors (see pages and ).
When you turn the ignition ON (II),
this indicator will light brief ly then
go out. This tells you that the system
is working properly. If you see any of these indications,
your f ront or side airbags may not
deploy, your passenger’s side airbag
automatic cutoff system may not
work properly, your seat belt
tensioners may not work, or the
sensors under the f ront seats may
not work properly when you need
them. See your Acura dealer as soon
as possible.
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How the SRS Indicator L ight
Works
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety56
Ignoring the SRS indicator light
can result in serious injury or
death if the airbags, cutoff
system, or tensioners do not
work properly.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS light alerts you to a
potential problem.

A f ront seat passenger should not
use a cushion or other object as a
backrest. It may prevent the cutof f
system f rom working properly.
When you turn the ignition switch to
ON (II), the indicator should light
brief ly and go out (see page ). If it
doesn’t light, stays on, or comes on
while driving without a passenger in
the front seat, have the system
checked.
If a small-statured adult leans
sideways, or larger adult slouches
and leans sideways into the
deployment path of the side airbag,
the system may also shut of f the side
airbag.
This light alerts you that
the passenger’s side airbag
has been automatically shut off.
It does not mean there is a problem
with your side airbags. It means that
thesideairbagcutoff systemhas
activated to prevent the side airbag
f rom deploying. If the side airbag cutof f indicator
light comes on, you should have the
passenger sit upright. Once the
passenger is out of the deployment
path of the side airbag, the system
will turn the airbag back on and the
light will go out.
To reduce the risk of injury f rom an
inf lating side airbag, your vehicle has
an automatic cutoff system for the
passenger’s side airbag.
Although Acura does not encourage
children to ride in the f ront, this
system is designed to shut of f the
side airbag if a child leans sideways
and the child’s head is in the side
airbag deployment path. 68
How the Side Airbag Cutof f
Indicator L ight Works
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety57

This light alerts you that the f ront
passenger’s airbag is shut of f .If the light is on, it does not mean
there is a problem with the f ront
passenger’s airbag. If there is a
problem in the weight sensors, the
SRS indicator in the instrument
panel comes on. In this case, the
passenger airbag cutof f indicator
turns of f , and the f ront passenger’s
airbag will inflate during a crash.
To reduce the chance of airbag-
caused injuries, the system shuts of f
the f ront passenger’s airbag when
the total weight on the f ront
passenger’s seat is about 65 lbs
(30 kg) or less. The passenger
airbag cutoff indicator comes on to
remind you the f ront passenger’s
airbag will not inf late during a crash.If there is no passenger in the f ront
passenger’s seat, this indicator does
not come on, however the system
shuts of f the f ront passenger’s
airbag.
If this indicator comes on with no
passenger in the f ront passenger’s
seat,orwithanadultintheseat,
there may be a problem in the
advanced airbag system. Have the
vehicle checked by the dealer as
soon as possible.
This indicator may come on or of f
repeatedly, if some objects are put
on the f ront passenger’s seat, or if
the temperature of the vehicle’s
interior changes suddenly when a
door is opened.
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
How the Passenger Airbag Cutof f
Indicator Works
58
PASSENGER AIRBAG CUTOFF
INDICATOR

To ensure the f ront passenger’s seat
weight sensors keep the passenger’s
airbag activated when an adult or
large child weighing about 65 lbs/
30 kg or more sits in the front
passenger’s seat, do not allow
anything to decrease the weight on
the seat. This includes, but is not
limited to, these examples:Rear passengers pushing up the
frontpassenger’sseatwiththeir
f eet.
Front passenger’s seat f orcibly
pushed up by luggage or other
items placed under it.
Front passenger’s seat f orcibly
moved backward into luggage or
other items placed behind it. If a passenger is tall enough to use
the seat belt and sit properly, but the
passenger airbag cutof f indicator
comes on and of f repeatedly, we
recommend that the passenger sits
in a rear seat. If the passenger must
sit on the f ront seat, move the seat
as far to the rear as possible, have
the passenger sit upright, and make
sure the seat belt is worn securely.
To ensure the f ront passenger’s seat
weight sensors keep the passenger’s
airbag deactivated when an infant or
small child weighing about 65 lbs/
30 kg or less sits in the f ront
passenger’s seat, do not allow
anything to increase the weight on
the seat. This includes, but is not
limited to, these examples:
Rear passengers pushing or
pulling the f ront passenger’s seat-
back or pushing the seat rails with
their f eet.
Heavy items placed in the f ront
passenger’s seat-back pocket.
CONT INUED
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety59

If the passenger airbag cutof f
indicator does not light, or comes on
and of f repeatedly while a child seat
is secured on the f ront passenger’s
seat, remove the child seat, then
secure it on a rear seat.
When you turn the ignition switch to
ON (II), the passenger airbag cutof f
indicator will light brief ly then go out.
This tells you that the system is
working properly.
The indicator may come on or of f a
f ew seconds later if the weight on
the f ront passenger’s seat changes.Your f ront and side airbag systems
are virtually maintenance-f ree, and
there are no parts you can saf ely
service. However, you must have
your vehicle serviced if :
Any
airbag that has deployed must be
replaced along with the control
unit, automatic seat belt
tensioners and other related parts.
Do not try to remove or replace
anyairbagbyyourself.Thismust
be done by an Acura dealer or a
knowledgeable body shop.
Take your vehicle to
an authorized Acura dealer as
soon as possible. If you ignore this
indication, the airbags might not
inf late when you need them.
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Airbag Service
Your airbags ever inf late.
T he SRS indicat or light alert s yout o a problem.
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