2003 MDX Online Reference Owner's Manual Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.helminc.com.
Contents
Owner's Identification Form
Introduction........................................................................\
...................................................... .......................i
A Few Words About Safety ........................................................................\
.................................................. ii
Important Handling Information........................................................................\
.................................... .iii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
.......................................................2
Driver and Passenger Safety........................................................................\
...............................................5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System. Instruments and Controls ........................................................................\
................................................... 65
Instrument panel indica tor and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
............................... 133
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.
Before Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... 235
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new ve hicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
................................................................................... 249
The proper way to start the engine, shift the tr ansmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.
Maintenance ........................................................................\
......................................................................... 293
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Care ........................................................................\
................................................................. 351
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected ........................................................................\
....................................... 359
This section covers several problems motorists someti mes experience, and how to handle them.
Technical Information ........................................................................\
....................................................... 387
ID numbers, dimensions, capaciti es, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada) ......................................................................399
A summary of the warranties covering yo ur new Acura, and how to contact us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only) ........................................................................\
....................................... 403
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index........................................................................\
...........................................................................................I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.
Thediagramsinthissectiongive
you the dimensions and capacities of
your Acura, and the locations of the
identif ication numbers. It also
includes inf ormation you should
know about your vehicle’s tires and
emissions control systems.................
Identif ication Numbers . 388
................................
Specif ications .390
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 392
Unif orm Tire Quality ..................................
Grading .392
.................................
Treadwear .392
......................................
Traction .392
.............................
Temperature .393
...........................
Tire Inf ormation .394 .........................
Oxygenated Fuels .395
......
Driving in Foreign Countries . 396
.......................
Emissions Controls .397
.....................
The Clean Air Act .397
Crankcase Emissions Control ....................................
System .397
Evaporative Emissions Control ....................................
System .397
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor ................................
Recovery .397
...
Exhaust Emissions Controls . 398
....................
PGM-FI System .398
Ignition Timing Control ................................
System .398
Exhaust Gas Recirculation ...................
(EGR) System . 398
Three Way Catalytic ...........................
Converter .398
....................
Replacement Parts . 398
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 399
T echnical Inf ormat ion
T echnical Inf ormation387
µµÎ
Î
Î
Î
Î
Î Î
Î
Specif ications
T echnical Inf ormation390
Dimensions
Air Conditioning Weights
Capacities
Length
Width
Height
Wheelbase
Track
See the tire information label atta-
ched to the driver’s doorjamb. 1.88 US gal (7.1
)
2.38 US gal (9.0)
4.5 US qt (4.3
)
4.2 US qt (4.0
)
5.3 US qt (5.0
)
2.9 US qt (2.7)
7.7 US qt (7.3)
19.21 US gal (72.7
)
188.5 in (4,789 mm)
76.3 in (1,938 mm)
68.7 in (1,744 mm)
71.3 in (1,811 mm)
106.3 in (2,700 mm)
66.3 in (1,685 mm)
66.5 in (1,690 mm)
9,700 lbs (4,400 kg)
Refrigerant type
Charge quantity
Lubricant type HFC-134a (R-134a)
24.7 26.5 oz (700 750 g) ND-OIL8
Gross vehicle weight rating
Gross combined weight
rating (GCWR)
2.9 US qt (2.7
)
3.0 US qt (2.8)
0.45 US qt (0.43
)
0.48 US qt (0.45)
Excluding the oil remaining in the engine. 0.16 US gal (0.6
)
Including the coolant in the reserve tank and that remaining in the
engine.
Reserve tank capacity:
Fuel tank
Engine
coolant
Engine oil
Automatic
transmission
fluid
Rear
differential
fluid
Transfer
assembly
fluid
Windshield
washer
reservoir
4.8 US qt (4.5
)
Approx.
Front
Rear
1:
2:
Standard
Premium
Equipped with transmission fluid cooler and power steering fluid
cooler.
The GCWR must be reduced 2 percent for every 1,000 feet (305
meters) of elevation.
1:
2: Change
Total
Change
Including
filter
Without
filter
Total
Change
Total
Change
Total
Change
Total
2 1 1
2
CONT INUED
............................
Fabric, Cleaning .355
...................................
Fan, Interior .138
Features, Comfort and ..............................
Convenience .133
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 237
Filters ...............................................
Air .321
.......................
Air Conditioning .331
...............................................
Oil .309
............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety . 404
................
Def ogger, Rear Window . 88
..............
Def rosting the Windows . 140
..........................
Dif f erential Fluid .318
..........................
Digital Clock .150, 190
....................................
Dimensions .390
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 79
Dipstick ..........
Automatic Transmission . 317
..................................
Engine Oil .240
..........................
Directional Signals .83
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 262
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .310
Doors ..............
Locking and Unlocking . 93
....................
Lockout Prevention . 94
......................
Power Door Locks .93
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 392
.....................................
Drive Belts .331
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5
...........................................
Driving .249
....................................
Economy .242
.........................
In Bad Weather .269
................
In Foreign Countries . 396
Driving Position Memory ........................................
System .118 ..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 331
...................................
DVD Player .199
..............................
Economy, Fuel .242
............
Emergencies on the Road . 359
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 369
...........
Brake System Indicator . 377
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 361
.....
Charging System Indicator . 374
..................
Checking the Fuses . 380
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 373
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 375
..................
Overheated Engine . 371
.........................
Emergency Brake .117
......................
Emergency Flashers .87
......................
Emergency Towing .385
.......................
Emissions Controls .397
Engine ....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 75
.................................
Drive Belts .331
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp .68, 375
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 68,373
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 307...............................
Overheating .371
............................
Specif ications .391
............................
Speed Limiter .257
.......................................
Starting .252
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .395
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 397
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .62
Exhaust Gas Recirculation ........................................
System .398
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .19
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 354
Index
E
F
III
Steering Wheel..................................
Adjustment .89
.............
Anti-theft Column Lock . 92
...
Stereo Sound System . 145,163,183
....................
Storing Your Vehicle .349
........................
Sunglasses Holder .124
........................................
Sun Visor .124
Supplemental Restraint System ......................................
Servicing .61
.........................
SRS Indicator .56 ,68
...................
System Components . 50
..................................
Synthetic Oil .308
.....................
Underside, Cleaning .357
Unexpected, Taking Care ..........................................
of the .359
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 392
........................
Unleaded Gasoline .236
.....................
Upholstery Cleaning .354
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 310
................................
Vanity Mirror .125
.................
Vehicle Capacity Load . 246
......................
Vehicle Dimensions .390
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number . 388
.....................................
Tachometer .74
......
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in . 344
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected . 359
...................
Tape Player . 151,177,191
Technical Descriptions ......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 392
.....
Emissions Control Systems . 397
.....................
Oxygenated Fuels .395
Three Way Catalytic ...............................
Converter .399
.......................
Temperature Gauge .75 ...................
Tensioners, Seat Belts . 48
............................
Thef t Protection .182
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 399
....................................
Timing Belt .332
....................................
Tire Chains .338
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 361
...........................
Tire Inf ormation .394
...............................................
Tires .332
..............................
Air Pressure .332
...................................
Balancing .335
.........................
Checking Wear .334
..........................
Compact Spare .360
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 392
......................................
Inf lation .332
..................................
Inspection .334
...................................
Replacing .336
......................................
Rotating .335
...........................................
Snow .338
............................
Specif ications .391
................................
Tire Chains .338
Towing .....................................
A Trailer .271
................
Emergency Wrecker . 385
Your Vehicle Behind a ............................
Motorhome .283
.............
Transf er Assembly Fluid . 318Transmission
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 317
...........................
Fluid Selection .317
..............
Identif ication Number . 388
.............
Shif ting the Automatic . 253
.....................................
Treadwear .392
.......................................
Trip Meter .75
....................................
Turn Signals .83
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 361
Index
T U
V
VIII