2003 Acura MDX fuel

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.

Your Vehicle at a Glance
2
INDICATOR LIGHTS
POWER DOOR LOCK
SWITCHES
MIRROR
CONTROLS
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE FUEL FILL DOOR
RELEASE PARKING BRAKE
PEDAL REAR A/C CONTROL ACCESSORY POWER SOCKET GLOVE BOX AUDIO SYSTEM
CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM
SHIFT LEVER
(P.67)
GAUGES (P.74)
(P.93)
(P.116)
(P.111)
(P.238) (P.237) (P.117) (P.143)
(P.125)(P.100) (P.145,
163,183)
(P.136)
(P.254)

Control L ocations
Inst rument s and Cont rols66
MIRROR
CONTROLS
HOOD RELEASE
HANDLEPARKING BRAKE
PEDALREAR A/C CONTROL ACCESSORY POWER SOCKET GLOVE BOX AUDIO SYSTEM
CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM
SHIFT LEVER
INDICATOR LIGHTS
GAUGES
POWER DOOR LOCK
SWITCHES
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES FUEL FILL DOOR
RELEASE(P.67)
(P.74)
(P.93)
(P.116)
(P.111)
(P.238) (P.237) (P.117) (P.143)
(P.125)(P.100) (P.145,
163,183)
(P.136)
(P.254)

Î
Î
Î
The U.S. instrument panel is shown. Dif f erences f or the Canadian models are noted in the text.
CONT INUED
Indicator L ights
Inst rument s and Cont rols67
VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST
SYSTEM (VSA) INDICATOR
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR
LAMP
LOW OIL PRESSURE
INDICATOR
CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR
A/T TEMPERATURE
INDICATOR MAINTENANCE
REQUIRED
INDICATOR
VTM-
4INDICATOR DOOR AND TAILGATE
OPEN MONITOR
LOW FUEL INDICATOR
SEAT BELT REMINDER LIGHTBRAKE LAMP INDICATOR SIDE AIRBAG
CUTOFF INDICATOR
PARKING BRAKE
AND BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR WASHER LEVEL
INDICATOR
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR
IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM
INDICATOR SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM INDICATOR
CRUISE CONTROL
INDICATOR
HIGH BEAM INDICATOR
LIGHTS ON
INDICATOR
VSA ACTIVATION
INDICATOR
(P.376)
(P.68)
(P.68)
(P.76)
(P.72) (P.72) (P.70)
(P.71)
(P.73) (P.
68)
(P.
70)
(P.
69)
(P.
68) (P.73)
(P.
72)
(P.71)
(P.69)
(P.
69) (P.
68)
(P.71)
(P.71)

Canadian models only
This indicator lights when you turn
the ignition switch to ON (II) with
the headlight switch of f and the
parking brake set. It should go of f if
youturnontheheadlightsorrelease
the parking brake. If it comes on at
any other time, it means there is a
problem with the DRL. There may
also be a problem with the high
beam headlights.This light comes on with the high
beam headlights. See page for
inf ormation on the headlight
controls.
On Canadian models, this indicator
comes on with reduced brightness
when the Daytime Running Lights
(DRL) are on (see page ).
This lights when you set the cruise
control. See page f or inf ormation
on operating the cruise control. This light comes on as a reminder
that you must ref uel soon.This light comes on when the
washer f luid level is low. Add washer
f luid when you see this light come on
(see page ).
216 79
82 316
‘‘Daytime Running
Lights’’ Indicator
High Beam Indicator
Cruise Control Indicator Low Fuel IndicatorWasher Level Indicator
Indicator L ights
Inst rument s and Cont rols71

U.S. ModelsCanadian Models
This shows your speed in miles per
hour (mph). The smaller inner
numbers are the speed in kilometers
per hour (km/h).
This shows your speed in kilometers
per hour (km/h). The smaller inner
numbers are the speed in miles per
hour (mph). The tachometer shows the engine
speed in revolutions per minute
(rpm). To protect the engine f rom
damage, never drive with the
tachometer needle in the red zone.The odometer shows the total dis-
tance your vehicle has been driven.
It measures miles in U.S. models and
kilometers in Canadian models.
It is illegal under U.S. f ederal law and
Canadian provincial regulations to
disconnect, reset, or alter the
odometer with the intent to change
the number of miles or kilometers
indicated.
Speedometer Odometer
T achometer
Gauges
Inst rument s and Cont rols74
TACHOMETER
MAINTENANCE
REQUIRED INDICATOR TRIP METER
ODOMETER TRIP METER RESET BUTTONTRIP METER
SELECT BUTTON
TEMPERATURE
GAUGE
FUEL GAUGE
SPEEDOMETER

This meter shows the number of
miles (U.S.) or kilometers (Canada)
driven since you last reset it.
There are two trip meters: Trip A
and Trip B. Switch between these
displays by pressing the Select
button repeatedly. Each trip meter
works independently, so you can
keep track of two dif f erent distances.
When you turn the ignition switch
ON (II), what you last selected isdisplayed.
To reset a trip meter, display it, and
then press and hold the Reset button
until the number resets to ‘‘0.0’’.
Both trip meters will reset if the
vehicle’s battery goes dead or is
disconnected.
This shows the temperature of the
engine’s coolant. During normal
operation, the pointer should rise
from the bottom blue mark to about
the middle of the gauge. In severe
driving conditions, such as very hot
weather or a long period of uphill
driving, the pointer may rise to the
upper white mark. If it reaches the
red (Hot) mark, pull saf ely to the
side of the road. Turn to page f or
instructions and precautions on
checking the engine’s cooling
system.
This shows how much f uel you have.
It is most accurate when the vehicle
is on level ground. It may show
slightly more or less than the actual
amount when you are driving on
curvy or hilly roads.
The needle returns to the bottom
after you turn off the ignition. The
gauge shows the f uel level reading
immediately af ter you turn the
ignition switch back ON (II).
371
Trip Meter
Temperature GaugeFuel Gauge
Gauges
Inst rument s and Cont rols75
SELECT BUTTON
RESET BUTTON
Avoid driving with an extremely low
f uel level. Running out of f uel could
cause the engine to misf ire, damaging
the catalytic converter.

µ´
CONT INUED
All models of MDX have a trip
computer. The f ollowing pages
explain the trip computer on the
model without the navigation system.
To operate the trip computer on the
model with the navigation system,
ref er to the navigation manual.
The Trip Computer displays the
f ollowing inf ormation. The ignition
switch must be in Accessory or ON.Clock
Direction of travel
Trip Computer
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
(Without Navigation System)
219
INSTANTANEOUS
FUEL MILEAGE
CLOCK
BUTTON
TRIP
BUTTON
RESET
BUTTON
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
CONTROL /CALIBRATE BUTTON
/ZONE BUTTONRESET, SET BUTTONCOMPASS
OUTSIDE
TEMPERATURE