2004 Acura MDX Owner's Manual

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.
Tousethesocketintheconsole
compartment, pull the cover up.
To use an accessory power socket,
the ignition switch must be in
ACCESSORY (I) or ON (II).
These sockets are intended to supply
power f or 12 volt DC accessories
that are rated 120 watts or less (10
amps).When both the front and console
sockets are being used, the
combined power rating of both
accessories should be 120 watts or
less (10 amps).
None of the sockets will power an
automotive type cigarette lighter
element.
Interior Convenience Items
Inst rument s and Cont rols
A ccessory Power Sockets
101

102

The climate control system in your
Acura provides a comf ortable driving
environment in all weather
conditions.
The standard audio system has
many f eatures. This section de-
scribes those f eatures and how to
use them. (If you selected an
optional audio system, ref er to the
operating instructions that came
with it.)
Your Acura has an anti-theft audio
system that requires a code number
to enable it..............
Vents, Heating, and A/C . 104
.............................
Airflow Buttons .105
...................
Rear Climate Control . 109
..............
Climate Control Sensors . 109
..........................
Playing the Radio .110
............................
Radio Reception .113
..................................
Playing a CD .115
....................
Protecting Your CDs .119
.........
CD Player Error Messages . 120
.....
CD Changer Error Messages . 122
...............................
Playing a Tape .125
.............
Steering Wheel Controls . 128
.................
Radio Thef t Protection . 129
..........................
Setting the Clock .130
........
Rear Entertainment System . 131
............................
Security System .143
...............................
Cruise Control .144
..............................
Trip Computer .146
........................
Rear View Camera .152
HomeLink Universal ................................
Transceiver .153
Comf ort and Convenience Features
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures103

Vents, Heating, and A/C
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures104
RECIRCULATION BUTTONTEMPERATURE BUTTONSTEMPERATURE DISPLAY
AUTO BUTTON
OFF BUTTON
DEFROST BUTTON REAR A/C CONTROL
(Without Navigation System) (With Navigation System)
A/C
BUTTON
MODE
BUTTON FAN SPEED
BUTTON A/C
ICON
MODE
ICON
FAN SPEED
ICONS

ÚÜ
Û
Ý
Push the button to increase the
temperature of air f low. Push the
button to decrease it. When you set
the temperature to its lower limit or
its upper limit, the system runs at f ull
cooling or heating only. It does not
regulate the interior temperature.
This button or icon turns the air
conditioningonandoff.Youwillsee
A/C ON or A/C OFF in the display. The outside air intakes f or the
heating and cooling system are at
the base of the windshield. Keep this
area clear of leaves and other debris.
ThesystemshouldbeleftinFresh
Air mode under almost all conditions.
Keeping the system in Recirculation
mode, particularly with the A/C of f ,
can cause the windows to fog up.
Switch to Recirculation mode when
driving through dusty or smoky
conditions, then return to Fresh Air
mode.
This button turns the rear window
def ogger on and of f (see page ). When the indicator in the button is
on, air f rom the vehicle’s interior is
recirculated throughout the system.
When the indicator is off, air is
brought in f rom the outside of the
vehicle (Fresh Air mode).
Push the button or icon to
increase the f an speed and air f low.
Push the button or icon to
decrease it.
Use the mode control button or icon
to select the vents the air flows from.
Air flows from the center
and corner vents in the dashboard.
Airf low is divided between
the vents in the dashboard and the
f loor vents.
Air f lows f rom the f loor
vents.
Airf low is divided between
the f loor vents and the def roster
vents at the base of the windshield.
Air f lows f rom the def roster
vents at the base of the windshield.
When you select , the system
automatically switches to Fresh Air
mode and turns on the A/C.
75
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Fan Control Button/Icon
Temperature Control Buttons
Air Conditioning (A/C) Button/
Icon Recirculation Button
Rear Window Def ogger Button Mode Control Button/Icon
Airf low Buttons
105

ÛÝÚ
Ü
The heater uses engine coolant to
warm the air. If the engine is cold, it
will be several minutes bef ore you
f eel warm air coming f rom the
system.
Air conditioning places an extra load
on the engine. Watch the engine
coolant temperature gauge (see page
). If it moves near the red zone,
turn of f the A/C until the gauge
reads normally.
Turn on the A/C by pressing the
A/CbuttonortouchingtheA/C
icon on the models with navigation
system. A/C ON will be displayed
on the screen.
Make sure the temperature is set
to maximum heat.
Select .
If the outside air is humid, select
Recirculation mode. If the outside
air is dry, select Fresh Air mode.
Set the f an to the desired speed.
The f low-through ventilation system
draws in outside air, circulates it
through the interior, then exhausts it
through vents near the rear side
panels.
Set the temperature to maximum.
Make sure the A/C is of f .
Select and Fresh Air mode.
Set the f an to the desired speed. Select and Fresh Air mode.
Set the f an to the desired speed.
Adjust the warmth of the air with
the temperature control buttons.
Press the A/C button to show the
A/C screen.
Select the desired mode by
touching the MODE icon, and set
the f an to the desired speed by
touching the or icon.
Adjustthewarmthwiththe
temperature control buttons ( or
).
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
3.
4.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3. 67
Vehicles without Navigation System
Vehicles without Navigation System
Vents, Heating, and A/C
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Using the A /C
Using the Heater
Ventilation
106

This setting is suitable f or all driving
conditions whenever the outside
temperature is above 32°F (0°C).
you can
cool it down more rapidly by partially
opening the windows, turning on the
A/C, and setting the fan to
maximum speed in Fresh Air mode.
The vehicle has two A/C and
heater units. These units are
controled by the f ront panel controls,
unless the RR A/C button is turned
on. The rear passengers can also
adjust the direction, and temperature
and amount of the airf low. Air conditioning, as it cools, removes
moisture from the air. When used in
combination with the heater, it
makes the interior warm and dry.
To remove f og f rom the inside of the
windows:
Switch the f an on.
Turn on the air conditioning.
Select and Fresh Air mode.
Adjust the temperature to your
pref erence.
When you switch to another mode
f rom , the A/C stays on.
Press the A/C button to turn it of f .Set the f an to the desired speed, or
high f or f aster def rosting.
Select . The system
automatically switches to Fresh
Air mode and turns on the A/C.
The A/C indicator will not come
on in U.S. vehicles.
Adjust the temperature so the
airf low f eels warm.
Select to help clear the
rear window.
To increase airf low to the
windshield, close the corner vents.
1.
2.
3.
4.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
If the interior is very warm,
Vents, Heating, and A/C
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Dehumidif y the Interior
T o Def og and Def rost
107
NOTE:

The Automatic Climate Control
system can adjust the f an speed and
airflow levels to maintain the interior
temperature you select.Press the AUTO button.
Set the desired temperature with
the temperature control buttons.
You will see FULL AUTO in the
system’s display.
The system automatically selects the
proper mix of conditioned and/or
heated air that will, as quickly as
possible, raise or lower the interior
temperature f rom its current level to
the set temperature. In FULL AUTO
the rear A/C control panel cannot be
used. In cold weather, the f an will not
come on automatically until the
heater starts to develop warm air.
You can manually select various
f unctions of the Climate Control
system when it is in FULL AUTO.
All other f eatures remain
automatically controlled.
Manually selecting a f unction causes
thewordFULLinthedisplaytogo
out.
Press the OFF button. However, a
lack of air f low can cause the
windows to fog up. It is
recommended that you keep the f an
on at all times so stale air and
moisture do not build up in the
interior and cause fogging.
If you set the temperature to its
lower or its upper limit, the system
runs at f ull cooling or heating only. It
does not regulate the interior
temperature.
Select . The system
automatically switches to Fresh
Air mode and turns on the A/C.
The A/C indicator will not come
on in U.S. vehicles.
Select .
Set the f an and temperature
controls to maximum level.
To clear the windows f aster, you can
close the dashboard corner vents by
rotating the wheel below each vent.
This sends more warm air to the
windshield def roster vents. Once the
windshield is clear, select Fresh Air
mode to avoid f ogging the windows.
For your saf ety, make sure you have
a clear view through all the windows
bef ore driving. 1.
2.
1.
2.
3.
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Vents, Heating, and A/C
T o Remove Exterior Frost or Ice
From the Windows
Manual Operation
To Turn Everything Of f
Using A utomatic Climate Control
108