2004 Acura MDX light

With the headlight switch off, the
high beam headlights come on with
reduced brightness when you turn
the ignition switch to ON (II) and
release the parking brake. They
remain on until you turn the ignition
of f , even if you set the parking brake.
The headlights revert to normal
operation when you turn them on
with the switch.The dial on the instrument panel
controls the brightness of the
instrument panel lights. Turn the dial
to adjust the brightness.Push the red button to the right of
the display to turn on the hazard
warning lights (f our-way f lashers).
This causes all f our outside turn
signals and both indicators in the
instrument panel to f lash. Use the
hazard warning lights if you need to
park in a dangerous area near heavy
traf f ic, or if your vehicle is disabled.
Canadian Models
Daytime Running L ights
Instrument Panel Brightness Hazard Warning Button
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Headlights, Instrument Panel Brightness, Hazard Warning Button
74
INSTRUMENT PANEL BRIGHTNESS
CONTROL DIAL

Make sure the rear window is clear
and you have good visibility bef ore
starting to drive.Turn the f og lights on and of f by
pressing the button. The indicator in
the button lights to show the f og
lights are on.
You can use the f og lights only when
the headlights are on low beam.
They will go of f when you turn the
headlights of f or onto high beam.
The rear window def ogger will clear
fog,frost,andthinicefromthe
window. Push the def ogger button to
turn it on and off. The indicator in
the button lights to show the
def ogger is on. If you do not turn it
of f , the def ogger will shut itself of f
af ter about 15 minutes. It also shuts
of f when you turn of f the ignition.
You have to turn it on again when
you restart the vehicle. Thedefoggerwiresontheinsideof
the rear window can be accidentally
damaged. When cleaning the glass,
always wipe side to side.
Rear Window Def ogger
Fog Lights
Rear Window Def ogger, Fog Lights
Inst rument s and Cont rols75

The master key fits all the locks on
your vehicle. The valet key works
only in the ignition and the door
locks. You can keep the glove box
locked when you leave your vehicle
and the valet key at a parking f acility.Youshouldhavereceivedakey
number tag with your keys. You will
need this key number if you ever
have to get a lost key replaced. Use
only an Acura-approved key blank.
These keys contain electronic
circuits that are activated by the
Immobilizer System. They will not
work to start the engine if the
circuits are damaged.
Protect the keys f rom direct
sunlight, high temperature, and
high humidity.
Donotdropthekeysorsetheavy
objects on them.
Keep the keys away f rom liquids.
If they get wet, dry them
immediately with a sof t cloth.
The keys do not contain batteries.
Do not try to take them apart.
Keys
Inst rument s and Cont rols77
KEY
NUMBER
TAG MASTER
KEYS
(BLACK) VALET KEY
(GRAY)

µµ
µ µ
The ignition switch has f our
positions: LOCK (0), ACCESSORY
(I), ON (II), and START (III). You can insert or
remove the key only in this position.
To turn the key, the shift lever must
be in Park, and you must push the
key in slightly.
If the f ront wheels are turned, the
anti-thef t lock may make it dif f icult
to turn the key. Firmly turn the
steering wheel to the lef t or right as
you turn the key.
You can
operate the audio system and the
accessory power sockets in this
position.
This is the normal key
position when driving. Several of the
indicators on the instrument panel
come on as a test when you turn the
ignition switch f rom ACCESSORY
(I) to ON (II). Use this position
only to start the engine. The switch
returns to ON (II) when you let go of
the key.
You will hear a reminder beeper if
you leave the key in the ignition
switch in the LOCK (0) or
ACCESSORY (I) position and open
the driver’s door. Remove the key to
turn of f the beeper.
TheshiftlevermustbeinPark
bef ore you can remove the key f rom
the ignition switch.
LOCK (0)
A CCESSORY (I)
ON (II) ST A RT (III)
Ignition Switch
Inst rument s and Cont rols79

µµ
µ Press this button once
to unlock the driver’s door and the
tailgate. Push it twice to unlock the
other doors. Some exterior and
interior lights will f lash twice when
you push the button. If you do not
open any door or the tailgate within
30 seconds, they will automatically
relock.
When you press the UNLOCK
button, the f ront and rear individual
map lights and the cargo area light,
depending on their switch positions,
will come on (see page ). If you
do not open any door or the tailgate,
the lights stay on for about 30
seconds, then go out. If you relock
thedoorsandthetailgatewiththe
remote transmitter before 30
seconds have elapsed, the lights will
go of f immediately. Pressthisbuttonfor
about 1 second to attract attention;
thehornwillsoundandtheexterior
lights will f lash f or about 30 seconds.
To cancel panic mode, press any
other button on the remote
transmitter or turn the ignition
switch to ON (II).
Avoid dropping or throwing the
transmitter.
Protect the transmitter from
extreme temperature.
Do not immerse the transmitter in
any liquid.
Press this button once to
lock all doors and the tailgate. Some
exterior and interior lights will f lash.
When you push LOCK twice within 5
seconds, you will hear a beep to
verify that the doors and tailgate are
locked and the security system has
set. This button does not work if any
door or tailgate is not f ully closed. If you lose a transmitter, the
replacement needs to be
reprogrammed by an Acura dealer.
96
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Remote Transmitter
UNL OCK
PA NIC
LOCK
Remote Transmitter Care
81
LED
UNLOCK
BUTTON PANIC
BUTTON LOCK
BUTTON

Theinsidemirrorcanautomatically
darken to reduce glare. To turn on
this feature, press the button on the
bottom of the mirror. The AUTO
indicator comes on as a reminder.
When it is on, the mirror darkens
when it senses the headlights of a
vehicle behind you, then returns to
normal visibility when the lights are
gone. Press the button again to turn
of f this sensing.
To apply the parking brake, push the
pedal down with your f oot. To
release it, push on the pedal again.
The parking brake indicator on the
instrument panel should go out when
the parking brake is fully released
with the engine running (see page ). Keeptheinsideandoutsidemirrors
clean and adjusted f or best visibility.
Be sure to adjust the mirrors bef ore
you start driving.
59
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Parking Brake
Mirrors
Parking Brake, Mirrors
92
NOTICE:
PARKING BRAKE PEDAL
AUTO SWITCH
SENSOR
INDICATOR
Driving the vehicle with the
parking brake applied can damage the
rear brakes and axles. A beeper will sound if the vehicle is put into gear
with the parking brake on.

Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Move the selector switch to L
(driver’s side) or R (passenger’s
side).
Push the appropriate edge of the
adjustment switch to move the
mirrorright,left,up,ordown.When you f inish, move the
selector switch to the center (off)
position. This turns of f the
adjustment switch to keep your
settings.
The outside mirrors are heated to
remove fog and frost. With the
ignition switch in the ON (II)
position, turn on the heaters by
pressing the button. The indicator in
the button comes on as a reminder.
Press the button again to turn the
heaters of f .
Turn this f eature of f by leaving the
selector switch in the Lef t or Right
position. With the selector switch in the
center (of f ) position, the passenger’s
side mirror will pivot downward
slightly when you shif t the
transmission into Reverse. This
gives you a better view of the side of
the vehicle while parallel parking.
The mirror returns to its original
position when you take the
transmission out of reverse.
1.
2.
3. 4.
Touring model only
Adjusting the Power Mirrors
Mirrors
Inst rument s and Cont rols93
HEATED MIRROR BUTTON
SELECTOR SWITCH
ADJUSTMENT SWITCH

When this switch is in the position:When the switch is in the
position:
When the light control switch is in theposition:OFF
None of the lights come on when a
door or the tailgate is opened. Door
Activated Withanydoororthetailgateleft
open, the lights stay on about 3
minutes, then go out.
ON
All the individual map lights come
onandstayonaslongasthe
switch remains in the ON position.
The lights go out about six seconds
after all the doors and the tailgate
are closed. The individual map lights come on
whenanydoororthetailgateis
opened, or when the remote
transmitter is used to unlock the
doors. When the doors and the
tailgate are closed, each light can
be turned on and of f by pushing
the lens.
The cargo area (3rd row) light
comes on when any door or the
tailgate is opened if the switch in
the light is in the door activated
position. When the doors and the
tailgate are closed, the cargo area
lightcanbeturnedonwiththe
switch in the light.
The cargo (3rd row) area light
comes on if the switch is in the
door activated position.
The individual map lights in the
f ront can be turned on and of f by
pushing each lens.
L ight Control Switch
Interior Lights
Inst rument s and Cont rols96
DOOR ACTIVATED POSITION
ON
OFF