2004 Acura MDX wheel

Your vehicle has higher ground
clearance that allows you to travel
over bumps, obstacles, and rough
terrain. It also provides good
visibility so you can anticipate
problems earlier.
Because your vehicle rides higher
of f the ground, it has a high center
of gravity that can cause it to roll
over if you make abrupt turns. Utility
vehicles have a signif icantly higher
roll over rate than other types of
vehicles.
To prevent rollovers or loss of
control:Take corners at slower speeds
than you would with a passenger
vehicle.
Avoid sharp turns and abrupt
maneuvers whenever possible. Do not modif y your vehicle in any
way that would raise the center of
gravity.
Do not carry heavy cargo on the
roof .
Youshoulddothefollowingchecks
and adjustments bef ore you drive
your vehicle. Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove f rost, snow,
or ice. Make sure the doors and tailgate
are securely closed and locked. Check the steering wheel
adjustment (see page ). Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page ). Check the seat adjustment (see
page ). Check that any items you may be
carrying are stored properly or
f astened down securely.
When you start the engine, check
the gauges and indicators in the
instrument panel (see page ).
Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure. Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have f astened
their seat belts (see page ).
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See page f or additional guidelinesf or driving of f -highway. 192
Driving Guidelines, Preparing to Drive
Driving
Driving Guidelines
Preparing to Drive
170

The Variable Torque Management
4WD System (VTM-4) automatically
transf ers varying amounts of engine
torque to the rear wheels under
lower traction conditions.
If more traction is needed when your
MDX is stuck, or is likely to become
stuck, you can use the VTM-4 Lock
button to increase torque to the rear
wheels.The vehicle must be stopped with
the engine running.
Move the shift lever to First (1),
Second (2), or Reverse (R) gear.
Press the VTM-4 Lock button.
The light in the button will come
on.
To get unstuck, apply light pressure
to the accelerator pedal. Do not spin
the f ront tires f or more than a f ew
seconds. Because of the amount of
torque applied to the rear tires, they
should not spin. This is normal. If
you are not able to move the vehicle,
stop and reverse direction. do
one of the f ollowing: Press the VTM-4 Lock button.
Move the shift lever to D , D or
D.
Turn the ignition switch to LOCK
(0).
The VTM-4 Lock will temporarily
disengage when the vehicle speed
exceeds 18 mph (30 km/h). It will
automatically engage again as the
speed slows below 18 mph (30
km/h). The button light will remain
on.
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2.
3.
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3
To Engage the VTM-4 Lock To Disengage the VTM-4 Lock,
VTM-4 System
Driving176
NOTICE: NOTICE:
Do not use the VTM-4 Lock
button on dry, paved roads. Driving on
dry, paved roads with VT M-4 Lock ON
may damage the rear dif f erential when
making a turn. Strange noise and
vibration can also result. Do not continuously spin the
f ront tires of your MDX. Continuously
spinning the f ront tires can cause
transmission or rear dif f erential
damage.

The appropriate tire indicator and
Low Tire Pressure Indicator will
come on if a tire becomes
signif icantly underinf lated. Follow
the instructions under ‘‘Low Tire
Pressure Indicator’’.The indicator comes on and stays on
when there is a problem with the
Tire Pressure Monitoring System.
If this happens, the system will shut
of f and no longer monitor tire
pressures. Have the system checked
by an Acura dealer as soon as
possible.
If you have a f lat tire, the Low Tire
Pressure and Tire monitor indicators
will come on. Replace the indicated
flat tire with the compact spare tire
(see page ).Each wheel is equipped with a tire
pressure sensor mounted inside the
tire behind the valve stem. You must
use TPMS specif ic wheels. It is
recommended that you always have
your tires serviced by your Acura
dealer or qualif ied technician.
Af ter you replace the f lat tire, the
Low Tire Pressure indicator will stay
on.Thisisnormal;thesystemisnot
monitoring the spare tire pressure.
Manually check the spare tire
pressure to be sure it is correct.
Never use a puncture-repairing agent
in a f lat tire. If used, you will have to
replace the tire pressure sensor.
Havetheflattirerepairedbyan
Acura dealer as soon as possible.
231
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Driving
Tire Pressure Monitor
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (T PMS) Indicator
ChangingtheTirewithTPMS
178

Always use the parking brake when
you park your vehicle. Make sure
the parking brake is set f irmly or
your vehicle may roll if it is on an
incline.
Set the parking brake bef ore you put
the transmission in Park. This keeps
the vehicle from moving and putting
pressure on the parking mechanism
in the transmission.Make sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.
Turn of f the lights.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.
in the cargo area, or take them
with you.
Lock the doors.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The hot three way
catalytic converter could cause
these materials to catch on fire.If the vehicle is f acing uphill, turn
the f ront wheels away f rom the
curb.
If the vehicle is f acing downhill,
turn the front wheels toward the
curb.
Make sure the parking brake is
f ully released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or
damage the rear brakes.
Parking T ips
Parking
Driving179

Resting your f oot on the pedal keeps
the brakes applied lightly, builds up
heat, and reduces their ef f ectiveness.
It also keeps your brake lights on all
the time, conf using drivers behind
you.
Constant application of the brakes
when going down a long hill builds
up heat and reduces their ef f ective-
ness. Use the engine to assist the
brakes by taking your f oot of f the
accelerator and downshif ting to a
lower gear.Check the brakes after driving
through deep water. Apply the
brakes moderately to see if they f eel
normal. If not, apply them gently and
f requently until they do. Be extra
cautious in your driving.
The hydraulic system that operates
the brakes has two separate circuits.
Each circuit works diagonally across
the vehicle (the lef t-f ront brake is
connected with the right-rear brake,etc.). If one circuit should develop a
problem, you will still have braking
at two wheels.
If the brake pads need replacing, you
will hear a distinctive, metallic
screeching sound when you apply
the brake pedal. If you do not have
the brake pads replaced, they will
screech all the time. It is normal f or
the brakes to occasionally squeal or
squeak when you apply them.
Your vehicle is equipped with disc
brakes at all f our wheels. A power
assist helps reduce the ef f ort needed
on the brake pedal. The ABS helps
you retain steering control when
braking very hard.
Braking System DesignBrake Wear Indicators
Braking System
Driving180
Front

If the ABS indicator and the break
system indicator come on together
and the parking break is f ully
released, the front-to-rear braking
distribution system may also shut
down.
Test your brakes as instructed on
page . If the brakes f eel normal,
drive slowly and have your vehicle
repaired by your Acura dealer as
soon as possible. Avoid sudden hard
braking which could cause the rear
wheels to lock up and possibly lead
to a loss of control.It only helps with the
steering control during braking.
such as trying to take a
corner too f ast or making a sudden
lane change. Always drive at a safe
speed f or the road and weather
conditions. on loose or
uneven surf aces, such as gravel or
snow, than a vehicle without anti-
lock.
Always steer moderately
when you are braking hard. Severe
or sharp steering wheel movement
can still cause your vehicle to veer
into oncoming traffic or off the road.
244
Important Saf ety Reminders
A BS does not reduce the time or
distance it takes to stop the
vehicle.
A BS will not prevent a skid that
results f rom changing direction
abruptly, A vehicle with A BS may require a
longer distance to stop
A BS cannot prevent a loss of
stability.
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
Driving182

If the indicator does not come on
when the ignition switch is turned to
ON(II),theremaybeaproblem
with the VSA system. Have an Acura
dealer inspect your vehicle as soon
as possible.
Without VSA, your vehicle will have
normal braking and cornering ability,
but it will not have VSA traction and
stability enhancement.This switch is under the lef t vent.
Press it to turn the Vehicle Stability
Assist system on and of f .VSA is turned on every time you
start the engine, even if you turned it
off the last time you drove the
vehicle.
Driving with varying tire or wheel
sizes may cause the VSA to
malf unction. When replacing tires,
make sure they are of the same size
and type as your original tires (see
page ).
Deactivate the VSA system if you
need to drive with the compact spare
tire installed (see page ).
If you install winter tires, make sure
they are the same size as those that
were originally supplied with your
vehicle. Exercise the same caution
during winter driving as you would if
your vehicle was not equipped with
VSA.
When VSA is off, the VSA Activation
Indicator comes on as a reminder. 224
230
VSA Of f Switch
VSA and Tire Sizes
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System
Driving184

µ
Check trailer light requirements f or
the areas where you plan to tow.
To get to your vehicle’s trailer
lighting connector, open the tailgate,
remove the cargo cover, then
remove the rear panel trim. The
connector is on the lef t side. We
recommend that you have your
Acura dealer install an Acura wiring
harness and converter. If you use a non-Acura trailer
lighting harness and converter, you
cangetthematingconnectorand
pins that mate with the connector in
your vehicle f rom your Acura dealer.
When towing a trailer, we
recommend that you carry a f ull-size
spare wheel and tire for your vehicle
and trailer. See page f or proper
tire size, page f or how to store a
full size wheel and tire, and page
f or inf ormation on changing a
flat tire.
Remember to unhitch the trailer
bef ore changing a f lat. Ask your
trailer sales or rental agency where
and how to store the trailer’s spare
tire. Foryoursafetyandthesafetyof
others, take time to practice driving
maneuvers bef ore heading f or the
open road, and f ollow the guidelines
below.
Avoid towing a trailer during your
vehicle’s f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).
Drive slower than normal in all
driving conditions.
Maketurnsmoreslowlyandwider
than normal. The trailer has a
smaller arc and it can hit or run
over something the vehicle misses.
Allow more time and distance f or
braking. Do not brake or turn
suddenly the trailer could
jackknif e or turn over.
Cennector-98530-00006-00
Terminal Kit-07JAZ-001-030A
224
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CONT INUED
T railer L ights
Spare Tires
Towing a Trailer
Driving
Driving Saf ely With a T railer
189
GROUND
(BLACK)
RIGHT TURN
SIGNAL
(GREEN/
YELLOW) TAILLIGHT
(RED/
BLACK)
BRAKE
LIGHT
(WHITE/
BLACK) LEFT TURN
SIGNAL
(GREEN/
BLUE)
BACK-UP
LIGHT
(GREEN/
BLACK)