2004 Acura MDX spare wheel

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

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
231 235
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)

Use the compact spare tire as a
temporary replacement only. Get
your regular tire repaired or replaced
and put it back on your vehicle as
soon as you can.
Check the inf lation pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be
inf lated to:
Follow these precautions:Never exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
under any circumstances.
This tire gives a harsher ride and
less traction on some road sur-
f aces. Use greater caution while
driving. Do not mount snow chains on a
compact spare.
Do not use the compact spare tire
if you are towing a trailer.
Do not use your compact spare
tire on another vehicle unless it is
thesamemakeandmodel.
Replace the tire when you can see
the tread wear indicator bars. The
replacement should be the same size
and design tire, mounted on the
same wheel. The spare tire is not
designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and the spare wheel is not
designed f or mounting a regular tire.
Compact Spare Tire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed230
INDICATOR LOCATION MARK
TREAD WEAR INDICATOR BAR
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm)

Put the wheel nut wrench on the
hoist shaf t. Turn the wrench
counterclockwise to lower the
spare tire to the ground.Keep turning the wheel wrench to
create slack in the cable.
Remove the bracket from the
spare tire.Loosen each wheel nut 1/2 turn
with the wheel wrench.
11.
10.
8.
9.
CONT INUED
Changing a Flat T ire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed233
SPARETIREWRENCH BRACKET

Ú
Place the jack under the jacking
point nearest the tire you need to
change. It is pointed to by a
mark molded into the underside of
the body. Turn the end bracket
clockwise until the top of the jack
contacts the jacking point. Make
sure the jacking point tab is
restinginthejacknotch. Use the extension and wheel
wrench as shown to raise the
vehicle until the f lat tire is of f the
ground.
Remove the wheel nuts, then
remove the f lat tire.
Bef ore mounting the spare tire,
wipe any dirt of f the mounting
surface of the wheel and hub with
a clean cloth. Wipe the hub
carefully;itmaybehotfrom
driving.
12.
13.
14. 15.
Changing a Flat T ire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed234
JACKING POINT
WHEEL WRENCHEXTENSION
BRAKE HUB

Tighten the wheel nuts securely in
the same crisscross pattern. Have
the wheel nut torque checked at
the nearest automotive service
f acility.
Tighten the wheel nuts to:
Remove the center cap from the
flat tire.Place the f lat tire f ace up under
the hoist.
Insert the hoist bracket into the
center hole of the f lat tire.
Put on the spare tire. Put the
wheel nuts back on f inger-tight,
then tighten them in a crisscross
pattern with the wheel wrench
until the wheel is f irmly against
the hub. Do not try to tighten
them f ully.
Lower the vehicle to the ground
and remove the jack. 20.
21.
18.
19.
17. 16.
CONT INUED
Changing a Flat T ire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed235
80 lbf·ft (108 N·m , 11 kgf·m)

Store the jack in its holder. Turn
the jack’s end bracket to lock it in
place. Store the tools, and install
the cover.
Slowly turn the wheel wrench
clockwisetotake uptheslackof
the hoist cable. Make sure the
bracketisseatedinthecenter
hole of the spare tire.
Turn the wheel wrench clockwise
until the f lat tire rests against the
underbody of the vehicle and you
hear the hoist click. 24.
22.
23.
Changing a Flat T ire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed236
NOTICE: Loose items can fly around the
interiorinacrashandcould
seriously injure the occupants.
Store the wheel, jack, and tools
securely before driving.
Always raise the spare tire
hoist, even if you are not stowing a tire.
If the hoist is lef t down, it will be
damaged during driving and need to be
replaced.