2005 Acura MDX Owner's Manual

If you do not have Internet access, a
def ault prof ile can be set up f or you.
To use the Virtual Advisor f rom your
vehicle:You make up and provide your
Personal Identification Number
(PIN) when you establish your
account with OnStar. You should
write down your PIN, and keep it
with you at all times.
You can change your PIN at any time.
Contact the OnStar advisor by
pressing the OnStar button, or by
calling (888) 4-ONSTAR.
If you f orget your PIN, contact the
OnStar advisor. For security reasons,
your PIN will be mailed to you.
Press the white phone button.
OnStar will respond with ‘‘OnStar
ready.’’
If you would like to hear a list of
voice commands that are available,
say ‘‘What are my choices.’’ OnStar
is continually upgrading the system,
so new commands may become
available. The system will connect you to the
Virtual Advisor. The Virtual Advisor
will prompt you f or the inf ormation
you desire. Say ‘‘Virtual Advisor.’’
When you subscribe to Personal
Calling, you can also enjoy the
benef its of Virtual Advisor. This
feature lets you hear information in
your vehicle about weather, sports,
news, and stocks.
Although Virtual Advisor can
provide inf ormation on many
subjects, you can set up a
customized prof ile with OnStar that
makes it easier to get inf ormation
about areas that are of specific
interest to you. To do this, you must
go to the OnStar web site,
www.onstar.com. This is a secure
site; you will need your account
number and PIN to access your
account inf ormation and to design
your customized prof ile. OnStar Virtual A dvisor
Personal Identif ication Number
OnSt ar
Features
183

OnStar uses the Global Positioning
System (GPS) to locate your vehicle
f or f unctions such as route guidance
and roadside assistance. GPS is
af f ected by structures that can
obstruct the signal, such as tunnels,
parking structures, and tall buildings.
It may not be possible f or OnStar to
pinpoint your location if you are in or
near such structures.
OnStar uses cellular technology to
communicate with your vehicle.
Cellular coverage varies by location,
which may af f ect the ability to
establish a connection, or the quality
of the connection.When you turn of f your vehicle’s
ignition, the OnStar system goes into
low-power mode. Af ter 48 hours, it
switches to sleep mode to conserve
your vehicle’s battery power.
Features such as remote door
unlocking and misplaced vehicle
assistance will not work af ter your
vehicle has been parked f or more
than 48 hours.
OnStar
is a registered trademark of
the OnStar Corporation.
OnStar has an antenna on the roof of
the vehicle. To avoid reception
problems, do not cover this antenna.
As required by the FCC: This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules.Operation is subject to the f ollowing twoconditions: (1) This device may notcause harmf ul interf erence, and (2) thisdevice must accept any interf erencereceived, including interf erence thatmay cause undesired operation.
Changes or modif ications not expresslyapproved by the party responsible f orcompliance could void the user’sauthority to operate the equipment.
This device complies with IndustryCanada Standard RSS-210. Operation issubject to the f ollowing two conditions:(1) this device may not causeinterf erence, and (2) this device mustaccept any interf erence that may causeundesired operation of the device.System Limitations
OnSt ar
184

Bef ore you begin driving your
vehicle, you should know what
gasoline to use and how to check the
levels of important f luids. You also
need to know how to properly store
luggage or packages. The
inf ormation in this section will help
you. If you plan to add any
accessories to your vehicle, please
read the information in this section
first..............................
Break-in Period .186
...............................
Gasoline Type .186
.........
Service Station Procedures . 187
....................................
Ref ueling .187
Opening and Closing the ........................................
hood .188
...................................
Oil Check .189
.............
Engine Coolant Check . 190
...............................
Fuel Economy .190
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 191
.............................
Carrying Cargo .193
Bef ore Driving
Bef ore Driving
185

Help assure your vehicle’s f uture
reliability and perf ormance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period:Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration.
Do not change the oil until the
scheduled maintenance time. Avoidhardbrakingforthefirst
200 miles (300 km).
Do not tow a trailer.
You should also f ollow these
recommendations with an
overhauled or exchanged engine, or
when the brakes are replaced. Use of gasoline with these additives
may adversely af f ect perf ormance,
and cause the Malfunction Indicator
Lamp on your instrument panel to
come on. If this happens, contact
your authorized Acura dealer f or
service.
Some gasoline today is blended with
oxygenates such as ethanol or
MTBE. Your vehicle is designed to
operate on oxygenated gasoline
containing up to 10 percent ethanol
by volume and up to 15 percent
MTBE by volume. Do not use
gasoline containing methanol.
If you notice any undesirable
operating symptoms, try another
service station or switch to another
brand of gasoline.
For f urther important f uel-related
inf ormation, please ref er to your
Quick Start Guide.
Use of a gasoline with a pump octane
less than 86 can lead to engine
damage.
In addition, in order to maintain good
perf ormance, f uel economy, and
emissions control, we strongly
recommend, in areas where it is
available, the use of gasoline that
does NOT contain manganese-based
f uel additives such as MMT. Your vehicle is designed to operate
on premium unleaded gasoline with a
pump octane number of 91 or higher.
Useof aloweroctanegasolinecan
cause occasional metallic knocking
noises in the engine and will result in
decreased engine perf ormance.
We recommended using a quality
gasoline containing detergent
additives that help prevent fuel
system and engine deposits.
Break-in Period
Fuel Recommendation
Break-in Period, Fuel Recommendation
186

Remove the f uel f ill cap slowly.
You may hear a hissing sound as
pressure inside the tank escapes.
Place the cap in the holder on the
fuel fill door.
Stop f illing the tank af ter the f uel
nozzle automatically clicks of f . Do
not try to ‘‘top off’’ the tank. Leave
some room f or the f uel to expand
with temperature changes.even
though the tank is not full, there may
be a problem with your vehicle’s f uel
vapor recovery system. The system
helps keep f uel vapors f rom going
into the atmosphere. Consult your
dealer.
Open the f uel f ill door by pulling
onthehandletotheleftof the
driver’s seat. Park with the driver’s side closest
to the service station pump.
1.
2. 3.
4.
If the f uel nozzle keeps clicking of f
CONT INUED
Service Station Procedure
Ref ueling
Bef ore Driving
187
Pull
FUEL FILL CAP
Gasoline is highly flammable
and explosive. You can be
burned or seriously injured
when handling fuel.Stop the engine and keep
heat, sparks, and flame away.
Handle fuel only outdoors.
Wipe up spills immediately.

Screw the fuel fill cap back on
until it clicks at least three times.
If you do not properly tighten the
cap, the Malf unction Indicator
Lampmaycomeon(seepage).
Push the f uel f ill door closed until
it latches.
Park the vehicle, and set the
parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower lef t corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.Put your f ingers under the f ront
edge of the hood near the center.
Slide your hand to your lef t until
you f eel the hood latch handle.
Push this handle up until it
releases the hood. Lif t the hood.
If the hood latch handle moves stif f ly,
or if you can open the hood without
lifting the handle, the mechanism
should be cleaned and lubricated.
1.
5.
6.
2.
273
Service Station Procedure
Opening and Closing the Hood
188
HOOD RELEASE HANDLE
LATCH

Lif t the hood up most of the way.
The hydraulic supports will lif t it
uptherestof thewayandholdit
up.Wait a f ew minutes af ter turning the
engine of f bef ore you check the oil. Remove the dipstick again, and
check the level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
If it is near or below the lower mark,
see on page .
To close the hood, lower the hood to
about a f oot (30 cm) above the
f ender, then press down f irmly with
your hands. Make sure it is securely
latched.
Remove the dipstick (orange loop).
Wipe the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel.
Insert it all the way back in its hole.
1.
3.
3. 2.4.
237
Service Station Procedure
A dding Oil
Oil Check
Bef ore Driving
189
DIPSTICK
UPPER MARK
LOWER MARK

Look at the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it is
between the MAX and MIN lines. If
it is below the MIN line, seeon page f or
inf ormation on adding the proper
coolant. Always maintain your vehicle
according to the maintenance
schedule. See
(see page
). Try to maintain a constant speed.
Everytimeyouslowdownand
speed up, your vehicle uses extra
fuel.Usethecruisecontrolwhen
appropriate.
Combine several short trips into
one.
The air conditioning puts an extra
load on the engine which makes it
usemorefuel.Usethefresh-air
ventilation when possible.
The build-up of snow or mud on
your vehicle’s underside adds
weight and rolling resistance.
Frequent cleaning helps your f uel
mileage and reduces the chance of
corrosion.
Drive moderately. Rapid
acceleration, abrupt cornering and
hard braking use more f uel.
Always drive in the highest gear
possible. an underinf lated tire
causes more ‘‘rolling resistance,’’
which uses more f uel.
Refer to on page f or inf ormation
about checking other items on your
vehicle. 240
230 230
For example,
Service Station Procedures, Fuel Economy
Engine Coolant Check
A dding
Engine Coolant Improving Fuel Economy
Owner’s
Maintenance Checks
Owner’s Maintenance
Checks
190
RESERVE TANK
MAX MIN