2005 Acura MDX maintenance schedule

You may use a synthetic motor oil if
it meets the same requirements
given f or a conventional motor oil, it
displays the API Certif ication Seal
and it is the proper weight. You must
f ollow the oil and f ilter change
intervals given in the maintenance
schedule.Open the hood and remove the
engine oil f ill cap. Remove the oil
drain bolt and washer f rom the
bottom of the engine. Drain the oil
into an appropriate container.
Always change the oil and f ilter
according to the recommendations in
the maintenance schedule. The oil
and f ilter collect contaminants that
can damage your engine if they are
not removed regularly.
Changing the oil and f ilter requires
special tools and access f rom
underneath the vehicle. The vehicle
should be raised on a service station-
type hydraulic lif t f or this service.
Unless you have the knowledge and
proper equipment, you should have
this maintenance done by a skilled
mechanic.
Run the engine until it reaches
normal operating temperature,
then shut it off.
Your vehicle does not require any oil
additives. Additives may adversely
af f ect your engine’s or transmission’s
perf ormance and durability.
1.2.
A dding Engine Oil, Changing the Oil and Filter
Synthetic Oil
Engine Oil A dditivesChanging the Oil and Filter
238
WASHER
DRAIN BOLT

Check the f luid level in the brake
f luid reservoir monthly. Replace it
according to the maintenance
schedule recommendations.The f luid level should be between
theMINandMAXmarksontheside
of the reservoir. If the level is at or
below the MIN mark, your brake
system needs attention. Have the
brake system inspected f or leaks or
worn brake pads.
Insert the dipstick all the way back
in the transmission.
The transmission should be drained
and ref illed with new f luid according
to the time and distance recommen-
dations in the maintenance schedule.
If you are not sure how to add f luid,
contact your dealer. Always use Honda Heavy Duty
Brake Fluid DOT 3. If it is not
available, you should use only DOT 3
or DOT 4 f luid, f rom a sealed
container, as a temporary
replacement.
Using any non-Honda brake f luid can
cause corrosion and decrease the lif e
of the system. Have the brake
system f lushed and ref illed with
Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid
DOT 3 as soon as possible.
Brake f luid marked DOT 5 is not
compatible with your vehicle’s
braking system and can cause
extensive damage.
6.
Brake Fluid
Automatic Transmission Fluid, Brake Fluid
Maint enance
243
MAX
MIN

µµ
Always use Honda Power Steering
Fluid. You may use another power
steering f luid as an emergency
replacement, but have the power
steering system f lushed and ref illed
with Honda PSF as soon as possible.
A low power steering f luid level can
indicate a leak in the system. Check
the f luid level f requently, and have
the system inspected as soon as
possible.
The timing belt should be replaced
at the intervals shown in the
maintenance schedule.
Replace the belt at 60,000 miles
(100,000 km) if you regularly drive
your vehicle in one or more of these
conditions:
In very high temperatures
(over 110°F, 43°C).
In very low temperatures
(under 20°F, 29°C).
Frequently tow a trailer.
Check the level on the side of the
reservoir when the engine is cold.
The f luid should be between the
UPPER LEVEL and LOWER LEVEL.
If not add power steering f luid to the
UPPER LEVEL mark.
Pour the f luid slowly and caref ully so
you do not spill. Clean up any spills
immediately; it could damage
components in the engine
compartment. Timing Belt
Power Steering Fluid
Power Steering Fluid, Timing Belt
244
UPPER LEVEL
LOWER
LEVEL
T urning the steering wheel to f ull lef t
or right lock and holding it there can
damage the power steering pump.

If you need to park your vehicle f or
an extended period (more than one
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it f or storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your vehicle back on the road. If
possible, store your vehicle indoors.Fill the f uel tank.
Change the engine oil and f ilter.
Wash and dry the exterior
completely.
Cleantheinterior.Makesurethe
carpeting, floor mats, etc., are
completely dry.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Park. Block the rear wheels.
If the vehicle is to be stored f or a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are of f the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the vehicle is being stored
indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Support the f ront and rear wiper
blade arms with a f olded towel or
ragsotheydonottouchthe
windshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and tailgate seals. Also, apply a
vehiclebodywaxtothepainted
surfaces that mate with the door
and tailgate seals.Cover the vehicle with a
‘‘breathable’’ cover, one made
f rom a porous material such as
cotton. Non-porous materials, such
as plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
If possible, periodically run the
engine until it reaches f ull
operating temperature (the
cooling f ans cycle on and of f
twice). Pref erably, do this once a
month.
If you store your vehicle f or 12
months or longer, have your dealer
perf orm the inspections called f or in
the 24 months/30,000 miles
(48,000 km) maintenance schedule
(Normal Conditions) as soon as you
take it out of storage (see page ).
The replacements called f or in the
maintenance schedule are not
needed unless the vehicle has
actually reached that time or mileage. 231
Vehicle Storage
258

Î
ÎThe burning of gasoline in your
vehicle’s engine produces several by-
products. Some of these are carbon
monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen
(NOx) and hydrocarbons (HC).
Gasoline evaporating f rom the tank
also produces hydrocarbons. Con-
trolling the production of NOx, CO,
and HC is important to the environ-
ment. Under certain conditions of
sunlight and climate, NOx and HC
react to f orm photochemical ‘‘smog.’’
Carbon monoxide does not contri-
bute to smog creation, but it is a
poisonous gas. The United States Clean Air Act
sets standards f or automobile
emissions. It also requires that
automobile manufacturers explain to
owners how their emissions controls
workandwhattodotomaintain
them. This section summarizes how
the emissions controls work.
Scheduled maintenance is on page
.
In Canada, Acura vehicles comply
with the Canadian emission
requirements, as specif ied in an
agreement with Environment
Canada, at the time they are
manuf actured.
Your vehicle has a positive
crankcase ventilation system. This
keeps gasses that build up in the
engine’s crankcase f rom going into
the atmosphere. The positive crankcase ventilation valve routes
them from the crankcase back to the
intake manif old. They are then
drawn into the engine and burned.
As gasoline evaporates in the f uel
tank, an evaporative emissions
control canister f illed with charcoal
adsorbs the vapor. It is stored in this
canister while the engine is of f . Af ter
the engine is started and warmed up,
the vapor is drawn into the engine
and burned during driving.
The onboard ref ueling vapor
recovery (ORVR) system captures
the f uel vapors during ref ueling. The
vapors are adsorbed in a canister
f illed with activated carbon. While
driving, the f uel vapors are drawn
into the engine and burned of f .
231
Emissions Cont rols
The Clean Air Act
Crankcase Emissions Control
System Evaporative Emissions Control
System
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor
Recovery
T echnical Inf ormation
289

CONT INUED
..................................................
Keys .79
...........................
Side Airbag Of f .60
.......................................
Seat Belt .60
...............................................
SRS .60
...............
Tire Pressure Monitor . 66
.............................
TPMS System .66
Turn Signal and Hazard ...................................
Warning .62
............................
VSA Activation .65
.................................
VSA System .65
..........................................
VTM- 4 .64
..............................
Washer Level .63
..................
Individual Map Lights . 100
...............................
Inf ant Restraint .40
......................................
Inf ant Seats .40
...................
Inf lation, Proper Tire . 252
...................................
Inside Mirror .95
.............................
Inspection, Tire .253
........................
Instrument Panel .4 ,59
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 76
.................................
Interior Lights .99
........................................
Introduction .i .................
Jacking up the Vehicle . 264
.......................................
Jack, Tire .261
................................
Jump Starting .268
.......................
Label, Certif ication .282
.................
Lane Change, Signaling . 74
..................
Lap/Shoulder Belts . 16,21
......................
Light Control Switch .99
Lights ....................
Bulb Replacement .245
.......................................
Indicator .60
.........................................
Interior .99
.........................................
Parking .74
..................................
Turn Signal .74
.............................
Load Limit .194, 213
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) . 81
Locks .......
Anti-thef t Steering Column . 81............................
Fuel Fill Door .187
..................................
Glove Box .102
....................
Lockout Prevention . 82
.................................
Power Door .82
........................
Low Coolant Level .190
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator .63
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 60,272
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart . 284
...............
Luggage, .193
..................................
Maintenance .227
Owner’s Maintenance ...................................
Checks .230
.................................
Record .233-235
......................
Required Indicator .67
..........................................
Saf ety .228
.............................
Schedule .229-232
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 60,273
..............
Manual Seat Adjustments . 87
.............
Memory, Driving Position . 97
...............................
Meters, Gauges .68
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .95storing (cargo)
Index
J
L K
M
INDEX
V

ÎÎ
CONT INUED
Replacement Inf ormation................
Engine Oil and Filter . 238
..........................................
Fuses .271
................................
Light Bulbs .245
....................................
Schedule .229
................................
Timing Belt .244
...........................................
Tires .252
.............................
Wiper Blades .250
Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a ............................................
Crash .23
...
Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant . 190
..................
Reverse Gear Position . 201
................................
Rotation, Tire .254
................................
Saf ety Belts .10, 21
.........
Safety Defects, Reporting . 298
.................................
Saf ety Features .9
.........................................
Airbags .11
..................................
Door Locks .13
..........................
Head Restraints .15
...............................
Seat Belts .10, 16
...............
Seats & Seat-Backs . 13,14
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of . 55
...............................
Saf ety Messages .ii .......................
Satellite Radio, XM .118
...................................
Seat Belts .10, 21
...............
Additional Information . 21
Automatic Seat Belt ...............................
Tensioners .22
.....................................
Cleaning .249
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt .21
................................
Maintenance .23
Reminder Light and ................................
Beeper .21, 60
...................
System Components . 21
...............
Use During Pregnancy . 18
...
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt . 16
.................................................
Seats .86
.........
Adjusting the Second Seat . 89
...........
Adjusting the Third Seat . 90
............
Folding the Second Seat . 89
...............
Folding the Third Seat . 90
..........................
Head Restraints .88
.......................
Third Row Access .90
............................
Security System .145
...............................
Serial Number .282
...........................
Service Intervals .231
...........................
Service Manual .299
.........
Service Station Procedures . 187Shif ting the Automatic
.............................
Transmission .200
.....
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 200
........................
Shif t Lock Release .203
....................................
Side Airbags .29
......................
Side Curtain Airbags .31
Side Marker Lights, Bulb .........................
Replacement in .246
...............................
Signaling Turns .74
.....................................
Snow Tires .256
................
Sound System . 112,118,123
Spare Tire ..............................
Inf lating .253, 260
............................
Specif ications .285
....................
Specif ications Charts . 284
................................
Speed Control .146
...................................
Speedometer .68
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation . 24
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 34
......
Airbag System Components . 24
.............................
Airbag Service .33
..
How the SRS Indicator Works . 32
How Your Front Airbags .........................................
Work .26
Index
S
INDEX
VII