2005 Acura MDX Owner's Manual

This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch to ON (II)
with the headlight switch off and the
parking brake set. It should go of f if
youturnontheheadlightsorrelease
the parking brake. If it comes on at
any other time, it means there is a
problem with the DRL. There may
also be a problem with the high
beam headlights.
This indicator comes on when you
set the cruise control. See pagef or inf ormation on operating the
cruise control. This indicator comes on with the
high beam headlights. See page
f or inf ormation on the headlight
controls.
On Canadian models, this indicator
comes on with reduced brightness
when the Daytime Running Lights
(DRL) are on (see page ).
This indicator comes on as a
reminder that you must ref uel soon. This indicator comes on when the
washer f luid level is low. Add washer
fluidwhenyouseethisindicator
comes on (see page ).
146 74
76 241
Canadian models only
‘‘Daytime Running
Lights’’ Indicator
Cruise Control Indicator High Beam Indicator
Low Fuel Indicator
Washer Level Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
Inst rument s and Cont rols
63

This indicator monitors the
temperature of the automatic
transmission f luid. The indicator
should come on f or a f ew seconds
when you turn the ignition switch to
ON (II). If it comes on while driving,
it indicates the transmission f luid
temperature is too high. Pull to the
side of the road when it is saf e, shif t
to Park, and let the engine idle until
the indicator goes out.This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to ON (II). If this
indicator comes on at any other time,
there is a problem in the 4WD
system. Take the vehicle to your
dealer to have it checked.
If the indicator blinks while driving,
pull to the side of the road when it is
saf e, shif t to Park, and let the engine
idle until the indicator goes out.
This indicator reminds you that the
exterior lights are on. It comes on
when the light switch is in either the
or position. This indicator
will also come on when the light
switch is in AUTO and the lights
turn on automatically.
If you turn the ignition switch to
ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0)
without turning of f the light switch,
this indicator will remain on. A
reminder chime will also sound when
you open the driver’s door.
U.S. models only
U.S. Models except Touring
Lights On Indicator A/T Temperature
IndicatorVTM-4 Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
64
Continuing to drive with the VTM-4
indicator blinking may cause serious
damage to the system.
Continuing to drive with the A/T
Temperature indicator on may cause
serious damage to the transmission.

This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to ON (II).
If itcomesonandstaysonatany
other time, or it does not come on
when you turn the ignition switch to
ON (II), there is a problem with the
VSA system. Take your vehicle to a
dealer to have it checked. Without
VSA, your vehicle still has normal
driving ability, but will not have VSA
traction and stability enhancement.
See page f or more inf ormation
on the VSA system.This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to ON (II). For more
inf ormation, see page .
This indicator has three f unctions:
Itcomesonasareminderthatyou
have turned of f the Vehicle
Stability Assist (VSA) system.
It flashes when VSA is active (see
page ).
It comes on along with the VSA
system indicator if there is a
problem with the VSA system.
1.
2.
3.
211 211
211
Vehicle Stability Assist
(VSA ) System Indicator
VSA A ctivation Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
Inst rument s and Cont rols
65

This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition to ON (II).
This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition to ON (II).
If it comes on while driving, it
indicates that one or more of your
vehicle’s tires are extremely low on
pressure.
If this happens, pull to the side of the
road when it is saf e, check which tire
has lost the pressure on the Tire
Pressure Monitor, and determine the
cause. If it is because of a f lat tire,
replace the flat tire with the compact
spare (see page ), and have the
f lat tire repaired as soon as possible.
If two or more tires are underinf lated,
call a prof essional towing service
(see page ). Ref er to page
f or more inf ormation. The appropriate tire indicator will
come on along with the Low Tire
Pressure Indicator if a tire is
extremely under inf lated or has
suddenly lost pressure. See Low Tire
Pressure Indicator f or what to do if
this indicator comes on.
If this indicator comes on and stays
on at any other time, or it does not
come on when you turn the ignition
switch to ON (II), there is a problem
with the TPMS. With this indicator
on, the low tire pressure indicator
and the tire pressure monitor will not
come on when a tire loses pressure.
Take the vehicle to your dealer to
have the system checked.
261
274
205
Instrument Panel Indicators
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (T PMS) Indicator
Low Tire Pressure
Indicator Tire Pressure Monitor
66

This indicator reminds you that it is
time to take your vehicle in for
scheduled maintenance.
Ref er to the maintenance schedule
f or normal and severe driving
conditions on pages and .
For the f irst 6,000 miles (9,600 km)
af ter the Maintenance Required
Indicator is reset, it will come on f or
2 seconds when you turn the ignition
switch to ON (II).Turn of f the engine.
Press and hold the Select and
Reset buttons on the instrument
panel, then turn the ignition switch
to ON (II).
Hold the buttons for
approximately 10seconds until the
indicator goes of f .
Between 6,000 miles (9,600 km) and
7,500 miles (12,000 km), this
indicator will light f or 2 seconds
when you first turn the ignition
switch to ON (II), and then flash for
10 seconds.
Your dealer will reset this indicator
af ter completing the scheduled
maintenance. If this maintenance is
done by someone other than your
Acura dealer, reset the indicator as
f ollows. If you exceed 7,500 miles (12,000
km) without having the scheduled
maintenance perf ormed, this
indicator will remain on as a constant
reminder.
1.
2.
3.
231 232
Instrument Panel Indicators
Maintenance Required
Indicator
Inst rument s and Cont rols
67
RESET BUTTON
SELECT BUTTON

This shows the total distance your
vehicle has been driven. It measures
miles in U.S. models and kilometers
in the Canadian models.
It is illegal under U.S. f ederal law and
Canadian provincial regulations to
disconnect, reset, or alter the
odometer with the intent to change
the number of miles or kilometers
indicated.
This shows how much f uel you have.
It may show slightly more or less
than the actual amount. The needle
returns to the bottom after you turn
of f the ignition.
Gauges
Odometer
Fuel Gauge
68
TACHOMETERTEMPERATURE
GAUGE
FUEL GAUGE
SPEEDOMETER
TRIP METER RESET
BUTTON
TRIP METER
ODOMETER TRIP METER
SELECT
BUTTON
Avoid driving with an extremely low
f uel level. Running out of f uel could
cause the engine to misf ire, damaging
the catalytic converter.

This meter shows the number of
miles (U.S.) or kilometers (Canada)
driven since you last reset it.This shows the temperature of the
engine’s coolant. During normal
operation, the pointer should rise to
about the middle of the gauge. In
severe driving conditions, the pointer
mayrisetotheupperwhitemark.If
it reaches the red (Hot) mark, pull
safely to the side of the road. Turn to
page f or instructions and
precautions on checking the engine’s
cooling system.
To reset a trip meter, display it, and
then press and hold the Reset button
until the number resets to ‘‘0.0’’.
Both trip meters will reset if the
vehicle’s battery goes dead or is
disconnected. There are two trip meters: Trip A
and Trip B. Switch between these
displays by pressing the Select
button repeatedly. Each trip meter
works independently, so you can
keep track of two dif f erent distances.
When you turn the ignition switch to
ON (II), what you last selected is
displayed.
270
Gauges
Trip Meter Temperature Gauge
Inst rument s and Cont rols
69
SELECT BUTTON
RESET BUTTON

Î
Î
To use the horn, press the pad around the ‘‘Acura’’ logo.
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
70
REAR WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VTM-4
LOCK
INSTRUMENT PANEL
BRIGHTNESS
FOG LIGHTS HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS
REMOTE AUDIO
CONTROLS HORN
CRUISE CONTROL
VEHICLE STABILITY
ASSIST SYSTEM OFF
SWITCH
STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENT WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS
CRUISE CONTROL
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATORHAZARD WARNING
BUTTON
(P.74)
(P.77)
(P.146)
(P.212)
(P.130)
(P.78) (P.146)
(P.33)
(P.71) (P.77)
(P.204)
(P.76)
(P.76)