2005 Acura MDX brakes

This indicator has two f unctions:This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
It is a reminder to check the
parking brake. A beeper sounds if
you try to drive with the parking
brake not fully released. Driving
with the parking brake not fully
released can damage the brakes
and tires. This indicator comes on f or a f ew
seconds when you turn the ignition
switch to ON (II). It will go of f if you
have inserted a properly-coded
ignition key. If it is not a properly-
coded key, the indicator will blink
and the engine will not start (see
page ).
This indicator also blinks several
times when you turn the ignition
switch f rom ON (II) to ACCESSORY
(I) or LOCK (0).
This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to ON (II), and when
the ignition switch is turned to
START (III). If it comes on at any
other time, there is a problem in the
ABS. If this happens, have your
vehicle checked by your dealer. With
the indicator on, your vehicle still
has normal braking ability but no
anti-lock. For more inf ormation, see
page .
If the indicator remains on after
you have f ully released the
parking brake while the engine is
running, or if it comes on while
driving, it can indicate a problem
in the brake system. For complete
inf ormation, see page .
1.
2.
20980
274
Instrument Panel Indicators
Parking Brake and Brake System
Indicator Anti-lock Brake System
(A BS) Indicator
Immobilizer System
Indicator
Inst rument s and Cont rols
61
U.S. Canada

Theinsidemirrorcanautomatically
darken to reduce glare. To turn on
this feature, press the button on the
bottom of the mirror. The AUTO
indicator comes on as a reminder.
When it is on, the mirror darkens
when it senses the headlights of a
vehicle behind you, then returns to
normal visibility when the lights are
gone. Press the button again to turn
of f this sensing.
Keeptheinsideandoutsidemirrors
clean and adjusted f or best visibility.
Be sure to adjust the mirrors bef ore
you start driving. Mirrors
Parking Brake, Mirrors
Inst rument s and Cont rols
95
AUTO SWITCH SENSOR INDICATOR
Driving the vehicle with the parking
brake applied can damage the rear
brakes and axles. A beeper will sound
if the vehicle is put into gear with the
parking brake on.

Accelerate to the desired cruising
speedabove25mph(40km/h).
Cruise control allows you to maintain
asetspeedabove25mph(40km/h)
without keeping your f oot on the
accelerator pedal. It should be used
f or cruising on straight, open
highways. It is not recommended f or
city driving, winding roads, slippery
roads, heavy rain, or bad weather.
Press and release the SET/
DECELbuttononthesteering
wheel. Indicator on the instrument
panel comes on to show the
system is now activated. Push in the Cruise Control Master
Switch. The indicator in the switch
will come on.The cruise control may not hold
the set speed when you are going
up and down hills. If your speed
increases going down a hill, use
the brakes to slow down. This will
cancelthecruisecontrol.To
resume the set speed, press the
RESUME/ACCEL button. The
indicator on the instrument panel
will come back on.
1.
2.
3. Using the Cruise Control
Cruise Control
146
CRUISE CONTROL MASTER SWITCH
CANCEL
RESUME/ACCEL
SET/DECEL
Improper use of the cruise
control can lead to a crash.
Use the cruise control only
when traveling on open
highways in good weather.

You can increase the set cruising
speed in any of these ways:Press and hold the RESUME/
ACCEL button. When you reach
the desired cruising speed, release
the button.
Push on the accelerator pedal.
Accelerate to the desired cruising
speed, and press the SET/DECEL
button.
To increase your speed in very
small amounts, tap the RESUME/
ACCEL button. Each time you do
this, the vehicle will speed up
about 1 mph (1.6 km/h). Even with the cruise control turned
on, you can still use the accelerator
pedal to speed up f or passing. Af ter
completing the pass, take your foot
of f the accelerator pedal. The vehicle
will return to the set cruising speed.
Resting your f oot on the brake pedal
causes cruise control to cancel.
You can decrease the set cruising
speed in any of these ways:
If you need to decrease your
speed quickly, use the brakes as you
normally would.
Press and hold the SET/DECEL
button. Release the button when
you reach the desired speed.
To slow down in very small
amounts, tap the SET/DECEL
button. Each time you do this,
your vehicle will slow down about
1 mph (1.6 km/h).
Tap the brake pedal lightly with
your f oot. The CRUISE
CONTROL indicator on the
instrument panel will go out.
When the vehicle slows to the
desired speed, press the SET/
DECEL button.
Changing the Set Speed
Cruise Control
Features
147
NOTE:

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

Modif ying your vehicle, or installing
some non-Acura accessories, can
make your vehicle unsaf e. Bef ore
you make any modif ications or add
anyaccessories,besuretoreadthe
f ollowing inf ormation.Bef ore installing any accessory:
Make sure the accessory does not
obscure any lights, or interf ere
with proper vehicle operation or
perf ormance.
Be sure electronic accessories do
not overload electrical circuits
(see page ) or interf ere with
proper operation of your vehicle.
Do not install accessories on the
side pillars or across the rear
windows as these may interf ere
with proper operation of the side
curtain airbags.
Your dealer has Acura accessories
that allow you to personalize your
vehicle. These accessories have
been designed and approved f or your
vehicle, and are covered by warranty.
Although aftermarket accessories
may f it on your vehicle, they may not
meet f actory specif ications, and
could adversely af f ect your vehicle’s
handling and stability.
When properly installed, cellular
phones, alarms, two-way radios, and
low-powered audio systems should
not interf ere with your vehicle’s
computer controlled systems, such
as your airbags, anti-lock brakes, and
Tire Pressure Monitoring System.
Bef ore installing any accessory,
have the installer contact your
dealer f or assistance.
If possible, have your dealer
inspect the f inal installation.280
A ccessories and Modif ications
A ccessories
Bef ore Driving
191
Improper accessories or
modifications can affect your
vehicle’s handling, stability, and
performance, and cause a
crash in which you can be hurt
or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner’s manual regarding
accessories and modifications.

Some examples are:Lowering your vehicle with an
aftermarket suspension kit that
signif icantly reduces ground
clearance can allow the
undercarriage to hit speed bumps
or other raised objects, which
could cause the airbags to deploy.
Raising your vehicle with an
af termarket suspension kit can
af f ect handling and stability. Larger or smaller wheels and tires
can interf ere with the operation of
your vehicle’s anti-lock brakes and
other systems.
Removing parts f rom your vehicle,
or replacing components with
af termarket components could
seriously af f ect your vehicle’s
handling, stability, and reliability.
Af termarket wheels, because they
are a universal design, can cause
excessive stress on suspension
components and will not be
compatible with the tire Pressure
Monitoring System. Modif ying your steering wheel or
any other part of your vehicle’s
safety features can make the
systems inef f ective.
If you plan to modif y your vehicle,
consult your dealer.
A ccessories and Modif ications
Modif ying Your Vehicle
192

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
automatic transmission. It also
includes important inf ormation on
parking your vehicle, the braking
system, the VTM-4System, the VSA
system, Tire Pressure Monitoring
System, and f acts you need if you are
planning to tow a trailer. ........................
Driving Guidelines .198
........................
Preparing to Drive .198
.......................
Starting the Engine .199
..............
Automatic Transmission . 200
Variable Torque Management ..............................
4WD System .204
..............................
VTM-4 Lock .204
Tire Pressure Monitoring System ......................................
(TPMS) .205
...........................................
Parking .207
.............................
Braking System .208
...........................
Anti-lock Brakes .209
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) ........................................
System .211
.................
Towing Weight Limits . 213
...........................
Towing a Trailer .214
Towing Your Vehicle Behind a ................................
Motorhome .222
..............
Of f -Highway Guidelines . 223
Driving
Driving
197