2006 Acura MDX trailer

2006 MDX Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.helminc.com.

Contents
Owner's Identification Form
Introduction ........................................................................\
............................................................................. i
A Few Wo r

ds About Safety ........................................................................\
.................................................. ii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
.......................................................4
Driver and Pas

senger Safety ........................................................................\
...............................................7
P r

oper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System.
Instruments and Cont r
ols........................................................................\
...................................................57
Instrument panel indica tor and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features........................................................................\
...............................105
How t o
op era

te the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.
Before Driving ........................................................................\
...................................................... .
............. .

187
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving........................................................................\
...................................................................................199
The proper way to start

the engine, shift the transmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.........................................................................227
T h
e Ma int

enance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
.......................................259
This section covers severa l pr

oblems motorists someti mes experience, and how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
.......................................................281
ID numbers, dimensions, capaciti es, and techni

cal information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)..................................................................... 295
A summary of th
e warr anties coverin

g your new Honda, and how to contact us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
......................................299
How t o
order manuals an

d other technical literature.
Index ........................................................................\
......................................................................................... I
Service Inf ormat

ion Summary
A summary of informat

ion you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

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
.
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. Use of a gasoline with a pump octane
less than 87 can lead to engine
damage.
Break-in Period
Fuel Recommendation
Quick Start Guide
Break-in Period, Fuel Recommendation
188

µ·
Determine the combined weight
of the driver and passengers that
will be riding in your vehicle. Locate the statement, ‘‘the
combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed 1,158
lbs (525 kg)’’ on your vehicle’s
placard (on the driver’s doorjamb).
To determine the correct cargo and
luggage load limit: The maximum load f or your vehicle
is 1,158 lbs (525 kg). This f igure
includes the total weight of all
occupants, cargo, and accessories,
and the tongue load if you are towing
a trailer.
Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers f rom
1,158 lbs (525 kg). The resulting f igure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity.
For example, the maximum load is
1,158 lbs and there will be f ive 150
lbs passengers in your vehicle, the
amount of available cargo is 408 lbs.
1,158 750 (5 150) = 408 lbs (175
kg) Determine the combined weight
of accessories, luggage, and cargo
beingloadedinthevehicle.That
weight may not saf ely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load
capacity calculated in step 4
[408 lbs (175 kg) in this example].
If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, load f rom your trailer will
be transf erred to your vehicle.
Consult this manual to determine
how this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load capacity of
yourvehicle(seepage ). In addition, the total weight of the
vehicle, all occupants, accessories,
and cargo must not exceed the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or
the Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR). Both are on a label on the
driver’s doorjamb.
1.
2.
3. 4.
5.
6.
215
Carrying Cargo
Load Limits
196
Overloading or improper
loading can affect handling and
stability and cause a crash in
which you can be hurt or killed.
Follow all load limits and other
loading guidelines in this
manual.

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, the tire pressure monitoring
system, and f acts you need if you are
planning to tow a trailer. ........................
Driving Guidelines .200
........................
Preparing to Drive .200
.......................
Starting the Engine .201
..............
Automatic Transmission . 202
Variable Torque Management ..............................
4WD System .206
..............................
VTM-4 Lock .206
Tire Pressure Monitoring System ......................................
(TPMS) .207
...........................................
Parking .209
.............................
Braking System .210
...........................
Anti-lock Brakes .211
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) ........................................
System .213
.................
Towing Weight Limits . 215
...........................
Towing a Trailer .216
..............
Of f -Highway Guidelines . 224
Driving
Driving
199

µµ µThese positions
are similar to D , except when you
select the D position, only the f irst
f our gears are selected. When you
select D , only the f irst three gears
are selected. D can also keep the
transmission f rom cycling between
f ourth and f if th gears in stop-and-go
driving, and D can keep the
transmission f rom cycling between
third and f ourth gears. This position locks
thetransmissioninsecondgear.It
does not downshif t to f irst gear
when you come to a stop.
Use second gear: For more power when climbing.
To increase engine braking when
going down steep hills.
For starting out on a slippery
surf ace or in deep snow. With the lever in this
position, the transmission locks in
First gear.
If you shif t into f irst position when
the vehicle speed is above 31 mph
(50 km/h), the transmission shif ts
into second gear first to avoid
sudden engine braking.
If you exceed the maximum speed
f or the gear you are in, the engine
speed will enter into the tachometer’s
red zone. If this occurs, you may f eel
the engine cut in and out. This is
caused by a limiter in the engine’s
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
rpm below the red zone.
Use D to provide engine braking
when going down a steep hill. D
gives you more power and increased
engine braking.
When driving downhill with a
trailer. To help reduce wheel spin.
5
4
3 4
3
3 3
Automatic Transmission
Drive(D,D) Second(2)First(1)
Engine Speed L imiter43
204

Your vehicle has been designed to
primarily carry passengers and their
cargo. You can also use it to tow a
trailer if you caref ully observe the
load limits, use the proper equipment,
and f ollow the guidelines in this
section.The weight that the tongue of a f ully
loaded trailer puts on the hitch
shouldbe5to10percentof thetotal
trailer weight f or boat trailers, and 8
to 15 percent of total trailer weight
f or all other trailers. (See pagef or limits f or your towing
situation). Too much tongue load
reduces front-tire traction and
steering control. Too little tongue
load can make the trailer unstable
and cause it to sway.
The maximum allowable weight of
the trailer and everything in or on it
depends on the number of occupants
inyourvehicleandthetypeof trailer
being towed (see page ).
Towing a trailer that is too heavy can
seriously af f ect your vehicle’s
handling and perf ormance. It can
also damage the engine and driven.
Be sure to read the
sectiononpage
if you plan to tow of f paved
surf aces.
217
217
224
Towing Weight Limits
Load Limit
Off-Highway
Driving Guidelines
T ot al T railer Weight Tongue Load
Driving
215
Exceeding any load limit or
improperly loading your vehicle
and trailer can cause a crash in
which you can be seriously hurt
or killed.
Check the loading of your
vehicle and trailer carefully
beforestartingtodrive.

µµ The maximum
allowable weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, all accessories, all cargo
and the tongue load is 5,787 lbs
(2,630 kg). Connect the f ully loaded trailer to
the hitch.
Measure again f rom the ground to
the same spot on the bottom of the
hitch.
Subtract the second measurement
from the first measurement, then
refer to the following table.
If the
dif f erence is:
1½’’
2¼’’ 3’’
3¾’’
If thedifferenceismorethan3¾
inch, you have too much load on the
tongue. Redistribute the load or
remove cargo as needed. Estimated
tongue load is:
150 lbs (68 kg)
250 lbs (114 kg)
350 lbs (159 kg)
450 lbs (205 kg)
The maximum
allowable weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, all accessories, all cargo,
and the tongue load must not exceed
2,888 lbs (1,310 kg) on the f ront axle,
and 2,992 lbs (1,360 kg) on the rear
axle.
The maximum allowable weight of
the f ully loaded vehicle and trailer is
9,584 lbs (4,470 kg) with the proper
hitch and f luid coolers. (See page f or inf ormation about f luid
coolers.)
The GCWR must be reduced 2
percent f or every 1,000 f eet ( 305
meters) of elevation. Thebestwaytoconfirmthatall
loads are within limits is to check
them at a public scale. For public
scales in your area, check your local
phone book, or contact your trailer
dealer or rental agency for
assistance.
Park the vehicle on level ground.
Add the weight of your trailer (as
quoted by the manuf acturer) with
everything in or on the trailer. Then
check the tables on page to
make sure you do not exceed the
limit f or your conditions. To help ensure a saf e drive to a scale,
or if you cannot get to a public scale,
we recommend that you estimate
your total trailer weight and tongue
load as described next.
Measure and record the distance
from the ground to the bottom of
the trailer hitch.
1.
2. 3.
4.
5.
219 217
Towing a Trailer
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR)
Estimating Loads
Gross Axle Weight Ratings
(GA WR)
Gross Combined Weight Rating
(GCWR):
To Estimate the Tongue Load
To Estimate the Total Trailer Weight
216

Î
Î
ÎNumber of
Occupants 2
3
4
5
6
7 Equipped with transmission cooler and power steering f luid cooler.
Max. T railer Weight Max. T ongue Load
T owing is Not Recommended
Number of
Occupants 2
3
4
5
6
7 Equipped with transmission cooler and power steering f luid cooler.
Max. T railer Weight Max. T ongue Load
T owing is Not Recommended
Towing Weight Limits
Driving
217
4500 lbs (2045 kg)
4500 lbs (2045 kg)
4500 lbs (2045 kg)
4000 lbs (1820 kg) 1700 lbs (770 kg) 450 lbs (205 kg)
410 lbs (185 kg)
310 lbs (140 kg)
215 lbs (100 kg)
90 lbs (40 kg)
3500 lbs (1590 kg)
3500 lbs (1590 kg)
3000 lbs (1365 kg) 2000 lbs (910 kg)
1000 lbs (455 kg) 450 lbs (205 kg)
410 lbs (185 kg)
310 lbs (140 kg)
215 lbs (100 kg)
90 lbs (40 kg)
The corresponding weight limits assume occupants fill seats from the front of the vehicle to the back, each occupant weighs 150 lbs (70 kg) and each has 1 5lbs(7
kg) of luggage in the cargo area.
Total Trailer Weight and Tongue Load Limits: BOAT TRAILERS
OTHER TYPES OF TRAILERS