2008 Acura MDX Owner's Manual

See pagef or important saf etyinf ormation and a warning aboutimproperly positioning head restraints. 14
Your vehicle is equipped with head
restraints in all seating positions to
help protect you and your
passengers f rom whiplash and other
injuries.
They are most ef f ective when you
adjust them so the center of the back
of the occupant’s head rests against
the center of the restraint.The head restraints adjust f or height.
You need both hands to adjust the
restraint.Donotattempttoadjustit
while driving. To raise it, pull upward.
To lower the restraint, push the
release button sideways, and push
the restraint down.
CONT INUED
Head Restraints
Seats
A djust ing t he Head Rest raint
Inst rument s and Cont rols
141
RELEASE BUTTON
FRONT
SEAT-
BACK
LEGS CUSHION
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2008 MDX

To remove a head restraint f or
cleaning or repair, pull it up as f ar as
it will go. Push the release button,
then pull the restraint out of the seat-
back.When reinstalling a head restraint,
put the legs back in place. Then
adjust it to the appropriate height
while pressing the release button.
Make sure the head restraint locks
in position when you reinstall it.
Seats
Removing t he Head Rest raint
142
RELEASE BUTTON
SECOND CENTER AND THIRD ROW
LEGS
CUSHION
Failure to reinstall the head
restraints can result in severe
injury during a crash.
Always replace the head
restraints before driving.
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CONT INUED
The driver’s and f ront passenger’s
seats have active head restraints. If
the vehicle is struck severely f rom
the rear, the occupant properly
secured with the seat belt will be
pushed against the seat-back and the
head restraint will automatically
move forward.This reduces the distance between
the restraint and the occupant’s head.
It also helps protect the occupants
against whiplash and injuries to the
neck and upper spine.
Af ter a collision, the activated
restraint should return to its normal
position.
If the restraints do not return to their
normal position, or in the event of a
severe collision, have the vehicle
inspected by an Acura dealer.
For a head restraint system to work
properly:
Do not hang any items on the head
restraints, or f rom the restraint
legs.
Do not place any object between
an occupant and the seat-back.
Install each restraint in its proper
location.
Only use genuine Acura
replacement head restraints.
Seats
A ct ive Head Rest raint s
Inst rument s and Cont rols
143
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To change the seat-back angle of the
seats in the second row, pull up on
thehandleontheoutsideof theseat-
back, and push the seat-back.
Overall, the seat-back has six
dif f erent positions.The left and right halves can be
f olded separately.
To unlatch the detachable anchor
bef ore f olding the seat-back, insert
the latch plate into the slot on the
side of the anchor buckle (see
page ) and allow the seat belt
to retract. Store the detachable
anchor and seat belt latch plates in
the retractor housing.
Lower the head restraints to their
lowest positions.
Pull up the handle on the outside
of the seat-back.
Fold the seat-back forward.
Reverse this procedure to return the
seat to the upright position. Make
sure the seat is locked securely
bef ore driving. Make sure that the folded seat-back
does not press against the f ront
passenger’s seat, as this could cause
the weight sensors to work
improperly.
2.
3.
1.
4. 146
Seats
A djusting the Second Row Seats Folding the Second Row Seats
144
HANDLE
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To get into the third row seats, pull
uptheleveronthesideof the
passenger’s side second row seat-
back. The seat-back will tilt f orward,
and then can be slid forward.
After you return the seat-back to the
upright position, push the whole seat
backwards until it latches. Make
sure the seat is f ully latched bef ore
sitting in it.Use the latch plate to release the
seat belt from the detachable
anchor (see page ).
Lower the head restraints to their
lowest positions.
To f old the third row seat,
the second row seat-back must be
f olded down or in the f ull up right
position.
Unlock the seat-back by pulling
the handle. Push the seat-back
forward.
Make sure the outer shoulder belts
are positioned on each hook on the
side panel whenever the third seat is
f olded.
1.
2.
3.
146
CONT INUED
T hird Row A ccess Folding the T hird Row Seat
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols
145
NOTE:
THIRD SEAT HANDLE
RELEASE LEVER
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When the seats are returned to the
upright position, these detachable
anchors should be latched back
properly.
The seat belts in the second row
center seat and the third row seats
are equipped with detachable
anchors.
To unlatch the detachable anchor,
insert the latch plate into the slot on
the side of the anchor buckle. Store
the detachable anchor and seat belt
latch plates in the retractor housing.
Reverse this procedure to return the
seat to the upright position. Make
sure the seat is locked securely
bef ore driving. Reconnect the seat
belts to the detachable anchors.
Make sure all items in the cargo area
are secured. Loose items can f ly
f orward and cause injury if you have
to brake hard (See
on page ).
332 Detachable Anchor
Carrying Cargo
Seats
146
LATCH PLATE
Using a seat belt with the
detachable anchor unlatched
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash.
Before using the seat belt,
make sure the detachable
anchor is correctly latched.
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2008 MDX

Pull out the small latch plate and the
latch plate f rom each holding slot in
the ceiling, and pull out the seat belt
to extend it.Pull out the outer shoulder belts
f rom the hook. Both of the third-row
hooks should only be used when the
seat belt is detached.Line up the triangle marks on the
small latch plate and anchor buckle
when reattaching the belt and buckle.
Tug on the seat belt to verify that
the detachable anchor is securely
latched. Make sure the seat belt is
not twisted.
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols
147
SMALL LATCH PLATELATCH PLATE
SECOND ROW CENTER SEAT
HOOKANCHOR BUCKLE TRIANGLE
MARKS
THIRD ROW SEATS
SMALL LATCH PLATE
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The outer second row seat cushions
and seat-backs are equipped with
seat heaters. Turning the switch on
the driver side warms the outer seat
behind the driver’s seat only. The
passenger side switch warms the
outer seat behind the f ront
passenger seat.
Both f ront seats are equipped with
seat heaters. Because of the sensors
f or the side airbag cutof f system,
there is no heater in the passenger’s
seat-back. The ignition switch must
be in the ON (II) position to use the
heaters.
Push the front of the switch, HI, to
rapidly heat up the seat. Af ter the
seat reaches a comfortable
temperature, select LO by pushing
the back of the switch. This will keep
the seat warm.
U.S. Entertainment Packages and
Canadian models
Seat Heaters
148
LOW HI
Front seat Second row seat
HEATERS
Passenger’s
Seat
Driver’s
Seat
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