Page 136 of 489

The tailgate can also be closed by
pressing the button on the tailgate. If
you press the button again while the
tailgate is closing, you will hear three
beeps, and the tailgate will stop
moving, reverse direction, and stop
at the f ully opened position.
Press and hold the tailgate button on
the remote transmitter or the switch
f or about 1 second to open or close
the tailgate. Each time you press the
button on the remote transmitter or
the switch, you will hear a beep, and
some f ront and rear lights will f lash.
If you push the same button or
switch again while the tailgate is
opening or closing, you will hear
three beeps, and the tailgate will stop
moving, reverse direction, and stop
at the f ully opened or closed position.
The tailgate can be opened and
closed with the remote transmitter
(see page ) or the switch in the
driver’s door pocket when both f ront
doors are unlocked. 135U.S. Entertainment Packages and
Canadian Elite Package models
Power Tailgate
Tailgate
132
TAILGATE SWITCH
POWER TAILGATE SWITCH
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The power tailgate has an auto-
reverse f eature. If it meets
resistance while opening or closing,
it will beep three times and reverse
direction. However, the tailgate may
not reverse immediately. Always
make sure passengers and objects
are clear of the tailgate before
opening or closing it.Also check that passengers,
especially children, do not have their
hands on the edge of the tailgate or
on the tailgate sill. The auto reverse
featurestopsworkingwhenthe
tailgate is about to latch so the motor
can pull the tailgate shut.
If your vehicle’s battery is
disconnected, goes dead, or the f use
is removed while the tailgate is f ully
open, the power tailgate needs to be
reset. After connecting the battery
or installing the f use, close the
tailgate f ully by hand.
The power tailgate may not open or
close under the these conditions: Whenthetailgateortheroof is
covered with snow or ice.
Do not install any accessories on the
tailgate. It may cause the tailgate not
to f unction properly. If there is snow
or ice on the tailgate, make sure to
remove it bef ore you operate the
tailgate.
The tailgate has sensors on both
sides. Be caref ul not to damage them.
If the sensors are damaged, the
power tailgate does not f unction
properly.
When the vehicle is swayed in a
strong wind.
The vehicle is parked on a steep
hill. If you push the tailgate release
button inside the handle while the
tailgate is opening or closing, it will
stop moving. You need to open or
close it the rest of the way manually.
CONT INUED
A ut o-Reverse
Tailgate
Inst rument s and Cont rols
133
Closing a power tailgate while
anyone is in the path of the
tailgate can cause serious
injury.
Make sure everyone is clear
before closing the power
tailgate.
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Push the release lever to the right as
shown.
If you need to unlock the tailgate
manually, it means there is a
problem with the tailgate. Have the
vehicle checked by your dealer.
If you try to drive off with the
tailgate not closed completely, a
beeper sounds and a ‘‘DOOR &
TAILGATE OPEN’’ message is
shown on the multi-inf ormation
display.
Keep the tailgate closed at all times
while driving to avoid damaging the
tailgate and to prevent exhaust gas
f rom getting into the interior. See
on page
.
If there is a problem in the power
tailgate system, you will see a
‘‘CHECK POWER TAILGATE’’
message on the multi-inf ormation
display. Have the system checked by
your dealer.
With this message shown on the
multi-inf ormation display, you can
still open or close the tailgate
manually. If the power door lock system cannot
unlock the tailgate, unlock it
manually.
Use a small flat-tipped screwdriver to
remove the cover on the back of the
tailgate.
58U.S. Entertainment Packages and
Canadian Elite Package models
Unlocking the T ailgate
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
Tailgate
134
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µ
If youcannotopenthetailgate,
remove the cover on the back of the
tailgate(seepage).Pushthe
release lever to the right as shown,
then pull the outer handle to open
the tailgate. Press this button once to
lock all doors and the tailgate. Some
exterior lights will f lash. When you
push LOCK twice within 5 seconds,
you will hear a beep to verify that the
doors and tailgate are locked and the
security system has set. This button
does not work if any door or tailgate
is not f ully closed. To change the ‘‘KEYLESS LOCK
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT’’ setting,
see page .
134 110
CONT INUED
MDX, Technology, and U.S. Sport
Packages models
Tailgate, Remote Transmitter
LOCK
Remote Transmitter
Inst rument s and Cont rols
135
UNLOCK
BUTTON
PANIC
BUTTON
LOCK
BUTTON
UNLOCK
BUTTON
PANIC
BUTTONLOCK
BUTTON
U.S. Entertainment Packages and
Canadian Elite Package models
TAILGATE
BUTTON
MDX, Technology, and U.S. Sport
Packages models
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µµµ
Press this button once
to unlock the driver’s door. Push it
twice to unlock the other doors.
Some exterior lights will f lash twice
when you push the button. If you do
not open any door or the tailgate
within 30 seconds, they will
automatically relock.
To change the ‘‘KEY AND REMOTE
UNLOCK MODE’’ setting, see page
.
To change the ‘‘SECURITY
RELOCK TIMER’’ setting, see page . When you press the UNLOCK
button, the f ront and rear individual
map lights and the cargo area light,
depending on their switch positions,
will come on (see page ). If you
do not open any door or the tailgate,
the lights stay on for about 30
seconds, then go out. If you relock
thedoorsandthetailgatewiththe
remote transmitter before 30
seconds have elapsed, the lights will
go of f immediately.
Press and hold the
TAILGATE button to open or close
the power tailgate. When the tailgate
begins to move, you will hear a beep,
and some f ront and rear lights will
flash.
If you push the same button again
while the tailgate is opening or
closing, three beeps sound, the
tailgate stops moving, reverses direction and stops in the f ully
opened or f ully closed position.
Press and hold this
button for about 1 second to attract
attention; the horn will sound, and
the exterior lights will f lash f or about
30 seconds. To cancel panic mode,
press any other button on the remote
transmitter, or turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position. Panic
mode does not work when the key is
in the ignition switch.
109
111 160
U.S. Entertainment Packages and
Canadian Elite Package models
Remote Transmitter
UNL OCK
TAILGATEPA NIC
136
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Avoid dropping or throwing the
transmitter.
Protect the transmitter from
extreme temperature.
Do not immerse the transmitter in
any liquid.
If you lose a transmitter, the
replacement needs to be
reprogrammed by your dealer.If it takes several pushes on the
button to lock or unlock the doors
and the tailgate, replace the battery
as soon as possible.
To replace the battery:Remove the screw at the base of
the transmitter with a small
Phillips-head screwdriver.
Separate the keypad from the
transmitter by pushing any button
f rom outside.
Battery type: CR1616
1.
2.
CONT INUED
Remote Transmitter CareReplacing the Transmitter
Battery
Remote Transmitter
Inst rument s and Cont rols
137
KEYPAD
SCREW
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The individual map lights in the
f ront can be turned on and of f by
pressing the lenses.
The light control switch has three
positions: OFF, Door Activated, and
ON.
Withanydoororthetailgateleft
open, the lights stay on about 3
minutes, then go out. After all doors are closed tightly, the
lights dim slightly, then f ade out in
about 30 seconds.
To change the ‘‘INTERIOR LIGHT
DIMMING TIME’’ setting, see page
.
The lights also come on when the
key is removed f rom the ignition
switch.
The individual map lights in the
second row and the cargo area
light in the third row cannot be
turned on.
The individual map lights in the
f ront and second rows come on
whenanydoororthetailgateis
opened, or when the remote
transmitter is used to unlock the
doors (see page ). When the
doors and the tailgate are closed,
eachlightcanbeturnedonandoff
by pushing the lens.
The cargo area light comes on
whenanydoororthetailgateis
opened if the light control switch
is in the door activated (center)
position. When the doors and the
tailgate are closed, the cargo area
lightcanbeturnedonwiththe
switch in the light.
The individual door lights or the
tailgate lights will operate when a
door or the tailgate is opened. 136
101
When the switch is in the OFF position: When the switch is in the door activated
position:
CONT INUED
L ight Control Switch
Interior Lights
Inst rument s and Cont rols
159
DOOR ACTIVATED POSITION
OFF ON
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The courtesy lights in all f our doors
come on when you open any door.
The light around the ignition switch
comes on when any door is opened.
Af ter you close the door, the ignition
switch light stays on f or about 30
seconds regardless of the interior
light dimming time setting (see page).
The lights in the tailgate have an on-
of f switch to control if the lights
come on when the tailgate is opened.
The tailgate lights do not come on
when any other doors are opened.
The cargo area light has a three-
position switch. In the OFF position,
the light does not come on. In the
center position, it comes on when
you open the tailgate. In the ON
position, it stays on continuously. 101
Interior Lights
Individual Interior L ights
Tailgate Lights
Cargo Area Light
Inst rument s and Cont rols
161
ON
OFF
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2008 MDX