2008 Acura MDX wheel

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 super handling-all wheel
stability assist (VSA) system, active
damper system, the tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS), and
f acts you need if you are planning to
tow a trailer or drive off-high way.........................
Driving Guidelines .338
........................
Preparing to Drive .338
.......................
Starting the Engine .339
Check Starting System .................................
Message .340
..............
Automatic Transmission .341
Super Handling-All Wheel Drive
...........................................
Parking .350
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
......................................
(TPMS) .351
.............................
Braking System .356
...............
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) .357
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)
........................................
System .359
................
Active Damper System .361
...........................
Towing a Trailer .363
..................
Trailer Stability Assist .375
Of f -Highway Driving
..................................
Guidelines .377
Driving
Driving
337
\f—\f—\fy
\f\fy
()-
\fy\fy
drive(SH-AWD®) system, the vehicle(SH-AWD®) System ....................348
2008 MDX

CONT INUED
Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page ).
Check the steering wheel
adjustment (see page ).
Make sure the doors and tailgate
are securely closed and locked.
Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have f astened
their seat belts (see page ).
When you start the engine, check
the gauges and indicators in the
instrument panel, and the
messages on the multi-inf ormation
display (see pages , and). Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition switch to
the START (III) position, then
release the ignition switch. You do
not need to hold the ignition
switch in the START (III) position
to start the engine. Depending on
the outside temperature, the starter motor runs f or about 6 to 9
seconds until the engine starts.
If you hold the ignition switch in
the START (III) position f or more
than 7 seconds, the starter motor,
depending on the outside
temperature, runs f or about 10 to
25 seconds until the engine starts.
If the engine does not start, wait at
least 10 seconds bef ore trying
again.
Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal. In cold weather, turn of f all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery. Apply the parking brake.
Your vehicle’s starting system has an
auto control mode. When you turn
the ignition switch to the START
(III) position, this f eature keeps the
engine’s starter motor running until
the engine starts. Follow these
instructions to start the engine:
1.
2.
3.
4.
6.
7.
8.
9.
15
124
81
10.
63 72
154
Preparing to Drive, Starting the Engine
Starting the Engine
Driving
339
T he immobilizer system protects your
vehicle f rom thef t. If an improperly-
coded key (or other device) is used, the
engine’s f uel system is disabled. For
more inf ormation, see page .
128
——y

y
()-
yy
2008 MDX

à
à
à
àà
à
à
The table shows the speed ranges
f or upshif ting and downshif ting. When you are in Sequential
SportShif t mode, and the vehicle is
stopped, push f orward on the shif t
lever to shif t to second gear. You
will see ‘‘2’’ in the display. Starting
out in second gear will help to
reduce wheelspin in deep snow or
on a slippery surf ace.
If you start out in second gear, the
transmission will be f ixed in that
gear.
To shift from
12
23
34
45 To shift from
32
43
54
Speed range
over 0 mph
(0 km/h)
over 10 mph
(16 km/h)
over 19 mph
(31 km/h)
over 37 mph
(60 km/h) Speed range
under 60 mph
(96 km/h)
under 93 mph
(150 km/h)
under 118 mph
(190 km/h)
The transmission will not
automatically downshif t to f irst gear
even when the vehicle speed is
under 10 mph (16 km/h). You need
to shif t down to f irst gear manually.
CONT INUED
St art ing in Second Gear
Automatic Transmission
Driving
345
\f—\f—\fy
\f\f\fy
()-
\fy\f\fy
2008 MDX

Each torque indicator is displayed
as a bar graph divided into 5
segments. The number of
segments represents the amount
of torque distributed to each
wheel.
monitor on the multi-inf ormation
display shows you the amount of
torque being sent to the wheels.
Each wheel: right f ront (RF), lef t
front(LF),rightrear(RR),andleft
rear (LR), has its own torque
indicator.
The super handling-all wheel drive
wheel-drive system that
automatically controls and transfers
varying amounts of engine torque to
all wheels independently, according
to the driving conditions.
enhance the vehicle’s driving
stability in all situations, it is still
your responsibility to drive and
corner at reasonable speeds and to
leave a sufficient margin of safety.
When there is only a slight change in
torque distribution while driving,
such as cruising on level roads at the
same speed, the torque distribution
monitor may stop displaying the
amount of torque. This is not a
system problem. The monitor will
show the amount if the system
senses any change in torque
distribution.
Monitor
348
TORQUE INDICATOR
TORQUE INDICATOR
\f—\f—\fy
\f\fy
()-
\fy\fy
) System®SuperHandling-AllWheelDrive(SH-AWD
(SH-AWD®) system is a f ull time all-
SH-AWD®T orque Distribution
WhiletheSH-AWD®system helps to
TheSH-AWD®torque distribution
2008 MDX

Your vehicle still has normal f ront-
wheel drive with vehicle stability
assist (VSA), but does not have
your vehicle checked by a dealer
as soon as possible.
instrument panel stays on, and the
message also appears on the multi-
inf ormation display, there is problem
driving, it indicates the dif f erential
temperature is too high. You will also
HIGH’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display. If this happens,
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. If
the indicator does not go out, take
your vehicle to a dealer to have it checked.
Driving
349
\f—\f—\fy
\f\f
y
()-
\fy\fy
SuperHandling-AllWheelDrive(SH-AWD®) System
®If the SH-AWD
indicator blinks while
seean‘‘SH-AWD®DIFF TEMP.
IftheSH-AWD®indicator on the
‘‘CHECKSH-AWD®SYSTEM’’
withtheSH-AWD®system.
theadvantagesofSH-AWD®. Have
2008 MDX

Check the indicator on the
instrument panel to verif y that the
security system is set.
If the vehicle is f acing uphill, turn
the front wheels away from the
curb.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The hot three way
catalytic converter could cause
these materials to catch on fire.
Make sure the parking brake is
f ully released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or
damage the rear brakes.
Make sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.
Turn of f the lights.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.
in the cargo area or take them
with you.
Lock the doors and the tailgate.
Always use the parking brake when
you park your vehicle. Make sure
the parking brake is set f irmly, or
your vehicle may roll if it is parked
on an incline.
Set the parking brake bef ore you put
the transmission in Park. This keeps
the vehicle from moving and putting
pressure on the parking mechanism
in the transmission. If the vehicle is f acing downhill,
turn the front wheels toward the
curb.
Parking
Parking T ips
350
\f—\f—\fy
\f\fy
()-
\fy\fy
2008 MDX

If the low tire pressure/TPMS
indicator comes on, or the multi-
inf ormation display shows a
‘‘CHECK TPMS SYSTEM’’ message,
the VSA system automatically turns
on even when the VSA system is
turned of f by pressing the VSA OFF
switch (see page ). If this
happens, you cannot turn the VSA
system of f by pressing the VSA OFF
switch again.
When you restart the vehicle with
thecompactsparetire,theTPMS
system message will also be
displayed on the multi-inf ormation
display af ter several miles
(kilometers) driving.
If you have a f lat tire, the low tire
pressure/TPMS and tire monitor
indicators will come on. Replace the
indicated f lat tire with the compact
sparetire(seepage).After the flat tire is replaced with the
spare tire, the low tire pressure/
TPMS indicator stays on while
driving. Af ter several miles
(kilometers) driving, this indicator
begins to f lash, then stays on again.
You will also see a ‘‘CHECK TPMS
SYSTEM’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display. This is normal;
the system cannot monitor the spare
tire pressure. Manually check the
spare tire pressure to be sure it is
correct.
This indicator and the warning
message on the multi-inf ormation
display will go of f , af ter several miles
(kilometers) driving, when the spare
tire is replaced with the specified
regular tire equipped with the tire
pressure monitor sensor.
Each wheel is equipped with a tire
pressure sensor mounted inside the
tire behind the valve stem. You must
use TPMS specif ic wheels. It is
recommended that you always haveyour tires serviced by your dealer or
a qualif ied technician.
Never use a puncture-repairing agent
in a f lat tire. If used, you will have to
replace the tire pressure sensor.
Havetheflattirerepairedbyyour
dealer as soon as possible.
360
425
CONT INUED
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Changing a T ire with T PMS
Driving
355
\f—\f—\fy
\f
\f
y
()-
\fy\f\fy
2008 MDX

Constant application of the brakes
when going down a long hill builds
up heat and reduces their ef f ective-
ness. Use the engine to assist the
brakes by taking your f oot of f the
accelerator and downshif ting to a
lower gear.
Check the brakes after driving
through deep water. Apply the
brakes moderately to see if they f eel
normal. If not, apply them gently and
f requently until they do. Be extra
cautious in your driving.
Your vehicle is equipped with disc
brakes at all f our wheels. A power
assist helps reduce the ef f ort needed
on the brake pedal. The emergency
brake assist system increases the
stopping f orce when you depress the
brake pedal hard in an emergency
situation. The anti-lock brake system
(ABS) helps you retain steering
control when braking very hard.
Resting your f oot on the pedal keeps
the brakes applied lightly, builds up
heat, and reduces their ef f ectiveness
and reduces brake pad life. In
addition, f uel economy can be
reduced. It also keeps your brake
lights on all the time, conf using
drivers behind you.As required by the FCC:
This device complies with Part 15 of theFCC rules. Operation is subject to thef ollowing two conditions: (1) This devicemay not cause harmf ul interf erence, and(2) this device must accept anyinterf erence received, includinginterf erence that may cause undesiredoperation.Changes or modif ications not expresslyapproved by the party responsible f orcompliance could void the user’sauthority to operate the equipment.This device complies with IndustryCanada Standard RSS-210.Operation is subject to the f ollowing twoconditions: (1) this device may not causeinterf erence, and (2) this device mustaccept any interf erence that may causeundesired operation of the device.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Braking System
Braking System
356
\f—\f—\fy
\f
\fy
()-
\fy\f
y
2008 MDX