2008 Acura MDX service

U.S. Owners:When you call or write, please give
us this inf ormation:
Vehicle Identif ication Number
(see page )
Name and address of the dealer
who services your vehicle
Date of purchase
Mileage on your vehicle
Your name, address, and tele-
phone number
A detailed description of the
problem
Name of the dealer who sold the
vehicle to you
Acura dealership personnel are
trained prof essionals. They should
be able to answer all your questions.
If you encounter a problem that your
dealership does not solve to your
satisf action, please discuss it with
the dealership’s management. The
service manager or general manager
can help. Almost all problems are
solved in this way.
Canadian Owners:
If you are dissatisf ied with the
decision made by the dealership’s
management, contact the Acura
Client Services Of f ice. In Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands: 450
Client Service Inf ormation
466
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Acura Client Services
Mail Stop 500-2N-7E
1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501-2746
Tel: (800) 382-2238Honda Canada Inc.
715 Milner Avenue
Toronto, ON
M1B 2K8
Tel: 1-888-9-ACURA-9
Fax: Toll-free 1-877-939-0909
Toronto (416) 287-4776
Vortex Motor Corp.
Bella International
P.O. Box 190816
San Juan, PR 00919-0816
Tel: (787) 620-7546
Acura Client Services
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2008 MDX

T he publications shown below can be purchased f rom Helm
Incorporated. You can order by phone or online:Call Helm Inc. at 1-800-782-4356 (credit card orders only)
Go online at
If you are interested in other years or models, contact Helm Inc.
at 1-800-782-4356.Covers maintenance and recommended procedures f or
repair to engine and chassis components. It is written
f or the journeyman mechanic, but it is simple enough
f or most mechanically inclined owners to understand.
Complements the Service Manual by providing in-depth
troubleshooting inf ormation f or each electrical circuit
in your vehicle.
Describes the procedures involved in the replacement
of damaged body parts.
Authorized Manuals
Service Manual:
Electrical T roubleshooting Manual:
Body Repair Manual:
Purchasing Factory Authorized Manuals (U.S.only)
Authorized Manuals
469
Publication
Form Number 61STX01
61STX01EL
61STX30
31STX610
31STX810
31STXM10 31STXQ10 ACU-R Form Description
2007-2008 Acura MDX Service Manual 2008 Acura MDX
Electrical Troubleshooting Manual
2008 Acura MDX Body Repair Manual 2008 Acura MDX Owner’s Manual 2008 Acura MDX
Navigation System Owner’s Manual
2008 Acura MDX Maintenance Journal 2008 Acura MDX Quick Start Guide Order Form for Previous Years
Indicate Year and Model Desired
www. helminc. com
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2008 MDX

Î
...............
DANGER, Explanation of .iii
...................................
Dashboard .3,62
..............
Daytime Running Lights .120
.................................
Dead Battery .432
............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety .468
..............
Def ogger, Rear Window .122
..............
Def rosting the Windows .174
..........................
Dif f erential Fluid .452
....................................
Dimensions .452
.............
Dimming the Headlights .118
Dipstick
..........
Automatic Transmission .399
..................................
Engine Oil .326
..........................
Directional Signals .67
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators .357
.......................................
Disc Care .229
........................
Disc Changer .190,218
Disc Changer Error
...........................
Messages .199,228
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard .58
..........................
Cargo Area Light .161
...................................
Cargo Hook .336
....................
Cargo, How to Carry .332
.............
CAUTION, Explanation of .iii
........................
Certif ication Label .450
.................................
Chains, Tires .420
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .425
Changing Oil
........................................
How to .394
......................................
When to .383
...
Charging System Indicator .65,436
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving .338
................
Childproof Door Locks .131
.....................................
Child Saf ety .37
..............................
Booster Seats .55
.............................
Child Seats .42,45
.....
Important Saf ety Reminders .41
..........................................
Inf ants .42
..........................
Larger Children .54
.........................................
LATCH .47
......................
Risks with Airbags .38
.............................
Small Children .43
..........................................
Tether .51
.........
Where Should a Child Sit? .38 .......................................
Child Seats .45
........
LATCH Anchorage Points .47
....
Tether Anchorage Points .52,53
.......................
Cleaning Seat Belts .409
....................
Client Service Of f ice .466
...............
Climate Control System .170
..............................................
Clock .236
.....................
Code, Audio System .235
........................
CO in the Exhaust .460
......................
Compact Spare Tire .424
.................
Console Compartment .164
...............
Consumer Inf ormation .466
.............
Controls, Instruments and .61
Coolant
........................................
Adding .396
....................................
Checking .326
.........................
Proper Solution .396
...................
Temperature Gauge .72
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System .460
................
Cruise Control Indicator .70
............
Cruise Control Operation .270
...................................
Cup Holders .163
.........................
Customize Settings .83
................
Door/Window Setup .105
...........................
Lighting Setup .100 .................................
Meter Setup .89
..............................
Position Setup .97
........................
Setting to Def ault .86
...............................
Wiper Setup .113
Index
D
II
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2008 MDX

Î
.....................................
Tachometer .72
...............................................
Seats .140
.......
Adjusting the Second Seat .144
..........
Folding the Second Seat .144
.............
Folding the Third Seat .145
........................
Head Restraints .141
.......................................
Heaters .148
......................
Position Memory .157
....................
Third Row Access .145
............................
Security System .269
Sensors
....
Driver’s Seat Position Sensor .29
Front Passenger’s Weight
.....................................
Sensors .29
......................
Impact Sensors .25,26
........
Sequential SportShif t Mode .343
...............................
Serial Number .450
...........................
Service Intervals .383
...........................
Service Manual .469
.........
Service Station Procedures .323
.......................................
Indicator .69
..
Torque Distribution Monitor .348
Shif ting the Automatic .............................
Transmission .341
.....
Shif t Lever Position Indicator .341
........................
Shif t Lock Release .346 ....................................
Side Airbags .30
................................
Of f Indicator .33
......................
Side Curtain Airbags .32
Side Marker Lights, Bulb
.........................
Replacement in .404
...............................
Signaling Turns .67
.....................................
Snow Tires .419
........................
Sound System .180,200
Spare Tire
..............................
Inf lating .416,424
............................
Specif ications .453
....................
Specif ications Charts .452
................................
Speed Limiter .346
................................
Speed Control .270
...................................
Speedometer .72
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation .24
...
Additional Safety Precautions .35
......
Airbag System Components .24
.............................
Airbag Service .35
..
How the SRS Indicator Works .33
How Your Front Airbags
.........................................
Work .27
...
How Your Side Airbags Work .30
How Your Side Curtain Airbags
.........................................
Work .32
.............................
SRS Indicator .33,66 ..
START (Ignition Key Position) .129
.......................
Starting the Engine .339
...................
Auto Control Mode .339
In Cold Weather at High
..................................
Altitude .340
................
With a Dead Battery .432
..............
State Emissions Testing .460
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine .434
Steering Wheel
................................
Adjustment .124
...........
Anti-thef t Column Lock .129
......................
Buttons .233,270,281
......................
Position Memory .157
...
Stereo Sound System .180,181,200
..................
Storage Compartment .164
....................
Storing Your Vehicle .422
........................................
Sun Visor .166
Supplemental Restraint System
......................................
Servicing .35
.........................
SRS Indicator .33,66
...................
System Components .24
..................................
Synthetic Oil .394
Index
T
VIII
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SH-AWD®...................................... .348
2008 MDX

Service Inf ormation Summary
Gasoline:
Fuel Tank Capacity:
Recommended Engine Oil:
Automatic Transmission Fluid:Brake Fluid:
Rear Differential Fluid:
Tire Pressure (measured cold):
Transfer Assembly Fluid:
Power Steering Fluid:
4.5 US qt (4.3
)
Premium unleaded gasoline,
pump octane number of 91 or
higher.
API Premium grade 5W-20
detergent oil (see page ).
Oil change capacity (including
filter):
21.00 US gal (79.5
)
Honda ATF-Z1 (Automatic
Transmission Fluid) (see page ). Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid
DOT 3 preferred, or a DOT 3 or
DOT 4 brake fluid as a temporary
replacement (see page ).
Front/Rear:
32 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm
)
Compact Spare Tire: 60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm
)
Use Honda ATF-Z1 (Automatic
Transmission Fluid) only.
Capacity:
2.6 US qt (2.5
)
SAE 90 or SAE 80W-90 viscosity
hypoid gear oil, API service
classified GL4 or GL5 only.
Honda Power Steering Fluid
preferred, or another brand of
power steering fluid as a
temporary replacement. Do not
use ATF (see page ).
393
400 401
402
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SH-AWD®differential case
2008 MDX