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2008 MDX Online Reference Owner's Manual
Contents
Owner's Identification Form
Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... i A Few Words About Safety .............................................................................................................................. iii Important Handling Information .................................................................................................................... iv
Your Vehicle at a Glance (main controls) .................................................................................................... 3
Driver and Passenger Safety (seat belts, SRS, and child protection) .................................................... 5
Instruments and Controls
(indicators, gauges, multi-information display, dashboard, and steering column)
..... 61
Features (
climate control,audio,rear entertainment,steering wheel,security,cruise control,and other convenience items
)
......... 169
Before Driving (fuel, vehicle break- in, and cargo loading) ..................................................................... 321
Driving (engine and transmission operation) ................................................................................................ 337
Maintenance (minder, fluid checking, minor services, and vehicle storage)........................................... 381
Taking Care of the Unexpected (flat tire, dead battery, overheating, and fuses) ............................... 423
Technical Information (vehicle specifications, tires, and emissions controls) ....................................... 449
Warranty and Customer Relations (U. S. and Canada only) (warranty and contact information) ... 465
Authorized Manuals (U. S. only) (how to order) ......................................................................................... 469
Index ............................................................................................................................... ........................................ I
Service Information Summary ( fluid capacities and tire pressures)
1 00X31-STX-6102
Page 427 of 489

This section covers the more
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you inf ormation about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also f ind instructions
on getting your vehicle towed.......................
Compact Spare Tire .424
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .425
.............
If the Engine Won’t Start .431
................................
Jump Starting .432
..............
If the Engine Overheats .434
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .436
..........
Charging System Indicator .436
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .437
...............
Brake System Indicator .438
..............................................
Fuses .439
..............................
Fuse Locations .443
Opening the Fuel Fill Door
....................................
Manually .446
......................
Emergency Towing .446
..........
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck .447
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
423
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2008 MDX
Page 443 of 489
The vehicle’s f uses are located in
four fuse boxes.
The interior f use box is underneath
the dashboard on the driver’s side.
To remove the f use box lid, put your
f inger in the notch on the lid, pull it
toward you, and take it out of its
hinges.Therearfuseboxislocatedatthe
lef t side of cargo area.
To open it, push the tabs as shown.
The primary under-hood f use box is
located next to the battery. The
secondary f use box is on the
passenger’s side.
Fuses
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
439
UNDER-HOOD (SECONDARY)
UNDER-HOOD (PRIMARY)
INTERIOR
LID LID
TAB
TAB
REAR
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2008 MDX
Page 444 of 489
If something electrical in your
vehicle stops working, the first thing
youshouldcheckforisablownfuse.
Determine f rom the chart on pages, , and , or the diagram
on the f use box lid, which f use or
f uses control that device. Check
those fuses first, but check all the
f uses bef ore deciding that a blown
f use is the cause. Replace any blown
f uses, and check if the device works.
Remove the cover f rom the f use
box. Turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK (0) position. Make sure the
headlights and all other
accessories are of f . Check each of the large f uses in
the under-hood f use boxes by
looking through the top at the wire
inside. Removing these f uses
requires a Phillips-head
screwdriver.
3.
1.
2. 443 445
444
Checking and Replacing Fuses
Fuses
440
BLOWN
BLOWN
FUSE
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2008 MDX
Page 445 of 489
If you cannot drive the vehicle
without f ixing the problem, and you
do not have a spare fuse, take a fuse
of the same rating or a lower rating
f rom one of the other circuits. Make
sureyoucandowithoutthatcircuit
temporarily (such as the accessory
power socket or radio).
If you replace the blown f use with a
spare f use that has a lower rating, it
might blow out again. This does not
indicate anything wrong. Replace the
f use with one of the correct rating as
soon as you can.
Look f or a burned wire inside the
f use. If it is burned out, replace it
withoneof thesparefusesof the
same rating or lower.
Check the smaller f uses in the
under-hood f use boxes and rear
f use box, and all the f uses in the
interior and rear f use boxes by
pulling out each one with the f use
puller provided in the primary
under-hood f use box. 5.
4.
CONT INUED
Fuses
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
441
BLOWN
FUSE PULLER
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2008 MDX
Page 446 of 489
If the replacement fuse of the
same rating blows in a short time,
there is probably a serious
electrical problem with your
vehicle. Leave the blown fuse in
that circuit, and have your vehicle
checked by a qualif ied technician.If the radio f use is removed, the
audio system will disable itself . The
nexttimeyouturnontheradioyou
will see ‘‘ENTER CODE’’ in the
f requency display. Use the preset
buttons to enter the digit code (see
page ).
6. 235
Fuses
442
Replacing a f use with one that has a
higher rating greatly increases the
chances of damaging the electrical
system. If you do not have a
replacement f use with the proper rating
f or the circuit, install one with a lower
rating.
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2008 MDX
Page 447 of 489

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No.
No. Circuits Protected Circuits Protected Amps.
Amps.
35
36
37
38
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
1
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
31
32
33
34 Main f use
Not Used
Not Used
Not Used
Rear Blower Motor
ABS VSA
Trailer Main
Power Seats, Driver’s
Position Memory System,
Subwoofer
Front Heated Seat, TPMS,
Moonroof , Driver’s Lumber
Support
Not Used
Fog Lights, Front Blower
Motor
Headlights, Daytime
Running Lights
Cooling Fan, Condenser Fan,
MG Clutch, Headlight
Washer
Ignition Switch Main Power Window
Open/Closer, Rear ACC
Socket, Cargo Area Light,
Rear Defroster
ECU (PCM)
Not Used
Audio, Door Lock, Interior
Lights
Not Used
Not Used
Active Damper Control Unit
Audio Amplifier
Rear Entertainment System
Hazard
Horn, Stop
ABS VSA
Trailer (Brake)
Rear Heated Seat
A/C Inverter
50 A
60 A
30 A
40 A
30 A
30 A
7.5 A 15 A
15 A
20 A
20 A
20 A
20 A
120 A
30 A
40 A
40 A
40 A
40 A
60 A
40 A
60 A
50 A
: Canadian model
Fuse Locations
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
443
PRIMARY UNDER-HOOD FUSE BOX
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SH-AWD®, Power Tailgate
2008 MDX
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No. Amps. Circuits Protected No.
No. Circuits ProtectedAmps.
Circuits Protected
Amps.
1
2
3
4 10 A
10 A
10 A
10 A Lef t Daytime Running Light
Right Daytime Running
Light
Left Headlight High
Right Headlight High 5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
22 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11 Not Used
Not Used
Not Used
Not Used
Rear ACC Socket
Power Tailgate
Not Used
Cargo Area Light
Rear Defroster
Power Tailgate
10 A
20 A
10 A
30 A
30 A
40 A
Small Lights (Exterior)
Headlight Low Main
Cooling Fan Timer
IGP
IG Coil
DBW
AFHT
Front Blower Motor
Fog lights
Headlight Washer
Condenser Fan
Cooling Fan
MG Clutch
Left Headlight Low
Right Headlight Low
Small Lights (Interior)
7.5 A
30 A
7.5 A 15 A
15 A
15 A
15 A
40 A
20 A
30 A
30 A
30 A
7.5 A 15 A
15 A
7.5 A
: Canadian model
Fuse Locations
444
SECONDARY UNDER-HOOD FUSE BOX REAR FUSE BOX
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SH-AWD®
2008 MDX