2008 Acura RDX check engine light

Diagnosing why the engine won’t
start f alls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
ignition switch to the START (III)
position:When you turn the ignition switch to
the START (III) position, you do not
hear the normal noise of the engine
trying to start. You may hear a
clicking sound, a series of clicks, or
nothing at all.
If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is
discharged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of the
battery and terminal connections
(see page ). You can then try
jump starting the vehicle from a
booster battery (see page ).
You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
f aster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run.
You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine’s starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly.
Check the transmission interlock.
The transmission must be in Park
or neutral or the starter will not
operate.
Check these things:
Turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position. Turn on the
headlights, and check their
brightness. If the headlights are
very dim or do not come on at all,
the battery is discharged. See on page . Turn the ignition switch to the
START (III) position. If the
headlights do not dim, check the
condition of the f uses. If the f uses
areOK,thereisprobably
something wrong with the
electrical circuit f or the ignition
switch or starter motor. You will
need a qualif ied mechanic to
determine the problem (see
on page ).
377 391
366 377
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
Jump Starting Emergency T owing
If theEngineWon’tStart
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
375
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Let the vehicle sit f or a minute.
Open the hood, and check the oil
level (see page ). An engine
very low on oil can lose pressure
during cornering and other driving
maneuvers.If the charging system
indicator comes on brightly
when the engine is running, the
battery is not being charged.
Saf ely pull of f the road, and shut
of f the engine. Turn on the hazard
warning lights.
This indicator should never
come on when the engine is
running. If it starts f lashing or stays
on, the oil pressure has dropped very
low or lost pressure. Serious engine
damage is possible, and you should
take immediate action.
Start the engine, and watch the oil
pressure indicator. If it does not go
out within 10 seconds, turn of f the
engine. There is a mechanical
problem that needs to be repaired
bef ore you can continue driving
(see on page).
If necessary, add oil to bring the
level back to the full mark on the
dipstick (see page ).
You will also see an ‘‘OIL
PRESSURE LOW’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display (see page
). You will also see a ‘‘CHECK
CHARGING SYSTEM’’ message on
the multi-information display (see
page ).
Immediately turn of f all electrical
accessories. Try not to use other
electrically operated controls such as
the power windows. Keep the engine
running; starting the engine will
discharge the battery rapidly.
Go to a service station or garage
where you can get technical
assistance.
1.
2.
4.
3.
77 276
336
391 77
L ow Oil Pressure Indicator Charging System Indicator
Emergency T owing
L ow Oil Pressure Indicator, Charging System Indicator
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
381
Running the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanical
damage almost immediately. Turn of f
the engine as soon as you can saf ely get
the vehicle stopped.
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CONT INUED
....................................
Accessories .281
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key
.....................................
Position) .122
............
Accessory Power Sockets .155
................
Active Head Restraints .135
......................................
AcuraLink .237
....................
Additives, Engine Oil .337
.......................
Additives, Gasoline .272
.............
Adjusting the Sound .186,217
.....
Adjusting the Steering Wheel .119
........
Adjust Outside Temperature .74
......
Adjust Outside Temp. Display .89
...........................
Advanced Airbags .27
...............................
Airbag (SRS) .9,23
..............
Air Conditioning System .160
.........................................
Usage .161
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .361
......................................
Antif reeze .340
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
...............................
Indicator .64,305
...................................
Operation .305
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System .232
Anti-thef t Steering Column
............................................
Lock .122 ........................................
Armrests .136
..............................
Audio Antenna .355
................................
Audio System .168
............................
Auto Door Lock .101
.........................
Auto Door Unlock .109
.
Automatic Lighting Off Feature .115
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners .21
..............
Automatic Transmission .293
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .396
...............
Checking Fluid Level .343
Driving with the Paddle
...................................
Shif ters .297
.......................................
Shif ting .293
Shif t Lever Position
...............................
Indicators .293
................
Shif t Lever Positions .294
....................
Shif t Lock Release .296
......................
Auxiliary Input Jack .220
Battery
Charging System ...........................
Indicator .63,381
............................
Jump Starting .377
..............................
Maintenance .366 ............................
Specif ications .397
..............................
Bef ore Driving .271
....................................
Belts,Seat.8,19
.........................
Beverage Holders .154
.......
Bluetooth
HandsFreeLink.252
..................................
Booster Seats .53
Brakes
...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) .305
.............
Break-in, New Linings .272
....................
Bulb Replacement .350
...........................................
Fluid .345
.......................................
Parking .148
......
System Indicator (Red) .65,383
System Indicator
...........................
(Amber) .65,384
..........................
System Design .304
........................
Wear Indicators .304
.............................
Braking System .304
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle .272
Brightness Control,
...............................
Instruments .117
......................
Brights, Headlights .114
Index
A
B
INDEX
I
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ÎÎ
CONT INUED
....................
Cruise Main Indicator .67
...................................
Cup Holders .154
.......................
Customized Settings .80
....................................
Def ault All .83
.................................
Door Setup .100
.............................
Lighting Setup .95
.................................
Meter Setup .86 ..............................
Economy, Fuel .278
............................
Elapsed Time .73,75
...........................
Reset Condition .93
........
Electric Vacuum Pump .304,384
..................................
Emergencies .369
.............
Battery, Jump Starting .377
Brake System Indicator
......................................
(Red) .383
Brake System Indicator .................................
(Amber) .384
................
Changing a Flat Tire .371
.....
Charging System Indicator .381
..................
Checking the Fuses .386
.......
Hazard Warning Flashers .118
............................
Jump Starting .377
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .381
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .382
..................
Overheated Engine .379
............................
Tailgate Open .126
..................
Emergency Towing .391
...............
DANGER, Explanation of .iii
...................................
Dashboard .3,60
..............
Daytime Running Lights .116
.................................
Dead Battery .377
........................................
Def ault All .83
.........
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety .412
..............
Def ogger, Rear Window .118
..............
Def rosting the Windows .163
....................................
Dimensions .396
.............
Dimming the Headlights .114
Dipstick
..........
Automatic Transmission .344
..................................
Engine Oil .277
........................
Directional Signals .114
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators .304
.......................................
Disc Care .223 ........................
Disc Changer .173,196
Disc Changer Error
.....................................
Message .226
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .339
.....................................
Door Setup .100
........................
Auto Door Lock .101
.....................
Auto Door Unlock .109
.......................
Door Lock Mode .103
Keyless Lock
................
Acknowledgement .105
.............
Security Relock Timer .107
Doors ............
Childproof Door Locks .124
............
Locking and Unlocking .123
....................
Power Door Locks .123
........
DOT Tire Quality Grading .398
.......................................
Drive (D) .295
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety .5
...........................................
Driving .289
....................................
Economy .278
........................
Driving Guidelines .290
............
Driving Position Memory .146
.......
Driving with Paddle Shif ters .297
................
D-Paddle Shif t Mode .297
...............................
In S Position .299
..........
Dual Temperature Control .165 ..................
Dust and Pollen Filter .355
Index
E
D
INDEX
III
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.......................
Minder Indicator .73,75
Owner’s Maintenance ...................................
Checks .333
..........................................
Saf ety .326
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .63,382
...............................
Meters, Gauges .71
.....................................
Meter Setup .86
..
Adjust Outside Temp. Display .89
.......
Elap. Time Reset Condition .93
....................
Language Selection .87
Trip A&Avg. Fuel Reset with
.......................................
Ref uel .91
........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .144
...............
Modif ying Your Vehicle .282
.......................................
Moonroof .142
.............
Multi-Inf ormation Display .72
...................
Neutral Gear Position .294
..................
New Vehicle Break-in .272
.....................
Normal Shif t Speeds .300
...................
NOTICE, Explanation of .i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication .394 ...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline .272
.........................................
Odometer .71
....................
Of f -Highway Driving .321
Oil
........................
Change, How to .338
......................
Change, When to .327
......................
Checking Engine .276
..............
Pressure Indicator .63,381
Selecting Proper Viscosity
......................................
Chart .336
.........
ON (Ignition Key Position) .122
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor
....................................
Recovery .403
......................
Optional Cargo Net .287
............................
Outside Mirrors .144
...............
Outside Temperature .73,74
....................
Overheating, Engine .379
....
Owner’s Maintenance Checks .333
............
Panel Brightness Control .117
........................
Park Gear Position .294
...........................................
Parking .303 ...............................
Parking Brake .148
Parking Brake and Brake
......
System Indicator (Red) .65,383
...............................
Parking Lights .114
..
Parking Over Things that Burn .303
....
Passenger Airbag Of f Indicator .32
.............................
PGM-FI System .404
Playing the XM
Satellite
..........................................
Radio .228
...................................
Pollen Filter .355
........................
Power Door Locks .123
...............................
Power Sockets .155
....................
Power Steering Fluid .346
............................
Power Windows .140
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts .17
........................
Preparing to Drive .291
.........
Protecting Adults and Teens .11
...
Additional Safety Precautions .18
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women .17
CONT INUED
Index
INDEX
N O
P
VII
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