2008 Acura RDX Service A

The brake system indicator (red)
normallycomesonwhenyouturn
the ignition switch to the ON (II)
position, and as a reminder to check
the parking brake. It will stay on if
you do not f ully release the parking
brake.
If the brake system indicator (red)
comes on while driving, the brake
f luid level is probably low. Press
lightly on the brake pedal to see if it
f eels normal. If it does, check the
brake f luid level the next time you
stop at a service station (see page). If the f luid level is low, take your
vehicle to a dealer, and have the
brake system inspected f or leaks or
worn brake pads.
However, if the brake pedal does not
f eel normal, you should take
immediate action. A problem in one
part of the system’s dual circuit
design will still give you braking at
two wheels. You will f eel the brake
pedal go down much f arther bef ore
the vehicle begins to slow down, and
you will have to press harder on the
pedal.
Slow down by shif ting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is saf e. Because of the long
distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the vehicle. You
should have it towed, and repaired as
soon as possible (see
on page ).
You will also see a ‘‘BRAKE FLUID
LOW’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display (see page ). You will also see a ‘‘CHECK BRAKE
SYSTEM’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display (see page ).If you must drive the vehicle a short
distance in this condition, drive
slowly and caref ully.
If the ABS indicator and the VSA
system indicator come on with the
brake system indicator, have your
vehicle inspected by your dealer
immediately.
345
77 77391
Brake System Indicator
Brake System Indicator (Red)
Emergency
Towing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
383
Canada
U. S.
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The operator will load
your vehicle on the back of a truck.
Any other method of towing will
damage the drive system. When you
contact the towing agency, inf orm
them a f lat-bed is required.
If your vehicle needs to be towed,
call a prof essional towing service or
organization. Never tow your vehicle
with just a rope or chain. It is very
dangerous.
The only way you can saf ely tow
your vehicle is with f lat-bed
equipment.
Emergency Towing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
391
Towing with only two tires on the
ground will damage parts of the
all-wheel-drive system. Your vehicle
should be transported on a f lat-bed
truck or trailer.
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The tires on your vehicle meet all
U.S. Federal Saf ety Requirements.
All tires are also graded f or
treadwear, traction, and temperature
perf ormance according to
Department of Transportation
(DOT) standards. The f ollowing
explains these gradings.
Quality grades can be f ound where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For
example:The treadwear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specif ied government
test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one-
half (1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded
100. The relative perf ormance of
tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may
depart signif icantly f rom the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and dif f erences in
road characteristics and climate.The traction grades, f rom highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those
grades represent the tire’s ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on
specif ied government test surf aces
of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction
perf ormance.
Warning: The traction grade
assignedtothistireisbasedon
straight-ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.
All passenger car tires must conf orm
to Federal Saf ety Requirements in
addition to these grades.
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
T readwear 200
Traction AA
Temperature A
Unif orm T ire Quality Grading T readwear T raction
398
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..........
Client Service Inf ormation .410
....................
Warranty Coverages .411
Reporting Saf ety Def ects
..........................
(U.S. Vehicles) .412
.....................
Authorized Manuals .413
Warranty and Client Relations
Warrant y and Client Relat ions
409
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U.S. Owners:Canadian 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
If you are dissatisf ied with the
decision made by the dealership’s
management, contact the Acura
Client Services Of f ice.
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.
In Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands: 394
Client Service Inf ormation
410
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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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
413
Publication
Form Number 61STK01
61STK01EL
61STK30
31STK610
31STK810
31STKM10 31STKQ10 ACU-R Form Description
2007-2008 Acura RDX Service Manual 2008 Acura RDX
Electrical Troubleshooting Manual 2007 Model series Acura RDX Body Repair Manual
2008 Acura RDX Owner’s Manual
2008 Acura RDX Navigation System Manual 2008 Acura RDX Honda Service History2008 Acura RDX Quick Start GuideOrder Form for Previous Years-
Indicate Year and Model Desired
www. helminc. com
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Bulb Replacement..........................
Back-up Lights .349
..............................
Brake Lights .350
.................................
Fog Lights .351
................
Front Parking Lights .348
........
Front Side Marker Lights .348
.................................
Headlights .347
.........
High-mount Brake Light .352
.........
Rear Side Marker Lights .350
............................
Specif ications .397
............................
Taillights .349,350
............
Turn Signal Lights .348,350
......................
Bulbs, Halogen .347,351
Bulbs, High Voltage Discharged
............................................
Type .347
............................
Capacities Chart .396
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard .56
..............................................
Cargo .283
.........................
Cargo Area Cover .158
..........................
Cargo Area Light .151
.................................
Cargo Hooks .287
......................................
Cargo Net .287
.............................
Carrying Cargo .283 .............
CAUTION, Explanation of .iii
.........................................
CD Care .223
..........................
CD Changer .173,196
CD Changer Error
...................................
Messages .226
................................
Ceiling Lights .149
........................
Certif ication Label .394
.................................
Chains, Tires .365
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .371
.................................
Changing Oil .338
........................................
How to .338
......................................
When to .327
...
Charging System Indicator .63,381
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving .291
.....................................
Child Saf ety .35
..............................
Booster Seats .53
.............................
Child Seats .35,43
.....
Important Saf ety Reminders .39
..........................................
Inf ants .40
............................
Large Children .52
.........................................
LATCH .45
......................
Risks with Airbags .36
.............................
Small Children .41
.........................................
Tethers .50
...........................
Warning Labels .37
.........
Where Should a Child Sit? .36 .................................
Child Seats .35,43
.........................................
LATCH .45
..........
Tether Anchorage Points .50
................
Childproof Door Locks .124
.......................
Cleaning Seat Belts .354
....................
Client Service Of f ice .410
..............
Climate Control Sensors .167
...............
Climate Control System .160
..............................................
Clock .188
...................................
Coin Holder .157
........................
CO in the Exhaust .403
............
Cold Weather, Starting in .292
......................
Compact Spare Tire .370
.................
Console Compartment .156
.................
Consumer Inf ormation .410
.............
Controls, Instruments and .59
Coolant
........................................
Adding .340
....................................
Checking .277
.........................
Proper Solution .340
.............
Temperature Gauge .73,76
............................
Courtesy Lights .151
Crankcase Emissions Control
........................................
System .403
................
Cruise Control Indicator .67
............
Cruise Control Operation .234
Index
C
II
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CONT INUED
.........
Service Station Procedures .273
..........................
Setting the Clock .188
SH-AWD (Super Handling-All
.........................
Wheel Drive) .301
.......................................
Indicator .68
.........................
System Message .78
Torque Distribution
............................
Monitor .76,301
...
Shif t Lever Position Indicators .293
........................
Shif t Lock Release .296
......................................
Side Airbags .9
How the Side Airbag Of f ......................
Indicator Works .31
...
How Your Side Airbags Work .29
........................
Side Curtain Airbags .9
How Your Side Curtain Airbags .........................................
Work .30
Side Marker Lights, Bulb ......................
Replacement .348,350
.............................
Signaling Turns .114
.....................................
Snow Tires .364
................................
Sound System .168
......................................
Spare Tire .370
................................
Specif ications .396
................................
Speed Limiter .295 ..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation .23
...
Additional Safety Precautions .34
......................
Advanced Airbags .27
.............................
Airbag Service .33
......
Airbag System Components .23
.....................
Dual-Stage Airbags .26
............
Dual-Threshold Airbags .27
How the Side Airbag Of f
......................
Indicator Works .31
..
How the SRS Indicator Works .31
How Your Front Airbags
.........................................
Work .25
...
How Your Side Airbags Work .29
How Your Side Curtain Airbags
.........................................
Work .30
.............................
SRS Indicator .31,63
..
START (Ignition Key Position) .122
.......................
Starting the Engine .292
In Cold Weather at High ..................................
Altitude .292
................
With a Dead Battery .377
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine .379
Steering Wheel
................................
Adjustment .119
...........
Anti-thef t Column Lock .122 Steering Wheel
................
Buttons .72,230,234,253
....................
Storing Your Vehicle .368
........................................
Sun Visor .155
Supplemental Restraint
..................................
System .9,23
......................................
Servicing .33
.........................
SRS Indicator .31,63
...................
System Components .23
..................................
Synthetic Oil .336
Tailgate
............................
Open Indicator .11
...............................
Opening the .125
............
Unlocking the Tailgate .126
..
Taillights, Changing Bulbs .349,350
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected .369
Index
INDEX
T
IX
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