2008 Acura RDX Int time

One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new vehicle is to
read this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls and
convenience items. Af terwards, keep this owner’s manual in your vehicle so
youcanrefertoitatanytime.
Several warranties protect your new vehicle. Read the warranty booklet
thoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rights
and responsibilities.As you read this manual, you will
f ind inf ormation that is preceded by
a symbol. This
inf ormation is intended to help you
avoid damage to your vehicle, other
property, or the environment.
Maintaining your vehicle according to the maintenance minder shown in the
instrument panel helps to keep your driving trouble-f ree while it preserves
your investment. When your vehicle needs maintenance, keep in mind that
your dealer’s staf f is specially trained in servicing the many systems unique
to your vehicle. Your dealer is dedicated to your satisf action and will be
pleased to answer any questions and concerns.
Congratulations! Your selection of a 2008 Acura RDX was a wise investment.
It will give you years of driving pleasure.
Introduction
i
\f—\f—\f
y
\f\fy
() 
\fy\f\f\fy
2008 RDX

A convenient ref erence to the
sections in this manual.
A quick ref erence to the main
controls in your vehicle.
Explains the purpose of each
instrument panel indicator and gauge,
and how to use the controls on the
dashboard and steering column.What gasoline to use, how to break-
in your new vehicle, and how to load
luggage and other cargo.
The proper way to start the engine,
shif t the transmission, and park; plus
what you need to know if you’re
planning to tow a trailer.
Important inf ormation about the
proper use and care of your vehicle’s
seat belts, an overview of the
supplemental restraint system, and
valuable inf ormation on how to
protect children with child restraints.
How to operate the climate control
system, the audio system, and
other convenience f eatures. The maintenance minder shows you
when you need to take your vehicle
to the dealer for maintenance service.
There is also a list of things to check
and instructions on how to check
them.ID numbers, dimensions, capaci-
ties, and technical information.
This section covers several problems
motorists sometimes experience,
and details how to handle them. A summary of the warranties
covering your new vehicle, and how
to contact us for any reason. Refer to
your warranty manual f or detailed
inf ormation.
How to order manuals and other
technical literature.
A summary of the inf ormation you
need when you pull up to the f uel
pump.
Overview of Contents
Contents
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Instruments and Controls
FeaturesDriving
Maintenance
Bef ore Driving T echnical Inf ormation
T aking Care of the Unexpected
Warranty and Client Relations
(U.S. and Canada only)
Authorized Manuals
(U.S. only)
Index
Service Inf ormation Summary
2
\f—\f—\f
y
\fy
() 
\fy\f\f\fy
2008 RDX

µ
You’ll f ind many saf ety
recommendations throughout this
section, and throughout this manual.
Therecommendationsonthispage
are the ones we consider to be the
most important.
A seat belt is your best protection in
all types of collisions. Airbags are
designed to supplement seat belts,
not replace them. So even though
your vehicle is equipped with airbags,
make sure you and your passengers
always wear your seat belts, and
wear them properly (see page ).
Alcohol and driving don’t mix. Even
one drink can reduce your ability to
respond to changing conditions, and
your reaction time gets worse withevery additional drink. So don’t drink
and drive, and don’t let your f riends
drink and drive, either.
While airbags can save lives, they
can cause serious or fatal injuries to
occupants who sit too close to them,
or are not properly restrained.
Inf ants, young children, and short
adults are at the greatest risk. Be
sure to f ollow all instructions and
warnings in this manual.
Children age 12 and under should
ride properly restrained in a back
seat, not the front seat. Infants and
smallchildrenshouldberestrained
in a child seat. Larger children
should use a booster seat and a lap/
shoulder belt until they can use the
belt properly without a booster seat
(see pages ). Excessive speed is a major f actor in
crash injuries and deaths. Generally,
the higher the speed, the greater the
risk, but serious injuries can also
occur at lower speeds. Never drive
f aster than is saf e f or current
conditions, regardless of the
maximum speed posted.
Having a tire blowout or a
mechanical f ailure can be extremely
hazardous. To reduce the possibility
of such problems, check your tire
pressures and condition f requently,
and perform all regularly scheduled
maintenance (see page ).
3555
360
14
Important Saf ety Precautions
Always Wear Your Seat Belt
Don’t Drink and Drive
Be Aware of Airbag Hazards
Restrain All ChildrenControl Your Speed
K eep Your Vehicle in Saf e
Condition
6
\f—\f—\f
y


y
() 
\fy\f\f

y
2008 RDX

Your f ront airbags are dual-stage
airbags. This means they have two
inf lation stages that can be ignited
sequentially or simultaneously,
depending on crash severity.
In a crash, both stages
will ignite simultaneously to provide
the quickest and greatest protection.
In a crash, one stage will
ignite first, then the second stage
will ignite a split second later. This
provides longer airbag inf lation time
with a little less force.
The total time for inflation and
def lation is one-tenth of a second, so
f ast that most occupants are not
aware that the airbags deployed until
they see them lying in their laps.
After a crash, you may see what
looks like smoke. This is actually
powder f rom the airbag’s surf ace.
Although the powder is not harmf ul,
people with respiratory problems
mayexperiencesometemporary
discomf ort. If this occurs, get out of
the vehicle as soon as it is saf e to do
so.
Af ter inf lating, the f ront airbags
immediately def late, so they won’t
interf ere with the driver’s visibility,
or the ability to steer or operate
other controls.
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Dual-Stage A irbags
more severeless severe
26
\f—\f—\f
y
y
() 
\fy\f\f
y
2008 RDX

Your vehicle is equipped with
LATCH (lower anchors and tethers
for children) at the rear seats to
secure a child seat in any seating
position: one in each outer seating
position, or one in the center.
Thefiveloweranchorsarelocated
between the seat-back and seat
bottom, and are to be used only with
a child seat designed f or use with
LATCH. The location of each lower anchor isindicated by a small button above the
anchor point.
When you install a child seat in the
rear center seating position, use the
center LATCH as shown in the
illustration. To install a child seat in
the outer seating position, use either
LATCH. You can install up to two
child seat at a time with outer
LATCH.To install a LATCH-compatible child
seat in either of the rear outer seats:
Move the seat belt buckle or
tongue away f rom the lower
anchors.
Make sure there are no objects
near the anchors that could
prevent a secure connection
between the child seat and the
anchors.
1.
2.
CONT INUED
Installing a Child Seat with
LATCHUsing t he Out er L A T CH
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
45
LOWER ANCHORS
FOR OUTER LATCH BUTTON LOWER ANCHORS
FOR CENTER LATCH
OUTER LOWER ANCHORS
\f—\f—\f
y
y
() 
\fy\f\f\fy
2008 RDX

If you decide that a child can saf ely
ride up f ront, be sure to:Caref ully read the owner’s manual,
and make sure you understand all
seat belt instructions and all saf ety
inf ormation.
Have the child sit up straight, back
against the seat, and feet on or
near the f loor.
Move the vehicle seat to the rear-
most position. Devices intended to
improve a child’s comf ort or
reposition the shoulder part of a
seat belt can make the belt less
ef f ective and increase the chance
of serious injury in a crash.
This could result
in serious neck injuries during a
crash.
Check that the child’s seat belt is
properly and securely positioned. If they do, they could be very seriously injured in a
crash.This could
cause very serious injuries during
a crash. It also increases the
chance that the child will slide
under the belt in a crash and be
injured.
Supervise the child. Even mature
children sometimes need to be
reminded to f asten the seat belts
or sit properly.Do not put any accessories on a seat belt.
Do not let a child wear a seat belt
across t he neck.
T wo children should never use thesame seat belt .
Do not let a child put the shoulder
part of a seat belt behind t he backor under t he arm.Additional Saf ety Precautions
Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
55
\f—\f—\f
y

y
() 
\fy\f\f\fy
2008 RDX

This indicator monitors the
temperature of the automatic
transmission f luid. If it comes on
while driving, it means the
transmission fluid temperature is too
high. 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.
You will also see a ‘‘CHECK
EMISSION SYSTEM’’ message on
the multi-information display. For
more information, see page .
The engine can be severely damaged
if this indicator f lashes or stays on
when the engine is running. For
more inf ormation, see page . You will also see a ‘‘CHECK
TRANSMISSION’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display (see page). This indicator comes on f or several
seconds when you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position. If it
comes on at any other time, it
indicates a potential problem with
your f ront airbags. This indicator will
also alert you to a potential problem
with your side airbags, passenger’s
side airbag automatic cutoff system,
automatic seat belt tensioners, side
curtain airbags, driver’s seat position
sensor, and the f ront passenger’s
weight sensors. You will also see a
‘‘CHECK AIRBAG SYSTEM’’
message on the multi-information
display (see page ). For more
inf ormation, see page .
If this indicator comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged, and you will also see
a ‘‘CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM’’
message on the multi-inf ormation
display. For more inf ormation, see
page .
You will also see a ‘‘OIL PRESSURE
LOW’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display (see page ). 382
381
77
381 78
7831
A/T Temperature
Indicator
Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS) Indicator
Malf unction Indicator
Lamp
L ow Oil Pressure
Indicator
Charging System
Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
Inst rument s and Cont rols
63
Continuing to drive with the A/T
temperature indicator on may cause
serious damage to the transmission.
\f—\f—\f
y


y
() 
\fy\f\fy
2008 RDX

The odometer shows the total
distance your vehicle has been
driven. It measures miles in U.S.
models and kilometers in Canadian
models. It is illegal under U.S.
federal law and Canadian provincial
regulations to disconnect, reset, or
alter the odometer with the intent to
change the number of miles or
kilometers indicated.
This meter shows the number of
miles (U.S.) or kilometers (Canada)
driven since you last reset it. There
are two trip meters: Trip A and Trip
B. Each trip meter works
independently, so you can keep track
of two dif f erent distances.When you reset Trip A, AVG.
FUEL A is reset at the same time.
When you reset Trip B, AVG.
FUEL B is reset.
The temperature sensor is in the
f ront bumper. The temperature
reading can be affected by heat
ref lection f rom the road surf ace,
engine heat, and the exhaust f rom
surrounding traf f ic. This can cause
an incorrect temperature reading
when your vehicle speed is under
19 mph (30 km/h). When you start
your trip, the sensor is not f ully
acclimatized, theref ore it may take
several minutes until the proper
temperature is displayed.
In certain weather conditions,
temperature readings near f reezing
(32°F, 0°C) could mean that ice is
f orming on the road surf ace.
To reset a trip meter, display it, then
press and hold the SEL/RESET
button until the number resets to
‘‘0.0’’. You can customize the Trip A and
AVG. FUEL A reset condition in the
multi-inf ormation display (see page
).
This shows the outside temperature
in Fahrenheit (U.S. models), or in
Centigrade (Canadian models).
You can adjust the outside
temperature display (see page ).
91
89
Odometer
Trip Meter
Outside Temperature Display
Multi-Inf ormation Display
74
\f—\f—\f
y
\fy
() 
\fy\f\fy
2008 RDX