2009 Acura MDX Owner's Manual

Head RestraintsSeepage 14for important safety
information and a warning about improperly positioning head restraints.Your vehicle is equipped with head
restraints in all seating positions to
help protect you and your
passengers from whiplash and other
injuries.
They are most effective when you
adjust them so the center of the back
of the occupant's head rests against
the center of the restraint.
Adjusting the Head RestraintThe head restraints adjust for height.
You need both hands to adjust the
restraint. Do not attempt to adjust it
while driving. To raise it, pull
upward. To lower the restraint, push
the release button sideways, and
push the restraint down.FRONT
SEAT-
BACK
LEGS RELEASE BUTTONCUSHION
CONTINUED
Seats
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Removing the Head RestraintTo remove a head restraint for
cleaning or repair, pull it up as far as
it will go. Push the release button,
then pull the restraint out of the seat-
back.When reinstalling a head restraint,
put the legs back in place. Then
adjust it to the appropriate height
while pressing the release button.
Make sure the head restraint locks in
position when you reinstall it.
Failure to reinstall the head
restraints can result in severe
injury during a crash.
Always replace the head
restraints before driving.
SECOND CENTER AND THIRD ROW
LEGS RELEASE BUTTON
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Active Head RestraintsThe driver's and front passenger's
seats have active head restraints. If
the vehicle is struck severely from
the rear, the occupant properly
secured with the seat belt will be
pushed against the seat-back and the
head restraint will automatically
move forward.
This reduces the distance between
the restraint and the occupant's
head. It also helps protect the
occupants against whiplash and
injuries to the neck and upper spine.After a collision, the activated
restraint should return to its normal
position.
If the restraints do not return to their
normal position, or in the event of a
severe collision, have the vehicle
inspected by an Acura dealer.
For a head restraint system to work
properly:
●Do not hang any items on the head
restraints, or from the restraint
legs.●Do not place any object between
an occupant and the seat-back.●Install each restraint in its proper
location.●Only use genuine Acura
replacement head restraints.
CONTINUED
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Adjusting the Second Row SeatsTo change the seat-back angle of the
seats in the second row, pull up on
the handle on the outside of the seat-
back, and push the seat-back.
Overall, the seat-back has six
different positions.Folding the Second Row Seats
The left and right halves can be
folded separately.
1. To unlatch the detachable anchor
before folding the seat-back, insert
the latch plate into the slot on the
side of the anchor buckle (see
page146)and allow the seat belt to
retract. Store the detachable
anchor and seat belt latch plates in
the retractor housing.
2. Lower the head restraints to their lowest positions.
3. Pull up the handle on the outside of the seat-back.
4. Fold the seat-back forward.
Reverse this procedure to return the
seat to the upright position. Make
sure the seat is locked securely
before driving. Make sure that the folded seat-back
does not press against the front
passenger's seat, as this could cause
the weight sensors to work
improperly.
HANDLE
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Third Row AccessTo get into the third row seats, pull
up the lever on the side of the
passenger's side second row seat-
back. The seat-back will tilt forward,
and then can be slid forward.
After you return the seat-back to the
upright position, push the whole seat
backwards until it latches. Make sure
the seat is fully latched before sitting
in it.Folding the Third Row Seat
1. Use the latch plate to release the
seat belt from the detachable
anchor (see page146).
2. Lower the head restraints to their lowest positions.
NOTE: To fold the third row seat, the
second row seat-back must be folded
down or in the full up right position.
3. Unlock the seat-back by pulling the handle. Push the seat-back
forward.
Make sure the outer shoulder belts
are positioned on each hook on the
side panel whenever the third seat is
folded.
RELEASE LEVER
THIRD SEAT HANDLE
CONTINUED
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Reverse this procedure to return the
seat to the upright position. Make
sure the seat is locked securely
before driving. Reconnect the seat
belts to the detachable anchors.
Make sure all items in the cargo area
are secured. Loose items can fly
forward and cause injury if you have
to brake hard (SeeCarrying Cargo
on page332). Detachable Anchor
The seat belts in the second row
center seat and the third row seats
are equipped with detachable
anchors.
To unlatch the detachable anchor,
insert the latch plate into the slot on
the side of the anchor buckle. Store
the detachable anchor and seat belt
latch plates in the retractor housing.When the seats are returned to the
upright position, these detachable
anchors should be latched back
properly.
Using the seat belt with the
detachable anchor unlatched
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash.
Before using the seat belt,
make sure the detachable
anchor is correctly latched.
LATCH PLATE
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Pull out the small latch plate and the
latch plate from each holding slot in
the ceiling, and pull out the seat belt
to extend it.
Pull out the outer shoulder belts
from the hook. Both of the third-row
hooks should only be used when the
seat belt is detached.
Line up the triangle marks on the
small latch plate and anchor buckle
when reattaching the belt and
buckle.
Tug on the seat belt to verify that the
detachable anchor is securely
latched. Make sure the seat belt is
not twisted.
SECOND ROW CENTER SEATLATCH PLATE
SMALL LATCH PLATE
THIRD ROW SEATS
HOOK
SMALL LATCH PLATE
ANCHOR BUCKLE TRIANGLE
MARKS
Seats
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Both front seats are equipped with
seat heaters. Because of the sensors
for the side airbag cutoff system,
there is no heater in the passenger's
seat-back. The ignition switch must
be in the ON (II) position to use the
heaters.
Push the front of the switch, HI, to
rapidly heat up the seat. After the
seat reaches a comfortable
temperature, select LO by pushing
the back of the switch. This will keep
the seat warm.
U.S. Entertainment Packages andCanadian modelsThe outer second row seat cushions
and seat-backs are equipped with
seat heaters. Turning the switch on
the driver side warms the outer seat
behind the driver's seat only. The
passenger side switch warms the
outer seat behind the front passenger
seat.
Passenger's
Seat
HEATERS Driver's
Seat
Front seat HI
LOW
Second row seat
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2009 MDX