2009 Acura MDX parking brake

Driving the vehicle with the parking
brake applied can damage the rear
brakes and axles. A beeper will sound if
the vehicle is driven with the parking
brake on.Mirrors
Keep the inside and outside mirrors
clean and adjusted for best visibility.
Be sure to adjust the mirrors before
you start driving.
The inside mirror can automatically
darken to reduce glare. To turn on
this feature, press the button on the
bottom of the mirror. The AUTO
indicator comes on as a reminder.
When it is on, the mirror darkens
when it senses the headlights of a
vehicle behind you, then returns to
normal visibility when the lights are
gone. Press the button again to turn
off this feature.INDICATOR
AUTO BUTTON SENSOR
Parking Brake, Mirrors15408/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX

Opening and Closing the Hood1. Park the vehicle, and set theparking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower left corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.
2. Put your fingers under the frontedge of the hood near the center.
Slide your hand to your left until
you feel the hood latch handle.
Push this handle up until it
releases the hood. Lift up the
hood.
If the hood latch handle moves stiffly,
or if you can open the hood without
lifting the handle, the mechanism
should be cleaned and lubricated. 3. Lift the hood up most of the way.
The hydraulic supports will lift it
up the rest of the way and hold it
up.
To close the hood, lower the hood to
about a foot (30 cm) above the
fender, then press down firmly with
your hands. Make sure it is securely
latched.
HOOD RELEASE HANDLE
LATCH
Service Station Procedures
325
Bef ore Driving
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2009 MDX

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
automatic transmission. It also
includes important information on
parking your vehicle, the braking
system, the Super Handling-All
Wheel Drive™(SH-AWD
®) system,
the vehicle stability assist (VSA
®)
system, active damper system, the
tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS), and facts you need if you
are planning to tow a trailer or drive
off-high way. Driving Guidelines
......................
338
Preparing to Drive
......................
338
Starting the Engine
.....................
339
Check Starting System
Message
.............................
340
Automatic Transmission
.............
341
Super Handling-All Wheel Drive ™(SH-AWD
®)
System
................................
348
Parking
.......................................
350
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)
...................................
351
Braking System
..........................
356
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
...............
357
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA
®),
aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
.....................
359
Active Damper System
................
361
Towing a Trailer
..........................
363
Trailer Stability Assist
.................
376
Off-Highway Driving Guidelines
...............................
378
Driving
337
Driving
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2009 MDX

6. Check the adjustment of the insideand outside mirrors (see page
154).
7. Check the steering wheel adjustment (see page 124).
8. Make sure the doors and tailgate are securely closed and locked.
9. Fasten your seat belt. Check that your passengers have fastened
their seat belts (see page 15).
10. When you start the engine, check the gauges and indicators in the
instrument panel, and the
messages on the multi-information
display (see pages 63,72and 81). Starting the Engine
Your vehicle's starting system has an
auto control mode. When you turn
the ignition switch to the START (III)
position, this feature keeps the
engine's starter motor running until
the engine starts. Follow these
instructions to start the engine:
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. In cold weather, turn off all
electrical accessories to reduce the
drain on the battery.
3. Make sure the shift lever is in Park. Press on the brake pedal.
4. Without touching the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition switch to
the START (III) position, then
release the ignition switch. You do
not need to hold the ignition
switch in the START (III) position
to start the engine. Depending on
the outside temperature, the
starter motor runs for about 6 to 9
seconds until the engine starts. If you hold the ignition switch in
the START (III) position for more
than 7 seconds, the starter motor,
depending on the outside
temperature, runs for about 10 to
25 seconds until the engine starts.
If the engine does not start, wait at
least 10 seconds before trying
again.
The immobilizer system protects your
vehicle from theft. If an improperly-
coded key (or other device) is used, the
engine's fuel system is disabled. For
more information, see page
128.
CONTINUED
Preparing to Drive, Starting the Engine
339
Driving
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2009 MDX

Drive (D
3)－ This position is similar
to D, except only the first three gears
are selected. Use D
3when towing a
trailer in hilly terrain, or to provide
engine braking when going down a
steep hill. D
3can also keep the
transmission from cycling between
third, fourth, and fifth gears in stop-
and-go driving.
For faster acceleration when in D
3or
D, you can get the transmission to
automatically downshift by pushing
the accelerator pedal to the floor.
The transmission will shift down one,
two, or three gears, depending on
your speed. Engine Speed Limiter
If you exceed the maximum speed
for the gear you are in, the engine
speed will enter into the
tachometer's red zone. If this occurs,
you may feel the engine cut in and
out. This is caused by a limiter in the
engine's computer controls. The
engine will run normally when you
reduce the rpm below the red zone.
Before downshifting, make sure the
engine will not go into the
tachometer's red zone.
Shift Lock Release
This allows you to move the shift
lever out of Park if the normal
method of pushing on the brake
pedal and pressing the release button
does not work.
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Remove the key from the ignition
switch.
Automatic Transmission34608/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX

Always use the parking brake when
you park your vehicle. Make sure the
parking brake is set firmly, or your
vehicle may roll if it is parked on an
incline.
Set the parking brake before you put
the transmission in Park. This keeps
the vehicle from moving and putting
pressure on the parking mechanism
in the transmission.Parking Tips
●Make sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.●Turn off the lights.●Place any packages, valuables, etc.
in the cargo area or take them with
you.●Lock the doors and the tailgate.
●Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other flammable
materials. The hot three way
catalytic converter could cause
these materials to catch on fire.●If the vehicle is facing uphill, turn
the front wheels away from the
curb.●If the vehicle is facing downhill,
turn the front wheels toward the
curb.●Check the indicator on the
instrument panel to verify that the
security system is set.●Make sure the parking brake is
fully released before driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or
damage the rear brakes.
Parking35008/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX

ABS Indicator
If this indicator comes on, the anti-
lock function of the braking system
has shut down. The brakes still work
like a conventional system, but
without anti-lock. You should have
your dealer inspect your vehicle as
soon as possible.
You will also see a ‘‘CHECK ABS
SYSTEM ’’message on the multi-
information display (see page81).
If the indicator comes on while
driving, test the brakes as instructed
on page438. If the ABS indicator and the brake
system indicator come on together,
and the parking brake is fully
released, the EBD system may also
be shut down.
Test your brakes as instructed on
page438.If the brakes feel normal,
drive slowly and have your vehicle
repaired by your dealer as soon as
possible. Avoid sudden hard braking
which could cause the rear wheels to
lock up and possibly lead to a loss of
control.
The VSA indicator will come on
along with the ABS indicator.
Important Safety Reminders
ABS does not reduce the time or
distance it takes to stop the
vehicle.
It only helps with steering
control during braking.
ABS will not prevent a skid that
results from changing direction
abruptly, such as trying to take a
corner too fast or making a sudden
lane change. Always drive at a safe
speed for the road and weather
conditions.
ABS cannot prevent a loss of
stability. Always steer moderately
when you are braking hard. Severe
or sharp steering wheel movement
can still cause your vehicle to veer
into oncoming traffic or off the road.
A vehicle with ABS may require a
longer distance to stop on loose or
uneven surfaces, such as gravel or
snow, than a vehicle without anti-
lock.
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)35808/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX

Driving on HillsWhen climbing hills, closely watch
your temperature gauge. If it nears
the red (Hot) mark, turn the air
conditioning off, reduce speed and, if
necessary, pull to the side of the road
to let the engine cool.
If the transmission shifts frequently
while going up a hill, shift to D
3.
If you must stop when facing uphill,
use the foot brake or parking brake.
Do not try to hold the vehicle in place
by pressing on the accelerator, as
this can cause the automatic
transmission to overheat.
When driving down hills, reduce
your speed and shift down to D3.Do
not ‘‘ride ’’the brakes. Remember, it
takes longer to slow down and
stop when towing a trailer.
Handling Crosswinds and BuffetingCrosswinds and air turbulence
caused by passing trucks can disrupt
your steering and cause the trailer to
sway. When being passed by a large
vehicle, keep a constant speed, and
steer straight ahead. Do not try to
make quick steering or braking
corrections.Backing UpAlways drive slowly and have
someone guide you when backing
up. Grip the
bottom
of the steering
wheel, then turn the wheel to the left
to get the trailer to move to the left.
Turn the wheel to the right to move
the trailer to the right.
ParkingFollow all normal precautions when
parking, including putting the
transmission in Park and firmly
setting the parking brake. Also, place
wheel chocks at each of the trailer's
tires.
Retrieving a BoatIf the vehicle tires slip when
retrieving a boat from the water,
keep the transmission in the D
position and do not use the
sequential sport shift mode. This
prevents the transmission damage.
Towing Your Vehicle
Your vehicle is not designed to be
towed behind a motor home. If your
vehicle needs to be towed in an
emergency, see page446.
Towing a Trailer
375
Driving
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2009 MDX