2009 Acura MDX display

The transmission may automatically
downshift from the higher gear to
the lower gear under these
conditions:
Driving on level roads and downhillTo shift from Speed range
4→ 3 under 19 mph
(31 km/h)
5 → 4 under 38 mph
(60 km/h)
Driving uphill To shift from Speed range
4→ 3 under 34 mph
(55 km/h)
5 → 4 under 47 mph
(75 km/h) Downshifting gives you more power
when climbing, and provides engine
braking when going down a steep
hill.
The transmission also shifts
automatically as the vehicle comes to
a complete stop. It downshifts to first
gear when the vehicle speed is under
10 mph (16 km/h).
If you try to manually downshift at a
speed that would cause the engine to
exceed the redline in a lower gear,
the transmission does not downshift.
The gear indicator will flash the
number of the lower gear several
times, then return to the higher gear.
If the vehicle speed slows to below
the redline of the selected lower gear
position while the indicator is
flashing, the transmission
downshifts, and the display shows
the selected lower gear.Automatic Transmission34408/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX

The table shows the speed ranges for
upshifting and downshifting.To shift from Speed range
1→ 2 over 0 mph
(0 km/h)
2 → 3 over 10 mph
(16 km/h)
3 → 4 over 19 mph
(31 km/h)
4 → 5 over 37 mph
(60 km/h) To shift from Speed range
3→ 2 under 60 mph
(96 km/h)
4 → 3 under 93 mph
(150 km/h)
5 → 4 under 118 mph
(190 km/h)
Starting in Second GearWhen you are in Sequential
SportShift mode, and the vehicle is
stopped, push forward on the shift
lever to shift to second gear. You will
see‘‘2’’ in the display. Starting out in
second gear will help to reduce
wheelspin in deep snow or on a
slippery surface.
If you start out in second gear, the
transmission will be fixed in that
gear.
The transmission will not
automatically downshift to first gear
even when the vehicle speed is
under 10 mph (16 km/h). You need
to shift down to first gear manually.
CONTINUED
Automatic Transmission
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Driving
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2009 MDX

The super handling-all wheel drive
(SH-AWD) system is a full time all-
wheel-drive system that
automatically controls and transfers
varying amounts of engine torque to
all wheels independently, according
to the driving conditions.
While the SH-AWD system helps to
enhance the vehicle's driving
stability in all situations, it is still
your responsibility to drive and
corner at reasonable speeds and to
leave a sufficient margin of safety.SH-AWD Torque Distribution
Monitor
The SH-AWD torque distribution
monitor on the multi-information
display shows you the amount of
torque being sent to the wheels.
Each wheel: right front (RF), left
front (LF), right rear (RR), and left
rear (LR), has its own torque
indicator.Each torque indicator is displayed as
a bar graph divided into 5 segments.
The number of segments represents
the amount of torque distributed to
each wheel.
When there is only a slight change in
torque distribution while driving,
such as cruising on level roads at the
same speed, the torque distribution
monitor may stop displaying the
amount of torque. This is not a
system problem. The monitor will
show the amount if the system
senses any change in torque
distribution.
TORQUE INDICATOR
TORQUE INDICATOR
Super Handling-All Wheel Drive
™(SH-AWD
®) System
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2009 MDX

If the SH-AWD indicator blinks while
driving, it indicates the differential
temperature is too high. You will also
see an‘‘SH-AWD DIFF TEMP.
HIGH ’’message on the multi-
information display. If this happens,
pull to the side of the road when it is
safe, shift to Park, and let the engine
idle until the indicator goes out. If
the indicator does not go out, take
your vehicle to a dealer to have it
checked.
If the SH-AWD indicator on the
instrument panel stays on, and the
‘‘ CHECK SH-AWD SYSTEM ’’
message also appears on the multi-
information display, there is problem
with the SH-AWD system. Your vehicle still has normal front-
wheel drive with vehicle stability
assist (VSA), but does not have the
advantages of SH-AWD. Have your
vehicle checked by a dealer as soon
as possible.
Super Handling-All Wheel Drive
™(SH-AWD
®) System
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Driving
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2009 MDX

Your vehicle is equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
that turns on every time you start the
engine and monitors the pressure in
your tires while driving.
Each tire has its own pressure
sensor. If the air pressure of a tire
becomes significantly low, the sensor
in that tire immediately sends a
signal that causes the low tire
pressure/TPMS indicator in the
instrument panel to come on. If this
happens, you will see which tire is
losing pressure on the multi-
information display along with a
‘‘CHECK TIRE PRESSURE ’’
message.
Low Tire Pressure/
TPMS Indicator
When the low tire pressure/TPMS
indicator is on, one or more of your
tires is significantly underinflated.
You should stop and check your tires
as soon as possible, and inflate them
to the proper pressure as indicated
on the vehicle's tire information
placard.
It is possible that the pressures
shown on the multi-information
display and the pressures you
manually measure are slightly
different.
If the difference is significant or you
cannot make the low tire pressure/
TPMS indicator and message on the
multi-information display go out after
inflating the tires to the specified
values, have your dealer check the
system as soon as possible. If you think you can safely drive a
short distance to a service station,
proceed slowly to the station, then
inflate the tire to the recommended
pressure.
If the tire is flat, or if the tire pressure
is too low to continue driving, replace
the tire with the compact spare tire
(see page425).
Driving on a significantly under-
inflated tire causes the tire to
overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inflation also reduces fuel
efficiency and tire tread life, and may
affect the vehicle's handling and
stopping ability.
Because tire pressure varies by
temperature and other conditions,
the low tire pressure/TPMS
indicator may come on unexpectedly.
CONTINUED
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
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2009 MDX

For example, if you check and fill
your tires in a warm area, then drive
in extremely cold weather, the tire
pressure will be lower than
measured and could be underinflated
and cause the low tire pressure/
TPMS indicator to come on. Or, if
you check and adjust your tire
pressure in cooler conditions, and
drive into extremely hot conditions,
the tire may become overinflated.
However, the low tire pressure/
TPMS indicator will not come on if
the tires are overinflated.
Refer to page415for tire inflation
guidelines.
If there is a problem with the TPMS,
this indicator begins to flash. It stops
flashing after approximately 1
minute, then stays on. You will also
see a‘‘CHECK TPMS SYSTEM’’
message on the multi-information
display (see page 82). Although your tire pressure is
monitored, you must manually check
the tire pressures monthly.
Each tire, including the spare, should
be checked monthly when the
vehicle is cold, and set to the
recommended inflation pressure as
specified on the vehicle placard and
in the owner's manual (see page
416).
Tire Pressure Monitor
To select the tire pressure monitor,
press the INFO button several times
with the ignition switch in the ON
(II) position.
You will see the above display on the
multi-information display when all
tire pressures are normal.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)35208/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX

To see the inflation pressures of all
four tires, press the SEL/RESET
button. The display changes as
shown above.
Each tire pressure is shown in PSI
(U.S. models) or in kPa (Canadian
models).
Each tire has its own pressure
sensor. If the air pressure of a tire
becomes significantly low, the sensor
in that tire immediately sends a
signal that causes the low tire
pressure/TPMS indicator in the
instrument panel to come on. If this
happens, you will see which tire is
losing pressure on the multi-
information display along with a
‘‘CHECK TIRE PRESSURE ’’
message.
U.S. model
Canadian model
This shows that front left tire
is losing pressure.
CONTINUED
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
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Driving
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2009 MDX

If any of the tires has low pressure,
the tire pressure monitor also shows
the above message to warn you
about the low tire pressure when you
select the display by pressing the
INFO button several times.
Following this display, press the
SEL/RESET button to see each tire
pressure.
When you continue driving after
installing the spare tire, you will also
see this message on the multi-
information display.
If there is a problem with the TPMS,
the tire pressure monitor shows a
‘‘SYSTEM FUNCTION ERROR’’
message and the tire pressure
readings are not displayed. If this
happens, you will first see a system
warning message ‘‘CHECK TPMS
SYSTEM ’’on the multi-information
display. TPMS System Failure
If there is a problem with the TPMS,
you will see the above message on
the multi-information display.
If you see this message, the system
is off and is not monitoring the tire
pressures. Have the system checked
by your dealer as soon as possible.
Also, the low tire pressure/TPMS
indicator begins to flash, then stays
on (see page352).
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)35408/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX