Temperature Gauge
This shows the temperature of the
engine's coolant. During normal
operation, the pointer should rise to
about the middle of the gauge. In
severe driving conditions, the pointer
may rise to the upper zone. If it
reaches the red (hot) mark, pull
safely to the side of the road. For
instructions and precautions on
checking the engine's cooling
system, see page434.
Fuel Gauge
This shows how much fuel you have.
It may show slightly more or less
than the actual amount.Avoid driving with an extremely low
fuel level. Running out of fuel could
cause the engine to misfire, damaging
the catalytic converter.
U.S. model is shown.TEMPERATURE
GAUGE
TACHOMETER SPEEDOMETER
FUEL GAUGEGauges7208/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX
SymbolMaintenance Main Items
A
●Replace engine oil
1
B
●Replace engine oil
1and oil filter
●Inspect front and rear brakes●Check parking brake adjustment●Inspect these items:●Tie rod ends, steering gear box, and boots●Suspension components●Driveshaft boots●Brake hoses and lines (including ABS)●All fluid levels and condition of fluids●Exhasut system
#
●Fuel lines and connections
#
1: If the message ‘‘SERVICE DUE NOW ’’does not appear more than
12 months after the display is reset, change the engine oil every
year.
# : See information on maintenance and emissions warranty in the
first column on page388.
NOTE:
●Independent of the maintenance messages in the multi-
information display, replace the brake fluid every 3 years.●Inspect idle speed every 160,000 miles (256,000 km).●Adjust the valves during services A, B, 1, 2, or 3 if they are
noisy. Symbol
Maintenance Sub Items
1
●Rotate tires
2●Replace air cleaner element
If you dirve in dusty conditions, replace every 15,000
miles (24,000 km).●Replace dust and pollen filterIf you dirve primarily in urban areas that have high
concentrations of soot in the air from industry and from
diesel-powered vehicles, replace every 15,000 miles
(24,000 km).●Inspect drive belt
3●Replace transmission and transfer fluid
4●Replace spark plugs●Replace timing belt and inspect water pump If you drive regularly in very high temperatures (over
110°F, 43°C), in very low temperatures (under -20°F, -
29°C), or towing a trailer, replace every 60,000 miles (U.
S.)/100,000 km (Canada).●Inspect valve clearance
5●Replace engine coolant
6●Replace rear differential fluid Driving in mountainous areas at very low vehicle
speeds or trailer towing results in higher level of
mechanical (shear) stress to fluid. This requires
differential fluid changes more frequently than
recommended by the maintenance minder. If you
regularly drive your vehicle under these conditions,
have the differential fluid changed at 7,500 miles (12,000
km), then every 15,000 miles (24,000 km).
Maintenance Minder
Maintenance Minder
39008/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX
4. If the temperature gauge stays atthe red mark, turn off the engine.
5. Look for any obvious coolant leaks, such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you find a leak, it
must be repaired before you
continue driving (see Emergency
Towing on page446).
6. If you do not find an obvious leak, check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Add coolant
if the level is below the MIN mark.
7. If there was no coolant in the reserve tank, you may need to add
coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the pointer
reaches the middle of the
temperature gauge, or lower,
before checking the radiator.
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.
8. Using gloves or a large heavy cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the first stop. After the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap, and turn it until it comes
off. 9. Start the engine and set the
climate control to AUTO at ‘‘Hi. ’’
Add coolant to the radiator up to
the base of the filler neck. If you
do not have the proper coolant
mixture available, you can add
plain water. Remember to have the
cooling system drained and refilled
with the proper mixture as soon as
you can.
10. Put the radiator cap back on tightly. Run the engine, and check
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair (see Emergency
Towing on page446).
11. If the temperature stays normal, check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has gone
down, add coolant to the MAX
mark. Put the cap back on tightly.
If the Engine Overheats
435
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
08/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX
Bulb ReplacementBack-up Lights
........................
407
Brake Lights
...........................
406
Front Parking Lights
...............
404
Front Side Marker Lights
........
404
Headlights
..............................
403
Rear Bulbs
..............................
406
Specifications
..........................
453
Taillights
.................................
406
Turn Signal Lights
..........
404, 406
Bulbs, Halogen
..........................
403
C
Cancel Button
............................
272
Capacities Chart
.........................
452
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
...... ......
58
Cargo
.........................................
332
Cargo Area Light
........................
161
Cargo Hook
................................
336
Cargo, How to Carry
..................
332
Carrying Cargo
..........................
332
CAUTION, Explanation of
...... .......
iii
CD Care
.....................................
229
Certification Label
......................
450 Chains, Tires
..............................
420
Changing a Flat Tire
..................
425
Changing Oil How to
....................................
394
When to
..................................
383
Charging System Indicator
...........................
65, 436
Checklist, Before Driving
...........
338
Childproof Door Locks
...............
131
Child Safety
..................................
37
Booster Seats
...........................
55
Child Seats
..........................
42, 45
Important Safety Reminders.....
41
Infants
......................................
42
Large Children
.........................
54
LATCH
.....................................
47
Risks with Airbags
...................
38
Small Children
.........................
43
Tethers
....................................
51
Where Should a Child Sit?
........
38
Child Seats
.............................
37, 45
LATCH Anchorage Points
........
47
Tether Anchorage Points
.........
51
Cleaning the Seat Belts
..............
409
Client Services
...........................
466
Climate Control System
.............
170 Clock
..........................................
236
Code, Audio System
...................
235
CO in the Exhaust
................
58, 460
Cold Weather, Starting in
...........
339
Compact Spare Tire
....................
424
Console Compartment
...............
164
Consumer Information (U.S. only)
.......................................
466
Controls, Instruments and
............
61
Coolant Adding
....................................
396
Checking
................................
326
Proper Solution
.......................
396
Temperature Gauge
.................
72
Crankcase Emissions Control System
...................................
460
Cruise Control Indicator
...............
70
Cruise Control Operation
...........
270
Cup Holders
...............................
163
Customize Settings
.. ....................
83
Door/Window Setup
...............
105
Lighting Setup
.........................
100
Meter Setup
.............................
89
Position Setup
..........................
97
Setting to Default
.....................
86
Wiper Setup
............................
113
IndexII08/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX
EngineAdding Engine Coolant
...........
396
Check Starting System
............
340
Coolant Temperature Gauge
....
72
If it Won ’t Start
........................
431
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
.............................
65, 437
Oil Life Indicator
.....................
383
Oil Pressure Indicator
.......
65, 436
Oil, What Kind to Use
.............
393
Overheating
............................
434
Specifications
..........................
453
Speed Limiter
..........................
346
Starting
...................................
339
Ethanol in Gasoline
....................
322
Evaporative Emissions Controls
..................................
460
Exhaust Fumes
............................
58
Exhaust Gas Recirculation System
...................................
461
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
Belts by
....................................
18 F
Fan, Interior
...............................
173
Features, Comfort and Convenience
...........................
169
Filling the Fuel Tank
..................
323
Filters Dust and Pollen
.......................
409
Oil
...........................................
394
Flashers, Hazard Warning
.........
122
Flat Tire, Changing a
.................
425
Floor Mats
.................................
410
Fluids Automatic Transmission
.........
399
Brake
......................................
401
Power Steering
........................
402
Windshield Washer
.................
398
FM Stereo Radio Reception
................................
205
Fog Lights
..................................
120
Folding the Second Seat
.............
144
Folding the Third Seat
...............
145
Four-way Flashers
......................
122
Front Airbags
...........................
9, 27 Front Seat
..................................
140
Adjusting
.............................. ...
140
Airbags
.................................
9, 27
Heaters
...................................
148
Fuel
............................................
322
Fill Door and Cap
....................
323
Gauge
......................................
72
Low Fuel Indicator
...................
71
Octane Requirement
...............
322
Opening the Fuel Fill Door Manually
.............................
446
Oxygenated
.............................
322
Reserve Indicator
.....................
71
Tank, Filling the
......................
323
Tighten Fuel Cap
....................
324
Fuel Economy
............................
327
Fuses, Checking the
..................
440
G
Gas Mileage, Improving
.............
327
Gasohol
......................................
322
Gasoline
.....................................
322
Gauge
......................................
72
Low Fuel Indicator
...................
71
IndexIV08/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX
Octane Requirement
...............
322
Tank, Refueling
.......................
323
Gas Station Procedures
..............
323
Gauges
Engine Coolant Temperature
.........................
72
Fuel
..........................................
72
Speedometer
............................
72
Tachometer
..............................
72
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
...................................
364
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight
Rating)
...................................
364
Gearshift Lever Positions Automatic Transmission
.........
342
Glove Box
..................................
164
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
...................................
364
H
Halogen Headlight Bulbs
...........
403
HandsFreeLink
®........................
278
HFL Buttons
...........................
280
Hazard Warning Flashers
..........
122 Headlights
.................................
118
Aiming
....................................
403
Automatic Lighting
.................
118
Daytime Running Lights
.........
120
High Beam Indicator
................
70
High Beams, Turning on
.........
118
Lights On Indicator
..................
70
Low Beams, Turning on
..........
118
Reminder Chime
.....................
118
Replacing Halogen Bulbs
........
403
Turning on
..............................
118
Washers
..................................
117
Headphones
...............................
266
Head Restraints
..........................
141
Heated Mirror
............................
156
Heaters, Seats
............................
148
Heating and Cooling
..................
170
High-Low Beam Switch
..............
118
HomeLink
®Universal
Transceiver
............................
276
Hood, Opening and Closing
the
..........................................
325
Horn
..........................................
115 I
Identification Number,
Vehicle
...................................
450
Ignition Keys
........................................
126
Switch
.....................................
129
Timing Control System
...........
461
Immobilizer System
...................
128
Important Safety Precautions
.........
6
CONTINUED
Index
V
INDEX
08/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX
Fuel Fill Door
..........................
323
Glove Box
...............................
164
Lockout Prevention
.................
131
Power Door
.............................
130
Tailgate
...........................
131, 132
Low Coolant Level
......................
326
Lower Anchors
.............................
47
Low Fuel Indicator
.......................
71
Low Oil Pressure Indicator
...........................
65, 436
Lubricant Specifications Chart
......................................
452
Luggage, Storing (cargo)
...........
332
M
Maintenance
..............................
381
Main Items and Sub Items
......
387
Minder
....................................
383
Owner's Maintenance Checks
................................
389
Safety
......................................
382
Schedule
.................................
390
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
.......
437
Memory, Driving Position
..........
157 Message Display
..........................
80
Message Indicator
.......................
69
Meters, Gauges
............................
72
Methanol in Gasoline
.................
322
Mirrors, Adjusting
......................
155
Modifications
.............................
331
Modifying Your Vehicle
.............
331
Moonroof
...................................
152
Multi-Information Display
............
73
N
Neutral Gear Position
.................
342
New Vehicle Break-in
.................
322
NOTICE, Explanation of
................
i
Numbers, Identification
.............
450
O
Odometer
.....................................
75
Odometer, Trip
............................
75
Off-Highway Driving Guidelines
..............................
378
Off-Road Precautions
..................
378 Oil
Change, How to
......................
394
Change, When to
....................
383
Checking Engine
....................
326
Life, Engine
.............................
383
Pressure Indicator
.............
65, 436
Selecting Proper Viscosity Chart
...................................
393
ON (Ignition Key Position)
........
129
Outside Mirrors
.........................
154
Outside Temperature
...................
76
Overheating, Engine
..................
434
Owner's Maintenance Checks
...................................
389
Oxygenated Fuels
......................
322
P
Panel Brightness Control
...........
123
Park Gear Position
.....................
342
Parking
......................................
350
Parking Brake
............................
153
Parking Brake and Brake System
Indicator
...........................
65, 438
Parking Lights
...........................
118
CONTINUED
Index
VII
INDEX
08/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX