
2009 MDX Online Reference Owner's Manual
Contents
Owner's Identification Form
Introduction
.............................................................................................................................\
............................. i
A Few Words About Safety ......................................................................\
........................................................ iii
Important Handling Information ........................................................................\
............................................ iv
Your Vehicle at a Glance (main controls) ....................................................\
................................................ 3
Driver and Passenger Safety (seat belts, SRS, and child protection) ......................\
.............................. 5
Instruments and Controls
(indicators, gauges, multi-information display, dashboard, and steering column)
..... 61
Features
(
climate control,audio,rear entertainment,steering wheel,security,cruise \
control,and other convenience items
)
......... 169
Before Driving
(fuel, vehicle break- in, and cargo loading) ................\
..................................................... 321
Driving
(engine and transmission operation) .........................................\
....................................................... 337
Maintenance
(minder, fluid checking, minor services, and vehicle storage)........................................... 381
Taking Care of the Unexpected
(flat tire, dead battery, overheating, and fuses) ............................... 423
Technical Information
(vehicle specifications, tires, and emissions controls) ....................................... 449
Warranty and C
lient Relations (U. S. and Canada only) (warranty and contact information) .......... 465
Index ........................................................................\
....................................................... ................\
........................ I
Service Information Summary
( fluid capacities and tire pressures)
\
\
1 00X31-STX-6200

Contents
A convenient reference to the
sections in this manual.
Your Vehicle at a Glance
A quick reference to the main
controls in your vehicle.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Important information about the
proper use and care of your vehicle's
seat belts, an overview of the
supplemental restraint system, and
valuable information on how to
protect children with child restraints.
Instruments and Controls
Explains the purpose of each
instrument panel indicator and
gauge, and how to use the controls
on the dashboard and steering
column.
Features
How to operate the climate control
system, the audio system, rear
entertainment system, and other
convenience features.Before Driving
What gasoline to use, how to break-
in your new vehicle, and how to load
luggage and other cargo.
Driving
The proper way to start the engine,
shift the transmission, and park; plus
what you need to know if you're
planning to tow a trailer.
Maintenance
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.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
This section covers several problems
motorists sometimes experience, and
details how to handle them.
Technical Information
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities,
and technical information.
Warranty and Client Relations
(U.S. and Canada only)
A summary of the warranties
covering your new vehicle, and how
to contact us for any reason. Refer to
your warranty manual for detailed
information.
Index
Service Information Summary
A summary of the information you
need when you pull up to the fuel
pump.Overview of Contents208/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX

Before you begin driving your
vehicle, you should know what
gasoline to use and how to check the
levels of important fluids. You also
need to know how to properly store
luggage or packages. The
information in this section will help
you. If you plan to add any
accessories to your vehicle, please
read the information in this section
first.Break-in Period
...........................
322
Fuel Recommendation
................
322
Service Station Procedures
.........
323
Refueling
.................................
323
Tighten Fuel Cap Message
.....
324
Opening and Closing the
Hood
...................................
325
Oil Check
................................
326
Engine Coolant Check
............
326
Fuel Economy
.............................
327
Accessories and
Modifications
..........................
330
Carrying Cargo
...........................
332
Before Driving
321
Bef ore Driving
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2009 MDX

Refueling1. Park with the driver's side closestto the service station pump.
2. Open the fuel fill door by pressing the button in the driver's door. (To
open the fuel fill door manually,
see page446.)
3. Remove the fuel fill cap slowly.You may hear a hissing sound as
pressure inside the tank escapes.
Place the cap in the holder on the
fuel fill door.
4. Stop filling the tank after the fuel nozzle automatically clicks off. Do
not try to ‘‘top off ’’the tank. Leave
some room for the fuel to expand
with temperature changes.
If the fuel nozzle keeps clicking off
even
though the tank is not full, there may
be a problem with your vehicle's fuel
vapor recovery system. The system
helps keep fuel vapor from going into
the atmosphere. Try filling at another
pump. If this does not fix the
problem, consult your dealer.
Gasoline is highly flammable
and explosive. You can be
burned or seriously injured
when handling fuel.●Stop the engine, and keep
heat, sparks, and flame
away.●Handle fuel only outdoors.●Wipe up spills immediately.
Push
FUEL FILL CAP
TETHER
HOLDER
CONTINUED
Service Station Procedures
323
Bef ore Driving
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2009 MDX

5. Screw the fuel fill cap back on untilit clicks at least once. If you do not
properly tighten the cap, you will
see a ‘‘TIGHTEN FUEL CAP ’’
message on the multi-information
display (see right column on this
page), and the malfunction
indicator lamp may also come on
(see page437).
6. Push the fuel fill door closed until it latches. Tighten Fuel Cap Message
Your vehicle's on board diagnostic system
will detect a loose or missing fuel fill cap as
an evaporative system leak. The first time a
leak is detected a
‘‘TIGHTEN FUEL CAP ’’
message appears on the multi-information
display. Turn the engine off, and confirm
the fuel fill cap is installed. If it is, loosen it,
then retighten it until it clicks at least once.
The message should go off after several
days of normal driving once you tighten or
replace the fuel fill cap. To scroll to another
message, press the INFO button. The
‘‘ TIGHTEN FUEL CAP ’’message will
appear each time you restart the engine
until the system turns the message off.
If the system still detects a leak in
the vehicle's evaporative emissions
system, the malfunction indicator
lamp (MIL) comes on. If the fuel fill
cap was not already tightened, turn
the engine off, and check or
retighten the fuel fill cap until it
clicks at least once. The MIL should
go off after several days of normal
driving once the cap is tightened or
replaced. If the MIL does not go off,
have your vehicle inspected by a
dealer. For more information, see
page437.
Service Station Procedures32408/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX

Unscrew and remove the engine oil
fill cap on top of the valve cover. Pour
in the oil slowly and carefully so you
do not spill. Clean up any spills
immediately. Spilled oil could
damage components in the engine
compartment.
Reinstall the engine oil fill cap, and
tighten it securely. Wait a few
minutes, and recheck the oil level on
the engine oil dipstick. Do not fill
above the upper mark; you could
damage the engine.Recommended Engine Oil
Oil is a major contributor to your
engine's performance and longevity.
Always use a premium-grade 5W-20
detergent oil displaying the API
Certification Seal. This seal indicates
the oil is energy conserving, and that
it meets the American Petroleum
Institute's latest requirements. It is
highly recommended that you use
Acura motor oil in your vehicle.
Make sure the API Certification Seal
says
‘‘For Gasoline Engines. ’’
The oil viscosity or weight is
provided on the container's label.
5W-20 oil is formulated for year-
round protection of your vehicle to
improve cold weather starting and
fuel economy.
ENGINE OIL FILL CAP
API CERTIFICATION SEAL
Ambient Temperature
CONTINUED
Adding Engine Oil
393
Maint enance
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2009 MDX

If this indicator comes on
while driving, it means one
of the engine's emissions control
systems may have a problem. Even
though you may feel no difference in
your vehicle's performance, it can
reduce your fuel economy and cause
increased emissions. Continued
operation may cause serious damage.
If you have recently refueled your
vehicle, the indicator coming on
could be due to a loose or missing
fuel fill cap. Tighten the cap until it
clicks at least once. Tightening the
cap will not turn the indicator off
immediately; it can take several days
of normal driving. If the indicator comes on repeatedly,
even though it may turn off as you
continue driving, have your vehicle
checked by the dealer as soon as
possible.
If you keep driving with the malfunction
indicator lamp on, you can damage
your vehicle's emissions controls and
engine. Those repairs may not be
covered by your vehicle's warranties.
You will also see a
‘‘CHECK
EMISSION SYSTEM ’’message on
the multi-information display (see
page81). Readiness Code
Your vehicle has certain
‘‘readiness
codes ’’that are part of the on-board
diagnostics for the emissions
systems. In some states, part of the
emissions testing is to make sure
these codes are set. If they are not
set, the test cannot be completed.
If the battery in your vehicle has
been disconnected or gone dead,
these codes may be erased. It takes
several days of driving under various
conditions to set the codes again.
To check if they are set, turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position, without starting the engine.
The malfunction indicator lamp will
come on for 20 seconds. If it then
goes off, the readiness codes are set.
If it blinks five times, the readiness
codes are not set. If possible, do not
take your vehicle for an emissions
test until the readiness codes are set.
Refer to Emissions Testing for
more information (see page463).
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
437
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
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DimensionsLength 190.7 in (4,844 mm)
Width 78.5 in (1,995 mm)
Height 68.2 in (1,733 mm)
Wheelbase 108.3 in (2,750 mm)
Track Front 67.7 in (1,720 mm) Rear 67.5 in (1,715 mm)
Weights Gross vehicle weight rating See the tire information label attached to the driver's doorjamb.
Gross combined weight
ꭧ 1
rating (GCWR) 10,053 lbs (4,560 kg)
ꭧ 1: The GCWR must be reduced 2 percent for every 1,000 feet (305
meters) of elevation.
Air Conditioning Refrigerant type HFC-134a (R-134a)
Charge quantity 21.2-22.9 oz (600 -650 g)
Lubricant type ND-OIL 8
Seating Capacities Total 7
Front 2
Second 3
Third 2Capacities
Fuel tank Approx.
21.00 US gal (79.5 L)
Engine
coolant Change
ꭧ
1
1.93 US gal (7.3 L)
Total 2.43 US gal (9.2 L)
Engine oil Change
ꭧ 2
4.5 US qt (4.3 L)
Including
filter
Without
filter 4.2 US qt (4.0 L)
Total 5.3 US qt (5.0 L)
Automatic
transmission
fluid Change
3.0 US qt (2.8 L)
Total 8.3 US qt (7.9 L)
Rear
differential
fluid Change
2.6 US qt (2.5 L)
Total 2.9 US qt (2.7 L)
Transfer
assembly
fluid Change
0.4 US qt (0.4 L)
Total 0.4 US qt (0.4 L)
Windshield
washer
reservoir U.S. vehicles 4.2 US qt (4.0 L)
Canadian
vehicles
6.1 US qt (5.8 L)
ꭧ 1: Including the coolant in the reserve tank and that remaining in the
engine
Reserve tank capacity:
0.18 US gal (0.7 L)
ꭧ 2: Excluding the oil remaining in the engine
Specifications45208/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX