2009 Acura MDX instrument panel

Congratulations! Your selection of a 2009 Acura MDX was a wise investment.
It will give you years of driving pleasure.
One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new vehicle is to read
this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls and
convenience items. Afterwards, keep this owner's manual in your vehicle so
you can refer to it at any time.
Several warranties protect your new vehicle. Read the warranty booklet
thoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rights
and responsibilities.
Maintaining your vehicle according to the maintenance minder shown in the
instrument panel helps to keep your driving trouble-free while it preserves
your investment. When your vehicle needs maintenance, keep in mind that
your dealer's staff is specially trained in servicing the many systems unique
to your vehicle. Your dealer is dedicated to your satisfaction and will be
pleased to answer any questions and concerns.As you read this manual, you will find
information that is preceded by a
symbol. This information is
intended to help you avoid damage to
your vehicle, other property, or the
environment.
Introduction
i
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2009 MDX

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

ꭧ: If equipped
DRIVER'S FRONT
AIRBAG (P.9,27)
DRIVING POSITION
MEMORY SYSTEM
(P.157)
POWER DOOR LOCK
MASTER SWITCH
(P.130)
PARKING BRAKE
RELEASE HANDLE
(P.153)
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
(P.149)
FUEL FILL DOOR
RELEASE BUTTON
(P.323)
POWER TAILGATE
BUTTON
ꭧ(P. 132)
HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE (P.325) PARKING BRAKE
PEDAL (P.153)AUXILIARY INPUT JACKS
ꭧ
(P.
267) HEADPHONE CONNECTORS
ꭧ
(P.
268)
INSTRUMENT PANEL
INDICATORS (P.63)
HomeLink
®BUTTONS
(P.276) MOONROOF SWITCH
(P.152)MIRROR CONTROL
AUTO BUTTON
ꭧ
(P.
154)
PASSENGER'S
FRONT AIRBAG
(P.9,27)
CLIMATE CONTROL
SYSTEM (P.170)
AUDIO SYSTEM
(P.180)
AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
(P.341)
REAR CLIMATE
CONTROL SYSTEM
(P.175)
GAUGES (P.72)
CONTINUED
Your Vehicle at a Glance
3
Your V ehicle at a Glance
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2009 MDX

ꭧ1:To use the horn, press the center pad of the steering wheel.
ꭧ 2: If equipped
HEADLIGHT WASHER
SWITCH
ꭧ 2
(P. 117)
VEHICLE STABILITY
ASSIST SYSTEM
OFF SWITCH
(P. 359)
MIRROR CONTROLS
(P. 155)
DRIVING POSITION
MEMORY SYSTEM
(P. 157)
POWER DOOR LOCK
MASTER SWITCH
(P. 130)
PARKING BRAKE
RELEASE HANDLE
(P. 153)
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
(P. 149)
FUEL FILL DOOR
RELEASE BUTTON
(P. 323) POWER TAILGATE
BUTTON
ꭧ
2
(P. 132) HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE
(P.
325) HORN
ꭧ
1
STEERING WHEEL
ADJUSTMENTS
(P. 124)
HEADLIGHT/TURN SIGNAL/
FRONT FOG LIGHTS
(P.
118) STEERING WHEEL
AUDIO CONTROLS
(P.
233) WINDSHIELD
WIPERS/WASHERS
(P.
116) INSTRUMENT PANEL
BRIGHTNESS
(P.
123)
PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF INDICATOR
(P. 34)
HAZARD WARNING
BUTTON
(P. 122)
REAR WINDOW
DEFOGGER
(P. 122)
ACCESSORY POWER
SOCKETS
(P. 166)
SEAT HEATER
SWITCHES
(P. 148)
ACTIVE DAMPER
SYSTEM SWITCH
ꭧ 2
(P. 361)
CRUISE CONTROL
BUTTONS
(P.
270)
Your Vehicle at a Glance408/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX

Seat Belts
Your vehicle is equipped with seat
belts in all seating positions.
Your seat belt system also includes
an indicator on the instrument panel
and a beeper to remind you and your
passengers to fasten your seat belts.Why Wear Seat BeltsSeat belts are the single most
effective safety device for adults and
larger children. (Infants and smaller
children must be properly restrained
in child seats.)
Not wearing a seat belt properly
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
though your vehicle has airbags.
In addition, most states and all
Canadian provinces require you to
wear seat belts.
Not wearing a seat belt properly
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
though your vehicle has
airbags.
Be sure you and your
passengers always wear seat
belts and wear them properly.
When properly worn, seat belts:●Keep you connected to the vehicle
so you can take advantage of the
vehicle's built-in safety features.●Help protect you in almost every
type of crash, including: – frontal impacts
– side impacts
– rear impacts
– rollovers
●Help keep you from being thrown
against the inside of the vehicle
and against other occupants.●Keep you from being thrown out of
the vehicle.●Help keep you in a good position
should the airbags ever deploy. A
good position reduces the risk of
injury from an inflating airbag and
allows you to get the best
advantage from the airbag.
Of course, seat belts cannot
completely protect you in every
crash. But in most cases, seat belts
can reduce your risk of serious
injury.What you should do:
Always wear
your seat belt, and make sure you
wear it properly.
Your Vehicle's Safety Features808/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX

Seat Belt System Components
Your seat belt system includes lap/
shoulder belts in all seating
positions. The front seat belts are
also equipped with automatic seat
belt tensioners.
This system uses the same sensors
as the front airbags to monitor
whether the front seat belts are
latched or unlatched, and how much
weight is on the front passenger's
seat (see pages29and30).
The seat belt system
includes an indicator on the
instrument panel and a beeper to
remind you and your passengers to
fasten your seat belts.
This system monitors the front seat
belts. If you turn the ignition switch
to the ON (II) position before your
seat belt is fastened, the beeper will
sound and the indicator will flash. If
your seat belt is not fastened before
the beeper stops, the indicator will
stop flashing but remain on.
If a front passenger does not fasten
their seat belt, the indicator will
come on about 6 seconds after the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
(II) position. If either the driver or a front
passenger does not fasten their seat
belt while driving, the beeper will
sound and the indicator will flash
again at regular intervals.
You will also see a
‘‘FASTEN SEAT
BELT ’’or ‘‘FASTEN PASSENGER
SEAT BELT ’’message on the multi-
information display (see page81).
When no one is sitting in the front
passenger's seat, or a child or small
adult is riding there, the indicator
should not come on and the beeper
should not sound.
Additional Information About Your Seat Belts2008/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX

●Automatic front seat belt
tensioners (see page22).●Sensors that can detect a moderate
to severe front impact, side impact,
or if your vehicle is about to
rollover.●Sensors that can detect whether a
child is in the passenger's side
airbag path and signal the control
unit to turn the airbag off (see
page31).●Sensors that can detect whether
the driver's seat belt and the front
passenger's seat belt are latched or
unlatched (see page20).●A driver's seat position sensor that
monitors the distance of the seat
from the front airbag. If the seat is
too far forward, the airbag will
inflate with less force (see page
29).
●Weight sensors that monitor the
weight on the front passenger's
seat. If the weight is about 65 lbs
(29 kg) or less (the weight of an
infant or small child), the
passenger's front airbag will be
turned off (see page29).●A rollover sensor that can detect if
your vehicle is about to roll over
and signal the control unit to
deploy both side curtain airbags
and front seat belt tensioners (see
page32).●A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records information about the
sensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, the seat belt
tensioners, and driver and front
passenger seat belt use when the
ignition switch is in the ON (II)
position.
●An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you to a possible
problem with your airbags,
sensors, or seat belt tensioners
(see page33).●An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you that the
passenger's side airbag has been
turned off (see page33).●An indicator on the dashboard that
alerts you that the passenger's
front airbag has been turned off
(see page34).●Emergency backup power in case
your vehicle's electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.
Additional Information About Your Airbags2608/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX

This section gives information about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your vehicle. All the essential
controls are within easy reach.Control Locations
..........................
62
Instrument Panel
..........................
63
Instrument Panel Indicators
..........
64
Gauges
..........................................
72
Multi-Information Display
.............
73
Controls Near the Steering
Wheel
.....................................
115
Windshield Wipers and Washers
..............................
116
Rear Window Wiper and Washer
...............................
117
Turn Signal and Headlights
........
118
Hazard Warning Button
..............
122
Rear Window Defogger
...............
122
Instrument Panel
Brightness
..............................
123
Steering Wheel Adjustments
.......
124
Keys and Locks
...........................
126
Immobilizer System
....................
128
Ignition Switch
............................
129
Door Locks
.................................
130
Childproof Door Locks
............
131
Tailgate
.......................................
131
Power Tailgate
........................
132
Remote Transmitter
....................
135 Seats
...........................................
140
Detachable Anchor
.................
146
Seat Heaters
................................
148
Power Windows
..........................
149
Moonroof
....................................
152
Parking Brake
.............................
153
Mirrors
.......................................
154
Driving Position Memory System
....................................
157
Interior Lights
.............................
159
Interior Convenience Items
.........
162
Beverage Holders
...................
163
Console Compartment
............
164
Storage Compartment
.............
164
Glove Box
...............................
164
Sunglasses Holder
..................
165
Cargo Hooks
...........................
165
Sun Visor
................................
166
Vanity Mirror
..........................
166
Accessory Power Sockets
.......
166
AC Power Outlet
.....................
167
Instruments and Controls
61
Inst rument s and Cont rols
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2009 MDX