This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and how to follow basic
maintenance safety precautions.
This section also includes
instructions on how to read the
maintenance minder messages on
the multi-information display, and
instructions for simple maintenance
tasks you may want to take care of
yourself.
If you have the skills and tools to
perform more complex maintenance
tasks on your vehicle, you may want
to purchase the service manual. See
page469for information on how to
obtain a copy, or see your dealer.Maintenance Safety
.....................
382
Maintenance Minder
..................
383
Fluid Locations
...........................
391
Engine Compartment Cover
........
392
Adding Engine Oil
......................
393
Changing the Engine Oil and
Filter
.......................................
394
Engine Coolant
...........................
396
Windshield Washers
...................
398
Automatic Transmission Fluid
.......................................
399
Brake Fluid
.................................
401
Power Steering Fluid
..................
402
Timing Belt
.................................
402
Lights
..........................................
403
Dust and Pollen Filter
.................
409
Cleaning the Seat Belts
...............
409
Floor Mats
..................................
410
Wiper Blades
..............................
411
Tires
...........................................
415
Checking the Battery
..................
421
Vehicle Storage
...........................
422
Maintenance
381
Maint enance
08/06/06 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
Power Steering FluidCheck the level on the side of the
reservoir when the engine is cold.
The fluid should be between the
UPPER LEVEL and LOWER LEVEL.
If not add power steering fluid to the
UPPER LEVEL mark.
Pour the fluid slowly and carefully so
you do not spill any. Clean up any
spills immediately; it could damage
components in the engine
compartment.Always use Acura Power Steering
Fluid. You may use another power
steering fluid as an emergency
replacement, but have the power
steering system flushed and refilled
with Acura PSF as soon as possible.
A low power steering fluid level can
indicate a leak in the system. Check
the fluid level frequently, and have
the system inspected as soon as
possible.
If you are not sure how to add fluid,
contact your dealer.
Turning the steering wheel to full left or
right lock and holding it there can
damage the power steering pump.
Timing Belt
The timing belt should be replaced at
the intervals shown in the
maintenance minder schedule.
Replace the timing belt every 60,000
miles (U.S.) or every 100,000 km
(Canada) if you regularly drive your
vehicle in any of the following
conditions:
●In very high temperatures
(over 110°F, 43°C).●In very low temperatures
(under
-20°F, -29°C).●Frequently tow a trailer.
UPPER LEVEL
LOWER LEVEL
Power Steering Fluid, Timing Belt40208/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX
Parking Over Things thatBurn
................................
350, 462
Passenger Airbag Off Indicator
...... .............................
34
PGM-FI System
..........................
461
Playing the AM/FM Radio
...............................
201, 207
Pollen Filter
...............................
409
Power Seat Adjustments
............
140
Power Socket Locations
.............
162
Power Windows
.........................
149
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts
.. ......
18
Preparing to Drive
......................
338
Proper Solution
..........................
396
Protecting Adults and Teens
........
11
Additional Safety Precautions
..........................
19
Advice for Pregnant Women
....
18
Protecting Children
......................
37
General Guidelines
..................
37
Protecting Infants
.....................
42
Protecting Larger Children
......
54
Protecting Small Children
........
43
Using Child Seats with Tethers
.................................
51
Using LATCH
..........................
47 R
Radiator Overheating
.................
434
Radio/Disc Sound System
............................
181, 201
Radio Theft Protection
...............
235
Readiness Codes
........................
463
Rear A/C Unit
............................
175
Rear Audio Control Panel
...........
241
Rear Entertainment System
.......
237
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement
...........................
406
Rearview Camera and Monitor
..................................
319
Rear View Mirror
.......................
154
Rear Window Defogger
..............
122
Rear Window Wiper and
Washer
...................................
117
Reclining the Seat Backs
............
140
Reclining the Second Seats
........
144
Refueling
....................................
323
Reminder Indicators
........ .............
64
Remote Audio Controls
..............
233
Remote Control (RES)
...............
262
Remote Transmitter
...................
135 Replacement Information
Dust and Pollen Filter
.............
409
Engine Oil and Filter
...............
394
Fuses
......................................
439
Light Bulbs
.............................
403
Schedule
.................................
383
Timing Belt
.............................
402
Tires
.......................................
418
Wiper Blades
..........................
411
Replacing Seat Belts After a Crash
........................................
23
Reserve Tank, Engine
Coolant
............................
326, 396
Restraint, Child
........ ....................
37
Reverse Gear Position
................
342
Reverse Lockout
........................
346
Rotation, Tire
.............................
418
S
Safety Belts
..............................
8, 20
Safety Defects, Reporting (U.S. only)
.......................................
468
Safety Features
..............................
7
Airbags
......................................
9
IndexVIII08/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX
SRS, Additional Information
.........
24
Additional Safety Precautions
..........................
35
Airbag Service
..........................
35
Airbag System Components
.....
24
How the Side Airbag Off Indicator Works
...................
33
How the SRS Indicator Works
..................................
33
How Your Front Airbags Works
..................................
27
How Your Side Airbags
Work
....................................
30
How Your Side Curtain Airbags Work
....................................
32
SRS Indicator
.........................
33, 66
START (Ignition Key Position)
.................................
129
Starting the Engine
....................
339
Auto Control Mode
.................
339
In Cold Weather at High
Altitude
................................
340
With a Dead Battery
................
432
State Emissions Testing
.............
463
Steam Coming from Engine
.......
434 Steering Wheel
Adjustment
..............................
124
Anti-theft Column Lock
...........
129
Buttons
....................
233, 270,280
Position Memory
....................
157
Stereo Sound System
....................
180, 181,200
Storage Compartment................
164
Storing Your Vehicle
..................
422
Sunglasses Holder
.....................
165
Sun Visor
...................................
166
Super Handling-All Wheel Drive ™
(SH-AWD
®) System
................
348
Supplemental Restraint System
..............................
9,24
Servicing
.............. ....................
35
SRS Indicator
......................
33, 66
System Components
................
24
Synthetic Oil
..............................
394
T
Tachometer
..................................
72
Tailgate
......................................
131
Opening the
............................
131 Open Monitor
......................
....
11
Power
......................................
132
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in
............................................
406
Taking Care of the Unexpected
............................
423
Technical Descriptions DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
.............................
454
Emissions Control Systems
.....
460
Three Way Catalytic Converter
............................
462
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) -Required Federal
Explanation
......................
458
Temperature Gauge
.....................
72
Temperature, Inside Sensor
.......
179
Temperature, Outside
..................
76
Tensioners, Seat Belts
..................
22
Tether Anchorage Points
.............
51
Theft Protection, Radio
..............
235
Three Way Catalytic Converter
...............................
462
Tilt/Telescopic Steering Wheel
.....................................
124
Timing Belt
................................
402
IndexX08/06/06 16:58:07 09 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX620 enu
2009 MDX