2009 RDX 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)
.... 59
Features (
climate control, audio, steering wheel, security, cruise control, HomeLink®,and other convenience items
)
......... 159
Before Driving (fuel, vehicle break- in, and cargo loading) ..................................................................... 271
Driving (engine and transmission operation) ................................................................................................ 289
Maintenance (minders, fluid checking, minor services, and vehicle storage).......................................... 325
Taking Care of the Unexpected (flat tire, dead battery, overheating, and fuses) ............................. 369
Technical Information (vehicle specifications, tires, and emissions controls) ....................................... 393
Warranty and Client Relations (U. S. and Canada only) (warranty and contact information) .......... 409
Authorized Manuals (U. S. only) (how to order) ......................................................................................... 413
Index ............................................................................................................................... ........................................ I
Service Information Summary ( fluid capacities and tire pressures)
1 00X31-STK-6200
If it stays on after you have fully
released the parking brake while
the engine is running, or if it
comes on while driving, it can
indicate a problem in the brake
system. You will also see a
‘‘BRAKE FLUID LOW’’ or
‘‘CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM’’
message on the multi-inf ormation
display. For more inf ormation, see
page .
This indicator has two f unctions: The brake system indicator (amber)
normally comes on f or a f ew seconds
when you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position. If the indicator
is still on or comes on again af ter the
engine starts, there is a problem in
the brake system including the
electric vacuum pump. If this
happens, have your vehicle checked
by your dealer. For more inf ormation,
see page .
You will also see a ‘‘CHECK BRAKE
SYSTEM’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display (see page ).
Itcomesonwhenyouturnthe
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. It is a reminder to check
the parking brake. Driving with
the parking brake not f ully
released can damage the brakes
and tires.
If you drive without releasing the
parking brake, a beeper will sound,
and you will also see a ‘‘RELEASE
PARKING BRAKE’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display (see page ). 2.
1.
384
383
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Instrument Panel Indicators
Parking Brake and
Brake System
Indicator (Red)Brake System
Indicator (A mber)
Inst rument s and Cont rols
65
U.S. Canada
U.S. Canada
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If this indicator blinks while driving,
it indicates the dif f erential
temperature is too high.You will also see a ‘‘CHECK TIRE
PRESSURE’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display (see page ).
This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position.
This indicator has two f unctions:
If this happens, pull to the side of the
road when it is saf e, check which tire
has lost pressure on the multi-
inf ormation display, and determine
the cause. If it is because of a flat tire,
have the flat tire repaired as soon as
possible. If two or more tires are
underinf lated, call a prof essional
towing service. For more
inf ormation, see page .
Check the tire pressure monitor on
the multi-information display and
determinethecause(seepage ).
If it comes on while driving, it
indicates that one or more of your
vehicle’s tires are signif icantly low
on pressure.
For more inf ormation, see page .
Pull to the side of the road when it is
saf e, shif t 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.
You will also see an ‘‘SH-AWD DIFF
TEMP HIGH’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display (see page ). 1. 77
308
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Low Tire Pressure/
TPMS Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
Inst rument s and Cont rols
69
Continuing to drive with the SH-AWD
indicator blinking may cause serious
damage to the system.
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Aggressive driving (hard
acceleration and braking)
Excessive idling, accelerating and
braking in stop-and-go traf f ic
Cold engine operation (engines
aremoreefficientwhenwarmed
up)
Driving with a heavy load or the
air conditioner running
Improperly inf lated tires
The f ollowing f actors can lower your
vehicle’s f uel economy:
A properly maintained vehicle
maximizes f uel economy. Poor
maintenance can signif icantly reduce
f uel economy. Always maintain your
vehicle according to the maintenance
messages displayed on the
inf ormation display (see
on page ).
For example: Rapid
acceleration, abrupt cornering,
and hard braking increase fuel
consumption.
Aerodynamic drag has a big ef f ect
on f uel mileage at speeds above 45
mph (75 km/h). Reduce your
speed and you reduce the drag.
Trailers, car top carriers, roof
racks and bike racks are also big
contributors to increased drag.
If your vehicle has a
manual transmission, you can
boost your f uel economy by up
shif ting as early as possible.
Idling
results in 0 miles per gallon.
An underinf lated tire increases
‘‘rolling resistance,’’ which reduces
f uel economy.
It puts a heavier
load on the engine, increasing f uel
consumption.
In
particular, a build-up of snow or
mud on your vehicle’s underside
adds weight and rolling resistance.
Frequent cleaning helps your f uel
economy.
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Fuel Economy
Fuel Economy Factors
Improving Fuel Economy
Owner’s
Maintenance Checks Drive moderately
Observe the speed limit
Always drive in the highest gear
possible
Avoid excessive idling
Use the required engine oil (see
page).
Maintain proper tire inf lation
A void carrying excess weight in
your vehicle
K eep your vehicle clean
336
Vehicle Maint enance Drive Ef f icient ly
Bef ore Driving
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Removing parts f rom your vehicle,
or replacing components with non-
Acura components could seriously
af f ect your vehicle’s handling,
stability, and reliability.
Herearesomeexamples:Lowering the vehicle with a non-
Acura suspension kit that
signif icantly reduces ground
clearance can allow the
undercarriage to hit speed bumps
or other raised objects, which
could cause the airbags to deploy.
Raising your vehicle with a non-
Acura suspension kit can af f ect
the handling and stability. Non-Acura wheels, because they
are a universal design, can cause
excessive stress on suspension
components and will not be
compatible with the tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS).
Larger or smaller wheels and tires
can interf ere with the operation of
your vehicle’s anti-lock brakes and
other systems.
Modif ying your steering wheel or
any other part of your vehicle’s
safety features can make the
systems inef f ective.
If you plan to modif y your vehicle,
consult your dealer.
A ccessories and Modif ications
Modif ying Your Vehicle
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Your vehicle has several convenient
storage areas:
However, carrying too much cargo,
or improperly storing it, can af f ect
your vehicle’s handling, stability,
stopping distance, and tires, and
make it unsaf e. Bef ore carrying any
type of cargo, be sure to read the
f ollowing pages.Cargo area, including the rear
seatswhenfoldeddown.
Roof -rack (if equipped) Console compartment Center pocket
Door lining pockets
Front door pockets
Glove box
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving
283
GLOVE BOX
CARGO AREA CENTER POCKET
FRONT DOOR POCKET
CONSOLE COMPARTMENT
DOOR LINING POCKETS
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Check the seat adjustment (see
page ).
Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page ).
Check the steering wheel
adjustment (see page ).
Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have f astened
their seat belts (see page ). Make sure the doors and the
tailgate are securely closed and
locked.
Youshoulddothesechecksand
adjustments bef ore you drive your
vehicle:
Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove f rost, snow,
or ice.
Check that the hood is f ully closed.
Check that any items you may be
carrying are stored properly or
f astened down securely. Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure. When you start the engine, check
the gauges and indicators in the
instrument panel, and the
messages on the multi-inf ormation
display (see pages , and
).
1.
2.
3.
4. 5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Preparing to Drive
Driving
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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 signif icantly 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-
inf ormation display along with a
‘‘CHECK TIRE PRESSURE’’
message.Becausetirepressurevariesby
temperature and other conditions,
the low tire pressure/TPMS
indicator may come on unexpectedly.
Driving on a signif icantly under-
inf lated tire causes the tire to
overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inf lation also reduces f uel
efficiency and tire tread life, and may
af f ect the vehicle’s handling and
stopping ability.
If the tire is f lat, or if the tire
pressure is too low to continue
driving, replace the tire with the
compact spare tire (see page ).
If you think you can saf ely drive a
short distance to a service station,
proceed slowly to the station, then
inflate the tire to the recommended
pressure.
When the low tire pressure/TPMS
indicator is on, one or more of your
tires is signif icantly underinf lated.
Youshouldstopandcheckyourtires
as soon as possible, and inflate them
to the proper pressure as indicated
on the vehicle’s tire inf ormation
placard.
It is possible that the pressures
shown on the multi-inf ormation
display and the pressures you
manually measure are slightly
dif f erent.
If the dif f erence is signif icant or you
cannot make the low tire pressure/
TPMS indicator and message on the
multi-inf ormation display go out af ter
inf lating the tires to the specif ied
values, have your dealer check the
system as soon as possible. 370
CONT INUED
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Low Tire Pressure/
TPMS Indicator
Driving
307
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