2011 Acura MDX Air bag sensor

To ensure that the passenger's
advanced front airbag system will
work properly,
do not do anything
that would increase or decrease the weight on the front passenger's seat.
This includes:●
A second-row passenger pushing
or pulling on the back of the front
passenger's seat.
●
Moving the front seat forcibly back
against cargo on the seat or floor
behind it.
●
Hanging heavy items on the front
passenger seat, or placing heavy
items in the seat-back pocket.
●
Moving the front passenger's seat
or seat-back forcibly back against
the folded right-side second-row
seat.
●
Second-row seat passenger should
not wedge objects or intentionally
force their feet under the front
passenger seat. Also, make sure the floor mat behind
the front passenger's seat is hooked
to the floor mat anchor (see page
529). If it is not, the mat may
interfere with the proper operation of
the sensors and operation of the seat.
How Your Side Airbags Work
If you ever have a moderate to severe
side impact, sensors will detect rapid
acceleration and signal the control
unit to instantly inflate either the
driver's or the passenger's side
airbag and activate the seat belt
tensioner on the affected side.
Additional Information About Your Airbags3210/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

Only one airbag will deploy during a
side impact. If the impact is on the
passenger's side, the passenger's
side airbag will deploy even if there
is no passenger.
To get the best protection from the
side airbags, front seat occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.
Side Airbag Cutoff SystemYour vehicle has a side airbag cutoff
system designed primarily to protect
a child riding in the front passenger's
seat.
Although Acura does not encourage
children to ride in front, if the
position sensors detect a child has
leaned into the side airbag's
deployment path, the airbag will shut
off.
The side airbag may also shut off if a
short adult leans sideways, or a
larger adult slouches and leans
sideways into the airbag's
deployment path.
Objects placed on the front
passenger seat can also cause the
side airbag to be shut off.If the side airbag off indicator comes
on (see page 35), have the passenger
sit upright. Once the passenger is
out of the airbag's deployment path,
the system will turn the airbag back
on, and the indicator will go out.
There will be some delay between
the moment the passenger moves
into or out of the airbag deployment
path and when the indicator comes
on or goes off.
A front seat passenger should not
use a cushion or another object as a
backrest. It may prevent the cutoff
system from working properly.
Additional Information About Your Airbags
33
Driver and Passenger Safety
10/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

How Your Side Curtain Airbags
WorkIn a Side ImpactIn a moderate to severe side impact,
sensors will detect rapid acceleration
and signal the control unit to
instantly inflate the side curtain
airbag.If the impact is on the passenger's
side, the passenger's side curtain
airbag will inflate even if there are no
occupants on that side of the vehicle.
In a RolloverIf the rollover sensor detects your
vehicle is about to roll over, it signals
the control unit, which immediately
deploys both side curtain airbags and
activates both front seat belt
tensioners.
The airbag on the passenger's side
will deploy, and the seat belt
tensioner will activate, even if there
are no passengers on that side of the
vehicle.
To get the best protection from the
side curtain airbags, occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.
Additional Information About Your Airbags3410/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

How the Passenger Airbag Off
Indicator WorksThis indicator alerts you that the
passenger's front airbag has been
shut off because weight sensors
detect about 65 lbs (29 kg) or less
(the weight of an infant or small
child) on the front passenger's seat.
It does
not mean
there is a problem
with the airbag. Be aware that objects placed on the
front seat can cause the indicator to
come on.
If no weight is detected on the front
seat, the airbag will be automatically
shut off. However, the indicator will
not come on.
The passenger airbag off indicator
may come on and off repeatedly if the
total weight on the seat is near the
airbag cutoff threshold.
If an adult or teenage passenger is
riding in front, move the seat as far to
the rear as possible, and have the
passenger sit upright and wear the
seat belt properly.
If the indicator comes on with no
front seat passenger and no objects
on the seat, or with an adult riding
there, something may be interfering
with the weight sensors. Look for
and remove:
●
Any items under the front
passenger's seat.
●
Any object(s) hanging on the seat
or in the seat-back pocket.
●
Any object(s), such as a folded-
down back seat, that are touching
the rear of the seat-back.
If no obstructions are found, have
your vehicle checked by a dealer as
soon as possible.
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR U.S.CanadaAdditional Information About Your Airbags3610/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

Airbag Service
Your airbag systems are virtually
maintenance free, and there are no
parts you can safely service.
However, you must have your
vehicle serviced if:●
An airbag ever inflates.
Any airbag
that has deployed must be
replaced along with the control
unit and other related parts. Any
seat belt tensioner that activates
must also be replaced.
Do not try to remove or replace
any airbag by yourself. This must
be done by an authorized dealer or
a knowledgeable body shop.
●
The SRS indicator alerts you to a
problem.
Take your vehicle to an
authorized dealer as soon as
possible. If you ignore this
indication, your airbags may not
operate properly.
●
If your vehicle has a moderate to
severe impact.
Even if your airbags
do not inflate, your dealer should
inspect the driver's seat position
sensor, the front passenger's
weight sensors, the front seat belt
tensioners, and all seat belts and
their anchors worn during a crash
to make sure they are operating
properly.
Additional Information About Your Airbags
37
Driver and Passenger Safety
10/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

Additional Safety Precautions●
Do not attempt to deactivate yourairbags.
Together, airbags and seat
belts provide the best protection.
●
Do not tamper with airbag components or wiring for any
reason.
Tampering could cause
the airbags to deploy, possibly
causing very serious injury.
●
Do not expose the front
passenger's seat-back to liquid.
If
water or another liquid soaks into
a seat-back, it can prevent the side
airbag cutoff system from working
properly.
●
Do not remove or modify a front seat without consulting your
dealer.
This could make the
driver's seat position sensor or the
front passenger's weight sensors
ineffective. If it is necessary to
remove or modify a front seat to
accommodate a person with
disabilities, first contact Acura
Client Services. In the US call 800-
382-2238 and in Canada call 888-9-
ACURA-9.
Additional Information About Your Airbags3810/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

MDX, Technology Package, and U.S.Technology Package with EntertainmentmodelsBoth front seats are equipped with
seat heaters. Because of the sensors
for the side airbag cutoff system,
there is no heater in the passenger's
seat-back. The ignition switch must
be in the ON (II) position to use the
heaters.
Push the front of the switch, HI, to
rapidly heat up the seat. After the
seat reaches a comfortable
temperature, select LO by pushing
the back of the switch. This will keep
the seat warm.
U.S. Technology Package with
Entertainment, Advance Package withEntertainment and Canadian modelsThe outer second row seat cushions
and seat-backs are equipped with
seat heaters. Turning the switch on
the driver side warms the outer seat
behind the driver's seat only. The
passenger side switch warms the
outer seat behind the front passenger
seat.
Passenger's
Seat
HEATERS Driver's
Seat
Front seat HI
LOW
Second row seat
Seat Heaters15610/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

Carrying Cargo in the Passenger
Compartment●
Store or secure all items that could
be thrown around and hurt
someone during a crash.
●
Be sure items placed on the floor
behind the front seats cannot roll
underneath and interfere with the
proper operation of the seats, the
sensors under the seats, or the
driver's ability to operate the
pedals.
Also, keep all cargo below the
bottom of the windows. If it is
higher, it could interfere with the
proper operation of the side
curtain airbags.
●
Keep the glove box closed while
driving. If it is open, a passenger
could injure their knees during a
crash or sudden stop.Carrying Cargo in the Cargo Area
or on a Roof Rack
●
Distribute cargo evenly on the
floor of the cargo area, placing the
heaviest items on the bottom and
as far forward as possible. Tie
down items that could be thrown
about the vehicle during a crash or
sudden stop.
●
If you fold down the second or
third row seats, tie down items that
could be thrown about the vehicle
during a crash or sudden stop.
●
If you carry large items that
prevent you from closing the
tailgate, exhaust gas can enter the
passenger area. To avoid the
possibility of
carbon monoxide
poisoning, follow the instructions
on page 60.
●
If you carry any items on a roof
rack, be sure the total weight of
the rack and the items does not
exceed 165 lbs (75 kg).
CONTINUED
Carrying Cargo
431
Before Driving
10/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu