
Your vehicle's starting system has an
auto control mode. When you turn
the ignition switch to the START (III)
position, this feature keeps the
engine's starter motor running until
the engine starts. Follow these
instructions to start the engine:1. Apply the parking brake.
2. In cold weather, turn off all electrical accessories to reduce the
drain on the battery.
3. Make sure the shift lever is in Park. Press on the brake pedal. 4. Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition switch to
the START (III) position, then
release the ignition switch. You do
not need to hold the ignition
switch in the START (III) position
to start the engine. Depending on
the outside temperature, the
starter motor runs for about 6 to 9
seconds until the engine starts.
If you hold the ignition switch in
the START (III) position for more
than 7 seconds, the starter motor,
depending on the outside
temperature, runs for about 10 to
25 seconds until the engine starts.
If the engine does not start, wait at
least 10 seconds before trying
again.
The immobilizer system protects your
vehicle from theft. If an improperly-
coded key (or other device) is used, the
engine's fuel system is disabled. For
more information, see page 137.
The engine is harder to start in cold
weather. Also, the thinner air found at
altitudes above 8,000 feet (2,400
meters) adds to this problem.
Starting the Engine43610/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

Diagnosing why the engine won't
start falls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
ignition switch to the START (III)
position:●
You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine's starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly.
●
You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
faster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run.
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
When you turn the ignition switch to
the START (III) position, you do not
hear the normal noise of the engine
trying to start. You may hear a
clicking sound, a series of clicks, or
nothing at all. Check these things:
●
Check the transmission interlock.
The transmission must be in Park
or neutral or the starter will not
operate.
●
Turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position. Turn on the
headlights, and check their
brightness. If the headlights are
very dim or do not come on at all,
the battery is discharged. See
Jump Starting
on page 552.
●
Turn the ignition switch to the
START (III) position. If the
headlights do not dim, check the
condition of the fuses. If the fuses
are OK, there is probably
something wrong with the
electrical circuit for the ignition
switch or starter motor. You will
need a qualified technician to
determine the problem. See
Emergency Towing on page 566.If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is
discharged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal
connections (see page 541). You
can then try jump starting the
vehicle from a booster battery (see
page 552).
The Starter Operates Normally
In this case, the starter motor's speed
sounds normal, or even faster than
normal, when you turn the ignition
switch to the START (III) position,
but the engine does not run.
●
Are you using a properly coded
key? An improperly coded key will
cause the immobilizer system
indicator in the instrument panel
to blink rapidly (see page 72).
CONTINUED
If the Engine Won't Start
551
Taking Care of the Unexpected
10/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

A
Accessories andModifications
..........................
426
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key Position)
.................................
138
Accessory Power Sockets
..........
175
AC Power Outlet
........................
176
Active Damper System
...............
478
Active Head Restraints
...............
151
AcuraLink
®(U.S. models
only)
.......................................
398
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
.....................................
345
Additives, Engine Oil
.................
512
Adjusting the Steering Wheel
....
133
Advanced Airbags
........................
30
Airbag (SRS)
..........................
10, 26
Air Conditioning System
............
180
Rear A/C Control
....................
185
Air Outlets (Vents)
.....................
187
Air Pressure, Tires
..............
534, 535
Alcohol in Gasoline
....................
418
Antifreeze
...................................
514 Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
Indicator
............................
68, 456
Operation
................................
455
Anti-theft, Audio System
.............
305
Anti-theft Steering Column Lock
.......................................
138
Audio System
......................
190, 209
Automatic Climate Control.........
181
Automatic Lighting Off Feature
...................................
130
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners...
23
Automatic Speed Control
...........
342
Automatic Transmission
............
437
Capacity, Fluid
........................
572
Checking Fluid Level
..............
517
Driving with the Paddle Shifters
................................
441
Shifting
...................................
438
Shift Lever Position Indicators
............................
437
Shift Lever Positions
...............
438
Shift Lock Release
...................
440
Auxiliary Input Jack
...................
304 B
Battery
Charge Low
..............................
82
Charging System Indicator
........................
67, 556
Jump Starting
..........................
552
Maintenance
...........................
541
Specifications
..........................
573
Before Driving
...........................
417
Belts, Seat
................................
9, 21
Beverage Holders
......................
172
Blind Spot Information System (BSI)
......................................
470
Bluetooth
®Audio
.......................
295
Bluetooth
®HandsFreeLink
®
......
362
Booster Seats
...............................
57
CONTINUED
Index
I
INDEX
10/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

Side Curtain Airbags
....................
34
How Your Side Curtain Airbags Work
....................................
34
Side Marker Lights, Bulb
Replacement in
.......................
523
Signaling Turns
............................
69
Snow Tires
.................................
540
Sound System
.....................
190, 209
Spare Tire
..................................
544
Inflating
...........................
534, 544
Specifications
..........................
573
Spark Plugs
................................
573
Specifications
.............................
572
Speed Control
............................
342
Speed Limiter
.............................
440
Speedometer
................................
76
SRS, Additional Information
.........
26
Additional Safety Precautions
...
38
Airbag Service
..........................
37
Airbag System Components
.....
26
How the Side Airbag Off
Indicator Works
...................
35
How the SRS Indicator Works
..
35
How Your Front Airbags Work
....................................
29
How Your Side Airbags Work
..
32 How Your Side Curtain Airbags
Work
....................................
34
SRS Indicator
.........................
35, 68
START (Ignition Key
Position)
.................................
138
Starting the Engine
....................
436
Auto Control Mode
.................
436
In Cold Weather at High Altitude
................................
436
With a Dead Battery
................
552
State Emissions Testing
.............
583
Steam Coming from Engine
.......
554
Steering Wheel Adjustments
............................
133
Anti-theft Column Lock
...........
138
Buttons
...........................
302, 342
Position Memory
....................
166
Stereo Sound System
..........
190, 209
Storage Compartment
................
173
Storing Your Vehicle
..................
542
Sunglasses Holder
.....................
174
Sun Visor
...................................
174
Super Handling-All Wheel Drive ™
(SH-AWD
®) System
................
446 Supplemental Restraint
System
............................
10, 26
Servicing
..................................
37
SRS Indicator
......................
35, 68
System Components
................
26
Synthetic Oil
..............................
512
T
Tachometer
..................................
76
Tailgate
......................................
140
Open Indicator
.........................
74
Opening the
............................
140
Power
......................................
141
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in
.....
525
Taking Care of the Unexpected
............................
543
Technical Descriptions DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
.............................
574
Emissions Control Systems
.....
580
Three Way Catalytic Converter
............................
582
Tire Labeling
...........................
576
IndexX10/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu