2011 Acura MDX catalytic converter

Temperature Gauge
This shows the temperature of the
engine's coolant. During normal
operation, the pointer should rise to
about the middle of the gauge. In
severe driving conditions, the pointer
may rise to the upper zone. If it
reaches the red (hot) mark, pull
safely to the side of the road. For
instructions and precautions on
checking the engine's cooling
system, see page 554.
Fuel Gauge
This shows how much fuel you have.
It may show slightly more or less
than the actual amount.Avoid driving with an extremely low
fuel level. Running out of fuel could
cause the engine to misfire, damaging
the catalytic converter.
U.S. model is shown.TEMPERATURE
GAUGE
TACHOMETER SPEEDOMETER
FUEL GAUGEGauges7610/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

Always use the parking brake when
you park your vehicle. Make sure the
parking brake is set firmly, or your
vehicle may roll if it is parked on an
incline.
Set the parking brake before you put
the transmission in Park. This keeps
the vehicle from moving and putting
pressure on the parking mechanism
in the transmission.Parking Tips
●
Make sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.
●
Turn off the lights.
●
Place any packages, valuables, etc.
in the cargo area or take them with
you.
●
Lock the doors and the tailgate.
●
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other flammable
materials. The hot three way
catalytic converter could cause
these materials to catch on fire.
●
If the vehicle is facing uphill, turn
the front wheels away from the
curb.
●
If the vehicle is facing downhill,
turn the front wheels toward the
curb.
●
Check the indicator on the
instrument panel to verify that the
security system is set.
●
Make sure the parking brake is
fully released before driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or
damage the rear brakes.
Parking44810/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu

The diagrams in this section give you
the dimensions and capacities of
your vehicle and the locations of the
identification numbers. It also
includes information you should
know about your vehicle's tires and
emissions control systems.Identification Numbers
...............
570
Specifications
..............................
572
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
.................................
574
Tire Labeling
..............................
576
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS) －Required Federal
Explanation
.........................
578
Emissions Controls
.....................
580
Three Way Catalytic Converter
................................
582
Emissions Testing
.......................
583
Technical Information
569
Technical Information
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Onboard Refueling Vapor
Recovery
The onboard refueling vapor
recovery (ORVR) system captures
the fuel vapors during refueling. The
vapors are adsorbed in a canister
filled with activated carbon. While
driving, the fuel vapors are drawn
into the engine and burned off.
Exhaust Emissions Controls
The exhaust emissions controls
include four systems: PGM-FI,
ignition timing control, exhaust gas
recirculation, and three way catalytic
converter. These four systems work
together to control the engine's
combustion and minimize the
amount of HC, CO, and NOx that
come out the tailpipe. The exhaust
emissions control systems are
separate from the crankcase and
evaporative emissions control
systems.
PGM-FI SystemThe PGM-FI system uses sequential
multiport fuel injection. It has three
subsystems: air intake, engine
control, and fuel control. The
powertrain control module (PCM)
uses various sensors to determine
how much air is going into the
engine. It then controls how much
fuel to inject under all operating
conditions.Ignition Timing Control SystemThis system constantly adjusts the
ignition timing, reducing the amount
of HC, CO, and NOx produced.Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR)SystemThe exhaust gas recirculation (EGR)
system takes some of the exhaust
gas and routes it back into the intake
manifold. Adding exhaust gas to the
air/fuel mixture reduces the amount
of NOx produced when the fuel is
burned.
Three Way Catalytic ConverterThe three way catalytic converter is
in the exhaust system. Through
chemical reactions, it converts HC,
CO, and NOx in the engine's exhaust
to carbon dioxide (CO
2), nitrogen
(N
2), and water vapor.
Replacement Parts
The emissions control systems are
designed and certified to work
together in reducing emissions to
levels that comply with the Clean Air
Act. To make sure the emissions
remain low, you should use only new
Acura replacement parts or their
equivalent for repairs. Using lower
quality parts may increase the
emissions from your vehicle.
The emissions control systems are
covered by warranties separate from
the rest of your vehicle. Read your
warranty manual for more
information.
Emissions Controls
581
Technical Information
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The three way catalytic converter
contains precious metals that serve
as catalysts, promoting chemical
reactions to convert the exhaust
gasses without affecting the metals.
The catalytic converter is referred to
as a three-way catalyst, since it acts
on HC, CO, and NOx. A replacement
unit must be an original Acura part or
its equivalent.
The three way catalytic converter
must operate at a high temperature
for the chemical reactions to take
place. It can set on fire any
combustible materials that come
near it. Park your vehicle away from
high grass, dry leaves, or other
flammables.
A defective three way catalytic
converter contributes to air pollution,
and can impair your engine's
performance. Follow these
guidelines to protect your vehicle's
three way catalytic converter.●
Always use unleaded gasoline.
Even a small amount of leaded
gasoline can contaminate the
catalyst metals, making the three
way catalytic converter ineffective.
●
Keep the engine well maintained.
●
Have your vehicle diagnosed and
repaired if it is misfiring,
backfiring, stalling, or otherwise
not running properly.
THREE WAY CATALYTIC CONVERTER
WARM UP THREE WAY CATALYTIC
CONVERTERS
Three Way Catalytic Converter58210/06/29 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

Tire Pressure Monitoring System(TPMS) －Required Federal
Explanation
......................
578
Temperature Gauge
.....................
76
Temperature, Inside Sensor
.......
189
Temperature, Outside
..................
80
Tensioners, Seat Belts
..................
23
Tether Anchorage Points
.............
53
Theft Protection, Radio
..............
305
Three Way Catalytic Converter
...............................
582
Tilt/Telescopic Steering
Wheel
.....................................
133
Timing Belt
................................
520
Tire Chains
................................
540
Tire, How to Change a Flat
........
545
Tire Information
.........................
576
Tire Labeling
..............................
576
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
.......................
449, 578
Low Tire Pressure
Indicator
........................
70, 449
Tire Pressure Monitor
.......
81, 450
Tires
..........................................
534
Air Pressure
............................
535
Checking Wear
.......................
536 Compact Spare
........................
544
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
.............................
574
Inflation
...................................
534
Inspection
...............................
536
Labeling
..................................
576
Maintenance
...........................
538
Pressure Monitoring System
...
449
Replacing
................................
538
Rotating
..................................
538
Snow
.......................................
540
Specifications
..........................
573
Tire Chains
.............................
540
Tools, Tire Changing
.................
545
Towing A Trailer
..................................
481
Emergency Wrecker
...............
566
Equipment and Accessories
....
486
Trailer Loading
.......................
482
Trailer Towing Tips
.................
490
Weight Limit
...........................
481
TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System)
..............................
449
Required Federal Explanation
.........................
578
Trailer Stability Assist
................
492 Transmission
Checking Fluid Level
..............
517
Fluid Selection
........................
517
Identification Number
.............
570
Shifting the Automatic
.............
438
Treadwear
..................................
536
Trip Computer
.............................
83
Trip Meter
...................................
79
Turn Signals
.................................
69
U
Unexpected, Taking Care of the
..........................................
543
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
....
574
Unleaded Gasoline
.....................
418
USB Flash Memory Device Error Messages
...............................
294
Used Oil, How to Dispose of
......
513
Using the Paddle Shifters in the D position (D-Paddle ShiftMode)
.................................
441
Using the Paddle Shifters in the S
position (Sequential ShiftMode)
.................................
443
CONTINUED
Index
XI
INDEX
10/06/29 11:59:04 11 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX640 enu