This section gives information about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your vehicle. All the essential
controls are within easy reach.
Control Locations
..........................
62
Instrument Panel
..........................
63
Instrument Panel Indicators
..........
64
Gauges
..........................................
73
Turbo Boost Meter
...................
73
Fuel Gauge
...............................
73
Multi-Information Display
.............
74
System Messages
.....................
79
Customized Settings
.................
82
Controls Near the Steering
Wheel
.....................................
113
Windshield Wipers and
Washers
..............................
114
Rear Window Wiper and Washer
...............................
115 Turn Signals and Headlights
.......
116
Instrument Panel Brightness
......
120
Rear Window Defogger
...............
121
Hazard Warning Button
..............
121
Steering Wheel Adjustments
.......
122
Keys and Locks
...........................
122
Immobilizer System
....................
124
Ignition Switch
............................
125
Door Locks
.................................
126
Power Door Locks
..................
126
Childproof Door Locks
............
127
Tailgate
.......................................
128
Remote Transmitter
....................
130
Seats
...........................................
134
Front Seat Power
Adjustments
........................
134
Head Restraints
.......................
135
Armrests
.................................
138
Folding the Rear Seats Down
..................................
138
Seat Heaters
................................
141
Power Windows
..........................
142
Moonroof
....................................
144 Mirrors
.......................................
146
Adjusting the Power
Mirrors
...............................
146
Reverse Tilt Door Mirror
........
147
Heated Mirrors
.......................
147
Driving Position Memory
System
....................................
148
Parking Brake
.............................
150
Interior Lights
.............................
151
Ceiling Lights
.........................
151
Individual Map Lights
.............
152
Courtesy Lights
......................
153
Cargo Area Light
.....................
153
Interior Convenience Items
.........
154
Glove Box
...............................
155
Front Door Pockets
.................
155
Beverage Holders
...................
156
Accessory Power Sockets
.......
157
Sun Visor
................................
157
Vanity Mirror
..........................
158
Console Compartment
............
158
Cargo Area Cover
...................
160
Coat Hook
...............................
161
Instruments and Controls
61
Instruments and Controls
10/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu
Turbo Boost Meter
When the turbo charger is activated,
this meter shows the boost pressure.
Fuel Gauge
This shows how much fuel you have.
It may show slightly more or less
than the actual amount. The needle
returns to the bottom after you turn
off the ignition.Avoid driving with an extremely low
fuel level. Running out of fuel could
cause the engine to misfire, damaging
the catalytic converter.
MULTI-INFORMATION
DISPLAYSELECT/RESET
KNOB
TURBO BOOST METER FUEL GAUGE
TACHOMETER
SPEEDOMETER
U.S. model is shown.
Gauges
73
Instruments and Controls
10/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu
Unscrew and remove the engine oil
fill cap on top of the valve cover. Pour
in the oil slowly and carefully so you
do not spill any. Clean up any spills
immediately. Spilled oil could
damage components in the engine
compartment.Reinstall the engine oil fill cap, and
tighten it securely. Wait a few
minutes, and recheck the oil level on
the engine oil dipstick. Do not fill
above the upper mark; you could
damage the engine.
Required Engine Oil
Oil is a major contributor to your
engine's performance and longevity.
Your vehicle is equipped with a high-
performance turbocharged engine
that requires the use of synthetic
motor oil. Always use Mobil 1
®
5W-30 or an equivalent oil that meets
the Acura HTO-06 standard. Not all
synthetic oils will meet this standard.
Only use oils that display the HTO-06
standard on the label.
Failure to use Mobil 1
®or an
equivalent oil that meets the HTO-06
standard can lead to a reduction in
engine performance or durability,
and can cause engine damage not
covered by your warranty.
ENGINE OIL FILL CAPAdding Engine Oil42010/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu
Audio AntennaYour vehicle is equipped with an
antenna at the rear of the roof. Before
using a‘‘drive-through ’’car wash,
remove the antenna by unscrewing it by
hand. This prevents the antenna from
being damaged by the car wash
brushes. Intercooler
Your vehicle is equipped with a
intercooler on the engine to cool the
air flow from a turbo charger into the
engine. The intercooler fins bend
easily. Do not push them with your
finger.
Do not spray water (from such sources
as garden hoses, high pressure
sprayers) into the engine compartment.
It may cause serious damage to your
vehicle, and could also damage the
intercooler fins.
Dust and Pollen Filter
This filter removes the dust and
pollen that is brought in from the
outside through the climate control
system.
Have your dealer replace the filter
when this service is indicated by a
maintenance message on the multi-
information display. It should be
replaced every 15,000 miles (24,000
km) if you drive primarily in urban
areas that have high concentrations
of soot in the air, or if the flow from
the climate control system becomes
less than usual.
ANTENNA
INTERCOOLER
Audio Antenna, Intercooler, Dust and Pollen Filter
439
Maintenance
10/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu
DimensionsLength182.5 in (4,635 mm)
Width 73.6 in (1,870 mm)
Height 65.2 in (1,655 mm)
Wheelbase 104.3 in (2,650 mm)
Track Front 61.9 in (1,572 mm)
Rear 62.6 in (1,590 mm)WeightsGross vehicle weight rating See the certification label attached to
the driver's doorjamb.EngineType Water cooled 4-stroke DOHC i-VTEC
4 cylinder gasoline engine with turbo charger, intercooler
Bore x Stroke 3.39 x 3.90 in (86.0 x 99.0 mm)
Displacement 140.3 cu-in (2,300 cm
3)
Compression ratio 8.8
Spark plugs SILKR8A-S (NGK)
Seating CapacitiesTotal 5
Front 2
Rear 3
CapacitiesFuel tankApprox.
18.0 US gal (68 L)
Engine oil Change
ꭧ 1
Including
filter 5.0 US qt (4.7 L)
Without filter 4.8 US qt (4.5 L)
Total 6.1 US qt (5.8 L)
Engine coolant Change
ꭧ 2
1.85 US gal (7.0 L)
Total 2.22 US gal (8.4 L)
Automatic
transmission fluid Change
2WD 3.0 US qt (2.8 L)
4WD 3.1 US qt (2.9 L)
Total 2WD 8.8 US qt (8.3 L)
4WD 8.2 US qt (7.8 L)
Rear differential
fluid (4WD) Change
2.67 US qt (2.53 L)
Total 2.93 US qt (2.77 L)
Transfer assembly
fluid (4WD) Change
0.45 US qt (0.43 L)
Total 0.48 US qt (0.45 L)
Windshield
washer reservoir U.S. Vehicles 2.6 US qt (2.5 L)
Canada
Vehicles 4.8 US qt (4.5 L)
ꭧ1: Excluding the oil remaining in the engine
ꭧ2: Including the coolant in the reserve tank and that remaining in the engine Reserve tank capacity:
0.18 US gal (0.7 L)
Specifications48010/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu
EngineAdding Engine Coolant
...........
424
If it Won't Start
........................
459
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp
.............................
65, 466
Oil Life Indicator
.....................
411
Oil Pressure Indicator
.......
65, 465
Overheating
............................
463
Specifications
..........................
480
Speed Limiter
..........................
378
Starting
...................................
374
Engine Coolant
..........................
424
Engine Number
.........................
479
Ethanol in Gasoline
....................
352
Evaporative Emissions Controls
..................................
487
Exhaust Emissions Controls
......
488
Exhaust Fumes
............................
57
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat Belts by
....................................
18
F
Fan, Interior
...............................
166
Features
.....................................
163 Filters
Dust and Pollen
.......................
439
Oil
...........................................
422
Flashers, Hazard Warning
.........
121
Flat Tire, Changing a
.................
455
Floor Mats
.................................
438
Fluids Automatic Transmission
.........
427
Brake
......................................
429
Location
..................................
419
Power Steering
........................
430
Windshield Washer
.................
426
FM/AM Radio Reception
...........
287
Fog Lights
..................................
119
Folding the Rear Seats Down
.....
138
Four-way Flashers
......................
121
Front Airbags
.........................
10, 26
Front Door Pockets
....................
155
Front Seat Heaters
...................................
141
Front Seat Power
Adjustments
...........................
134
Fuel
............................................
352
Economy
.................................
358
Fill Door and Cap
....................
353
Gauge
......................................
73 Low Fuel Indicator
...................
68
Octane Requirement
...............
352
Reserve Indicator
.....................
68
Tank, Filling the
......................
353
Tighten Fuel Cap
....................
354
Fuel Economy
............................
358
Fuses, Checking the
..................
470
G
Gas Mileage, Improving
.............
359
Gasoline
.....................................
352
Low Fuel Indicator
...................
68
Octane Requirement
...............
352
Tank, Refueling
.......................
353
Gas Station Procedures
..............
353
Gauges Fuel
..........................................
73
Speedometer
............................
73
Tachometer
..............................
73
Turbo Boost Meter
..................
73
Gearshift Lever Positions Automatic
Transmission
...............
376, 377
Glove Box
..................................
155
IndexIV10/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu
TransmissionChecking Fluid Level
..............
427
Fluid Selection
........................
427
Identification Number
.............
478
Shifting the Automatic
.............
376
Treadwear
..................................
482
Trip Meter
...................................
76
Turbo Boost Meter
......................
73
Turn Signals
.................................
69
Turn Signals and Headlights
......
116
U
Unexpected, Taking Care of the
..........................................
453
Uniform Tire Quality Grading (U.S. only)
..............................
482
Unleaded Gasoline
.....................
352
USB Flash Memory Device Error Messages
........................
211, 279
Used Oil, How to Dispose of......
423
V
Vanity Mirror
.............................
158 Vehicle Capacity Load
................
365
Vehicle Dimensions
...................
480
Vehicle Identification Number
...
478
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)
System
................................
395
VSA Activation Indicator
..........
69
VSA System Indicator
..............
68
Vehicle Storage
..........................
451
VIN
............................................
478
Viscosity, Oil
..............................
420
W
WARNING, Explanation of
...........
iii
Warning Labels, Location of
.........
58
Warranty Coverages (U.S. only)
.......................................
495
Washer, Windshield Checking the Fluid Level
........
426
Operation
................................
114
Wheels
.......................................
443
Adjusting the Steering
.............
122
Alignment and Balance
...........
447
Compact Spare
........................
454
Wrench, Nut
...........................
455 Windows
Auto Reverse
...........................
143
Operating the Power
...............
142
Rear, Defogger
........................
121
Windshield Cleaning
..................................
114
Defroster
.................................
167
Washers
..........................
114, 426
Wipers, Windshield Changing Blades
.....................
440
Operation
................................
114
Rear Windshield Wiper and
Washer
................................
115
Worn Tires
.................................
445
Wrecker, Emergency Towing
....
475
X
XM
®Radio
..........................
179, 228Index
XI
INDEX
10/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu