This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and how to follow basic
maintenance safety precautions.
This section also includes
instructions on how to read the
maintenance minder messages on
the multi-information display, and
instructions for simple maintenance
tasks you may want to take care of
yourself.
If you have the skills and tools to
perform more complex maintenance
tasks on your vehicle, you may want
to purchase the service manual. See
page 497 for information on how to
obtain a copy, or see your dealer.U.S. Vehicles:
Maintenance,
replacement, or repair of
emissions control devices and
systems may be done by any
automotive repair establishment
or individual using parts that are
‘‘certified’’ to EPA standards. Maintenance Safety
.....................
410
Maintenance Minder ™
................
411
Fluid Locations
...........................
419
Adding Engine Oil
......................
420
Required Engine Oil
...............
420
Changing the Engine Oil and
Filter
.......................................
422
Engine Coolant
...........................
424
Windshield Washers
...................
426
Automatic Transmission Fluid
....
427
Brake Fluid
.................................
429
Power Steering Fluid
..................
430
Lights
..........................................
431
Cleaning the Seat Belts
...............
438
Floor Mats
..................................
438
Audio Antenna
............................
439
Intercooler
..................................
439
Dust and Pollen Filter
.................
439
Wiper Blades
..............................
440
Wheels
........................................
443
Tires
...........................................
444
Checking the Battery
..................
450
Vehicle Storage
...........................
451
Interior Care
...............................
452
Maintenance
409
Maintenance
10/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu
SymbolMaintenance Main Items
A
●Replace engine oil
ꭧ 1
B
●Replace engine oil
ꭧ1and oil filter
●Inspect front and rear brakes●Check parking brake adjustment●Inspect these items:●Tie rod ends, steering gear box, and boots●Suspension components●Driveshaft boots●Brake hoses and lines (including ABS/VSA)●All fluid levels and condition of fluids●Exhaust system
#
●Fuel lines and connections
#
ꭧ1: If the message ‘‘SERVICE ’’does not appear more than 12 months after
the display is reset, change the engine oil every year.
#: See information on maintenance and emissions warranty on page 417.
NOTE:
●Independent of maintenance message in the Information Display,
replace the brake fluid every 3 years.●Inspect idle speed every 160,000 miles (256,000 km).●Adjust the valves during services A, B, 1, 2, or 3 if they are noisy. Symbol Maintenance Sub Items
1
●Rotate tires
2●Replace air cleaner element If you drive in dusty conditions, replace every 15,000
miles (24,000 km).●Replace dust and pollen filterIf you drive primarily in urban areas that have high
concentrations of soot in the air from industry and from
diesel-powered vehicles, replace every 15,000 miles
(24,000 km).●Inspect drive belt
3●Replace transmission and transfer
ꭧ 2fluid
Driving in mountainous areas at very low vehicle speeds
or trailer towing results in higher transmission and
transfer temperatures. This requires transmission and
transfer fluid changes more frequently than
recommended by the Maintenance Minder. If you
regularly drive your vehicle under these conditions, have
the transmission and transfer fluid changed at 60,000
miles (100,000 km), then every 30,000 miles (48,000 km).
4
●Replace spark plugs●Inspect valve clearance
5●Replace engine coolant
6●Replace rear differential fluid
ꭧ 2
Driving in mountainous areas at very low vehicle speeds
or trailer towing results in higher level of mechanical
(shear) stress to fluid. This requires differential fluid
changes more frequently than recommended by the
Maintenance Minder. If you regularly drive your vehicle
under these conditions, have the differential fluid
changed at 7,500 miles (12,000 km), then every 15,000
miles (24,000 km).
ꭧ2: SH-AWD only
Maintenance Minder™
Maintenance Minder
41810/06/08 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
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
Mirrors, Adjusting
......................
146
Modifications
.............................
363
Modifying Your Vehicle
.............
363
Moonroof
...................................
144
Multi-Information Display
............
74
N
Neutral Gear Position
.................
377
New Vehicle Break-in
.................
352
NOTICE, Explanation of
................
i
Numbers, Identification
.............
478
O
Octane Requirement, Gasoline
.................................
352
Odometer
.....................................
76
Odometer, Trip
............................
76
Off-Highway Driving Guidelines
..............................
405
Off-Road Precautions
..................
405
Oil Change, How to
......................
422
Change, When to
....................
411 Checking Engine
....................
356
Life, Engine
.............................
411
Pressure Indicator
.............
65, 465
Selecting Proper Viscosity
Chart
...................................
420
Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery
................................
488
ON (Ignition Key Position)
........
125
Outside Mirrors
.........................
146
Outside Temperature
...................
76
Overheating, Engine
..................
463
Owner's Maintenance Checks
....
417
Oxygenated Fuels
......................
352
P
Panel Brightness Control
...........
120
Park Gear Position
.....................
377
Parking
......................................
386
Parking Brake
............................
150
Parking Brake and Brake System Indicator
.................................
467
Parking Lights
...........................
116
Parking Over Things that Burn
................................
386, 489 Passenger Airbag Off Indicator
....
33
PGM-FI System
..........................
488
Playing an iPod
®..................
197, 260
Playing a USB Flash Memory
Device
.............................
204, 270
Playing Disc
...............................
185
Playing the FM/AM Radio
...............................
174, 217
Playing the XM
®Radio
........
179, 228
Pollen Filter
...............................
439
Power Door Locks
.....................
126
Power Seat Adjustments
............
134
Power Socket Locations
.............
157
Power Steering Fluid
.................
430
Power Windows
.........................
142
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts
........
18
Preparing to Drive
......................
373
Proper Seat Belt Usage
................
15
Protecting Adults and Teens
........
12
Additional Safety Precautions
...
19
Advice for Pregnant Women
....
18
CONTINUED
Index
VII
INDEX
10/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu
Protecting Children
......................
36
General Guidelines
..................
36
Protecting Infants
.....................
41
Protecting Larger Children
......
53
Protecting Small Children
........
42
Using Child Seats with Tethers
.................................
51
Using LATCH
..........................
46
R
Radiator Overheating
.................
463
Radio/CD Sound System
...........
172
Radio Theft Protection
...............
292
Readiness Codes
........................
490
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement
...........................
433
Rear Seat Folding Down
.............
138
Rearview Mirror
.........................
146
Rearview Mirror with Rearview Camera Display
......................
348
Rear Window Defogger
..............
121
Rear Window Wiper and
Washer
...................................
115 Recalling a Memorized Driving
Position
..................................
133
Reclining the Seat Backs
............
134
Refueling
....................................
353
Reminder Indicators
.....................
64
Remote Audio Controls
..............
289
Remote Transmitter
...................
130
Replacement Information Dust and Pollen Filter
.............
439
Engine Oil and Filter
...............
422
Fuses
......................................
469
Light Bulbs
.............................
431
Schedule
.................................
418
Spark Plugs
.............................
480
Tires
.......................................
447
Wiper Blades
..........................
440
Replacing Seat Belts After a Crash
........................................
23
Reporting Safety Defects (U.S. only)
.......................................
496
Required Engine Oil
..................
420
Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant
............................
357, 424
Restraint, Child
............................
36
Reverse Gear Position
................
377
Reverse Tilt Door Mirror
...........
147 Rotation, Tire
.............................
447
S
Safety Belts
..............................
9, 20
Safety Defects, Reporting (U.S. only)
.......................................
496
Safety Features
..............................
8
Airbags
...............................
10, 24
Door Locks
..............................
12
Head Restraints
........................
15
Seat Belts
........................
9, 15, 20
Seats & Seat-Backs
..............
13, 14
Safety Labels, Location of
.............
58
Safety Messages
..........................
iii
Seat Belts
.................................
9, 20
Additional Information
.............
20
Advice for Pregnant Women
....
18
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners
...........................
22
Cleaning
..................................
438
Lap/Shoulder Belt
..............
15, 21
Maintenance
............................
23
Reminder Indicator and Beeper
.............................
20, 64
IndexVIII10/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu