2012 Acura MDX service

All service items not detailed in this
section should be performed by a
certified technician or other qualified
mechanic.
Important Safety Precautions
To eliminate potential hazards, read
the instructions before you begin,
and make sure you have the tools
and skills required.●
Make sure your vehicle is parked
on level ground, the parking brake
is set, and the engine is off.
●
To clean parts, use a commercially
available degreaser or parts
cleaner, not gasoline.
●
To reduce the possibility of fire or
explosion, keep cigarettes, sparks,
and flames away from the battery
and all fuel-related parts.
●
Wear eye protection and protective
clothing when working with the
battery or compressed air.Improperly maintaining this
vehicle, or failing to correct a
problem before driving can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection
and maintenance
recommendations and
schedules in this owner's
manual.
Potential Vehicle Hazards
●
Carbon Monoxide poison from
engine exhaust.Be sure there is
adequate ventilation whenever you
operate the engine.
●
Burns from hot parts.Let the
engine and exhaust system cool
down before touching any parts.
●
Injury from moving parts.Do
not run the engine unless
instructed to do so.Failure to properly follow
maintenance instructions and
precautions can cause you to
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures
and precautions in this owner's
manual.
Some of the most important safety
precautions are given here. However,
we cannot warn you of every
conceivable hazard that can arise in
performing maintenance. Only you
can decide whether or not you
should perform a given task.
Maintenance Safety506

One of the most convenient and
important features of the multi-
information display on your vehicle is
the Maintenance Minder™.
Based on engine operating
conditions and accumulated engine
revolutions, the onboard computer in
your vehicle calculates the remaining
engine oil life.
The system also displays the code for
other scheduled maintenance items
needing service.Engine Oil Life
To see the remaining engine oil life
displayed on the multi-information
display as a percentage, turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II) position.
Make sure the display shows blank,
SH-AWD and tire pressure, and then
press the SEL/RESET button on the
steering wheel repeatedly until the
engine oil life appears (see page 79).
The remaining engine oil life is
displayed according to the table shown
below.
Calculated Engine
Oil Life (%)Displayed
Engine Oil Life
(%)
100%－91% 100%
90%－81% 90%
80%－71% 80%
70%－61% 70%
60%－51% 60%
50%－41% 50%
40%－31% 40%
30%－21% 30%
20%－16% 20%
15%－11% 15%
10%－6% 10%
5%－1% 5%
0% 0%
REMAINING ENGINE OIL LIFE
CONTINUED
Maintenance Minder
TM
507
Maintenance

When the remaining engine oil life is
15 to 6 percent, the multi-information
display shows a‘‘SERVICE DUE
SOON’’message along with the
maintenance schedule code
indicating the main and sub items
required at the time of the oil
change. Refer to page 514 for a
complete list of the maintenance
main items and sub items.
When the remaining oil life is 1 to 5
percent, the multi-information display
shows a‘‘SERVICE DUE NOW’’
message with the same maintenance
items‘‘SERVICE DUE SOON’’was
displayed with. When you see this
message have the indicated
maintenance performed as soon as
possible.
Press the SEL/RESET button on the
steering wheel repeatedly to select
the engine oil life. The message
‘‘SERVICE’’, along with‘‘5%’’, and the
maintenance item code are displayed
on the lower part of the multi-
information display when the
calculated engine oil life is 1－5
percent (see page 507).
MAINTENANCE
MAIN ITEMMAINTENANCE
SUB ITEMS
Maintenance Minder
TM
508

If the indicated maintenance service
is not done and the remaining engine
oil life reaches 0%, the multi-
information display will show the
message‘‘SERVICE PAST DUE’’and
the maintenance item code(s). This
message is displayed again when the
total distance traveled is less than 10
miles (for U.S. models) or 10 km (for
Canadian models) after the engine
oil life became 0%.These messages will come on every
time you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position.
Immediately have the service
performed, and make sure to reset
the oil life minder as previously
described.
The message will be canceled if the
INFO (
/
) button on the steering
wheel is pressed. Press the INFO
(
/
) button to see the message
again.
Press the SEL/RESET button on the
steering wheel repeatedly to select
the engine oil life. The message
‘‘SERVICE’’, along with‘‘0%’’, and the
maintenance item code are displayed
on the lower part of the multi-
information display when the
calculated engine oil life is 0－1%.
CONTINUED
Maintenance Minder
TM
509
Maintenance

If the indicated required service is
not done and the remaining engine
oil life becomes 0%, the multi-
information display will show a
‘‘SERVICE PAST DUE’’message, the
total distance traveled after the
remaining oil life became 0%, and the
maintenance item code(s).This message is displayed when you
drive over 10 miles (for U.S. models)
or 10 km (for Canadian models) after
seeing the 0% message.
Immediately have the service
performed, and make sure to reset
the display as previously described.
The message will be canceled if the
INFO (
/
) button on the steering
wheel is pressed. Press the INFO
(
/
) button to see the message
again.
When you press the SEL/RESET
button to select the engine oil life,
the message‘‘SERVICE’’, along with
the maintenance item code and the
total negative mileage after the oil life
became 0%, will be displayed on the
lower part of the multi-information
display.
TOTAL PAST DUE
DISTANCE TRAVELED
U.S.
MAINTENANCE CODE
CANADA
U.S.
CANADA
TOTAL PAST DUE MILEAGE
Maintenance Minder
TM
510

Maintenance Main Items and Sub
ItemsAll the maintenance items displayed
in the multi-information display are in
code.
For an explanation of the
maintenance codes, see page 514.Resetting the Engine Oil Life
Display
Your dealer will reset the display
after completing the required
maintenance service. You will see
‘‘OIL LIFE 100%’’on the display the
next time you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position.
If maintenance service is done by
someone other than your dealer,
reset the Maintenance Minder as
follows:
1. Turn the ignition switch to the ON (II)
position.
2. If the engine oil life is not displayed,
press the SEL/RESET button on the
steering wheel repeatedly until the
multi-information display shows blank,
SH-AWD and tire pressure.
3. Press and hold the SEL/RESET button
on the steering wheel for more than 10
seconds. The remaining engine oil life
reset mode will be shown on the multi-
information display.
4. Select‘‘RESET’’by pressing the INFO
(
/
) button, then press the SEL/
RESET button to reset the engine oil
life display. The maintenance item
code(s) will disappear, and the engine
oil life will reset to‘‘100.’’If you want to
cancel the oil life reset mode, select
‘‘CANCEL.’’
MAINTENANCE
SUB ITEMS MAINTENANCE
MAIN ITEM MAINTENANCE
MAIN ITEMMAINTENANCE
SUB ITEMS
CONTINUED
Maintenance Minder
TM
511
Maintenance

Important Maintenance
Precautions
If you have the required service done
but do not reset the display, or reset
the display without doing the service,
the system will not show the correct
maintenance intervals. This can lead
to serious mechanical problems
because you will no longer have an
accurate record of when
maintenance is needed.Your authorized dealer knows your
vehicle best and can provide
competent, efficient service.
However, service at a dealer is not
mandatory to keep your warranties in
effect. Maintenance may be done by
any qualified service facility or
person who is skilled in this type of
automotive service. Keep all receipts
as proof of completion, and have the
person who does the work fill out
your Maintenance Journal or
Canadian Maintenance Log. Check
your warranty booklet for more
information.We recommend using Acura parts
and fluids whenever you have
maintenance done. These are
manufactured to the same high-
quality standards as the original
components, so you can be confident
of their performance and durability.Maintenance Minder
TM
512

U.S. Vehicles:
According to state and federal
regulations, failure to perform
maintenance on the items marked
with＃will not void your emissions
warranties. However, Acura
recommends that all maintenance
services be performed in accordance
with the intervals indicated by the
multi-information display.Owner's Maintenance Checks
You should check the following
items at the specified intervals. If you
are unsure of how to perform any
check, turn to the appropriate page
listed.
●
Engine oil level－Check every
time you fill the fuel tank. See page
427.
●
Engine coolant level－Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
you fill the fuel tank. See page 427.
●
Automatic transmission－Check
the fluid level monthly. See page
523.
●
Brakes－Check the fluid level
monthly. See page 525.
●
Tires－Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread for
wear and foreign objects. See page
541.
●
Lights－Check the operation of
all the lights monthly. See page
527.
Maintenance Minder
TM
513
Maintenance