2012 Acura MDX key

Headlight Aiming
The headlights were properly aimed
when your vehicle was new. If you
regularly carry heavy items in the
cargo area or pull a trailer,
readjustment may be required.
Adjustments should be done by your
dealer or another qualified
technician.
Low Beam Headlight Bulb
Replacement
The low beam headlight bulbs are a
type of high voltage discharge tube.
High voltage can remain in the
circuit even with the light switch off
and the key removed. Because of
this, you should not attempt to
examine or change a low beam
headlight bulb yourself. If a low
beam headlight bulb fails, take the
vehicle to your dealer to have it
replaced.Replacing a High Beam Headlight
Bulb
Your vehicle has halogen headlight
bulbs. When replacing a bulb, handle
it by its base, and protect the glass
from contact with your skin or hard
objects. If you touch the glass, clean
it with denatured alcohol and a clean
cloth.
Halogen headlight bulbs get very hot
when lit. Oil, perspiration, or a scratch
on the glass can cause the bulb to
overheat and shatter.
1. Open the hood.
2. Remove the front bulkhead cover
(see page 516).
(Passenger's side)
Remove the power steering
reserve tank from the stay
brackets.STAY BRACKETS
POWER STEERING FLUID
CONTINUED
Lights
527
Maintenance

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 Startingon page 558.
●
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 Towingon page 572.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 547). You
can then try jump starting the
vehicle from a booster battery (see
page 558).
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 74).
CONTINUED
If the Engine Won't Start
557
Taking Care of the Unexpected

A
Accessories and
Modifications
..........................
431
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key
Position)
.................................
139
Accessory Power Sockets
..........
177
AC Power Outlet
........................
178
Active Damper System
...............
484
Active Head Restraints
...............
152
AcuraLink
®(U.S. models
only)
.......................................
402
Adaptive Cruise Control
(ACC)
.....................................
348
Additives, Engine Oil
.................
518
Adjusting the Steering Wheel
....
134
Advanced Airbags
........................
31
Airbag (SRS)
..........................
10, 27
Air Conditioning System
............
182
Rear A/C Control
....................
187
Air Outlets (Vents)
.....................
189
Air Pressure, Tires
..............
540, 541
Alcohol in Gasoline
....................
422
Antifreeze
...................................
520Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
Indicator
............................
70, 462
Operation
................................
461
Anti-theft, Audio System
.............
308
Anti-theft Steering Column
Lock
.......................................
139
Audio System
......................
192, 212
Automatic Climate Control
.........
183
Automatic Lighting Off
Feature
...................................
131
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners...
23
Automatic Speed Control
...........
345
Automatic Transmission
............
443
Capacity, Fluid
........................
578
Checking Fluid Level
..............
523
Driving with the Paddle
Shifters
................................
447
Shifting
...................................
444
Shift Lever Position
Indicators
............................
443
Shift Lever Positions
...............
444
Shift Lock Release
...................
446
Auxiliary Input Jack
...................
307B
Battery
Charging System
Indicator
........................
69, 562
Jump Starting
..........................
558
Maintenance
...........................
547
Specifications
..........................
579
Before Driving
...........................
421
Belts, Seat
................................
9, 21
Beverage Holders
......................
174
Blind Spot Information System
(BSI)
......................................
476
Bluetooth
®Audio
.......................
298
Bluetooth
®HandsFreeLink
®
(Models with navigation
system)
...............................
383
Bluetooth
®HandsFreeLink
®
(Models without navigation
system)
...............................
365
Booster Seats
...............................
58
CONTINUED
Index
I
INDEX

Octane Requirement
...............
422
Tank, Refueling
.......................
424
Gas Station Procedures
..............
424
Gauges
Engine Coolant Temperature
...
78
Fuel
..........................................
78
Speedometer
............................
78
Tachometer
..............................
78
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating)
...................................
488
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight
Rating)
...................................
488
Gearshift Lever Positions
Automatic
Transmission
...............
443, 444
Glove Box
..................................
175
Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR)
.................................
488
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR)
.................................
488
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating)
...................................
488H
Halogen Headlight Bulbs
...........
527
Hazard Warning Flashers
..........
132
Headlights
.................................
128
Aiming
....................................
527
Automatic Lighting Off
............
131
Daytime Running Lights
.........
130
High Beam Indicator
................
74
High Beams, Turning on
.........
128
Lights On Indicator
..................
74
Low Beams, Turning on
..........
128
Reminder Chime
.....................
129
Replacing Halogen Bulbs
........
527
Turning on
..............................
128
Washers
..................................
127
Headphones
...............................
338
Head Restraints
..........................
150
Heated Mirror
............................
167
Heaters, Seats
............................
157
Heating and Cooling
..................
182
High Altitude, Starting at
............
442
High Beam Lever
................
128, 129
High-Low Beam Switch
..............
128HomeLink
®Universal
Transceiver
............................
363
Hood, Opening and Closing
the
..........................................
426
Horn
......................................
4, 125
I
Identification Number,
Vehicle
...................................
576
Ignition
Keys
........................................
136
Switch
.....................................
139
Timing Control System
...........
588
Immobilizer System
...................
138
Important Safety Precautions
.........
6
CONTINUED
Index
V
INDEX

Indicators, Instrument Panel
........
67
ABS (Anti-lock Brake)
.......
70, 462
Active Damper System
......
77, 484
Adaptive Cruise Control
(ACC)
...................................
75
A/T Temp
................................
72
Blind Spot Information System
(BSI)
....................................
76
Brake (Parking and Brake
System)
.........................
69, 564
Charging System
..............
69, 562
Collision Mitigation Braking
System™
...............................
75
Cruise Control
..........................
75
Cruise Main
.............................
75
Door and Tailgate Open
...........
76
Fog Lights
................................
74
High Beam
...............................
74
Key (Immobilizer System)
.......
74
Lights On
.................................
74
Low Fuel
..................................
77
Low Oil Pressure
..............
69, 562
Low Tire Pressure
....................
72
Maintenance Minder
TM
...........
507
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp
.............................
69, 563Passenger Airbag Off
...............
37
Seat Belt Reminder
.............
21, 68
Security System
.......................
77
SH-AWD
®.................................
73
Side Airbag Off
....................
36, 70
SRS
.....................................
36, 70
System Message
.................
73, 86
Tire Pressure Monitor
..............
72
Turn Signal and Hazard
Warning
...............................
71
VSA OFF
..................................
71
VSA System
.............................
71
Individual Map Lights
................
171
Infant Restraint
............................
45
Infant Seats
..................................
45
Tether Anchorage Points
.........
54
Inflation, Proper Tire
..................
540
Inside Mirror
.............................
165
Inspection, Tire
..........................
542
Installing a Child Seat
..................
49
Instrument Panel
..........................
67
Instrument Panel Brightness
.....
133
Instruments and Controls
.............
65
Interface Dial
.............................
212
Interior Lights
............................
170
Introduction
...................................
iiPod
®
..........................................
278
iPod
®Error Messages
................
286
J
Jacking up the Vehicle
...............
551
Jack, Tire
...................................
551
Jump Starting
.............................
558
K
Keys
...........................................
136
L
Label, Certification
.....................
576
Lane Change, Signaling
.............
128
Lap/Shoulder Belt
.................
16, 22
LATCH Anchorage System
..........
50
Lights
Indicator
...................................
67
Interior
....................................
170
Parking
...................................
128
Turn Signal
.............................
128
IndexVI

Load Limit
...........................
434, 487
LOCK (Ignition Key Position)....
139
Locks
Anti-theft Steering Column
......
139
Childproof Door
......................
141
Fuel Fill Door
..........................
424
Glove Box
...............................
175
Lockout Prevention
.................
141
Tailgate
...........................
141, 142
Low Coolant Level
......................
427
Lower Anchors
.............................
50
Low Fuel Indicator
.......................
77
Low Oil Pressure
Indicator
...........................
69, 562
Lubricant Specifications Chart...
578
Luggage, Storing (cargo)
...........
433
M
Maintenance
..............................
505
Main Items and Sub Items
......
511
Minder
....................................
507
Owner's Maintenance
Checks
................................
513
Safety
......................................
506Schedule
.................................
514
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp
................................
69, 563
Memory, Driving Position
..........
168
Message Display
..........................
86
Message Indicator
.......................
73
Meters, Gauges
............................
78
Methanol in Gasoline
.................
422
Mirrors, Adjusting
......................
166
Modifications
.............................
432
Modifying Your Vehicle
.............
432
Moonroof
...................................
163
Multi-Information Display
............
79
N
Neutral Gear Position
.................
445
New Vehicle Break-in
.................
422
NOTICE, Explanation of
................
i
Numbers, Identification
.............
576
O
Octane Requirement,
Gasoline
.................................
422Odometer
.....................................
81
Odometer, Trip
............................
81
Off-Highway Driving
Guidelines
..............................
500
Oil
Change, How to
......................
518
Change, When to
....................
507
Checking Engine
....................
427
Life, Engine
.............................
507
Pressure Indicator
.............
69, 562
Selecting Proper Viscosity
Chart
...................................
517
ON (Ignition Key Position)
........
139
Outside Mirrors
.........................
166
Outside Temperature
...................
82
Overheating, Engine
..................
560
Owner's Maintenance Checks
....
513
Oxygenated Fuels
......................
422
P
Panel Brightness Control
...........
133
Park Gear Position
.....................
444
Parking
......................................
454
Parking Brake
............................
164
CONTINUED
Index
VII
INDEX

Spare Tire
..................................
550
Inflating
...........................
540, 550
Specifications
..........................
580
Spark Plugs
................................
579
Specifications
.............................
578
Speed Control
............................
345
Speed Limiter
.............................
446
Speedometer
................................
78
SRS, Additional Information
.........
27
Additional Safety Precautions
...
39
Airbag Service
..........................
38
Airbag System Components
.....
27
How the Side Airbag Off
Indicator Works
...................
36
How the SRS Indicator Works
..
36
How Your Front Airbags
Work
....................................
30
How Your Side Airbags Work
..
33
How Your Side Curtain Airbags
Work
....................................
35
SRS Indicator
.........................
36, 70
START (Ignition Key
Position)
.................................
139
Starting the Engine
....................
442
Auto Control Mode
.................
442In Cold Weather at High
Altitude
................................
442
With a Dead Battery
................
558
State Emissions Testing
.............
590
Steam Coming from Engine
.......
560
Steering Wheel
Adjustments
............................
134
Anti-theft Column Lock
...........
139
Buttons
...........................
305, 345
Position Memory
....................
168
Stereo Sound System
..........
192, 212
Storage Compartment
................
175
Storing Your Vehicle
..................
548
Sunglasses Holder
.....................
176
Sun Visor
...................................
176
Super Handling-All Wheel Drive™
(SH-AWD
®) System
................
452
Supplemental Restraint
System
............................
10, 27
Servicing
..................................
38
SRS Indicator
......................
36, 70
System Components
................
27
Synthetic Oil
..............................
518T
Tachometer
..................................
78
Tailgate
......................................
141
Open Indicator
.........................
76
Opening the
............................
141
Power
......................................
142
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in
.....
531
Taking Care of the
Unexpected
............................
549
Technical Descriptions
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S.
Vehicles)
.............................
581
Emissions Control Systems
.....
587
Three Way Catalytic
Converter
............................
589
Tire Labeling
...........................
583
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)－Required Federal
Explanation
......................
585
Temperature Gauge
.....................
78
Temperature, Inside Sensor
.......
191
Temperature, Outside
..................
82
Tensioners, Seat Belts
..................
23
Tether Anchorage Points
.............
54
IndexX