2012 Acura RDX transmission

The oil viscosity or weight is
provided on the container's label.
5W-30 oil is formulated for year-
round protection of your vehicle to
improve cold weather starting and
fuel economy.Engine Oil Additives
Your vehicle does not require any oil
additives. Additives may adversely
affect the engine or transmission
performance and durability.
Ambient Temperature
Adding Engine Oil
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Maintenance
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Do not use engine antifreeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir. Antifreeze
can damage your vehicle's paint, while
a vinegar/water solution can damage
the windshield washer pump. Use only
commercially-available windshield
washer fluid.Automatic Transmission Fluid
The transmission should be drained
and refilled with new fluid when this
service is shown on a maintenance
message on the multi-information
display.
Check the fluid level with the engine
at normal operating temperature.
1. Park the vehicle on level ground.
Start the engine, let it run until the
radiator fan comes on, then shut
off the engine. For accurate
results, wait about 60 seconds (but
no longer than 90 seconds) before
doing step 2.
2. Remove the dipstick (yellow loop)from the transmission, and wipe it
with a clean cloth.
DIPSTICK
CONTINUED
Windshield Washers, Automatic Transmission Fluid
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3. Insert the dipstick all the way intothe transmission securely as
shown in the illustration.
4. Remove the dipstick and check the fluid level. It should be between
the upper and lower marks.
5. If the level is below the lowermark, remove the fill plug, then
add the fluid into the fill hole to
bring it to the level between the
upper and lower marks on the
dipstick.
Pour the fluid slowly and carefully
so you do not spill any. Clean up
any spills immediately; it could
damage components in the engine
compartment. Always use Acura ATF DW-1
(automatic transmission fluid).
Use only Acura ATF DW-1 (automatic
transmission fluid). Do not mix with
other transmission fluids.
Using transmission fluid other than
Acura ATF DW-1 may cause
deterioration in transmission operation
and durability, and could result in
damage to the transmission.
Damage resulting from the use of
transmission fluid other than Acura
ATF DW-1 is not covered by the Acura
new vehicle warranty.
6. Insert the dipstick all the way back
into the transmission securely as
shown in the illustration.
If you are not sure how to add fluid,
contact your dealer.
HOT
MARK UPPER MARK
LOWER MARK
FILL PLUG
Automatic Transmission Fluid42811/06/16 17:42:51 12 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK650 enu

On models without navigation systemIf your vehicle's battery is
disconnected, or goes dead, the time
is reset to 1:00. To set the time again,
follow the setting procedure (see
page 293).
If your vehicle's battery is
disconnected or goes dead, the audio
system will disable itself. The next
time you turn on the radio you will
see‘‘ENTER CODE ’’in the
frequency display. Use the preset
bars or preset buttons (depending on
the model) to enter the five-digit
code (see page 291).
On models with
navigation system
The navigation system will also
disable itself. The next time you turn
on the ignition switch, the system
will require you to enter a PIN before
it can be used. Refer to the
navigation system manual. Vehicle Storage
If you need to park your vehicle for
an extended period (more than 1
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it for storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your vehicle back on the road. If
possible, store your vehicle indoors.
●Fill the fuel tank.●Wash and dry the exterior
completely.●Clean the interior. Make sure the
carpeting, floor mats, etc., are
completely dry.●Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Park.
CONTINUED
Checking the Battery, Vehicle Storage
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Maintenance
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If you have a flat tire while driving,
stop in a safe place to change it.
Drive slowly along the shoulder until
you get to an exit or an area that is
far away from the traffic lanes.
The vehicle can easily roll off
the jack, seriously injuring
anyone underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the vehicle
when it is supported only by the
jack.1. Park the vehicle on firm, level, and
non-slippery ground. Put the
transmission in Park. Apply the
parking brake.
If you are towing a trailer, unhitch
it.
2. Turn on the hazard warning lights, and turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK (0) position. Have all
passengers get out of the vehicle
while you change the tire.
3. Open the tailgate. Raise the cargoarea floor lid by lifting it up with
the strap, then remove the lid.
The spare tire, jack, and tools are
under the cargo area floor.
4. Unscrew the wing bolt. Use the hooked end of the wheel nut
wrench extension as a wrench if
the wing bolt is hard to loosen.
Then take the spare tire out of the
cargo area.WING BOLT
JACK SPARE TIRELID
CONTINUED
Changing a Flat Tire
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Taking Care of the Unexpected
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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 Starting
on page 461.
●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 mechanic to
determine the problem (see
Emergency Towing on page 475).
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 450).
You can then try jump starting the
vehicle from a booster battery (see
page 461).
CONTINUED
If the Engine Won't Start
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Taking Care of the Unexpected
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Although this seems like a simple
procedure, you should take several
precautions.
A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct
procedure, seriously injuring
anyone nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.
You cannot start your vehicle by
pushing or pulling it.
To Jump Start Your Vehicle:1. Open the hood, and check the physical condition of the battery.
In very cold weather, check the
condition of the electrolyte. If it
seems slushy or frozen, do not try
jump starting until it thaws.If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can freeze. Attempting
to jump start with a frozen battery can
cause it to rupture.
2. Turn off all electrical accessories:heater, A/C, climate control, audio
system, lights, etc. Put the
transmission in Park, and set the
parking brake.
The numbers in the illustration
show you the order to connect the
jumper cables.
BOOSTER
BATTERYCONTINUED
Jump Starting
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The reading of the vehicle's
temperature gauge on the multi-
information display should stay in the
midrange. If it climbs to the H (Hot)
mark, you should determine the
reason (hot day, driving up a steep
hill, etc.).
If the coolant temperature rises to
224°F (118°C) or more, the
temperature gauge will appear on the
display and blink for several times.
At the same time, the beeper will
sound once.
If your vehicle overheats, you should
take immediate action. The only
indication may be the temperature
gauge climbing to the H (Hot) mark.
Or you may see steam or spray
coming from under the hood.
Driving with the temperature gauge
reading at the H (Hot) mark can cause
serious damage to the engine.
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
1. Safely pull to the side of the road. Put the transmission in Park, and
set the parking brake. Turn off all
accessories, and turn on the
hazard warning lights. 2. If you see steam and/or spray
coming from under the hood, turn
off the engine. Wait until you see
no more signs of steam or spray,
then open the hood.
3. If you do not see steam or spray, leave the engine running and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to
overloading, the engine should
start to cool down almost
immediately. If it does, wait until
the temperature gauge comes
down to the midpoint, then
continue driving.
4. If the temperature gauge reading stays at the H (Hot) mark, turn off
the engine.
CONTINUED
If the Engine Overheats
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