2012 Acura ZDX Owner's Manual

223Continued
Driving
When Driving
Starting the Engine
1.Make sure the parking brake is applied.
2. Check that the shift lever is in
P, then
depress the brake pedal.
u Although it is possible to start the vehicle
in
N, it is safer to start it in P.
3. You can start the engine in any power
mode. Press the ENGINE START/STOP
button and the brake pedal.
1 Starting the Engine
Keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal when
starting the engine.
The engine is harder to start in cold weather and in
thinner air found at altitu des above 8,000 feet (2,400
meters).
When starting the engine in cold weather, turn off all
electrical accessories such as the lights, climate
control system, and rear defogger in order to reduce
battery drain.
If the exhaust system sounds abnormal or you can
smell exhaust gas inside the vehicle, have your vehicle
checked by a dealer. There may be a problem with
the engine or exhaust system.
Insert the keyless access remo te into the slot if the
battery in the key is weak. 2 If the Keyless Access Remote Battery is
Weak P. 327
The engine may not start if the keyless access remote
is subjected to strong radio waves.
Models with keyless access remote
Brake Pedal
ENGINE START/STOP button
Brake Pedal
Models with keyless access remote

uuWhen Driving uStarting the Engine
224
Driving
3. Turn the ignition switch to START e
without depressing the accelerator pedal.
1. Keeping your right foot on the brake peda l, release the parking brake. Check that
the brake system indicator has gone off.
2 Parking Brake P. 253
2.Put the shift lever in D. Select R when reversing.
3. Gradually release the brake pedal and gent ly depress the accelerator pedal to pull
away.
You can turn the engine off when the vehicle is completely stopped.
1. Shift to
P.
2. Press the ENGINE START/STOP button with your foot on the brake pedal.
1Starting the Engine
You do not need to hold the ENGINE START/STOP
button to start the engine.
•Depending on the outside temperature, the starter
motor runs for about 6 to 9 seconds until the
engine starts. If you hold the ENGINE START/STOP
button for more than 7 seconds, the starter motor,
depending on the outside temperature, runs for
about 10 to 25 seconds until the engine starts.
•If the engine does not start, wait at least 10
seconds before trying again.
Do not hold the key in START
(e for more than 15
seconds.
•If the engine does not sta rt right away, wait for at
least 10 seconds before trying again.
•If the engine starts, but then immediately stops,
wait at least 10 seconds before repeating step 3
while gently depressing the accelerator pedal.
Release the accelerator pedal once the engine
starts.
The immobilizer system protects your vehicle from
theft. If an improperly co ded key (or other device) is
used, the engine’s fuel system is disabled. 2 Immobilizer System P. 120
Models with keyless access remote
Models without keyless access remote
Models without keyless access remote
■Starting to Drive
■Stopping the Engine
Models with keyless access remote

225
uuWhen Driving uStarting the Engine
Driving
■Hill start assist system
Hill start assist feature helps to prevent the vehicle from rolling on inclines as you
move your foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator.
Move the shift lever to
D or S when facing uphill, or R when facing downhill,
then release the brake pedal.
The brakes remain engaged briefl y as you release the brake pedal.
1Hill start assist system
Hill start assist may not prevent the vehicle from
rolling downhill on a very steep or slippery slope, and
will not operate on small inclines.
Hill start assist is not a replacement for the parking
brake.
Hill start assist will operate even when VSA is
switched off.

226
uuWhen Driving uPrecautions While Driving
Driving
Precautions While Driving
Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles.
To prevent rollovers or loss of control:
• Take corners at slower speeds than you would with a passenger vehicle.
• Avoid sharp turns and abrupt maneuvers whenever possible.
• Do not modify your vehicle in any way th at you would raise the center of gravity.
• Do not carry heavy cargo on the roof.
Avoid driving in deep water and on flooded roads. This can damage the engine or
cause electrical component failure.
If there is a strong impact with something under the vehicl e, stop in a safe location.
Check the underside of the vehicl e for damage or any fluid leaks.
■Driving Guidelines for Your Utility Vehicle
■In Rain
■Other Precautions
1Precautions While Driving
NOTICEDo not operate the shift lever while pressing the
accelerator pedal. You could damage the
transmission.
If the ignition switch is turned to ACCESSORY
(q or
LOCK (0*1 while driving, the engine will shut down
and all steering and brake power assist functions will
stop, making it difficult to control the vehicle.
Do not put the shift lever in
( N, as you will lose
engine braking (and acce leration) performance.
During the first 600 mile s (1,000 km) of operation,
avoid sudden acceleration or full throttle operation so
as not to damage the engine or powertrain.
Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles (300 km).
You should also follow this when the brake pads are
replaced.
1 Driving Guidelines for Your Utility Vehicle
Failure to operate your vehi cle correctly might result
in a crash or a roll over.
2 Important Handling Information P. 24
2 Off-Highway Driving Guidelines P. 220
*1: Models with the keyles s access system have an
ENGINE START/STOP button instead of an ignition
switch.

227
uuWhen Driving uAutomatic Transmission
Driving
Automatic Transmission
The following conditions caus e the engine to run at high revolutions, and increase
creeping:
• Immediately after the engine starts.
• When the climate control system is in use.
Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed when stopped.
Quickly depressing the accelerator pe dal while driving uphill may cause the
transmission to drop to a lower gear, unexpectedly increasing vehicle speed. Depress
the accelerator pedal carefully, especi ally on slippery roads and curves.
■Creeping
■Kickdown

228
uuWhen Driving uShifting
Driving
Shifting
Change the shift position in accordance with your driving needs.
■Shift lever positions
1Shifting
You cannot turn the ignition switch to LOCK
(0*1
and remove the key*1 unless the shift lever is in ( P.
You cannot change the power mode from ON to
VEHICLE OFF (LOCK) unless the shift lever is in
(P.
The vehicle may move forward very slightly even in
( N while the engine is cold.
Depress the brake pedal firmly and, when necessary,
apply the parking brake.
*1: Models with the keyles s access system have an
ENGINE START/STOP button instead of an ignition
switch.
Park
Used when parking or starting the
engine
Reverse
Used when reversing
Neutral
Used when idling
Drive
Used for:
●Normal driving (gears change
between 1st and 6t h automatically)
●Temporarily driving in the sequential
mode
Drive (S)
Used for:
●Automatically changing gears
between 1st and 5th (5 th gear is used
only at high speed)
●Driving in the sequential mode
Release Button

Continued229
uuWhen Driving uShifting
Driving
■Shift Lever Operation1Shift Lever Operation
NOTICEWhen you change the shift lever from (D to (R and
vice versa, come to a co mplete stop and keep the
brake pedal depressed.
Operating the shift lever before the vehicle has come
to a complete standstill ca n damage the transmission.
Use the shift lever position indicator to check the
lever position before pulling away.
Whichever position the shift lever is in when driving,
a blinking
( D indicator indicates a transmission
problem.
Avoid sudden acceleration and have the transmission
checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
The fuel supply may be cut off if you drive at engine
speeds in or over the ta chometer red zone (engine
speed limit). If this happen s, you may experience a
slight jolt.
It may not be possible to operate the shift lever if the
brake pedal is applied while the shift lever release
button is held down.
Depress the brake pedal first.
Tachometer’s red zone
Shift Lever Position Indicator
Depress the brake pedal and press
the shift lever release button to shift.
Shift without pressing the shift lever
release button.
Press the shift lever release button
and shift. M
(Sequential Shift mode) Indicator/
Gear Position Indicator

230
uuWhen Driving uShifting
Driving
Use the paddle shifters to change between 1st and 6th gears without removing your
hands from the steering wheel. The transmissi on will switch to the sequential shift
mode.
■When the shift lever is in D:
The vehicle will go into th e sequential shift mode mome ntarily, and the gear position
indicator will come on.
Once you start traveling at a constant speed, the sequential shift mode will
automatically switch off, and the gear position indicator will go off.
Hold the
+ paddle shifter for two second s to return to normal drive.
■When the shift lever is in S:
The vehicle will go into the sequential shift mode, and the M (sequential shift mode)
indicator and gear position indicator will come on. At speeds of 6 mph (10 km/h) or
less, the vehicle automatically shifts down into 1st gear. When you accelerate from
a stop, the transmission starts in first gear, and shifts from first to second
automatically.
You can only pull away in 1st or 2nd gear.
When switching out of the sequential shift mode, move the shift lever from
S to
D. When the sequential shift mode is canceled, the M indicator and gear position
indicator go off.
■Sequential Shift Mode