2013 Acura MDX 526

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 597 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
.....................
506
Maintenance Minder
TM
...............
507
Fluid Locations
...........................
515
Engine Compartment Cover
........
516
Adding Engine Oil
......................
517
Changing the Engine Oil and
Filter
.......................................
518
Engine Coolant
...........................
520
Windshield Washers
...................
522
Automatic Transmission Fluid
....
523
Brake Fluid
.................................
525
Power Steering Fluid
..................
526
Timing Belt
.................................
526
Lights
..........................................
527
Dust and Pollen Filter
.................
534
Cleaning the Seat Belts
...............
534
Floor Mats
..................................
535
Wiper Blades
..............................
536
Tires
...........................................
540
Checking the Battery
..................
547
Vehicle Storage
...........................
548
Maintenance
505
Maintenance
12/07/17 18:10:57 13 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX660 enu

Power Steering FluidCheck the level on the side of the
reservoir when the engine is cold.
The fluid should be between the
UPPER LEVEL and LOWER LEVEL.
If not add power steering fluid to the
UPPER LEVEL mark.
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 Power Steering
Fluid. You may use another power
steering fluid as an emergency
replacement, but have the power
steering system flushed and refilled
with Acura PSF as soon as possible.
A low power steering fluid level can
indicate a leak in the system. Check
the fluid level frequently, and have
the system inspected as soon as
possible.
If you are not sure how to add fluid,
contact your dealer.
Turning the steering wheel to full left or
right lock and holding it there can
damage the power steering pump.Timing Belt
The timing belt should be replaced at
the intervals shown in the
Maintenance Minder schedule.
Replace the timing belt every 60,000
miles (U.S.) or every 100,000 km
(Canada) if you regularly drive your
vehicle in any of the following
conditions:
●In very high temperatures
(over 110°F, 43°C).●In very low temperatures
(under－20°F,－29°C).●Frequently tow a trailer.
UPPER LEVEL
LOWER LEVEL
Power Steering Fluid, Timing Belt52612/07/17 18:10:57 13 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX660 enu

Emergencies on the Road
..........
549
Battery, Jump Starting
.............
558
Brake System Indicator
.....
69, 564
Changing a Flat Tire
...............
551
Charging System
Indicator
........................
69, 562
Checking the Fuses
................
566
Driving with a Flat Tire
...........
551
Hazard Warning Flashers
.......
132
Jump Starting
..........................
558
Low Oil Pressure
Indicator
........................
69, 562
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp
.............................
69, 563
Opening the Fuel Fill Door
Manually
.............................
572
Overheated Engine
.................
560
Towing
....................................
572
Emergency Brake
......................
164
Emergency Flashers
..................
132
Emergency Towing
....................
572
Emissions Controls
....................
587
Emissions Testing
......................
590
Engine
Adding Engine Coolant
...........
520
Check Starting System
............
443Coolant Temperature Gauge
....
78
If it Won't Start
........................
557
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp
.............................
69, 563
Oil Life Indicator
.....................
507
Oil Pressure Indicator
.......
69, 562
Oil, What Kind to Use
.............
517
Overheating
............................
560
Specifications
..........................
579
Speed Limiter
..........................
446
Starting
...................................
442
Engine Coolant
..........................
520
Ethanol in Gasoline
....................
422
Evaporative Emissions
Controls
..................................
587
Exhaust Fumes
............................
61
Exhaust Gas Recirculation
System
...................................
588
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
Belts by
....................................
19
F
Fan, Interior
...............................
185
Features
.....................................
181Filters
Dust and Pollen
.......................
534
Oil
...........................................
518
Flashers, Hazard Warning
.........
132
Flat Tire, Changing a
.................
551
Floor Mats
.................................
535
Fluids
Automatic Transmission
.........
523
Brake
......................................
525
Location
..................................
515
Power Steering
........................
526
Windshield Washer
.................
522
FM Stereo Radio
Reception
................................
303
Fog Lights
..................................
130
Folding the Second Seat
.............
153
Folding the Third Seat
...............
154
Four-way Flashers
......................
132
Front Airbags
.........................
10, 30
Front Seat
..................................
149
Adjusting
.................................
149
Air Ventilation
.........................
158
Heaters
...................................
157
Fuel
............................................
422
Economy
.................................
428
Fill Door and Cap
....................
424
IndexIV12/07/17 18:10:57 13 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX660 enu

Oxygenated Fuels
......................
422
P
Panel Brightness Control
...........
133
Park Gear Position
.....................
444
Parking
......................................
454
Parking Brake
............................
164
Parking Brake and Brake System
Indicator
...........................
69, 564
Parking Lights
...........................
128
Parking Over Things that
Burn
................................
454, 589
Passenger Airbag Off Indicator
....
37
PGM-FI System
..........................
588
Playing a Disc
............................
235
Playing an iPod
®.........................
278
Playing a USB Flash Memory
Device
....................................
287
Playing Disc
...............................
203
Playing Hard Disc Drive (HDD)
Audio (Models with navigation
system)
...............................
250
Playing the AM/FM
Radio
...............................
193, 213Playing the XM
®Radio
........
197, 226
Pollen Filter
...............................
534
Power Seat Adjustments
............
149
Power Socket Locations
.............
177
Power Steering Fluid
.................
526
Power Windows
.........................
160
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts
........
19
Preparing to Drive
......................
441
Proper Seat Belt Usage
................
16
Protecting Adults and Teens
........
12
Additional Safety Precautions
...
20
Advice for Pregnant Women
....
19
Protecting Children
......................
40
General Guidelines
..................
40
Protecting Infants
.....................
45
Protecting Larger Children
......
57
Protecting Small Children
........
46
Using Child Seats with
Tethers
.................................
54
Using LATCH
..........................
50
R
Radiator Overheating
.................
560
Radio/CD Sound System
...........
192Radio/Disc Sound
System
............................
193, 213
Radio Theft Protection
...............
308
Readiness Codes
........................
590
Rear A/C Unit
............................
187
Rear Audio Control Panel
...........
315
Rear Entertainment System
.......
310
Rear Lights, Bulb
Replacement
...........................
531
Rearview Mirror
.........................
165
Rearview Mirror with Rearview
Camera Display
......................
417
Rear Window Defogger
..............
132
Rear Window Wiper and
Washer
...................................
127
Recalling a Memorized Driving
Position
..................................
148
Reclining the Seat Backs
............
149
Reclining the Second Seats
........
153
Refueling
....................................
424
Reminder Indicators
.....................
68
Remote Audio Controls
..............
305
Remote Control (RES)
...............
334
Remote Transmitter
...................
145
Replacement Information
Dust and Pollen Filter
.............
534
IndexVIII12/07/17 18:10:57 13 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX660 enu

Engine Oil and Filter
...............
518
Fuses
......................................
565
Schedule
.................................
514
Spark Plugs
.............................
579
Timing Belt
.............................
526
Tires
.......................................
544
Wiper Blades
..........................
536
Replacing Seat Belts After a
Crash
........................................
25
Reporting Safety Defects
............
596
Reserve Tank, Engine
Coolant
............................
427, 520
Restraint, Child
............................
40
Reverse Gear Position
................
445
Rotation, Tire
.............................
544
S
Safety Belts
..............................
9, 21
Safety Defects, Reporting
...........
596
Safety Features
..............................
8
Airbags
...............................
10, 27
Door Locks
..............................
12
Head Restraints
........................
15
Seat Belts
........................
9, 16, 21Seats & Seat-Backs
..............
14, 15
Safety Labels, Location of
.............
62
Safety Messages
...........................
iv
Seat Belt e-pretensioners
..............
24
Seat Belts
.................................
9, 21
Additional Information
.............
21
Advice for Pregnant Women
....
19
Automatic Seat Belt
Tensioners
...........................
23
Cleaning
..................................
534
e-pretensioner
..........................
24
Lap/Shoulder Belt
..............
16, 22
Maintenance
............................
25
Reminder Indicator and
Beeper
.............................
21, 68
System Components
................
21
Use During Pregnancy
.............
19
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder
Belt
..................................
16, 22
Seat Heaters and Seat
Ventilation
..............................
158
Seats
..........................................
149
Adjusting the Second Seat
.......
153
Air Ventilation
.........................
158
Folding the Second Seat
..........
153
Folding the Third Seat
............
154Head Restraints
.......................
150
Heaters
...................................
157
Position Memory
....................
168
Third Row Access
...................
154
Seats, Adjusting the
...................
149
Security System
.........................
341
Security System Indicator
............
77
Sensors
Driver's Seat Position Sensor
...
31
Front Passenger's Weight
Sensors
................................
31
Impact Sensors
........................
27
Serial Number
............................
576
Service Intervals
.........................
507
Service Station Procedures
........
424
SH-AWD
®...................................
452
Indicator
...................................
73
Shifting the Automatic
Transmission
..........................
444
Shift Lever Position Indicators
...
443
Shift Lock Release
......................
446
Side Airbags
.................................
33
How the Side Airbag Off
Indicator Works
...................
36
How Your Side Airbags Work..33
CONTINUED
Index
IX
INDEX
12/07/17 18:10:57 13 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX660 enu

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
Theft Protection, Radio
..............
308
Three Way Catalytic
Converter
...............................
589
Tilt/Telescopic Steering
Wheel
.....................................
134
Timing Belt
................................
526
Tire Chains
................................
546
Tire, How to Change a Flat
........
551
Tire Information
.........................
583
Tire Labeling
..............................
583
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)
.......................
455, 585
Low Tire Pressure
Indicator
........................
72, 455
Tire Pressure Monitor
.......
83, 456
Tires
..........................................
540
Air Pressure
............................
541
Checking Wear
.......................
542Compact Spare
........................
550
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S.
Vehicles)
.............................
581
Inflation
...................................
540
Inspection
...............................
542
Labeling
..................................
583
Maintenance
...........................
544
Pressure Monitoring System
...
455
Replacing
................................
544
Rotating
..................................
544
Snow
.......................................
546
Specifications
..........................
580
Tire Chains
.............................
546
Tools, Tire Changing
.................
551
Towing
A Trailer
..................................
487
Emergency Wrecker
...............
572
Equipment and Accessories
....
492
Trailer Loading
.......................
488
Trailer Towing Tips
.................
496
Weight Limit
...........................
487
TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring
System)
..............................
455
Required Federal
Explanation
.........................
585
Trailer Stability Assist
................
498Transmission
Checking Fluid Level
..............
523
Identification Number
.............
576
Shifting the Automatic
.............
444
Treadwear
..................................
542
Trip Computer
.............................
84
Trip Meter
...................................
81
Turn Signals
.................................
71
U
Unexpected, Taking Care of
the
..........................................
549
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
....
581
Unleaded Gasoline
.....................
422
USB Flash Memory Device Error
Messages
...............................
297
Used Oil, How to Dispose of
......
519
Using the Paddle Shifters in the D
position (D-Paddle Shift
Mode)
.................................
447
Using the Paddle Shifters in the S
position (Sequential Shift
Mode)
.................................
449
CONTINUED
Index
XI
INDEX
12/07/17 18:10:57 13 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX660 enu

Gasoline:
Premium unleaded gasoline,
pump octane number of 91 or
higher.
Fuel Tank Capacity:
21.00 US gal (79.5 L)
Recommended Engine Oil:
API Premium grade 5W-20
detergent oil (see page 517).
Oil change capacity (including
filter):
4.5 US qt (4.3 L)
Automatic Transmission Fluid:
Acura ATF DW-1 (automatic
transmission fluid) (see page 524).Rear Differential Fluid:
Use Acura All-Wheel Drive Fluid
(DPSF) only.
Capacity:
SH-AWD differential case
2.6 US qt (2.5 L)
Transfer Assembly Fluid:
Acura Hypoid Gear Oil (HGO-1).
Power Steering Fluid:
Acura Power Steering Fluid
preferred, or another brand of
power steering fluid as a
temporary replacement. Do not
use ATF (see page 526).Brake Fluid:
Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid
DOT 3 preferred, or a DOT 3 or
DOT 4 brake fluid as a temporary
replacement (see page 525).
Tire Pressure (measured cold):
Front/Rear:
32 psi (220 kPa, 2.2 kgf/cm
2)
Compact Spare Tire:
60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2 kgf/cm2)
Service Information Summary12/07/17 18:10:57 13 ACURA MDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STX660 enu