2013 Acura RDX Owner's Manual

136Controls
Adjusting the SeatsAdjusting the Seat Positions
Adjust the driver's seat as far back as possible
while allowing you to maintain full control of
the vehicle. You should be able to sit upright,
well back in the seat and be able to
adequately press the pedals without leaning
forward, and grip the steering wheel
comfortably. The passenger's seat should be
adjusted in a similar manner, so that it is as far
back from the front airbag in the dashboard
as possible.
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Adjusting the front power seats
1Adjusting the Seats
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
and Transport Canada recommend that drivers allow
at least 10 inches (25 cm) between the center of the
steering wheel and the chest.
Always make seat adjustments before driving.
3
WARNING
Sitting too close to a front airbag can result
in serious injury or death if the front
airbags inflate.
Always sit as far back from the front
airbags as possible while maintaining
control of the vehicle.
Move back.
Allow sufficient
space.
Horizontal Position
Adjustment
Height Adjustment
(Driver’s seat only)
Seat-back Angle
Adjustment Lumbar Support
Adjustment
(Driver’s seat
only)

Continued
137
uuAdjusting the Seats uAdjusting the Seat Positions
Controls
Adjust the driver's seat-back to a comfortable,
upright position, leaving ample space
between your chest and the airbag cover in
the center of the steering wheel.
The front seat passenger should also adjust
their seat-back to a comfortable, upright
position.
Reclining a seat-back so that the shoulder part of the belt no longer rests against the
occupant's chest reduces the protective capability of the belt. It also increases the
chance of sliding under the belt in a crash and being seriously injured. The farther a
seat-back is reclined, the greater the risk of injury.
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Adjusting the Seat-Backs
1 Adjusting the Seat-Backs
Do not put a cushion, or other object, between the
seat-back and your back. Doing so may interfere with
proper seat belt or airbag operation.
If you cannot get far enough away from the steering
wheel and still reach the controls, we recommend
that you investigate whether some type of adaptive
equipment may help.
3
WARNING
Reclining the seat-back too far can result in
serious injury or death in a crash.
Adjust the seat-back to an upright position,
and sit well back in the seat.

uuAdjusting the Seats uAdjusting the Seat Positions
138Controls
Your vehicle is equipped with head restraints
in all seating positions.
Head restraints are most effective for
protection against whiplash and other rear-
impact crash injuries when the center of the
back of the occupant's head rests against the
center of the restraint. The tops of the
occupant's ears should be level with the
center height of the restraint.
■
Adjusting the front and rear outer head restraint positions
To raise the head restraint: Pull it upward.
To lower the head restraint: Push it down
while pressing the release button.
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Adjusting the Head Restraints
1 Adjusting the Head Restraints
For the head restraint system to work properly:•Do not hang any items on the head restraints, or
from the restraint legs.•Do not place any object between an occupant and
the seat-back.•Install each restraint in its proper location.
3
WARNING
Improperly positioning head restraints
reduces their effectiveness and increases
the likelihood of serious injury in a crash.
Make sure head restraints are in place and
positioned properly before driving.
Position head in the center
of the head restraint.

Continued
139
uuAdjusting the Seats uAdjusting the Seat Positions
Controls
A passenger sitting in a center back seating
position should adjust the height of their head
restraint to an appropriate position before the
vehicle begins moving.
To raise the head restraint:
Pull it upward.
To lower the head restraint:
Push it down while pressing the release
button.
Head restraints can be removed for cleaning or repair.
To remove a head restraint:
Pull the restraint up as far as it will go. Then push the release button, and pull the
restraint up and out.
To reinstall a head restraint:
Insert the legs back in place, then adjust the head restraint to an appropriate height
while pressing the release button. Pull up on the restraint to make sure it is locked
in position.
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Changing the Rear Center Seat Head Restraint Position
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Removing and Reinstalling the Head Restraints
1Removing and Reinstalling the Head Restraints
3
WARNING
Failure to reinstall, or correctly reinstall, the
head restraints can result in severe injury
during a crash.
Always replace the head restraints before
driving.

uuAdjusting the Seats uAdjusting the Seat Positions
140Controls
After all occupants have adjusted their seats and head restraints, and put on their
seat belts, it is very important that they continue to sit upright, well back in their
seats, with their feet on the floor, until the vehicle is safely parked and the engine is
off.
Sitting improperly can increase the chance of injury during a crash. For example, if
an occupant slouches, lies down, turns sideways, sits forward, leans forward or
sideways, or puts one or both feet up, the chance of injury during a crash is greatly
increased.
In addition, an occupant who is out of position in the front seat can be seriously or
fatally injured in a crash by striking interior parts of the vehicle or being struck by an
inflating front airbag.■
Maintain a Proper Sitting Position
1 Maintain a Proper Sitting Position
3
WARNING
Sitting improperly or out of position can
result in serious injury or death in a crash.
Always sit upright, well back in the seat,
with your feet on the floor.

141
uuAdjusting the Seats uRear Seats
Continued
Controls
Rear SeatsSeparately fold down the left and right halves of the rear seat to make room for
cargo.■
To fold down the seat
1. Store the center seat belt first. Insert the latch plate into the slot on the side of the
anchor buckle.
2. Retract the seat belt into the holder on the ceiling.
2 Seat Belt with Detachable Anchor P. 34
3.Lower the center head restraint to its lowest position. Put the armrest back into
the seat-back.
4.Pull the release lever.
4. Pull the release lever.■
Folding Down the Rear Seats
1Folding Down the Rear Seats
Remove any items from the rear seat cushion and
floor before you fold down the rear seat.
When you fold down one side of the rear seats and
use the non-recessed part of the cargo area, make
sure to secure the cargo. Loose items can fly forward
and cause injury if you have to brake hard.
The front seats must be far enough forward so they
do not interfere with the rear seats as they fold
down.
Make sure all items in the cargo area or items
extending to the rear seats are properly
secured. Loose items can fly forward if you have
to brake hard.
Pull
From the rear door side
Lever
From the cargo area side

uuAdjusting the Seats uArmrest
142Controls
■
To return the seat to the original
position
Pull up the seat-back in the upright position.
Armrest
Pull down the armrest in the center seat-back.
1 To return the seat to the original position
Make sure the seat-back, head restraints and seat
cushion are securely latched back into place before
driving. Also, make sure all rear shoulder belts are
positioned in front of the seat-back, and the center
shoulder belt is re-positioned in the holding slot.
■
Using the Rear Seat Armrest

143
Continued
Controls
Interior Lights/Interior Convenience ItemsInterior Lights
■
ON
The interior lights come on regardless of
whether the doors are open or closed.
■
Door activated
The interior lights come on in the following
situations:
• When any of the doors are opened.
• You unlock the driver's door.
• When the power mode is set to VEHICLE
OFF (LOCK).
■
OFF
The interior lights remain off regardless of
whether the doors are open or closed.
The map lights can be turned on and off by
pressing the button.
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Interior Light Switches
1 Interior Light Switches
In the door activated position, the interior lights fade
out and go off about 30 seconds after the doors are
closed.
The lights go off after 30 seconds in the following
situations:•When you unlock the driver's door but do not open
it.•When you set the power mode to VEHICLE OFF
(LOCK) but do not open a door.
You can change the interior lights dimming time. 2 Customized Features P. 87
The interior lights go off immediately in the following
situations:•When you lock the driver's door.•When you close the driver's door in ACCESSORY
mode.•When you set the power mode to ON.
If you leave any of the doors open in VEHICLE OFF
(LOCK) mode, the interior lights go off after about 15
minutes.
Door Activated
Position
Off
Front
Door Activated Position
On
Off
Rear
On
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Map Lights
1
Map Lights
When the interior light switch is in the door activated
position and any door is open, the map light will not
go off when you press the button.