2014 Acura MDX Owner's Manual

128Controls
Opening and Closing the TailgatePrecautions for Opening/Closing the TailgateAlways make sure individuals and objects are clear of the tailgate before opening or
closing it.■Opening the tailgate
•Open the tailgate all the way.
uIf it is not fully opened, the tailgate may come down accidentally by its own
weight.
•Be careful when it is windy. The wind may cause the tailgate to close.■Closing the tailgate
Keep the tailgate closed while driving to:
uAvoid possible damage.
uPrevent exhaust gas from leaking into the vehicle.2Carbon Monoxide Gas P. 66
1Precautions for Opening/Closing the Tailgate
Be careful not to hit your head on the tailgate or to
put your hands between the tailgate and the cargo
area when closing the tailgate.
When operating the power tailgate, make sure there
is enough space around your vehicle. People near the
tailgate may be seriously hurt if the tailgate hits or
closes on their heads. Be especially cautious if
children are around.
When you are storing or picking up luggage from the
cargo area while the engine is idling, do not stand in
front of the exhaust pipe. You may get burned.
Do not allow any passenger in the cargo space. They
may get hurt during hard braking, a sudden
acceleration, or a crash.
3
WARNING
Closing a power tailgate while anyone is in
the path of the tailgate can cause serious
injury.
Make sure everyone is clear before closing
the power tailgate.

129
uuOpening and Closing the TailgateuOpening/Closing the Tailgate Using the Tailgate Outer Handle
Controls
Opening/Closing the Tailgate Using the Tailgate Outer Handle
When all the doors are unlocked, the tailgate
is unlocked. Press the tailgate outer handle for
more than one second, and wait until you
hear three beeps before you lift open the
tailgate.
uReleasing the outer handle within one
second with one beep enables the power
tailgate operations.
2Power Tailgate Outer Handle P. 132
Even if the tailgate is locked, you can open the
tailgate if you carry the keyless access remote.
To manually close the tailgate, grab the inner
handle, pull the tailgate down, and push it
closed from outside.
1Opening/Closing the Tailgate Using the Tailgate Outer Handle
Do not leave the keyless access remote inside the
cargo area and close the tailgate. The beeper sounds
and the tailgate cannot be closed.
Even if you are not carrying the keyless access
remote, you can lock/unlock the doors while
someone else with the remote is within range.
Tailgate Outer
HandleInner Handle

130
uuOpening and Closing the TailgateuOpening/Closing the Power Tailgate
Controls
Opening/Closing the Power TailgateThe power tailgate can be operated by pressing the power tailgate button on the
remote transmitter or driver's door, or pressing the outer handle or button on the
tailgate.■The power tailgate can be opened when:
•The tailgate is fully closed.
•The shift lever is in
(P.
•Press and hold the tailgate button on the remote transmitter for about one
second when the power mode is in VEHICLE OFF (LOCK).
uIf you have changed the Keyless Open Mode setting to When Unlocked,
you need to unlock the tailgate before you press the tailgate button to open it.
2Customized Features P. 104
■The power tailgate can be closed when:
•The tailgate is fully open.
•The shift lever is in
(P.
•Press and hold the tailgate button on the remote transmitter for about one
second when the power mode is in VEHICLE OFF (LOCK).
1Opening/Closing the Power Tailgate
The power tailgate may not open or close under the
following conditions:•The vehicle is parked on a steep hill.•The vehicle is swayed in a strong wind.•The tailgate or the roof is covered with snow or ice.
If you close the power tailgate when all the doors are
locked, the power tailgate locks automatically.
If you replace the battery or the power tailgate fuse
while the tailgate is open, the power tailgate may be
disabled. The power tailgate resumes once you
manually close the tailgate.
Installing aftermarket components other than Acura
genuine accessories on the power tailgate may
prevent it from fully opening or closing.
Make sure the power tailgate is fully open before you
get your luggage in and out.
Make sure the power tailgate is fully closed before
you start the vehicle.

Continued
131
uuOpening and Closing the TailgateuOpening/Closing the Power Tailgate
Controls
Press the power tailgate button for more than
one second to operate when the power mode
is in VEHICLE OFF (LOCK).
To reverse direction while the power tailgate is
in operation, press the button again. The
beeper sounds three times and the tailgate
reverses direction.
■Customizing when to open the tailgate
Anytime: The power tailgate unlocks and opens at the same time. This is the
default setting.
When Unlocked: The tailgate opens when all doors are unlocked.2Customized Features P. 104, 248■Remote Transmitter
1Opening/Closing the Power Tailgate
If the power tailgate meets resistance while opening
or closing, the auto reverse feature reverses the
direction. The beeper sounds three times.
The auto reverse function stops sensing when the
tailgate is almost closed to make sure that it fully
closes.
Do not touch the sensors located on both sides of the
tailgate. The power tailgate does not close if you
touch either sensor when you are trying to close the
tailgate.
Be careful not to scratch the sensors with a sharp
object. If scratched, they can be damaged, and the
power tailgate closing feature malfunctions.
Power
Tailgate
Button

132
uuOpening and Closing the TailgateuOpening/Closing the Power Tailgate
Controls
To open or close the power tailgate, press the
power tailgate button for about one second.
The beeper sounds and some exterior lights
flash.
To reverse direction while the power tailgate is
in operation, press the button again. The
beeper sounds three times and the tailgate
reverses direction.
To open the power tailgate, press the outer
handle for one second. The beeper sounds
and some exterior lights flash.
■Power Tailgate ButtonPower Tailgate Button
■Power Tailgate Outer Handle
Power Tailgate
Outer Handle

Continued
133
uuOpening and Closing the TailgateuOpening/Closing the Power Tailgate
Controls
Press the button on the tailgate to close the
power tailgate.
If you press the button again while the power
tailgate is closing, it reverses direction.
If you manually close the power tailgate, it latches automatically.
■Power Tailgate Close Button
1Power Tailgate Close Button
If you press the power tailgate close button while the
tailgate is automatically opening, the power tailgate
operation reverses direction.
Power Tailgate
Close Button
■Auto-Closer
1Auto-Closer
The auto-closer feature does not activate if you press
the tailgate outer handle while the power tailgate is
closing.
Do not put any force on the tailgate while the power
tailgate is latching.
Keep your hands away from the tailgate when you
manually close the tailgate and let it latch
automatically. It is dangerous to put your hands
around the tailgate as it starts to latch itself.

uuOpening and Closing the TailgateuOpening/Closing the Power Tailgate
134Controls
Automatically lowers the power tailgate when there is a possibility that the fully
opened power tailgate can fall down by its own weight (for example, by snow on
the tailgate). The beeper sounds while the power tailgate lowers.■Power Tailgate Fall Detection
1Power Tailgate Fall Detection
If you try to manually close the power tailgate
immediately after it fully opens, the power tailgate
fall detection may activate.
Once the power tailgate fall detection activates, wait
until the power tailgate fully closes. Keep away from
the power tailgate when it is in motion.
If the power tailgate fall detection constantly
activates, consult at a dealer.

135
Continued
Controls
Security SystemImmobilizer SystemThe immobilizer system prevents a key that has not been pre-registered from
starting the engine. Each key contains electronic transmitters that use electronic
signals to verify the key.
Pay attention to the following when pressing the ENGINE START/STOP button:
•Do not allow objects that emit strong radio waves near the ENGINE START/
STOP button.
•Make sure the key is not covered by or touching a metal object.
•Do not bring a key from another vehicle’s immobilizer system with the keyless
access remote.Security System AlarmThe security system alarm activates when the tailgate, hood, or doors are opened
without the key, remote transmitter or keyless access system.■When the security system alarm activates
The horn sounds intermittently, and all of the exterior lights flash.■To deactivate the security system alarm
Unlock the vehicle using the key, remote transmitter, or keyless access system. The
system, along with the horn and flashing lights, is deactivated.
1Immobilizer SystemNOTICELeaving the keyless access remote in the vehicle can
result in theft or accidental movement of the vehicle.
Always take the key with you whenever you leave the
vehicle unattended.
Do not alter the system or add other devices to it.
Doing so may damage the system and make your
vehicle inoperable.1Security System Alarm
The security alarm continues for a maximum of two
minutes until the security system alarm deactivates.