2015 Acura MDX Owner's Manual

360
uuWhen Driving uLane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
*
Driving
■The system operation is suspended if
you:
• Set the wipers to continuous operation.
u Turning the wipers off resumes the
LKAS.
• Decrease the vehicle speed to about 40
mph (64 km/h) or less.
u Increasing the vehicle speed to about 45
mph (72 km/h) or more resumes the
LKAS.
• Depress the brake pedal.
u The LKAS resumes and starts detecting
the lane lines again once you release the
brake pedal.
■The LKAS may automatically be suspended when:
• The system fails to detect lane lines.
• The steering wheel is quickly turned.
• You fail to steer the vehicle.
• The vehicle is driven on a curved road over the speed limit.
• The camera temperature gets extremely high or low.
Once these conditions no long er exist, the LKAS automatically resumes.When the LKAS is suspended,
the lane lines on the multi-
information display change to
contour lines.

361
uuWhen Driving uLane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
*
Driving
The system may not detect lane markings and the position of your vehicle properly
under the following conditions.■
LKAS Limitations
Condition
●The vehicle interior is reflected onto the front windshield.●Headlight lenses are dirty or the headlights are not properly adjusted.●The windshield is fogged.●Driving on snowy or wet roads.●The ambient brightness suddenly changes (e.g., at the entrance or exit of a tunnel).●You drive into the low sun (e.g., at dawn or dusk).●A strong light is reflected onto the roadway.●Roadway lane markers are difficult to see due to weather (rain, snow, fog, etc.) or road conditions.●Driving on a road with temporary lane markings.●Multiple or varied lane markings are visible on the roadway due to road repairs or old lane markings.●Roadway objects or structures are misinterpreted as lane markers.●There is little contrast between lane lines and the roadway surface.●The vehicle in front of you is driving near the lane lines.●Driving over bumps.●Where marked lanes merge or split.●Where the lane is extremely narrow, wide or changing.●Where the road is hilly or the vehicle is approaching the crest of a hill.

362
uuWhen Driving uVehicle Stability Assist (VSA ®), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
Driving
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA ®), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), SystemVSA ® helps to stabilize the vehicle during cornering if the vehicle turns more or less
than what was intended. It also assists in maintaining traction on slippery surfaces.
It does so by regulating engine output and selectively applying the brakes.
When VSA® activates, you may notice that the
engine does not respond to the accelerator.
You may also notice some noise from the
hydraulic system. You will also see the
indicator blink.■
VSA ® Operation
1 Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA ®), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
The VSA ® may not function properly if tire type and
size are mixed. Make sure to use the same size and
type of tire, and the ai r pressures as specified.
When the VSA ® indicator comes on and stays on
while driving, there may be a problem with the
system. While this may not interfere with normal
driving, have your vehicle checked by a dealer
immediately.
VSA ® cannot enhance stability in all driving situations
and does not control the entire braking system. You
still need to drive and cor ner at speeds appropriate
for the conditions and always leave a sufficient
margin of safety.
The main function of the VSA ® system is generally
known as Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The
system also includes a traction control function.
VSA ® System
Indicator

363
uuWhen Driving uVehicle Stability Assist (VSA ®), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
Driving
This button is on the driver side control panel.
To turn the VSA® system on and off, press and
hold it until you hear a beep.
VSA ® will stop and the indicator will come on.
To turn it on again, press the (VSA ® OFF)
button until you hear a beep.
VSA ® is turned on every time you start the
engine, even if you turned it off the last time
you drove the vehicle.
■
VSA ® On and Off
1 Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA ®), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
Without VSA ®, your vehicle will have normal braking
and cornering ability, but it will not have VSA ®
traction and stability enhancement.
In certain unusual conditions when your vehicle gets
stuck in shallow mud or fresh snow, it may be easier
to free it with the VSA ® temporarily switched off.
When the VSA ® system is off, trailer stability assist is
also off.
2 Trailer Stability Assist
* P. 319
When the VSA ® system is off, the traction control
system is also off. You should only attempt to free
your vehicle with the VSA ® off if you are not able to
free it when the VSA ® is on.
Immediately after freeing your vehicle, be sure to
switch VSA® on again. We do not recommend driving
your vehicle with the VSA ® and traction control
systems switched off.
If the low tire pressure/TPMS indicator comes on or
blinks, the VSA ® system turns on automatically. In
this case, you cannot turn the system off by pressing
the button.
You may hear a motor sound coming from the
engine compartment while system checks are being
performed immediatel y after starting the engine or
while driving. This is normal.
VSA ® OFF Indicator
* Not available on all models

364
uuWhen Driving uAgile Handling Assist System
Driving
Agile Handling Assist SystemLightly brakes each of the front and rear wheels, as needed, when you turn the
steering wheel, and helps support the vehicle’s stability and performance during
cornering.
1Agile Handling Assist System
The agile handling assist system cannot enhance
stability in all driving situations. You still need to drive
and corner at speeds appropriate for the conditions
and always leave a suffi cient margin of safety.
When the VSA ® indicator comes on and stays on
while driving, the agile handling assist system does
not activate.
You may hear a sound coming from the engine
compartment while the system is activated. This is
normal.

365
uuWhen Driving uBlind Spot Information (BSI) System
*
Continued
Driving
Blind Spot Information (BSI) System
*
Is designed to detect vehicles in specified alert zones adjacent to your vehicle,
particularly in harder to see areas common ly known as “blind spots.”
When the system detects vehicles approaching from behind in adjacent lanes, the
appropriate indicator comes on for a few seconds, providing assistance when you
change lanes.■How the system works
1 Blind Spot Information (BSI) System
*
Important Safety Reminder
Like all assistance systems, BSI has limitations. Over
reliance on BSI may result in a collision.
The system is for your convenience only. Even if an
object is within the alert zone, the following
situations may occur.•The BSI alert indi cator may not come on due to
obstruction (splashes, etc.) even without the Blind
Spot Not Available MID appearing.•The BSI alert indicator may come on even with the
message appearing.
The BSI alert indicator may not come on under the
following conditions:•A vehicle does not stay in the alert zone for more
than two seconds.•A vehicle is parked in a side lane.•The speed difference between your vehicle and the
vehicle you are passing is greater than 6 mph (10
km/h).•An object not detected by the radar sensors
approaches or passes your vehicle.
3
WARNING
Failure to visually confirm that it is safe to
change lanes before doing so may result in
a crash and serious injury or death.
Do not rely only on the blind spot
information system when changing lanes.
Always look in your mirrors, to either side
of your vehicle, and behind you for other
vehicles before changing lanes.
●The shift lever is in
( D.
●Your vehicle speed is
between 20 mph (32 km/h)
and 100 mph (160 km/h)
Alert zone range
A: Approx. 1.6 ft. (0.5 m)
B: Approx. 10 ft. (3 m)
C: Approx. 10 ft. (3 m) Radar Sensors:
underneath the
rear bumper
corners
Alert Zone
A
B
C
* Not available on all models

uuWhen Driving uBlind Spot Information (BSI) System
*
366Driving
■When the system detects a vehicle
1Blind Spot Information (BSI) System
*
You can change the setting for BSI.
2 Customizable Features P. 107
Turn the system off when towing a trailer.
The system may not work properly for the following
reasons:•The added mass tilts the vehicle and changes the
radar coverage.•The trailer itself can be detected by the radar
sensors, causing the BSI alert indicators to come on.
BSI may be adversely affected when:•Objects (guard rails, poles, trees, etc,.) are
detected.•An object that does not reflect radio waves well,
such as a motorcycle, is in the alert zone.•Driving on a curved road.•A vehicle is moving from a far lane to the adjacent
lane.•The system picks up external electrical interference.•The rear bumper or the sensors have been improperly
repaired or the rear bumper has been deformed.•The orientation of the sensors has been changed.•In bad weather (Heavy rain, snow, and fog).
For proper BSI use:•Always keep the rear bumper corner area clean.•Do not cover the rear bumper corner area with
labels or stickers of any kind. •Take your vehicle to a dealer if you need the rear
bumper corner area or the radar sensors to be repaired,
or the rear bumper corner area is strongly impacted.
■Comes on when●A vehicle enters the alert zone from behind
to overtake you with a speed difference of
no more than 31 mph (50 km/h) from your
vehicle.●You pass a vehicle with a speed difference
of no more than 12 mph (20 km/h).
BSI Alert Indicator: Located near the outside
rearview mirror on both sides.■Blinks and the beeper sounds when
You move the turn signal lever in the direction
of the detected vehicle. The beeper sounds
three times. Comes On
Blinks
* Not available on all models

367
uuWhen Driving uSuper Handling-All Wheel Drive
TM (SH-AWD ®)
*
Continued
Driving
Super Handling-All Wheel Drive
TM
(SH-AWD ®)
*
The system controls and transfers varying amounts of engine torque to each wheel
in accordance with the driving conditions.
SH-AWD ® helps to enhance driving stability, and le ts you handle situations like
slippery surfaces, such as snow, sand, mud, and steep hills, better than when driving
with two wheel drive. However, the system does not help to enhance braking. Be
precautious about the following:
• It is still your responsibility to drive safely when you steer, accelerate, and apply
brakes.
• Leave a sufficient margin when braking on slippery surfaces.Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Monitors the tire pressure while you are
driving. If your vehicle’s tire pressure becomes
significantly low, the low tire pressure/TPMS
indicator comes on and a message appears on
the MID.
1Super Handling-All Wheel Drive
TM (SH-AWD ®)
*
NOTICEAvoid continuously driving in sand or mud where a
wheel is likely to spin out, and do not drive once the
SH-AWD ® indicator starts blinking. Driving
continuously under such conditions can damage the
system’s torque distribution unit.
Do not drive through deep water.
The SH-AWD ® system may not function properly if
tire type and size are mixed.
Make sure to use the same size and type of tire, and
the air pressures as specified. 2 Tire and Wheel Replacement P. 4271Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Conditions such as low ambient temperature and
altitude change di rectly affect tire pressure and can
trigger the low tire pr essure/TPMS indicator to come
on.
2 If the Low Tire Pressure/TPMS Indicator
Comes On or Blinks P. 473
Tire pressure checked and inflated in:•Warm weather can become under-inflated in
colder weather.•Cold weather can become over-inflated in warmer
weather.
The low tire pressure/TPMS indicator will not come
on as a result of over inflation.
* Not available on all models