2018 Acura RDX Owner's Manual

320
Driving
Braking
Brake System
Use the parking brake to keep the vehicle stationary when parking.
To apply:
Depress the parking brake pedal down with
your foot.
To release:
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Depress the parking brake.
■Parking Brake1Parking Brake
NOTICE
Release the parking brake fu lly before driving. The
rear brakes and axle can be damaged if you drive
with the parki ng brake applied.
If you start driving without fully releasing the parking
brake, a buzzer sounds as a warning, and RELEASE
PARKING BRAKE /Release Parking Brake appears
on the multi-information display.
Always apply the parking brake when parking.

321
uuBraking uBrake System
Driving
Your vehicle is equipped with disc brakes at all four wheels. A vacuum power assist
helps reduce the effort needed on the brake pedal. The brake assist system increases
the stopping force when you depress the brake pedal hard in an emergency
situation. The anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps you retain steering control when
braking very hard.
2 Brake Assist System P. 323
2 Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) P. 322
■Foot Brake1Foot Brake
Check the brakes after driving through deep water,
or if there is a buildup of road surface water. If
necessary, dry the brakes by lightly depressing the
pedal several times.
If you hear a continuous me tallic friction sound when
applying the brakes, this is caused by the brake wear
indicator rubbing on the brake rotor and indicates
that the brake pads need to be replaced. Have the
vehicle checked by a deal er. If you hear only an
occasional squeak or squeal when you initially apply
the brake pedal, this may be normal and caused by
high frequency vibr ation of the brake pads against
the rotating brake disc.
Constantly using the brak e pedal while going down a
long hill builds up heat, which reduces the brake
effectiveness. Apply engine braking by taking your
foot off the accelerator pe dal and downshifting to a
lower gear.
Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, as it will lightly apply the brakes and cause
them to lose effectiveness over time and reduce pad
life. It will also conf use drivers behind you.
Your vehicle is equipped with a hydraulic brake
booster that, under certain conditions, such as
braking at high altitudes, supplements the vacuum
power assist. When the hydraulic brake booster
activates, you may hear a motor sound and a slight
vibration in the pedal. This is normal.

322
uuBraking uAnti-lock Brake System (ABS)
Driving
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
Helps prevent the wheels from locking up, and helps you retain steering control by
pumping the brakes rapidly, much faster than you.
The electronic brake distribution (EBD) system, which is part of the ABS, also
balances the front-to-rear braking distri bution according to vehicle loading.
You should never pump the brake pedal. Let the ABS work for you by always
keeping firm, steady pressure on the brake pe dal. This is sometimes referred to as
“stomp and steer.”
■ABS operation
The brake pedal may pulsate slightly when the ABS is working. Keep holding the
pedal firmly down. On dry pavement, you w ill need to press on the brake pedal very
hard before the ABS activates. However, you may feel the ABS activate immediately
if you are trying to stop on snow or ice.
ABS may activate when you depress the brake pedal when driving on:
• Wet or snow covered roads.
• Roads paved with stone.
• Roads with uneven surfaces, such as potholes, cracks, manholes, etc.
When the vehicle speed goes unde r 6 mph (10 km/h), the ABS stops.
■ABS1Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
NOTICE
The ABS may not function correctly if you use an
incorrect tire type and size.
When the ABS indicator comes on while driving,
there may be a problem with the system.
While normal braking is not affected, there is a
possibility of the ABS not operating. Have the vehicle
checked by a dealer immediately.
The ABS does not reduce the ti me or distance it takes
to stop the vehicle. It only helps with steering control
during hard braking.
In the following cases, yo ur vehicle may need more
stopping distance than a vehicle without the ABS:
•When driving on rough road surfaces, including
when driving on uneven surf aces, such as gravel or
snow.
•When tire chains are installed.
The following may be observed with the ABS system:
•Motor sounds coming from the engine
compartment when the brakes are applied, or
when system checks are being performed after the
engine has been started and while vehicle is
accelerates.
•Brake pedal and/or the ve hicle body vibration when
ABS activates.
These vibrations and sounds are normal to ABS
systems and are no cause for concern.

323
uuBraking uBrake Assist System
Driving
Brake Assist System
Designed to assist the driver by generati ng greater braking force when you depress
the brake pedal hard during emergency braking.
■Brake assist system operation
Press the brake pedal firmly for more powerful braking.
When brake assist operates, the pedal may wiggle slightly and an operating noise
may be heard. This is normal. Keep holding the brake pedal firmly down.

324
uuBraking uCollision Mitigation Braking SystemTM (CMBSTM)*
Driving
Collision Mitigati on Braking SystemTM (CMBSTM)*
Can assist you when there is a possibility of your vehicle colliding with a vehicle or a
pedestrian detected in front of yours. The CMBSTM is designed to alert you when a
potential collision is determined, as well as to reduce your vehicle speed to help
minimize collision severity when a collision is deemed unavoidable.
■How the system works
1 Collision Mitigation Braking SystemTM (CMBSTM)*
Important Safety Reminder
The CMBSTM is designed to reduce the severity of an
unavoidable collision. It does not prevent collision nor
stop the vehicle automatically. It is still your
responsibility to operate the brake pedal and steering
wheel appropriately acco rding to the driving
conditions.
The CMBS
TM may not activate or may not detect a
vehicle in front of y our vehicle under certain
conditions:
2 CMBS
TM Conditions and Limitations P. 328
You can read about handling information for the
camera equipped with this system. 2 Front Sensor Camera
* P. 284
The system starts monitoring the roadway ah ead when your vehicle speed is about
3 mph (5 km/h) and there is a vehicle in front of you. The radar sensor is
in the front grille.
The CMBS
TM activates when:●The speed difference between your vehicle and a vehicle or pedestrian
detected in front of you becomes about 3 mph (5 km/h) and over with a chance
of a collision.
●Your vehicle speed is about 62 mph (100 km/h) or less and there is a chance of a
collision with an oncoming detected vehicle or a pedestrian in front of you. The camera is
located behind the
rearview mirror.
When to use
* Not available on all models

Continued325
uuBraking uCollision Mitigation Braking SystemTM (CMBSTM)*
Driving
■When the system activates
At system’s earliest collision alert st age, you can change the distance (Long/
Normal /Short ) between vehicles at which alerts will come on through multi-
information display setting options.
2 List of customizable options P. 111
1When the system activates
The camera in the CMBS
TM is also designed to detect
pedestrians.
However, this pedestrian detection feature may not
activate or may not detect a pedestrian in front of
your vehicle under certain conditions.
Refer to the ones indicating the pedestrian detection
limitations from the list. 2 CMBS
TM Conditions and Limitations P. 328
The system provides visual and audible alerts of a possible collision, and stops
if the collision is avoided.
u Take appropriate action to prevent a collision (apply the brakes, change
lanes, etc.).
BeepVisual Alerts
Audible Alert

326
uuBraking uCollision Mitigation Braking SystemTM (CMBSTM)*
Driving
The system has three alert stages for a possible collision. However, depending on circumstances, the CMBSTM may not go through all of
the stages before initiating the last stage.
■Collision Alert Stages
Distance between vehicles
CMBSTM
The radar sensor detects a vehicleAudible & Visual WARNINGSBraking
Stage oneThere is a risk of a collision with
the vehicle ahead of you.
When in Long, visual and audible alerts
come on at a longer distance from a
vehicle ahead than in Normal setting,
and in Short, at a shorter distance than in
Normal .
—
Stage
twoThe risk of a collision has
increased, time to respond is
reduced.
Visual and audible alerts.
Lightly applied
Stage
three The CMBSTM determines that a
collision is unavoidable.Forcefully applied
Your Vehicle Vehicle
Ahead
Normal
Short
Long
Your
Vehicle Vehicle
Ahead
Your
VehicleVehicle
Ahead

Continued327
uuBraking uCollision Mitigation Braking SystemTM (CMBSTM)*
Driving
Press this button until the beeper sounds to
switch the system on or off.
When the CMBS
TM is off:
• The CMBSTM indicator in the instrument
panel comes on.
• A message on the multi-information display
reminds you that the system is off.
The CMBS
TM is in the previously selected ON or
OFF setting each time you start the engine.
■CMBSTM On and Off1 Collision Mitigation Braking SystemTM (CMBSTM)*
The CMBSTM may automatically shut off, and the
CMBSTM indicator will come and stay on under certain
conditions:
2 CMBS
TM Conditions and Limitations P. 328
* Not available on all models