2020 Acura MDX towing

460
uuTowing a Trailer uDriving Safely with a Trailer
Driving
Driving Safely with a Trailer
• Have the trailer properly serviced and keep it in good condition.
• Make sure that all the weights and load in the vehicle and trailer are within limits.
2Towing Load Limits P. 452
•When towing more than 3,500 lbs (1,590 kg), use of gasoline with a pump
octane number of 91 or higher is recommended.
u Towing performance can be affected by high altitude, high temperature, or
steep uphill.
• Securely attach the hitch, safety chains, and other necessary parts to the trailer.
• Securely store all the items in and on the trailer so that they do not shift while
driving.
• Check if the lights and brakes on the trailer are working properly.
• Check the pressures of the traile r tires, including the spare.
• Turn off the Auto Idle Stop syst em using the Auto Idle Stop OFF button. The
trailer weight can affect your vehicle’s br ake effectiveness if Auto Idle Stop is
activated on a hill while towing a trailer.
• Drive slower than normal.
• Obey posted speed limits for vehicles with trailers.
• Use the
(D position when towing a trailer on level roads.
■Things You Need To Know Before Towing a Trailer
■Towing Speeds and Gears
1Driving Safely with a Trailer
Parking
In addition to the normal precautions, place wheel
chocks at each of the trailer’s tires.
1Towing Speeds and Gears
When towing a fixed-sided trailer (e.g., camper), do
not exceed 55 mph (88 km/h).
At higher speeds, the trai ler may sway or affect
vehicle handling.
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461
uuTowing a Trailer uTowing Your Vehicle
Driving
• Turn more slowly and with a wider turning arc than normal.
• Allow more time and distance for braking.
• Do not brake or turn suddenly.
• Monitor your temperature gauge. If it nears the red (Hot) mark, turn off the
climate control system and reduce speed. Pull to the side of the road safely to cool
down the engine if necessary.
• Change the gear position to
(S position if the transmission shifts frequently.
If the vehicle tires slip when retrieving a boat from the water, keep the transmission
in
(D and do not use the sequential shift mode in (S. This prevents damage to the
transmission.
Towing Your Vehicle
Your vehicle is not designed to be towed behind a motor home. If your vehicle needs
to be towed in an emergency, refer to the emergency towing information.
2Emergency Towing P. 670
■Turning and Braking
■Driving in Hilly Terrain
■Retrieving a Boat
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509
uuWhen Driving uRoad Departure Mitigation (RDM) System
Driving
■Roadway conditions
• Driving on a snowy or wet roadway (obs cured lane marking, vehicle tracks,
reflected lights, road spray, high contrast).
• Driving on a road with temporary lane markings.
• Faint, multiple, or varied lane markings are visible on the roadway due to road
repairs or old lane markings.
• The roadway has merging, split, or crossing lines (e.g., such as at an intersection
or crosswalk).
• The lane markings are extremel y narrow, wide, or changing.
• The vehicle in front of you is driving near the lane lines.
• The road is hilly or the vehicle is approaching the crest of a hill.
• Driving on rough or unpaved roads, or over bumpy surfaces.
• When objects on the road (curb, guard rail, pylons, etc.) are recognized as white
lines (or yellow lines).
• Driving on roads with double lines.
■Vehicle conditions
• Headlight lenses are dirty or the h eadlights are not properly adjusted.
• The outside of the windshield is streaked or blocked by dirt, mud, leaves, wet
snow, etc.
• The inside of the windshield is fogged.
• The camera temperature gets too high.
• An abnormal tire or wheel condition (wro ng sized, varied size or construction,
improperly inflated, compact spare tire
*, etc.).
• The vehicle is tilted due to a heavy load or suspension modifications.
• When tire chains are installed.
• The vehicle is towing a trailer.
* Not available on all models
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517
uuWhen Driving uLane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
Driving
■Roadway conditions
• Driving on a snowy or wet roadway (obs cured lane marking, vehicle tracks,
reflected lights, road spray, high contrast).
• Driving on a road with temporary lane markings.
• Faint, multiple, or varied lane markings are visible on the roadway due to road
repairs or old lane markings.
• The roadway has merging, split, or crossing lines (e.g., such as at an intersection
or crosswalk).
• The lane markings are extremel y narrow, wide, or changing.
• The vehicle in front of you is driving near the lane lines.
• The road is hilly or the vehicle is approaching the crest of a hill.
• Driving on rough or unpaved roads, or over bumpy surfaces.
• When objects on the road (curb, guard rail, pylons, etc.) are recognized as white
lines (or yellow lines).
• Driving on roads with double lines.
■Vehicle conditions
• Headlight lenses are dirty or the h eadlights are not properly adjusted.
• The outside of the windshield is streaked or blocked by dirt, mud, leaves, wet
snow, etc.
• The inside of the windshield is fogged.
• The camera temperature gets too high.
• An abnormal tire or wheel condition (wro ng sized, varied size or construction,
improperly inflated, compact spare tire
*, etc.).
• The vehicle is tilted due to a heavy load or suspension modifications.
• The vehicle is towing a trailer.
* Not available on all models
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Continued527
uuWhen Driving uBlind spot information System*
Driving
■When the system detects a vehicle
Blind spot information System Alert Indicator:
Located near the pillar on both sides.
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).
Blinks and the beeper sounds when:
You move the turn signal lever in the direction
of the detected vehicle. The beeper sounds
three times.1 Blind spot information System*
The system is for your convenience only. Even if an
object is within the alert zone, the following
situations may occur.
•The blind spot informatio n system alert indicator
may not come on due to obstruction (splashes,
etc.) even without the Blind Spot Info Not
Available MID appearing.
•The blind spot informatio n system alert indicator
may come on even with the message appearing.
You can turn off the audible al ert, or all the blind spot
information system alert us ing the information screen
or MID. 2 Customized Features P. 126, 358
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 blind spot information system
alert indicators to come on.
The system does not operate when in
( R.
Comes On
Blinks
* Not available on all models
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542
uuBraking uCollision Mitigation Braking SystemTM (CMBSTM)
Driving
■Vehicle conditions
• Headlight lenses are dirty or the headlights are not properly adjusted.
• The outside of the windshie ld is blocked by dirt, mud, leaves, wet snow, etc.
• The inside of the windshield is fogged.
• An abnormal tire or wheel condition (wrong sized, varied size or construction,
improperly inflated, compact spare tire
*, etc.).
• When tire chains are installed.
• The vehicle is tilted due to a heav y load or suspension modifications.
• The camera temperature gets too high.
• Driving with the parking brake applied.
• When the radar sensor behind the emblem gets dirty.
• The vehicle is towing a trailer.
* Not available on all models
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579
uuMaintenance MinderTMuTo Use Maintenance MinderTM
Continued
Maintenance
■Maintenance Service Items1Maintenance Service Items
•Independent of the Maintenance Minder
information, replace the brake fluid every 3 years.
•Adjust the valves during services A, B, 1, 2, or 3 if
they are noisy.Maintenance Minder MessageSystem Message
Indicator
Sub Items
Main
Item
*1: If the message
Maintenance Due Now does not appear more than 12 months after the display
is reset, change the engine oil every year.
# : See information on maintenance and emissions warranty.
*2: If you drive in dusty conditions, replace the air cleaner element every 15,000 miles (24,000 km).
*3: If you drive primarily in urban areas that have high concentrations of soot in the air from industry and from diesel-powered vehicles, replace the dust and pollen filter every 15,000 miles (24,000 km).
CODEMaintenance Main Items
A
●Replace engine oil*1
B●Replace engine oil*1 and oil filter●Inspect front and rear brakes●Check expiration date for tire repair kit bottle*
●Inspect tie rod ends, steering gearbox, and boots●Inspect suspension components●Inspect driveshaft boots●Inspect brake hoses and li nes (Including ABS/VSA®)●Inspect all fluid levels and condition of fluids●Inspect exhaust system#
●Inspect fuel lines and connections#
*4: Driving in mountainous areas at very low vehicle speeds or trailer towing results in higher transmission
temperature. This requires transmission fluid changes more frequently than recommended by the
Maintenance Minder. If you regularly drive your vehicle under these conditions, have the transmission
fluid changed at 30,000 miles (48,000 km).
*5: If you drive regularly in very high temperatures (over 110°F, 43°C), in very low temperatures (under -20°F, -29°C), replace every 60,000 miles/100,000 km.
*6: Driving in mountainous areas at very low vehicle speeds or trailer towing results in higher level of
mechanical (Shear) stress to fluid. This requires differential fluid changes more frequently than
recommended by the Maintenance Minder. If you regularly drive your vehicle under these conditions,
have the differential fluid changed at 7,500 miles (12,000 km), then every 15,000 miles (24,000 km).
CODEMaintenance Sub Items
1
●Rotate tires
2●Replace air cleaner element*2
●Replace dust and pollen filter*3
●Inspect drive belt
3
●Replace transmission and transfer* fluid*4
4●Replace spark plugs●Replace timing belt and inspect water pump*5
●Inspect valve clearance
5
●Replace engine coolant
6●Replace rear differential fluid*, *6
* Not available on all models
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625
Handling the Unexpected
This chapter explains how to handle unexpected troubles.
ToolsTypes of Tools .................................. 626
If a Tire Goes Flat
Changing a Flat Tire ......................... 627
Temporarily Repairi ng a Flat Tire....... 635
Engine Does Not Start Checking the Engine ........................ 649
If the Keyless Access Remote Battery is Weak ............................................. 650
Emergency Engine Stop ................... 651
Models with a compact spare tire
Models with temporary tire repair kit
Jump Starting .................................... 652
Overheating How to Handle Overheating............. 654
Indicator, Coming On/Blinking
If the Low Oil Pressure Indicator Comes On ... 656
If the Charging System Indicator Comes On .. 656
If the Malfunction Indicator Lamp Comes On or Blinks ................................... 657
If the Brake System Indicator (Red) Comes On ................................................... 658
If the Speed-Sensitive Electric Power Steering
(EPS) System Indicator Comes On........... 658
If the Low Tire Pressure/TPMS Indicator Comes On or Blinks ....................... 660
If the Transmission System Indicator Blinks along with the Warning Message ...... 661
Fuses Fuse Locations ................................. 662
Inspecting and Changing Fuses ........ 669
Emergency Towing ........................... 670
When You Cannot Unlock the Fuel Fill Door... 671
When You Cannot Open the Tailgate.. 672
Refueling........................................... 673
Refueling From a Portable Fuel Container . 673
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