2012 Acura MDX Owner's Manual - Page 509
2012 Acura MDX Manual
Page 509 highlights
Off-Highway Driving Guidelines Accelerating and Braking For better traction on all surfaces, accelerate slowly and gradually build up speed. If you try to start too fast on wet soil, mud, snow, or ice, you might not have enough traction to get underway, and you may dig yourself a hole. Starting with the shift lever in the D position will help you have a smoother start on snow or ice. Keep in mind that you will usually need more time and distance to brake to a stop on unpaved surfaces. Avoid hard braking. Do not ''pump'' the brakes; let the anti-lock braking system pump them for you. Avoiding Obstacles Debris in the road can damage your suspension or other components. Because your vehicle has a high center of gravity, driving over a large obstacle, or allowing a wheel to drop into a deep hole can cause your vehicle to tip or roll over. Driving on Slopes If you can't clearly see all conditions or obstacles on a slope, walk the slope before you drive on it. If you have any doubt whether or not you can safely drive on the slope, don't do it. Find another route. If you are driving up a hill and find that you cannot continue, do not try to turn around. Your vehicle could roll over. Slowly back down the hill, following the same route you took up the hill. Crossing a Stream Before driving through water, stop, get out if necessary, and make sure that: ● ● The banks are sloped so you can drive out. The water is not flowing too fast. Deep rushing water can sweep you downstream. Even very shallow rushing water can wash the ground from under your tires and cause you to lose traction and possibly roll over. The banks and surface under the water provide good traction. The water may hide hazards such as rocks, holes, or mud. ● ● The water is not deep enough to cover your wheel hubs, axles, or exhaust pipe. You could stall and not be able to restart your engine. The water can also damage important vehicle components. If you decide it is safe to drive through water, choose a suitable speed, and proceed without shifting, changing speeds, stopping, or shutting off the engine. After driving through water, test your brakes. If they got wet, gently ''pump'' them while driving slowly until they operate normally. 502