| G. COLTON |
I have had my MDX about 6 weeks and 3400 miles. So far the vehicle seems solid and well built. Have had no problems of the type that would occur because of workmanship or material failures.
However, I have begun to notice what I call design flaws.
!. The 12 volt power recepticles were only activated when the ignition switch was turned on. This meant that my cell phone was discharging when the ignition was off. It also meant that my Garmin 276c Chart Plotter turned off everytime I shut off the ignition. It took the dealer $77.xx to correcct this problem.
2. When it rains the law, and good sense, requires that the headlights be turned on. The MDX is smart enough to turn on the windshield wipers but not the headlights. I am used to GM cars and so far have an intermittent success rate in remembering to turn on the lights. The big problem arrives when I fail to turn the lights off after I stop. The little alarm that is supposed to warn the driver about leaving lights on after switching off the ignition is what Arnold would call a "girly alarm." It puts out this pathetic little Ting, Ting. Anybody know how to make this loud enough to be noticed?
3. A few days ago I wanted to carry some long items on the roof rack. As it comes from the factory the rails are placed rather close together for actually carrying anything. I went to change them and could not figure out how. As a last resort I consulted the manual: again no luck. Went to the dealer and the Service Manager also could not figure out how this was acomplsihed. He called a mechanic who said that they could not be adjusted as they were bolted into place. What? I guess that Honda/Acura just put those racks on there for looks?
4. Internal load carrying width. Honda/Acura designed the interior of the cargo to carry a 4ft. wide object. They just forgot that you have to be able to load that object through the rear hatch. I was told before I purched the MDX that it would carry a full sheet of plywood. The salesman and I both recognized that a 4'x8' sheet of plywoor would stick out the back. The problem is that the only 48" wide portion of the rear hatch is about 15" up from the floow. There a full sheet of plywood would be resting on the SIDES of the hatch opening. This then damages the plastic moulding.
Hopefully as time goes on I will not discover any more of these little glitches.
Just hope that, as I have read here, the gas mileage improves. So far this vehicle is very gas hungry for even very light touches on the accelerator. |
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| HARDROCK |
| All valid complaints that I have experienced - except for #2 and my '02 Tour/Nav doesn't have the auto wiper feature. The one that bugs me the most is not having always hot power outlets. Is there an easy way to do this mod? |
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| shootist |
quote:
turned off everytime I shut off the ignition. It took the dealer $77.xx to correcct this problem.
That is a design decision, not a design flaw- it's done so that you don't inadvertantly drain the battery.
But, I disagree with Honda's design decision, too- how did the dealer change it?
Regarding the full sheet of plywood- I bring along some empty boxes when I'm buying plywood. The plywood rests on (and scratches) the boxes, not the plastic trim. You can carry a lot of plywood that way.
Get a cargo tray if you're intent on moving stuff. I've carried a half ton of apples, and a 265 pound machine, without damage using a cargo tray.
And there's no excuse for the auto headlights without the wiper turn on option. |
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| G. COLTON |
Hardrock, I do not know how hard it is to rewire for full time 12volt power but it only cost me $77 and some odd cents at the dealer. Could not have been too complicated. Has been very good mod.
I have the full mat package uncluding the cargo tray. What I like about this tray is that it keeps golf balls from rolling out of the back when I open the hatch.
The boxes to protect the sides of the hatch seem like a good idea. |
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| G. COLTON |
The advantage of having the dealer do the rewire is that you get both the dash outlet and the center console outlet in the always on mode.
Reading the above link brings up another thing that I think is dumb. Why on earth would you build a vehicle that is going to exclude a large segment of potential customers. If I was still a smoker I would immediately cross the MDX off my potential vehicle list.
George |
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| TYP |
Here's my thoughts for your post... As I love design so much, I gotta talk about it!
# !, As much as I'd like to have a always on outlet, it also reminds me how often do I forget and leave something pluged in.. in that case, the design helps stop battery drain. Also, you just need to put the car in #3 position (ready to start but not yet) to use the power, and in that case you'll always have to pull the keys out before you leave, so you will not forget and have a bettery drain..
#2, Here in LA, lots of time when it does rain, it is still very bright, no lights needed.. so I guess a good design can't please everyone.
#3, I agree that the roof rack should be moveable.. having that said, I did carry a queen size bed with box on top of it and it was fine (while doing 90mph.. yes yes too fast.. I know..)
#4, All I can say is this is a SUV not a truck.. how many truck can carry that long piece of wood? maybe you can get a metal support add on the roof rack and put your stuff on the roof? For most people we just put loads of other stuff there.. like a ice box, few fishing pole, BBQ grill..etc
The problem with Acura is that, they try to be all around player.. by that you'll be sure to find it is not the best of anything...(besides the ULEV2 and the NAVI, mileage etc)
There's a book call "Small things considered"
I think you'll love that book.
:4: |
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| BaldEagle |
I had to wire in a 12 socket hooked direct to the battery. When towing the #9 passenger fuse has to be pulled and that killed the front 12 volt sockets. My toad braking system (Brake Buddy) requires 12 volts.
The direct to battery 12 volt socket should take care of #1 and is a relatively simple install. |
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| evoge |
quote:
Originally posted by G. COLTON
Reading the above link brings up another thing that I think is dumb. Why on earth would you build a vehicle that is going to exclude a large segment of potential customers. If I was still a smoker I would immediately cross the MDX off my potential vehicle list.
Not just the MDX or Acura. Changing smoking habits (and cost-cutting) have caused the demise of ash trays in nearly all car makes--except for maybe French ones--for years now.
On the other hand, my '75 Eldorado convertible and '72 SDV must have had 7 or 8 ash trays and lighters in every location possible.:1: |
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| G. COLTON |
Hello TYP.
I would be concerned about using the option 3 to get full time power at the outlets. I do not think that it is wise to leave a key in the ignition 24 hours a day. Too many people in my part of the country that would take this as an invite to take a test drive. If you take the key out then that would defeat the purpose.
Running your lights during rain is a safety issue reardless of the amount of light outside. Besides it being the law in most states (surprised it isn't in CA) it helps you see other vehicles through the windown that have rain drops on them. In fact, running some light 24/7 is a definite safely improvement that has been made in many marques.
Yes, an SUV is a truck by definition. What else is it? I have been driving an SUV before they were called SUV's and became an "IN" vehicle. My first was a 1974 GMC Suburban.
BaldEagle why do you have to pull the fuses when towing? I would think that the electric brake package would use a seperate system and therefore a seperate fuse. |
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| TYP |
quote:
Originally posted by G. COLTON
Hello TYP.
I would be concerned about using the option 3 to get full time power at the outlets. I do not think that it is wise to leave a key in the ignition 24 hours a day. Too many people in my part of the country that would take this as an invite to take a test drive. If you take the key out then that would defeat the purpose.
Running your lights during rain is a safety issue reardless of the amount of light outside. Besides it being the law in most states (surprised it isn't in CA) it helps you see other vehicles through the windown that have rain drops on them. In fact, running some light 24/7 is a definite safely improvement that has been made in many marques.
Yes, an SUV is a truck by definition. What else is it? I have been driving an SUV before they were called SUV's and became an "IN" vehicle. My first was a 1974 GMC Suburban.
Ah, first of all, my point was that if you leave the car, the 12v outlet should be off anyways. That's why it's designed that once you pull the key the power is off on the 12v outlet. What would you leave on in the car 24/7 while you are not in the car?
Secondly, yes in many cases DRL helps. However, when everyone's special, then no one is. I'd rather have DRL then lights that turns on when water splashes...
Lastly, whatever happened to car base SUV? Most early SUVs are truck based so people call it truck cause there's no other words for it. Also my point was, even none-SUV-trucks sometimes can't carry the items you want to.. why would a luxury SUV need it?
Anyways, everyone have different needs.. therefore no design is ever going to be perfect.
If my points can't get across to you, just think of me as a crazy man yelling of nonsense.
Enjoy life, enjoy your car.
:4: |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by TYP
#2, Here in LA, lots of time when it does rain, it is still very bright, no lights needed.. so I guess a good design can't please everyone.
:4:
The reverse of that, is many folks do not turn on headlights until it's totally dark or raining so hard they can not see. Of course, they don't worry whether others can see them.
Headlights linked to wipers will only take care a few the idiots who don't know better IMO, and do nothing for those who will go on not turning on headlights until street lights are on. |
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| TYP |
quote:
Originally posted by DaleB
The reverse of that, is many folks do not turn on headlights until it's totally dark or raining so hard they can not see. Of course, they don't worry whether others can see them.
Headlights linked to wipers will only take care a few the idiots who don't know better IMO, and do nothing for those who will go on not turning on headlights until street lights are on.
Don't you think DRL will be better?
:2: |
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| csimo |
As a comment on the headlights and wipers comment. I read an opinion that vehicles equipped with DRL's do NOT have to turn on their headlights even in those states that require it by law.
Imagine if the headlights were hooked to the wiper switch. Some people would be driving down the road flashing their headlights when they manually turn the wipers on and then off again. Pretty foolish feature. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by TYP
Don't you think DRL will be better?
:2:
At this point DRLs are not federally mandated....thank goodness!
Not that I don't think they don't have some advantages, but I am not convinced it is significant on automobiles compared to bikes. |
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| eurohazard |
quote:
Imagine if the headlights were hooked to the wiper switch. Some people would be driving down the road flashing their headlights when they manually turn the wipers on and then off again. Pretty foolish feature.
Good call dude....and I do it all the time......very rarely do I actually leave my wipers "on". I just occasional swipe manually as needed thanks to the wonder of Rain-X. |
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| eRauL |
| the roof rack; didn't Acura move the front one back a little bit for 2002 model to reduce wind noise? I remember asking the dealer if my 2001 can have its front roof rack moved back to reduce wind noise ala 2002 model. No luck there cause, as you found out, they're bolted. |
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