When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Purchased the car in June of 2016, and I used to drive about 75-80% of the time with cruise control on before purchasing the car.
However, since purchasing, I only use cruise control less than 5% of the time, because my ACC is annoying (just read today I can turn that beep off, thank goodness!), But also because my ACC is unreliable.
It seems to pick up any car in front of me, or in the lane to the right of me. It's probably even dangerous to drive in the winter, because I'll be going 75 mph with an open lane, and then all of a sudden the ACC will pick up someone in the lane to the right, and it will slam on the brakes to avoid an emergency collision that was never going to occur. Slamming on the brakes at 75mph in wintery conditions could have me end up dead, so I don't bother with it.
It seems like there is no way to turn the "adaptive" part of my cruise control off, right?
Do others have this issue?
In full disclosure, I learned my RL must have gotten into a crash in 2013 because Carfax shows new hood, grill, and headlight assembly as being replaced. The ACC is on the grille, so would that have been part of it?
I just read an article about some new Tesla enhanced autopilot cars need some of their cameras recalibrated. Can I do that with mine to fix it, or does everyone have this issue?
Ran out of time to edit, so, separate post. Admin, feel free to delete my first post above... mod edit: done, thanks!
The number of RLs on the road with ACC is quite small; the original Tech package that included it was a very low percentage of RL sales. So one thing that might help you is to enlarge your pool of information by finding out whether the same ACC technology was also used in any other Acura products. I don't know whether the system is exactly the same as the one available on the MDX starting in 2010, but I'm guessing it's very similar just because it'd make no sense for a low-volume maker like Acura to develop two unrelated systems to do the same exact thing. Accordingly, I looked in the MDX forums for you and found this:
•I thought I'd like the adaptive cruise control but it is too conservative for me (even on the most aggressive setting)......and it doesn't work well in sweeping curves on the highway when....you are in the left lane, semi in the right lane 20 feet ahead, in a slow left hand curve. The ACC will slow down b/c it thinks the semi is in your lane when it isn't.
•(Reply Anytime that ACC actuates, then you can always override its action. I.E. If ACC mistakes a semi in the adjacent lane then you only have to press on the accelerator to override and then take your foot off when the road straightens out and the ACC resumes.
Hope this is helpful.
Last edited by projektvertx; 01-22-2017 at 04:37 PM.
On second generation RL tech the millimeter wave radar unit is charge of supplying information for proper ACC operation. It is located right behind the upper grill. Anytime the vehicle is involved in a front end collision the radar aiming needs to be completed by the dealer or an Acura specialist shop with the right equipment.
Ran out of time to edit, so, separate post. Admin, feel free to delete my first post above... mod edit: done, thanks!
The number of RLs on the road with ACC is quite small; the original Tech package that included it was a very low percentage of RL sales. So one thing that might help you is to enlarge your pool of information by finding out whether the same ACC technology was also used in any other Acura products. I don't know whether the system is exactly the same as the one available on the MDX starting in 2010, but I'm guessing it's very similar just because it'd make no sense for a low-volume maker like Acura to develop two unrelated systems to do the same exact thing. Accordingly, I looked in the MDX forums for you and found this:
•I thought I'd like the adaptive cruise control but it is too conservative for me (even on the most aggressive setting)......and it doesn't work well in sweeping curves on the highway when....you are in the left lane, semi in the right lane 20 feet ahead, in a slow left hand curve. The ACC will slow down b/c it thinks the semi is in your lane when it isn't.
•(Reply Anytime that ACC actuates, then you can always override its action. I.E. If ACC mistakes a semi in the adjacent lane then you only have to press on the accelerator to override and then take your foot off when the road straightens out and the ACC resumes.
Hope this is helpful.
So, it seems like you've got some similar issues, but only on wide turns. I'll try to track down the technology and see if anyone else is using it.
I know I can just got the gas, and that's what I usually do, but it's still annoying and sometimes unsafe.
Ran out of time to edit, so, separate post. Admin, feel free to delete my first post above... mod edit: done, thanks!
The number of RLs on the road with ACC is quite small; the original Tech package that included it was a very low percentage of RL sales. So one thing that might help you is to enlarge your pool of information by finding out whether the same ACC technology was also used in any other Acura products. I don't know whether the system is exactly the same as the one available on the MDX starting in 2010, but I'm guessing it's very similar just because it'd make no sense for a low-volume maker like Acura to develop two unrelated systems to do the same exact thing. Accordingly, I looked in the MDX forums for you and found this:
•I thought I'd like the adaptive cruise control but it is too conservative for me (even on the most aggressive setting)......and it doesn't work well in sweeping curves on the highway when....you are in the left lane, semi in the right lane 20 feet ahead, in a slow left hand curve. The ACC will slow down b/c it thinks the semi is in your lane when it isn't.
•(Reply Anytime that ACC actuates, then you can always override its action. I.E. If ACC mistakes a semi in the adjacent lane then you only have to press on the accelerator to override and then take your foot off when the road straightens out and the ACC resumes.
Hope this is helpful.
Originally Posted by getakey
that sounds like something is wrong to me
I've never had a false engagement from vehicle in a different lane and I use it a lot
thanks for the input! Makes me think something is wrong on mine.
Originally Posted by CurrentDraw
On second generation RL tech the millimeter wave radar unit is charge of supplying information for proper ACC operation. It is located right behind the upper grill. Anytime the vehicle is involved in a front end collision the radar aiming needs to be completed by the dealer or an Acura specialist shop with the right equipment.
so, I should take it to the dealer for realignment? How much should I expect to pay?
Is this something I can make better myself? Obviously I don't have any special equipment, but it seems to be pointing to the right a little too much, so maybe I can shift it left and make it better? Any ideas??
FYI -- you can long-push the ACC distance selector button on the steering wheel, and it will toggle between ACC or "normal" cruise. Also, I've never experienced your issue with my 06 RL. Maybe your radar behind the shield is cocked?
FYI -- you can long-push the ACC distance selector button on the steering wheel, and it will toggle between ACC or "normal" cruise. Also, I've never experienced your issue with my 06 RL. Maybe your radar behind the shield is cocked?
Really?? I thought I could only go from 1,2,3 bars away. I'll have to check out hitting that and seeing if just turns out off. Maybe I never made it past only 1 bar away.
If it's cocked, couldn't I just fix it more or less myself? I don't want to pay the dealer $$$ for something I am capable of doing myself (whether that's fixing it, or just using my feet while driving).
Really?? I thought I could only go from 1,2,3 bars away. I'll have to check out hitting that and seeing if just turns out off. Maybe I never made it past only 1 bar away.
If it's cocked, couldn't I just fix it more or less myself? I don't want to pay the dealer $$$ for something I am capable of doing myself (whether that's fixing it, or just using my feet while driving).
I have a 2006 Acura RL and can confirm that you can disable the ACC and put it in standard cruise control. When my VSA module was acting up, ACC and CMBS was disabled, along with my cruise control, until you change the mode. Do you have the manual for the car? It describes how to change the mode. If not, I can pull the directions and send them to you, but as I recall it is done like the previous poster said.
I never experienced any of the symptoms that you described. Once in a great while, it would get confused if somebody in the lane to my left or right was relatively close and braked/turned aggressively, but this is just doing its job. It definitely sounds like something is amiss! Have you taken off the front grill and seen if there was obvious mis-alignment of the radar (black box behind the plastic Acura emblem on the grill)?
I have a 2006 Acura RL and can confirm that you can disable the ACC and put it in standard cruise control. When my VSA module was acting up, ACC and CMBS was disabled, along with my cruise control, until you change the mode. Do you have the manual for the car? It describes how to change the mode. If not, I can pull the directions and send them to you, but as I recall it is done like the previous poster said.
I never experienced any of the symptoms that you described. Once in a great while, it would get confused if somebody in the lane to my left or right was relatively close and braked/turned aggressively, but this is just doing its job. It definitely sounds like something is amiss! Have you taken off the front grill and seen if there was obvious mis-alignment of the radar (black box behind the plastic Acura emblem on the grill)?
I do have the manual. I'll play with turning the ACC off tomorrow.
I haven't taken the grill off, but i'll look into doing that as well. Is the radar unit attached to the grill/emblem, or if i remove the grill, i should be OK?
braked/turned aggressively - turned? CMBS does not turn
How would you align radar? Its not like you can point it at something like a headlight. The only thing you might be able to see is if the mounting was bent, but I would sure want an expert to align it with the correct tootl
braked/turned aggressively - turned? CMBS does not turn
How would you align radar? Its not like you can point it at something like a headlight. The only thing you might be able to see is if the mounting was bent, but I would sure want an expert to align it with the correct tootl
Well, i'm hoping the unit (according to a part i found online, it looks like it's a rectangular prism/box shape) is obviously misaligned. Like, pointing 25 degrees to the right, or loose, or something obvious. Obvious i won't be able to align it perfectly, but if it's obviously off by some degree, i would think i could make it a little better.
Now wish me luck on removing the grill successfully!
So, I started to take the grill off, and i noticed immediately that the radar unit was not facing forward. It is obviously cocked toward the left (facing the car) (just as I would expect, as it picks up cars to the right of me as I am driving). You can see how uneven it is in the photo below. (See the straight black line/box right below the curve of the hood, where i pulled the front grill away.)
Unfortunately, the mounting screws for the unit are turned from the inside, so I think more of my front-of-car assembly is going to need to be removed for me to re-position this unit. Unfortunately, I don't have the time right now to rip apart the front end of my car. You can see the screws in the second photo below. Radar unit not aligned Screw from the other side...
It's really not to hard to remove the front when you get the time. If you can find the accessory installation instructions for the underbody spoiler, it will give you step by step instructions. It can be taken down in 30 min for a noob.
I have a 2006 Acura RL and can confirm that you can disable the ACC and put it in standard cruise control. When my VSA module was acting up, ACC and CMBS was disabled, along with my cruise control, until you change the mode. Do you have the manual for the car? It describes how to change the mode. If not, I can pull the directions and send them to you, but as I recall it is done like the previous poster said.
For any lurkers, just hold down the ACC distance button on bottom right of steering wheel for one second, and it should allow you to toggle between cruise and ACC. I believe you need to do this when ACC is not actively engaged on the road.
At least it's good to know you've found the simple reason why your ACC is acting up. DId the car have a front end accident at one point?
Apparently. I only found out when i tried selling the car in November (didn't want to deal with the PAX removal $$)! The carfax shows damage report of and replacement parts ordered for: "Radiator Support" "Grille" "Headlight Assembly" "Hood."
Too bad it doesn't show where the work was done, or i would take it back and have them fix the radar unit, haha. I'm actually very surprised they replaced the headlight assembly/ies, because they had pretty severe UV damage when i purchased the car, too.
braked/turned aggressively - turned? CMBS does not turn
How would you align radar? Its not like you can point it at something like a headlight. The only thing you might be able to see is if the mounting was bent, but I would sure want an expert to align it with the correct tootl
I was thinking that maybe it needed a physical calibration rather than an electronic calibration (just hoping it was something simple). If it was aligned and dead-ahead, there wouldn't be much of an alignment to be done that was different than the default (assuming it was in spec), unless there is a sensitivity calibration to be done. Just hoping that it was something simple like a bent bracket or a screw/bolt (tightening/loosening/moving) adjustment.
So, I started to take the grill off, and i noticed immediately that the radar unit was not facing forward. It is obviously cocked toward the left (facing the car) (just as I would expect, as it picks up cars to the right of me as I am driving). You can see how uneven it is in the photo below. (See the straight black line/box right below the curve of the hood, where i pulled the front grill away.)
Unfortunately, the mounting screws for the unit are turned from the inside, so I think more of my front-of-car assembly is going to need to be removed for me to re-position this unit. Unfortunately, I don't have the time right now to rip apart the front end of my car. You can see the screws in the second photo below. Radar unit not aligned Screw from the other side...
Thats great news (better than an obscure problem with nothing obvious)! The evidence of the accident seems to align with this. Probably a non-acura shop did the repair that didn't even know what the box did...but made everything look right externally! Hopefully you can just align mechanically and see if it works. My guess would be yes. Have you tried taking off the plastic grill cover? That might be a helpful way to get more access.
You'll need to take it to the dealer or a body shop with a certified Acura technician (not a body man/painter) who possesses the right calibration equipment for the 2nd generation RL and a HDS or a high end scanner. Even with the right equipment it takes a few tries to get it to calibrate accurately.
It is a very sensitive procedure where the levelness of the ground with more than 1 degree of horizontal slope will prevent the vertical aiming from being completed.
If you are in the DC beltway area contact me and I can help you out at a reasonable rate.
01-22-2017, 07:47 AM
Anytime that ACC actuates, then you can always override its action. I.E. If ACC mistakes a semi in the adjacent lane then you only have to press on the accelerator to override and then take your foot off when the road straightens out and the ACC resumes.
