LOL... just bought this '07 with 110K miles on Tuesday, drove it home 60 miles, filling the tank with Shell 93 octane on the way. Parked it - no plate yet.

Went out today to move it and it cranked over normal, but no start after half a dozen tries. Removed negative on battery to reset, then retried 10 minutes later. Then, it would catch, but die 1-2 seconds later. So, we have spark and fuel. Chipped key gives a green key on dash.

Link to youtube video of issue -->
What to diagnose next? Crank Position sensor? Where's that located in the engine bay? Fuel filter? Ran perfect on Tuesday evening, but this car is no stranger to the Acura dealer mechanics over the past 2 years, 10K miles.... but nothing dealing with start issues.

Thanks in advance for helping me avoid feeling like I just bought a brick!

Tom

 

Green key icon usually means the car is not seeing the immobilizer transponder in the key, which would prevent it from starting. Do you have a spare key you can try?

 

Unfortunately, no. Just the one fob. And, it has a Best Buy installed remote start that worked the one time I tried it.

Hmm, just assumed the flashing green key on the dash indicated the key was ‘connecting’. Assume it’s like other chipped keys and doesn’t rely on batteries?

 

Flashing green definitely means the car is not detecting the transponder chip. There could be a few reasons - weak car battery, bad receiver in the column, key just needs to be re-learned, etc. You may consider replacing the car battery, although if it's cranking just fine without slowing down I doubt that's the issue. The transponder is just a little chip inside the fob isn't connected to the fob's battery. A dead fob wouldn't unlock your doors, but it would still start the car.

Assuming the car battery is fine, I'd try the following:

1. If your fob has any other keys or items on the ring, remove them all and use just the key in the ignition.
2. If that doesn't work, look into having it re-learned...not sure you can do that outside a dealership, but maybe someone else can chime in to confirm.
3. If re-learning doesn't work, I think the next option is to check the receiver in the steering column or dashboard (maybe elsewhere, not sure)...probably a mechanic visit unless someone here knows the procedure.

 

So, after days of searching, reading and viewing youtube videos, checking every single fuse under the dash and in the engine bay, I finally threw in the towel and had this brick flat bedded to the Acura dealer one week ago today. And they still don't know what wrong with it!

They opened a case with the Acura Tech-line, so 20th century ...they call the tech-line, wait a day or two for an answer and procedure to try, report back. For two days, tech-line was unavailable due to 'meetings'. I'm past being patient. They're now telling the dealer to find another 07-09 RDX with a known good immobilizer unit, swap it and see if that's the problem. But, they don't have access to any other RDX's of those years.

Can anyone confirm what I'm seeing? That the immobilizer unit for the 07-09 RDX is the same used in the 07-08 MDX? Acura part #30730-STK-A01

They next step will be to try swap PCU's from a known good RDX PCU...

In the mean time, I own a new to me POS brick that sits in the back of the dealer's service lot, waiting on the tech line to figure it out over the phone...

 

Honestly, this is probably your issue:

https://www.ebay.com/i/254236603975?...xoCjtMQAvD_BwE

Could be wrong, but hopefully they get this fixed soon. Such a shitty way for an otherwise very reliable car to be stranded.

 

I, too, saw that on eBay when doing my 'research'.

I'm in a weird place with the purchase of this car... seller didn't have the title in hand when I agreed to buy it, so I gave her 3/4 of price in cash and signed a mutually beneficial bill of sale and drove it home. So, she now does has the title in hand to give me once I give her the remaining balance owed. But this 'bricking' occurred the day after i drove it home and we've not yet completed the sales transaction. The reason why I've not physically dug into the car myself is that it has a fairly extensive Extended Warranty that will cover all but $100 if/when they figure it out. Seller has been very responsive and helpful and I believe her when she says it's never happened before. Going to make my 3rd in-person visit to the dealer today, this time to speak with the Service Mgr, who apparently is quite aware of my predicament.

 

With your extended warranty, I wouldn't be too worried as the dealer will figure it out eventually, on their dime. Maybe you can ask for a loaner car in the meantime? Also, in the future, NEVER hand over money for a used car without the title in hand. I don't care how honest the seller seems.

 

Well, it's been two months since I bought this RDX with 110,000 miles and it immediately turned into a non-starting brick that had to be flat-bedded. First trip to Acura dealer took two weeks, they replaced the immobilizer receiver that surrounds the ignition. Drove it twice before it bricked on me again with the dreaded flashing green key on the dash, this time at the gas station close to work. Called for tow, same guy shows up, later asks to be FB friends... why not! Might come in handy later... Back to Acura, they keep it 4 days, say nothing's wrong, starts fine - come get it. Dealer covered the tow. It's now Friday at 5.15 PM and I still need plates for the RDX, so head directly to the BMV that closes at 6. Arrive at 5.45 and I'm out with a paper plate in a record 10 minutes! Back in the RDX and... BRICK. IM'd my new FB friend, "Towtruck John" to come pick up the POS and dump it back at the Acura Dealer. Called Acura to give them the heads up that it's on its way back.

That was on Dec 27th. I picked the RDX up last night, January 28th, after another month of diagnosis and back ordered parts. The culprit? The $229 Best Buy remote starter. The monkey that soldered the wires of the after-market remote start into the Acura wiring harness was apparently quite sloppy with their soldering which was causing it to short out. Remedy was to replace the entire OEM wiring harness under the dashboard.

Grand total for the two month experience? $2,228. Extended warranty obviously covered nothing. That 'really good deal' I thought I got on this purchase, wiped out. Not to mention the anxiety I experience now every time I put the key in the ignition.

The lesson learned? Never buy a car with an aftermarket remote starter.

 

Sounds like you have a parasitic draw..

 

Well that sucks. Thanks for closing the loop here however.

Damn.

 

That really does suck! If there's a silver lining, at least you know it wasn't any problem with the car itself and hopefully gives some peace of mind. Drive enough trouble-free miles and your purchase can still be a good deal!

 

Stories like this just reconfirm my aversion to high school kids working at Best Buy touching my car.

 

To no surprise to me, Murphy's Law steps in and dictates an addendum to this saga...

Drove the car Tuesday thru Friday last week, routine around town driving. Friday morning smelled hints of antifreeze, assumed it was from surrounding environment. Friday evening, notice temp gauge being erratic and checked the radiator... below level of sight. Drove to parts store with no heat. Added 3/4 gallon of coolant and then noticed the driver's floorboard is soaked with the missing coolant.

Dropped it back at Acura first thing Sat morning - they were literally horrified to see the RDX rolling back into the service area. Their looks were priceless. And I give them credit - they snapped into action, put me in a 19 TLX A-Spec (previously had a '19 RDX for a month) and have already reported back the cause - loose hose clamp on the heater core. Replaced it, tested it and it's now undergoing a full interior detail, including a thorough carpet cleaning. Should be ready late this afternoon or tomorrow.

So, my faith in Acura products is somewhat restored. My opinion of Ed Martin Acura on E 96th in Indianapolis/Carmel and specifically their Asst Service Mgr, Tyler True, are exceptional. Maybe not the quickest (ha!), but they made me feel that I and my cars's issues were important, they communicated very well (text updates), did what they said they'd do and were fair on pricing. A bit of anomaly, I'd say.

Best Buy... well, installation buyers beware.