Does anyone know if there's a way to get the RL to not retract the rear sunshade when the car is put in reverse?

I've noticed on Lexuses and Bimmers that the sunshade stays up all the time. It would be nice to not have to put up the sunshade every time you back up. This would also prevent the eventual failure of the mechanism. I've already had to have the whole assembly replaced at 38k.

Thanks.

 

Great question. I wonder the same thing.
Can we trick the auto-retract function?

 

It can be done but I don't believe a setting exists that can simply be changed.

1) Put sunshade in upright position and remove fuse. I don't know if the fuse also protects other equipment so this could be a problem if it does.

2) Put the sunshade in an upright position and disconnect the the power wire to the motor that raises/closes it.

3) Prefered method: Trace the reverse signal wire and install a switch so it is always open. This way you would have control for reverse initiation and it would still operate with the open/close button.

I would suggest that if you do keep raised at all times, install some mechanism to keep everything tight as to limit the vibration during driving. This will assist in keeping the shade stationary and prevent the sytem from becoming loose and making noise. I would think you could tape some U shaped pieces to the rear window as to capture the top frame on the left and right. The U shaped piece could be lined with felt as to keep everything snug. U shaped piece could simply be made by bending sheet metal. You may need spacers to project the pieces away from the window and reach the shade. Paint the pieces and keep them small (1-2") so they are not noticeable.

Alternatively and probably more easily...use magnetic tape and sticky steel (thin steel with adhesive on one side).

 

Why would you want to change a necessary safety feature? Don't you want to see clearly where you are going when backing up? That's the reason the shade retracts when you back up.

What would be convenient is for the shade to go back up automatically when you are done backing up.

Unfortunately, there is not a setting you can use for that. If Acura engineers knew of this request, perhaps it could be added to the next iteration of the RL.

 

I made this request, on this forum, in 05.
Wouldn't it be nice to have access to the person who made this decision, I would love to hear his reasoning? I think it was the same richard head that makes my car ding ding ding every time I open the door.

 

Would it not be annoying if not distracting when trying to maneuver in a situation requiring multiple shifts into Reverse? I can think in parallel parking or simply fidgeting into a parking spot (I mostly back into parking spaces).

It could also put extra wear on the screen motor.

Personally, I do not like a vehicle that does too much automatically...I find it distracting. Especially when the solution is to simply push a button.

The optimum solution would be to have this selectable in the MID's personalized settings. In which case I would select the option to function as it currently does.

 

I agree - MID selection with an overide button. I would choose always up unless I manually wanted it down. Another push of the overide button restores your MID selection control.

 

So in other words... you guy's like my solution 3. I would DIY this but the only time I use it is when it is sunny and hot outside and my car will be parked for a while-Rear sunshade up, front windshield gets the fugly reflective shade, and I pop up the rear side shades.

Any "Guinea Pig's" want to do it. If so, I would assist in what to do. I do not plan on doing myself because I don't really use it that much. Fortunately, I have a shaded area to park in at work and my baby stays in the garage at home.

 

I think that the 3rd option would prolly be the best. I would think that the hot wire would be separate from the "reverse" switch wire. During the summer it is more than bright enough to see from the back of your car.

In any case, I think that we're all smart enough to determine when we don't have a safe field of vision through the rear. This is obviously done to negate any liability issues against Acura.

I certainly like automatic features and techs that take the toil out of driving. But to me this seems like a nagging "Mommy" kind of feature.