Hey I have a 2005 Acura RL with 150,000km. My problem is: While driving, a beeper alerts me and a caution will appear below the speedometer saying "Check VSA SYSTEM" accompanied by the orange "VSA", and "!" lights. Instantly after that happens, the beeper goes off again, the display reads "Check SH-AWD System", and the "SH-AWD" light appears.
This problem remains untill the car is restarted, but it will happen again within 5 minutes after restart... usually. See im not too sure what causes this issue because sometimes it happens when I swerve, turn, or am just driving straight. It seems to happen in hot weather more often than when its cool. Also this has been happening for 2 weeks off and on, AND I drove it for 2 hours today without seeing this problem occur, weather was a cool (12ēC).

I figured out the problem could have something to do with the "Yaw rate sensor" but not much more then that. If anyone has answers on what the cause may be or how to fix this please let me know, thank you!

 

Try using a OBDII scanner and check for any codes.

 

Check your battery terminal connections before you start digging too deep into this.

 

Whats the fault code?

Do you have access to a scan tool to pull codes on VSA,SHAWD,?

I have seen some RL's with Yaw sensors going bad but not many.

Will also need to be recalibrated after replacement. Think only dealer can only do this...

 

Ok thanks ill see if I can get someone with one tomorrow!

 

Thanks for the info guys ill check out the batrery terminal connections, do a scan tomorrow and see where that leaves me

 

I had a failed yaw rate sensor, not long after I picked up my 05 a few years back. Behavior was fairly dramatic though. At the time I had no idea what was really happening. The same check VSA and AWD warning's would appear, but then seconds later the car would dramatically slow down. You literally lurch forward in your seat as if you hit the brakes, all the warnings light up, and then you surge forward again, as if I hit the gas hard. A couple times it pulled hard right and I bounced off a curb at highway speed. That was fun. Took it straight to the dealer that time. Turns our when the yaw rate sensor fails the default behavior is to switch to FWD only mode, at least until the car is restarted. That was the hard shudder I felt, as it the SH-AWD system shut down. I was able to drive several miles in between incidents. Took the dealer nearly three days to figure out what the problem was, and then the part had to be special ordered from Japan. They claimed my RL, at the time anyway, was only the third confirmed failed yaw rate sensor. Maybe that was BS, I don't know. Knock on wood that hasn't happened again. If I recall correctly, that yaw sensor was roughly $950 for the part, and well over 2K including labor time. They tried to get out of covering the costs initially, something about not covered by my CPO warranty. I complained to the dealership manager, as I had just bought the car two months earlier. He agreed with me right away, covered the entire expense.

In your case I sure hope it's just the battery...that seems to be the source for so many odd warnings.

 

Wow man thanks for sharing your experience , that scares me quite a bit since that could be deadly.
when these lights come on it remains smooth. Only difference in diving is that I can tell its only using FWD, and probably no vsa. So luckily no unexpected swerving or braking Im gonna try scanner and the battery today and see how it treats me. Hopefully my car doesnt swerve off a cliff or run over a pedestrian due to the manufacturer! Im also praying that my RL wont be the fourth one to have this problem. Thanks again for input, that helps me a lot!!!

 

It could just be a voltage drop, if you have a radar detector, set it to display voltage and monitor. I have noticed that the voltage will drop to 12V instead of the normal 14V. On occasion, my RL defaults to FWD, no shutter though and VSA, AWD and AFS lights come on. These are reset after a restart.

For my case, I think it is the alternator or belt. The odd thing is with the AC on, it jumps from 12V to 13V.

 

^ That sounds like your alternator. It's not making enough voltage at regular operating speed and when you turn the AC on it kicks up the speed the accessory belt is driven at, which in turn spins your alternator faster and you get the jump in voltage.

Interestingly enough I noticed in my CL when the alternator went that as the voltage continues to drop the car will start to shut down unnecessary systems to keep the vehicle running. No idea if the RL does this or not but I think it would be a good guess. It could be that the SH-AWD system is the first to shut down to conserve power in case of an emergency.

Maybe you should get you're alternator tested before spending a couple grand on a new yaw sensor?

 

+1 on the alternator voltage test.
If the battery is approaching 3 or more years old, I would consider replacing that too with a Honda battery.
My alternator failed a couple years ago, and fried the battery in the process. Dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree when it failed, but I lost all power too, rolling to a stop and the motor wouldn't even run anymore. Turned out the alternator was overcharging the battery, which was fairly new too. Including the short lived battery the alternator fried, I'm on my third battery in five years. This car chews them up...

 

Well I guess im #5. Doing the exact same thing. Pulls to the right abruptly and the lights come on the dash. I have an 05 rl with 132k. I have been getting the occasional check charging system also. Possibly related?

 

When my yaw rate sensor failed I also got the check the charging system alerts. The dealer focused on the battery/alternator as a first option because of this, but ruled them both out early on. They did install a new battery, even though the existing Honda battery was only a few months old at the time. No difference though. Almost two days later, they confirmed a failed yaw rate sensor. I had 46K miles on my 05 at the time.

 

After tightening battery and ground connections, my problem has been fixed.