Hey guys. Is there any difference between the heated steering wheel that comes as part of the advanced package as compared to the heated steering wheel that is a dealer installed accessory? If so, what are the differences? Thanks.

 

The heated steering wheel for my 19 MDX adv hybrid has the following functions:
- one heat level when turned on
- heats up the circumference of the wheel only, steering wheel spokes and buttons are not heated
- goes from warm to hot pretty quick and maintains that hot level until turned off (I usually need it for around 5-10 mins before turning it off)
- don't know if there is a timer for auto shut off
- heated steering wheel is turned on when the remote start is used to warm up the MDX on cold mornings (remote start also turns on rear defogger, side mirror defogger, directs heat to windshield, heated seats, and heated windshield when cold)
- The remote start pre-heat settings revert back to whatever I had set before the night before once I hit the start button (have to turn the heated steering wheel back on).

 

In short, if you put in the accessory heated steering wheel, you'll get the same behavior as if it were installed at the factory.....

 

Thank you.

 

does the remote start the AC during the summer?

 

Yes a feature of the remote start is climate control. Will warm the car in winter, and cool the car in the summer.

 

The only downside with the remote start is the 10 min run time and you can only add one additional 10 min run time after that. Might be different for the 3.5L; but, I sometimes need the full 20 minutes on really cold mornings with frost/ice on the windows to clear enough to use the wipers to clean. I didn't use the remote start that much in summer because I have my windows tinted, use a sunshade, and have the light graystone interior.

 

In NYC there is a law that says you cannot idle a vehicle more than 3 minutes. Worse yet, camarade Deblasio is pushing for a variant that any person can report your vehicle as idling and get a percentage of the fine.

 

^^^So someone is going to take the time to actually track the time your car is idling? Really? Yes I see the carbon footprint ramification of lots of idling. I can also see the NYC effect here. Lots of cabbies, limos, etc. just hanging out waiting for a fare/passenger. Would be interesting to see what happens with a remotely started hybrid. The engine isn't always running in those.

 

I can see some meddler doing this. There is always one.

 

So the non-Hybrid is still 10 mins, with a 10 min adder possible. But you need more than 20 mins in NM on cold mornings? I've found that the windows typically get clear after the first 10 mins up here in NH, even with temps near zero. And I actually use the remote in the summer almost as much to cool the inside down, especially when coming out of the grocery store. Would prefer frozen items to make it home without fully thawing.. :-)

 

I haven't double-checked to make sure the hybrid stays on the full 10 mins+10 mins? The hybrid is usually off when I try and time it to get into the car within the first 10 minutes. I'm assuming the hybrid doesn't shut off to EV mode for 10 minute remote start; but, I'm not 100% sure.

 

I remember last summer when I tried my wife's RLX SH that during the first 10 minute period there was a time when it wasn't running the ICE - this was while it was doing a/c cooling. So it probably depends on what functions it's trying to do HVAC-wise....