Hey all, just bought a 2017 Elite and trying to figure out all the ins and outs. So, If I select the NORMAL drive mode. Then shut off the car and lock it. When I re start it seems to be back to SPORT mode again. ( the drive mode colour is RED on the dash ) Is this normal. Is this the way all MDXs are? Or is there a way to make different drive modes as the default??? And is there a way to stop the seat and steering wheel from moving up and back every tome I shut off the car?? Is there a way to permanently disable the start/stop function?? Thanx for all your help. Cheers.

 

Go thru the vehicle setup. There is a place that allows you to set to use last i stead of reverting back to another setup.
In the vehicle setup there is a wealth of things that can be selected. I found one that allows you to set display brightness.

 

Yes, if you go to vehicle setting, you can set any mode you want for every time you start up the car.
Yes, you can choose the steering wheel and seat doesn't anything when you shut off the car, I believe it is also in vehicle setting.
And No, I don't think you can permanently turn off the start/stop function, you will have to press that button everytime you start up the car.

 

To Clarify that last part. The factory does not give you a permanent way to turn start stop off. However a simple relay and some rewiring should make the switch work in reverse. A few years back when Dodge introduced the 6.7L Cummins they had a switch on the dash that you had to push every time you started the truck to acrivate the exhaust brake. Some clever soul worked out a basic electrical swap, so there is no reason the same could not be done on the Acura. It would just take someone smarter than me to work it out.

 

Thanx for all your help. I followed the advice and now my 17 starts in Normal drive setting, and the seat/steering wheel don't move all over the place when I shut it off. Thanx.

 

There is one advantage of having the steering wheel telescope out and in when you start/stop engine. If the wheel does not telescope it is an early warning sign that your battery is going bad. Has happened every time in my RL and RLX and I went thru 4 batteries. Betting it is same in MDX

 

Dont you really mean "it might be" i have a 2018 MDX less than a year old and have been fighting this issue since it was 4 months old. I am fully aware batteries can fail at any time. But dont you think that after a month at the dealers working on this issue they or Acura tech line would have suggested a battery?

 

wasn't following your issues - more than just steering wheel telescope?
I'll put it this way. A dying battery will always exhibit problem with telescoping wheel. A problem with telescoping wheel does not always mean a dying battery

That said, the first time I had the issue, I went to my dealer and they checked the battery. All good. Went on trip on the weekend following and battery died. Its an early sign and some battery testers do not do a load test. I had to buy a battery while out of town. Had a huge fight with Dealer to get some reimbursement because battery was still under warranty. They wanted to replace the battery as that is how the warranty was written. But, I'd already bought a battery and said a new battery does me no good. Finally got them to reimburse me