Recently bought a 2016 MDX tech about 1 month ago. And thought tech pack includes part of AWP features. But now I figured, FCW use camera not radar to detect which is useless at night and during weather. Also ACC is useful for freeway commute.
Is there anyway to add it on? Or at least add a radar for FCW.

 

Are you sure FCW is just a camera? I could have sworn mine works at night but never paid attention to what time of the day it goes off.

I'm not sure if it's an easy/cheap system to add though.

 

From what I read it says it's camera based system. But I could be wrong.
I tested at night, set detect range to normal and get close to the car in front of me(less than 10 feet) at 60MPH, it did not give me warning at all.
It also gives me quit a bit false alarms during the day. When a big bus/truck on the next lane, when sun is hitting me, etc.
If it's radar based system, the hardware is virtually no difference between Tech & Tech+AWP. A software hack would turn a Tech to Tech+AWP.

BTW mdkxtreme, do you also have a Tech? not Tech&AWP?

 

I think the FWC is not about proximity to the car in front of you. I think it's the speed at which you're approaching the car relative to the car's speed. If you speed up while the car ahead of you drastically slows down, then I believe that triggers the FWC. I don't think it's proximity like a back up sensor.

I have the 2016 Tech package only, no Acurawatch.

I'm not sure a simple software hack will turn it into AWP because the car also brakes on its own with the AWP. I think there's more moving parts.

 

Forward Collision Warning (FCW) System | 2015 Acura MDX | Acura Owners Site

Forward Collision Warning (FCW) System

Part of the Technology Package, the Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system uses a camera located between the windshield and rearview mirror to alert you when it determines that your MDX may collide with a vehicle detected in front of it. If your vehicle speed is above 10 mph and the system determines a collision is possible, it warns you with audible alerts and a flashing amber “BRAKE” warning light on the Multi-Information Display.

 

In that link, if you click on the PDF on the right side it says radar for some reason, haha: Forward Collision Warning (FCW) System | 2015 Acura MDX | Acura Owners Site

 

It says radar in that PDF, I am confused.
I am going to tape windshield camera and see if FCW still function.

 

Just confirmed from Acura customer support. Tech package FCW uses camera, and Acurawatch plus uses camera and radar combined system.

 

-ACC/CMBS uses grill mounted radar
-FCW/LDW/LKAS/road departure mitigation uses a windshield mounted camera
-seat belt pre-tensioners for the Adv models

Only CMBS will apply the brakes if a collision is detected. You can't have ACC without CMBS radar system. FCW will only give you a warning. I don't know how FCW works with CMBS since they both do the same functions at the same time. My guess is CMBS takes over after a certain speed since it has the braking functions. I don't think CMBS is enabled under a certain speed?

 

CMBS enables at 10mph, and read some reviews from Pilot Forum saying it disables at 62mph.
ACC enables over 25mph.

 

CMBS disabled at 62mph? That's one of the most important safety features! 62mph is very normal speed

 

So let me get this straight. The CMBS doesn't work above 62 MPH. But if you are using ACC, the vehicle will brake at any speed if it detects another vehicle in front of it, and it will do so while trying to maintaining the distance you have set to that next vehicle.
Again I could be wrong.

 

All Tech Pack owners could sue Acura for misleading. On there FCW pdf spec page saying it's radar based system, also acura sales told me there is no difference between tech&tech+AWP expect auto breaking.
But they are two completely different system.

 

I have a 11 MDX Adv with ACC/CMBS and I had the brakes+seat belt pretensioners engage at 80 mph on hwy. I don't know the exact numbers; but, the CMBS doesn't engage for my MDX until you are over 10 mph. My CMBS not designed for pedestrians (I figure FCW camera works under 10 mph and can recognize people). I think the CMBS doesn't work if your closing speed is under X mph. The ACC (if engaged) will work at low closing speeds to keep your intervals. The CMBS not suppose to work if your closing speed is too fast like over Y mph. That might be where the 62 mph comes from because the CMBS won't stop in time at that closing speed.

I remember a person complaining about the ACC/CMBS/low speed follow not slowing down/stopping the MDX when they took an off ramp from the hwy at +70 mph. I think they had to slam on the brakes because the MDX didn't even try to slow down before the stop light with car in front of him/her on its own.

 

I asked Acura why they have PDF indicate FCW uses radar detector but customer relation told me it's camera base system. Here is their response, I am confused.

We apologize for any miscommunication. Our vehicle uses a combination of both. If you do feel that your FCW system is malfunction, please have a technician diagnose the vehicle for any issues.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to our Client Relations team via telephone by calling #800-382-2238, option #7, weekdays, 6 a.m. – 5 p.m. Pacific Time.

Kind regards,


Acura Client Relations
Case #05197208

 

You contacted Client Relations, not engineers. Btw, what is the purpose of this again? That you wanted to add AWP onto your Tech? Again, I don't believe it's a simple hack you can even do. There's a lot more moving parts than just converting the FCW to radar and call it AWP.

 

Trying to figure out if it's my system malfunction or it's designed in that way.

 

If you mean by "malfunction" where you stated above that it gives false collision warnings, then I don't think you're alone. I get that as well. Sometimes there's not a car in front of me and it would go off. It's not often, but it does happen. I don't think this system is perfect so it hasn't bothered me.

 

The occasional false alarms with FCW camera based systems is not limited to Acura alone. My Mercedes also has it. I believe that is inherent with the technology. This system is strictly an adjunct to driving and nothing else.