GBeeman

We’re thinking of buying a 2109 MDX Advanced. I have a 2012 MDX Tech. I’ve been pretty happy with it with one exception. In sport mode the transmission won’t stay in first gear. I do a lot of fishing and have to work down some fairly step grades on gravel roads. I’d like to use engine breaking. I start out in first gear but almost immediately it shifts to second and I have to ride the breaks all the way down.

My my question is does the 2019 8 speed transmission behave that way or will it stay in 1st gear?

Thanks!

Donn0128

I recently diwcovered that mym2018 when in Sport mode the paddle shifters work. I was led to believe thwt they only worked when manual mode was selected? Hummm.

jdpdata

Yes you can only start in 1st gear in Sport mode (manual with paddles) otherwise the car starts in 2nd. This is also know as "Ludicrous mode" on our MDX Sport Hybrids 😃

GBeeman

Will it stay in first gear or automatically shift to second at some rpm?

Donn0128

Since the forum wont allow me to edit my post, so........
D/S in D
Dynamic in S allows you to use the paddles to shift. It will remain in selected gear until you tap the + paddle. Not what I was led to believe, but oh well.

bobby2478

Note, when you press "D/S" if in Drive it moves you to Sequential mode, but it still says "S" and is fully automatic at this point until you press up or down on the paddle shifters, THEN it moves you into true sequential mode and you see the M and gear number indicated in the MID. Then it will hold the gears.

Does the MDX have rev matching auto downshifts while in full auto mode or sequential mode (provided you haven't manually shifted gears so no gear number is indicated in the MID)? Or does it do anything with this in IDS Sport mode? It didn't seem like as I was slowing down that it was downshifting to help with deceleration due to engine braking but wasn't sure if this was dependent on how aggressive you are driving at the moment or if it just doesn't do this at all.

GBeeman

Thanks for all the replies. However, I still don’t think my question has been answered. When I start driving my 2012 Tech with the paddles it starts in First gear and quickly shifts to second without any input from me. If I’m in second gear and paddle downshift to first as soon as it hits around 3000 rpm it automatically shifts into second. It will not stay locked in first gear under any circumstances.

So again, does the 2019 exhibit the same behavior?

Thanks!

bmoua15

I would test this out for you but I have a hybrid. In manual mode (S) the tranmisson should auto shift only @ redline

getakey

ok - I have the hybrid
I put it in Sequential and Sport+ dynamic mode
It would not stay in 1st. It shifted very quickly right around 3K rpm, maybe a touch before

Wonder how much engine braking you would get in 2nd

undertaker2k8

On my 2018 Advance, in S mode it will hold 1 all the way to redline if you let it. Very useful on some rocky tracks in death valley last Christmas

getakey

how - I hit paddles to downshift into 1 and it almost immediately shifted to 2

undertaker2k8

The regular SHAWD 9 speeds in Sequential shift mode will hold gears till redline by design until you use the paddle shifters to upshift or you redline.

bobby2478

This is only once you manually shift gears using the paddle shifters so "M" plus the gear number display in the MID. If you just press D/S to go into sequential mode but don't use paddle shifters to manually shift gears, then "M" and the gear don't display in the MID and the transmission will automatically shift gears just like normal although more aggressively. Once you manually select a gear with the paddle shifters THEN it will hold the gears until redline like is described.

ddswv

GBeeman:

I have a 2010 Acura MDX and I know exactly what your talking about, it upshifts to 2nd gear whenever you get about 8-10 mph, and you can't keep it locked in 1st gear.

It appears from the owner's manual for the 2018 on page 481 that it does the same thing, automatically shifts at redline whether it's in normal drive mode or sequential.

http://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/p...BTZ51919OM.PDF

neoshi

OP, while the 9 speed will hold gears until redline in sequential, 1st gear is very short. So depending on how fast you go down the path, it will shift up to 2nd in no time. Trying to keep first under redline is very time consuming.

Fabvsix

The 2007 MDX would allow you to hold it in first gear....either 08 or 09 they changed it to where it will quickly shift to 2nd gear... Apparently too many socker moms in manual mode were blowing up their transmissions..... Lots of complaints about this back then....

ddswv

It's too bad Acura never implemented a "Downhill Assist" that would be beneficial.

GBeeman

Thanks all!

kareshi

I remember my 07 TSX would do it. It held the gear longer when I was going downhill.