Can't creep 2014 MDX down steep driveway. Design flaw with 1st gear??
09-22-2018, 09:30 AM
#1
2nd Gear
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Can't creep 2014 MDX down steep driveway. Design flaw with 1st gear??
I just purchased a slightly used 2014 MDX Advance with SH-AWD. I took it up to my cabin in the mountains which has a steep gravel driveway 1/2 mile long. No problem going up, but getting down will be a nightmare in winter! The vehicle WILL NOT STAY IN FIRST GEAR. There's no engine braking. When I use paddle shifters 1st gear flashes and it stays in 2nd gear.
HOW am I supposed to get down in the snow and ice?
HOW am I supposed to get down in the snow and ice?
09-22-2018, 09:41 AM
#2
Burning Brakes
Hi, congrats!
Did you try to put it in sport mode (putting the shifter down to S), and use the paddles?
Did you try to put it in sport mode (putting the shifter down to S), and use the paddles?
09-22-2018, 10:12 AM
#3
2nd Gear
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Yes, I did. I put my shifter all the way down to S, I paddle shifted into 1st gear and started down hill. As soon as the car goes over 6 mph it shifts into 2nd gear and won't go back to 1st. Then, the car wants to accelerate up to 25 mph with no engine braking which is WAAAY too fast for this rough gravel decline. The owner's manual says the transmission should stay in 1st gear up to 15 mph if you're accelerating, but I can't punch the gas going DOWN a steep driveway grade.
My local dealer just blew it off and said it's not really a problem, just the way it's designed. I was floored. Acura says this is to "protect the transmission". Geez, I'm not trying to redline 1st gear, I just want to keep the car slow and under control. Unless there's a trick to this, I will have to ride the brakes 1/2 mile down a steep hill in the snow and ice this winter which is insane. Every SUV I've ever driven has a creeper gear or at least 1st gear for engine braking.
How the hell can you have a vehicle that is so capable with SH-AWD and yet, have such a glaring flaw? Could there be some kind of software update for fixing this?
My local dealer just blew it off and said it's not really a problem, just the way it's designed. I was floored. Acura says this is to "protect the transmission". Geez, I'm not trying to redline 1st gear, I just want to keep the car slow and under control. Unless there's a trick to this, I will have to ride the brakes 1/2 mile down a steep hill in the snow and ice this winter which is insane. Every SUV I've ever driven has a creeper gear or at least 1st gear for engine braking.
How the hell can you have a vehicle that is so capable with SH-AWD and yet, have such a glaring flaw? Could there be some kind of software update for fixing this?
09-22-2018, 01:44 PM
#4
Burning Brakes
Ok got it. Did you try to put the Integrated Dynamic mode to Sport, while the shifter was in S?
09-24-2018, 03:45 PM
#6
Cajun Gumbo Man
My 2007 MDX sport allows you in manual mode to hold it in 1st gear...… 2008 MDX did away with that due to stupid owners that forgot they had it in manual mode and blew transmissions..... Blame it on those Socker Moms that never drove a manual before...…..SMDH...… Acura doesn't care about your brake wear.....but they do care about their transmissions.....
09-24-2018, 07:45 PM
#7
Instructor
OP, I feel your pain, our ‘15 has the same “feature”.
Reminded me me of the Mazda5 manual mode issues back in ~2005:
https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/23/a...-love-the.html
Reminded me me of the Mazda5 manual mode issues back in ~2005:
The Mazda 5 was pulled from showrooms last month after reports of three fires. These occurred, a spokesman told me, after the vehicles traveled at highway speeds with the automatic transmission inadvertently left in second gear. This led to excessive exhaust temperatures and, hence, to the fires.
