Another consideration is that Acura states “You will need a blank 32GB USB Stick formatted to FAT32.” You can buy larger memory sticks but if they are formatted by Windows (or from the manufacturer) they will likely not be FAT32 but exFAT which covers devices larger than 32 GB. The computer to stick download will work OK, but the stick may not work in the vehicle because the format will be exFAT.

 

I've had a 2020, 2021 and 2023 RDX A Spec. I've been using the same SanDisk 2.0 32 GB drive for all the maps updates over the years. (Quite a few)
The updates have been done while the car is in my garage.
Accessories mode, press once. Let info system load, insert drive, it will flash until map upload is finish.
I've never had any issues with the download and upload processes (approx. 40 minutes each).
Guess I've been lucky (never had any issues with the process). Seems like a lot of people are having problems.
Best of luck.

 

Thanks for the alerts as to the map updates. Just updated my 2023 RDX A-Spec. I've been using a Philips 3.0 32 GB drive also without issues. If I plug the drive in first and then press once to get into accessory mode I'll get a message about having to reinsert the drive. So I reinsert it and it happily updates till finished.

 

What is current map version? Im trying make sure the RDX im purchasing has it or have the dealer upload it.

 

2023.09.25

Ron

 

Just my opinion, but use any brand name, Sandisk or PNY included. More important is the size, 32 GB max and format to FAT32 if needed. Above 32 GB the card will come from the factory with an exFAT format. A Windows computer will also choose exFAT isn’t compatible with the Acura navi system (unless it has changed recently). I use a dedicated Garmin GPS, and it too (which uses HERE) won’t work with a memory card above 32 GB unless you do something special.

 

I have posted similar update steps before, but decided I would document the process as I was updating the maps on my 2024 RDX yesterday.

For reference, from the owner's manual regarding the Engine Start/Stop Button:

VEHICLE OFF
The button is off.
The power to all electrical components is turned off.

ACCESSORY (push once)
The button blinks (in red).
Operate the audio system and other accessories in this position.
[RonT: The system boots and most functions on the Audio/Information Screen are available.]

ON (push a second time)
The button blinks (in red).
All electrical components can be used.
[RonT: Push again to return to VEHICLE OFF.]

From the installation instructions on the Here site:

One important item is to make sure you have "Connected Features" enabled in your vehicle.
From the Navigation screen, click Menu > Connected Features > Enable.


Here is how I do my map updates in the vehicle:

1. With the vehicle parked in the garage, I get in the driver's seat, place the key fob in the cup holder (where they remain for the entire process) and put the vehicle in the ON state (push the Start/Stop button twice).
This allows me to roll the front windows down so I can easily monitor the display in the vehicle as well as the LED on the USB thumb drive without opening the doors during the update.
As long as the USB's LED is flashing, I know the update is still in process.

2. Turn the vehicle OFF (one more push on the Start/Stop button) and exit the vehicle. Opening and closing the driver's door combined
with the VEHICLE OFF on the Start/Stop button shuts the vehicle down as noted above in VEHICLE OFF. That has been my experience, anyway.

3. Next I get in the vehicle on the passenger side. Is this necessary? I don't know, but I want to make sure the vehicle's current
power state isn't impacted by opening and closing the driver's door once the update has started.

4. Press the Start/Stop button once to put the vehicle in ACCESSORY mode. This limits the number of components that start, reducing the load on
the battery. The system boots and when it is complete, I go to the Navigation screen and wait for Navigation to come up completely.

5. Insert the USB and wait till the Navigation system detects the map update and displays the "Updating navigation map...".
NOTE: The last couple of times I updated the maps, the system displayed the following very quickly after indicating it was updating the map.

"Map update stopped. Re-connect the USB drive with the update files to start the process again."

Simply remove and reinsert the drive and everything completes as expected.

6. Exit the vehicle and go about my business, checking the update process every so often. When I check, I should see either a flashing LED
on the USB indicating it is still copying files or a "Map Update Complete" message on the screen with an OK button.
This message remains on the screen until you click the OK button.

From past updates on my previous 2020, this usually took about an hour.
On my 2024, the update took 45 minutes.

Also, the owner's manual has information about "Automatic Power Off". It states that "If you leave the vehicle for 30 to 60 minutes with the transmission in P and the power mode in ACCESSORY,
the vehicle automatically goes into the mode similar to VEHICLE OFF to avoid draining the battery."
This has never happened to me with any of the updates I have done on my 2020 or my 2024. Perhaps it is dependent on the state and condition of the battery?

7. When the update is complete, return to the driver's seat and click the OK button on the Navigation screen.

8. Turn the vehicle OFF (two pushes on the Start/Stop button) and open and close the driver's door to shut the vehicle down.

9. As indicated in the "Map Update Complete" message, restart the vehicle and then check the map version in the Help > About.
I've seen where some suggest the vehicle should sit for 15 minutes or so to allow the update to finish.
I have never done that and when I checked, the Navigation system had the new version.

That's it! Hopefully this is helpful to others.

Ron

 

This is exactly as I do it except I run it in the ON position with an 8A charger on the battery to keep from running it down. The vehicle doesn't seem to shut down after a period of time in the ON position.

 

Well the dealer told me map was up to date but I didn’t check until I got home…. Turns out I’m running a 2020 map. While I use Google for GPS I like having the map up on the right side of the screen and there are some roads that are new on my daily route so it would be nice to have the update, is it worth over $100 is the question.

 

Not even worth $1. Google Maps is free and way more up to date.

 

What model year? Sometimes map updates are only available for free for a period of 5 years after the vehicle sell date.

 

2021, I think its 3 years and my car is just past the original sale date by 3 years. Oh well.

 

You can check the eligibility at Map updates

 

Expired! There has to be a way to find these map downloads on the web somewhere?? Like back in the old Napster/Limewire days, everything is out there for free somewhere…. Man, I am dating myself!

But seriously, couldn’t someone with a newer car and a free subscription just download the map and upload to a file server?

 

I don’t know the ins and out exactly, but when I purchased a map for an Accord, it was “keyed” to the VIN number to prevent my reselling the disk. You do see offerings on eBay but experts tell you they rarely work.

 

Unfortunately we recently purchased a three-year subscription only to be totally disappointed. We noticed no improvement, but we have had some very strange behavior (in the form of some very bad routing) from the GPS that may have been caused by the update. This is the worst GPS I have ever used. When I travel, I plug in a Tomtom unit that still receives map updates. It is immeasurably better. Tomtom no longer sells GPS units in the U.S. If Garmin is associated with HERE as someone said above, I would hesitate to buy a Garmin. To anyone considering paying to update their Acura navigation system I would say only do it if not having the latest version causes you debilitating insomnia.

 

Tomtom is known to be among the best in routing accurnacy. If you like their devices, subscribe to their app for Carplay or Android Auto and you can get a similar experience in the RDX.

 

This is an interesting idea that I didn't even know was a possibility. I already have their Android app that works with my TomTom device. Do you know if the TomTom Carplay and Android Auto apps are separate from the app I have (MyDrive), and whether they use separate subscriptions from each other? I can look this up myself of course, but I ask in case you already know, since others here may also be interested. A few days ago I was stuck in a seemingly endless traffic jam using both my TomTom and my Acura GPS. Despite being connected to AcuraLink the Acura GPS did nothing to help. The TomTom provided an alternate route that got me to my destination pretty much on schedule. It was just one more example of the Acura GPS being a disappointment. It has never impressed me in any way, I'm sorry to say.

 

We are now upto 2023.12.19 as of my checking the website today. Looks like they are almost caught up to their usual 3 month lag in map updates. They went just a bout all of 2023 with an update, and started playing catchup early in 2024 with a 2023.03.xx, 2023.06.xx, 2023.09.xx, and now the most recent 2023.12.xx. They must have rehired folks in the navigation department to handle the updates again.

 

Thanks for this. I painstakingly installed the 2023.06 update back in April (seems like just yesterday), so your reminder is helping me "get the most" (LOL) out of my subscription (I had not expected another update to have become available so soon, let alone to have already missed one). On top of the usual annoyances, the site tells me I have a one-year subscription even though I paid for a three-year subscription back in April. My snide is meant for HERE/Acura; I really do appreciate your letting us know about the update.

 

Ron,

I too recently bought a 2024 RDX. Do you have the option to do an "Automatic WiFi Update" as it says on page 41 of the Navigation Manual?

I have been in touch with Client Relations and the dealership but have received no help on this feature! Not to mention why a new vehicle was delivered with an outdated version of the maps (2021.10.04).

Thanks.

 

See if Navigation Map Updates is of any help. It is not surprising that you found the maps out of date on a new delivery. The "computer" for the navi system may very well been built months ago, perhaps even longer. As you will soon likely learn the update process is time consuming, hence I don't think too may dealers would do the update for a client.

 

I have been to that site and did the download onto a USB device. My hesitation is having to leave the car in the on position for close to an hour. Secondly, Acura is supposed to be the luxury arm of Honda and should take care of customers and deliver an up to date product. Not have the dealer quote $200+ to do the update.

I feel I am getting inferior treatment from a "luxury" brand.

 

Yes the Tomtom GO app is separate from Tomtom Mydrive. Mydrive is more of a companion app to their portable navigation devices. Tomtom Go is the independent Carplay/Android Auto app.

They all share the same Tomtom cloud so a route or favorite you set up on one will automatically cloudsync to the other as long as both are logged in to Tomtom cloud with the same email address.

 

I meant to come back and report that the 2023.12.19 update took about an hour and 20 minutes to install in our 2019 RDX--about 10 minutes longer than the 2023.06.13 update. I started it off in accessory mode and turned the engine on after 45 minutes. A silly and seemingly avoidable waste of time, battery life and fuel, but what are we gonna do?

 

Unless you’re frequently in areas with no cell signal then just use Google or Apple Maps. I never use the Acura nav.

 

Yes, that's always an option--and it's what I would do (actually, I use a TomTom device). But the car's main driver wants to use the built-in navigation, so I keep it up-to-date.

 

Years ago the owners manuals used to tell you to avoid long periods of idling but I'm not sure if that is still in there today.

 

Every now and then I put a new RDX map on a USB stick and tell my wife to leave the stick in for a week or two until she has a long drive and/or wait that completes the update.

She primarily uses Google Maps on Android Auto, so it is there mostly as a backup as the car is is still within the free Acura map update period.

 

A new map update became available yesterday: 2024.03.13
Install took just over 30 minutes.

I posted the steps I follow earlier in this thread if anyone is interested. You can find them here.

Ron

 

THX for the head's Up. However, I went to the HERE site and now told that my Subscription on my 22 MDX expired Nov 2024!! I would have to pay $89 (reduced from $119) to Renew the Maps!! Since I am on a Crossroad as to either buying my 22 MDX Advance for $38,400 form Acura Financial (lease Buyout at expiration) OR lease a new 25 MDX A-Spec Advance OR other vehicle entirely, I will not pay that Renewal.

 

I find it absolutely ridiculous that we are an entire year behind on map updates. Acura should be totally embarrassed!

 

I agree. Not only the frequency of the updates, but that the update just released is already 10 month old. Acura needs to find a new map vendor.

 

I don't believe it is the vendor's issue. There are plenty of other GPS/Nav devices that draw their data from HERE and are much more current on their data than Acura.

 

You're probably right. I looked up HERE Technology and they indicated that map updates are provided weekly. So it's Acura not wishing to pay HERE for more frequent updates. And why aren't they more current when they do come out?

 

Interesting. I recently found the following on the HERE site (FAQ & Troubleshooting Guide):



That agrees with what I had been told before regarding how many updates each year. But it doesn't explain why the latest update is 10 months old!

Ron

 

I don't use the Acura Nav except for the speed limit indicator on the HUD. I decided to check for an update since I'm probably nearing the end of free updates on my 2022. I went through the process and I'll never to it again. What a convoluted mess. You have to download a program to be able to download the map update onto a USB stick? That took quite awhile for me. And now I have to wait another hour to update the car?

Just another reason to not bother with the factory Nav.

 

Unfortunately the speed limit indicator is also tied to the nav data. Which is another reason being over a year old is troubling. I went on the HERE website and edited the local speed limits that were wrong in my area, last year, expecting them to be updated then, but who knows how long the HERE review process is for edits, add that into the year-behind Acura is on updates and this system is beyond outdated.

Also, agree the update of the car's system is a mess, especially when other manufacturers are using OTA to update their map data.

 

This seems to be a full replacement rather than an update since the download was around 16GB. This would be pretty hard to do OTA. I wonder if other manufacturers just do smaller updates?

 

I just updated to 2024.03.13, since this is the last free map included with my new car subscription. It took under 45 minutes to install in the car which I left running in the driveway. It is good that they shrunk the install time, prior maps were taking over an hour, and the RDX auto-shuts-off after an hour so you couldn't install prior versions without driving around.