Ok just dropped the car back with the dealer. Acura is having them to change my gauge cluster again. They seem to think that I got a flawed cluster with the bad software installed since I had the TSB done a few days after it was released even though it showed the revised part number. We’ll find out if that is the case when I get my car back. Fingers crossed!!!

 

Don’t count on that fixing the “Drive mode unavailable” message. There are too many other users who’ve also seen that message, myself included, for it to be a gauge cluster. I’m still hedging my bet on that something craps out during the boot up sequence when we don’t let the car’s infotainment system fully boot up before shifting into reverse. That is just my edumicated (SP on purpose) guess

 

According to the TSB it’s not the gauge cluster itself but a component of it with bad software. To perform the fix it requires the whole cluster to be replaced. Anyway it’s their money they are spending and if if fixes the problem good for me and others. If not try again. Hey my service dealer has been excellent through all the problems I’ve reported and he listens and gives me the straight answer bad or good. As long as that continues I’ll work with him. Once I get my ride back I’ll report back in a month or two to let everyone know if it worked or not.

 

Got my ride back and here is a photo of the service order for anyone interested in the part number used. Never mind the nail, it was just a casualty of living in a subdivision under construction.

 

quick search on oemacuraparts.com shows this
Replaces 78100-TJB-A11, 78100-TJB-A12, 78100-TJB-A13, 78100-TJB-A14

Just like lower control ARMs, they are updating parts behind the scenes.

 

My RO says Installed 78100-TJC-A65.
3/16/2020

Keep in mind I have an Advance FWD

 

Had mine replaced last month. We have different numbers. I didn't experience the error again but still too soon to tell.

 

I have the Aspec AWD US. We have the same A45, but it's the B and C letters which are different. I think this is the latest

 

Just got mine replaced. The parts came in early April, but due to COVID-19, I waited until now to have it done.
The dealer sanitized the interior with their Clorox 360 thing, so that was nice.
For my Aspec SH-AWD, it says 78100-TJB-A45 meter assy combi replaced with part# 78100-TJB-A14.
For mine, if I have navigation on the main screen, I could duplicate the issue in a couple of weeks.
I will report back.

 

Update: It came back once, while I was playing USB music on the main screen and map on the side screen. It showed the " drive mode unavailable..." message a couple times and about 5 minutes later when I finally parked (with engine ON) and ready to take a video, it just went away. In the past, the message and the screen would go from day to night mode repeatedly until I turn off and restart the car after about 15 minutes.

 

Anyone else who did the TSB and still saw the error message/symptom?

 

I only experienced this once in my 23,000 miles, and not after the TSB was applied in April 2020, which is not much help in answering your question, I'm afraid. I have added ~5,000 miles since then.

 

I just got the "Drive mode change unavailable" for the first time. 23K+ kilometers. Iphone plugged in with USB audio playing music. Nav on the small screen. It went away after leaving it shut off for about 30 minutes.
This is in Panama so it seems this problem is global.

 

I've had this happen as well, several weeks ago. Constant toggling between day and night light levels on the display. Quit by itself and hasn't returned.

 

Well it’s back!! Got the dreaded Drive Mode Unavailable and screen flickering message for 20 minutes today while running errands. Guess the TSB fix is total garbage. Got it on video for the dealer and I’m going back tomorrow after work. Did the three finger reboot and that didn’t do squat.

 

Oh man! So sorry to hear this....

 

I have not seen this message since I last saw it after the TSB fix in May, 2020.
However, there were a couple of times when the thumb wheel cannot change preset radio station and one time with "Unfortunately, android.proess has stopped" message.
Parked the car and came back later to restart it cleared these issues.

 

Got my car back on 23 Dec and they did not replace the infotainment system. They want to see the error happen. They won’t accept the video (Acura Corporate). Back to waiting again🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

 

WOW! Just WOW!

 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I really like Honda/Acura engineering and I generally like their cars, but I really really really dislike the business and marketing side of the company.

Back in the good ol’ days that was fine, because after you bought the car you almost never had to interact with them again, but that looks to be becoming less and less true these days.

 

What really pisses me off is I used videos of this problem when it started to get the TSB done! Hell they asked me to record it happening for them to see. Now they act as if I’m sitting at home faking the videos and the date time stamp! I’m gonna put in a case on this every week until they answer me and bug the crap out of them with phone calls! I have more service visit records for problems with this car than than regular maintenance records. I know every persons name in the service dept and they all know my phone numbers from being there so much! They even had the audacity to call me wanting me to trade my RDX in for a 2021! I declined. Acura.................. just fix my infotainment system. Is that too much to ask?????????

 

Just saw the message again today. I am at software version D1.5.1 (updated at the end of Jan. 2021). I started the RDX in the garage and went to the "Setting" menu to change the "keyless entry" setting and then I saw the "drive mode unavailable" message. I then started driving and this is when I noticed the screen went from bright to dark every 60 seconds or so. I did not try all the functions on the system, but at least the thumb wheel, the navigation, voice command, radio, and "drive mode change", all appeared working fine.
Even when the screen would go from from bright to dark every 60 seconds or so, the "drive mode unavail." message did not come on every time when this happened. Took the video while parked with engine running. After turning off the engine, it stopped doing it.

 

What you mention here is a typical gauge cluster issue. You need to get the gauge cluster replaced under warranty. Many or all of them have incorrect software burned, and they cannot reburn in the car. You get an new one with the correct s/w and that goes away along with few gauge functions working like they are supposed to.
....as mentioned before. Personally, all I did was email my dealer a short video of the screen acting up.

 

Thanks Funz51, but the dealer already replaced it once back in mid 2020 for this issue.
yes, I will certainly let them know again.

 

Make sure you got the correct part. It should be 78100-TJB-Ax5. You can find the info in the 3-finger diagnosis menu, unit check->most nodes->meter.

 

The work order shows the cluster part number is 78100-TJB-Ax5. This morning, after starting the car, the navigation was loading and then it went blank (black), the radio was working fine and the screen did show which street I am on. I could also use the navigation and it gave correct instruction, but no map on the big screen. If I put the navigation to the small screen, it showed the map. Anyway, will go to see the Dealer about this. Thanks!

 

I’m new to this. I just got the exact problem a week ago and my dealer in Canada replaced the Nav control unit. I believe they replaced the wrong parts then?

 

ACD, yes they may have. Just have to see if the problem comes back. Mine never came back after the gauge replacement. The cluster need to be replaced b/c the software is actually bad in it and it cannot be updated externally. Good luck.

 

I just received the attached letter from Acura Canada letting me know that they are extending my warranty to 6 years related to the Media-Oriented System Transport (MOST) Communications Failure - seems to be related to this issue.

 

I received that letter also (here in the US) and coincidentally I recently encountered this issue for the first time (Drive Mode change unavailable message and screen constantly going between day and night mode) just a couple of weeks ago. I'm around 23k miles on the car and I haven't yet brought it for any servicing regarding this. What's the conclusion? Should I ask for the work related to this warranty extension letter to be performed? I attached a photo i managed to take while the issue was occurring. As you can see I was in CarPlay but had the Acura Navigation in the secondary part of the screen

 

This issue has been documented by Acura and on this site. I had the same thing. They need to completely replace the gauge cluster, that is the thing that has the speedo and tach on it right in front of you, not the infotainment screen. The cluster has bad software that they cannot update, so the only thing they can do is replace it. Does not take long, they just have to make sure they have the latest Rev in stock. Bring this picture in with you in for proof since it is inconsistent.
As a suggestion, take the time to read over his thread. If you would have, you would not had to ask this question... Just sayin'

 

2019 RDX here and running the latest version of software. I got this error message today. I was just driving normally when the message "Drive mode change unavailable" started to appear intermittently at the bottom of the infotainment display. I wish I had a passenger to take a picture/video.

 

Maybe just a coincidence but I also encountered the issue yesterday. Something unique about this occurrence - the infotainment flashed between night mode and day mode continuously, where in the past the interval was about 20 seconds.

 

I noticed the display brightness was unsteady but didn't associate it with switching between day and night modes.

 

get the cluster replaced.

 

Yup.

 

Is it as easy as asking for it? I don't have proof that the problem happened.

 

it’s a good chance they just will. It is well documented. Or wait until it happens again and get a short movie on ur phone.

 

Mine was supposedly fix 4 months ago with the Most buss connectors replaced.
This happened again about 3 weeks ago.
The screen was flashing dark to night when my phone was connected after I disconnected the phone this was left of the display.
Sorry for the music I forgot the radio was on.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E0a...ew?usp=sharing

 

I thought I posted about this but I can't find the post. At the last service (02/2022) they did the following:

0101Q0 INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM - REPLACE THE FARKA CONNECTORS S/B: 20-031 S/B: 21-009