Given we haven't driven the RLX much lately due to the shelter orders, our RLX talked to us yesterday...

"AcuraLink low power mode notification"

Dear xxxx,

Your 2018 Acura RLX has entered low power mode. This could be attributable to a low battery or vehicle inactivity lasting more than 7 days.

Until the ignition is turned on again, AcuraLink features such as Stolen Vehicle locator and Remote Door Lock/unlock will not be available. We will send you another message when your AcuraLink system is again operational.

Sincerely, AcuraLink

Guess we need to drive it a bit... :-)

andy

 

Looks like an excuse to get some miles on it. Get out of the house. It will do you and the car some good. Just don't get out of the car.

By the way, I was speaking to someone who was in lower Manhattan yesterday and he was horrified by what he saw. He saw homeless people harassing average people just trying to walk their dogs, threatening to spit on them if they did not give them money or food. Police are going down sick by the hundreds in NYC everyday. Although there is zero traffic even at rush hour, it is almost creepy how empty the streets are. Looks like the movie I Legend with Will Smith in a way. Normally it takes with average traffic 90-110 minutes for someone I know to drive to the World Trade area. They made it yesterday in 40 minutes and barely saw a dozen cars on the entire journey according to what he said. We are living in historic times. For those in outlying areas of the country where the lock down is not in affect yet, it is hard to imagine the entire tri-state NY/NJ/CT area being a ghost town on the roads, 24 hours a day, everyday. People are being TOLD, do not go to the hospital until you have breathing problems. The problem is people don't know when the critical time is for them to go. The fear is those who are alone and are following those directions, will largely be found dead. People are already be found that way today, in their homes, when neighbors complain of the smell. When I watch the TV and certain people are speaking about the situation, it seems that they are completely out of touch with the reality of the situation. The nursing staff and doctors are going to be wrecked from this. Most of them are setting up Zoom calls with people who are going on vents so they can say goodbye to their families. Can you even imagine that? I can't. Care for yourself and your families. Take care of the first responders as they need it now, but also afterwards they will desperately need it later. I know it is off topic, but we have never shut down a county before. We have never shut down a state, a region, a country, a continent, much less two of them simultaneously.

Be well.

 

I haven't tried on our RLX hybrid; but, I did connect a trickle charger with % reading on my MDX hybrid last summer. Wanted to know if it would charge only the 12v battery and the battery pack (12v battery charged only).

Kinda of a cruel joke with gas prices at $1.35 for reg and $1.85 for 91 octane in ABQ, NM, and we can't go anywhere. Pretty much the same tank of gas since the beginning of March (filled up when gas was $2.49 back then for 91 octane). I've been switching off cars and when I need to hit the grocery store, drive thru runs, or Home Depot/Lowes home projects. Home Depot and Lowe's parking lots are jammed packed all day long even with the state in lock-down mode.

 

Interesting, my 2018 Sport Hybrid RLX manual states to not use any charger on it (12 volt battery) unless you disconnect the battery from the car first. I've always used a trickle charger for my sedans during the winter, and the suv during the summer. I've just been starting the RLX every 3-4 weeks and letting it warm up for 30 mins to keep the battery charged. (Not my ideal work around, but it keeps the winter salt off of it)

Last year I did disconnect for a few days and hooked up to a trickle charger, and found the hybrid battery was drawn down by 1/2 in two days. I'm assuming the electronics were feeding off it to keep seat memories, radio, etc.

 

I've noticed my hybrids charges the EV battery pack in 1-3 miles of driving in Sport mode for the RLX and Sport+ mode for the MDX. I don't know if the RLX EV battery pack will charge just as fast when idling for 30 mins in Sport mode? I'm still not 100% sure of when the 12v battery is used compared to the EV battery pack in starting, in/out EV mode, running accessories and/or A/C when engine is off, and keeping a power feed for the electronics when sitting in the garage?

I just had my fob battery in my RLX remote start to fail yesterday (low battery w/ fob warning in M.I.D.). The Acura parts department replaced both RLX fob CR2032 batteries for free and they looked happy to see a customer. The dealership only had a few cars in the shop and the showroom doors were locked. Gas in now down to $1.75 for 91 Octane at Sam's.

At my driving rate now, I will not be due for a M.I.D. service until fall or even later.

 

The key fob battery is easy to replace and you can get them at the local CVS for a few bucks. While in sport mode, if you are driving or idling the hybrid battery will charge at about the same rate. It is a good idea just to drive it around to get the fluids going and stretch its legs, not to mention to give yourself a different view of the world.

 

So the wife and I took a spirited jaunt in her RLX yesterday (and picked up some takeout). The RLX sent me an email saying (essentially) that it's happy again and has enough juice to continue with AcuraLink services. ;-)

We did run it in sport mode - it' a real blast driving that around :-)

 

It is extraordinarily easy to get to felony speeds in that car.

 

Three cars in the garage and one out on the driveway, all of them with full tank of gas and driven once a week onlyz... I do try to rotate driving each of them every time I go out to buy groceries. No more take outs for us, can't trust it anymore. The last take out was from our regular Chinese restaurant but then the food was all very salty which made us wonder if the cook lost the ability to taste (i.e. infected with covid19)?

Stay safe everyone - stay home, and wear mask when you go out in public... Looking forward to a better summer.

 

Took mine out to wash it and park it back in the garage when done. Prob. need to take it out and open it up a bit in the next day or two Rest of the time just sit there for me to admire how good it looks

 

So that's how my "email" thing started. Pulled it out of the garage, washed it, put it back in the garage. A week later it contacted me saying "you fool, that wasn't enough". :-) Now if I just take it out (this weekend I put the summer tires back on), instead of just pulling it back in the garage I take a 4-5 mile "round the block" trek. Seemed to appreciate it. Plus having the summer sneakers back on made for a much more enjoyable jaunt.

 

I think I let my RLX sit one day too long between drives and got:
U3003-16 Brake system error
U0418-68 Advanced Driver Support Systems, CMBS & Road Departure Mitigation have stopped working

I'm assuming it was from low power. I will drive it everyday for +10 miles in Sport mode to see if recharging everything helps. If not, give the dealership a call.

 

Common thing. That is the solution.

 

One issue with lead acid batteries is that, once they are deeply or fully discharged, they become less reliable at obtaining and holding a full charge. So, if your battery does become deeply discharged, it is probably a good idea to move up your normal battery replacement cycle. That is, if you have suffered a complete battery discharge, and you normally replace your battery every 6 years, it is probably wise to move that up to 4 years or less to prevent future problems. Obviously, if you experience problems suggesting that your battery is weakened, then immediate battery replacement is prudent.

Just my two cents.

 

I've never gone past 4 years on an Acura OEM battery living in the southwest (usually 3 - 3 1/2 years avg). Usually switch to Interstate lead acid or AGM batteries and get the full warranty period or more with them. The hybrids and Acura's with Auto Stop-Start should have AGM batteries. Haven't heard if the Acura AGM versions have the same lifespan and failure rate as the lead acid types?

 

I'm holding my breath when I take my oldest out for driving experience in the MDX. Since there are very few people on the road, it is a good time to do it. However, it makes me nuts. Funny thing is he is getting better gas MPG than my wife does when she drives it. He is being slow and very careful. She gets around 25 mpg on average, He is getting 27+ mpg. However if I may, I am getting 73.4mpg in the Volvo at the moment. All local driving and very little of it with the ICE engine running. 312 miles on this current tank, have used a fraction over 4 gallons, still over the 3/4 mark by a bunch. At this rate I will go more than 1,300 miles on this tank of gas.

 

I have the same concern about 12V batteries that have been severely discharged. My 'new' 2019 SH with low miles has likely had a least one event in its past,. Once the 'gates' are reopened, I'll be getting a new AGM, since it is indeed a problem with false codes once the battery gets weak.

RLX-Sport Hybrid,,, If your Volvo hybrid battery keeps improving the ICE 'off-time', don't forget to squirt a few drops of motor oil through the spark plug holes at least once a year to keep the corrosion off those idle pistons.

 

I am told that isn't an issue. I typically run the engine for about two minutes each time I drive the car for that reason only.

 

I was still getting the error messages after a week of driving of:
U3003-16 Brake system error
U0418-68 Advanced Driver Support Systems, CMBS & Road Departure Mitigation have stopped working

Didn't want to delete the message until Acura had a chance to look at it. The dealership cleared the message on navi screen, double-checked the RLX, and recharged the battery system. Acura said it was because of low voltage for the warning codes. The dealership was a little more busy compared to last week with 3 cars in the shop (my car was #4).

I didn't get the error code message on the Acuralink smartphone app? I did the free 3 months with the RLX and just thought it was just a buggy system. I just added the free 3 months to the 19 MDX and it isn't no where near as slow/buggy compared to the RLX. The MDX and RLX are usually sitting side-by-side and I can't get RLX to updated its status like the MDX. Anyone had issues or had their in car Acuralink system fixed? I want to get emails from my car also.

 

I gave a 2020 SH SHAWD

Ive been on the phone about 15 times with their tech support line. Acuralink is basically useless on these cars unless you want to get it 10 minutes late on remote commands.

Just about all information displayed is not real time. It only shows info from the last time the car was running. If you don’t drive for several days and you want to check tire pressure and plan for a trip......you are SOL!

 

I called the dealership before I left to pick-up the RLX and told them about the slow/sluggish Acuralink with smartphone app. They did some digging and found out there is a firmware update for the 18 RLX Acuralink module. They did the update and I was able to update the status of the RLX from home while the RLX was at the dealership (status hasn't been updated since 3/20/19). Even the error codes caused by the low voltage showed up on the smartphone app after the firmware update. Zero charge for clearing the low voltage codes and Acuralink firmware update. I still have to swipe down to do the status update and it takes about 30-45 seconds to complete (same for the MDX).

 

Bottom line, drive the car for about 10-15 miles every few days. Good excuse to get out of the house and not chance getting exposed to anyone with COVID19.