So, I now have a '22 MDX Advance. I took a USB flash drive with me to the dealership when I picked the vehicle up. I listened to Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road in 5.1 surround (.FLAC files) on the way home and it sounds so damn good.. just amazing,

I get home and connect my phone. I get Android Auto working wirelessly, Pandora sounds pretty good.. so yay..

So yesterday (2-32-21) I decided I wanted to listen to some 5.1 Porcupine Tree, I select USB Audio from the HOME page and initializing and then wait.. wait.. a message pops up stating "USB Audio unavailable, Use Android Auto for audio".

I stopped by the dealership this morning and informed them and then called Acura Client Relations to let them know about this bug. They opened a case and are going to look into this. The tech I spoke with was surprised to hear about it.. I am guessing no one in the engineering group thought to try that combination.. Phone connected wirelessly to Android Auto then selecting USB. They are guessing that the system thinks that Android auto is using the USB as it did in previous models..

I will let you all know if anything comes from it.

 

So how is the new MDX as far as ride and drive (other than usb issue)? Love it, like it or regret it? Also, mind saying what you paid? PM me if you want. Thanks!

 

So far, I love the way it handles compared to to the 19 Tech I had. The new transmission is nice, wire less charging and Android Auto is nice too.

Being an early adopter, I didn't get much of a deal, only the $1000 off for loyalty, so pretty much MSRP after destination charges and such.

 

Thanks! Ours is supposed to arrive on 3/12 and not expecting much if any off of MSRP except loyalty, but still going to try! I put my request in for Advance with liquid carbon back in December, so my dealer knows I want it. Did you get any accessories and did they cut you a deal on those?

 

I only grabbed the all season mats (at cost) for now but am going to buy and install splash guards and possibly running boards

 

Yeah, the market right now demands pretty much MSRP. I'm going to wait however long it takes for prices to get below or near invoice. I also buy and keep cars for 15-18 years, so I'll be coming from a 2008 RDX that I bought new.

 

I thought about this "bug" a bit last night and decided to test something. I left my phone far away from the vehicle so that the vehicle couldn't connect to the phone. I started up the MDX and lo and behold, it played the thumb drive flawlessly. It seems this MDX automatically connects to Android Auto once it's configured and initializes and then it disables the USB port at that time.. This is merely my assumptions while I am troubleshooting. I hope that ACR does call me back to discuss this or I'll call them with the case #.

 

Stew, is there an easy way to rip a dvd audio disc to a flac file? Thanks

 

CLICK HERE FOR AN IN DEPTH HOW-TO

The only difference is that I use a program called DVD Audio Extractor to do it. I also talk about this on the Audio section in this forum

 

Thank you!

 

It's unfortunate that there are growing pains in a new, sought after feature such as wireless CP/AA. Definitely doesn't sound like they did enough debugging. They should have given the '19 RDX and '21 TLX wireless CP/AA to begin with to make all the cars the same basis (less programming error).

 

I'm beta testing another new model.. I really thought that they'd have the kinks worked out with this one since they delayed the release so long

 

Put the down payment on ours today. Liquid carbon and espresso interior advance trim. They are telling us sometime in April so we will see. I got $1000 off msrp, $1000 loyalty, and $750 military.

 

Does anyone know how I can contact someone within Acura's Engineering department?

I received a call back from Acura and the guy told me that The Engineering Dept told him to tell me that when Andriod Auto is active wirelessly, it takes control of the head unit so that no other sources are available.. I asked him why I could select AM/FM or SiruisXM.. he stumbled and just repeated what the engineering group told him. It makes no sense, to me anyway, that AA would deactivate the USB port.

Am I wrong in my thinking, maybe?

 

In a strange way, it makes sense to me. If you had wireless AA playing music and then decide to plug in a USB stick full of tunes into the "smart" port, how does the system know which interface has priority?

Looks to me like you get the functionality of wireless AA/CP but have the same limitation as us '19+ RDX, '21 TLX owners as far as choosing one or the other.

 

Then my question is: How does the system know I want to listen to FM when AA is active? AA is connected wirelessly, by the way

 

I am seeing if I can set my AA to not connect automatically, that may solve this

 

It knows you want to listen to FM because you went out of your way to go in the menu system and selected it. That works no different than for us "wired" folks with AA/CP.

 

If there is such a setting, I would imagine that would help immensely.

 

I found I can go to the HOME screen, go into Android Auto and disconnect my phone and the USB port works.

If this is how they want it to work then I don't know why they couldn't make it so that if you select USB Audio then you get a POP UP telling you that you need to disconnect AA while using the port.. Something like that

 

My guess is the wireless Android Auto/Carplay is an either or. You can use either the wireless function OR the wired function but not both at the same time. The USB slot is the only way to use the “wired” version of Android Auto/Carplay. You can select AM, FM, Sirius XM etc because they are not the “either or choice of wireless vs USB for Android Auto/Carplay”. Just my 2 cents.

 

I turned off AA .. that's my work around

 

You may want to compare notes with folks who have wireless AA/CP from other makes.

I have yet to own a car that has it and look forward to the day I do.

 

I wonder how many other makes uses both for Audio and how many people care about that? I listened to Rush's A Farewell To Kings in sweet surround sound on the way to the gym.. ELS 3D sounds very good!

 

You are NOT wrong in your thinking!! I read the Newsletter that is posted by Acura here on this Blog site. It mentions this issue. I got my new MDX Advance in August, Fathom Blue Pearl with Graystone Interior; I REALLY LIKE IT !! (I refrain from using the word Love for things, and reserve it for people and Family). I was disappointed to learn this fact after picking up my car. It is a PIA to have to goto my phone and disengage AA in order to access the USB Flash Drive to Play my Music. I have not tried this while using AA wired? My 2019 MDX had only wired AA, and no such issue, but even better, it had a CD Player with an Internal HDD !! You could play and record your CDs to the HDD, and then have a Party with your Music!! Easy Peasy !!. It was a great feature which was also in my 2016 Infiniti QX60. But I guess in the car makers of this world, Streaming is the Big Deal now. Now, I need to painstakingly record my CDs to a Flash Drive into FLAC or MP3 files, switch OFF AA to play my music on the Flash Drive / USB. So far, I only tested this by "burning" the Beatles' Revolver CD (remastered and sounds terrific) to a Memory stick. That compresses the digital sound files, the results are Not as Good as the CD with CD Audio quality. Acura should have kept the internal HDD , I'd pay them the extra $150 for the cost. Otherwise though, the Car is one of best cars I have ever had. I'm 70 YO and have had many....

 

Hello;

Not sure if this thread is still active, however I just purchased an Acura 2022 MDX Advance. I too had an issue playing a USB flash drive with music. It appears you have to deactivate wireless carplay first before the USB drive becomes active. This can easily be done in your iphone settings. Then you can play music off of the USB drive. When wanting carplay just reactivate it in your iphone settings. I suspect this has something to do with carplay being wireless because I did not have this issue on my previous vehicle where carplay was wired.

Now if Apple can fix my wireless charging issue on iphone 13 pro max we will be all set!!!!!

 

I wholeheartedly agree, would have easily paid a few hundred for their old HDD. Or extra to have USB play when carplay or AA is active.

 

Stylers, This is still an active thread. I have the same issue with AA. So, I need to deactivate AA (wireless), in order to play Flash Drives via the USB console port. I don't think that is necessary if you connect your phone wired, although I haven't tried that yet. I would have paid the extra few Bucks to have that CD Player with an internal HDD. That was so easy and allowed easy access of my music. once you copies the CD, you could create a Playlist / Library.. This forces you to stream your music and/or copy -(Burn) Flash Drives. I am not looking forward to copying my CDs now. BTW, I use a a Google PIxel 4XL Phone, now for 2 years and not one of those people running out to Upgrade my phone for the sake of upgrading it.

 

Still no fix for this. I called Acura several times.. they told me to bring the issue to the service department.. the manager there kind of laughed saying that this isn't a service issue, it's an Acura issue. He agreed that the issue doesn't make sense that the system doesn't recognize that the I'm connected via wireless and release the USB port... sigh

Other than this issue, nearly 1 year in, I really enjoy driving this MDX

 

Stew, you need to disconnect your phone from the system and then you can use the USB port to play flash drives. I posted elsewhere on how you can do it because, it is Not simply done by clicking on the Home screen Apple Car Play or Android Auto Icon. Goto Settings, select, BT , click on phone, then click on disconnect, and then back to Home screen and you will be out of Car Play and can use the USB port. So stupid. Then you can just click the AA or Car Play Icon which will ask you to reconnect your phone.

 

I literally got my `22 RDX tonight, and this is the first thing I did after connecting my phone with Android Auto. I plugged in a USB so I could hear that bad-ass sound system.

So let me get this right...If I want to play music via USB, I cant use Google Navigation or get phonecalls via Bluetooth???

This seems completely @*&#*@&#& unacceptable for a $60,000 car!!!!

 

We understand your Frustration. I have an MDX but it's the same issue (2022). You can't use the USB (Flash Drives) when you are connected via Car Play or Android Auto - I have AA (Google Phone). To Disconnect your Phone: GOTO Home screen, select Settings; You will see a menu - Select the item Blue Tooth, etc ; select Phone on tghe screen (assuming you have already connect to Cp or AA; Select Disconnect ; Select enter. Then you are disconnected from AA or CP. Now yopur USB will work. You are still able to use BT for phone calls (I don't think you can send or see texts bc that works thru AA or CP. If you elect to Reconnect to CP or AA, Select the Icon for same on the Home Screen. We are all hoping ACURA Fixes this very SOON.
I don't know about RDX modesl prior to the new Remodel (prior to 2019), but my 2019 MDX (which I traded for the 2022), had no such problem. AND it had an internal Hard Disc Drive and CD Player (that's another Remissed Issue IMO), where you could play a CD and it would be Copied to the HDD. Then it was easily accessible to play your recorded music , make playlists, and you were still Connected to AA (in my instance), and use the associated programs [ Googel Maps, WAZE, Spotify, Pandora, in fact Just Say .....Hey Google and I could send texts, dial Phone etc.
Good Luck with your New RDX.... I was this Close to leasing a new 2022 RDX Advance, buit despite not really needing a 3 Row SUV, I liked the extra room in the MDX. Both are terrific Cars and You have nice pep with that Turbo Powerplant.

 

Can you turn off AA while driving? For example, if you are listening to USB music, but turn on AA to check "WAZE" for traffic, then how do you turn off AA to go back to listening to USB music?

 

Hi, as far as I can determine, there are a few steps you need to follow... (unless another memeber figured out something else as a quick trick): Goto the Home screen, select, AA [I use AA}, you will be in AA mode, provided you connected it previously. To exit AA, Goto Home Screen, swing over to settings, select BT, etc., then select AA to disconnect your Phone from AA to use your USB Flash drive. If you want to go back to AA, select AA on the Home screen and it will ask you to connect your phone again, and you will be back.

FYI, there has been a new Navi Map update issued which I downloaded from Acura's Navi update site (the Map maker's site), and then Uploaded that via a Flashdrive into the MDX's system. In order to do that, you can't be in AA - tghe USB won't function!!.

One day, perhaps, Acura will fix this ??? And fix the horrible, slow mouse function of the TTIP in AA mode!!

 

Thanks. It might be too much for my wife to focus on while driving. It is easy for her to turn on AA and select WAZE, but turning AA off is the issue. If she goes to Settings and turns off Bluetooth, does she not lose her phone connection? It is weird that she cannot just select AA and turn it off without turning off her phone connection??

 

On the left steering wheel scroll does she not see the various “inputs” as she scrolls through? I.e. FM, AM, Sirius XM, AA, USB. Are those listed there as you scroll through?

 

Thanks. When scrolling with the wheel, you get to the same AA screen as when using the touchpad. I do not believe you can turn off AA, as the screen does not give us the choice. Using the AA screen to turn off
AA is exactly what we are hoping for. Again, thanks.

 

Asof April 2023, Does anyone know if Acura addressed this stupid feature and issued software to correct it? BTW, operating the TTIP is Horrible in AA mode. It's worse than a S L O W mousepad. I hate it!! So the dilemna continuies - forcing you to Stream Music !! That's the Play Here !! Ford just issued a newsletter announcing they are eliminating AM radio in their 2024 models!! Tesla did that already. I'm not sure if there is EMWs interference with Tesla's EVs, but I suspect it is a furtherance of the Ploy to Force You To Pay for and Stream Music. So, yeah you have a USB to play Your Music on Flashdrives, but you must Disenagage AA or Car Play to do it!! It's a ploy by he Car makers. Don't quote me on this, but i did hear that certain German carmakers are forcing a monthly fee for Remote Start function and other Creature Comforts of their High Tech cars! WTF !!

 

I had remote start as part of my X3 build. However, those who didn't pay for remote start up front can always activate remote start as part of a subscription service on the app. This is really no different than what Acura's doing as I recall the same function on the app being available for my '21 TLX A-Spec (only the Advance gets remote start as a physical button on the keyfob).

Everyone's doing this, not just the Germans.

 

Everyone's doing this, not just the Germans.

I know, that's my point. Like Cable TV, Cell phones, etc.... Give you a feature in the product like RS , BUT then charge you uopfront or on a regular monthly basis. My MDX does have it included on my FOB. First Acura eliminated the Hard Dive installed in the car (My 4 Infintis before the 2019 MDX had that feature too) whixh was GREAT. Then they all have eliminated CVD players - all to force you to Stream and pay for your Music /Radio stattions.