Would a 2 inch snow cover on the car prevent signaling/connecting using AcuraLink?

 

I would not think so, as it is just water.

More likely is that AcuraLink servers were down or the cell-towers around the car at the time were over-loaded.

 

Less than that might do it. A month ago in clear weather I successfully remote started my car in a DTW parking lot. Two weeks later, it failed when my car had an inch covering of snow. Exact same location.

 

Not a scientific test, but when the snow melted, I could use AcuraLink to communicate with the car.

 

You should probably at least try to report it to Acura.

A different radio, but I remember the HomeLink barely worked on the (then all new) 2014-MDX. There was eventually a Service-Bulletin for it (about 3-4 years into it's 7-year run).

 

I haven't had any noteworthy issues with AcuraLink, in ice or snow. Correlation doesn't mean causation. Anyone know if AcuraLink is cellular or satellite based, or hybrid, both?

Actually I recall ham radio operators are able to communicate longer distances in the cold due to ducting effect with boundary layer of warm and cold air at the surface. Perhaps lower amperage on cold start results in the system throttling the amps going to other sub-systems?

 

Hard to say, but 2" of snow does attenuate the RF signal (LTE or BlueTooth?) of AcuraLink somewhat.

Problem sorta solved.

 

1. Cellular LTE . Like a mobile phone, because well, it is. It even has a secret phone-number. To Acura's server-farm somewhere (likely, here in the USA). Acura uses part of your AcuraLink subscription-fees to pay that phone bill. It used to be AT&T.

As for the TLX "communicating information up to a satellite" or any 2-way communications to outer-space. No, there is no (expensive) Satellite-Phone in a TLX. You might be thinking of GPS, but that is down-stream info only. And for a GPS-lock or "triangulation of location" the machine here on earth usually needs to be able to see a minimum of 5 satellites to have a location lock of any real use.

2. Good to hear.

3. Agreed. That is why I answered the way I did first.

So, I think it's either my Post #1, or it's operating poorly for it's intended function ... a car being driven on Earth in North America (which just so happens to have weather, including small amounts of snow, ice, rain, etc.).

Finally, with the high prices that Acura is charging, I doubt many people are actually subscribing. So, if OP does, I would definitely let Acura know how good it works. Audi's rates are even more, but at least they give you ALL the basic functionality (including SOS) for 10-years Free. Meaning, with free "Audi-Connect Basic-Care" and nice/working Apple CarPlay ... I have everything I need to use their iPhone App (check, lock car, etc.) and Navigate.