NewRDXdriver

What’s the difference between the selecting Sport/Sport+ using the Integrated Dynamic System and pressing the “D/S” twice and going into Sport Mode?

Marty790

DrWoo

The S on the D/S button is for Sequential mode. See pages 424 and 425 of the owner's manual for a detailed explanation, but basically, it's for manual shifting using the paddle shifters.

SebringSilver

MI-RDX

True - but ONLY when RPMs approach red line.

From the owner's manual:

anoop

So I am assume neither of these is possible, which is a good thing.
- Hold the car at redline?
- Downshift to the point where it goes beyond redline? (with a true manual, this is where engine damage is done)

What is the purpose of a tach in a car with an auto transmission? Just to detect unusual idle speed?

anoop

Just to add some context -- this is my first ever automatic transmission car. All of my 5 prior cars were manuals. Honda had the best of all the manuals I owned (Honda, Nissan, BMW).

Wander

Nope. Sebring is correct. Unless you pull a paddle shifter, shifting is still automatic in "S", but with altered shift points. It also keeps the revs up to enhance responsiveness. Of course, this isn't good for fuel efficiency.

If you do, in fact, pull a paddle shifter to engage "manual sequential mode" ( Honda/Acura Speak... don't shoot the messenger ), the transmission and engine controllers are smart enough to protect the mechanicals from egregious user error. So yes, it will shift up, cut fuel flow, and whatever else is necessary to prevent the RPMs from exceeding redline and blowing up the engine. This also applies during engine braking.

It will even shift down for you if you forget to do it when you stop. ( It won't let you stall the engine when you slow down ).

However, it will NOT protect you from embarrassing yourself when the revs shoot up to redline in 0.3 seconds when you try to get moving again and it stays in 1st gear because you forgot to shift.

Unlike a true manual, you don't need to keep an eye on the tach as you accelerate to prevent over-revving and blowing the engine. So it can be argued that the tach is mostly there for entertainment and nostalgia, but it is helpful for assessing idle and also for engine braking. It's also helpful if you're really trying to keep the engine in its power band for maximum acceleration.

And yes, I grew up rowing 5-speed manuals attached to fun little 4-bangers that put out less than half the power of our RDXs. And I seem to recall burning a few clutch plates during overly enthusiastic "testing".

zroger73

Reminds me of the time I bought a new 2008 Infiniti G35. I was showboating in manual shift mode and forget to upshift after accelerating from a stop. In that vehicle, the transmission would NOT upshift automatically at redline - instead, the engine would just bounce off the rev limiter (rather violently might I add). I never did that again.

For reference, a 2017 Ridgeline when shifted to "L" won't automatically upshift past 2nd gear. It, too, will bounce off the rev limiter instead.

MI-RDX

DOH!!!

I guess once I saw this on page 20 of the OM my brain decided to ignore anything else on the subject.

When the transmission is in S
● Holds the selected gear, and the
M (sequential mode) indicator
comes on.

Wander

I think the manual was translated from Japanese into English by way of Swahili. This may be a case where it's better to just play with the damn thing to see how it works.

AFAIK all Honda/Acura automatic transmissions with paddle shifters work essentially the same way.

MI-RDX

Yeah, there's more than just a little bit of ambiguous/conflicting information in the OM and OG.

Regarding the subject at hand, when I picked up mine one of the first things I did was play with it in 'manual' mode using the paddles and 'S' (too many shifts in too short a period of time for use in traffic) so that likely established my mindset and then subconsciously filtered out any information that was at odds with the misconception. My first Honda/Acura with paddles so lesson learned.

robnalex

Your OM has 425+ pages?!

zroger73

The Owner's Manual does. The vehicle comes only with a condensed Owner's Guide.

You can download a PDF copy of the Owner's Manual at any time for free. First owners are entitled to a free printed copy within the first six months of purchase. There's a separate manual for the navigation system.

robnalex

Hmmm... My downloaded PDF only has 145 pages. Not sure about the printed copy in the glove box...

securityguy

If you press it, you will notice that the vehicle REVS higher than in D mode...and will use more fuel.

zroger73

It sounds like you downloaded the Owner's Guide (the printed manual that comes with the vehicle), not the Owner's Manual.

Father_Time

Sorry to revisit a 3 month old thread, but after a year of owning my '19 RDX, I think I finally figured out the difference. Switching to Sport+ in the IDS changes a whole bunch of aspects with regard to driving, as previously mentioned and I am comfortable with doing that and the impact it has. But I couldn't figure out what switching from D/S would do. Yesterday while driving on the highway I decided to test it out. While already in Sport+ mode, I switched from D to S - it didn't change to manual gear unless I touched the paddles, but it did appear to downshift and give me higher RPM's and lower fuel economy. My guess is that switching from D/S is equivalent to downshifting when you need higher revs to give you some more boost when passing etc. It is equivalent to the button on the side of a Honda Odyssey gear shift which changes you from D to D3 (or D4, I can't remember).

Anyone agree/disagree?

Dereileak

From what I can tell S seems to run 1 gear lower then D most of the time. It also seems to keep the engine revs higher and uses the engine as a brake when you let off the throttle. Seems like a great mode if you were racing around corners and want more control, better power response, seems to keep the engine where you get max torque all the time

markm929

Here's what's in the Owners Manual

EFR

Wow, that description under 'function' for Snow' mode is mind blowing...and hyper-descriptive.

anoop

Rumor has it Acura paid top dollar to get the best documentation team.

Wander

LOL. Typically "snow mode" will reduce throttle response and/or start from a stop in 2nd gear to reduce the likelihood of wheel spin during acceleration. For AWD vehicles it may alter torque bias and/or engage the rear diff more proactively.

But clearly, these are trade secrets that Acura is loathe to give away.