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The alarm does not activate if the key is in the ignition, nor will the driver's door lock with the engine off and the key in the ignition (key in the off position).
The alarm is activated when the red security light at the driver's door lock is on. You can easily test the alarm by leaving the driver's door window open, locking the car (fob, or just push the driver's door lock to the locked position - it automatically locks all of the doors), and reaching in and pulling on the hood unlatch lever to unlatch the hood. If you do test the alarm you will need to insert the key in the door lock and turn the key to turn off the alarm.
It is NOT necessary to push the fob button twice to activate the alarm. Push the fob button twice if you did not look to see that the security light is on and you want an aural confirmation the alarm is activated (or you want to make sure you locked the doors).
It sounds a lot cooler than a horn going off.
Also, has anyone had any experience switching to regular vs premium gas? Does the MPG or performance go down significantly?
As far as regular vs premium gas, I figure the mileage I drive, about 10K per year. I would save about $5 a month by going to regular. IMHO, not even worth taking a chance on with a $40000 car.
As Hopes points out, the actual dollar saving from using a lower octane fuel is small. Even at 1000 gallons per year, about 17,000 miles of mixed, mostly local driving, the savings would be at most $200 per year using today's 20 cent price difference between regular and premium.
The knock sensor and engine computer, in theory, should prevent engine damage from lower octane. However, as miles increase and cylinder deposits build it is not uncommon for an engine designed for premium to "ping" on lower octane fuel. Usually, using lower octane, rather than the octane the engine was designed to use, will result in a little less mpg and a small decrease in performance. Without documenting the changes you will probably not notice in normal every day driving.
When we drove through some more remote areas, the price on premium really soared, and we debated mixing in some regular until we could get to a lower cost station. We didn't do it tho, for the same reasons hope. stated - why take a chance on a new and expensive quality vehicle. If someone else found it to be fine, however, we would consider it at some times.
Does anyone know the rationale for the premium? Is it purely performance, or ??? We do notice the 'zingy' quality that has quicker get-up-and-go than our Honda, but otherwise don't know what improvements premium adds...
Thanks again!
I believe if you switch from premium to regular gas, the reduction in power is the first thing you would notice. If I am right, the gas mileage should reduce a little bit and the emission will go a bit higher.
thanks for your tips in advance!
I contrast this treatment with my sister who recently purchased a pre-owned Lexus. When she took it in for the regular warranty check-up there was a small loose piece of rubber gasket around the grille. They told her they would replace the entire grille but they had to order it. When it came in they called and said they would bring it to her home and replace the grille there at her convience. They also suggested she load up the cd changer and make sure it worked properly while the car was still under warranty.
I have many features on my MDX which I still have not used to see if they work (only have 178 mi. on it)but after my experience yesterday I feel confident if I do find problems the dealer WILL blame me for breaking it and will NOT be covered by warranty.
I feel perhaps what happened was there was a smaller crack in the lens which we didn't notice and with driving got larger. We should have looked the car over better before we took it but we didn't expect any problems either with the car or the service. I'm very confident the crack was there from the beginning and have been quite upset with the way they made me feel. To spend this much money for a car and feel like something the cat dragged in when you visit the service dept. is quite depressing. I wish I had my Jeep back.
I now don't even think I'll take it in for the repaint as I don't want to deal with these people and I'm afraid it may come back in worse shape.
I haven't let my husband know how upset I am but our first trip to service was HORRIBLE and those 'miles & miles of smiles' turned to a morning of tears. I'm worried that we paid $40K for a car and dealer's view is - warranty work doesn't happen - it's always the customer's fault.
What a traumatic experience - I expected better - much better!
PS. It was better than my previous Lexus service experience.
rattle sound is coming out from engine room
when accelerate. but it happens most likely
when outside temp. is higher than 75 F.
anybody has same problem?
actually they changed my transmission couple weeks ago but still rattle sound stays. brought my MDX back to dealer again but they couldn't find the noise this time. the noise comes out not always, SOMETIMES. maybe that's why they couldn't duplicate the problem. my rattle sound is not too loud but seems to come from just behind the dashboard and close to A-pillar (driverside).
doesn't sound like from transmission at all.
I used to fill 87 on my accord and it was ok.
Thanks for any help!
I know one person with an MDX that has used midgrade fuel since new on her 02. I've heard comments that hers could use more power and the mpg isn't good. These are subjective comments and may be just the nature of the car anyway. My 02, running on premium, is no performer and mpg isn't anything to brag about either.
Unless you drive a lot of miles each year, the difference in cost between the different octane fuels is very low. Based on my mpg average of about 16.5 and my about 14,000 miles of MDX driving per year, the difference in cost is just $85 per octane level of fuel per year, not taking into account the difference in mpg between the various fuels. It is probably closer to $75 in reality, not enough savings for me to sacrifice even a small amount of performance.
I'll probably stay with premium gas then, since my driving is light - around 10k. I've been told that it's good to the engine if I use premium gas, not the mpg performance. But that is hard to measure... is there any data showing the difference of engine life using different grades of gas? The MDX is new enough that all that have been made should still be running well
The main thing is that as long as the engine computer has enough adjustments available to compensate for lower octane fuel there should be little if an difference in wear.
No complaints...though I guess I wish I got the NAV.
Keep in mind also that Honda/Acura repaired or replaced problem transmissions AND extended the transmission warranty for those models to seven years or 100,000 miles.
As with any car make or model there will be the occasional one with a transmission problem, As a general rule however, I have not heard of any general transmission problems with MDXs.
My 02 has 16,000 miles with no mechanical problems.
The NAV unit has proven to be very useful, especially in local driving.
Hopeitsfriday....Hi there! Good to see you are still around helping folks out with their questions! Good to see you are still spouting words of wisdom! miks
Anyways, good luck bud and nice talking to you again.
How have you been? Are you enjoying your MDX still? I see the gasoline questions keep creeping back into the message boards. Well take care, I'll keep you posted. Great to hear from you again!
Just wondering......
Barbara
After about 5K my mileage really came around. I get 16-17 and 23-25 city/highway. I have 11K on my '02.
Has anyone had the problem with Outside rearview mirrors changing position every time the get out of the car and back in again. I have to reset my mirrors every time I get back into the car.
My 02 averages 16.5 to 17 mpg with about 14 the norm around town. I've seen as low as 12 in town and as high as 23 for steady freeway driving. Normal trip mpg is 20-21. I keep a log and my actual mpg for 16,412 miles is 16.8. According to my log the first 5000 miles or so was 16.5 mpg. Mpg increased almost half a mpg after that.
The trip computer on my 02 Touring Navi usually reads 5 to 10% more mpg than the car actually gets. It usually reads about one mpg or more higher than actual.
I am so impressed with the MDX that I am going to purchase a 2004 when they come out...I have a dark emaerald green one now but my wife wants a white one. I originally bought the MDX for myself but my wife took it over after a year...she gave me her 2000 DTS.
I truly feel that the MDX is a quality vehicle and not overpriced.
Thanks
Good Luck!
frev
Good Luck
Does the slipping happen under a certain circumstance, such as while warming up or just when starting out from a stop.
Acura/Honda has had many transmission problems during the last few years, in certain vehicles - not MDXs to my knowledge. My neighbor's Odyssey has had the transmission replaced twice - under warranty, and Honda extended the transmission warranty on his Accord.
Computers can monitor quite a bit, but they only record what the programmer has selected. Your dealer needs a "mechanic" that uses the computer to assist in determining the cause of the problem rather than a technician that does only what the computer says should be done