Acura MDX Audio and Entertainment Systems

upstatedoc

So I get a letter from XM saying that they're going to graciously renew my yearly subscription for $145 today.

I don't think so.......

I paid $75 last year for the renewal, I'm not going to pay any more than that.

The customer service rep said I had to talk to the "cancellation department" to get a cheaper rate.

She asked why I didn't want to pay $145........it's too expensive?????

OK sir, that's fine.

Sir, what channels do you like?

What????????

Oh,alright......I like the '80s channel.

OK Sir, we would like you to continue enjoying the '80s channel at the reduced rate of $75 a year.

Thanks, I'm still probably getting screwed....

dms9

Doc

You probably got a great (mistake) deal the first year. It looks like they gave you the rate as if you had another radio. You can add another radio for $6.95 a month, if you are paying for a radio at the regular price. I signed up for three years and paid ~ $120 a year. So, $145 for one year isn't bad. With the upcoming merger (it WILL happen, I predict), I would sign up for as long as possible. They are talking about giving customers the option of buying what channels they want. But, I have all the channels under my plan. I bet they are going to have to give us all the channels under both systems, once the merger happens. I could be wrong.

upstatedoc

dms,

Actually, the $75/year rate I received was the result of a promotional code that I learned of through edmunds. Its on a thread here somewhere... winback or something like that. My feeling is that they're lucky to get my money at all with the competition they have with my ipod and I told 'em so.

dms9

you got a great deal. I wish I had heard about it. By the way, did you ever decide to do something about the seat issue and the active head restraints that are missing on the early run MDXs (like ours)?

praz

I had XM on my ES350 with 3-month trial which expired few months ago, I did not renew and now I get offers every week and the latest one is @19.99 for 5 months with no re-activation fee. Hope this helps...

davidovich

OK feel stupid. got our new 08 MDX ENT/Tech home and can't find the aux jack for the ipod. the sticker says we have one. not in glove compartment, not in center console.
I see the RCA jacks in back, but thats not it is it?
Help

kadmommy

I have an '07 tech/ent and I can't seem to find an aux jack either. I see lots of people saying it's in the console -- I have an outlet in the console and that's it. No other plugs. Any suggestions? The itrip just doesn't cut it -- too much interference. Best option?

jmpage2

I thought that the Tech version had a mini stereo plug right on the stereo itself when I looked at it.

On my '08 base model the 3.5mm stereo plug is on the front side of the interior armrest area behind a rubber cover.

upstatedoc

Now you have me curious.....

I'll have to look at the interior of my '07 sport/ent to see if I missed any jacks. I thought you had to order the ipod jack as an accessory?

norm885

There is no audio jack inside the center console on the ENT package. You have to use the RCA jacks on the rear of the console. Push AUX and turn up the volume.

upstatedoc

I suppose I should read the owner's manual sometime...... :blush:

sam131

We just bought a base 08 MDX 3 mo ago with a dealer-installed Acura tow hitch.

The radio has never been able to retain any presets on FM or AM bands for more than a week. The presets just randomly default to the factory settings - 87.7 on FM and 530 for AM - several days after being programed. When they disappear, they ALL disappear, except for the XM presets. Curiously, the XM presets have never disappeared. We've taken the car back to the dealer 4 times for this problem (as well as for broken A/C and brake problems, which were repaired under warranty)

At the first service visit, the dealer said the key fobs were not programmed correctly. They reprogrammed the key fobs. The problem still occurred.

At the second visit, they made us feel like we were doing something wrong and told us that when they programmed the stations, the radio worked just fine. "Are you sure you know how to program the radio stations?" (Could you be any more patronizing?)

On the third visit, they changed out the radio tuner (at least that's what they told us) after consulting with a regional Acura rep. But the problem STILL occurred.

At the fourth visit, the regional rep finally told us that Acura is aware that this problem exists, but they don't have a fix for it yet. (So much for being up front about things) The dealer was instructed to "release" the car back to us and we were told to contact Acura Corporate Customer Service, which we did.

The customer service rep admitted that this is not an isolated issue, but they cannot tell us when a remedy will be available. We asked them to replace the vehicle, since it has been back to the dealer 4 times within the past 3 months for a total of about 15 days, but they flat out refused.

It has been an extremely disappointing and frustrating experience! This has been the worst new car experience we've ever had. We've owned other Honda products, as well as BMWs and Fords.

Has anyone else experienced this problem?

Has anyone else with this problem been able to get their MDX fixed?

I'm also looking for suggestions on how to deal with Acura. We already cited our state's Lemon Law, but they said they are not bound by the law since this problem doesn't affect the safety or drivability of the vehicle.

Thanks in advance for any advice, suggestions, or tips!!

mdx2008

I am looking to plug in an ipod as well. Have a 2008 Tech/Ent. Any ideas? Do I need an extra cord? And where to plug in?

sam131

Lo and behold, about a week later after the above post, out of the blue, we get a call from our local Acura dealer service rep telling us that they have another replacement radio (this is the second one). They told us that this radio definitely did not have the known defect. So we took the car back in, for the fifth time, and I'm happy to report that the radio has FINALLY been fixed. We've had the car for well over a month now and it works as it should. Acura also agreed to some monetary compensation for our troubles.
In the end, we are satisfied with the outcome, but it has been a very unpleasant experience and is well below our expectations for a luxury brand.

mayor5

Hi - I just purchased an '06 MDX Touring and glad to read that it isn't just me thinking the sound system is sub-par. Especially after having it at the dealer for service and to check the audio system... of course, no problems.

So, seriously considering an after-market upgrade. Looking for recommendations.

Thx!

upstatedoc

I have an '04 with basically the same sound system and I think it is the subwoofer that's the culprit. Shakes and rattles even with the "bass" knob in the neutral position. By upgrade, do you mean replacing components and speakers? That is going to be costly.

peetert

We recently purchased an '05 CPO MDX Touring w/o NAV and RES. We would like to add an overhead ( or headrest mounted) dvd for our longer trips. I tried one of those portable players sitting on the opened front seat armrest, but my daughter in the 3rd row had a hard time seeing it without leaning over the 2nd row seats. We use all 3 rows so viewing from the 3rd row is a must.

If anyone has installed either type, please let me know what issues you have had, if any, and which make/model you used. I have the factory radio with XM and HFL and would like whatever system we got to route through that as well, if possible.

Thanks,
Peeter

upstatedoc

We have the factory nav in our '07 and it is a godsend.

They have a bunch of aftermarket overhead dvd players at circuit city, don't know much about them

Headrest dvd will not be visible from the third row.

Edit: a headrest dvd would not be optimally seen in the third row, i.e. "Billy, move your head so I can see the TV!" :P

ang8346

I have a 2005 MDX with an aftermarket dealer installed DVD. It has an 11 inch screen that drops down from the roof just after the front seats which is viewable from the 3rd row seats. However, when the screen down it blocks the drivers rear mirror view. The DVD play unit is installed in front of the center console and has a remote control. There is a switch that allows it to play through the radio that gives it pretty good sound or there are wireless headphones so that a couple of people can watch DVD and others can listen to the radio. The wireless headphones are a bit testy depending on how you move youur head or where the sending antenna is located so we don't use them much. My grandkids enjoy the movies and it keeps them relatively quiet.

Karen_S

A reporter is looking to interview owners of a 2007 or 2008 minivan, SUV or crossover that is loaded with two or more high-tech features such as a navigation system, DVD player, heated mirrors, parking sensors, rear view cameras, iPod connectivity, radio data system, Bluetooth, satellite radio, tire pressure monitoring, universal garage door opener, Sync, etc. Please respond to jfallon@edmunds.com before Friday, October 10, 2008 with your daytime contact information and a few words about your vehicle.

dst3

I'm considering buying a 2008 MDX basic but I am wondering how much better the Tech Package stereo is. I've read that the better stereo has two more speakers and twice the power but it is the quality of the sound much better? I don't need loud but I do appreciate quality. The dealer said the stereo's are the same but I don't trust car salesmen.

dt

dant5965

you have to purchase a cable from the Apple store that goes from a RCA connector to an Ipod head phone connector. Belkin also makes one.

dant5965

the RCA jacks in the back is it

jbratter

I just bought an '04 MDX Touring with Nav. Fantastic ride!! stereo sounds ok with cd. haven't tried cassette. The 2 biggest things I almost held out for a 2005 was the satellite radio and bluetooth. I can get one of those bluetooth speakerphone units to put on the sunvisor, but I'm struggling with Sirus. There is no "AUX" input that i can see. The buttons say am/fm/cd/cassette, so I don't think there's an option to hook up something directly. I really don't want to hook something up through the fm modulator, as I've heard the sounds quality is pretty lousy, and a direct connection is better.

Could I somehow use the cassette input to route to a sirius unit? If not, if I used an aftermarket headunit, would it be able to take advantage of all the speakers in the car, or just 4 like most units?

Not sure how to proceed to get Sirius. We've had it in our cars for years, and we definitely want it in the mdx, and preferably some kind of direct connection. I currently have a kenwood head unit in our (soon to be sold) minivan, so I can use that, but I would like to keep the clean look of the factory 6-cd player.

I'm so confused.... help!!!

upstatedoc

Have an '04 as well nav-less though. Bought a Garmin Nuvi 660 and suction cupped it to the trip computer screen. :P Can't help you with the sirius predicament. You know, rv65 seems to know a lot about these things. He posts on the TL and VW threads a lot.

nuance2010

Hi, Im looking for an aftermarket navi system for my 05 mdx. Would anyone please tel me what out there or any option i have... any help appreciated.
thanks.
Sean

x5killer

this thread seems for Acuras from all diff years. I'm looking for just one good thread for 09 MDX (though I guess 08 is the same and mayb even 07?) like I had for the Subaru B9 Tribeca.

ppl shared tips and tricks like how to disable the seatbelt chime (which I want to do in the MDX but every thread you see about it on other forums, is always ppl yelling and arguing about how you should wear your seatbelt even though that isn't the question or the issue and ppl just want to know how to disable the chime and doesnt' meant they aren't going to wear it)

also in the Tribeca I was able to click the parking brake one click without engaging it so that you could view the dvd playing on the rse on the front nav screen when you hit nav. or you could disable that wire for the parking brake so you wouldn't have to click it.

couldn't figure out any way to get the dvd playing on rear screen on the front screen and manual doesn't mention anything so it may not be possible without aftermarket wiring.

i know you can have a diff sound source on the front then the back and i htink we did it on the way up on a recent trip but the way back, couldn't figure out how to do that and our 1 1/2 yr old can't use headphones so we had to listen to a dvd we couldn't see. in my 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca i'd click the parking brake one click which wouldnt engage it and then at least we could glance at and see what she was watching instead of just listening to it.

even if we did figure out how to have music up front and her have the dvd audio in the back, that is kind of distracting to have 2 diff audios playing.

I may want to get an additional aftermarket screen for up front too if that would be easier to tie in to the rear entertainment system plus that would leave the center nav screen for other stuff but the fact that on a less expensive car i didn't have to do that and it worked on the center nav screen was a plus.

not even sure where i can put a screen up front besides maybe the passenger visor. i know the acura dealerships do the screens in headrest and may do one in front of the car seat so she doenst have to look up at the center drop down screen but more importantly we need a screen up front for us.

i mean i didn't even need to get an ent. package then if i'm just going to get the screens in headrest but i figured having the factory dvd entertainment unit and screen helps and that way the wiring is in place and would make it easier to add screens. plus i did like the plug in the center console figuring it would come in handy so for devices that need a normal power source and whihle I did use a device that needed that power source to play video files froma hard drive which i figured would be more convenient thatn fumbling with dvds but i dont know that i'll always use that and ipod/mp3 player connection is more of an every day thing so its kind of annoying that the Ent. of all packages doesn't ahve the ipod connection in the center console.

instead you have to use a red and white rca audio cable to single 3.5mm male on the other end of the cable into iphone/ipod/mp3 player and then hit aux up front. works well enough but i wasn't able to have the aux video device with rca jacks plugged in and ipod at same time. also its a little less neat to have the plug in behind the center console with a 2 to 1 cable rather then being able to use a normal ipod 1 to 1 cable from the more ideal center console. youd think the Ent. would have better ipod connectivity not less convenient.

so yeah where can I find an 09 Acura MDx tips and tricks thread starting with disabling the seat belt chime and mainly nav and rse tips and tricks and aftermarket ideas.

The Subaru B9x Tribeca thread was full of great tips and tricks and aftermarket ideas as well.

I see nothing like that for the MDX. its almost like because there are more owners of this vehicle there is less info or filled with ppl asking basic stuff that its in the manual but nothing useful being shared on any mdx thread.

austinsfs

I recently started my search for a pre-owned 2007 MDX, and one of the cars I looked at (at Carmax) had everything imaginable on it -- entertainment, tow package, running boards, full roof rack, etc. Except for the mileage (60K) and convincing my husband, I would have snapped it up. Kind of wish I had, actually -- though hubby wants us to find one with lower miles (which would be nice provide has all aforementioned bells and whistles).

When I asked the dealer about an iPod jack (which seems to me to be an obvious thing to include in any car at this level), he showed me a jack/charger in the glove box. He indicated that it was "integrated with the navigation system" so that the nav knob would become the iPod switch, and that I could simply leave my iPod charging in the glove box, and manage my music using the nav knob.

As I only had my (non-compatible) iPhone with me, I wasn't able to test this myself.

Does anyone know if this might have been true? The very idea of an integrated iPhone screen via nav, and a jack that also charges the iPod while it plays....for amazing sound quality from my iPod...well, it nearly sounds too good to be true. If this a MFG product/upgrade, an after-market upgrade, or something that doesn't exist?

Please advise. Looks like leased Acura MDXs from 2007 should be hitting the market in October (when the first ones were leased)...I, for one, can't wait.

tidester

ppl shared tips and tricks like how to disable the seatbelt chime

I think the problem is that the seatbelt chime has an interlock meaning that if you disable it you're losing something else - like lights or various electronics or whatever.

tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper

suspendmix

Nope, there isn't an integrated IPOD connection, just an auxiliary connection that will play a signal from your headphone jack of your IPOD (or any MP3 player for that matter). It will not show music, title, track, etc. information. That might be coming up for the 2010 MDX.