2 month old MDX with heating problem?!

[trisphorin]

Hey guys, I am new to this forum but I just had a problem with my 2 month old 2013 Acura MDX base. For the past 2 days, my car has been blowing cold air when I turn on the heat at 70 degrees. When I turn on both the front and rear heat, the rear produces warm air but the front produces cold air. I made an appt to see the dealer tomorrow but I would like to know what could possibly be wrong with this 2 month old mdx before I go in. Also, is it expected to have 2 month old new car with a problem like this? It was my first time purchasing a new car and I worried because I live in NYC and I purchased it shortly after Hurricane Sandy e.g the flooded cars in the news...

Lastly, will I be charged for the check up/potential repair or will the warranty covers it?

Thanks guys for your help!

[Fab]

Warranty WILL cover it, if they even try to make you pay i would throw a fit.

[boston]

Willing to bet that the engine coolant level is so low that air pockets have appeared in the heating system. Go get the correct Honda/Acura coolant if it is and take it to the max.
Then drive for a week and check its level again.


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[princelybug]

It'll be warrantied.

[ls973800]

Originally Posted by boston

Willing to bet that the engine coolant level is so low that air pockets have appeared in the heating system. Go get the correct Honda/Acura coolant if it is and take it to the max.
Then drive for a week and check its level again.


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That does not explain why he has heat from the rear unit. If it was low on coolant, I would think he would have no heat from either unit.

Sounds more like a blend door, HVAC head unit, or actuator problem.

[tolson37]

Warranty work for sure. You bought it new right. It's not a flood vehicle?


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[skinny2]

Originally Posted by ls973800

That does not explain why he has heat from the rear unit. If it was low on coolant, I would think he would have no heat from either unit.

Sounds more like a blend door, HVAC head unit, or actuator problem.

You may be right...someone correct me if I'm wrong but I don't believe the MDX has a stand alone heat/ac unit for the rear? Given there are no ceiling vents or air movement beyond the first row console....I think it's all just one unit. That being said...if it had two units it certainly could be a coolant issue since one may not have air pockets in the lines running to that unit.

[Bill_de]

Mine does that on occasion on very humid days. I keep mine set at 68 year round. What I felt was happening was that the temperature was brought up to 68, the humidity was still high. The system in the MDX measures and corrects for high humidity.

The first few times it happened I raised the temp to 75 and hot air started blowing. It doesn't do it often, but when it does it may happen a couple of days in a row.

Once I knew the heat would come on, I never considered it a problem.

[trisphorin]

After visiting 2 dealership today, they both told me there is nothing wrong with the car. One brought an acura master tech to look at it and said it was fine. The weird thing is that the heat does come if I raise it to 75 or 80, it's only at 70 or 72 that I felt like its much colder than 70 or 72. The rear does feel like it's warmer than the front but the dealer said it was the same. Not sure what to do next, any suggestions?

[MilesMDX]

Originally Posted by Bill_de

Mine does that on occasion on very humid days. I keep mine set at 68 year round. What I felt was happening was that the temperature was brought up to 68, the humidity was still high. The system in the MDX measures and corrects for high humidity.

The first few times it happened I raised the temp to 75 and hot air started blowing. It doesn't do it often, but when it does it may happen a couple of days in a row.

Once I knew the heat would come on, I never considered it a problem.

+1.

[AC_MDX]

Go to a friends MDX, or to the dealer, and take an AC digital thermometer that measures temperature. Take the readings at certain AC setting on one or more dealer MDX's (i.e. 70 degrees setting) and compare it to your vehicle at that setting.

It would show clearly if there is an abnormal difference between your vehicle and 1 or more other MDX's in the lot or the one of your friend..

If there are significant differences, then you can show it to the dealer so that they can diagnose the problem.. i.e. sensor, mixing flaps, etc.

AC

Originally Posted by trisphorin

After visiting 2 dealership today, they both told me there is nothing wrong with the car. One brought an acura master tech to look at it and said it was fine. The weird thing is that the heat does come if I raise it to 75 or 80, it's only at 70 or 72 that I felt like its much colder than 70 or 72. The rear does feel like it's warmer than the front but the dealer said it was the same. Not sure what to do next, any suggestions?

[Dominik-X]

Originally Posted by Bill_de

Mine does that on occasion on very humid days. I keep mine set at 68 year round. What I felt was happening was that the temperature was brought up to 68, the humidity was still high. The system in the MDX measures and corrects for high humidity.

The first few times it happened I raised the temp to 75 and hot air started blowing. It doesn't do it often, but when it does it may happen a couple of days in a row.

Once I knew the heat would come on, I never considered it a problem.

I think mine it's the same way. At first, I thought there was a problem because the temp on my other car does not have to be raised as high to be warm. But I think it's just the way the auto climate control system works in the MDX due to humidity, outside temp, etc. I have it now set at 73 or 74 and it works fine. The colder it is outside, the faster it blows warmer air.