[Barry45RPM]

I noticed that once the heated or ventilated seat function is activated (on), they will stay on in the last known position no matter if you shut the car off and restart it later... they must always be manually turned off even if the seat has been empty for a day or two. Is that a user definable situation? Is there no time when the car is shut down and restarted later that the seats will default to off?

 

[eurojap]

I noticed that once the heated or ventilated seat function is activated (on), they will stay on in the last known position no matter if you shut the car off and restart it later... they must always be manually turned off even if the seat has been empty for a day or two. Is that a user definable situation? Is there no time when the car is shut down and restarted later that the seats will default to off?

I've noticed the same behavior. If you set them to auto, they will do whatever the algorithm tells them. So, nothing, heat, or ventilation depending upon ambient temps outside. If you turn them on manually, they remain at whatever manual setting through stop/start cycles.

My wife uses the heated seat if its' below 50 degrees outside. Sets it on high (3 leds) and then, a couple of days later, I'll notice that I'm just baking the seat for no reason and turn it off. I think this behavior should be added to the quirks list. Of all things that should reset across a stop start cycle, this would seemingly be one of them!! If you want the heat or vent on each time you start up, just set it to auto and live with Acura's opinion on the levels.

 

[MrBuddha]

Yea, they should 100% reset when you turn the car off. Bizarre design decision.

 

[Bandito]

And yet the heated steering wheel shuts off with each ignition cycle. So much for consistency.

I like that the seat keeps its setting except for the passenger seat. If no one is occupying the seat, which the car can sense in order to disable the passenger airbag, it should shut off by itself.

It sounds like this should be another settable preference in the vehicle settings.

 

[spektakle]

Yea, they should 100% reset when you turn the car off. Bizarre design decision.

Whereas I would not want it to reset each time. I like that it remembers the setting each time.

I agree should just add a setting somewhere where you can just config it yourself.

 

[AcuraAddicted]

Yea, they should 100% reset when you turn the car off. Bizarre design decision.

I disagree entirely. My default preference would be "last state". However there should definitely be a setting you can change based on your preference or at least be assigned to a key.

 

[AcuraAddicted]

Question - in MDX do seat heaters stay on max next time you start it if they were manually on max when you turned it off? In my RDX it goes from 3 to 2 setting in that scenario.

 

[mvl]

And yet the heated steering wheel shuts off with each ignition cycle. So much for consistency.

I like that the seat keeps its setting except for the passenger seat. If no one is occupying the seat, which the car can sense in order to disable the passenger airbag, it should shut off by itself.

It sounds like this should be another settable preference in the vehicle settings.

The 3rd gen disabled heat/cool on the passenger seat when unoccupied in auto mode. Saw that my 22 RDX doesn't disable, agree that is a step backward if the 4th gen doesn't disable.

I consider the seat just one more thing that auto adjusts as part of auto climate control. No different than fan speed. Both eventually trend to low/off when cabin temp catches up.

I set to "auto" the day I got my Acura and have forgotten about it since.

 

[Icculus]

That's so odd; I've never seen a car where the heated/ventilated seats stay on the last setting. I leave them on Auto and find that works very well and never really touch the controls (given I'm speaking about a 3rd gen, but I imagine the new car is no different).

 

[Maik]

That's so odd; I've never seen a car where the heated/ventilated seats stay on the last setting. I leave them on Auto and find that works very well and never really touch the controls (given I'm speaking about a 3rd gen, but I imagine the new car is no different).

That's exactly what I do as well....leave it on auto and it works quite well.

 

[Onac_]

I am ok with remembering last setting as long as it is Driver related for driver seat. Passenger should always turn off if no one is in it. My wife will turn on the seat heater 99% of the time if it is below 70. If I go to drive it should turn off if key fob is different. I hate getting 5 minutes into a drive and thinking wtf is going on.

 

[Bandito]

Question - in MDX do seat heaters stay on max next time you start it if they were manually on max when you turned it off? In my RDX it goes from 3 to 2 setting in that scenario.

For me, the seat heater remembers what I set it to last. So, if I set it to high, it always starts on high the next time, even if it has dropped down to medium because I’ve had in on for a long time.

 

[Shooter41]

This is one of the very few annoyances I have with the car. My Ram truck resets everything, steering wheel and seat heaters with an ignition cycle. I VERY rarely use the seat heater so the Auto position wouldn't satisfy me as I don't want it to come on unless I specifically set it to. The heaters are also some of the biggest electrical draws in the entire vehicle so not crazy about them being on as the car is starting. That's why I've always made sure HVAC system is turned off before I turn the ignition off. Been doing that for most of my life and traditionally have pretty long battery life and have never had to replace an alternator.

 

[Barry45RPM]

This is one of the very few annoyances I have with the car. My Ram truck resets everything, steering wheel and seat heaters with an ignition cycle. I VERY rarely use the seat heater so the Auto position wouldn't satisfy me as I don't want it to come on unless I specifically set it to. The heaters are also some of the biggest electrical draws in the entire vehicle so not crazy about them being on as the car is starting. That's why I've always made sure HVAC system is turned off before I turn the ignition off. Been doing that for most of my life and traditionally have pretty long battery life and have never had to replace an alternator.

ALL electrically operated accessories are set to be unpowered while the vehicle is cranking.

 

[Shooter41]

ALL electrically operated accessories are set to be unpowered while the vehicle is cranking.

If true that's good to know about the MDX. Certainly not the case with all vehicles.

 

[Barry45RPM]

In the old days you could prove it to yourself... If you set the heater fan on hi when the engine was off, then turned the ignition switch slowly to crank you would hear the heater fan first come on, then shut down as the ignition switch entered the crank mode, then resume operation as soon as the key was released. Push button start? Not so easy to demonstrate.... but its all in the programming. Cranking takes a lot of juice, especially in the winter up north.

 

[Shooter41]

In the old days you could prove it to yourself... If you set the heater fan on hi when the engine was off, then turned the ignition switch slowly to crank you would hear the heater fan first come on, then shut down as the ignition switch entered the crank mode, then resume operation as soon as the key was released. Push button start? Not so easy to demonstrate.... but its all in the programming. Cranking takes a lot of juice, especially in the winter up north.

That's actually exactly how I know that it hasn't always been the case with all vehicles. Being able to see lights dim or other accessories falter when cranking are proof enough. Pretty sure radio/stereos have always had current cut to them during starting. I'm willing to go along with most, and possibly all new vehicles behaving this way today, but a mechanic told me when I was a new driver (admittedly a long time ago) to always turn off any accessories (especially the A/C) before you kill the engine and you'll make things easier on your battery and alternator. Still seems like a decent habit as you're asking the car to do less switching and interrupting during cranking.