2010 Acura MDX MM Reset

[artbuc]

I have read conflicting answers on other forums but know I will get the straight scope here.

I always change oil before MM tells me to and then I reset oil life to 100% according to instructions in the Owners Manual. By doing this, will the MM give me other maintenance reminders at the correct intervals? I ask because some say that you must let Acura reset with a special tool. If you reset according to the OM like I do, some say the MM is reset to zero miles and I will never get codes for such items as ATF or rear differential change. Thanks.

 

[Hokiefyd]

To my understanding, if you reset the MM early, it will only reset the oil life remaining indicator. Your other services will still show up when required.

That said, I don't ever reset my MM early, even though I change oil every 5,000 miles instead of waiting for the MM to tell me. For that matter, I change all of my fluids earlier than the manufacturer tells me to, on specific intervals. Whenever the MM alerts me to a service, I'll do the service if it's something I otherwise haven't already done. Otherwise, I'll just reset the MM when it alerts.

I applaud Honda for programming all maintenance items into the vehicle based on mileage, but criticize them for not making the system easier to use. There's really no "user interface" for it. You can't know how long you have until a specific service (like rear differential fluid). You can't see what services are coming up at, say, 30,000 miles (this is not printed in the owner's manual anymore, at least not in my CR-V's manual)...because there IS no set schedule anymore. It's all based on perceived severity of use. While I like that conceptually, I think there needs to be a better way for the owner to interface with it. For example, you can't tell your MDX that you just changed the VTM-4 fluid...not without the Honda scan tool.

Just my opinion.

 

[D189379]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
To my understanding, if you reset the MM early, it will only reset the oil life remaining indicator. Your other services will still show up when required.

That said, I don't ever reset my MM early, even though I change oil every 5,000 miles instead of waiting for the MM to tell me. For that matter, I change all of my fluids earlier than the manufacturer tells me to, on specific intervals. Whenever the MM alerts me to a service, I'll do the service if it's something I otherwise haven't already done. Otherwise, I'll just reset the MM when it alerts.

I applaud Honda for programming all maintenance items into the vehicle based on mileage, but criticize them for not making the system easier to use. There's really no "user interface" for it. You can't know how long you have until a specific service (like rear differential fluid). You can't see what services are coming up at, say, 30,000 miles (this is not printed in the owner's manual anymore, at least not in my CR-V's manual)...because there IS no set schedule anymore. It's all based on perceived severity of use. While I like that conceptually, I think there needs to be a better way for the owner to interface with it. For example, you can't tell your MDX that you just changed the VTM-4 fluid...not without the Honda scan tool.

Just my opinion.


I've never seen another service come up without an oil change. I always wait until the maintenance minder comes up to tell me which additional service it needs.

 

[cadfaeltex]

found this:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=685586

Jives with what I was told on Acurazine. Still just a little wary of it. Might have to do an ATF analysis to be sure.

 

[artbuc]

Originally Posted By: cadfaeltex
found this:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=685586

Jives with what I was told on Acurazine. Still just a little wary of it. Might have to do an ATF analysis to be sure.


Thanks. Yes, I knew all of that but it doesn't answer my question. It does say that I won't see the other maintenance items unless I wait for the oil change but it doesn't say what happens when you reset early. No biggie, I do maintenance on my own schedule anyway.

 

[oiltard]

Originally Posted By: artbuc
Originally Posted By: cadfaeltex
found this:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=685586

Jives with what I was told on Acurazine. Still just a little wary of it. Might have to do an ATF analysis to be sure.


Thanks. Yes, I knew all of that but it doesn't answer my question.


I think it does: "When resetting the oil life indicator, the system will flash the maintenance item code that would have come up when the oil life reached 15%. Make sure all maintenance is done according to that maintenance item code."

 

[cadfaeltex]

Originally Posted By: oiltard
Originally Posted By: artbuc
Originally Posted By: cadfaeltex
found this:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=685586

Jives with what I was told on Acurazine. Still just a little wary of it. Might have to do an ATF analysis to be sure.


Thanks. Yes, I knew all of that but it doesn't answer my question.


I think it does: "When resetting the oil life indicator, the system will flash the maintenance item code that would have come up when the oil life reached 15%. Make sure all maintenance is done according to that maintenance item code."


Yes, that's the part I noticed and what I was told when I asked the same question over there over the weekend. The service manual doesn't spell it out as clearly as I would have liked but seems to jive with this as well.

My concern with mine is that at 4.5 years and 36,000 miles I haven't gotten a sub code in the two years since I started doing the maintenance.

 

[artbuc]

Originally Posted By: oiltard
Originally Posted By: artbuc
Originally Posted By: cadfaeltex
found this:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=685586

Jives with what I was told on Acurazine. Still just a little wary of it. Might have to do an ATF analysis to be sure.


Thanks. Yes, I knew all of that but it doesn't answer my question.


I think it does: "When resetting the oil life indicator, the system will flash the maintenance item code that would have come up when the oil life reached 15%. Make sure all maintenance is done according to that maintenance item code."


Right you are!! Thanks .

 

[Hokiefyd]

If that is the case, I was wrong earlier; thanks to all for the correction.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd

That said, I don't ever reset my MM early, even though I change oil every 5,000 miles instead of waiting for the MM to tell me. For that matter, I change all of my fluids earlier than the manufacturer tells me to, on specific intervals. Whenever the MM alerts me to a service, I'll do the service if it's something I otherwise haven't already done. Otherwise, I'll just reset the MM when it alerts.

I applaud Honda for programming all maintenance items into the vehicle based on mileage, but criticize them for not making the system easier to use. There's really no "user interface" for it. You can't know how long you have until a specific service (like rear differential fluid). You can't see what services are coming up at, say, 30,000 miles (this is not printed in the owner's manual anymore, at least not in my CR-V's manual)...because there IS no set schedule anymore. It's all based on perceived severity of use. While I like that conceptually, I think there needs to be a better way for the owner to interface with it. For example, you can't tell your MDX that you just changed the VTM-4 fluid...not without the Honda scan tool.

Just my opinion.


You can do all of those things with the Honda scan tool. The system merely encourages people to strictly follow the prompts for service, which is fine. The high-line Acura dealers are very good about following it, but the lesser Honda dealers are not. Independent shops don't bother reading the codes and just reset the system.

Also, you can always do a forced retrieval of the codes so you can anticipate your upcoming service. Basically you go to the last "screen" where it asks you to confirm your desire to reset the system. On many models this is when the oil life % is flashing...and at that time codes will also be displayed for the next service.

 

[cadfaeltex]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
On many models this is when the oil life % is flashing...and at that time codes will also be displayed for the next service.


That's what I was expecting and didn't see so I guess there was no service due.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: cadfaeltex
Originally Posted By: The Critic
On many models this is when the oil life % is flashing...and at that time codes will also be displayed for the next service.


That's what I was expecting and didn't see so I guess there was no service due.


You went through the sequence of steps for resetting the system (all except last one), and still no codes appeared? That is odd.

 

[cadfaeltex]

Just gave me oil life and then the reset and cancel options, nothing further.

I changed at one year with 50% on the minder.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: cadfaeltex
Just gave me oil life and then the reset and cancel options, nothing further.

I changed at one year with 50% on the minder.

Interesting, I wonder if it is different on the Acura models.

This step definitely works on the Hondas I've done. The one Acura I serviced was a TSX, but it was already at 15% so the items were displayed.

 

[artbuc]

I just read an excerpt from the 2008 MDX factory service manual (3-8 for ATF replacement). It says that if the MM had called for the ATF change, then you reset the MM (I assume this means according to the Owners Manaul). It goes on to say that if the MM had NOT called for an ATF change, you must use the factory tool to go into the MM sysytem to set the ATF code. This makes sense because the MM is not pyschic. So, when you do maintenance ahead of the MM schedule and you do not have a factory reset tool, you must keep accurate records for future reference.