JerArdra
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2005
- Posts
- 1,814
ALL,
We have a 2004 MDX that we tow so I visited my MDX dealer where the service manager, et. al. all know me. First I read the 2006 owners manual and it says that it CANNOT be towed 4-wheels down BUT it does say, in an emergency, it can be towed 4-wheels down but you must shift from drive to neutral NEVER SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO NEUTRAL. If you go to a dealer plan on spending a lot of time finding the comment about emergency towing 4-wheels down, it's hidden.
Then the service folks told me that it is the SAME drive train that I have in my 2004.
Also, I sat in a 2006 MDX and it has the same "VTM-4 LOCK" button as my my 2004 MDX. This button locks up all four wheel (4-wheel lockers) when you are going less than 18 MPH in either 1st or 2nd rear and is only to be used on dirt roads or snow where the wheels can slip so as not to torque the axles.
If I wanted a 2006 MDX I would buy one because the ONLY difference is that Honda is fed up with replacing transmissions when the owner does not follow the proper procedure before towing 4-wheels down. The bottom line is, if the MDX owner does not follow the towing procedure the cost of a transmission fix is now on the owner, not Honda.
This is probably the same for a 2006 Pilot too but I did not check out the Pilot.
If anyone is thinking of one, go to the dealer yourself, talk to the service folks, and read the owners manual.
JerryF
Here is the proper procedure...
PERFORM THE FOLLOWING FIVE STEPS BEFORE TOWING AN MDX
1. Engage the parking brake and make sure the radio, GPS NAV system, A/C-heater and anything else plugged into the power plugs are off so they will not run down the battery.
2. Start the engine.
3. Press the brake pedal and move the shift lever through all the shift positions (P, R, N, D5, D4, D3, 2, D1). Then slowly shift from D1 to D2, D3, D4, D5 (pause a second here), and finally to N. NEVER NEVER GO FROM REVERSE TO NEUTRAL.
4. Next let the engine run for at least 3 minutes. After 3 minutes turn off the engine and leave it in the accessory position so the steering wheel will turn.
5. Release the parking brake and lock the doors.
NOTES:
Before towing you must do the entire Tow Procedure (steps 1-5) even if you did not disconnect your tow car the evening before.
If you do not disconnect each evening you should turn the key from ACCESSORY (1) to ACCESSORY (0), which is OFF, or the battery MAY be run down.
If you travel more than 8 hours in one day (including stopping time) you must repeat the above procedure.
We have a 2004 MDX that we tow so I visited my MDX dealer where the service manager, et. al. all know me. First I read the 2006 owners manual and it says that it CANNOT be towed 4-wheels down BUT it does say, in an emergency, it can be towed 4-wheels down but you must shift from drive to neutral NEVER SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO NEUTRAL. If you go to a dealer plan on spending a lot of time finding the comment about emergency towing 4-wheels down, it's hidden.
Then the service folks told me that it is the SAME drive train that I have in my 2004.
Also, I sat in a 2006 MDX and it has the same "VTM-4 LOCK" button as my my 2004 MDX. This button locks up all four wheel (4-wheel lockers) when you are going less than 18 MPH in either 1st or 2nd rear and is only to be used on dirt roads or snow where the wheels can slip so as not to torque the axles.
If I wanted a 2006 MDX I would buy one because the ONLY difference is that Honda is fed up with replacing transmissions when the owner does not follow the proper procedure before towing 4-wheels down. The bottom line is, if the MDX owner does not follow the towing procedure the cost of a transmission fix is now on the owner, not Honda.
This is probably the same for a 2006 Pilot too but I did not check out the Pilot.
If anyone is thinking of one, go to the dealer yourself, talk to the service folks, and read the owners manual.
JerryF
Here is the proper procedure...
PERFORM THE FOLLOWING FIVE STEPS BEFORE TOWING AN MDX
1. Engage the parking brake and make sure the radio, GPS NAV system, A/C-heater and anything else plugged into the power plugs are off so they will not run down the battery.
2. Start the engine.
3. Press the brake pedal and move the shift lever through all the shift positions (P, R, N, D5, D4, D3, 2, D1). Then slowly shift from D1 to D2, D3, D4, D5 (pause a second here), and finally to N. NEVER NEVER GO FROM REVERSE TO NEUTRAL.
4. Next let the engine run for at least 3 minutes. After 3 minutes turn off the engine and leave it in the accessory position so the steering wheel will turn.
5. Release the parking brake and lock the doors.
NOTES:
Before towing you must do the entire Tow Procedure (steps 1-5) even if you did not disconnect your tow car the evening before.
If you do not disconnect each evening you should turn the key from ACCESSORY (1) to ACCESSORY (0), which is OFF, or the battery MAY be run down.
If you travel more than 8 hours in one day (including stopping time) you must repeat the above procedure.