this post was submitted on 28 Sep 2026
508 points (97.7% liked)
Technology
88329 readers
3794 users here now
This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
Our Rules
- Follow the lemmy.world rules.
- Only tech related news or articles.
- Be excellent to each other!
- Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
- Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
- Politics threads may be removed.
- No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
- Only approved bots from the list below, this includes using AI responses and summaries. To ask if your bot can be added please contact a mod.
- Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
- Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.
Approved Bots
founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
My wife has a 2019 MDX, no internet at all. Must have been an option... We wouldn't have bought it if it had it...
Now they have an option for bluetooth and an app if you install it on your phone... but that's not a car connected to the internet, and we never installed the app.
My plan is to rip out their shitty infotainment system and replace it with something better as soon as I can figure out how to not break everything in doing so..
From what I'm seeing its installed on all cars. The app was the primary way to interact with it, and it is indeed internet connected, including location services (so you can find your car on an internet map if you lost it) in 2019 models. The useful features required a subscription, but the basic features showing when you need an oil change (from vehicle telemetry) and being able to schedule service are apparently free for life. However, Acura disable the paid service July 21, 2025. I wouldn't have any faith they disable the telemetry though.
The mobile phone radio is apparently in the TCU (Telematic Control Module) which was not an option but installed in all vehicles.
Here's a youtube video of someone taking their TCU out of their 2020 RDX if you're interested.
Ran a VIN search on the car, it is NOT factory equipped with AcuraLink. So looks like all the Hybrid's, and all the Petrol models with the Technology package and up do, but the base MDX SH-AWD does NOT include the telematics system. Things like remote start and app based access are not available.
Thank god. I was beginning to thing we'd been lied to at the dealership (which would have resulted in us walking it back in and throwing the keys at someone). The LKAS (Lane Keeping Assist System) was bad enough (and got disabled week one). The stupid auto-engine-start-stop gets turned off as a part of the "start the car" routine since it can't be disabled...yet. ;-)
Once I crack the ECU, that will be gone.
I'm glad you were able to confirm the situation. Thanks for following up and satisfying my curiosity too.
Yeah, it's going to get harder to avoid, seems like for some manufacturers, 2015 marked the entry of the "LTE in every car" trend, but for some manufacturers it's later..
I swear my next car is going to have a carburetor again.