Sometimes as a vehicle owner, it’s hard to stay on top of things when it comes to error messages. One of these is the “check SH-AWD system” message on the Acura MDX.
What exactly does it mean and how do you fix it? That’s what we will be addressing in this post. SH-AWD is a feature that lets you switch to all-wheel drive at the touch of a button.
In the MDX, it works in conjunction with your transmission to transfer torque between the front and rear wheels as you need it.
What Does it Mean When Your Acura MDX Says Check SH AWD?
If your Acura MDX is displaying Check SH-AWD, it means that the system has detected a problem with the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and will not allow you to use all four wheels to power the vehicle. T
his malfunction can prevent your vehicle from starting or shifting correctly. If you receive a warning light on your Acura MDX, there could be several reasons why.
The most common causes include
- The low fluid level in the front differential.
- The incorrect fluid type was used for the AWD system.
- The incorrect fluid level in the front differential.
- Damaged or faulty sensors for both front and rear axles as well as transmission control module (TCM).
- Damaged or faulty pump for the automatic gearbox and torque converter clutch solenoid valve for a manual gearbox.
Related: B1 Service Importance
Can You Drive with SH-AWD Light On?
As a professional Auto technician, I would recommend that you have the system checked by an Acura Dealer or if you are driving in bad weather or if you feel there is any abnormal vibration coming from the drive wheels.
If you are driving in good weather, you might take the risk but you will probably end up paying a lot more for subsequent damage caused by the first problem not being attended to.
Even if you are able to drive your vehicle, it is important that you have your car looked at as soon as possible to avoid any potential damage that will cost you more to fix.
How Acura SH-AWD Works
How to Fix “Check SH AWD System” on an Acura?
If your Acura MDX Check SH-AWD System light is on, you can take it to the dealership for repair. It may be a quick fix or it may require some more extensive work.
In the meantime, you can also do it yourself if you have an understanding of what’s going on with your car and how to fix it.
To start with, you’ll need to check all of the sensors in your vehicle and make sure they’re working properly. If any of them are malfunctioning, then that could be causing your SH-AWD System light to come on and turn off intermittently or constantly.
The best thing to do here is to go ahead and take out the parts and have them tested by a professional if you are not equipped to do it yourself.
Once you have established which ones are faulty, you can proceed to replace them. Another common cause for this problem comes from bad wiring inside one of these sensors;
if that’s what’s causing problems with yours (and they’re not permanently damaged), I’d recommend replacing only that part instead because doing so will eliminate any other potential issues without having spent unnecessary money on repairs unnecessarily.
Related article: Meaning of “Check DRL System” on Acura MDX
How Much Does it Cost to Fix Check SH AWD System on Acura?
To determine the cost of the Check SH-AWD System on Acura MDX, we need to consider the following:
- Cost of service
- Cost of parts
- Labor costs
- Diagnostic fees
Obviously, the actual cost will vary depending on your location. Large cities will mean you get charged more for labor as well as parts if your mechanic or dealership is handling it.
If they allow you to buy your own parts, it can work out cheaper for you.
The opposite might be true in rural areas where parts might cost more to buy because of the distance they need to be shipped but labor might actually be much lower than in the major cities.
How to Turn Off SH AWD
To turn off the SH-AWD system, you must press the button near the gear shift. The button is in plain view and easy to press with a finger, so no need to worry about breaking something by accident.
My Overall Thoughts
It’s important to note that you should never drive your Acura MDX with the Check SH-AWD light on. If it does come on, then we recommend having your vehicle checked by a trained technician immediately.
They will be able to look at all of the systems and find out what is going wrong so that you can get back on the road quickly!
I have the same problem with my 2009 Acura MDX my super healing all-wheel-drive light comes on every time I start the car I have to cut it off then on three or four times for all four wheels to work. How do I fix this problem