Great video and he is spot on. I’ve had battery drain issues over the past year and the Acura dealer had no idea. My local non-dealer shop figured it out quickly and knew that this was common with Acura’s.
You’d think this should be the other way around and the dealership should know this is common but I’d bet then they would have to have a recall if they knew it’s widespread.
@@rasheedthorpe9785 it looks like there's a couple different videos on the Bluetooth module on UA-cam for your car. from what I saw it looks like it's in the dash just below the steering wheel to the left side. Good luck!
Great! I,ve had this problem for 7yrs with my 2009 Acura tsx . no one could figure out whats the problem. Out this goes out my car! i noticed after i unpaired my phone it would last 3dys, i went out of the country for 10dys it started right away. came out the next morning it was dead! that prompted me to believe it had something to do with the bluetooth. i googled and found your video! thanks so much! problem solved!
@@JDMRightHandDrive how long you own it? Just asking my wife is looking to buy one from my friend says the battery drains is the only problem did it stop drying your battery after you did this?
@@ericsanchez2060 We owned the 09 MDX for just over 6 years. Yes the battery drain issue was resolved after unplugging the BT module. We got rid the the car because transmission was starting to fail at 145k miles.
thanks for posting. my Acura sat for 2 days (it's sat longer than 2 days without any issue countless times before). weak startup this morning (a huge surprise since this car always starts) and when I shut the car off turn off the dash displayed "battery drained, turn off all lights and accessories". so I had battery and alternator checked at O'REILLYs and everything was fine, 100% battery and 100% alternator. I'm going to disconnect BT module right now. I never use he BT module anyways.
So glad to help. I did all the same stuff as you thinking it was something else. I replaced several batteries and finally went to the MDX forums to figure out it was the BT module. Glad you got things sorted out, this is such a frustrating problem to deal with. Thanks for watching.
Great video. I had this problem on my 2006 MDX. On that car the Bluetooth module is inside the dome light fixture. I pryed the piece off with a chisel so the narrow end in and then wider to expand it out. Unclip 2 wire connections and remove the light assemby. Then remove four 8 mm bolts and take down the plastic trim piece. There unclip the green connector to the Bluetooth adaptor. This cut my drain from 300 milliamps to 100 milliamps or less. I checked all my fuses and saw no change so ~100 ma might be the minimum or there is something causing another small loss. Hopefully this makes the car more reliable.
Christ ..replace two batteries ony Mom 08 RDX with Tech PKG. On gonna go unplug this s...!! Thx bro. Following u now. She just gave me the vehicle back ...
Interesting symptom of a bad module. My module never drained the battery but was never able to remember any phones that connected to it after about a week. Seems that they were junk in multiple ways! Thanks for the vid.
My 2012 MDX isn’t starting today. I did some research and found out about the HFL causing the battery drain. Since we are in quarantine I haven’t been driving much at all. My car hasn’t been driven for days. I disconnected the HFL. I will get my car jump started tomorrow. Wish me luck!!!! I hope this is the issue!
Thanks I was having trouble with my Acura rl. I thought it was my starter then battery then I was thinking alternator but this helps out a lot because I lost hope in the car. So thank you ✅
I had the same issue with my 06 TL. If it sat for more than a couple of days it wouldn't start. So started checking voltage on each fuse. Turns out my issue was with the #7 fuse which controls the interior lights and the remote lock. So now I carry needle nose pliers with me and if I know the car will sit for more than a couple of days, I pull out the fuse. It can sit for a week (and has when the temps were near 20) and it will still start up like a champ. Have the voltage tested before you just start replacing parts cause we all know that isn't cheap!
I never voltage tested parts. I did put a meter on the battery to see if I could measure voltage drain when the car was off and the meter did show parasitic drain. I was able to read a few forums and discovered the BT module issues. I unplugged that module and our issue was fixed. We ended up selling the MDX because the transmission was beginning to fail at only 145k miles. Thanks for watching, glad you figured out your issues. If you have time share it with the Acura community somehow to help others!
Great tutorial and video like this helps out lot of people. By any chance does anyone know where the module is located on a 2016 ILX, I'm having the same issue.
I finally found out what the problem was, my bluetooth was on and it was draining my battery because it was constantly running in search of pairing with another device. I went in my setting on the infotainment system and turned the bluetooth off.
Great video. If you have a TL, the HFL is in the assembly that houses from cabin lights by the rear view mirror. Takes about 10 minutes top to get to the HFL and disconnect it. Surprisingly lousy engineering on the Acuras...
Yeah I totally agree from Honda/Acura to have something so simple like this affect the entire product line up and cause so much frustration to owners is almost embarrassing for the brand. Glad you liked the video and I hope it helped you out.
@@JDMRightHandDrive I mean, its a 15 year old vehicle. Nothing lasts forever and it was bound to fail at some point. Any board that's connected to the battery has the potential to do this as it ages.
Yeah for something that is so frustrating to deal with everyday on your car. The solution is way to easy. Thanks for watching and glad the video help you guys out.
I have a 2007 Acura MDX with parasitic drain. I replaced the battery, alternator, clutch relay fuses, and I “dis-connected” the HFL module as per your recommendation. I still am having dead batteries after about 48hrs. I am aware that the module replacement worked for you. I am still searching for a viable solution. Any other ideas that you could share that you may have come across during your research?
If that doesn't work, replace the AC clutch relay and the accompanying 7.5 amp fuse underneath the hood (located on the passenger side under the hood of an MDX)
Changed battery twice. Alternator twice. No luck. Started to unhook the battery at night and plug back in in the morning. Now the Canadian freeze… so never could figure it out. Tom I’m going to do this and see.
I was about to replace the Alternator on my 05 MDX but decided to try this first. Although my MDX's bluetooth module was located above the rear-view mirror. Hopefully it'll work out.
From what I have learned since making this video a few years ago. The entire Honda/Acura product line of cars with factory bluetooth suffer from this problem. Do some research for your RL as to where the BT module is and unplug it. Good luck, I hope that is an easy fix for you guys.
Do you think the Bluetooth module for DMX Acura 2016 is located at the same place I need to pull it out… Or have someone pull it out it drains my battery horribly and I can’t keep buying new batteries. Thank you
You can purchase another module if you want to use the in car blu tooth phone feature. If you unplug the module, you wont be able to use the in car phone feature, but no more dead battery. I not sure how long the module would last if you replaced it. Probably around 8-10 years would be my guess. Good luck with your fix!
Will disconnecting the Bluetooth disable your ability to connect your cell phone to the radio or is this a separate Bluetooth only for hands-free calling?
@@JDMRightHandDrive what's your solution? Do you not use Bluetooth at all? Music or for calls? Aux cord? I want to get a mdx but I think it has that draining issue
So I have a 2017 Acura ILX and have replaced the battery 3 times so far. Last battery I got was a gold battery and it only lasted 20 months. If I turn off the bluetooth in the settings, would that alleviate the issue? I shouldn't have to do that as I like using bluetooth but there is no warning when the battery dies these days. It was driving fine the day before then the morning I am taking my kid to college it wouldn't start and the display lights were going bonkers. Luckily battery was under warranty so replacement was free but it's still very annoying.
Our car would battery would die if it sat longer than 24 hours. I would find the module and unplug it. Turning off the BT settings from what I understand does not fix the issue. Good luck!
Most likely. Every single Honda and Acura vehicles in the entire product line suffer from this BT module failure. I would research where your BT module is and unplug it. Good luck and I hope this fixes your dead battery issue.
I have a acura Rlx 2014, when I use Bluetooth audio mode no sound is coming. I took the positive cable off the battery and that fixed the audio issue... but next day lost the Bluetooth mode audio again. Tried different phones same issue so I know it's related to my acura . USB & radio works fine. Any tips please?
just when through the same scenario with my 2012 mdx. just pulled the plug cause can't get the part from honda/acura anymore. They're not producing it. sucks that acura won't support an 11 y.o. car parts. can buy it used but may have the same issue. not sure how to test the module if i buy a pre owned one. next car won't be a company that doesn't support their older vehicals.
So if the battery was tested with a battery analyzer and a test came out that the battery was OK why would you replace it. ? A simple voltage drop test across the fuses would find the problem within 10 minutes. Isolate that circuit, check the wiring diagram and you're off to the races.
@@pa7333 That's interesting. Are you sure it's a parasitic drain on the battery, and not just a normal drain? Today, so much runs in the background, my battery only went 4.5 years.
@@WildWing-wl7nj I'm not sure. Nothing is left on. However I've been driving w a voltage indicator in the cigarette lighter and the voltage fluctuates from as low as 12.4 to 14.3. When lights are turned on voltage shows charging. I replaced the OAD on the alternator to see if that helped and it did for about a month the voltage was between 12.7-14.3.
@@pa7333 These days, it doesn't matter if you don't leave anything on. The hands up display runs in the background, including Bluetooth. The security system keeps on running. All these things drain the batter, in my experience, in 4 to 4.5 years. We were used to longer batter life in the past, but that's the past. Now, normal drain is 4 to 4.5 years. I replace batteries at that point, even though they may test fine. A battery can still have a bad cell and show up fine with a test. They simply don't last as long as they used to. Hope that helps.
No, it does not have anything to do with the vehicles emissions to trigger the check engine light. Do dash lights come on either from unplugging the BT module.
I have this problem in my 2015 Acura tlx. If my car sits overnight, it won't start and I have to jump it or just keep my battery disconnected in order for the car to start. My battery is brand new and the alternator and starter checked out good btw. Where is the Bluetooth module located in a Acura tlx?
Found this on a TLX forum. finally I was able to find it, it’s above the glove box. you would need to take out the entire glove box and its located on the left side. I hope this help you out, good luck it sounds like this one is pretty hard to get to compared to my older MDX. acurazine.com/forums/first-generation-tlx-2015-2020-415/2015-tlx-where-hands-free-module-located-985823/
I have an 09 TL as well, just hit 116,000 miles on it this week. It’s my baby, but having this same battery drain issue myself. Replaced the battery which helped for 2-3 weeks but definitely didn’t resolve it completely.
@@freshlando I would first check were the key fob goes in the dash.the slot will sometimes stay engaged after inserting the fob.it can be disengage with your finger and some fiddling.you will know this is the issue if you have lights on the dash after vehicle is turned off or you here the Chim noise as if the keys are still in vehicle.ive gotten by with never using the inverted key fobband only using keyless start. 2nd the most common issue is the Bluetooth could be constantly searching for device causing battery drain.the Bluetooth is a box located under the console unplug and leave unplugged to eliminate.replace with new Bluetooth if desired
@@freshlando for me the issues was the fob slot on dash. Insert finger feeling downward will be a flat piece of plastic that moves forward when fob is inserted. Applying pressure try and pull the piece toward you or giggle it until lights or chim sound stop. 😂
2008 TL going to order my 3rd module have replaced 3 batteries and 1 alternator. 125 k miles. I'm going to change emblem to Ford. Temporary repairs. Other than this great car but tired of having wife call me with the batteries dead again.
You and me both, it's never fun when your wife calls with a dead battery time and time again. We switched out emblem from Acura to Mazda now. Wife is driving a 2021 Mazda CX9. Car is 8 months old, has driven 5000 miles and is perfect so far.
I've been dealing with this problem for about 6 years or more. Finally bought a portable jumper battery, and have jumped my dead car battery countless times in the past 2 years. Otherwise I have to drive it everyday to keep it charged. I had the dealer perform an electrical check 2 times, but they report nothing wrong. This week I took the car in for maintenance, and they said they would try disconnecting the Blu-tooth. Don't know yet if it worked or not. They kept suggesting it might be the Blu-tooth, which means they know its a common problem, but never bothered to troubleshoot it. This time the shop foreman basically insisted on disconnecting it. I don't care since I never used it.
Wow I feel your frustration on this. My wife and I were dealing with this and I did not like not knowing if my wife's car would not start and she would be stranded potentially. I hope that unplugging the BT module was the source of your battery drain and fixed your problem with your car. Good luck and thanks for watching.
@@ricardovelez2596 Yes, I serviced the transmission with OEM Acura fluid every 30,000 miles and transmission still was starting to fail just over 145,000 miles.
Got it unplugged. The flashing exclamation point went off and seems to be starting fine for now. Hopefully it fixed the issue. Thanks so much bro @@JDMRightHandDrive
Something is causing the a slow parasitic draw on the battery for sure. Battery is low again. Going to test to see where it's drawing power from. Seems like this is a common issue with the mdx
That is a good question, I think that Honda should issues a recall with almost every single car and SUV model they produced in the last 10+ years having this same issue. Not what you would expect from a reliable Japanese car manufacture.
From the information I have gathered from the Honda/Acura forums, the Bluetooth issues is a problem across the entire Acura product line. I would try unplugging the module and see if that makes a difference! Good luck!
Yes, I hope that is the issue for you guys. That would be an inexpensive and easy fix. It's crazy how almost every Honda and Acura product have this exact same issue with the Bluetooth module going bad and killing the battery. It creates a huge amount of frustration in the Honda and Acura community. Good luck!
That is frustrating. Have you checked there are no cabin lights in the back maybe left on from passengers. Beyond that, you will have to read some forums to try and troubleshoot.
Its the same with mine Or it could be the worst kind The serpentine bent If it keeps on honking Check the the fuse Of the left corner Remove it while your car charge
Never installed a new one. The car bluetooth is outdated and we never use it anymore. Plus the new module was close to $400 and we didn't want to spend that kind of money for this older SUV.
That's right. But this is procedure is properly termed a 'Workaround'. It is NOT a 'Fix.' Some of us like having the 'Handsfreelink' (Part #39770-STX-A110-M1) functional. Unfortunately, the only real 'fix' is to replace the module. But that doesn't guarantee the problem won't return. Unfortunately, the Acura MDX proves that 'Luxury' doesn't necessarily mean 'high quality.' It only means 'Costly to buy and costly to maintain.' I'll go for a Honda Pilot Elite next time I buy!
It was definitely a frustrating issue to have to deal with. Especially it being my wife's car. Such and easy fix, but a problem that especially a Honda/Acura product should never have in the first place.
I've got a 2007 Acura MDX. I've disconnected the HFL, replaced the AC clutch relay, disconnected the microphone located in the ceiling control section, replaced battery and both positive and negative terminal cables, disconnected the fan on the radio as we noticed it was coming on while the car was parked. unfortunately..... None of these fixed my issue. Car dies after sitting for one day. Any other ideas anyone? Please help
Wow, that is very extensive the attempting to figure out your battery drain source. I am not sure where to go next off the top of my head. I would check out some MDX forums and see what other owners have to say with similar issues. Beyond the Blu Tooth module, we never and any issues with the car.
@@JDMRightHandDrive finally figured it out. It was the stereo. at first I thought it was just the fan on the stereo so I unplugged the fan from inside the stereo. This did not fix the problem. Rather than purchasing another OEM used stereo that might potentially have this issue in the future, i instead installed an aftermarket pioneer head unit. Problem solved. For me it was a battery drain coming from the hfl unit and the stereo.
@@hiramchen5916 Hello, for me it turned out not to be just the fan. I removed mine and it continued to drain the battery. In the end, I replaced the entire stereo and it solved my problem 100%. If you insist on trying the fan first, I remember that when I removed the four screws, the harness for the fan was nearby. Very easy.
You're absolutely right. Acura and Honda should issue a recall. This is not just an issue on the MDX it's on most Acura products of oils Honda products that have the Bluetooth calling feature.
Nah, they probably make too much money selling replacement batteries, and doing diagnostic repairs. I have the same problem - been struggling with it for 6 years. They finally disconnected my Blu-tooth, but I won't know if it worked until I stop driving the car for at least 3 days. Not difficult when it rains for a week, but it's summer right now.
Was always concerned when I realized that my phone that was in the house showed that it was connecting to the car bluetooth HFL module while the car in the driveway while the car had not been used and was currently OFF...
Yes, that would be a little concerning to have your phone still connected to the car after turning the car off. Your phone probably would not work unless you went into the Bluetooth settings and disconnected from the car?
@@gaborszu7691 I didn't take any action on the bluetooth module as i think that was only a trickle drain for our car. Otherwise, we trained ourselves not to play the radio without the car running, had the dealer replace the original battery under warranty, and realized, a few years later, that the dealer installed the incorrect battery for the car (not AGM) so that's another reason the battery was not holding charge. An auto start/stop car requires an AGM battery to handle the battery usage for this feature.
Doesn’t seem is normal….I ordered a new Bluetooth module…See If will helps the problem!looks like the Bluetooth running in the background and drain the battery after 2 days sitting in the parking lot!
I did this, along with the disconnecting the radio, and even the 6 disc CD mechanism, along with battery and new alternator, and AC clutch relay. Still have the same issue, anyone here have any other ideas??
@@JDMRightHandDrive yes i went thru 2 batteries an alternator and them took it to an electrician till he finally told me it was thos crap lol like 1k down the drain
Great video and he is spot on. I’ve had battery drain issues over the past year and the Acura dealer had no idea. My local non-dealer shop figured it out quickly and knew that this was common with Acura’s.
A beyond frustrating issue. My wife had so many issues with multiple dead batteries and it took us several years to figure this out.
You’d think this should be the other way around and the dealership should know this is common but I’d bet then they would have to have a recall if they knew it’s widespread.
Took me 10 years to figure this out.
I took my HFM out completely and beat it with a baseball bat like the fax machine in office space.
i realize I'm kinda randomly asking but does anyone know of a good place to watch newly released movies online ?
@Rogelio Porter flixportal :P
@Raymond Cyrus Thanks, I went there and it seems like a nice service =) I appreciate it!
@Rogelio Porter You are welcome :)
Well done fucking bullshit made me lose so much money
Would never have thought of this solution. Genius! Thanks so much. Was going to sell the car.
Great glad this help you. Hope you get a few more years out of your car! The transmission was dying on ours, we traded it for a 2021 Mazda CX-9.
@@JDMRightHandDrive I’m having the same battery drain issue with my Honda Accord cl7 2006 where u would you think the Bluetooth module is located?
@@rasheedthorpe9785 it looks like there's a couple different videos on the Bluetooth module on UA-cam for your car. from what I saw it looks like it's in the dash just below the steering wheel to the left side. Good luck!
@@JDMRightHandDrive the car is built for the Japanese domestic market.. it’s a right hand drive car
@@JDMRightHandDrive could you send a link of the videos u saw please also thank you for the response
Great! I,ve had this problem for 7yrs with my 2009 Acura tsx
. no one could figure out whats the problem. Out this goes out my car! i noticed after i unpaired my phone it would last 3dys, i went out of the country for 10dys it started right away. came out the next morning it was dead! that prompted me to believe it had something to do with the bluetooth. i googled and found your video! thanks so much! problem solved!
You bet, glad to hear my video help you out. Thanks for watching!
@@JDMRightHandDrive God bless you!! yo cured my stress from that frigin acura! was about to get rid of it!
Just had a problem though it was my alternator !
Wish I had watched this before I paid for a new battery and starter. I’m going to subscribe just to see if there’s more helpful stuff!
Thanks I appreciate that. Sold MDX because transmission was beginning to fail. Bought 2021 Mazda cx9 more content coming!
@@JDMRightHandDrive how long you own it? Just asking my wife is looking to buy one from my friend says the battery drains is the only problem did it stop drying your battery after you did this?
@@ericsanchez2060 We owned the 09 MDX for just over 6 years. Yes the battery drain issue was resolved after unplugging the BT module. We got rid the the car because transmission was starting to fail at 145k miles.
thanks for posting. my Acura sat for 2 days (it's sat longer than 2 days without any issue countless times before). weak startup this morning (a huge surprise since this car always starts) and when I shut the car off turn off the dash displayed "battery drained, turn off all lights and accessories". so I had battery and alternator checked at O'REILLYs and everything was fine, 100% battery and 100% alternator. I'm going to disconnect BT module right now. I never use he BT module anyways.
So glad to help. I did all the same stuff as you thinking it was something else. I replaced several batteries and finally went to the MDX forums to figure out it was the BT module. Glad you got things sorted out, this is such a frustrating problem to deal with. Thanks for watching.
Great video. I had this problem on my 2006 MDX. On that car the Bluetooth module is inside the dome light fixture. I pryed the piece off with a chisel so the narrow end in and then wider to expand it out. Unclip 2 wire connections and remove the light assemby. Then remove four 8 mm bolts and take down the plastic trim piece. There unclip the green connector to the Bluetooth adaptor. This cut my drain from 300 milliamps to 100 milliamps or less. I checked all my fuses and saw no change so ~100 ma might be the minimum or there is something causing another small loss. Hopefully this makes the car more reliable.
Sounds like your BT module was much harder to get to than mine. Thanks for sharing your comment and I hope this solves your dead battery issue.
Christ ..replace two batteries ony Mom 08 RDX with Tech PKG. On gonna go unplug this s...!! Thx bro. Following u now. She just gave me the vehicle back ...
No problem, I sure hope that solves the problem for you guys. Beyond frustrating to constantly be dealing with a dead battery. Thanks for the sub!
@@JDMRightHandDrivebattery disconnect switch will be very helpful in this situation. Even after disconnecting the module still battery issues
Interesting symptom of a bad module. My module never drained the battery but was never able to remember any phones that connected to it after about a week. Seems that they were junk in multiple ways! Thanks for the vid.
My 2012 MDX isn’t starting today. I did some research and found out about the HFL causing the battery drain. Since we are in quarantine I haven’t been driving much at all. My car hasn’t been driven for days. I disconnected the HFL. I will get my car jump started tomorrow. Wish me luck!!!! I hope this is the issue!
did it work?
Alexander A. Nope didn’t work. It turned out to be some other electrical issues.
Thanks I was having trouble with my Acura rl. I thought it was my starter then battery then I was thinking alternator but this helps out a lot because I lost hope in the car. So thank you ✅
No problem 👍Glad to hear you got things figured out!
Where in the RL is this module? Thank you in advance
I have a 2008 RL, can you tell me where the BT module is?
Great video! How do i disconnect the Bluetooth in Acura 2005 RL?
Is that hands free Bluetooth the same to play music from you phone ???
Love these cars but that problem was annoying thank you
No problem, glad it helped. It was so frustrating for my wife having her car dead and not able to start all the time.
I had the same issue with my 06 TL. If it sat for more than a couple of days it wouldn't start. So started checking voltage on each fuse. Turns out my issue was with the #7 fuse which controls the interior lights and the remote lock. So now I carry needle nose pliers with me and if I know the car will sit for more than a couple of days, I pull out the fuse. It can sit for a week (and has when the temps were near 20) and it will still start up like a champ. Have the voltage tested before you just start replacing parts cause we all know that isn't cheap!
I never voltage tested parts. I did put a meter on the battery to see if I could measure voltage drain when the car was off and the meter did show parasitic drain. I was able to read a few forums and discovered the BT module issues. I unplugged that module and our issue was fixed. We ended up selling the MDX because the transmission was beginning to fail at only 145k miles. Thanks for watching, glad you figured out your issues. If you have time share it with the Acura community somehow to help others!
Hi Marie Curran my 06 tl has drain issues how did you fix your issue looking for #7#6 fuse issues any fix yet
Great tutorial and video like this helps out lot of people. By any chance does anyone know where the module is located on a 2016 ILX, I'm having the same issue.
I did see a video on it somewhere on UA-cam for the ILX
I finally found out what the problem was, my bluetooth was on and it was draining my battery because it was constantly running in search of pairing with another device. I went in my setting on the infotainment system and turned the bluetooth off.
Great video. If you have a TL, the HFL is in the assembly that houses from cabin lights by the rear view mirror. Takes about 10 minutes top to get to the HFL and disconnect it. Surprisingly lousy engineering on the Acuras...
Yeah I totally agree from Honda/Acura to have something so simple like this affect the entire product line up and cause so much frustration to owners is almost embarrassing for the brand. Glad you liked the video and I hope it helped you out.
@@JDMRightHandDrive I mean, its a 15 year old vehicle. Nothing lasts forever and it was bound to fail at some point. Any board that's connected to the battery has the potential to do this as it ages.
Wow who thought it would have been that easy😮😮
Yeah for something that is so frustrating to deal with everyday on your car. The solution is way to easy. Thanks for watching and glad the video help you guys out.
thank you .I have the same problem in my 2011 MDX.
No problem, glad I was able to help.
I have a 2007 Acura MDX with parasitic drain. I replaced the battery, alternator, clutch relay fuses, and I “dis-connected” the HFL module as per your recommendation. I still am having dead batteries after about 48hrs.
I am aware that the module replacement worked for you.
I am still searching for a viable solution. Any other ideas that you could share that you may have come across during your research?
Sorry no other issues for us. Traded a car for a 2021 Mazda CX-9 Turbo because the MDX transmission was failing at 145,000 mi
I have the same issue. Still looking for help?
If that doesn't work, replace the AC clutch relay and the accompanying 7.5 amp fuse underneath the hood (located on the passenger side under the hood of an MDX)
Thanks Chris, the Bluetooth module did fix the parasitic power drain for us!
Do these fixes affect any other areas of the car's electronics? And would the car pass a safety test if it has been changed like this by the owner?
Changed battery twice. Alternator twice. No luck. Started to unhook the battery at night and plug back in in the morning. Now the Canadian freeze… so never could figure it out.
Tom I’m going to do this and see.
I hope that this works out for you. Good luck!
I was about to replace the Alternator on my 05 MDX but decided to try this first. Although my MDX's bluetooth module was located above the rear-view mirror. Hopefully it'll work out.
So did it work? Hoping you can update. Have same car.
Thank you for the video. Is it the same process for a 2008 elite package mdx ?
I disconnected my HFL module but now my remote settings won't work and cannot be programmed on my 2005 Acura. Could this be a separate issue?
Absolutely amazing! Thank you so much!
You're so welcome!🙏
Question: Is the bluetooth unit the same as the HFL unit? I have an 05 RL and the HFL unit is in the kick panel on the passenger side.
2yrs late, yes.
I have this same problem with my Honda Accord cl7 2006.. i would like to locate the Bluetooth module as well but not having any luck at the moment.
passenger side under the glove box on the wall left let me know if you have one question if I can find it
'08 Acura Rl battery just died after exactly a year, wonder if this is my issue too, thanks.
From what I have learned since making this video a few years ago. The entire Honda/Acura product line of cars with factory bluetooth suffer from this problem. Do some research for your RL as to where the BT module is and unplug it. Good luck, I hope that is an easy fix for you guys.
Do you think the Bluetooth module for DMX Acura 2016 is located at the same place I need to pull it out… Or have someone pull it out it drains my battery horribly and I can’t keep buying new batteries. Thank you
I have 2005 Acura rl is the location the same under the arm rest
Now is the hfl module in the same location on a 2012?
Do you Need the Phone Bluetooth module plugged in ? Can I leave it unplugged?
How long or years until it goes bad again ?
You can purchase another module if you want to use the in car blu tooth phone feature. If you unplug the module, you wont be able to use the in car phone feature, but no more dead battery. I not sure how long the module would last if you replaced it. Probably around 8-10 years would be my guess. Good luck with your fix!
Will disconnecting the Bluetooth disable your ability to connect your cell phone to the radio or is this a separate Bluetooth only for hands-free calling?
Yes when you disconnect the Bluetooth module the Bluetooth connectivity and phone options are gone.
@@JDMRightHandDrive what's your solution? Do you not use Bluetooth at all? Music or for calls? Aux cord?
I want to get a mdx but I think it has that draining issue
@@farhanchoudhury2077 upgrade your system to an aftermarket apple CarPlay unit.
So I have a 2017 Acura ILX and have replaced the battery 3 times so far. Last battery I got was a gold battery and it only lasted 20 months. If I turn off the bluetooth in the settings, would that alleviate the issue? I shouldn't have to do that as I like using bluetooth but there is no warning when the battery dies these days. It was driving fine the day before then the morning I am taking my kid to college it wouldn't start and the display lights were going bonkers. Luckily battery was under warranty so replacement was free but it's still very annoying.
Our car would battery would die if it sat longer than 24 hours. I would find the module and unplug it. Turning off the BT settings from what I understand does not fix the issue. Good luck!
I have the same issues but my car it's the Acura MDX 2006 , is it the same thing??
Most likely. Every single Honda and Acura vehicles in the entire product line suffer from this BT module failure. I would research where your BT module is and unplug it. Good luck and I hope this fixes your dead battery issue.
I have the same problem with my 2006 Acura MDX
I have a acura Rlx 2014, when I use Bluetooth audio mode no sound is coming. I took the positive cable off the battery and that fixed the audio issue... but next day lost the Bluetooth mode audio again. Tried different phones same issue so I know it's related to my acura . USB & radio works fine. Any tips please?
@JDM Right Hand Drive mine when I pull the Radio fuse the amp drops significantly do you think it is still the HF module?
Sorry, I am not sure about this. You should read in some forums and see what you can find. Good luck!
just when through the same scenario with my 2012 mdx. just pulled the plug cause can't get the part from honda/acura anymore. They're not producing it. sucks that acura won't support an 11 y.o. car parts. can buy it used but may have the same issue. not sure how to test the module if i buy a pre owned one.
next car won't be a company that doesn't support their older vehicals.
Mine is dying every day would this still be the problem?
I would think this is the problem. Unplug that BT module and let me know what happens.
Can. Help me Just bought a 2009 CL Acura right and I’ll try to use the hands-free now my battery just keep draining can you respond back please
Are you using the original module that came inside the car? Or did you replace the module and the car is still dying with a dead battery?
So if the battery was tested with a battery analyzer and a test came out that the battery was OK why would you replace it. ? A simple voltage drop test across the fuses would find the problem within 10 minutes. Isolate that circuit, check the wiring diagram and you're off to the races.
Yep, same thing happened with my 2008 TL. Believe they have that parasitic drain worked out, as my 2016 TLX has not had that problem.
I don't know about that. I have a 2016 MDX and this is happening to me.
@@pa7333 That's interesting. Are you sure it's a parasitic drain on the battery, and not just a normal drain? Today, so much runs in the background, my battery only went 4.5 years.
@@WildWing-wl7nj I'm not sure. Nothing is left on. However I've been driving w a voltage indicator in the cigarette lighter and the voltage fluctuates from as low as 12.4 to 14.3. When lights are turned on voltage shows charging. I replaced the OAD on the alternator to see if that helped and it did for about a month the voltage was between 12.7-14.3.
@@WildWing-wl7nj What do you mean by normal drain
@@pa7333 These days, it doesn't matter if you don't leave anything on. The hands up display runs in the background, including Bluetooth. The security system keeps on running. All these things drain the batter, in my experience, in 4 to 4.5 years. We were used to longer batter life in the past, but that's the past. Now, normal drain is 4 to 4.5 years. I replace batteries at that point, even though they may test fine. A battery can still have a bad cell and show up fine with a test. They simply don't last as long as they used to. Hope that helps.
Great video thanks
No problem 👍
Dies the engine light come on after disconnecting the module?
No, it does not have anything to do with the vehicles emissions to trigger the check engine light. Do dash lights come on either from unplugging the BT module.
I have this problem in my 2015 Acura tlx. If my car sits overnight, it won't start and I have to jump it or just keep my battery disconnected in order for the car to start. My battery is brand new and the alternator and starter checked out good btw. Where is the Bluetooth module located in a Acura tlx?
Found this on a TLX forum. finally I was able to find it, it’s above the glove box.
you would need to take out the entire glove box and its located on the left side.
I hope this help you out, good luck it sounds like this one is pretty hard to get to compared to my older MDX.
acurazine.com/forums/first-generation-tlx-2015-2020-415/2015-tlx-where-hands-free-module-located-985823/
Please help me with this problem!Can’t find the location of the Bluetooth module..Did you figure it out?
Located behind the glove box!
I've got a very clean 2009 TL with under 100,000 miles for my wife.been looking for this fix so I can put it on the road
I have an 09 TL as well, just hit 116,000 miles on it this week. It’s my baby, but having this same battery drain issue myself. Replaced the battery which helped for 2-3 weeks but definitely didn’t resolve it completely.
@@freshlando I would first check were the key fob goes in the dash.the slot will sometimes stay engaged after inserting the fob.it can be disengage with your finger and some fiddling.you will know this is the issue if you have lights on the dash after vehicle is turned off or you here the Chim noise as if the keys are still in vehicle.ive gotten by with never using the inverted key fobband only using keyless start. 2nd the most common issue is the Bluetooth could be constantly searching for device causing battery drain.the Bluetooth is a box located under the console unplug and leave unplugged to eliminate.replace with new Bluetooth if desired
@@freshlando for me the issues was the fob slot on dash. Insert finger feeling downward will be a flat piece of plastic that moves forward when fob is inserted. Applying pressure try and pull the piece toward you or giggle it until lights or chim sound stop. 😂
NOT TRUE WITH 06 MDX,ITS UNDER THE OVERHEAD LIGHT BUT DID NOT FIX MY PROB???
2008 TL going to order my 3rd module have replaced 3 batteries and 1 alternator. 125 k miles. I'm going to change emblem to Ford. Temporary repairs. Other than this great car but tired of having wife call me with the batteries dead again.
You and me both, it's never fun when your wife calls with a dead battery time and time again. We switched out emblem from Acura to Mazda now. Wife is driving a 2021 Mazda CX9. Car is 8 months old, has driven 5000 miles and is perfect so far.
Anybody got a vid of where the HFL is located on a 08 RL?
Will this trigger any CEL?
The Bluetooth module has nothing to do with all the engine sensors. No check engine light!
I've been dealing with this problem for about 6 years or more. Finally bought a portable jumper battery, and have jumped my dead car battery countless times in the past 2 years. Otherwise I have to drive it everyday to keep it charged. I had the dealer perform an electrical check 2 times, but they report nothing wrong. This week I took the car in for maintenance, and they said they would try disconnecting the Blu-tooth. Don't know yet if it worked or not. They kept suggesting it might be the Blu-tooth, which means they know its a common problem, but never bothered to troubleshoot it. This time the shop foreman basically insisted on disconnecting it. I don't care since I never used it.
Wow I feel your frustration on this. My wife and I were dealing with this and I did not like not knowing if my wife's car would not start and she would be stranded potentially. I hope that unplugging the BT module was the source of your battery drain and fixed your problem with your car. Good luck and thanks for watching.
Thank you ❤
You're welcome 😊
Have you had a problem with your battery running down since doing this?
Nope, this fixed the issue 100%. Car started perfectly until we traded it in because transmission was starting to fail at 145k.
@@JDMRightHandDrive Did you ever perform regular drain and fills on the transmission every 30,000 miles with Acura OEM transmission fluid?
@@ricardovelez2596 Yes, I serviced the transmission with OEM Acura fluid every 30,000 miles and transmission still was starting to fail just over 145,000 miles.
Thanks man help me out .
Great, no problem. Was a real headache for us dealing with this problem and trying to figure out the solution.
We've been trying to figure this out too. Battery is new but has drained and clicks when trying to start. Starts with the portable battery jumper.
Tapping on the starter doesn't do anything so we don't think that's the problem
It was a beyond frustrating problem to be dealing with all the time. Anytime our car would sit longer that 24 hours or more the battery would be dead.
Got it unplugged. The flashing exclamation point went off and seems to be starting fine for now. Hopefully it fixed the issue. Thanks so much bro @@JDMRightHandDrive
Something is causing the a slow parasitic draw on the battery for sure. Battery is low again. Going to test to see where it's drawing power from. Seems like this is a common issue with the mdx
i disconnected the HandFreeLink and now my radio doesnt work... the radio now displays "Hands Free Link"... any solution?
I am not sure on that issue. I would read up on some forums for your exact year and model and see what you can come up with. Good Luck!
8s there a vid but for a 09 tsx, I'm having the same issue
It sounds like from what people are saying its the entire Honda/Acura product line for the late 2000's models.
What good I have an Acura 2003 TL typeS I have the same prob help me.
Why isn't there a recall for this?
That is a good question, I think that Honda should issues a recall with almost every single car and SUV model they produced in the last 10+ years having this same issue. Not what you would expect from a reliable Japanese car manufacture.
it's like the crappy leather, it's not a safety issue.
Turing off the car doesn't stop the drain but is there any chance that turning off the Bluetooth in Settings would work?
Will it work for 2013 Acura ILX ?
From the information I have gathered from the Honda/Acura forums, the Bluetooth issues is a problem across the entire Acura product line. I would try unplugging the module and see if that makes a difference! Good luck!
@@JDMRightHandDrive my problem was the starter and battery. But my battery was testing good, once I changed both it’s been fine
Where is the module located in a 2013 ilx?
My 2011 MDX had the same issue today and my wife had AAA tow it to mechanic shop, hopefully that’s the problem
Yes, I hope that is the issue for you guys. That would be an inexpensive and easy fix. It's crazy how almost every Honda and Acura product have this exact same issue with the Bluetooth module going bad and killing the battery. It creates a huge amount of frustration in the Honda and Acura community. Good luck!
@@JDMRightHandDrive Thanks for sharing your findings and posting on you tube
Thanks
I disconnected it but now having issues with the clock it will not set GPS gone
i have taken off the bluetooth in acur mdx 2009, but battery drains if i don't run in for 2 days, changed 2 battries in last 3 months.
That is frustrating. Have you checked there are no cabin lights in the back maybe left on from passengers. Beyond that, you will have to read some forums to try and troubleshoot.
Its the same with mine
Or it could be the worst kind
The serpentine bent
If it keeps on honking
Check the the fuse
Of the left corner
Remove it while your car charge
Wait so you didn’t put a new one in ? You just unplugged it and left it unplugged ?????
Never installed a new one. The car bluetooth is outdated and we never use it anymore. Plus the new module was close to $400 and we didn't want to spend that kind of money for this older SUV.
That's right. But this is procedure is properly termed a 'Workaround'. It is NOT a 'Fix.' Some of us like having the 'Handsfreelink' (Part #39770-STX-A110-M1) functional. Unfortunately, the only real 'fix' is to replace the module. But that doesn't guarantee the problem won't return. Unfortunately, the Acura MDX proves that 'Luxury' doesn't necessarily mean 'high quality.' It only means 'Costly to buy and costly to maintain.' I'll go for a Honda Pilot Elite next time I buy!
Yeah even with hfm tooken out I still think you should just start saving for another vehicle
Got rid of my 2007 RDX with 153,000 miles due to this issue and also my ac broke.
It was definitely a frustrating issue to have to deal with. Especially it being my wife's car. Such and easy fix, but a problem that especially a Honda/Acura product should never have in the first place.
I've got a 2007 Acura MDX. I've disconnected the HFL, replaced the AC clutch relay, disconnected the microphone located in the ceiling control section, replaced battery and both positive and negative terminal cables, disconnected the fan on the radio as we noticed it was coming on while the car was parked. unfortunately..... None of these fixed my issue. Car dies after sitting for one day. Any other ideas anyone? Please help
Wow, that is very extensive the attempting to figure out your battery drain source. I am not sure where to go next off the top of my head. I would check out some MDX forums and see what other owners have to say with similar issues. Beyond the Blu Tooth module, we never and any issues with the car.
@@JDMRightHandDrive finally figured it out. It was the stereo. at first I thought it was just the fan on the stereo so I unplugged the fan from inside the stereo. This did not fix the problem. Rather than purchasing another OEM used stereo that might potentially have this issue in the future, i instead installed an aftermarket pioneer head unit. Problem solved. For me it was a battery drain coming from the hfl unit and the stereo.
@@mgewarges I am suspecting it’s the fan that drains my battery too. Would you mind sharing which harness is for the fan in the back of the stereo?
@@hiramchen5916 Hello, for me it turned out not to be just the fan. I removed mine and it continued to drain the battery. In the end, I replaced the entire stereo and it solved my problem 100%. If you insist on trying the fan first, I remember that when I removed the four screws, the harness for the fan was nearby. Very easy.
There should be a 'recall' on this :(.
You're absolutely right. Acura and Honda should issue a recall. This is not just an issue on the MDX it's on most Acura products of oils Honda products that have the Bluetooth calling feature.
Nah, they probably make too much money selling replacement batteries, and doing diagnostic repairs. I have the same problem - been struggling with it for 6 years. They finally disconnected my Blu-tooth, but I won't know if it worked until I stop driving the car for at least 3 days. Not difficult when it rains for a week, but it's summer right now.
Was always concerned when I realized that my phone that was in the house showed that it was connecting to the car bluetooth HFL module while the car in the driveway while the car had not been used and was currently OFF...
Yes, that would be a little concerning to have your phone still connected to the car after turning the car off. Your phone probably would not work unless you went into the Bluetooth settings and disconnected from the car?
How you solved this issue?Having the same problem…
@@gaborszu7691 I didn't take any action on the bluetooth module as i think that was only a trickle drain for our car. Otherwise, we trained ourselves not to play the radio without the car running, had the dealer replace the original battery under warranty, and realized, a few years later, that the dealer installed the incorrect battery for the car (not AGM) so that's another reason the battery was not holding charge. An auto start/stop car requires an AGM battery to handle the battery usage for this feature.
@@crickerwe My phone is connected to the car 24/7!I have to turn the Bluetooth off in the phone setting to stop it!
Doesn’t seem is normal….I ordered a new Bluetooth module…See If will helps the problem!looks like the Bluetooth running in the background and drain the battery after 2 days sitting in the parking lot!
I did this, along with the disconnecting the radio, and even the 6 disc CD mechanism, along with battery and new alternator, and AC clutch relay. Still have the same issue, anyone here have any other ideas??
It could be the alarm system
JDM Right Hand Drive
that music tho
Wish I watched this before I spent 270.00
Me too, sorry to hear you had to spend extra money!
Or you can buy a on an off swich.
I already bought a new battery lol
We bought a new batter several times and it took us about 6 months to figure out it was the stupid BT module. LOL
@@JDMRightHandDrive you know where it’s located on a 2014 Acura MDX?
Damn this just happened to me its freaking annoying
You're so right, it was really frustrating thinking you've got either a bad alternator a bad battery or don't know what or why your car's dead!
@@JDMRightHandDrive yes i went thru 2 batteries an alternator and them took it to an electrician till he finally told me it was thos crap lol like 1k down the drain
You didn't "Fix" anything; you only alleviated the symptom! How do you repair the Bluetooth Module?