wow. this was outstanding. I chased this issue for 3 years and 3 batteries and an untold amount of visits to the shop and even more jumps. outstanding ! Thank you
Asphalt Cowboy ....thanks a lot man. we had remote start installed at the very time this started to happen. save me much Dinero. btw you could feel the heat coming from the hfl. 2006 tl
I've been dreading driving my car for well over a year because I don't wanna deal with a dead battery at 10pm in a Target parking lot. I'm gonna try this later today, thank you for posting!
Solved my problem with battery drain!! I have a 2007 TL and was able to trace the problem to the HFL with the help of my local Firestone shop but disconnected the HFL on my own using this video and saved a few bucks in labor charges. Thanks Efrain!
Efrain, thanks for this. I disconnected mine today. I am not mechanical at all your video took me step by step and I was able to take it apart and put it back together with no hiccups. So thank u so much.
This video was super helpful to me. Thank you!! I can't fix anything, but I took care of this following your instructions. It cost $330.00 for the part, and the Acura dealer said he would have to charge me another $160 if I had not had the old part to turn in at the same time, I guess to recycle. Everything works fine now! Thanks again!
Thats just them trying to make you feel better for spending so much on a part, lol .... As a finance manager for 7yrs I fought daily with the service dept for charging my dept too much on everything! Service/parts... the most profitable dept in a car dealership.
Thank you!!! I went through 3 batteries. I took this out Friday. Jump the car off and now it is on the road. Appreciate this. Hopefully I can help you out one day
Thank you sir. Mom's car had been discharging and we couldn't figure out why. Went on RUclips and found that hfl was the issue. Found your video and was able to disconnect that hfl. Thank you.
About to try it myself. Battery keeps dying and i dont plan to biy a new alternator any time soon due to this "little issue" of the death of a fresh new battery. Hopefully my 05 TL has HFL. Gonna go ahead and takr it apart. Thanks for the awesome video, better quality than some of the other ones I've seen. Thanks for the help. I hope this will solve the issue...
Thanks for the video. It saved me from taking my car to the shop for a overpriced non related repair. I did everything you said and I think it did the trick.
Great video! I'm about to do this on my 2005. Goes to show some things aren't dependent on mileage. Had mine since new and only 116k on it but HFL had been out for like 9 months. I haven't used it since probably 2006 when it's bluetooth technology was already outdated LOL.
They actually make plastic tools which are very cheap and are a must have for anyone doing work on the TL. The interior has many clips and those two silver trim pieces around the radio are $160 each I have heard.
Thanks so much for this video saved me a trip and $$. I just wanted to add that if you have this problem don't bother replacing the Bluetooth piece. This happened to me 5 years ago and the dealership replaced it under warranty. Just happened to me again so it is staying unplugged this time!
Very helpful video! Had the Bluetooth disconnected and put back together in 10 minutes :-) Question though, the Handsfree Link still says Bluetooth rebooting, which is what I believe to be the issue in the first place (battery drain). Since the bluetooth module is now disconnected should I assume that the bluetooth rebooting won't be and issue and continue to drain the car battery since the bluetooth module is now disconnected?
Man, I have to try this. I have an 05 TL and for the past 4 years I have had issues with my car not starting. I replaced the battery 3-4x since 2012. I have had the starter and alternator replaced in 2015 and today again, car wouldn't start. Once again, the battery was dead. It wasn't until today When I called Acura I was told it could be the Bluetooth. I wish I had known this before lumping so much money into the car. . I was so closed to selling the car and buying a new one but was bummed because I know these cars can last for a long time and my car only has 125,000 miles and it's 10 years old.
These disassembly instructions don't work. I tried them and broke the plastic pieces because....they are wrong. Per the manual, first remove the moonroof switch, in the center, and unplug the cable going to it. After removing that switch, it is easy to pull the black plastic piece down. (Easy because you can get your finger behind it and just pull down.) To assemble, you put the moonroof piece back into the plastic piece that it fits into, attach the cables, and push it into place.
data4teachers that sucks that the pieces broke... I've been doing it this way for a long time. Maybe experience with multiple vehicles comes in to play... you're the first person on here that's watched my video and broke something. I tend to reply quickly. Most if not all are happy with the video I posted. I'm sorry it wasn't the same for you.
What if I don't even use the HFL and think it is a draw on my battery, can I just remove it or disable so that it no longer is connected? Is that OK? If so, what do I do?
I just want to verify and make sure, in order to remove the hfl from battery drainage, would I just unplug the green cord and then screw the cover back on, or do I need to remove the whole hfl box completely?
Can I just disconnect the cord for the hands free link and put everything back together? Also by disconnecting the cord, this should help prevent the battery from draining right?
+K.o.S Sheol I'm not sure.. I didn't bother looking for one.. I'm going to assume if you pull the fuse.. You'll knock out part of radio functions... But I haven't looked and this is the easiest way and most effective way(straight to the source of the problem) to clear up the battery drainage...
Tengo un acura tl 2006 a veces detecta mi iPhone el dispositivo otras veces no, pero nunca he podido sincronizarlo, que necesito hacer, de alguna forma de resetea el hfl? O que me recomiendas nunca lo he usado, saludos
Has anyone had the problem where the dome lights no longer work after disconnecting the HFL? I simply unplugged the unit and now these lights no longer work. This is still better than having a dead battery in the morning but it would be nice to get my lights working. The wire harness I unplugged looks like it has a dozen wires going into it.
Anybody figured out how to repair this device. It appears that that it is fixable, because Acura is actually getting the broken ones back from the dealers.
Actually, it's one of the compositor on the module itself. If you're able to replace it then your HFL should be working. I'm currently trying to just find a new module all-together but I'm having a hard time locating them. Does anyone know where I can purchase it at?
The Awesome Fellow Actually they're on Ebay for 100 or so. Just didn't get around to buying it yet. Also make sure that they match the year of the car. The 2007 module is different from my 2006. Different plugs.
I have a 05 acura TL and the battery drains after 1-2 days if I don't turn it on. Have u guys had this experience and unplugged the HFL and had this issue of the battery drain fixed after unplugging the HFL?
World Owner's Rothschild Family I removed it and charged my car overnight but my battery still died by the end of the day. Replaced my battery and left it unconnected and fixed it. Will report if my new battery dies
Thank you for the video bro. I'm not sure why Acura keeps ignoring this issue! It shouldn't be something normal that any module or electronic unit drains the battery like that. They should come up with a better HFL module and we should demand a recall and replace. Are you with me everybody?
Best video I have seen on this. Thanks Efrain. Also, hat tip to Carlyle Tom for his post about using a butter knife instead of a screw driver to pry open the light housing. Took me less than 10 min. to disconnect the HFL and replace the the light housing and trim.
About a week ago my battery kept dying if I didn't run the car everyday. Was just about to take it to the shop but then remembered the HFL quit working too. Disconnected it using this video and instantly my battery voltage went up! Eventually I'll get another unit and swap it too. Thanks for saving me time and money!
i love reading these success stories about people saving money and that the hfl unit going bad and battery going out of juice. I'm glad it you found this video and it worked for you!
Thank you so very much for this video. I went right out to my 2008 Acura TL, followed your directions and BANG. Done! I've been left hanging many days in the past 6 months, but this repair became urgent, as my Mom is in the hospital & I need to get there when I need to get there. Thanks again for making this so easy! Melissa G 🤓
Thank you for this video!! I went through multiple batteries, and AAA rescues in the 3 years I’ve had my TL. I just let the car sit for 3 days after removing the module, and it fired right up. Cheers, bro. ✌🏽
Awesome! Thank you for the tutorial. Question for everyone: does the module have any other uses than Bluetooth for the phone? Or is it a pass through for other electronics? Thanks in advance!
Thanks for the video. I also had a battery drain and this helped me solve the issue. I just disconnected the green connector since I was not using the HFL anyway. I used to think highly of Honda/Acura, but I'm thinking twice about that now. I'll probably switch back to Toyota/Lexus with my next vehicle.
glad it helped... think about it tho.. it's a 8 to 14 year old car. it's a solid engine with a comfortable suspension. back in 2004 this car was a Damn good for a entry level luxury car.
Yup too short sighted on Acura's part. They now have a real bad reputation..see Consumer Report latest 11/2016 rating. Bought a Lexus just as you said. Too bad. If you don't stand behind your product, why should I buy from you again!. Bye Bye Acura!
Just bought a 2006 tl 4 days ago, it’s been dying every morning since I got it. The last owner replaced alternator and battery last year so that can’t be it, went to auto zone they checked my batt said it’s good just needs to be charged. I just followed this super easy video and unplugged it. I’m praying that it fixes my problem. Will comment back in a few days to let you guys know.
MRxhalemotorsports1 I know they are. but this video shows how to take out competently... there is a couple alternatives to fix the issue yes.. but the main thing about this video is to know how to take out and put back together..
So last week i got the HFL booting message and sure enough my battery dies. I opened everything up and disconnected the wire but the message still says booting and the battery is still dying...any ideas?
Thanks so much for this info. I was just about to take car into the shop to have the problem diagnosed but I followed your instructions and disconnected the hfl in less than 10 mins. Now I can start my car in the morning without having to jump it! Tks again!
Called Acura (Japanese for "Highway Robbery) and they wanted at least 2hrs labor to "diagnose the electrical problem" plus at least another hour labor to repair. This took me SIX MINUTES from start to finish and this was without power tools to turn bolts
How come Acura hasn’t acknowledged or reported this issue? I’m sure it has costed a lot of owners money buying new batteries. Since I removed it I haven’t had any issues, my battery used to drain if I don’t drive my car for 2 days so thanks for this dude.
On my '08 TL my batter kept dying when the car was off for more than a day. The dealership told me it's the HFL. So I watched this video and removed the board that was connected to the 3rd relay shown. amidoinitrite? :)
Thanks a lot for this video. Super helpful! I'll echo the comments others made. I had this prolonged issue with the battery draining out overnight and your video helped me fix this in no time. You should get a Patreon account, so that we can donate and help you make more such DIY videos. Cheers!
Thank you for the video! Saved me some cash! Easy to do once you get past the extreme fear that you are going to break the plastic housing with the screwdriver! I should mention the replacement I purchased from amazon had a different housing on the electronic board. Board is the same so keep the old black housing after you remove the torx screws.
Thanks for the excellent video Efrain. I had been going crazy over the battery drain problem I was having, and once I figured out that it was likely the HFL module causing the problem this video showed me exactly how to sort it, quick and easy. Great video, saved me some cash, much appreciated!
Why not just unplug the Hands Free Link connection and not have to deal with taking it all out??? Those are metric number 10 screws you took out.. I know, you used a 5/16 socket... Thank you for this video !
Just disconnected mine. Been wondering why this 'good' battery keeps draining in under 48 hours. Got a cheap multimeter and traced the drain to fuse #6 under the dash which, among other things...supplies power to the HFL. Been on a trickle charger constantly for a year now. Sheesh.
Great job Mr. Castro. I watched the Dealership Mechanic take mine apart in a few seconds, he used a drill and bits. He had to take it apart to trouble shoot it, he tried to pressure me into purchasing their HFL while he had it all disconnected which was priced between 4-5 hundred dollars. Luckily I considered the possibility of getting it cheaper. You are on point with your video, that exactly how the Dealership Mechanic disassembled the unit. Great job.
thank you sir. I try to make sir I explain myself when I'm doing these types of work. but the video explains it all. go to Acuraoemparts.com you can source any oem parts and they ship to your door at great prices. apparently if you order the hfl unit. it comes with the whole plastic piece I removed with the screws.
Thank you for the video, Efrain! I have a 2006 Acura TL, and over the last couple months, my battery has gone dead twice, so it isn't as bad as others, but it was going to start to be a major issue. I unplugged the hfl this morning with relative ease and am very grateful that my battery problems may be resolved! Many thanks!
Thanks for the video! This thing was draining my battery dry for months! I even bought a portable battery jumper to start my car in the mornings. After I removed the device my battery hasn't died since!
Asphalt Cowboy .... the part in the middle where you take out the HFL, it's already disconnected, as we need to disconnect if we have that problem... but then you are talking about the HFL after you pull it out... do you have to do anything else that you didn't show? since you were pointing to the screw and mentioning the star Allen... makes me think we need to take something else a part at that point...
Hi Efrain. I have a 2007 Acura MDX in the shop right now. After I blew up at the Honda dealership where I purchased the car (hehe), they agreed to take the HFL out for free. I had a few empathetic people there who had kids like I do and, it is putting our lives in danger. I haven't experienced battery drainage, however, my car has been shutting on and off for the last two days. Also had the issue back in January. They have been trying to diagnose the issue and are incompetent. I am hoping this solves the problem.
I am so grateful for this video: gets right to it and shows everything! Can't believe I have suffered this battery issue for so long. Thanks, and have a great holiday season! btw the torx screws were easily handled by a small allen from my bike tool.
I just did this with a wine key and a small crescent wrench in 3 minutes. Would have saved hundreds if I did this the first time the hfl failed. Thanks for the video!
Thank you man! That was a great tutorial and worked like a charm. No one knew what the issue was no matter where I went. Countless jumps and new batteries. 🙏
My battery is 25 months old, I rarely let my car sit for longer than a day, 2 weeks ago I returned from vacation to a (near completely) dead battery. Lights on dash were dim, barely turned over. After a jump, my car drove fine for a week, no prob. Let sit all of Sunday and was dead Monday morning. Had my battery checked at AutoZone today (Monday), battery is fine. I pulled HFL plug tonight thanks other readings and the 'how to' in this video. I'll keep you posted..... but thanks in advance!
Thank you for this short and concise video. I've been dealing with my battery draining for the last 3 years or so and went through a few batteries. Today, my battery went dead again and I was able to follow these easy instructions and disconnected my bluetooth. Seeing how simple this was, I might even replace this unit myself. You saved me about $120-$150 which the dealership wanted to charge me for basically "1 hour or labor" and it only took me 10-15 minutes!
once I remove the faceplate off the and un hook first two wires and I have un hook the 3rd one(blue one). I don't care about replacing the battery. I just want the blue one no longer hooked up. I put the first two back in place right? My battery problem should fix its self.
@@Tommy971321 thank you I did earlier and I can feel the battery is warm not hot. Also when i started it up after work it started up almost immediately. But should I replace the battery just in case to make this doesn't happened ever again.
have a 1 yr old oem battery (replacement) that was dead this morning (monday) friday was the last day i drove the car (so it sat all weekend) what would be your next decision to do? charge the battery and let thew car sit for a cpl days? or just disconnect the hfl now and get it done with, or take to acura and let them fuck with it, or nothing??? lol and thx bra for your help!
well. here's something you can do help out in your decision. press the call button on the steering wheel... if the lil screen says "booting up" or "booting" it will be you're hfl unit draining the battery. then go ahead and follow this video and do it yourself and save yourself some money
+efrain castro My battery has died after a day when my mechanic could not figure it out. I thought it was my alternator because the battery was less than a year old. I will try this but i just jumped my car and the HFL is working so I am not sure if this is the problem.
+Mark Rudiger. I've read on the forums that the charging system cables go bad. I'm not sure which ones. but might want to look into it on acurazine.com
Hey guys, I’ve been having severe issues with my Acura TL 2008. I’ve gone through 3 batteries, multiple jumps, and am now on my 2nd trip to the mechanic. I’m almost completely convinced it is the HFL. My car battery was completely drained today, as in the interior lights wouldn’t even turn on upon opening the door. I have a brand new alternator as well. Does the HFL really drain the battery this bad? My car has lasted about 3 weeks after getting the new alternator and battery but keeps dying. Please let me know! Thank you.
I bought an 08TL yesterday. I've heard about this being a common issue when I was researching the car. I guess I'm going to have to unplug mine this weekend if it's not done already. Waking up to a car with a dead battery, it's just one of those things I absolutely hate.
@@Tommy971321 I ended up unplugging it earlier today. I checked it throughout the day and it was getting hotter. As I went through the process, I noticed the previous owner knew about the issue and tried to fix it but failed big time...the housing where you have to remove the screws was broken around the screws as though the whole thing was yanked down. When I took out the housing with the lights and switches, broken plastic pieces was falling everywhere. I went through the process as you explained it and fixed it all up. Also bought some washers and placed them around the screws to keep the whole thing in place. It kinda sucks not having the Bluetooth but better that than having battery problems. Thanks for the video!
This video saved me from so many more headaches. Used to jump my car every time if it was ever turned off for more than 24hours. Even changed battery bc I thought that was the problem. Removed HFL like this video showed almost 10 months ago and car hasn't died since then. Thanks!
Everyone should know there is a class action lawsuit regarding this problem. Google it and you can sign up as well in case there is a settlement. Been an issue for years and Honda/Acura knew about it.
There is a class action lawsuit concerning this defect proceeding in Federal Court in California, Hagens Berman is the law firm. Go to their website and sign up.
Thank you! i just tried this and disconnected that second green cord hopefully it fixes the issue just one more thing. i turned the car back on and went into hfl when i selected it it still said booting up, should i be concerned?
Hi, and thank you SO MUCH for this video. I have a question! When you took out the gray piece with the HFL in it, what do i do after that? Or do I just unplug it like you did around 3:31?
THANKS VERY MUCH, your explanation was excellent. Easy to follow and the process seems to have SOLVED the aggravation caused by the HFL. Appreciate your TIME :-)
There's a tab on every plug. You should be able to use your finger tips on the plug, and press firmly. As you press firmly on the tab. Push in the clip inward and pull in one motion. That should unlock and pull out the plug. Hope this helps.
thanks for the video, I went through 3 battery before I saw this, my car is good now but now my check engine light is on, is this supposed to happened to, just curious
I'm really can't tell you about the check engine light.. you can go and check it at AutoZone or O'Reilly's. they can scan it for free. I doubt it's because of the hfl not connected.. Since its a interior electronic not a engine sensor.. I'm glad this video helped you out tho.. good to see this video flourish and help the tl community
Asphalt Cowboy I'm having the same problem. Is the HFL plug the green plug you removed after the screws? It looked like you plugged it back in. Did you plug it in or just placed it in front of the connection to avoid clearance problems? Thanks man!
geedunk13 green plug at 3:30 that I'm holding with my hand. Yes that is the hfl plug. and no i didn't plug it back in. i just left it by it so it would clear And wouldn't get pinched or get caught as i put the housing back into place.
Mine has been dying every morning now tested the alternator seems like it’s going out should I try this first? My lights and everything turn on still car just won’t turn over
I mean.. If the alternator is bad and the hfl unit is bad as well.. Well yes.. It's still gonna still drain after you replaced the alternator because the hfl is a unit on its own...
wow. this was outstanding. I chased this issue for 3 years and 3 batteries and an untold amount of visits to the shop and even more jumps. outstanding ! Thank you
steve fey. I'm glad you finally fixed it!
Same here !!! the worst blue tooth unit in automotive history LOL
masskilla469 fair enough
Asphalt Cowboy ....thanks a lot man. we had remote start installed at the very time this started to happen. save me much Dinero. btw you could feel the heat coming from the hfl. 2006 tl
Roger Lund I'm glad I was able to help you with this video.. that's a tall tell sign when the plastic is warm to the touch from the hfl unit!
I've been dreading driving my car for well over a year because I don't wanna deal with a dead battery at 10pm in a Target parking lot. I'm gonna try this later today, thank you for posting!
Solved my problem with battery drain!! I have a 2007 TL and was able to trace the problem to the HFL with the help of my local Firestone shop but disconnected the HFL on my own using this video and saved a few bucks in labor charges. Thanks Efrain!
Efrain, thanks for this. I disconnected mine today. I am not mechanical at all your video took me step by step and I was able to take it apart and put it back together with no hiccups. So thank u so much.
you're welcome. I'm glad this video was very helpful.
This video was super helpful to me. Thank you!! I can't fix anything, but I took care of this following your instructions. It cost $330.00 for the part, and the Acura dealer said he would have to charge me another $160 if I had not had the old part to turn in at the same time, I guess to recycle. Everything works fine now! Thanks again!
wooo.. saving money is always good. I'm glad it worked out for you. you're welcome
Thats just them trying to make you feel better for spending so much on a part, lol .... As a finance manager for 7yrs I fought daily with the service dept for charging my dept too much on everything! Service/parts... the most profitable dept in a car dealership.
Brewin Brew fair enough
Thank you!!! I went through 3 batteries. I took this out Friday. Jump the car off and now it is on the road. Appreciate this. Hopefully I can help you out one day
You Think You No Me you're welcome.. I'm glad my video helped you out..
Thank you sir. Mom's car had been discharging and we couldn't figure out why. Went on RUclips and found that hfl was the issue. Found your video and was able to disconnect that hfl. Thank you.
Travis B I'm glad you found my video. i hope this fixes the battery drain issue. You're welcome sir
wha
Tasha Bunn who
what kind of screw you use to take the the screws out
Tasha Bunn it was a 5/16th socket with a adapter for the screwdriver
About to try it myself. Battery keeps dying and i dont plan to biy a new alternator any time soon due to this "little issue" of the death of a fresh new battery. Hopefully my 05 TL has HFL. Gonna go ahead and takr it apart. Thanks for the awesome video, better quality than some of the other ones I've seen. Thanks for the help. I hope this will solve the issue...
Thanks for the video. It saved me from taking my car to the shop for a overpriced non related repair. I did everything you said and I think it did the trick.
Prasneel Kumar you'll find out over night after you drivin it for a bit.
Yeah I've driven it for 2 weeks and so far so good. Prior to this my car died 3x in 2 weeks.
Great video! I'm about to do this on my 2005. Goes to show some things aren't dependent on mileage. Had mine since new and only 116k on it but HFL had been out for like 9 months. I haven't used it since probably 2006 when it's bluetooth technology was already outdated LOL.
Shane's Music Fun hopefully it goes well
A butter knife unclips the light housing better than the screwdriver. It's also less likely to leave indentations on the plastics.
They actually make plastic tools which are very cheap and are a must have for anyone doing work on the TL. The interior has many clips and those two silver trim pieces around the radio are $160 each I have heard.
Thanks for the tip. What's everybody doing about the chrome falling off on the trim pieces?
Great video and a solution to a problem that was infuriating. THANK YOU!!!!!!!
Chris Elmquist I'm glad my video helped you out. You're welcome
Thank you for this video! I just did it. Now I pray it works🙏🏻
Stef Hall hopefully so!
So...did it work??
Clutch video man. I am about to do mine tonight or tomorrow and I will post back with how it went.
R Kiaze let me know.. I like the responses.. Lets me know I really am helping other TL owners
Thanks so much for this video saved me a trip and $$. I just wanted to add that if you have this problem don't bother replacing the Bluetooth piece. This happened to me 5 years ago and the dealership replaced it under warranty. Just happened to me again so it is staying unplugged this time!
awesome bro. handled on my lunch break.
DiveBar Culture nice. awesome
Easy as pie...hopefully it fixes my problem.
CalCats262 was the hfl warm to the touch?
Very helpful video! Had the Bluetooth disconnected and put back together in 10 minutes :-) Question though, the Handsfree Link still says Bluetooth rebooting, which is what I believe to be the issue in the first place (battery drain). Since the bluetooth module is now disconnected should I assume that the bluetooth rebooting won't be and issue and continue to drain the car battery since the bluetooth module is now disconnected?
You are correct
Man, I have to try this. I have an 05 TL and for the past 4 years I have had issues with my car not starting. I replaced the battery 3-4x since 2012. I have had the starter and alternator replaced in 2015 and today again, car wouldn't start. Once again, the battery was dead. It wasn't until today When I called Acura I was told it could be the Bluetooth. I wish I had known this before lumping so much money into the car. . I was so closed to selling the car and buying a new one but was bummed because I know these cars can last for a long time and my car only has 125,000 miles and it's 10 years old.
Hopefully this fixes your drainage issue
Did it fix your problem?
Do I need to disconnect the battery before doing this?
No. It's not necessary. I didn't
These disassembly instructions don't work. I tried them and broke the plastic pieces because....they are wrong. Per the manual, first remove the moonroof switch, in the center, and unplug the cable going to it. After removing that switch, it is easy to pull the black plastic piece down. (Easy because you can get your finger behind it and just pull down.) To assemble, you put the moonroof piece back into the plastic piece that it fits into, attach the cables, and push it into place.
data4teachers that sucks that the pieces broke... I've been doing it this way for a long time. Maybe experience with multiple vehicles comes in to play... you're the first person on here that's watched my video and broke something. I tend to reply quickly. Most if not all are happy with the video I posted. I'm sorry it wasn't the same for you.
Do you happen to know if the HFL in Acura RDX is located in the same place as yours?
I'm really not sure. It's a possibility
The term that you are looking for is 'torx'. Thanks for the video!
thanks for the reference. and you're welcome
For me to disconnect the hfl in my 05 TL I need to unplug the second green plug is that right?
Yes. That is correct
What if I don't even use the HFL and think it is a draw on my battery, can I just remove it or disable so that it no longer is connected? Is that OK? If so, what do I do?
if it's not draining the battery..I wouldn't worry about it
I just want to verify and make sure, in order to remove the hfl from battery drainage, would I just unplug the green cord and then screw the cover back on, or do I need to remove the whole hfl box completely?
you can just unplug it and put it back together without removing it completely
Can I just disconnect the cord for the hands free link and put everything back together?
Also by disconnecting the cord, this should help prevent the battery from draining right?
That's how mine is...
I never connected back... I just left it unplugged
will pulling the fuse stop it from booting up and draining the battery?
+K.o.S Sheol I'm not sure.. I didn't bother looking for one.. I'm going to assume if you pull the fuse.. You'll knock out part of radio functions... But I haven't looked and this is the easiest way and most effective way(straight to the source of the problem) to clear up the battery drainage...
This video was very simple and easy to follow thank you SO MUCH!!!
No problem. I'm glad this video helped you out
Tengo un acura tl 2006 a veces detecta mi iPhone el dispositivo otras veces no, pero nunca he podido sincronizarlo, que necesito hacer, de alguna forma de resetea el hfl? O que me recomiendas nunca lo he usado, saludos
No creo que ay una forma para reprogramgard el hfl.
Has anyone had the problem where the dome lights no longer work after disconnecting the HFL? I simply unplugged the unit and now these lights no longer work. This is still better than having a dead battery in the morning but it would be nice to get my lights working. The wire harness I unplugged looks like it has a dozen wires going into it.
Dave Jones how many wires you see on the plug
if you follow this video correctly. everything but the hfl will be unaffected
I'll look at this tonight and report back. Thank you for the follow up.
Dave Jones yea. let me know. I'll be waiting.
My mistake... i didn't get the wire harness for the light module plugged in all the way. All is good now. Thanks again for the post and the feedback.
Anybody figured out how to repair this device. It appears that that it is fixable, because Acura is actually getting the broken ones back from the dealers.
probably a new motherboard for it is my guess
Actually, it's one of the compositor on the module itself. If you're able to replace it then your HFL should be working. I'm currently trying to just find a new module all-together but I'm having a hard time locating them. Does anyone know where I can purchase it at?
Acuraoemparts.com is spendy tho
The Awesome Fellow Actually they're on Ebay for 100 or so. Just didn't get around to buying it yet. Also make sure that they match the year of the car. The 2007 module is different from my 2006. Different plugs.
Carlyle Tom that's good to know. great info
does this help the horrible battery drain
it's a common cause
I have a 05 acura TL and the battery drains after 1-2 days if I don't turn it on. Have u guys had this experience and unplugged the HFL and had this issue of the battery drain fixed after unplugging the HFL?
World Owner's Rothschild Family So far it hasn't helped. Need to leave my car charged overnight and I'll see.
+Christopher Inthanon Hey bro any update on this to see if it helped with the battery drain? I think it solved my problem so far.
World Owner's Rothschild Family I removed it and charged my car overnight but my battery still died by the end of the day. Replaced my battery and left it unconnected and fixed it. Will report if my new battery dies
Thank you for the video bro.
I'm not sure why Acura keeps ignoring this issue!
It shouldn't be something normal that any module or electronic unit drains the battery like that.
They should come up with a better HFL module and we should demand a recall and replace.
Are you with me everybody?
yes. killing batteries are not good. i agree
Apparently there's some class action suit on this issue.
following
@@dtrrtd774
Literally went to my car and did this in 5 minutes! Thanks so much for taking the time to make this video bro!
you're welcome.. I try to make them as short as possible without wasting time and blabbing away lol.
Best video I have seen on this. Thanks Efrain. Also, hat tip to Carlyle Tom for his post about using a butter knife instead of a screw driver to pry open the light housing. Took me less than 10 min. to disconnect the HFL and replace the the light housing and trim.
About a week ago my battery kept dying if I didn't run the car everyday. Was just about to take it to the shop but then remembered the HFL quit working too. Disconnected it using this video and instantly my battery voltage went up! Eventually I'll get another unit and swap it too. Thanks for saving me time and money!
i love reading these success stories about people saving money and that the hfl unit going bad and battery going out of juice. I'm glad it you found this video and it worked for you!
Thank you so very much for this video. I went right out to my 2008 Acura TL, followed your directions and BANG. Done! I've been left hanging many days in the past 6 months, but this repair became urgent, as my Mom is in the hospital & I need to get there when I need to get there.
Thanks again for making this so easy!
Melissa G 🤓
Thank you for this video!! I went through multiple batteries, and AAA rescues in the 3 years I’ve had my TL. I just let the car sit for 3 days after removing the module, and it fired right up. Cheers, bro. ✌🏽
Michael Puentes that's awesome! I'm glad this video helped you out
Awesome! Thank you for the tutorial.
Question for everyone: does the module have any other uses than Bluetooth for the phone? Or is it a pass through for other electronics? Thanks in advance!
Thanks for this video. No more battery issues with my TL! 12 years old and now still going strong. Great car.
Liz C woop woop.I'm glad this video helped out
Excelente video amigo muchas gracias
@@JuanGonzalez-fk8qr de nada primo
Plz help buying tl tomorrow with this problem does the radio and sound system work after I disconnect this module?
Yes. The only thing that won't work is your voice control.
@@Tommy971321 thanks bro
What is the blue connector for? I believed I removed that one as well
Shouldn't of have to remove. But it's for your mirror when the high beams are bright or will tilt automatically
Great info man. So you’re NOT plugging the HFL back in then right? Did I see that correctly?
Thank you soo much! Been having issues with battery lately and HFL is always warm..i disconnected it..hopefully this fixes it! Tl type S 07
Thanks for the video. I also had a battery drain and this helped me solve the issue. I just disconnected the green connector since I was not using the HFL anyway.
I used to think highly of Honda/Acura, but I'm thinking twice about that now. I'll probably switch back to Toyota/Lexus with my next vehicle.
glad it helped... think about it tho.. it's a 8 to 14 year old car. it's a solid engine with a comfortable suspension. back in 2004 this car was a Damn good for a entry level luxury car.
Yup too short sighted on Acura's part. They now have a real bad reputation..see Consumer Report latest 11/2016 rating. Bought a Lexus just as you said. Too bad. If you don't stand behind your product, why should I buy from you again!. Bye Bye Acura!
Just bought a 2006 tl 4 days ago, it’s been dying every morning since I got it. The last owner replaced alternator and battery last year so that can’t be it, went to auto zone they checked my batt said it’s good just needs to be charged. I just followed this super easy video and unplugged it. I’m praying that it fixes my problem. Will comment back in a few days to let you guys know.
Yes. Please let me know
@@Tommy971321 thanks bro I will 100% wether it works for me or not….if it doesn’t ima need ur help figuring it out 😂
MR. Gomez!! 2 days later she has been starting up no problem!! I’ll give you an update in a week or so. But so far so good, can’t believe this worked.
@@Tommy971321 definitely fixed my problem!!! Thank you so much, I wonder how many people have this going on and don’t even know it .
@@PandemicPete that's awesome. I'm glad my video still able to help people
excellent video , but these units are repairable , Acurazine has the guys info, 40 bucks and it's good as new in a week. search Google
It's actually $55 now... but yes, repairable.
Eric Stride
Hello were do you send it to get fixed can you give me an address or phone number thank you
MRxhalemotorsports1 I know they are. but this video shows how to take out competently... there is a couple alternatives to fix the issue yes.. but the main thing about this video is to know how to take out and put back together..
Asphalt Cowboy
where can i find it for 40 dolers or fix it
MRxhalemotorsports1
can you send me the information of the person hew can fix the hfl
So last week i got the HFL booting message and sure enough my battery dies. I opened everything up and disconnected the wire but the message still says booting and the battery is still dying...any ideas?
While a 5/16" socket may work, the actual size of the driver needed for the four screws is 8mm.
Thanks so much for this info. I was just about to take car into the shop to have the problem diagnosed but I followed your instructions and disconnected the hfl in less than 10 mins. Now I can start my car in the morning without having to jump it! Tks again!
you're welcome. I'm glad it worked out.. save you money at the least lol
Called Acura (Japanese for "Highway Robbery) and they wanted at least 2hrs labor to "diagnose the electrical problem" plus at least another hour labor to repair. This took me SIX MINUTES from start to finish and this was without power tools to turn bolts
Michael Cohen yasss
How come Acura hasn’t acknowledged or reported this issue? I’m sure it has costed a lot of owners money buying new batteries. Since I removed it I haven’t had any issues, my battery used to drain if I don’t drive my car for 2 days so thanks for this dude.
The car is too old now basically. But I'm nosey this video helped you out tho.
On my '08 TL my batter kept dying when the car was off for more than a day. The dealership told me it's the HFL. So I watched this video and removed the board that was connected to the 3rd relay shown. amidoinitrite? :)
Yea it should just unclip like the other ones
Thanks a lot for this video. Super helpful! I'll echo the comments others made. I had this prolonged issue with the battery draining out overnight and your video helped me fix this in no time. You should get a Patreon account, so that we can donate and help you make more such DIY videos. Cheers!
Ankur Datta I'll look into that.
thanks.. also you're welcome!
Thank you for the video! Saved me some cash! Easy to do once you get past the extreme fear that you are going to break the plastic housing with the screwdriver! I should mention the replacement I purchased from amazon had a different housing on the electronic board. Board is the same so keep the old black housing after you remove the torx screws.
that's good to know. but I'm glad it's fixed
Thanks for the excellent video Efrain. I had been going crazy over the battery drain problem I was having, and once I figured out that it was likely the HFL module causing the problem this video showed me exactly how to sort it, quick and easy. Great video, saved me some cash, much appreciated!
saving money is always great. I'm glad this video was helpful
Thanks for the video, save me a few hundred bucks to visit the dealer!
Great video. It will save my battery. You did a good job. Thanks.
Why not just unplug the Hands Free Link connection and not have to deal with taking it all out??? Those are metric number 10 screws you took out.. I know, you used a 5/16 socket... Thank you for this video !
I mean.. I did just disconnect.. I just left mine in
Just disconnected mine. Been wondering why this 'good' battery keeps draining in under 48 hours. Got a cheap multimeter and traced the drain to fuse #6 under the dash which, among other things...supplies power to the HFL. Been on a trickle charger constantly for a year now. Sheesh.
Nicely done
Great job Mr. Castro. I watched the Dealership Mechanic take mine apart in a few seconds, he used a drill and bits. He had to take it apart to trouble shoot it, he tried to pressure me into purchasing their HFL while he had it all disconnected which was priced between 4-5 hundred dollars. Luckily I considered the possibility of getting it cheaper. You are on point with your video, that exactly how the Dealership Mechanic disassembled the unit. Great job.
thank you sir. I try to make sir I explain myself when I'm doing these types of work. but the video explains it all. go to Acuraoemparts.com you can source any oem parts and they ship to your door at great prices. apparently if you order the hfl unit. it comes with the whole plastic piece I removed with the screws.
Thank you for the video, Efrain! I have a 2006 Acura TL, and over the last couple months, my battery has gone dead twice, so it isn't as bad as others, but it was going to start to be a major issue. I unplugged the hfl this morning with relative ease and am very grateful that my battery problems may be resolved! Many thanks!
glad this video helped out. you're very welcome
Thanks for the video! This thing was draining my battery dry for months! I even bought a portable battery jumper to start my car in the mornings. After I removed the device my battery hasn't died since!
Keisho Akamatsu yusss.. I'm glad the draining issue was fixed because of this video..
Asphalt Cowboy .... the part in the middle where you take out the HFL, it's already disconnected, as we need to disconnect if we have that problem... but then you are talking about the HFL after you pull it out... do you have to do anything else that you didn't show? since you were pointing to the screw and mentioning the star Allen... makes me think we need to take something else a part at that point...
Ktulured55 where you remove the star allen (torq screws) is where the hfl is hidden.. that's where it should be taken out and replaced
Hi Efrain. I have a 2007 Acura MDX in the shop right now. After I blew up at the Honda dealership where I purchased the car (hehe), they agreed to take the HFL out for free. I had a few empathetic people there who had kids like I do and, it is putting our lives in danger. I haven't experienced battery drainage, however, my car has been shutting on and off for the last two days. Also had the issue back in January. They have been trying to diagnose the issue and are incompetent. I am hoping this solves the problem.
Quietus hopefully it fixes it. Do you know for sure if it is the hfl unit?
I am so grateful for this video: gets right to it and shows everything! Can't believe I have suffered this battery issue for so long. Thanks, and have a great holiday season! btw the torx screws were easily handled by a small allen from my bike tool.
Instinctive no problem. I'm glad it helped you out.. happy holidays!
I just did this with a wine key and a small crescent wrench in 3 minutes. Would have saved hundreds if I did this the first time the hfl failed. Thanks for the video!
Ryan Williams lmao.. good one.. glad this video helped out.
Thank you man! That was a great tutorial and worked like a charm. No one knew what the issue was no matter where I went. Countless jumps and new batteries. 🙏
5/16 was so key thank you soooooo much😭😭😭😭😭😭😂
When you unplug the hfl will it still say "booting up" even though you unplugged it?
yea it still will
My battery is 25 months old, I rarely let my car sit for longer than a day, 2 weeks ago I returned from vacation to a (near completely) dead battery. Lights on dash were dim, barely turned over. After a jump, my car drove fine for a week, no prob. Let sit all of Sunday and was dead Monday morning. Had my battery checked at AutoZone today (Monday), battery is fine. I pulled HFL plug tonight thanks other readings and the 'how to' in this video. I'll keep you posted..... but thanks in advance!
Brewin Brew yea. let me know!
Did this work for you?
Brewin Brew any news??
Asphalt Cowboy yes it 100% works. Did it to mike and my friends to fix the issue
*mine
Thank you for this short and concise video. I've been dealing with my battery draining for the last 3 years or so and went through a few batteries. Today, my battery went dead again and I was able to follow these easy instructions and disconnected my bluetooth. Seeing how simple this was, I might even replace this unit myself. You saved me about $120-$150 which the dealership wanted to charge me for basically "1 hour or labor" and it only took me 10-15 minutes!
+Surprise Me BTW - I'm a girl and was able to do this myself so it's quite simple! Thanks again!!
I'm really glad it worked out for you, and I'm glad this video made it possible. hopefully everything turns out like you want it out
+Surprise Me woop woop!
We're is the microphone I have problem whit my ?
once I remove the faceplate off the and un hook first two wires and I have un hook the 3rd one(blue one). I don't care about replacing the battery. I just want the blue one no longer hooked up. I put the first two back in place right? My battery problem should fix its self.
Right.
@@Tommy971321 thank you I did earlier and I can feel the battery is warm not hot. Also when i started it up after work it started up almost immediately. But should I replace the battery just in case to make this doesn't happened ever again.
Thanks dude! This was exactly what I needed. 👍🏻
I can't get the main panel off. It's kind of dug in there! 2008, right here.
Might need to push the flat head in a deeper..
have a 1 yr old oem battery (replacement) that was dead this morning (monday) friday was the last day i drove the car (so it sat all weekend) what would be your next decision to do? charge the battery and let thew car sit for a cpl days? or just disconnect the hfl now and get it done with, or take to acura and let them fuck with it, or nothing??? lol and thx bra for your help!
well. here's something you can do help out in your decision. press the call button on the steering wheel... if the lil screen says "booting up" or "booting" it will be you're hfl unit draining the battery. then go ahead and follow this video and do it yourself and save yourself some money
+efrain castro My battery has died after a day when my mechanic could not figure it out. I thought it was my alternator because the battery was less than a year old. I will try this but i just jumped my car and the HFL is working so I am not sure if this is the problem.
+Mark Rudiger. I've read on the forums that the charging system cables go bad. I'm not sure which ones. but might want to look into it on acurazine.com
Dude, thanks man. Will try this tomorrow. Same prob as others, battery drain.
alanlee222 hopefully it is this issue. it's one of the most common things of the TL. good luck
Hey guys, I’ve been having severe issues with my Acura TL 2008. I’ve gone through 3 batteries, multiple jumps, and am now on my 2nd trip to the mechanic. I’m almost completely convinced it is the HFL. My car battery was completely drained today, as in the interior lights wouldn’t even turn on upon opening the door. I have a brand new alternator as well. Does the HFL really drain the battery this bad? My car has lasted about 3 weeks after getting the new alternator and battery but keeps dying. Please let me know! Thank you.
If the plastic is warm to the touch where the Bluetooth should be...even the car is been off for a while... it's bad
Also if you press the phone button and it says "booting up".. it's bad
Amazing video! This helped me a lot.
Thank you sir!!
the worst blue tooth unit in automotive history LOL
and now waiting on results , TY for sharing !
I bought an 08TL yesterday. I've heard about this being a common issue when I was researching the car. I guess I'm going to have to unplug mine this weekend if it's not done already. Waking up to a car with a dead battery, it's just one of those things I absolutely hate.
Just touch the plastic where the hfl should be. If it's warm to the touch. Then go ahead a unplug it. If it's not. Eh. Wouldn't worry about it
@@Tommy971321 I ended up unplugging it earlier today. I checked it throughout the day and it was getting hotter. As I went through the process, I noticed the previous owner knew about the issue and tried to fix it but failed big time...the housing where you have to remove the screws was broken around the screws as though the whole thing was yanked down. When I took out the housing with the lights and switches, broken plastic pieces was falling everywhere. I went through the process as you explained it and fixed it all up. Also bought some washers and placed them around the screws to keep the whole thing in place. It kinda sucks not having the Bluetooth but better that than having battery problems. Thanks for the video!
Mine died today 😭 I’m gonna unplug the hfl when I get home
@@zangetsu209 right on. Cool beans..
@@jareemisthebest yea man. Get to it.
This video saved me from so many more headaches. Used to jump my car every time if it was ever turned off for more than 24hours. Even changed battery bc I thought that was the problem. Removed HFL like this video showed almost 10 months ago and car hasn't died since then. Thanks!
Does a 2007 Acura TSX have this?
Everyone should know there is a class action lawsuit regarding this problem. Google it and you can sign up as well in case there is a settlement. Been an issue for years and Honda/Acura knew about it.
There is a class action lawsuit concerning this defect proceeding in Federal Court in California, Hagens Berman is the law firm. Go to their website and sign up.
Thank you! i just tried this and disconnected that second green cord hopefully it fixes the issue just one more thing. i turned the car back on and went into hfl when i selected it it still said booting up, should i be concerned?
It doesn't affect the TL in any way... You just don't have voice commands as it was with it connected if the unit were to fail in the first place
Efrain Gomez thanks this has been super helpful!
Yea. No problem. Enjoy your non battery drained tl
Hi, and thank you SO MUCH for this video. I have a question! When you took out the gray piece with the HFL in it, what do i do after that? Or do I just unplug it like you did around 3:31?
Armond Collins yes. i just left it unplugged and left it to the side. just enough to give it space since i didn't wanna remove the hfl unit completely
Perfect. Thank you for your response and again for the video! This has been driving me crazy!
Armond Collins glad it helped you out man. You're welcome
THANKS VERY MUCH, your explanation was excellent. Easy to follow and the process seems to have SOLVED the aggravation caused by the HFL. Appreciate your TIME :-)
Thanks! My garage door guy watched the video and fixed it!
kaczmogal yasss. I'm glad he was able to fix it after watching this video!
You didnt say how exactly you unplugged the hfl part ?
There's a tab on every plug. You should be able to use your finger tips on the plug, and press firmly. As you press firmly on the tab. Push in the clip inward and pull in one motion. That should unlock and pull out the plug.
Hope this helps.
@@Tommy971321 I will try ... ..i'm new at all this but I dont have anyone to help so thank you I will give it a try
thanks for the video, I went through 3 battery before I saw this, my car is good now but now my check engine light is on, is this supposed to happened to, just curious
I'm really can't tell you about the check engine light.. you can go and check it at AutoZone or O'Reilly's. they can scan it for free. I doubt it's because of the hfl not connected.. Since its a interior electronic not a engine sensor.. I'm glad this video helped you out tho.. good to see this video flourish and help the tl community
ok anyway thanks alot for the video
John Vue no problem.
are hfl module compatible from 2004 to 2008 same exact hfl module
I'm not really sure. They made a few changes after 06.. I think one of them was the hfl unit.. But I can't recall if they did or not
Thanks man
No problem
Awesome! Thanks for the video, but is it both green connectors to unplug? I noticed that you plugged one out of the two back in
If you don't want to replace the HFL, can you just unplug it to avoid battery drain?
SM Bennet yes. that's exactly what i did
Asphalt Cowboy I'm having the same problem. Is the HFL plug the green plug you removed after the screws? It looked like you plugged it back in. Did you plug it in or just placed it in front of the connection to avoid clearance problems? Thanks man!
geedunk13 green plug at 3:30 that I'm holding with my hand. Yes that is the hfl plug. and no i didn't plug it back in. i just left it by it so it would clear And wouldn't get pinched or get caught as i put the housing back into place.
Will be doing this tomorrow
just did it ... easy as it looks ... took no longer than 5 min
woop woop..
Mine has been dying every morning now tested the alternator seems like it’s going out should I try this first? My lights and everything turn on still car just won’t turn over
Yea. Check it while it's running.. Should be charging at around 14 volts..
Efrain Gomez did this permanently solve your problem? Cause I was reading about cases where the HFL stays on regardless of removal
I mean.. If the alternator is bad and the hfl unit is bad as well.. Well yes.. It's still gonna still drain after you replaced the alternator because the hfl is a unit on its own...