07 TSX Electrical Problem - HFL?
#1
07 TSX Electrical Problem - HFL?
I have a 2007 TSX and have been dealing with a strange electrical issue.
Three weeks ago I went out to lunch and on the way back could not start the car. Display would flicker/click. Jumped the car, and it started. Drove to Autozone and battery and alternator both passed their load test. After that car started fine, no problems.
Then this morning I have a little bit of a slow crank, but not alarmingly so. 20 minutes later I'm at a stop light and strange things happen in the span of about a minute:
- Passenger air bad indicator/fault turns on and off and flickers
- Seat belt indicator then starts going on an off
- A cascade of other alerts start coming up - TPMS, etc.
- The display lights start to flicker and engine strains a little
Light turns green and I take off, changing course to go to the dealership to figure this out. All the alerts immediately stop when I accelerate and car is running fine.
5 minutes later, about 10 minutes out from the dealer I get a "Check Charging System" and a red battery alert. Aha! Alternator? Maybe? Would make sense I'd think.
I pull into the dealership and of course, the check charging system alert clears. I list all of my symptoms and the service agent tries to start my car but doesn't turn over. "Its the battery" he says. "No, its more than that" I say. So off they go to do a "draw test".
A couple of hours later I get a call - they narrowed it down to a faulty HFL. Apparently the module is pulling too much power. They want nearly $1500 to fix.
... And apparently someone's boat payment is due...
Right. So they're going to just disconnect it. Which is irritating but better than shelling out $1500.
So question is: Does a faulty HFL which puts a high draw on the electrical system account for the behavior I saw? I'm struggling with this because I would think that if the alternator is running then while the car is on it shouldn't be a problem, but rater be a problem when the car is off. Alternator apparently checks out and nothing else seems to be a problem. Also I'd think if the draw was so much it brought down the 12V bus wouldn't it also blow a fuse?!?
What do people think. Faulty HFL? Disconnect and we're done? Or is that a red herring and there's another issue at play (can an alternator be intermittent?)
Three weeks ago I went out to lunch and on the way back could not start the car. Display would flicker/click. Jumped the car, and it started. Drove to Autozone and battery and alternator both passed their load test. After that car started fine, no problems.
Then this morning I have a little bit of a slow crank, but not alarmingly so. 20 minutes later I'm at a stop light and strange things happen in the span of about a minute:
- Passenger air bad indicator/fault turns on and off and flickers
- Seat belt indicator then starts going on an off
- A cascade of other alerts start coming up - TPMS, etc.
- The display lights start to flicker and engine strains a little
Light turns green and I take off, changing course to go to the dealership to figure this out. All the alerts immediately stop when I accelerate and car is running fine.
5 minutes later, about 10 minutes out from the dealer I get a "Check Charging System" and a red battery alert. Aha! Alternator? Maybe? Would make sense I'd think.
I pull into the dealership and of course, the check charging system alert clears. I list all of my symptoms and the service agent tries to start my car but doesn't turn over. "Its the battery" he says. "No, its more than that" I say. So off they go to do a "draw test".
A couple of hours later I get a call - they narrowed it down to a faulty HFL. Apparently the module is pulling too much power. They want nearly $1500 to fix.
... And apparently someone's boat payment is due...
Right. So they're going to just disconnect it. Which is irritating but better than shelling out $1500.
So question is: Does a faulty HFL which puts a high draw on the electrical system account for the behavior I saw? I'm struggling with this because I would think that if the alternator is running then while the car is on it shouldn't be a problem, but rater be a problem when the car is off. Alternator apparently checks out and nothing else seems to be a problem. Also I'd think if the draw was so much it brought down the 12V bus wouldn't it also blow a fuse?!?
What do people think. Faulty HFL? Disconnect and we're done? Or is that a red herring and there's another issue at play (can an alternator be intermittent?)
#2
Others have had similar problems w/ HFL draining battery.
Suggest pulling connector to HFL control unit under glove box and see if problem is resolved. If yes, the HFL is the culprit.
Used parts (car-part.com, ebay) are likely to provide lower cost replacement parts if you decide to replace.
good luck
Suggest pulling connector to HFL control unit under glove box and see if problem is resolved. If yes, the HFL is the culprit.
Used parts (car-part.com, ebay) are likely to provide lower cost replacement parts if you decide to replace.
good luck
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