I have been very satisfied with my RL up until last month as I started experiencing the following problems which will take allot of money to fix.

1.) AFS Error - Will take over $1000 to fix according to Acura. Not detrimental but the flashing light in my dash is annoying. Anyone know how to turn this off?

2.) VSA Error - This is gonna cost over $1,500 to fix... not really detrimental at the moment so I'll let it continue to flash in my dash along with the AFS light.

3.) Headlights not working - Spent $260 on 2 new ballast. Turns out there was also a short in the harness between the ballast and the bulb for both headlight. Acura was charging $220 per harness... so I just changed over the entire HID system for $225... Anyone want to buy the 2 ballast I just purchased?

4.) Alternator died - spent $400 to replace.

5.) Sensors on the door handle no longer work so the whole touch to open feature doesn't work... Not sure how much this will take to fix. Anyone?

As much pleasure as I have had with this car over the last 2 years has been matched with the frustration experienced over the last month.

I wonder what else is going to turn up....

Anyone know any cheap solutions to any of the existing problems?

Thanks in advance,

Matt

 

I'm not sure if these are in the order that they happened but would it be to far of a stretch to think that a failing charging system or that short could have caused a lot of these other issues?

 

Short in the harness for both headlights! Seems unlikely unless some rodent was eating on the wires. Are you sure it wasn't the bulbs. They seem to have the highest failure rate.
Also agree with Heavy that your other problems could be related to charging. Have you tested the battery?

 

I've had an AFS warning light pop on. But it always seems to go off after restarting the car.

But I agree with the other guy. I think you are having systemic electrical problems.

 

What's the mileage...?

 

In another post he says 124k.

+3 on systemic electrical gremlins, especially with the alternator needing replaced. That alone can wreak havoc on the other electrical systems if I understand it correctly.

 

Wow seems like a nightmare.... I'm at 85,000 and have the extended warranty, I sure hope I don't have to suffer thru this.

 

I think it's the battery/charging system too. Shame on your Dealer for not investigating more!

 

ew, if possible try trading in at acura for something else. maybe they will overlook some issues because they can fix and resell.

 

there is one doomsday scenario in which an alternator could short out a diode and put AC into the circuit which could burn out other equipment in the car. I think it would be time to sit down with the service manager and say what is going on here? I can't keep putting dollars into treating symptoms. What is the real problem? Then when they find the real problem it is time to decide whether getting an attorney is needed. I can tell you that the local Acura dealer once missed a problem I had. They compensated by selling me the parts at their cost which while not fully a solution brought the fix within reach.

And again - I would not put another dime into the car unless they can tell you exactly why you are having these issues. If there was a design defect - lets say the voltage regulator and diodes sent 30V surges into the car electronics, then you could consider suing Acura for a flawed design. Something like that could eventually be the basis of a factory recall which would be all the more expensive to them.

 

no problems, some gremlins but they fix themselves. love my 05 RL. dealer mant seen ownership..

 

nothing more from the original poster. Guess he got it solved or has moved on to another topic?