Since the 2002's have different headlights than the earlier TL's and CL's, I thought I didn't need to worry about headlight theft. Well folks, it isn’t true.

My five-day old TL-S was parked "nose-in" in a brightly lit parking lot directly in front of the entrance to an Over the Border Mexican restaurant on Route 46 in Totowa NJ. I came out after dinner and the front bumper cap was literally hanging off the car. At first I thought it either fell off on it's own or got hit by a car pulling in to the space directly ahead of mine. I called the dealer (who is not that far from the restaurant) and they said that they've had three cars vandalized for headlights in the past week. The scary part is that both the restaurant and dealer are in relatively decent areas.

They didn't get the headlights or the HID hardware and there doesn't appear to be any body damage. The bumper cap might be able to be saved (it was too dark to be sure) and the only paint damage to the cap is on the lower edge beneath the fog lamps which I'm hoping can be spot painted instead of having the whole cap re-sprayed (something tells me Aegean Blue will be a tough color to match). So if I'm lucky, it will be a simple reattachment.

I learned from this to -never- park nose in and always park with the front-end showing where as many people as possible are able to see it.

A question for Jens from Park Avenue: Obviously the headlights themselves can't be transplanted so they must have been going for the "guts". Are any of the HID parts on the 2002's usable on any other Honda or Acura product?

One bright note, Acura TLC dispatched a flat bed that arrived in fifteen minutes even though it was pouring rain in order to tow the car back to the dealership.

Learn from my pain… it’s a jungle out there!

I'll post a follow-up with the final diagnosis when the dealer looks at the car tomorrow A.M.

 

but now they will be able to get your type s emblem.

 

MAN! I would have been pissed!

This is some scary ass stuff! It's just a matter of time before that stuff spreads accross the country as soon as some mofo figures out how to use the TL lights for another car like the Accord!

 

That's crazy!

Didn't you have your alarm on? Doesn't the alarm go off when some one is ripping off your front bumper!?

 

It's a shame when you have a nice car and are afraid to park it anywhere because of what some scum might try to steal. I guess that's the price you pay for having a nice car. Maybe we should all drive Yugos! Somebody slap me, please!

 

DAMN! Scary sh*t......

:-jon

 

I can't believe that people who can afford a 30k car go around and steal lights! WTF is the matter with people? If you park your '02 in ass backwards someone is going to rip off your clear tails! Come on people if you want headlights, tails, Type S badge that bad goto the damn dealer!

Damn the guy just dropped 30k less than a month ago and someone is ripping off his lights! I'm pissed.

 

thats why i took my emblem off

but really, i think that if they want it, they'll get it...

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'02 Nighthawk TL-S
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Comptech Springs / Comptech Headers
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Alpine CVA-1005 Head Unit / Alpine G320 EQ / Alpine DVA-5205 DVD / Alpine NVE-N851A Navi / JL Audio XR653-CS 3-Way comps for the front powered by a bridged Alpine MRV-F407 amp / Boston Acoustics 5.5 ProSeries 2-Way comps for the rear powered by Alpine MRV-1002 amp / Dual 10" JL Audio W-6 sub powered by Alpine MRV-1005 amp / Two Alpine CHA-1214 CD Changers / 20% Tint all-around

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'00 Nighthawk TL
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Aem Short Ram / Comptech Sway Bars / Comptech Springs / Cross-Drilled Rotors / Pirelli SP7000 Tires / 35% Tint all-around
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Pics of my TL and Fun/Crazy Pics

 

The next thing you know...people are taking mufflers. what kind of people would take someone else's headlight????????

 

Well its not as bad as breakin in to your car by smashing the window just to get your air bag.
cost over a grand to replace.

 

Barry- I checked the part #s and they list as fitting 02 TLs only. That really doesn't make a difference cause they can probably be made to work in other applications with some work. Sorry to hear about your experience. I drive a Black 02 TL-S with full body kit, spoiler, Comptech Headers, Mufflers and springs. I also live about 5 miles southwest of where you were and go to the Restaurants on 46 all the time. It sucks we have to watch the car every minute.

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Wayne Gruen
Service Manager
Park Ave Acura

 

Do they steal just the headlight housing... or the HID ballast along with it?

I know you can adapt the HID system to work in other cars (I know people that have done it to Civics) but if they're just taking the housing... I give up

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2000 WDP 3.2TL non-NAV
AEM CAI en route...

 

Here's the deal according to the dealer...

They were definitely after the headlights and must have gotten scared away before they could finish.

So, I now have to replace the entire bumper cap because even though it's not visually damaged, all of the plastic holes that the retaining fasteners attach to are ripped open so there's no way to re-secure it.

It's probably about a $500 repair so at least I don't have to claim it through my insurance company and get my rates jacked.

I'll let you all know how easy it is to match Aegean Blue once I get it back next week. On the bright side, at least they didn't f***-up any of the body panels or wiring. Also, the police in NJ are starting to pull-over cheap-ass Toyota’s and Honda’s running with HID’s to determine whether the lights were obtained legally or not. I don’t know if that will help but it can’t hurt.

In speaking to my body shop today, they have two 2001 TL's, one 2002 TL, and a 2001 CL that are all in for the same thing as mine (except their lights and HID hardware are gone). The dealer also said that they know of four TL's/CL's that were parked in the same row at a nearby mall that all got their headlights jacked at the same time last week.

I don't know about other areas, but this seems to have become an epidemic in NY/NJ. With mine, the three at the dealer, the four at the mall, and the four at the body shop that’s 12 cars hit over the past three weeks.

Those of you in large Metro areas be careful where you park.

 

Why not get aftermarket alarm to protect your investment???

I mean, get the alarm and fully protect it hood, motion sensor, and etc etc.

I guess your factory alram didn't go off when they were jumping on your hood...

That's too bad. I am sorry to hear what happened to your brand you car...

 

Accord & Civic A$$ Holes are doing that crap probaly. I got a Clifford alarm system but I never would have thought about people stealing headlights. If someone catches them doing this stuff bring them to me. I will be the judge, jury & you guessed it #1 A$$ Kicker.

 

You really shouldn't have posted instructions detailing how to do the deed...

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'01 White Diamond Pearl 3.2TL
-Wing, tint, wood and Whistler

 

Man, is it that bad in Jersey. I always heard stereotypes, but steeling headlights...DAMN!

 

so what can we do to stop this???

 

I still would like to know why his factory alarm didn't go off? We do have an alarm on the TL-S right?

 

If its the same thing as the TL they only go off when the door is open.

 

Are you telling me that thieves could take his bumpers, headlights and wheels but as long as they don't open the door alarm won't go off?

 

Sorry I edited the instructions on how this feat is accomplished for obvious reasons.

The one drawback to factory alarms which I just dont understand is that they dont have shock sensors.

Prob with the aftermarket alarm is loss of remote functions such as return of the seats to the set positions, etc, but I guess I may have to live with it. A hood lock may not be a bad idea either

 

Can the TL chrome tail covers be detached easily? There are a lot of Accords/Integra/Civic with missing chrome tail covers in the Boston area. Maybe the TL tail is different. I have yet to see one with missing chrome.

My Civic chrome cover got stolen when the car was just 2 months old! I wish that there's a security system that will send elec. shocks when someone touches the pipe!