if the anti trunk release is on, they key fob SHOULD NOT work on the trunk

 

btw, I think its a mod

 

I am sure that many don't use it but I doubt it's 9 out of 10. It probably depends on where you are and what you do for a living (your lifestyle).

In many metro areas, there are times when you are required to valet park. At other times, such as formal occasions, you may be able to self park, but you and your escort are in gown and tuxedo and you don't want to have to walk a half mile on grass or gravel, especially when one of you is in high heels. (I know you could drop her off and then park but that's not the ideal entrance to make).

I don't trust valets either. I avoid them unless absolutely necessary. But I also use the valet key when I leave my TL at the tinters, the service department, etc. Whenever I have to turn over custody to someone else. I lock the important things in the glove compartment or trunk and give them the valet key.

Being professionally paranoid, I do not give my entire key ring to others. That ring also inlcudes, in most cases, your house keys and, often your gas company charge device (Mobil). It is common practice in some areas for valet parkers to have a key duplicating machine close by; to make a copy of your house keys, mark down your tag number, get your address from that, then wait for the next time you come to that place so they know you won't be home for a couple hours- and have at it. If you leave early, they call their accomplice on a cell phone and tell them to break it off; you're on your way.

My house was burglarized once by a neighborhood kid I was trying to help/rehabilitate. I knew his parents well. I tought him how to ride a motorcycle. The first time he took it by himself for 15 minutes, he went to a) the drug dealer where he traded a ride on my new bike for drugs, and 2) Home Depot to make a copy of my house key.

A week later, he broke in my house, stole a 9MM semi-automatic and traded that to the drug dealer. We live and learn.

Now, if ANYONE including the Acura dealer, needs my TL keys, he gets the valet key by itself.

But, as you say, I don't trust anyone with my TL. Sometimes you have to if you're living life.

By the way, the remote trunk release still works even when you have disabled the trunk in the glove compartment.

XP

 

I agree that it shouldn't, but it does.

XP

 

damn XP, that sucks... IL is a lil different I guess

 

I see that you haven't tinted your windows. I guess that's more of an option up north than it is in Florida.

My tinter took all those little stickers off the windows before tinting.

How many miles do you have now? How old is your car?

XP

 

Actually I'm in the process of finding a good tinter in IL that uses ceramic based tint. I only know this one guy and he said he only uses Sun-Gard metallic tints (I have Navi). He claimed ceramic tints turn purple (not to sure about that one). So all in good time! As far as the TL's age goes, its about 2.5 months old and has about 4200 miles on it.

BTW: its necessary to remove the stickers before applyin the tint, that way its on the glass and not the sticker

 

I suggest you check CLICK HERE for Formula One tint info. They are the ones that have the lifetime guaranteed ceramic film. Not all their dealers carry it as it is a premium+ line in the Llumar family. The parent company is CP Films CLICK HERE .

The only site I have found that discusses the Formula One Pinnacle line of ceramic film is CLICK HERE . It is a local installer but he gives info on the film. I also have the specs that the factory sent me if you're interested. That is the film I got. It cost about $50 more than Formula One metal film for the whole car.

I don't know which part of IL you're in, but it looks like most of the dealers are located close to St. Louis.

XP

 

Yeah I checked Formula One's site a while back when someone posted it, unfortunately I'm in the suburbs of Chicago, very very far from the St. Louis area...

 

i guess if i could get the tint sent to me and have a local person install it that would be ideal... I can't imagine the install would be different depending on the tint...

 

cTLgo,

Imagine for one second your battery has died, will it be possible to pry off the cap and unlock the door, without any tools? Can you use the key to pry it off? TIA

 

with the key it would be slightly harder, but VERY possible... probably take 30 seconds at most

 

Cool Im ordering my end cap soon. So valet dont use the key hole.

 

I forgot to say this... Well done... thanks for the instructions and pics. This is the great idea to upgrade 04TL's safety and grandeur...

Plus, I could be the only one here to use Valet parking frequently... but I like this mod.

 

Are you talking about this part? How hard to take it out and how do you take it out? Will thieves easily take it out too? If anyone could effortlessly pull this part out, this would not be good?

edit by mod ron a: This was ref to picture #1 posted by cTLgo in post #28, which has been deleted because the link is no good.

 

very nice cheap mod. i think ill have to order one tom when i go to work. the picture with the new cap installed looks great.

 

[QUOTE=rets]Are you talking about this part? How hard to take it out and how do you take it out? Will thieves easily take it out too? If anyone could effortlessly pull this part out, this would not be good?

edit by mod Ron A 6 Feb 2005: Again reference to picture #1, which was deleted.

a thief is not going to mess around with that piece the would probably just break one of the windows.

 

 

heh... yeah I love this mod, I don't even realize I did it because I never use the key. Wait till you guys see my next mod

 

ummmm we should hire a spy to keep an eye on cTLgo

so whats ur nex mod? :sqnteek:

 

Where did you get that image?... Do you have the manual electronicly?

 

http://www.acuraautomotiveparts.org/...catdisplay.jsp

 

I called my local dealer in Miami, FL and they told me that the whole handle comes together. Can someone let me know exactly what I should tell them so I can get the cap as quick as possible. A part number or something more specific would help greatly.
Thanks

 

^ he is bullshitting you

 

no i just ordered mine. just go to the dealer and show them the part on your handle and tell them to order it. it comes separetly and should be around $9. as far as part# it is different on every car depending on color since they come painted.

 

 

Did you have a remote starter installed in your car? At the dealer?
I have a remote starter kit sitting in the closet, and wanted to put it the tl, but I am afraid it will mess up with the electronics or will give me warranty trouble..

Please let us know. Thanks!!

 

A cool idea, for looks at least. My experience (and I asked a cop pal) is that thieves do not pick locks, they either slim-jim the thing, or bust out the window. Their key issue is speed - the longer they spend trying to get the car the higher the risk.

 

very very nice mod since the stupid guy at the car wash stuck the key in that hole and scraped the paint on that part and i didnt notice it until i got home....

tried to order some stuff from the website but they emailed me back saying they needed like a $40 dollar minimun order? guess ill be going to the dealer tomorrow

 

not true. i tried the ignition, it doesn't work. you have to use the key in the door to deactivate the alarm

 

Can we get some pics? Earlier ones have been dead for a while now.

 

Here's a cut-n-paste of the part numbers for your reference found on acuraautomotiveparts.org

324336 COVER, L. RR. ABYSS BLUE PEARL 9.97 8.47
324337 COVER, L. RR. NIGHTHAWK BLACK PEARL 9.97 8.47
324338 COVER, L. RR. DEEP GREEN PEARL 9.97 8.47
324339 COVER, L. RR. WHITE DIAMOND PEARL 9.97 8.47
324340 COVER, L. RR. SATIN SILVER METALLIC 9.97 8.47
324341 COVER, L. RR. ANTHRACITE METALLIC 9.97 8.47
324342 COVER, L. RR. REDONDO RED PEARL 9.97 8.47
324343 COVER, L. RR. DESERT MIST METALLIC 9.97 8.47

According to cTLgo, the left rear cover should be the same as the driver handle cover. I just came back from the garage and did a quick test by swapping out the front and rear handle covers...works like a charm!

 

 

I took some pics of the temporary mod by swapping the front and rear covers...but gotta figure out how to upload them first...more soon.

Just thought of another functional reason to keep the key hole there (not block it with a mod)...when you have locked yourself out of the car/house...generally if I have my wallet with me but no keys, I can use my flat emergency key kept in my wallet but with the mod.

In that case, I'll have to keep an extra small flat thingie to jimmy the handle cover loose to get to the keyhole ...

cTLgo,

I have an idea for another project...make the TL lock/unlock due to a proximity sensor that is linked to your fob somehow. Possibly make the trunk work that way as well...without your fob, it won't lock/unlock when you are near. In conjunction with your above mod, looks like an extra fob to work with the valet key (no trunk button) will be needed.

Btw, thanks for all your posts...it's been quite educational for me to read up on all the activities on this site...feels good to know that there are other fellow TL enthusiasts out there.

I'd volunteer to work on this project and share it with all of you, but I don't know a thing about making these mods...just got the ideas, not the skills.

Whadaya all think?

 

Proximity locks would be cool, I wonder if the Acura RL system could be retrofitted to the TL, but I imagine it would take quite a bit of work, and knowing Acura, its probably integrated pretty well to the car, so direct swapping may not work. Good luck with your idea.

 

i'm getting this part from the dealer on friday.... i'll take pics and post them when i do it....

 

just a quick question. Do you think its covered under warrenty if that part breaks off? the passanger side cover broke off while drying the car and i just dont want to spend gas to drive all the way to the dealership and find out its not covered.

 

It should be covered if it broke off under normal use.

But this will save you gas if you want to check it out.

 

Just ordered, should be in monday/tuesday!


Great idea kiddies!

 

got the part today from the dealer for $14... here's pics of this VERY simple mod...

you don't need the metal part, but it comes with the part