When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Just wanted everyone to know that I sent my Bluetooth module to Joel, received it back within a week, reinstalled and was back in working order. Been running fine for a week.
Thanks Joel - Best $45 I've spent on the MDX in a long time.
PS - I had previously replaced the capacitor and did my own oven baking but that did not fix it.
Last edited by Jchick; 11-06-2015 at 01:48 PM.
Reason: minor grammar
I have a 2008 Acura TL-S with only 35K miles that is on its third battery. The car won't start a few times a year because of the infamous Bluetooth Hands Free Link (HFL) battery drain problem. The HFL always works perfectly, but it drains the battery. I just replaced the version 1.2 HFL unit with a new factory version 2.0 part from a major online Acura dealer, but the HFL mounting area behind the rear view mirror remains warm even after the car sits all night. I've taken to carrying a jumper battery in the trunk to prevent stranding.
Is there some other part that should be replaced? Should I return the new HFL unit and get another one? I really don't want the dealer to go on a $1000 fishing expedition. Please advise.
The gray module at the top of the picture is the MX217... microphone ($95 at oemacuraparts), which is attached to my interior color's black plastic carrier with 2 Torx screws. It has an attached wiring harness with a white plastic roof attachment cone at the midpoint. This cone can be released from the hole in the roof by pressing in from the sides (first on one side, then on the other) with a thin screwdriver while pulling down on the plastic. Then the white wiring connector shown at the bottom of the picture can be released by pushing on its release tab with your fingernail. When you buy a new HFL it arrives mounted to the large plastic carrier, but the microphone is missing and needs to be transferred from your old plastic carrier to the new one. The plastic carriers come in several colors; that is why you need to order by VIN number at oemacuraparts.com. It is good that they provide a new plastic carrier, as the old one is often cracked in many places (superglue will make a passable repair, though).
Replacing HFL Did Not Help (at first) on 2008 TL-S
Originally Posted by nerdindenial
I have a 2008 Acura TL-S with only 35K miles that is on its third battery. The car won't start a few times a year because of the infamous Bluetooth Hands Free Link (HFL) battery drain problem. The HFL always works perfectly, but it drains the battery. I just replaced the version 1.2 HFL unit with a new factory version 2.0 part from a major online Acura dealer, but the HFL mounting area behind the rear view mirror remains warm even after the car sits all night. I've taken to carrying a jumper battery in the trunk to prevent stranding.
Is there some other part that should be replaced? Should I return the new HFL unit and get another one? I really don't want the dealer to go on a $1000 fishing expedition. Please advise.
New factory HFL has SW Version 2.0
UPDATE 11-11-2015: After I replaced the HFL with a new factory unit, the headliner area covering the HFL remained warm, even after sitting all night. This went on for several days and finally the battery was dead after the car sat for 2 days. So I jump-started the car and kept checking every day to see if the HFL area was warm. To my surprise, it has been 4 days and the area around the HFL is now completely cool! So apparently it was necessary to disconnect the battery during or after when the new HFL was installed so the system could get its on/delay/off functions synchronized?!? Just shows how complicated this system is.
It seems that the people on this thread are fighting at least 2 different problems: (1) Dead battery, and (2) HFL that does not work.
In my case it is only problem 1, although some people seem to have both problems. I'll post an update if my new HFL goes bad again. I don't know what other components there are to replace on a 2008 TL-S. Is there some sort of delay switch mounted behind the Navigation unit?
Replacing HFL Did Not Help (at first) on 2008 TL-S
@eastcoastguy
Yes, the HFL picture is from a silver 2008 TL-S that I have owned since new. The interior is black and gray. This is the only substantial trouble I have had with the car, other than it eating Brembo brake pads every 15K miles.
Yes, the HFL picture is from a silver 2008 TL-S that I have owned since new. The interior is black and gray. This is the only substantial trouble I have had with the car, other than it eating Brembo brake pads every 15K miles.
you must brake hard haha. i'm on my 2nd set of rotors and pads and i'm at 105k miles. i haven't even changed the rear pads or rotors yet. i'll be doing a full set replacement before the end of the year
I was planning to send it to godin technologies in FL, but I found out that I was lucky enough to have a friend who owns an electronics manufacturing shop to have a solder reflow oven here. We took the gray connector out earlier tonight, and will be putting it through the solder reflow oven with flux tomorrow. I believe this is the exact same procedure they do over at godin. In any case I'll report back tomorrow with the results.
Here is a picture of the oven that my hfl unit is going through tomorrow:
Last edited by paperboy42190; 11-20-2015 at 01:51 AM.
just got my board back from joel and the HFL paired right away and is working!! so excited this only cost me $45, thanks joel and to the other members who recommended him!
just don't make the mistake i did...i sent in the wrong board because i didn't know the HFL one was under another console cover for the 2008 model (it was hidden)! he emailed me back after a week and said he needed the board that contains a "broadcom" chip....so i went back in my car and took out another plastic console and yup, there was the other board.
so it took 2 weeks instead of 1 but at least it all works now. and i can finally have interior lights again haha (i took it all apart and left it apart til i got the HFL board back)
I actually have 1 more hfl board that died a couple years ago(my first one) that I'm thinking about getting fixed and re-selling here.
maybe this time I can put the board under the xray machine at my friend's shop and see exactly which parts of the solder joints are breaking
I just got my HFL back from sending it to Joel and it works great. Joel turning it around the very next day once he received my unit. It is so nice to have Hands Free working again.
$45 was an extremely fair price to solve this. At the time I posted this (November 2015) a new unit online would have cost me $283. This was simply not an option for me.
does anyone know if the HFL module from another vehicle of same year is compatible with a 07 TL. Mine has bit the dust. I have tried the oven thing and it worked for a little while but I need to replace it. I cant see spending 228.00 on a new one.
Thanks,
Terry
does anyone know if the HFL module from another vehicle of same year is compatible with a 07 TL. Mine has bit the dust. I have tried the oven thing and it worked for a little while but I need to replace it. I cant see spending 228.00 on a new one.
Thanks,
Terry
why don't you do what everyone else in the thread is saying? send it into Joel at Godin Technologies. $45 and you're good to go!
I too had a Bluetooth Failure in my 08 TL. After reading this thread, I sent my circuit board to Joel at Godin Technologies, along with a check for $45.
Joel sent it back within a week and it's working like a champ! I can't recommend Joel highly enough! Save your hard-earned money and give him first shot at your Bluetooth.
Godin Technologies
795 Commerce Dr. Ste 3
Venice FL 34292
I'm just checking in as another successful repair from Joel. Being close to him I had a literal 4 day turnaround time from shipping to receipt and back in my hands. Installed and it paired without hesitation - here is to no more dead batteries!
I recently purchased a (used) 2008 Acura TL Type-S. Everything about the car is great except that a) The voice recognition is terrible "Fan off" becomes "Display icons" or something else completely random and b) the HFL does not work.
HFL issues:
1. When I checked the main diagnostic test it (HFL) lit up red.
2. I tried holding the [TALK] and [BACK] buttons at the same time on the steering wheel and nothing happened.
I didn't even realize my HFL wasn't working until I tried to pair my phone and had issues with the voice recognition. Do you think this is merely an HFL issue or due to the voice rec. there could be more at play?
If it's just HFL I'll send it to Joel and see what happens.
I too had a Bluetooth Failure in my 08 TL. After reading this thread, I sent my circuit board to Joel at Godin Technologies, along with a check for $45.
Joel sent it back within a week and it's working like a champ! I can't recommend Joel highly enough! Save your hard-earned money and give him first shot at your Bluetooth.
Godin Technologies
795 Commerce Dr. Ste 3
Venice FL 34292
really? everything you quoted in your post has the info to send it in. reread (or read for the first time) the post you quoted
I mean, How can I contact Joel, everybody talks about Joel, but it's no any email or phone number to contact him to make a deal and let him know that I'm interested to send my HFL to him.
Sorry, if for some reason I offended you, or any member of the forum.
I mean, How can I contact Joel, everybody talks about Joel, but it's no any email or phone number to contact him to make a deal and let him know that I'm interested to send my HFL to him.
Sorry, if for some reason I offended you, or any member of the forum.
You don't need to contact him. You can just send it to the address above with a check. Make sure your return address is on it.
You can email him if you want, his email is joel.godin@gmail.com. I originally found it by doing a Google search on the company name. You can let him know it's coming but honestly he'll just tell you to send it to te address above with a check. You'll get it back a week later.
I mean, How can I contact Joel, everybody talks about Joel, but it's no any email or phone number to contact him to make a deal and let him know that I'm interested to send my HFL to him.
Sorry, if for some reason I offended you, or any member of the forum.
Telephone
1-941-773-3848
FAX
1-206-339-3776
Postal address
795 Commerce Dr Ste 3
Venice, FL, 34292 USA
Electronic mail
General Information, Sales, and Support Joel.Godin@gmail.com
Used Godin Tech sent a money order and a note with my contact information. Less than a week later I got my HFL module back working like a charm! Had tried the baking trick it worked for a little while. Then I tried to re-solder a few spots (lucky I didn't mess something up) worked for a little while. Saw this company on here and I figured it was worth a try for $45...guy seems to know what he's doing. Very pleased so far!!
Has anyone heard of the devices failing after the repair by Joel?
Mine was repaired three months ago and is still working great. I am not sure there are any people out there that have had it repaired for much longer than that. Time will tell if this repair holds up, but so far myself and others are happy.
I will continue to update from time to time to let others know how the repair is holding up.
Just wanted to share with you guys.
My HFL stopped working so I initially replaced the capacitor and it worked for about 2 weeks. I didn't want to bake it, so I sent it to Joel.
He got it last Thursday, fixed it and shipped it out same day!!!
I wasn't able to install it till yesterday but all is well again.
11-06-2015, 01:47 PM
Replacing HFL Did Not Help on 2008 TL-S
