Summary: Acura wants $450 for fuse box assembly, OEMparts wants $350. Salvage yards have same year/make/model fuse box assemblies with MICU for $80-$150. Can I reprogram one of them to my car? 04 TL MT

I’ve had problems with electrical things since I got my car a few years ago. I have never been automotive savvy so I didn’t care, as I thought they’d be too difficult to fix. Some of these includes seat memory faults, all 4 doors unlock with master button but don’t lock, hands free link doesn’t work (that might be an issue if its own.. sounds like hands free is all messed up on these ones), new key fob makes headlights flash and alarm and trunk buttons work but won’t actually lock or unlock, and more issues that I can’t think of.

Thw reason I’ve taken interest in fixing this is because I got an OB2 scanner (bluedriver) and more than 4-5 of my codes say it has something to do with the MICU! I have more than 20 codes on my vehicle, some of them with no information at all online, but I am wondering if anybody has has this experience?

I gave all that info in case somebody has had the same symptoms and it wasn’t the MICU. I don’t know much about cars. But back to my question,Acura wants $450 for a Fusebox assembly, OEMParts wants $350. But I see (alleged) undamaged fuse boxes online for $80. Can I get one of these, install it on my car, and then reprogram it to the car as well?

 

These are all the codes I am experiencing. It is 5
pages so bear with me..P0128 Coolant Thermostat (Coolant Temperature Below Thermostat Regulating Temperature)

P0161 O2 Sensor Heater Circuit Bank 2 Sensor 2

P2195 O2 Sensor Signal Biased/Stuck Lean Bank 1 Sensor 1

P2A03 O2 Sensor Circuit Range/Performance Bank 2 Sensor 1

P2197 O2 Sensor Signal Biased/Stuck Lean Bank 2 Sensor 1

P0137 O2 Sensor Circuit Low Voltage Bank 1 Sensor 2

2 Pending Codes

P0128 Coolant Thermostat (Coolant Temperature Below Thermostat Regulating Temperature)

P2A03 O2 Sensor Circuit Range/Performance Bank 2 Sensor 1 8 Antilock Braking System Codes

54 Pump motor and the circuit failure information: Failsafe Relay Failure 61 Power supply voltage failure information: Low or High Voltage

65 Power supply voltage failure information: Brake Fluid Low Level

68 Power supply voltage failure information:



Scan Report - 2004 ACURA TL 3.2L V6

83 ECU Failure information: PGM-FI Relation Failure

84 ECU Failure information: Sensor Input Error

86 ECU Failure information: CAN Communication Failure (Global CAN) 112-1 Circuit failure information 2: Internal power source of ECU Failure

2 Supplemental Restraint System Codes

61-10 Open In Driver Seat Belt Buckle Switch

11-40 Open Or High Resistance In Driver Airbag Second Module

6 Engine Codes

P0161 O2 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction Bank 2 Sensor 2 P2195 O2 Sensor Signal Stuck Lean Bank 1 Sensor 1

P2197 O2 Sensor Signal Stuck Lean Bank 2 Sensor 1

P0137 O2 Sensor Circuit Low Voltage Bank 1 Sensor 2

P2A03 O2 Sensor Circuit Range/Performance Bank 2 Sensor 1

P0128 Coolant Thermostat (Coolant Temperature Below Thermostat Regulating

Temperature)

6 Multiplex Integrated Control Unit Codes

B1005 Lost Communication With Relay Module (RM frame)



Scan Report - 2004 ACURA TL 3.2L V6

B1006 Lost Communication With Power Window Module (DRLOCKSW frame)

B1007 Lost Communication With Combination Switch Module (HLSW frame)

B1010 Lost Communication With Power Window Module (PANIC frame) B1008 Lost Communication With Meter Module (AT frame)

B1011 Lost Communication With Meter Module (VSP/NE frame) 9 Relay Module Codes

B1055 Lost Communication with MICU (MICU frame)

B1056 Lost Communication with MICU (ALARM frame)

B1057 Lost Communication with MICU (DOORSW frame)

B1058 Lost Communication with Power Window Module (DRLOCKSW frame)

B1059 Lost Communication with Power Window Module (PANIC frame)

B1060 Lost Communication with Meter Module (VSP/NE frame)

B1061 Lost Communication with Meter Module (AT frame)

B1062 Lost Communication with Combination switch Module (HLSW frame)

B1063 Lost Communication with Combination switch Module (WIPSW frame)

1 Power Window Module Code

B1145 Assistant’s Window position data Error (Assistant Sub switch module) ©





7 Meter Module Codes

B1150 B1155 B1156 B1157 B1158 B1159 B1160

Communication Bus line Error (a bus OFF state is detected by Meter Module) Lost Communication With Combination Switch Module or MICU (HLSW frame) Lost Communication With Combination Switch Module or MICU (WIPSW frame) Lost Communication With MICU (MICU frame)

Lost Communication With Relay Module (RM frame)

Lost Communication With MICU (DOORSW frame)

Lost Communication With Power Window Module (DRLOCKSW frame)

3 Center Panel Module Codes

B1705 Lost Communication With Meter Module (ENGTEMP frame)

B1706 Lost Communication With Meter Module (VSP/NE frame)

B1726 Lost communication with A/C

1 Combination Switch Module Code

B1255 Lost communication with MICU (MICU frame) 5 Memory Seat Control Module Codes

B1831 Right mirror vertical sensor open.





Scan Report - 2004 ACURA TL 3.2L V6

B1830 Right mirror horizontal sensor open.

B1833 Left mirror vertical sensor open.

B1832 Left mirror horizontal sensor open.

B1840 Column Tilt pulse failure. Pulse failure detection is carried out during Tilt operation.

 

Just curious, do you know the OEM part number for this $$$ fuse box assembly with MICU you want to replace?

Is it #4 on the link below?
38200-SEP-A01 Genuine Acura Fuse Box Assembly (acurapartswarehouse.com)

 

That is the one that I was looking at. But on that website, and oemacuraparts.com, the photos appear to not have an MICU.. I am unsure if it’s just the photos; I would definitely call before ordering. Actually, I might call and ask just to confirm that’s the part I need to begin with.

I just seen a thread yesterday saying faulty MICU calls for a new fuse box assembly and that part was the only one I found about it. That website is $306 which isn’t bad.. still would rather get a used one if possible.

 

Just called them and that is the part I need. It comes with the MICU in there.

 

Therefore, if you can find an intact 'salvage' yard 38200-SEP-A01 unit for $80-$150, from either an 04 TL Base automatic or 04 TL Sport 6MT, it should fit your manual transmission car.

05-06 TL have a different part number, so beware.

 

Interesting, thank you for that. There are plenty of them listed for low prices, but they are listed as fuse boxes. I called one yard and the man did not even know what I was referring to when I asked about the MICU. I would hate to order one and it does not include the MICU.

Do you happen to know anything about programming these? I see old threads saying that any basic “auto locksmith” can reprogram an MICU but I’ve called several and none of them do. I’d hate to throw my money away at a dealership just to use their tablet (I know it is more than a tablet, but do they really need to charge hundreds of $$$ to use it?) I just seen a video of a dude who reprogrammed it with a tool but he did not say the name of it.

 

The image below is from the 07-08 3G TL Helms service manual.
Your 04 TL 6MT should not be that much different because it is an earlier 3G version of the 07-08, though it could be.

With that said, It clearly states that this 'MICU' is (built into the under-dash fuse relay box).
As far as programming goes, I am not sure.
It could be just a simple straight-up under-dash fuse/relay box replacement?
That's where your efforts will come in by talking to or taking it to a shop for clarification / guidance / replacement.

Good Luck.

If you can, link this video you mention above of the programming of the MICU.

 

I appreciate your help. I’ve seen videos of the replacement for my generation TL so I know where it is. Easy replacement that even I could handle. My main concern is only the programming part.

Here’s the link to the video I was referring to:
That video is on a completely different car though. I feel like the information I need (if 04 TL needs programming) is known by only a few people, and the dealerships. But the dealerships will not even begin to answer this question. They want me to take it in and have them diagnose it which is already $150+. My car drives and functions fine for what I use it for. This MICU replacement is not necessary but I would like to do it. It’s annoying not being able to find any information about it.

 

If the immobilizer needs reprogramming, there may not be a way around that with a used UD fuse box.

According to the below image from the 07-08 TL Helms, there is NO mention of programming involved.

If the MICU is built into the under dash fuse box, as shown above, and the below instructs one on how to replace said under dash fuse box assembly, there should not be any programming involved; otherwise, one would think it would specifically say, no? The only 'programming' looks like the radio & nav. codes. It does not mention anything about the immobilizer like on the Ody video above?

I would roll the dice and say your next step is securing an 04 TL UD fuse box and get to fixing.

 

You just blew my mind while reading that lol. In my last comment I was even going to mention how some articles/threads online say that programming is not required for ALL cars with the MICU. I think I’ll just roll the dice and get one from a salvage yard. I would rather spend $80 and it not work than spend no money and be left wondering, or spend $350 on a new one.

Thank you for your advice, I’m going to try to get one ordered today after work. I’ll definitely update here in case anybody in the future has the same question.