A few weeks ago my car began to start up very slowly when sitting overnight. After driving to the store (for example) it would start up full power as if there are no issues. I assumed it was a bad battery, so I had it checked at two places and they said it was NOT the battery and they don't know what the problem could be.

I then took it to a local mechanic when one day my car had zero power and wouldn't start one morning. They fully charged my battery on a Friday and had it sit in their garage all weekend. Come Monday morning the battery went from 12v to 4v. They concluded it was a bad battery.
So I then bought a new battery and had no problems for 2-3 weeks until today, I ran into the EXACT SAME PROBLEM and $260 in the hole.

I'm very clueless when it comes to car trouble. But, I'm thinking something is draining my battery while my car is off but don't know what it is. Any ideas? Thanks!

 

Hi Apples!
the TL has a parasitic draw from the HFL (Hands Free Link)
if the MID displays the HFL in a continuous boot loop, it's a safe bet that the HFL is drawing power from the battery while the car is off.
you can disconnect the HFL above you which will help preserve your battery but you will lose Hands Free operation

 

This .

 

Mine was the HFL. I had the exact same problems with my battery and took it to the local audio shop. They were able to pinpoint the circuit it was on but not the problem. Come to find out the HFL was on that circuit. I unhooked it and no more battery problems. It is located under the black cover by the windshield.

 

Thanks so much guys! I will give this a try. Quick responses too!

 

We're fast on the draw

 

Ok I have removed the HFL and when I went to jump start my car, no start. I gave it 5 good minutes of charge too. I'm crying inside.

 

Jumping =\= charging though...

 

how are you jumping the car? are you using a battery pack? if you're using a battery pack it might take some time. assuming the hfl unit drained the new battery of yours

 

If your battery died a few times already, it's already dug its grave. Get a new battery now that your HFL is disconnected.

 

How are the battery connections?

 

We have a 2012 MDX. Does it also have the parasitic battery drain problem that we've been reading about? Our battery was dead a week ago and we had to start it with our battery pack to get it to the mechanic. The battery checked out OK with a load on it. A week later, it did the same thing, so we had him disconnect the HFL. This morning, the battery was dead again (my husband listened to the radio for 12 minutes without the engine running). It is the original battery, we live in south central PA. All thoughts are deeply appreciated, we don't know what in the heck to do next.

 

I'd reckon it's probably the battery, given that it's a 4 year old car. Either that, or it could be the alternator, but you can usually get both the battery and alternator checked at an auto parts store such as autozone.

 

Buy a new battery, it's dead Jim.