Hi, I have a 2015 Acura TLX, V6, Tech package and live in Toronto, which is a tad chilly, shall we say. I've had the battery die and strand me on -20C /-4C F several times (not fun), and of course, when googling, the term HFL comes up several times. The reason I think it's the HFL vs anything else is that it only happens in extreme cold. A week ago, my BT refused to work (people could not hear me when on BT, only started working after the car switched off/on), which has happened a couple of times. I'll try to confirm it by taking a temp reading of where I think it is which is behind the glove box.
I've tried to confirm the location and a step-by-step as to how to remove the glove box with limited success, so hoping someone has more details.
Also, does anyone know where I can get a reasonably priced HFL, which is not CAD 800 + tax from (will a junk yard have it ?) I understand in the US it's a lot cheaper, but probably won't ship here.
Thanks a lot for any suggestions, and I am hoping this is not a duplicate thread (if yes, point me in the right direction).
Meanwhile, I have 2 emergency battery chargers in the car - sigh.

 

Perhaps your battery needs to be replaced as these vehicles require a good strong battery. I suggest a good quality AGM battery in the highest CCA you can find.

 

Hi, thanks. Battery is a good one from Costco, AGM, about 6 months old. I'm getting to the realization that it being an older model, I might have no choice but to remove the glovebox and disconnect the HFL (do you know of any step by step of how to do that ?). I used my temp sensor while car was off, and it showed the HFL as hot , meaning it did not switch off and keep hunting for a signal, draining the battery in the process)

 

No idea if a first-gen RDX HFL will work in your TLX, but you can have mine. I took it out because I kept hitting the phone buttons on my steering wheel which interrupts the music, and I don't have a smartphone so no need for the car to have bluetooth.

 

Thanks for your kind offer. I did some checking, thanks to Google :
"Based on the incompatibility of part numbers and generation differences, a first-generation RDX HFL (HandsFreeLink) module will not work in a 2015 TLX V6 Tech.
The 2015 TLX uses a different, more integrated communication system than the 2007–2012 RDX generation."
It would have been nice if they did :-(.

 

My plan , as the battery is dead, had to have car towed home, and I think the HFL might have done a number on it. Did I mention its -22C / -6.7F , is to put an extension cable drive house heater in the car so I don't freeze, try to remove glovebox, try to get to hfl, disconnect all cables, then if successful, charge the battery (or replace it from Costco). chance of success.... hmm... maybe 45% ?. Fortunately I can use my wife's Jeep as the weather is subzero for the net 1.5 weeks

 

Are you getting battery voltage on whatever wire is the power wire for the HFL, even when the car is off? That's the real test for parasitic draw. If not, maybe it's possible to re-wire it to something on switched power?

 

Hi, the only way I could check was with a temperature scanner (see picture above in thread). It showed the HFL as hot (having power, working) even though car was switched of.

 

I'd argue this is a pretty good proxy for checking if your HFL is in fact draining the car battery... but to definitively test this theory, you want to know if the HFL is getting voltage from the battery, not just if it gets warm while the car is off.

If you have a basic DC voltmeter, try measuring between each of the pins on the HFL connector and body ground while the car is off - if you get anything other than 0 volts you have your answer.

 

unit is out, turns out I also have a car dead battery (60% health, 0% charge) , while a winter storm is in the way. Internet says car survives fine without HFL unit, mechanic neighbor says some Acura's consider it a telematics unit, dashboard will light up like a xmas tree and all of this would have been for nothing. One way to find out is to push that start button. I don't have a voltmeter unfortunately so can't check as per your suggestion. so, question of the day, snowblower 1st or car battery (once charger finishes repairing and charging it) 1st. Sigh......