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I am considering buying an off-lease TLX Platinum Elite and I have been looking up ways to fully disable the telemetry in the car. I know some people may have opinions on this topic but I am hoping we can skip that part of the conversation and focus on possible ideas to actually disable it (for the people who want it disabled).
I searched the owners manual fuse diagrams and found TCU mentioned in the engine bay fuse box...
...and in the drivers foot-well fuse box.
Some Googling of Acura TCU found articles referencing the TCU as the "Telematics Control Unit" as well as the "Transmission Control Unit". Based on what I've seen in the fuse diagrams and the results on Google, I suspect that the fuses may be a mix of both. I am guessing that the driver's foot-well fuse is probably the telematics fuse, based on the fact that acurapartswarehouse.com diagrams show the telematics as being somewhere under the dash in the cabin and most of the other fuses in the drivers foot-well are for cabin based accessories such as heated seats. (https://www.acurapartswarehouse.com/...0-tgy-a21.html)
The engine bay fuse(s) are probably transmission. Any chance someone who owns one of these cars would be willing to pull one of them at a time, preferably starting with the fuse in the drivers foot-well and see what happens when you turn the ignition on? My thinking is to pull the drivers foot-well fuse first, turn on the ignition without starting the engine and see if the AcuraLink / cellular connection still shows a signal? Maybe even try to use the concierge call button on the roof near the moonroof buttons to see if you can call Acura without your cell phone blue-toothed to the car (that would use the cellular modem in the car).
As for any potential issues, putting the fuse back in should revert any potential check engine lights back to normal "off".
Alternatively, there are some basic diagrams on acurapartswarehouse.com suggesting where the telematics unit is located in the vehicle, which would allow some resourceful people to unplug / disconnect the unit from power or antenna but that looks to be a lot more work digging under dash panels and would be more permanent. Pulling fuses is an easily restoreable option for future sale of the car.
I would do this myself but I have so far been unable to test drive one of these cars alone, as the salesmen in my area are insistent on coming along for the ride. As telemetry is something I am not comfortable with, I do not want to buy the car unless I know the telemetry can be physically disabled in some way.
I recently did this for my 2015 TLX. I removed the TCU then tested that both the buttons near the center lights didn’t work. It also disabled bluetooth. I’m pretty sure the car can’t send our telemetry without the TCU since a new TCU is required to use 4g/5g. Here’s a useful link I found https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2015/SB-10108380-9340.pdf
Disable Acura’s ability to track you like a dog with a gps collar. They collect data “including trip start time and end time, trip start and end location, trip distance, and fuel consumed," how fast you drive, search content, and "geolocation information meaning the exact location of your vehicle at a specific point in time or over a period of time."
Prevent them from collecting unnecessary and irrelevant information including but not limited to: any information that identifies, relates to, describes, or is capable of being associated with, a particular individual, including, but not limited to, his or her name, signature, social security number, physical characteristics or description, address, telephone number, passport number, driver's license or state identification card number, insurance policy number, education, employment, employment history, bank account number, credit card number, debit card number, or any other financial information, medical information, or health insurance information.
I would want to disable all cellular connectivity from the vehicle to Acura. I know the infotainment has an option to opt out of sharing driving behavior but I'm sure other information it still being sent which I would prefer to avoid.
I would want to disable all cellular connectivity from the vehicle to Acura. I know the infotainment has an option to opt out of sharing driving behavior but I'm sure other information it still being sent which I would prefer to avoid.
hey just wondering if u managed to remove the tcu, or what you did
I am considering buying an off-lease TLX Platinum Elite and I have been looking up ways to fully disable the telemetry in the car. I would do this myself but I have so far been unable to test drive one of these cars alone, as the salesmen in my area are insistent on coming along for the ride. As telemetry is something I am not comfortable with, I do not want to buy the car unless I know the telemetry can be physically disabled in some way.
Originally Posted by privacyenthusiast
hey just wondering if u managed to remove the tcu, or what you did
OP has not been back since Sep 2024, my guess is he did not purchase the off-lease TLX Premium Elite that caught his eye.
