Hello all, I purchased my 2007 in 2011, my car was great until 2013 when the battery started dying all the time, got a new battery same problem, tested the alternator that wasn't it, wasn't the ac fan fuse, etc.... It was my hands free link. The option that makes the car Bluetooth capable, the unit had gone bad and was killing my battery as the car was off trying to locate my devices. I had it disabled at the dealership cost $180 bucks including inspection. The replacement at the dealer is about $400 but I can live without hands free calling and wireless garage access!!!!!! Hope this helps!

 

Houston Stan,

You have to physically disconnect the HFL bluetooth from the car.

You do this but pulling off the panel where the rear AC/Vents are.

Just pull firmly but carefully on the top edge and it will pop off. You don't remove any
screws or anything.

Once you pull that off you will see the blue tooth module. It will show the blue tooth symbol on it.

Just unplug the one connector.

Thats it!

You can replace if you want as well.

But most importantly your battery will stop draining and you decide what you want to do from their.

I recommend anyone having battery issues with a mdx 2007ish or later and has replaced the battery and then continues to have intermittent dead batteries to try this first.

Even you still have problems then you at least know its something else. Personally
i think this is to blame for many of intermittent dead batteries.

The dealership told me they actually have more cases of the A/C clutch relay causing a battery drain but that is more obvious because you get some smoke/freon coming out from under the hood and I assume the AC will not work (see other posts for this), so be on lookout for that as well.

 

Thanks Kevin T

Have done this, will see if this helps the issue. Also am still experiencing the DVD player 'searching' for a DVD and reading a bad disk. I know that there is not a DVD in the drive (and I can put a CD in that it tries to read) so it must be something stuck/jammed. The dealer said they won't touch it (they only replace them at $800ish a pop) but that disconnecting just the DVD player might do the trick. I just need the battery to stop dying so that the car with kids doesn't get stuck somewhere it shouldn't.

Anyone know how to do this? I couldn't find on YouTube.

 

Same issue MDX 07

2 batteries, one brand new alternator, and after days and days of research at the car shop (not deler) he took the fuse of the radio and that was it. Problem is I don't have a radio, cd, changer, dvd, or sound from the nav system. He confirmed the raio is leaking and draining the battery and alternator...

New radio, plus $900

 

zhht - we do have a power tailgate, but never leave it open. simply open/shut. Thanks for the idea. We've disconnected HFL unit and so far so good. Am going to disconnect DVD player as well (if anyone has an idea of how to do this be great).

 

I have this problem repeatedly. Usually happens when car has been sitting for longer than a day. At first I replaced the battery. Then replaced it again. Replaced battery cables. Something must be drawing on it. Either the tailgate or the Bluetooth. I will assume it is the bluetooth since I obviously am not using the tailgate/lift gate while it is sitting.

Also started having intermittent problems with doors, mirrors, windows, not working and then suddenly working again. I don't believe it is fuses.

 

Have had the same issue with my 2007 MDX (after having replaced battery & alternator) - have been told it's the Bluetooth Module. Disconnected and problem finally stopped. Has anyone had any luck with Acura Customer Care either fixing this or reimbursing any costs? I once had luck with this for a known issue with the center console leather peeling off (had it replaced for free). Has anyone actually replaced the HFL module and NOT had the problem reoccur? I'm worried that even if they do replace this, I'll end up with the same, unwanted issues.

Thanks!

 

Has anyone actually replaced the HFL module and NOT had the problem reoccur? I'm worried that even if they do replace this, I'll end up with the same, unwanted issues.

I removed the module and replaced my battery and alternator about a year ago and no problems since (fingers crossed).

 

battery drain

Seems crazy, but my problem seems to have resolved simply by replacing CDs in the radio. I was waiting in my car for child's game to start when I noticed the sound of the radio "loading" a CD. My battery had died 4 times in a week and has now worked every time since I replaced the CDs. Doesn't seem like this could be the problem, but it's worth a try if anyone else's battery is draining quickly.

 

So lately I've been having problems with battery going dead after sitting for more than two days. I have an 07 MDX without power tailgate. I have already replaced the relay for A/C.

My first thought was HFL is bad. I tried to pair my phone to it and it started going through the process and when it asked for me to enter my pin code on my phone it stopped working. Tried to do it again and when I push the button for HF it does not do anything no beeps nothing. I can see the link on nav with phone icon.

I did some testing with my meter and not sure if HFL is causing my drain. I tested with HFL connected and my reading started at 3 amps and then about 40 seconds later it drops to .23 amps. This is with doors closed and about five minutes waiting. I then disconnected my HFL and tried testing again. Same thing starts at 3 amps then about 40 seconds later drops to .01 amps. I did this a couple of times to make sure I wasn't over looking something.

I have left the HFL disconnected so see if this stops my dead battery problem.

I believe reading through the forum .25 or less is considered normal.

My battery is less than 1 year old and have no problems as long it's not parked for more than 2 days. With MDX running my battery is over 14 volts. Before I started testing my battery was at 11.75 volts. After troubleshoots for about 1 hour my battery was back up to 12.5 volts.

Any other ideas. I haven't seen any topics of tsb 07-018 about door lock switch.

Thanks
George

 

I did some testing with my meter and not sure if HFL is causing my drain. I tested with HFL connected and my reading started at 3 amps and then about 40 seconds later it drops to .23 amps.

if you wait longer you can see the current will surge again. HFL most likely is bad.

 

Test

I did some testing with my meter and not sure if HFL is causing my drain. I tested with HFL connected and my reading started at 3 amps and then about 40 seconds later it drops to .23 amps.

I am having the same issue. My wife's 2008 MDX has had a drained battery twice within two weeks. Happens after the vehicle sits for more than two days without driving. I recharged the battery and measured the parasitic drain with engine off, doors shut, and all accessories off and I measured similar characteristic as ghernz. When I connect the battery, I see about 2.5 amps of current draw which settles down to 0.25 amps constant after about 30 or 40 seconds. Then once every 30 or 40 seconds, the current jumps to 2.5 amps for a couple of seconds then drops back to 0.25 amps. That cycle repeated for the 4 or 5 minutes that I observed it. 0.25 amps or 3 watts of continuous power draw at 12 V seems a bit excessive to me. Is 0.25 amp constant current draw normal for an 2008 MDX? How about the 2.5 amp spikes of 1 or 2 second duration every 30 or 40 seconds?

 

That sounds like the HFL Issue...
The nominal standby for the MDX is 0.25A this is the maximum allowed. If you are seeing spikes of 2.5A to 3A then the HFL is most likely gone bad...

Disconnect the HFL and test again.

 

Thanks for reply.

I have the HFL unplugged for now. I will see how it goes the next few weeks and will retest for longer period to see if I see spikes.

 

Update. Left car parked for 3 days and it started right up. Looks like my gremlin is the HFL. Has been disconnected for almost 1 month and no more dead battery problems.

 

J'ai le meme soucis avec ma Acura MDX model 2008
Pour moi c’est le matin , elle ne résiste plus . Je vais aussi déconnecté le HFL POUR VOIR COMME ÇA RÉAGIRA

 

J'ai le meme soucis avec ma Acura MDX model 2008
Pour moi c’est le matin , elle ne résiste plus . Je vais aussi déconnecté le HFL POUR VOIR COMME ÇA RÉAGIRA

Funny!!