Problem with the CORRECT radio code on 3.2 TL

My battery discharged in my 2003 3.2 TL and I had to jump start the
car to revive the battery. Afterward, I discovered a very annoying
problem involving the Radio Code. I have the correct original code
for the radio from the original card, and confirmed this with Acura.
I confirmed the serial number is correct by powering it up with 1 and
6 pressed. However, no matter how many times I try to enter the code,
it doesn't enable the radio. (including if I pull the radio fuse and
reinstall it, in which I am then allowed another 10 tries). This
issue really annoyed me.

I spoke to the dealer and they told me that the antenna needs to be
disconnected from the radio in order for the code to work. My
understanding is this is a design flaw with this radio in which it
will reject the radio code if it is receiving a radio signal from the
antenna (which you can't avoid unless you take apart the interior
panels of the car and disconnect the antenna from the radio).

The person from the dealership initially wanted to charge me for this,
and told me that the radio was designed this way (requiring the
antenna to be disconnected) to prevent theft. (which made no sense to
me) I pointed out that the CODE is the anti-theft feature, and the
need for the antenna to be disconnected is a design flaw. (After all,
a thief WOULD disconnect the antenna, but the owner of the car should
not be made to.) I also pointed out that I feel I should not have to
be playing games to reactivate my own radio, and the person said, "if
this bothers you so much, then we'll do the work for no charge."

While it is nice that the dealer will be reactivating my radio for me
next week, I am stuck without a radio in the mean time. This is the
manufacturer's fault, and granted there are worse problems in
life.

Nevertheless, I still wonder, should I experience a dead or discharged
battery again, if I am going to have to beg the dealer to get this
done for no charge again should that happen.

I googled this issue, and I read somewhere that driving to an
underground parking garage and attempting to reactivate the radio will
work, but I don't think there are any in my area.

Are there any other solutions to prevent this radio code nonsense from
happening again in the future other than a new radio?

It would be nice to be able to fix this myself, but I would rather not
try to pry open the interior panels myself, as they don't appear to
want to come off easily, and I don't want to accidentally crack or
scratch them.

Is there another antenna plug inside the trunk that could be unplugged
as an alternative way of fixing this? If so, then where exactly is
this other plug?

Is there any way of jamming or blocking the radio signal besides
driving into an underground parking garage?

Thanks,

J.

 

I don't know the TL, but how about disconnecting the external aerial?

 

The antenna appears to be in the rear window, but I don't see a way to
disconnect it in that area. I looked in the trunk, and I don't see a
connection.

 

Your choices appear to be to disconnect the plug at the radio -or-
disconnect the glass antenna feed at the top/rear of the headliner.

See linked diagram for a road map:

http://hondapartsunlimited.com/scacura/jsp/prddisplay.jsp?catcgry1=TL&catcgry2=2003&catcgry3=4DR+TL&catcgry4=KA5AT&catcgry5=RADIO+ANTENNA-SPEAKER&ListAll=All&vinsrch=no&systemcomp=Electrical%2FExhaust%2FHeater%2FFuel&prdrefno=&quantity=0&act=&count=0&hidSwitch=&hidIrno=

 

I don't know how to remove the headliner, and I am afraid of
potentially damaging it. There is a round plug in the ceiling that
turns with a screwdriver but it doesn't appear to unscrew. I suppose
I could try prying that plug off, but I don't want to potentially
break it.

 

A "round plug" is for freeing a jammed moonroof.

On the possibility that the antenna feed is at the top/right/front of
the trunk (as viewed from the rear bumper), look to see if the harness
is mounted there.

 

Prolem Solved! I read the instructions in the link below, and fixed
it! Granted, I should not have to go through this, but it did work!

http://tl.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=700000

 

"JayN" wrote

I wonder if you would have been able to get the radio to take the code by
simply tuning the radio to a spot on the dial where there is no station...
then enter the code. ?

 

I wonder if you would have been able to get the radio to take the code by

No. The radio did not function at all, including tuning.

 

I have to say, if this was on a Honda-brand car and was a Honda
screwup--and I imagine it is--then the Honda dealer I use would no doubt
take care of this for me at no charge.

It helps to know how things are SUPPOSED to work, and to know that the
radio isn't SUPPOSED to behave this way.

 

"JayN" wrote

No. The radio did not function at all, including tuning.

Yeah, you did say that the radio didn't work at all. Oops/duh. ;-) I guess
the radio, receiving any amount of voltage (through the antenna), prevents
setting the code.

 

According to one of the threads that was referenced earlier, simply
taking the car underground to where it can not receive any radio signals
solves the problem.

 

Yes, but I don't know of any underground garages in my area.

Granted it was nice that the dealer did offer to rivive the radio for
free (THIS TIME), and it was nice that it turend out that I was able
to get it done myself and so won't be needing the dealer's help, but I
just hope I don't run into this issue again since it is a hassle.
Clearly this radio has a design flaw.

Likely I won't be buying another Acura again unless they can prove to
me beforehand that the radio code actually works....and the navigation
code too if I get one that has built-in navigation.

And Acura damned well is going to be hearing about this radio code
problem EVERY time they telephone me for a survey. If they want me to
stop bitching about it they can either 1) offer to replace the radio
with one that doesn't have this problem or 2) offer to install some
kind of toggle switch for the antenna that can be accessed without
removing the plastic panels!

 

Funny, this has never been an issue with a Honda-branded car.

I think something went wrong with this particular design of radio.

 

I agree - it makes no sense to have to do that. At work we have a
multi-address radio system that has a similar flaw; the earlier models would
not open the diagnostic port if the receiver was picking up signal. Later
models fixed that flaw; let's hope Honda has done / will do the same.

Mike

 

Why do you keep saying "Honda-branded" car. An Acura IS a Honda-
branded car.

 

In the US, Honda is a brand. Acura is a distinct brand.

 

Look closer, the Acura "A" is actually a bent "H". I bought virtually
all the parts I ever needed for my Acura TL from the local Honda
dealer at 1/2 the price. The TL and the Accord come down the same
assembly line in Ohio right next to each other. I think you are
trying to make a distinction that just isn't there.

 

I understand that.

I understand that.

I understand that.

I'm making the distinction that American Honda Motor Manufacturing
makes, no more and no less.

No radio with the Honda brand on it placed in a Honda-labeled car sold
by a Honda dealership has ever had this kind of problem. Further, the
radio that DID have the problem fits ONLY in the TL and not in any other
car, correct? Therefore it was designed FOR the TL, which is an
Acura-branded car.

On THIS radio, the one with the Acura brand on it, installed in an
Acura-branded car, Honda fucked up the design. No doubt they fixed it,
because this is NOT the intended behavior of the security feature.

The fact remains, this happens ONLY in an Acura-branded car.

If you want to discuss how the cars are the same, have the discussion
with American Honda Motor Manufacturing.

Oh--as for the "distinction that just isn't there," two things:

* try getting a replacement radio for your Acura from the Honda dealer
(even better, try getting the replacement comp'd by the zone manager
that the Honda dealer deals with)

* try getting warranty service on your Acura by taking it into the Honda
dealer

Now let's see if the distinction isn't there.

I didn't make the distinction. American Honda Motor Manufacturing did.
And American Honda Motor Manufacturing fucked up the design and
manufacture of this one Acura-branded radio.

 

Don't know about this specific radio, but the one in my 2000 TL
definitely was listed in the local Honda dealer's parts book (who, by
the way, was not also an Acura dealer).

They serviced mine on two separate occasions. Now if you want to talk
about Nissan & Infiniti, you would be right, but not Honda.