I filed a complaint with NHTSA (as should all of you). This is really quite amazing mechanical diagnotic abilily and unheard if in this day and age. I cannot thank you enough fir doing the hard diagnostics and recording this video for us!

@reginag1874

6 ай бұрын

Thank you for all of the comments. I filed a complaint as well with the NHTSA and Honda Motors when I was going through this issue. The videos are evidence of the inaction from them.

This happened to our 2017 MDX two nights ago, and I had to disconnect the battery to stop it. Reconnecting the battery would set it off again, and it would never go more than a few minutes without freaking out. I just did this fix and it's been a few hours with no issues. Time will tell, but I believe it's fixed. You, sir, deserve a medal for figuring this out and making such high quality videos. We live hours from a dealership, so it would have been a major issue to take it in and hope those guys can get if fixed for $$$$. Thanks again.

Just successfully did this on my ‘16 MDX. No more flickering dash, headlights or lot alarm tripping. I hope you’re making some money on this video because you deserve it! You clearly have a strong electronics background. Mind sharing your profession? My dad was an electrical engineer from 1978 at Intel in charge of testing performance and durability of micro chips. I went the mechanical route so he will be proud when I show him this video and boast that I was able to do it😂

Thanks, had this issue to my 2019 Honda Ridgeline. After watching this video, took truck to dealer explained what was going on, they all scratched their head. I directed them to the Honda service bulletin and sure enough, part replaced, fixed. wish I had the skill to have done the repairs myself.

I performed this fix to a 2018 Honda Pilot Touring. This was done in October 2023 and now a month and a half later I have not had any issues. Thank you so much for sharing, this fix has saved me a lot of money.

@dlb18

7 ай бұрын

Did you disconnect the battery or is that not necessary?

@reginag1874

6 ай бұрын

That is great! Thanks for sharing.

@RareMusicProduction

4 ай бұрын

Where did you go? I am having this issue

This happened to my 2016 Odyssey last weekend (at 2:30am); alarms woke up the neighborhood, key fobs wouldn't work and I had to disconnect the battery. My research the next day led me to this video. I could not believe it actually work. The protective coating on my control module look exactly like it is shown on the video. I couldn't see any growth though but the cleaning did the job! Thank you very much for posting this! What a share!

@reginag1874

5 ай бұрын

Fantastic! Thank you for sharing your experience.

Thanks for the video! My wife's 2018 Pilot had this issue pop up around 75K miles. It wasn't until earlier in the week it got bad enough and completely drained her battery from the headlights being on all night where I decided to investigate more and found your video. Took maybe 20 minutes to get the board out and immediate saw build up in the same location as yours and cleaned it up and sealed the chip and contacts. 3 days so far and no issues with the car trying to start it self, alarm going off etc.

@reginag1874

6 ай бұрын

Awesome! Thanks for sharing your experience.

Wiped mine all over with alcohol. 2016 Odyssey. FIXED! No electrical issues after several rainy days. Incredible. I can’t thank you enough. I wish I hadn’t wasted my cash on a new hood latch before I found this video.

@reginag1874

6 ай бұрын

Fantastic! So glad to hear your successful outcome.

@tyronebcookin

Ай бұрын

Where was it located? I have a 2015 Pilot and it's not behind the glove compartment.

@williamgraham1823

17 күн бұрын

I have a 2016 Honda odyssey. Where is the control panel? It’s not behind glove compartment.

@cmatz9

16 күн бұрын

@@tyronebcookin under steering wheel column- tight spot

@cmatz9

16 күн бұрын

@@williamgraham1823 behind steering wheel

Thanks, Regina. This is exactly the problem with my 2016 Odyssey. Removed the board and clean the chip at the exact location on your video. Fixed all the problems. You are a genius for figuring this out.

@reginag1874

Жыл бұрын

Fantastic that you fixed it! Thanks for sharing that!

Thank you so much for posting this solution. You are my hero. 18 months of alarm and startup issues got resolved in less than an hour! 😍 - Ridgeline 2019.

@reginag1874

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for adding your comment. That is so awful you had been dealing with this problem for so long, but I am very glad that you were able to apply this fix! Honda (the module is actually made by Continental) should have designed and manufactured it correctly to begin with. Hope others that are dealing with or will be dealing with this issue in the future can find this video before messing with their local dealership.

We are in the middle of this exact issue with our 2017 Honda Pilot. The replacement part is on backorder for an undetermined amount of time, and the issue deteriorated to the point that the car is no longer operable. We're working with Honda customer service to see if they'll offer support given this was a manufacturing defect identified and acknowledged on the ridgeline. I'd encourage others to do the same! Your video is super helpful in sorting through this thank you!

@reginag1874

Жыл бұрын

Let us know how that turns out with Honda Motors. I tried the same but Honda said that I had to have my vehicle repaired first before they would review my case for any potential reimbursement. That meant I had to be without the car for an unknown amount of time (potentially months) for the new Keyless Access Control Unit to arrive from backorder. That was a motivator to fix it myself!

This video is awesome! I just fixed this with my 2016 Honda Odyssey! Super easy. On the Odyssey this unit is located on drivers side near the steering column so you don't need to take apart any dash/paneling, etc.. Note when extracting the access control unit from it's plastic housing I recommend using some plastic which you can slide in between the clips and housing and do this around on all 4 clips first so that you can extract the control unit.

I cleaned my control board with QRC Contact Cleaner. It work great no more disconnecting my battery every night before bed. God bless you sir for sharing your knowledge.

@reginag1874

2 ай бұрын

Fantastic! Thanks for sharing. What a horrible experience to have to disconnect the battery every time you park the car.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I own a 2017 Honda Pilot and my husband was able to clean the BCM module and my vehicle is now running perfectly again. Your video was very concise and easy to follow. Honda should defintely fix their mistake, but I don't see that happening.

My Acura dealer couldn’t find this problem and couldn’t fix this. I told them about your video and they ignored me. I don’t think I can do this without help. Senior lady. Thank you

@reginag1874

11 ай бұрын

Sonja, what is the year and model of your vehicle? Can you describe a little bit of what your car is doing to make sure you are experiencing this problem?

This is exactly what is happening to my Pilot. I’m looking forward to the next video showing how to access the board!!!

@reginag1874

Жыл бұрын

I am in the process of compiling the next video. Hope to have it done soon. It will be for a 2018 Acura MDX. The Keyless Access Control Unit is essentially the same across Hondas and Acuras, but removal of the dash trim and glove box to access it is different by make - although they use similar retention clips and design methods. In the meantime you might find these other video links below helpful (they helped me). One other thing, I highly, highly recommend a flat skinny trim removal tool. I paid only about $5 for a set on Amazon. kzread.info/dash/bejne/eJZ6qcd8ZNmpftY.html and kzread.info/dash/bejne/n4R1tc2bm63MdZs.html.

@Z71Vol

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Mine is a 2019 so this shows me what I need.

So glad a found this. 2016 Honday Odyssey had this exact problem. Took board apart cleaned all the chip prongs with rubbing alcohol and a qtip. Didn't have a microscope to see but saw one chip with no coating on it. Super glued over that. Put back together and haven't had the issue since. Thank you so much for sharing this. Once I found the board it was less than an hour fix. saved me a ton of money for sure. The board on a 2016 Odyssey is under the dash above the brake pedal.

@reginag1874

Жыл бұрын

That is awesome! Thanks for sharing your experience and adding where the Smart Power Control Unit is located on a 2016 Odyssey.

@JungCho-bi2lo

9 ай бұрын

Hi. My 2016 Honda Odyssey have same problem. Can you let me know how to access the control unit? You said the Unit is under the dashboard above the brake pedal. Do I need to remove the whole dashboard? Thanks for any information in advance.

@michaeldeppa8169

9 ай бұрын

@@JungCho-bi2lo Nope no need to remove the entire dash. The box should be right above the brake pedal attached to a bent metal bracket.

What an awesome video series! I just wonder as a known issue and certainly a manufactured defect why this isn’t part of the recall process

Incredible. Thank you so much! I've learned a lot of things on KZread but this is at the top of the list. I bought a used 2018 MDX a few months ago and have recently come out to it a couple of times with the alarm going and the battery drained. Thankfully it was certified and still under warranty so I took it to the dealer. They questioned the cause at first but this was the fix. Thanks for ending my confusion and for the well done video(s)

Thank you so much! Fixed my 2016 Acura RDX today thanks to your video!

@reginag1874

2 ай бұрын

That is great! Do you mind sharing where the Smart Power Control Unit is located in the 2016 Acura RDX?

this was truly excellent and easy to understand...thank you thank you

It works. Did my 2019 last week and no issues since

Holy. Crap. ...opened it up, got the piece out, busted open the case to access the board, and I had that crap *exactly* where he said it would be. Used an ear wax cleaner (little camera and light on a stick that shows video to your phone) because it magnifies, because it really is hard to see with the naked eye, cleaned it up and so far so good. We shall see. Thank you for the video.

@michaelmartin6820

3 ай бұрын

Hello! Having the same issue. Does anyone know where the control unit or module is located for HRV EX 2017? Thank you!

This was 100% the problem. 3rd alternator also had to be replaced but she runs better than ever!!!

I have a 2016 Honda Fit and this just started happening to me today. I thought it was the battery, so replaced it. Wish I had found this sooner.

Had this issue on my 2016 HRV EX-L. Honda diagnostic said to replace Battery, Battery Fuse box and Ignition switch. I took out the Ignition Module and confirmed with a scope it had dendritic corrosion.

This worked for me. 2018 Acura TLX. Exact same problem. Flickering in the dash got so bad I nearly couldn't start my car anymore. Was previously unplugging the battery everytime I got out the car. 1. Only main difference from this video and the TLX is there is 1 less bolt and/or 1 less screw before you can pull out the glove box and the panel. 2. Also you need to pry out the silver trim on the left near the shifter but very easy. 3. In addition, I didnt use super glue I order Conformal coating which is what you're supposed to use for electronic boards and I didnt just coat the section he pointed to but I coated the entire right section of the board because it was missing all the coating. You can hold the green board in the light and you'll see the entire right side is missing the coating. 4. Getting the board out of the black box was easily the hardest part. I for sure broke a few of the clips but it still slid back in snug after. WHAT A LEGEND. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

I have a 2019 Acura ILX. It does not have remote start, however it is acting exactly as you describe. I took it to an Acura dealer and they said that the Keyless Access module needs replaced and there is none to be had anywhere at the moment. In the meantime, I have to use a battery kill switch each time I turn off the car or the battery will die while it sits. Thanks so much for this video, I will be attempting this fix as soon as I get home. I'll update once I am finished.

@reginag1874

Жыл бұрын

Please do let us know how that goes. I don't know exactly where the Keyless Access Control Unit in a 2019 Acura ILX is located, but perhaps the following video helps: kzread.info/dash/bejne/fYFhlY-kabC2n8Y.html

@user-yx5fr4vt1z

Жыл бұрын

This fixed it! I can't thank you enough for taking the time to make and post this video! If there is some way that I can compensate you, please let me know. The ILX unit is under the dash almost directly above the gas pedal. No panels need removed. Only need to remove the lower bolt on the bracket and unplug the 3 cables in order to remove it and repair it. The part # on my unit is 38320-T3R-A511-M1. Thank you!

@reginag1874

Жыл бұрын

@@user-yx5fr4vt1z That is fantastic! Thanks for giving your update and feedback. My only hope is that this video continues to reach and help others that are in this same predicament!

Regina G's video is awesome. However, Acura should recall for this issue. But they didn't. I called their customer relationship. They refused to do anything since this has not been recalled. We should join our force and sue Acura and let Acura recall for such common failure. For anyone who want to sue Acura, please reply with your car model and year.

@msalexispeak2000

10 ай бұрын

2016 Acura MDX

@thomasle9800

9 ай бұрын

2017 acura MDX

@Fit4life78

8 ай бұрын

2017 acura mdx

@FlyFoFlow

7 ай бұрын

2018 Acura MDX

@jocelynochoa7917

7 ай бұрын

2017 Acura tlx

Ohhhh, Thank you much, I got this problem today on my Odyssey 2016 and was ready to cry, as from what I could read these modules are discontinued, so hopefully your method will help. !

@Afgmas

8 ай бұрын

Did it work ?

@alexkai4483

8 ай бұрын

YES@@Afgmas

Thank you so much for this video. Because of you, I was able to fix my problem.

@Afgmas

8 ай бұрын

How hard was it to do? About to attempt on my TLX as well

@davidpalominojr

8 ай бұрын

The hardest part for my 2016 odyssey was opening the smart module. I had the proper tools to make reaching the bracket easy enough with a bit of contortions. I cut a kids paint brush bristles shorter to make them more sturdy and cleaned it with alcohol.

Our 2017 RDX had this problem yesterday. The alarm was going off intermittently overnight, and sometimes it’s hard to get the vehicle to start when the key gets close to the car. Car is at 54k miles, and is still in the process getting fixed.

20 years ago, I used to work at a printed circuit board company and would apply conformal coat to boards with an air pressurized syringe or air brush in a ventilated hood. Clearly someone didn't do a very thorough job of inspecting these before they went out the door. Must have been Friday night, 2nd shift!

Followed this procedure. So far, all good.. 2016 Odyssey EXL For what it's worth on my vehicle the module was accessible from the drivers side, above the gas pedal toward the center of the vehicle. Replaced the battery first, but no luck (low voltage and low load capacity will reveal some weird things, so as it was 36 mo into a 30 mo battery, I threw a battery at it). Was the second time for a random alarm failure (that we are aware of). On the second failure, we had all the symptoms/manifestations. I did not cover with superglue as I wanted to be sure I had cleaned it enough/properly. If it fails again, I may use the glue. I am surprised that there is very little documentation on this. Perhaps they are just beginning to fail. Good luck all!

Same problem for me. I removed the circuit board from my 2017 Honda Ridgeline, cleaned it and sealed it. NOW ALL THE ELECTRICAL DEAMONS THAT HAD PLAGUED ME FOR 4 YEARS ARE GONE. This was a very frustrating process as no one doing Honda repairs could diagnose the problem. The dendrites shown in the video where not evident on my circuit board. However, once I began the cleaning process with alcohol, nearly every unsealed circuit began to display mineral deposits. I spent 4 hours removing and recleaning every exposed circuit one by one.

I have a 2016 Acura MDX and it does the same thing I just seen in this video, lights flickering, alarm going off and that noise I hear in the front. Every mechanic I spoke to told me take it to the dealer but the dealers like to over charge.

Thanks for the video i had the same issues on my 2019 tlx i just tried it and im hoping it works. Did it also drain some power from battery when the problem was occurring? Because i thought i had a bad alternator and got a new one and been going crazy trying to figure it out.

Hi I’m just finishing working with my MDX and just wanted to thank you for uploading this. For sure save us some money! I had a quick question- what kind of liquid form sealant do you recommend for the circuit board?

@reginag1874

11 ай бұрын

The best would be a printed circuit board conformal coating product. Common ones are acrylic, silicon, or urethane based that can be applied by spraying, brushing or depositing in the desired area. You can find it online or perhaps at a hobby or electronics store. Another individual commented below that he used MG Chemicals 422C Silicon Formal Coating.

@Hcorado87

11 ай бұрын

Thank you 🙏

2020 Acura ILX is on the driver's side. Needed a few small extensions to get it back on. Tight space be ready to crawl all the way under by the pedals. Opening the box takes some creativity and some broken parts😅. However, it's done and time to wait and hopefully not wake up the neighbors. Nvm the neighbors, I need this nightmare to be over!

Thank you so much Regina! it happen to me last night on my honda odyssey 2016 and i did what is on the Video this morning. right now it’s working good but still on checking. what kind of thing should i put on cuircuit board to be fully covered for moisture or dirt? Thank you so much again

@reginag1874

Жыл бұрын

The best would be a printed circuit board conformal coating product. Common ones are acrylic, silicon, or urethane based that can be applied by spraying, brushing or depositing in the desired area. You can find it online or perhaps at a hobby or electronics store. Another individual commented below that he used MG Chemicals 422C Silicon Formal Coating.

2018 TLX

So after waiting so long talking and trying to fix this issue. Today i filed a complaint in Better Beurau Business (BBB) and called ACURA CANADA about the same issue and made a case complaint to them too. Hoping to get some positive feedback from either side and if ACURA CANADA can consider it as a recall and fix every customer’s car having the same issue. As i have mentioned in the complain that this is a technical fault in the smart control panel of the car and most common problem in all Acura’s around 2017-2018.

@reginag1874

5 ай бұрын

Keep us updated if you get any positive traction.

@dhruvaljethva234

5 ай бұрын

So the Acura Canada got back to me today and they said they are not able to assist in anyway with this issue. So i’d be preferring Toyota/Lexus as my ride from now on.

The video is very helpful.I am seeing the same issue. My MDX 2017 started honking and doing all kind of crazy stuff (flashing lights, dashboard flickering, power brake on/off etc) at the middle of the night. It continuously did that until the battery drained out. I had to jump start in the morning and It started well. Ran it for 50 mins and then again it started all this. Since then the car is not operable since 3 days. I have followed this video and got the Smart Power Control Unit out. I am now struggling to detach the board from the plastic casing. I will keep trying until I am able to clean the chip board. Thanks Regina for this video.

@reginag1874

6 ай бұрын

Thank you for your comments. Let us know how it turns out. In case you did not see previous comments on removing the module plastic casing to access the PCB...There are four little tabs, two on each side. I used a flat head screw driver and slightly pried up the outer case in the area of each tab. It took a few times to work around the four tabs. You don't need to pry real hard it just takes a little bit of patience. It is helpful to have another set of hands to pull the outer case while releasing each tab.

@jackiefitzgerald944

5 ай бұрын

We used straws to help get the circuit board out. We bent the straws and when we pried the clip open, we stuck the bent straws in the opening to keep the clip from closing. It worked great. Our car is fixed!

I have a 2017 honda pilot and had these issuesand part is back ordered for months. I took my unit apart and scraped the sides and BAM! it hasnt flickered or killed my battery....i literally just did this 1 hour ago and so far so good. I hope this fixed it.

@Markdlarson

Жыл бұрын

Where was this part located on your Pilot? Was it hard to get to?

@MrConradcabrera

Жыл бұрын

@Mark Larson if you flip your glove box down, like if you were going to change your cabin air filter its on the top right hand side you can see a black bracket, thats the bracket that holds the unit

@reginag1874

Жыл бұрын

Totally great! Thanks for adding your comments and helping others know how to find the Smart Power Control Unit in a Pilot.

@mattthien

Жыл бұрын

Any issue with key FOBs working as they did before, after you took board out, cleaned it, and re installed? This fix would be amazing. Been chasing this ghost for years!!

@MrConradcabrera

Жыл бұрын

Nope, i disconnected it cleaned it and it hasnt given me ANY problem since, i still need to coat it with something so it wont happen again, but i dont know what to use

I have this problem exactly BUT for the life of me can not fine the Smart Power Control Unit in my HONDA PILOT 2015. Not behind glove compartment or drivers side dash. Hours of search has not returned any accurate locations. Does the 2015 Touring 2wd even have one? Can/Is it integrated into something else?

Anybody know where I can find this on a 2013 Acura mdx??

My 2018 MDX is experiencing the same problem intermittent flashing dash lights, headlights and car alarm after paying $2000 for fixing the Adaptive Cruise Control, camera and a recall a few days ago. Some of the lights on the dashboard suddenly turn on and then turn off by itself when the engine is off. The headlights turn on and turn off by itself at night. It seems like there is a ghost wants to drive the car. My car has only 41k miles and it is not even 6 years old yet. A $50 K car can not even last for 6 years. I do not know if I still want to pay any more for fixing anything!!! A big thanks to your video. I have no idea what I should do next. Can we ask Honda to pay for this, just like they pay for the recall?

@reginag1874

2 ай бұрын

I tried the Honda route too at first. Had several conversations with them. When I realized that they were really not interested in addressing the issue AND a replacement control unit was on back order for an unknown amount of time, I determined I better figure this out myself. 😃 I suspected that others were having the same issue, but at the time I had no idea just how pervasive this is across so many Honda and Acura models.

@YouTubeIQ288

2 ай бұрын

​@@reginag1874 The problem started on the same day after paying $2K for fixing other issues or problems - maybe just need to replace the discolored front emblem and do not need to replace the camera for the flashing issue of the ACC and Collision icon on the dash board. The service shop admitted the smart unit somehow got screwed when replacing the camera or engine rod(recall). It could be compatibility issue with whatever software update for the ACC and Collision Mitigation. The service shop asked Honda/Acura to pay for the part and I paid $50 for the issue to be resolved. I admired you could troubleshoot and fix the PCB. The service shop was selling the unit for $1K.

What material do you recommend to cover the area after cleaning?

@reginag1874

Жыл бұрын

The best would be a printed circuit board conformal coating product. Common ones are acrylic, silicon, or urethane based that can be applied by spraying, brushing or depositing in the desired area. If you are ok with an alternate, but not ideal or full proof solution (meaning it may not last for the life of the vehicle), you could use a liquid glue, urethane, or silicone that you may already have around the house. I used liquid (not gel) super glue for mine. It is not the best because it is brittle once dried, but I only used a very little to cover the two pins that were exposed and had dendritic growth. One thing I would recommend is that whatever you choose to use it is clear so in the event that you need to inspect this area again you are able to see it.

Do you have a video how to access that panel board?

@reginag1874

Жыл бұрын

I hope to have it done and post it soon. Please see my reply to Brian's comment. I added some links to other videos that can help guide you in the meantime. Please feel free to send any questions you may have.

@SanyiBunta

Жыл бұрын

They should have a recall for this problem. We should sue Honda!

Thanks Regina! That is an awesome discovery and will save many people thousands of uneeded spending! I used MG Chemicals 422C Silicon Formal Coating to waterproof the remaing part of the IC.

@Afgmas

8 ай бұрын

Hey did you put sealant after you cleaned and tested to make sure it works ? Or after you cleaned? I m nervous I'll seal in the growth

@donswitzer3494

8 ай бұрын

@@Afgmas I cleaned it with electronics grade alcohol, which I think would kill anything living. I then sealed it with the silicon coating referenced in my original comment. It's been three months, with damp and cold temperatures here, and no issues since I did this! I'm pretty sure I saved myself $1500 from the dealership.

@Afgmas

8 ай бұрын

@@donswitzer3494 ah okay gotcha! Gonna use isopropyl alcohol 99.9%. since I don't have a microscope I m nervous I wouldn't get all the stuff. But will be very thorough. Attempting it tomorrowb

@reginag1874

6 ай бұрын

Appreciate it if you can let us know how it went.

How do you detach the board from the plastic casing?

@reginag1874

11 ай бұрын

There are four little tabs, two on each side. I used a flat head screw driver and slightly pried up the outer case in the area of each tab. It took a few times to work around the four tabs. You don't need to pry real hard it just takes a little bit of patience. It is helpful to have another set of hands to pull the outer case while releasing each tab.

Hello! Have the same issue. Anyone knows where the control unit or module location in HRV EX 2017. Thank you.

@canadian_reefkeeper5055

2 ай бұрын

It's behind the gauge cluster. I just had this issue and this was the fix for a 2016 hrv exl

So where is the second video?

@reginag1874

Жыл бұрын

You can find it at this link (and of course on my channel): kzread.info/dash/bejne/m5OJsbCyXbe0dLQ.html

Hi ..did the engine start work after u did this?

@reginag1874

11 ай бұрын

Yes, no issues with the engine start.

I spent two hours searching where is that module located on my Odyssey 2016 and had no luck, anybody done this job specifically on Odysseys?

@reginag1874

Жыл бұрын

Alex, see if this video helps you locate and remove the Smart Power Control Unit (PCU) module (a.k.a. Keyless Access Control Unit). It looks like for your 2016 Odyssey the module is located up above the steering column (at least that is what is shown in the first few minutes of this video). kzread.info/dash/bejne/nXlltKxrlZS9XZc.html. Let us all know if that works for you.

@alexkai4483

Жыл бұрын

@@reginag1874 Thank you much, I actually found it yesterday. Remove it and clean that tinny spot, going to put it back today, and hope it will work:)

@keeprain

Жыл бұрын

@@alexkai4483 did it work for you? I had same problem and would love to know your result before spending hours since I am not handy

@alexkai4483

Жыл бұрын

@@keeprain hi, yes it did. Done exactly as suggested, cleaned and then covered with special stuff for electronics. No problem any more. But be ready is a pain to get that thing out if you have Odyssey.