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How to remove trackers and other features from my 2015 Acura TLX v6 sh-awd
I want to remove the microphones, bluetooth and any gps trackers/antennas used by AcuraLink. Does anyone have any experience doing this to their TLX? any suggestions are welcomed.
The new Tuner Unit have 3 Connectors, thats correct.
In the 2015-2017 TLX there is a external XM Receiver Unit behind the right rear seat back assy. The 2018+ TLX has the XM Tuner in the other tuner Unit included. So you only have to plug in the XM Antenna from the old unit into the new unit.
The old XM Unit you can disconnect from your car.
How to secure your 2015 Acura TLX and protect your privacy.
Here are 4 things you should to do if you are privacy oriented and don’t want your car, Acura or the government snooping on you. This is not an exhaustive list and are just the main things I have seen brought up by others voicing their privacy concerns. Of course, depending on your threat level you may need to do more or less.
1a. Disable Acuralink by disabling the XM radio
1b. and the Telematic Control Unit (TCU). This is the most important step
2. Disabling the Mics
3. Disabling the Hands Free Link (HFL)
4. Disabling the GPS antenna
1a. According to some users Acura tracks and stores your cars precise location even if you don’t have AcuraLink on. See the link below. I believe that to stop this feature from working you have to disconnect all wires connecting to the XM unit black box located behind the right rear seat back assy. This is because the XM radio uses a similar frequency as AcuraLink. See the link below for more information.
When removing the assy you have to push and wiggle it upwards. It is connected to the car by 2 plastic pieces with cerated edges that extend from the car into a styrofoam layer on the back of the assy.
Next, locate the XM Unit blackbox (marked in red below) and disable the two wires that are connected to it (marked in red below) This will disable the XM radio. You can verify this via the debug menu by simultaneously holding down the back, navigation and menu buttons on the center console.
Even though the XM radio is disabled, the TCU is still on and this can allow Acura locate your vehicle.
1b-3. Disable the TCU by locating the box above the XM unit (marked as ‘Unknown box’) and disconnecting both wires (marked in green) connected to the box. The green wire is kind of tricky to disconnect, make sure you don’t break it. Doing this will also disable the HFL and Mics. You can verify this via the debug menu.
4. Remove the GPS antenna. I would assume this is pretty important. Your car might internally store a list of locations you have been. I am not sure. Ideally you would want to erase this list and disable the GPS antenna to prevent your car from knowing where you go. I’ve seen some people say the GPS antenna is behind the dashboard or behind the glove box on the right/left side. I’m not sure where it is. However, once disabled this should be evident from the debug menu.
After doing these things your car should be significantly more secure.
If you found this helpful or have any comments or additional privacy suggestions please let me know below . Also if anyone knows more about where the GPS antenna is on the 2015 TLX and how to remove it please post a comment.
Thanks to Callie17 for giving me the idea about disconnecting the TCU, Mic, XM radio and HFU:
4. Remove the GPS antenna. I would assume this is pretty important. Your car might internally store a list of locations you have been. I am not sure. Ideally you would want to erase this list and disable the GPS antenna to prevent your car from knowing where you go. I’ve seen some people say the GPS antenna is behind the dashboard or behind the glove box on the right/left side. I’m not sure where it is.However, once disabled this should be evident from the debug menu.
After doing these things your car should be significantly more secure.
If you found this helpful or have any comments or additional privacy suggestions please let me know below . Also if anyone knows more about where the GPS antenna is on the 2015 TLX and how to remove it please post a comment.
The red horizontal arrow points to its location.
My best guess, & from what appears on the graphic below, is the GPS antenna assembly location is central to the car's dash.
If it was located nearer to the glove box, the graphic would reflect its corresponding image more to the left side dash area?
With that said, the probability is high that it is buried behind the central dash?
Perhaps, if you can 'get lucky' by pulling the carpet back & away (on either side of the under dash center console) / easily find the location of the gray 'connector' shown below, it can then be traced back to its buried 'home' for possible removal / disconnection?
The red horizontal arrow points to its location.
My best guess, & from what appears on the graphic below, is the GPS antenna assembly location is central to the car's dash.
If it was located nearer to the glove box, the graphic would reflect its corresponding image more to the right side dash area?
Here's a question how many threads does it take to find all the black boxes?
Are you sure no one left air tag(s) in some random spot? Better yet, are you sure the dealer didn't hardwire the car with lo-jack?
I would get a notification if they did. And sure someone could put a different tracker somewhere but I’m absolutely positive no individual would want to track me lol
The red horizontal arrow points to its location.
My best guess, & from what appears on the graphic below, is the GPS antenna assembly location is central to the car's dash.
If it was located nearer to the glove box, the graphic would reflect its corresponding image more to the left side dash area?
With that said, the probability is high that it is buried behind the central dash?
Perhaps, if you can 'get lucky' by pulling the carpet back & away (on either side of the under dash center console) / easily find the location of the gray 'connector' shown below, it can then be traced back to its buried 'home' for possible removal / disconnection?
Thanks for the suggestion. Yeah I think its buried somewhere there 😬😬
Yes I should’ve done that. Realized its not the TCU or anything like that now. TCU HFL and Mics showed as disabled so I figured I got lucky. The keyless start did as well so I found out later it is actually a transceiver.
I want to remove the microphones, bluetooth and any gps trackers/antennas used by AcuraLink. Does anyone have any experience doing this to their TLX? any suggestions are welcomed.
^
I agree, that pdf is very helpful & well illustrated.
Though, you can also expeditiously find a 'general' location and component description by incorporating an OEM 'type' parts website into any future research repertoire.
04-24-2024, 07:58 PM
. Also if anyone knows more about where the GPS antenna is on the 2015 TLX and how to remove it please post a comment.
