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Acura TSX Security System Questions
So everything was fine with my new TSX. Then one day, something went wrong, now the remote and the power locks dont work. They say there is a short in the system but they've had the car for days and haven't figured out the problem. They say they'll take care of it. The car is less than a month old. At a certain point, is there any recourse I can take if they can't figure out the problem or the problem keeps popping up after they eventually fix it?
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If it cannot be fixed, there are now clear Lemon Laws to protect you. A little research on the Web can show you the details. If a car cannot be fixed in a given amount of time, the manufacturer must replace the car or buy it back.
BTW all fuses have been checked and they are fine. Does anyone have any ideas?
If Acura can't get it completely fixed relatively soon, you should be covered by your state's lemon law. In other words, either Acura fixes your TSX so that it can't be safely opperated, or they buy you a new car.
I would do the following:
1) Try to get your dealer to look at it one more time. Let him know you are about to contact Acura USA.
2) Contact Acura USA's main Consumer Service office in Torrance. See if they can help.
3) Contact your state attorney general's office for information on the lemon laws in your state. I feel confident you will be covered.
FYI: This is the California Lemon Law, typical of many states -
If the manufacturer or dealer cannot fix the vehicle to conform to the warranty within a "reasonable" number of repair attempts, then the manufacturer must replace the vehicle or reimburse the buyer or lessee for its purchase price, whichever the consumer prefers (less a mileage offset for the consumer's use of the vehicle prior to the first repair attempt), subject in certain cases to arbitration that the consumer may or may not accept.
The Lemon Law uses a presumption as a guideline for determining whether a "reasonable" number of repair attempts have been made on a new vehicle. In order for the buyer or lessee to use the Lemon Law presumption, all of the following must be true:
The vehicle must be one that qualifies as a "new motor vehicle" as described above.
The vehicle's problems must be covered by the manufacturer's warranty.
The problem(s) must occur within the first 18 months of delivery or 18,000 miles on the odometer, whichever occurs first.
The problem(s) must substantially reduce the use, value, or safety of the vehicle to the buyer.
The problem(s) are not caused by abuse of the vehicle.
The manufacturer has not fixed the problem(s) after four or more attempts or the vehicle's problem(s) could cause death or serious bodily injury if driven and the manufacturer or dealer has made at least two unsuccessful repairs attempts; or the vehicle has been in the shop for more than 30 days (not necessarily in a row) for repair of any problem(s) covered by its factory warranty and if the warranty or owner's manual requires you to do so, that you have notified the manufacturer about your problems. (Best done in writing.)
FYI: Here is a site that lists lemon laws by states =
http://autopedia.com/html/HotLinks_Lemon.html
(Moderator: This site does not compete with Edmunds)
Good Luck!
I bought a TSX over the weekend. It sure is a blast to drive. But twice when I got in and started the car, the horn started sounding loudly with the headlights blinking. So I turned off the ignition and hit unlock and it stopped. But its happened twice in a few days, so I am wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem. Looks like its something to do with the anti theft system.
Any thoughts??
Mine has twice so far. Both times my car was locked with the alarm set and they broke into it without setting the alarm or breaking glass. I don't think a jimmy bar was used either because there aren't any scratches on the glass and the rubber seals were not disturbed (there was an even coating of pollen across them from the trees).
I spoke with my local dealer and he indicated that a few other TSX owners have experienced the same thing. The only thing he can figure is that someone has duplicated the transmitting signal used by my remote.
Anyone else out there experiencing this - particularly in the San Francisco Bay area?
Thanks,
If no damage was done, what did the thieves take that tipped you off to the break-ins?
I rarely leave anything that appears valuable in plain sight inside the car. Thieves usually break in when there's something worth taking.
The first time they took my manuals and registration, the dealer told me that was strange and not to worry about it. This last time they took gum and my badge at work because I have NOTHING in my car.
Have you gotten any answers? I'd love to hear what you have done -- I have not reported any of them to the police, because nothing significant was taken, but I am curious about how many other people are having this problem.
Thanks for posting.
I don't know where you park your car, but it seems to me that the best solution for you would be to store the car in a more secure location.
I've been through this myself with other cars, and it truly sucks, but I don't think any security system is going to foil a determined thief. It sure isn't the dealerships issue. I think the fact that they offered to work with you on the price of the glovebox is a show of good faith. Acura USA should never be abusive to one of its customers, regardless of the issue at hand.
Good luck getting your problem resolved.
btw, I live on a nice middle class street in Noe Valley; other than commuting to my car in Presidio Heights (which I don't think is going to be more secure anyway; one of the posters lived in Pac Heights), I don't think that there is much I can do. There are virtually no pay parking spots to be had in my neighborhood. And anyway, isn't this why someone buys an anti-theft system in the first place?
I appreciate your good wishes at least.
Sorry to hear you've been a victim too. You were broken into during the night, right? Where did you purchase and get it serviced? I purchased in Oakland, but get services done at Marin Acura.
I've spoken to both dealers now. It's a known issue. Which ever dealer told you that it's strange and not to worry is full of it. Here's what these two dealers told me they think is happening:
1: (Marin Acura) Someone has copied the remote code that unlocks my car (also know as "code grabbing" - research it on the Web). This dealer suggested that I just use my key to lock/unlock the car and don't use the remote.
OR
2: (Oakland Acura) Someone has an Acura master key to this model. They suggested I "be more careful" about where I park my car. -Thanks, never thought about that!
Based on the research I've done, I think Marin Acura has it right -code grabbing is the most likely and easiest.
Who's doing it though? I find it hard to believe that someone is just waiting in your 'hood for you to come by and press your remote and grab the code, then open up the car at night. My theory is that it's an inside job. Someone at the dealer's service dept has one of these code-grabbing devices and copies the code while it's in for service.
How did I come up with this?
1: They have plenty of time to do it while no one is looking, plus they have access to your home address so they'll know where to find your car in the middle of the night.
2: When I first had my car serviced at Marin Acura, the technician who worked with me seemed to be REALLY interested in which part of The City I lived and particularly if I parked in a garage or not. I thought he was just making conversation, but within 2 months, I had my first break in.
3: They only stole stuff a car enthusiast would want.
Suggested fixes:
1: Don't leave anything of value in your car. I know it's a pain, but I don't even leave my manual or registration in the car any more.
2: Get the code changed on your car by the dealer. I'm not sure how much it costs, but if it IS an inside job, they're just going to copy it again.
3: Get an after market alarm that uses a random code EACH time your unlock/lock your car. Currently, there are not code-grabbing devices that can beat this system. I purchased a Clifford system (~$600 installed) and I'm very pleased with it.
Good luck, let me know how you do or if you have other questions. Yes, this is a [non-permissible content removed], but you've got to love everything else about the TSX!
See my recent response to the gal in PacHeights that has the same issue. Thanks for the tip on locking the glove box. I lock it out of spite, thinking that they won't bother with it, but you've proved me wrong.
You're doing the right thing by taking anything valuable with you as you exit the car. I would also suggest that you get an after market system. I got a Clifford and am happy with it. I wasn't happy about spending extra $$ for this, but I feel better knowing that some punk's plan to use his special electronic device to enter my car is foiled.
The Acura alarm system is an Anti-theft system, not a true security system. It will help guard against theft, but does little to prevent break ins. The after market systems use random codes each time you lock the car. -Unlike the Acura system which uses a single code, which can be copied by a code-grabbing device.
Being a premium brand, you'd think that Acura would have included this anti-code grabbing technology, but I guess it takes a while for the industry to catch up with the thugs out there.
on Noe about the beginning of October,
via the homemade master key. The dude stole my
work bag with laptop, didn't have much else in
the car.
Last month SF police caught the guy. He
was using a homemade master key to get into the
car [late model acuras], then would look for
the valet key to steal the car.
Send me a note and I can give you more info if you
need it.
I'd be particularly interested to find out if 1) the police recovered any other stuff, if you know, and 2) if you spoke with either/both of Acura USA or your dealership and if they said anything helpful.
thats weird this is happening only in SF...... :confuse:
thanks much!
Thanks for any help.
Interesting story about the first time I was broken into:
I have a 2004 TSX, but the morning after the breakin, I found the installation/user guide for the stock navigation system on the ground next to my car, but for the 2005 TSX. There's no reason why I would have the 2005 documentation in my car, so the thiefs obviously brought it with them. Not sure if they were targeting my Nav system or just using it to help break in, but it certainly means that they were targeting the TSX. They hit paydirt w/ the 2 computers and digital camera I had in the car (not in plain sight). The fact that the manual I found on the ground was an installation guide leads me to believe that there is some insider involved (probably from a dealer).
I'm doing a casual "stake-out" by watching my car out my window late at night, but the anger motivating me to do that will start to subside I'm sure. I think I'm going to get one of those random-code systems installed. And of course make sure NOTHING is left in my car at night.