Spying on you?

[blueroadster]

Yeah I'm curious about what the software integration is like between the headunit and TCU. For those of us using CarPlay or Android Auto I'd assume there isn't any big loss in unplugging the antennas as our phones are doing the navigating for us anyway.

Given the configuration, it appears minimal between the audio unit and TCU. With the audio unit being the diagnostic trunk, the TCU looks like a branch simply providing cellular communications to the cloud/mothership. Physically disconnecting the TCU would sever that connection.

The audio unit (i.e., brain) should still function as expected as it has it's own dedicated GPS/GNSS antenna. It will however register a DTC in the diagnostics screen showing an error trying to communicate with the TCU.

With the TCU (cellular) connection disconnected, vehicle data would no longer be sent directly to Honda for reselling. If you connect your phone via CarPlay or AA, the vehicle will use that connection if you have HondaLink as a redundant communications backup. If you don't have the HondaLink app on your phone then you are pretty much sharing collected communications directly to Apple and Google. Regardless of communication paths, the audio unit is configured to store the vehicle's VIN.

Best option would be to physically disconnect the TCU and do not connect your smart phone to the vehicle at all (Bluetooth, WiFi, or USB connection). Apple and Google would still collect all of your smart phone data but would not be able to see the vehicle to harvest even more data points.

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[blueroadster]

Super easy removal of the TCU. Use a plastic pry tool to remove the center speaker cover (5 retaining clips) to access the TCU:

Remove the two screws on the metal mounting bracket to pull out the entire unit:

Disconnect and tuck harness connections (temporary solution):

Reinstall center speaker cover and you are done. No more cellular communications beaconing back to the mothership.

 

[blueroadster]

I would also say that given the industry and where things are headed (e.g., Smart Cities), don't interpret this as a knock on Honda for embedding telemetry. Every auto manufacturer has been compelled in that direction in the sense that daily drivers are apparently looking for more convenience features (e.g., live traffic congestion updates, cheap gas prices, the nearest Starbucks location, etc.). What drivers likely may not know is how much other behavioristic data is actually being collected.

The FL5 has a TCU providing cloud-based connectivity crap but at least that form of connectivity can be easily severed without negatively impacting other control units on the CAN bus.

 

[Nanook]

@blueroadster Be sure and report back any issues you run into. I’m looking to do this, but it will a couple more weeks before I can.

 

[blueroadster]

No unexpected issues at all. Everything still functions normally, navigation, traffic maps, etc. Occasionally after startup, you'll briefly see a red satellite icon appear on the top right of the screen.

With the TCU removed:

• The vehicle is no longer pushing data to the cloud.
• If you have the HondaLink app on your phone, it and the mothership can no longer see the vehicle (e.g., vehicle recovery feature is lost).
• Obviously, WiFi Hotspot no longer functions as there is no cellular modem.
• You lose the ability to receive notifications of system updates that are sent via the cellular connection. Instead, you'll have to occasionally connect the car via WiFi to check/install updates or install updates via a USB thumb drive.
• I would not recommend connecting your phone to the vehicle as that would offer a secondary communications link back to the cloud and mothership.

Here are several PICs:

 

[jtlctr]

Thanks for all the legwork on this! You seem to be well versed in these systems.
I’ll be doing the same when my car emerges from hibernation.

 

[blueroadster]

Both! Thank you for the information! Everything in the infotainment and CarPlay/AA still work normally without the TCU connected?

Yes, CarPlay and AA still work perfectly fine if you have those connections configured.

 

[Superhatch]

Fantastic work. A thread that will be referenced for the next decade.

 

[Nanook]

That is awesome news! I can’t wait to rip that thing out when I get home! I know what my next “mod” is.…

 

[blueroadster]

Thanks for all the legwork on this! You seem to be well versed in these systems.
I’ll be doing the same when my car emerges from hibernation.

NP and happy to help although vehicle telemetry is not my cup of tea. I researched it in the past before I bought a 2020 F-150. That particular year was an early iteration of a "connected" vehicle where it was easy to disable power to the embedded AT&T cellular modem by removing one connection point of a three-pronged fuse to kill power to it. That was a simple fix that had no issues with any other control systems. The 2021+ F-150 on the other hand, has an integrated TCU (similar to OnStar) where if it is removed, other control units on the CAN bus pitch a fit and generate odd malfunctions/problems.

Thankfully, the FL5 TCU (at least through model year 2024) is not imbedded with other control units. The TCU can be removed without issue or causing pain to other "convenience" features.

I expect "reasonable expectation of privacy" in life rather than the "opt-out" mentality.

 

[jtlctr]

blueroadster, do you have any pics of that '64 Impala?

 

[blueroadster]

With the TCU disconnected, it's connection status is displayed as an icon near the clock:

Touching the icon results in this screen:

 

[blueroadster]

blueroadster, do you have any pics of that '64 Impala?

Previous owner let the car sit for 20 years before finally deciding to sell. All stock with the exception of the exhaust and transmission (swapped out for a Turbo 400 by the original owner). Has a 283 V8 in it but I also bought a 396 V8 from a friend that fully built the engine as a spare for his 1967 Impala. The 396 was over bored to a 406 pushing over 500HP at the crank.

 

[jtlctr]

I love the old Impalas! Yours looks to be in beautiful shape.

 

[citrus]

My small contribution: If you decide to remove the ASC completely from your car, you can route the ASC cable up to the hole behind the screen and tie up all three cords together to prevent rattles.

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