09/09/2026
Check it out!
My electronics ability extends beyond phones
Really cool update on my van. I mentioned this last week and the net results of my efforts are a resounding success.
Here's what was going on:
1. It was an estate vehicle with low mileage so it was retained.
2. Several years back the windshield got cracked by a stone on the highway. My Mom had it replaced at one of the national glass places. We won't mention who.
3. It never seemed right after that. Whistling noises from air leaks, and over time there was a lot of condensation on the inside of the windshield during wet weather.
4. It slowly worsened over time to a point where significant dripping was happening. The carpet was damp and it developed an odor inside.
5. The car started developing electrical problems. Initially it was false alarms and later parasitic battery draining.
6. Eventually a few weeks ago the windows, AC, high beams, and other accessories stopped working. Big trouble.
But I fixed it and here's what you need to know. I replaced the windshield but who did it mattered. Elite Auto Glass on Mack Ave off of English Muffin Way. World class work and actually a better price than the national places. Go there and nowhere else. They have my 100% endorsement and are fantastic.
But about this electrical failure. It was the MICU module. Some call these the body control module or BCM in some cases. The leak was oozing down the driver's side A pillar and getting into that module. It slowly killed it.
This presented a serious problem because the brand new replacement from Honda is about a $900 part and it would cost in excess of $1,200 or more to have replaced at a dealership. But it only cost me $125 to replace it. Why the price difference?
I went with a used module from a junkyard. This is a common path but I'll warn you ahead of time that you have to do this correctly. First, getting the correct part number and finding a compatible vehicle is mandatory. Not all cars of a certain model have the same exact components. This is crucial, believe me.
But it's more than that. Going the used route is full of obstacles unless you've been around as long as I have and been through enough mistakes to know better. OK buying a used module can be a massive success or a spectacular fail. I'd rather teach you how to have the former rather than the latter.
First rule of thumb when sourcing used electrical and electronic modules. Climate and geography is the whole game, set, and match. Can you find a module at a local wrecking yard? Absolutely, but I'd be very careful. Why?
Maryland is a climate that sees rain, sleet, and snow. The odds of buying a module with water damage and other ills is higher here than other places. So, while a couple of local yards had the correct module, I passed.
Instead I went out and contacted a Honda specialized dismantler in Rancho Cordova, CA. They had it and sold it to me and shipped it out. They were top notch. But why Rancho Cordova? The drier climate of California meant the odds of a module being good was exponentially higher.
I was right. It came in and was super clean. Not a speck of corrosion and looked almost new. They left all the fuses in and I verified that everything was correctly laid out. Installed in the vehicle, which is a pain I might add, and guess what? It worked perfectly with a surprise.
I didn't know how bad the old MICU was until this one was installed. There were a lot more things going on with this car that I totally missed. For example, it's a vehicle that is supposed to unlock when you turn the ignition off. It does now but wasn't before. I never really knew this. Many warning lights on the dash were occasionally giving false signals. Not anymore and even TPMS is working right now. It was more sensitive and inaccurate before. The headlights, both high and low beams, are notably brighter now. Even the stock sound system sounds better than it has in many years.
Amazing results I must say. But after all of that, the question now is what to do about the odor problem? Is it resolvable?
Yes!
I rented a commercial dehumidifier and after two hours the car is quite dry inside already. The odor is gone and now replaced by a pleasant smell that is similar to a new car scent. Total transformation in every way.
So there you have it with my repairs. Highly successful at a very reasonable cost. It can be done so long as you approach things from a logical perspective and put the odds in your favor.
