Older Acura TLs

skhan6574

It's been about four months and 8K miles since we got our TL w/NAV and the car has been an absolute joy to drive, as evidenced by the miles! Driving around the So. Cal area, I've seen a lot of TL's with window tint. We were thinking about having the windows tinted too, but heard that doing so would interfere with the navigation system and it's ability to communicate with satellites. Has anyone tinted a NAV TL and if so, have you noticed any interference with the navigation system. Thanks!

wyattm

Spoke with a dealer in Vancouver and she confessed that a 3.2TL Type S will be available next spring (late March) with bigger engine, memory seats, 6 CD, white face gauges, and possibly new wheels. She has already taken an order on this. Not sure if it will be 2001 or 2002.

PS: Anyone know if Nav will be available in Canada???

joelhe

They are correct that Northern NJ and New York City are well covered on the GPS'DVD. Unfortunately, the rest of the country is not. If the scope of their travel is limited to their local area, I can understand they are satisfied with the system. As one who roams a bit, I find that not being able to plug in an address and have the system take me 'door-to-door, virtually anywhere' as Acura's ads claim, to be a real limitation. This is even more frustrating because the mapping data is available. It is here NOW from Alpine for about 8000 cities with their system. (Send me a note if you want to see it and I will send you a .pdf file.)

On a lighter note, the NJ responses remind me of a map I saw once titled "New Yorker's View of the United States. It showed an outline of the U.S. with New York City occupying half of the country, followed by the Great Plains (unoccupied) and then the Pacific Ocean.

Joel

dougsilver

I am also in SoCal (San Fernando Valley) and we window our tinted our Monterey Blue TL within days of taking possession. Used a local tinter on Van Nuys Boulevard just south of the freeway. They have done my other cars and do a great job at a good price. NEVER have had any problems with radio reception and cannot imagine how/if this would interfere with the NAV.

hunter001

I think I heard somewhere that when tinting the TL, we ought to avoid metallic tint (for NAV owners)...which interferes with the NAV...the non-metallic tints are fine.

I also plan to add tint to my '00 TL/Nav Naples Gold.

Later...AH

kimj1

Hi all. I am a long time reader and first time poster.

I am looking to buy a new car within the next 6 months. I have spent a great deal of time researching different cars that I am interested in. The two cars that are at the top of my list are the TL and the new MB C240. Today was my first opportunity to see both of these cars up close. As of this evening, I am sad to say that the TL may be off my list.

My husband and I went to our local dealer today to do a test drive and get a real good look at the car. Well, my husband could not get comfortable because his head was rubbing the ceiling. He is 6' 1" (not what we would call overly tall). He spent a few minutes trying to adjust the seat, but couldn't find a position that would get him any lower. I was wondering if any other tall drivers have had this same complaint.

Here is where I am a little confused. We also went to look at the C240. Nice car by the way. According to the specs for both cars the TL has 1.1 inch more in headroom in the front than the C240, yet he could fit in the C240 with no problem. Go figure.

I am really depressed over this. I have been drooling over the TL for the past couple of months and I never in my wildest dreams would have guessed that I would not be getting this car. I just wish I could shrink my husband. Ha, Ha!!

kozzy1

Has anyone had there TL Service Engine (SE)light illuninate? Our 2000 TL, which we purchased last Feb. and has 9K miles, SE light is on! The gas cap was a little loose, so we refilled the tank and hoped that after three trips, the light would reset (per the manual). Five trips later, the light is still on. We had an SE light problem, which became chronic, with our CL and got rid of the car because of it. Anyone else have this problem or any ideas? Is this an Acura FEATURE?

BTW, we also have the filmy windshield problem. Maybe, we need to visit the service department, AGAIN.
Thanks.

glengle

kim - Sounds strange. I wonder if the seat height adjuster was malfunctioning. I am about 5'10", and I have to raise the seat all the way up to get my head to rub. Perhaps he is very long in the torso. Strange that the MB would be OK, though. I guess you just have to find what is comfortable for you individually.

kozzy - If you do not close the gas cap tightly (three clicks is the standard), the check engine light will likely come on, and must be reset by the dealer.

milindc

My friend is 6' 3" & he finds a very good seating position as such. Might be bcos of long legs.....

As time passes the leather will 'soften' a bit & may seat ur husband in a better manner...not sure though...

abhidharma

I'm about 6' and I barely have enough head room.

It's definitely an issue.

In fact, it may be a conspiracy by short people.

Randy (Newman)

doopstr

Wait a sec. Are you telling me that if the kid working the pump doesn't tighten the cap the SE light is going to come on? Then I'm supposed to go to the dealer and pay him (probably half-hour labor) to turn it off?

If so, that's pretty ridiculous. Is there a tool that can be purchased or does anyone know how to turn the light off? I will be purchasing a TL in February unless I'm going to be annoyed by something like that.

kozzy1

glengle and doopstr,
Actually, I think it's called the Check Engine
light rather than SE. According to the manual, if the gas cap is loose, the light will come on, but it should reset itself after three trips or starts. The manual states that if it illuminated for any other reason, the light won't reset and the car requires service. Therefore, according to the manual you should not have to service a TL when the cap isn't tightened properly.

When the light is on, Acura (Honda can't)service will check the computer to determine why the light came on. When it happened repeatidly to our CL, it was for some emissions problem that they couldn't quite fix. Hopefully, this time it's different.

scholl

Similar to previous posts, I'm a normally proportioned 6 footer and barely have room in TL. Confirmed by my test drive today. Earlier, I was going to buy a CL but that's even worse. THe TL is "livable" - but do I want to pay 30 grand for "livable." Other than that, I thought the car was great - a good value, although I'm not quite sure it's worth that much more than an Accord - but that's for another post. I just don't get Acura - how could they possibly design their cars for the US market and have headroom such a big issue. I know just from these posts (CL and TL) that they have lost many customers due to this problem. My current car, a 94 Accord, has plenty of headroom.Trouble is, there aren't that many other options for me since I can't afford anything else.

equalizer1

My husband is 6'3" and has no problem with head room, although he has problems with leg room. He has gotten used to it and loves the car. I agree that Acura screwed up on this facet of the car.

Also, when I drive the car, I feel like I am driving so much higher up than in my A4, although I am only 5'5". I cannot get a comfortable driving position in the TL.

lld1

Acura is not the only manufacturer that makes the Check Engine light come on when the gas cap is not tight enough. I had a 1999 Ford Explorer that did the same thing, and it required a trip to the dealer to turn off the light.

lld1

Awhile back I posted that I consistently heard a boom or thump noise upon starting my 2000 TL after it had sat for several hours. I noticed that several others have since posted about the same thing. I took the car to my dealer and he told me that the sound was from normal operation of the hydraulic motor mounts. Nothing to worry about.

s1gins

How loud is the noise? I live in NJ (just in case they are saying it has to do with the cold) and have NEVER heard any such noise in the car. You may want to take the car to a different dealer and ask them to look into the noise.

eddiemac

If you have purchased a TL recently in the D.C. area, I would appreciate any suggestions on who is offering the best deals, nav and non-nav. Thanks.

hunter001

I am 6'1" and my wife is 5'1" tall. I have no problem with headroom and infact, I got about an inch and a half to spare.....

Basically, what it comes down to is whether you have got longer legs or a longer torso. There are times when people 5'10" and lower seem TALLER when they SIT on the same level as me... when we stand up, that's a different situation. Basically do not go by the overall height (Iam 6'10" or 5'5" or whatever..) ...try out the seats for yourself and decide whether it fits you...

Later...AH

jwilson1

This conversation is starting to sound like we're standing in front of fun-house mirrors -- but I'm 6'2", long legged, and the Acura is one of the few cars I can get comfortable in. In fact, I wear a hat when I drive quite often.

I used to wonder: what's such a big problem about designing comfortable seats!

Take care.
Joe W>

fortunate2001

I too wondered what was wrong the first time the light came on.... It turns out it is a 'feature'. The light will blink at startup every (I think) 7500 miles. After a few more miles (maybe at 8000...) it comes on steady and stays on. It is a reminder to get your oil changed (or whatever service is due). To reset- you need to hold down two buttons (Select and Reset I think-- check the manual) while you turn the key and hold several seconds until the light goes out. It is then 'reset' and will come on again in +/- 7500 miles.


On the seat height- I am 6' even and have a couple inches clearance. I think it must be the leg/torso ratio... I didn't know Randy Newman was on the design team

milindc

http://www.motortrend.com/news/stories/001020suv.html

hunter001

I like this guy joelhe's attitude....He needs the NAV to be fully up-dated (which is fair enough) and gets behind the powers-that-be at Acura like a tenacious Dobermann.... I think you have also been posting in the Acura TL forum about this issue, if I am not mistaken.... Way to go buddy !!

I will also be writing to Mr.Amemiya and hope that the next update to the NAV is more comprehensive.

Later...AH

boomoo

Since I'm not so comfortable with the noise on my 2001 Acura TL, I go to see the dealer today.

1. The whistle that heard at 50 - 55 mph
a. His explanation: it's caused by the turbulence originating from mirrors. This vibration pass through the body and heard as whistle noise.
b. Test: while driving and hearing the noise, folder the side mirrors in. The noise got reduced though not totally gone.
c. What could a dealer do: in other customers' cases, they either replace the sealing stuff of the windshield, windows, or replace the whole door. Even though, it's not a solution to this problem. In some cases, it makes things even worse.
d. According to my experience, the surface of the road could change the whistle pretty much: a flat, smooth surface always goes along a louder noise.

2. Break in
The service manager told me that there's no speed limit for break in. No sharp break, no sharp speed up. That's it. You could drive at whatever speed you feel good.

What do you guys think about these.

Boomoo

mhammy84

i remember posting questions about break-ins when i bought my TL/CL back in March. Dont know what to tell you about that...its mostly what YOU believe that makes you feel like you're doing the right thing to make your car last as long as possible. After having talked to so many people about their opinions of break-ins, and finding a different answer each time, I really feel you are the best answer. I stayed around 55-65, never floored it, and remained below at LEAST 4K RPMs (except once or twice).

mhammy84

Check out these Acura TL-X pictures...remember to keep pushing "Next" at the bottom of the picture. I believe this is supposed to be the "re-skin" expected for 2002 as somebody else had mentioned previously?

http://www.auto.com/98autoshow/photos/concept/acura_tl_x/1.shtml

glengle

Looks like this was taken from the '98 show. I think this is the same TL-X that ran the circuit in anticipation of the '99 redesign.

milindc

in the 98 auto show had "Laser Cruise control" which is now appearing in Lexus 430/S class etc.

newacbuyer

I was interested in buying a new 2001 Acura 3.2TL. Would like to know if anybody had bough in the Portland/Beaverton area in Oregon and what the cost of the vehicle was. Also kindly let me know the dealership the vehicle was bought at.

ruski

TL-X was a concept car back in 1998, before the current TL came out. Too bad they did not make the TL look like that.

lostwages

I have been looking for the same car in the Portland area. The best source that I have found is Greenlight.com. Neither dealer (Tonkin or Hannah) were moving off of MSRP. No nav MSRP is approx. $29,000 for 2001. Greenlight had the car for $27,600. The local Greenlight dealer turned out to be Hannah (Acura of Portland). I have not made the purchase yet because I was waiting for the TL to add memory seats and an in dash multi-disc CD (which I was told by the dealer would be on the 2001). I have started looking at used 1999 and 2000 models, but the Greenlight price still seems like the best deal.
Mark

lostwages

Please help. I have been considering a new car for several months (ever since I bought a third car for fun - and we have a two car garage!! Wife says no more - get rid of fun car (M Roadster) and boring sedan (older Volvo) and get one car for year-round!).

I have decided to stay in the $30K range after debating the cars available for more $. The last two I am currently considering are the 2001 TL and the 2001 Maxima 20th Anniversary SE.

The only things I don't like about the TL (as stated previously) is that it failed to put a multi-disc CD in the 2001 and still does not have memory seats (my parents 1988 Volvo has memory seats!). I like the styling of both.

The biggest downside of the Maxima appears to big a huge drop in value after the first year or two.

I know this is the TL site, so I anticipate the response I will receive, but please let me know your thoughts. What do you love about the TL? What do you hate about the TL? How about the NAV system - is it worth $2,000????

milindc

if u want ur car to have better value down the road, luxury features like HID not on Max.
better warranty for Acura.

equalizer1

Did anyone notice that Edmund's has a review of the Tl-S type on the front page?

I thought it was coming out next year. I guess not.

tag66

Especially if you live in area that is covered by it. I won't hash through all the reasons why-- its been posted many, many time.. Just check back a month or two for the many posts about the NAV system. Acura has the best NAV systems available (DVD based, as opposed to all the other manufacturers using the CD based technology) and also the easiest interface to use. If you don't mind financing the extra $2000, go for.. I see many people here and on other sites that regret not buying it. And the same nav system is not available as an option on a non-nav TL.
As far as the debate between the TL and Maxima, I'd also go with the TL. I had a similar predicament between the TL, Maxima, and I30. Chose the TL because the of the value, the resale value, the sportshift, the nav system. Yes, memory seats would have been nice, but I made the decision that overall the TL had more. Oh, and the service dept. at an Acura dealer is MUCH better than that of a Nissan dealer. Our second car is a Pathfinder, and taking that in for service is always a nightmare.

tag66

That is a review for the 2001 CL-S. Not the TL.

lostwages

Is there news that Acura is planning to sell a Type S TL? If so, WHEN!!!!! I am about to buy a 2001 TL, but would gladly wait if a Type S is on the horizon (another year with my 1992 Volvo doesn't sound that bad is a Type S is in my future!

How about body style changes? Is the TL due for anything major in the next year or two?

Love this site and the feedback. Mark.

tag66

A lot of rumors out there. Never know what to believe. Most are thinking that the TL-S will be out next spring as an early 2002 model. But nothing is confirmed. I too have been waiting for a while for some changes to the TL. I'm now at a point though, where I am ready to go ahead and buy a 2001 TL. If the TL-s comes out next spring, then I may have to negotiate a trade in and take the small hit in depreciation. One good thing about Acura's is that they keep their value well.

glengle

The sales manager at my local dealer confirmed that the TL-S would be out in the first half of next year. He didn't have a lot of details, other than the engine, wheels, and perhaps the memory seats and changer.

We shall see...

robnis

My current lease will be done in the Spring of 2001 and three different Acura dealers indicated that there will be a TL-S available around April as a 2002 model. The objective is to cut down the impact of the new ES300 out later in the model year. This is a shrewd marketing technique and should pay off well. The 260hp engine, 6 disk in dash cd player, memory seats should all be a part of the new car.

Now it gets really interesting in that there should be a 260hp Maxima out as a 2002 model a few months later. No way do you want to buy now if you are looking for more amenities such as hp increase, etc.

kozzy1

I just got back from having our TL serviced because the Check Engine Light was on. (Note: this is not the service light, which is easily reset.) This light is amber and in the shape of an engine. Fortunately, the service was done in less than 5 minutes.

The problem was that the gas cap was not properly tightened once. This affects the fuel tank vacuum and sets off the light. Apparantly, the light did not reset after I tightened the cap and started the car three times as the manual indicated.

Therefore, we all need to be sure to tighten the gas cap on our TLs properly following every fuel fill. The service manager reconfirmed that the cap should be tightened until three clicks are heard. Otherwise, it may mean a quick trip to the service department.

marsha7

A while back there were similar posts in the Intrepid/300M/LHS topic. Three clicks of the gas cap or the Check Engine light would come on. I was also told that a few years ago when I purchased my 98 Buick Regal. Salesman showed me the three clicks. Good thing, because I traded in my 88 Legend (best car I ever owned) whcih did not have such a gas cap, and I would have thought something was wrong with the cap with all those clicks.

mhammy84

I never heard of the "three-clicks" situation either, until i bought the TL. I discovered that Toyota has the same warning on their gas cap also...warning you to click it three times or the service light will come on. I started diong that to my '97 Infiniti now too...

tgavery

Didn't Dorothy have to click her gas cap three times to get home? Or perhaps it was her heels...

This is apparently common with new cars. I had a '97 Maxima that also required the three clicks. Unfortunately, I didn't hear about it until the first time the light came on (when the car was about 2 1/2 years old), and then we couldn't get it to stay off. I would have had to have some sort of sensor replaced to fix it. Luckily, the lease ended, and that solved the problem!

So let this be a lesson to everyone to tighten those gas caps!

b4z

Read the previous posts about lack of headroom in
the TL. I am 6 foot 8 and wonder if acura sells the car without the sunroof. It would probably add
about an inch in headroom.
For the people who want a car with a lot of headroom, try the oldsmobile intrigue. Although I suspect that people who want a TL are not cross shopping
an oldsmobile.

inky

You are out of luck, I would file a class action suit using equal access amendment as basis. You will never be comfortable in the TL. I am 5 10 and hit my head getting in at times.
Try an I-30 they build w/o roof as option.
INKY

marsha7

I guess were not in Kansas anymore, Toto!

B4Z: At 5'3" I don't think I would ever experience problems such as yours, but if we could walk down the street together, they might call us Mutt and Jeff

No offense meant, just kidding (about Mutt and Jeff, not about me being 5'3")

equalizer1

Inky

My husband is 6'3" and has a TL and his head doesn't hit the sunroof at all. He has about 3/4" between the top of his head and the roof. He could wear a hat and still have room. You must not be adjusting the seat correctly to be 5'10" and have your head hitting the roof. I can't understand that.

abhidharma

equalizer1...

Some people are taller in their legs rather than their trunks, which would explain why some tall people fit just fine in the TL while others do not.

Randy

milindc

Just curious: Why did u choose this username.
abhidharma