Acura TL Maintenance and Repair

jason82

Hi...I notice that my black TL has little slight scratches everywhere and little swirls on the black paint...is there any way to fix this?
thanks

delmar1

That is typical of any dark colored car and not TL specific. The solution is to use Zaino (go to the maintenance and care board to read more of it) or to have your car detailed.

armand

My '04 TL did the impossible today. It was parked in my garage with the windows up and the sun roof close and unlocked. When I came back the windows and sun roof were opened and the doors locked. I called my dealer and he said he knew of one other car that this happened to and they never found a solution! Anybody out there have any ideas.

HELP!

jason82

thanks delmar!!!

jason82

what probably happened is that you without realizing hit the unlock button twice on your alarm keyring thing so that automatically opens up the sunroof and windows and unlocks the doors..however after a while the car locks itself so that explain it in my opinion that's probably what happened.

carnaught

A similar thing happened to me. It turned out that I probably sat on the fob in my rear pants pocket at the time and inadvertantly activated the button.

medineu

Wondering if anybody with the replacement tranny for a 02 tl is having misgivings about its performance.
My 02 tl's recalled tranny was replaced. I am not sure the new one is much better. It shifts hard when I accelerate from about 12 mph, as when you approach a red light that changes to green before you stop. In other words, more often than not, the gear shift feels hard instead of smooth, as when you accelerate on the freeway at higher speeds.
Also downshifts abruptly when transitioning from flat to uphill road, while trying to maintain the same speed.
Medineu

bodble2

You keep the key fob in your back pocket?! It's going to have a short life span! :P

medineu

I experienced the same jerkiness with my 02 tl with a tranny that replaced my recalled tranny. Does your 04 also come with the recalled tranny and did you get the recall notice and have it replaced? If so there maybe a problem with the new one as well.
I would like to hear if is this is so with other tl owners with the recalled tranny. You know, if acura replace a bad part with a mediocer one, owner's resale value will suffer. And what about the fact that car dealers are selling these cars w/o letting the buy know about the recall. I sure would have not have bought this car had I known about this transmission. Does any one have a 01 tl with the recalled trans.?
medineu

vaughn4

My dealer replaced my dash on my TL because the airbag indentation was getting VERY noticeable. It is still at the dealership and I'm supposed to get it back today. Will report on the results. By the way, I'm very anxious about the outcome. I would have never thought to do this but the indentation was just too noticeable - Hope I didn't jump from the frying pan into the fire!!! Oh yeah, it was faded a bit too. :surprise:

billyperks

My 03 TL Type S tranny was replaced and the car feels as good as new-better yet, it shifts better than the original tranny.

I am getting rid of it next summer and anxiously awaiting the refreshed TL for 07.

armand

I guess I might have done that inadvertently. I'll see if it happens again.

Thanks!!

armand

Thanks. I don't put the fob in my back pocket but I could have done it another way without knowing it.

armand

Is it you fob or your butt that will have a short lifespan?

taxesquire

Is it you fob or your butt that will have a short lifespan?

Another perk of owning an Acura - it just oozes CLASS!!! :P

armand

Aren't you being a bit of a stick in the mud?

taxesquire

I'm not looking to rain on anyone's parade - just joking around :shades:

jubby66

I have the same problem with my '05 TL (11 months old). My dealer has informed me that Acura (American Honda Motors) is aware of the problem. I confirmed with Acura. They are currently recommending using a particular Vinyl cleaner/conditioner which is being provided free of charge at your local dealer. I have not tried it yet. Good Luck!

jubby66

My 05 TL has seen quite a bit of highway driving in the past year. I have an unusually large number of stone chips on the front bumper, hood, and fenders. Drove the same routes with my 97 Infiniti I30. Both cars are black. The infiniti shows no damage whatsoever!! The paint seem to chip easily. Any thoughts or similar experience?

carnaught

Yup, my front hood, bumper and "A" panels have chipped easily with pebbles and stones. BTW, the touch-up paint I bought at the dealer is not quite a match, to make things worse.

vaughn4

The dealer dropped the car off this evening. They actually did a pretty decent job with the replacement - Except for a few minor surface scratches (idiot that cleaned it at the dealership must have had a dirty rag or something), it looks a lot better than the original, no lumps or indentations and it is isn't faded, yet. No one will ever be able to tell that the dash was replaced, I can see very little hints of it but the average person won't notice these. I'll report later if there are any rattles or creaks. The dealer assured me on the drive to drop it off there were absolutely none - we will see. So far so good.

cerauli

I have noticed the same thing! The touch up is much more white than pearl...

graffixx

You'd repeat the same process to link the remote transmitter back.

press+hold the LOCK and UNLOCK buttons at the same time.

roar1

I was at a dealership recently and while walking around on the lot I noticed (4) current model TL's that owners had dropped off for service the following day. When I looked inside of these vehicles I couldn't help but notice that the condition of the leather on the drivers seats of all (4) cars looked really bad....wrinkled, cracked and loose and wavy material. Now, these cars couldn't be any older than ~ 2 1/2 years.

Does this seem to be a problem with these vehicles?? I have (2) Maximas. One is 6 yrs. old ( 80,000 mi.) and the other is 3 yrs. old ( 25,000 mi.) and I must say that the leather seats are in very good to excellent condition ( a couple of cracks on the older car).

What's your opinion?

I'm in the market for a new car and I'm considering a TL. I have always bought Maximas in the past. However, the new Maxima is a $30,000 car and the interior looks like it came from a $18,000 Hyundai, imho. I just can't seem to get past that.

Your thoughts !!

carnaught

I mentioned to the dealer service at six months use of my '04 TL that the seats shoed excessive wear and made them make note of it on the service record. Ultimately it was conveyed to me that this was "normal wear".

I have had owned many cars over the years and even when I traded them in or sold them after a few years they showed LESS wear than my TL at six months.

armand

My '04 TL with 14000 miles has what I would consider normal wear except that the leather on the drivers seat seems to have stretched a little and there is a slight wrinkle.

tedescm1

me too...stretched leather.

vaughn4

I've come to the conclusion that the fit, finish, materials, and overall quality of Acura is not on par with Lexus. My folks have a 97 ES 300 with 100K miles on it and the leather and materials look like they are new. I don't think Acuras hold up as well. I own an 05 TL and do like the car but I feel Lexus is a better built vehicle. I've noted that the Lexus forums have less complaints on them too. Next ride a GS, but you are talking a bit more $$$. May also look at the Infiniti M.

bodble2

I have now determined that what I thought was a squeak/rattle from the console is actually eminating from the glove box door. When I press on the glove box door the sound is gone. Hard to determine though, where exactly in the door is causing it.

Someone here had mentioned they have a home-remedy by placing felt strips on the door. How and where exactly did you place those strips?

tedescm1

I went to home depo and purchased ¼ to ½ inch foam window insulation with an adhesive backing. Then I cut strips of it and placed it all around the inside opening of the glove box .

It stopped the rattles and you can’t see it when the door is closed...sad but it works.

bodble2

Thanks! I'll try that. But does it make the glove box door harder to close?

bartalk3

Acura is very inconsistent about whether the TL can safely use regular. In their '05 TL brochure, Acura says this:

"Gasoline with an octane number lower than 91 may be used, with reduced performance."

But in their '06 brochure, they say this:

"Using gasoline with an octane lower than 91 may cause damage to the engine. Please consult your owner's manual."

Well, which is it? Both statements can't be true. The first statement implies that lower octane gas can be used safely. What does the manual say? How many people with TL's here use gas with 89 or 87 octane?

taxesquire

I sometimes use 89 - never use 87. On 1 of htese TL boards, we discussed this ad nauseum. I believe we came to the conclusion that will generally not save $$$ to use 87 b/c of the worse fuel economy you'll get. As far as using 89, it was questionable hether that would save $$$ unless the gap between 89 and 92 was more than 11 cents (at current $3-$3.50/gal prices).

A question that I had that's never been answered was this: if 89 octane gase is guaranteed to have a MiNIMUM oct rating of 89, what is it's AVERAGE octane rating? The TL recommends 91, I believe, so if 89 oct-rated gass has an ave octane of 90, you really might not lose much at all.

delmar1

Both statements can very well be correct....

Yes....octane lower than 91 can be used with reduced performance....but it does not give any indication of the duration and long term effect of using lower octane.

Yes...octane lower than 91 may cause damage not only by duration...but if driving conditions (ie climbing hills...harder acceleration) which requires spark retardation to avoid ping....and why they indicate to 'consult your owner's manual' which has further discussion of such topic.

I typically use premium with 91 octane...especially after much discussion of such topic on the various boards here. It has solidified a conviction that although it may cost about $0.20 to $0.25 more per gallon...the benefits outweight the incremental cost (ie, higher gas mileage). Also...what really dawned on me is that the incremental difference as a percentage is less than in the past as gas prices rise (ie, $0.20 / $3 versus past $0.20 / $2 ). In a pinch where the spreads is greater than $0.30 (price gougers) I will go with 89 octane.

delmar1

I don't have an answer regarding the 'average' octane versus 'minimum'. But my hunch is that the gas company chemist are able to hold the 'average' so very close to a stated value with minimal tolerance....tht is their business.

In fact....is the gas quoted octane 'minimum' or 'average'...I am not sure. I am going to guess 'average' as it would only be fair to sample the rating.

bartalk3

Thanks for the clarification on the gasoline for the TL. It is true, as delmar1 noted, that the difference in price between 89 and 91 octane (as a percentage of the total cost) declines as the price of gas rises. Good point.

tlgal

Hi

I've read several postings that discuss faded dashes. I'm wondering if this happens with all colors or just with the darker interiors? I plan on buying a white tl with the parchment and would appreciate any preventative ideas to keep it in good form. I use a reflective sun shade when it's parked, but I do live in sunny California.
All input appreciated!

delmar1

The dash is black for all TLs...no matter what interior.

I live near San Diego, CA and my dash isn't faded. I don't doubt others that have indicated fading....but perhaps it is because I am not using 'Armor All' as most are (I have found Armor All to fade my previous dashboards and also created blochy colors).

I am using 'Clear Magic'...which goes on easily...isn't too 'wet' looking...lasts long....and doesn't smell like Armor All.

tlgal

Thanks Delmar1!

I did an internet search on Clear Magic (Blue Coral), it appears to be a cleaner? Do you put something else on it for a conditioner?

g_roc

I had a vibration / rattle noise coming from the back speaker or subwoofer area. I thought it was the subwoofer. I pulled off the carpet cover in the back trunk and found that it was the center seat belt. I put some foam around it and now the noise is gone. However, I am still have a rattle noise when someone sits in my front passenger seat.

waymie

I have an 05 non nav; today I was driving on the highway at about 70mph when the left front tire blew out. I had just under 11k miles; had been on the road less than 30 minutes and did not hit anything. The sidewall completely separated; luckily there was no traffic and I was able to quickly stop and pull over. I limped in to a Firestone/Bridgestone dealer who said there was not enough left of the tire to tell what caused the issue. Anyone have a similar experience?

stickyman

The seats in my 03 TL S were great after 48,000miles. My new 05 TL w/Navi, after 2,000miles look fine. I haven't seen any issues with the seats and I looked at alot of TL's before I purchase the 05. They do require care and like a leather chair.
If you don't purchase a TL, you are missing something special in a car.
Good Luck
Stickyman

carnaught

".......If you don't purchase a TL, you are missing something special in a car.
Good Luck....."

You'll miss a plethora of rattles and buzzes, for one thing.

laurasdada

After 9+ months and 9000+ miles, leather looks fine. One rattle (only when the sunroof is in the "vent" position), that dealer said was a known issue with a TSB and would take care of it at A1 service. They didn't. They did replace the (also well known) computer module (that led to the occasional temp reading of ---). No problem since replaced.

Great styling inside and out. Great performance, handling and fuel economy. Great car. Not perfect, just great.

priggly

I had the very same thing happen to a Michelin on the left rear of a '97 Subaru Outback at 70 mph. The tire just literally fell apart for no apparent reason. The remains of the tire were inspected by a Michelin dealer who said he couldn't tell what happened and that he would send the tire carcass to Michelin for investigation. I never did hear what the ultimate opinion was but received a pro-rated rebate for 40% of the tire cost on a Michelin replacement.

Have owned many, many Michelin tires through the years on all sorts of cars and this is the only such mishap I have experienced. Generally Michelins are top-of-the-line tires but there will always be a rotten apple in every barrel.

delmar1

TLGal....I was incorrect with the name of the product (I think I fouled it once before here). I had to look in my garage to find the product is named 'Clear Guard' by Turtle Wax.

I swear it is much better than Armor All. However...maybe personal tastes. It may come with a money back guarantee if you don't like it.

delmar1

What year TL do you own? If it is a 2004...that was the first year production. From what I gather...later year TLs don't have the same issues which you have pointed out.

capriracer

It is not uncomon for a tire, especially a low profile tire, to have the sidewalls detach from the tread when the tire is punctured - commonly called a "runflat". This can happen to any tire at any time - old or new, high quality or low cost. What happens is that when the tire does not have enough inflation pressure, the transition area between the tread (where the tire is thick) and the sidewall (where it is thin) flexes to the point where the ply materials break down.

Without an obvious puncture, most tire shops won't be able to tell you what happened - because sometimes the puncture is in the sidewall and disguised by all the damage.

And some tire shops won't tell you the cause because they don't want to get into an argument over this. (Cowards!) They prefer to dodge the issue by sending the tire in to the manufacturer hoping you'll forget or hoping the manufacturer will do some sort of reimbursement.

tedescm1

Yes...it does make the box harder to close.

One of the mechanics at acura gave me another tip...

He said to wrap a piece of black electrical tape on the closing mechanism and it will alleviate noise from the glove box latch.

delmar1

You do know that weatherstripping is sold in various thicknesses... I don't have the rattle you guys are trying to fix....but there is also the traditional type that isn't a 'sponge'....but rather a rubber 'o' or 'u' shaped that might work without making it harder to close. Or you could find a thinner tape and build it up to the appropriate thickness. Basically the cure you guys are working towards is to get a little pressure on the door. Just a thought.