Acura TL Maintenance and Repair

cartalk

It's Acura TSB 05-017 [5th Gear Vibration or Drone]

I've uploaded it if you want to download the TSB:

http://s56.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3H8936R6S4JM40XG8LD6WJWK35

priggly

By the way, I described the problem as a driveline vibration… Acura chooses to call it a "harmonic vibration". It does have a softer friendlier feel…it almost has a happy musically quality!

Maybe Acura should rename the TL the "Harmony" in keeping with its sonic characteristics!

Just curious, for all those who have had the "fix" implemented for the vibration/drone issue, how many proclaim it to have solved the problem and how many not?

tedescm1

Thanks for the good laugh...

My car still has the vibration but it seems to have a different frequency. It's no better and no worse :lemon: .

chevycam

After my experience with Ford I am very happy with my TL. I have had it for 9 months and only notice three minor things that I need to take it in for when I get time.
1.) When it is cold I feel the vibration everyone is talking about. It goes away within 2 miles of driving.
2.) Small slight tick noise in driver window.
3.) Oxidation on the passenger side of the dash. Some people are calling it fading. It is actually oxidation. There should be a way to remove it but I don't want to use any chemicals on it until I talk to Acura.

These are minor compared to my Ford with bad paint flaws from day one, stalling problems, tailgates that rattle and won't shut......

Does anyone have any ideas about the noise in the driver side window?

The damper is valid way to fix a problem like this. All they need to do is alter the harmonic frequency that is causing the vibration. Changing shift points might help but might also lower gas mileage. One thing I have noticed with low profile tires is that they sometimes cause vibrations when cold due to flat spots from the weight of the car.

Vibrations caused by harmonics are hard to fix. It may take some time. Not a popular answer but a fact when dealing with today's complicated automobiles.

yakuza

I have a clear bra on my '05 TL and it does its job VERY well. Although it can't stop chips/dents from larger rocks (I do have one good sized ding from a rock), it will protect your paint from 99% of debris that hits the front area of your car. It's a pricey investment though - I paid almost $600. I would HIGHLY recommend using a professional installer.

I have a few pictures of the bra installed on my cardomain site: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2059734/1

ckiggins

Yakzuka: nice pics! I do have a question, though. Does anyone know if the non-Nav still includes the hands-free for Bluetooth? I didn't notice the phone buttons on the steering wheel of the non-nav model in pictures.

The Acura Brochure makes it look like it's standard on both, but I wanted to confirm.

lou_dog

I am getting a very loud sound and vibration that seems to be coming from inside the dashboard, behind the radio. This happens 3-4 times a year. Only on the highway, on clear sunny days. Yesterday the noise and vibration almost made the car undriveable.

Any help is appreciated

bodble2

Wow, clean car! I'm envious!

I can't see the clear bra. Does it cover the entire hood? Where does it end?

goodegg

The non-nav does have the HF link capability. My Motorola V555 paired with the car easily, and I love this feature!

Yakzuka - is the clear bra 'permanent' or can it be peeled off at a later date?

yakuza

The clear bra is there - it's hard to see in a picture. The bra goes about 2/3 up the hood. It's hardest to see when the car is clean and waxed as in the pictures. I have a black car so dirt shows everywhere, making the clear bra line on the hood more visible.

The clear bra is not permanent as it can be removed if need be. However, you can't put the same piece back on if you peel it off so you would have to get it reinstalled (for a price of course).

ed31cincy

My '04 TL has the vibration and I got the damper. It changed the characteristics of the vibration, but did not eliminate it. It is not better, it is not worse, just different. I would NOT recommend getting the damper. Waste of time.

Manually shifting from 5th to 4th does not change the vibration on my car. I still think it is the tires and I am just waiting for them to wear out so I can replace them. This will tell me if it was the tires or if it is a characteristic of the car itself.

One last thing: I love my TL in spite of the vibration. This thing is a blast to drive!

ckiggins

Great, thanks! I am looking forward to getting my TL in May/June and pairing it with my Motorola RAZR. Great phone!

cerauli

I had the same sound/vibration. It turned out to be the radio harness laying on top of the radio. The dealership wrapped the harness with foam as well as the top of the radio. No more noise!!!

Hope this helps!

twmark

I just got my TL and am curious as to how long my brakes will last. I know that many factor will determine the duration of brakes but when did you have to have your brakes replaced? I just got a 48 month/48000 mile lease and I'm wondering if I will have to replace the brakes before I turn in the car. I average 25mpg city+highway.

nhtlowner

I am experiencing a similar noise on my 05TL (22K miles). It intensifies with fast accelleration. The longer I have owned it the more often I hear (and feel) the vibration. I have brought it to 2 dealerships and they both told me there was nothing wrong.

martinezxo

I HAD THAT PROBLEM WITH MY TL AND AFTER MONTHS AND MONTHS OF BALANCING THE TIRES, IT TURN OUT TO BE THE INNER CASTING FOR THE CV JOINTS. IT WAS A HASTY VIBIRATION ON ACCELARATION AND THEN AROUND 40 TO 55 MPH.

cassiri

Does anyone else have issues with the standard issue Michelin tires ('06 auto). In dry weather they are ok. In wet they slip and slide all over the place. In a decent corner they will just plow straight ahead. Even in dry weather on sharper corners there is a point at which additional steering input has no effect and the front end just plows. Is this the lousy tires or am I just expecting too much from a front driver?

buckyrob

Hi,
I was referring to a 2004 Lexus vs. my 04 TL. I would imagine that they have corrected the shifting problems by now.

buckyrob

That's it! You are the first person to confirm what I thought the problem is. I was thinking there is no way Acura will help me with this UNTIL I saw your posting of the Acura Service Bulletin. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

tedescm1

what is in the service bulletin...

Mike

cartalk

Re: Acura TSB 05-017 [5th Gear Vibration or Drone]

Repost of the TSB for the vibration issue for those that missed it. You need to download the PDF.

http://s60.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=371773MRTXMU01EA7SZT5D92XJ

goodegg

Where is this TSB posted by Acura? I'd love to see it.

I don't want to open your file.

ed31cincy

Don't get too excited about the service bulletin. It did not work for my car. See my previous post. Just click on my name and look at the post that is second on my list of most recent posts.

goodegg

I just want to see what Acura says the 'issue' is. Cause I gotta tell ya, if what's being debated is 'vibration' when the car is in OD, its kinda silly. All cars want to labor some in OD. My 06 TL doesn't vibrate at all. Mine's AT. Do only the MTs have this problem?

Some people just want to be nit pickers. Every car on this board gets picked on, yet millions of cars are sold annually. Are all these people dissatisfied? Would they EVER be satisfied with anything?

When C&D and CR etc. review the TL they don't seem to find this 'vibration' issue. Whatever.....I'm done.

billyperks1

Yes-please be done and let other posters try and get to the bottom of the issue.Just because your car does not exhibit the problem you think that all these accusations are all made up.For goodness sake, the Manufacturer is even admitting that there is a problem and some sort of fix is out there for it.

GEEEEZ!!!

ontop

Where does Acura admit there is a problem? Where do we find the TSB then? I'd love to see it too. Cause my TL doesn't do it either.

qbrozen

I have no stake in this issue either way, but just wanted to point out that a TSB does not mean EVERY car has the problem. If every car had it and it needed to be fixed, that would be a recall, not a TSB.

laurasdada

I don't think my '05 has the "harmonic vibration," but I don't doubt some owners feel that their car does. I mentioned it to the SA during my "B" service a couple of weeks ago. He said TLs had come in with owners complaining of vibration and although the techs could not detect it, they just applied the fix. The SA said that they don't even try to detect the vibe anymore (if it's described as the HV issue), they just apply the fix.

Again, it could be perception. One drivers's "Harmonic Vibration" could just be another's "road feel."

Bottom line? Glad my TL is harmonious!

ontop

So if every car doesn't have it, every time someone whines about a minor issue a TSB gets released? Or is it

cassiri

To those of you like me that have the 45-55mph vibration, is it only when the tires are cold after just starting up? Does anyone have it all the time? I'm curious if we are all talking about the same thing. Also to those who have this vibration, what tires are you running?

Again to those who don't have the issue, congrats. I understand your suspicious of whiners but I can tell you this is not simply a matter of not being used to a sporty ride or something of the like. It is a genuine vibration like the front tires are out of balance severely. MIne is temporary when the tires are cold so I'm not losing sleep over it, but I've never seen it in any of my cars before.

laurasdada

I think your particular issue is tire "flat spotting." I've got the Bridgestone Turanzas and believe I experience "flat spotting." Same sympton as your, when cold tires, bumpy ride until they return to round. I'm hoping that when I replace these tires, the issue may end.

No "Harmonic Vibration," however. The HV is the issue to which most of the dissatisfied owners refer.

ed31cincy

The vibration issue to which some of us refer is not the cold tire vibration. I am also familiar with cold tire vibration because the tires on my Camaro exhibit this. The cold tire vibration goes away after a mile or two.

My '04 TL has a vibration around 40-45 mph and again at 55-65 mph. The latter one is more noticeable. It always happens, regardless of road surface, temperature, etc. By the way, I had the damper installed and it did not eliminate or even improve the situation. The only time I don't notice it is when I accelerate past both speeds rapidly. As you know, rapid acceleration in this car is quite pleasing so I tend to minimize the vibration as traffic conditions allow!

goodegg

How many miles are on your Turanza EL 42s? These came on my car as well. Low profile tires typically don't take lots of miles. No HV here, and boy do I listen for it!

As a sidebar....did go over the 105mph mark yesterday in my TL following an 06 GTO and a Vette. Just for a few seconds for sh_ts and grins. The car was tight.

laurasdada

My Turanza's are heading towards 13k miles. Still look like there's plenty of life. Although I'm looking forward to replacing them. Just not paying for the replacements (doing taxes, ouch.)!

While I've only touched 100mph once or twice, the TL certainly gets there easily! Cruising at 80-90 the TL feels as smooth and confident as at 60.

bhelsdon

You can expect to get about 12k more out of your EL 42s if you rotate them every 6k.

laurasdada

Thanks, indeed they have been rotated 2x in the first 12k+ of life. But if they don't make it to next winter, I won't be too heartbroken as I look forward to a better snow-performing tire. Not that it has been a big issue this winter. So far, this Winter has been quite a Spring here in the Boston area...

michael4435

sorry if this has been posted but I did a search and could not find the answer...

I just got my license plates for my new 2006 TL but for the life of me, I cannot see where I would attach them to the front of the car without damaging the front bumper. has anyone had the saem problem? if so, what was your solution? sorry if I seem like a total dolt but I've spent too much time trying already! :-) Thanks for your help!

pack14

You should have received plate holder that mounts on the center of the front bumper - in place of the ACURA nameplate!

michael4435

sorry if I wasn't clear in my previous post... I did receive the plat holder but I can't figure out how to attach that to the front bumper. I don't see any holes where you can screw in the 2 screws provided. again, sorry if I sound like a dunce!

ljay2

I need some quick advice. My '95 TL turns 3750 miles today. Ordinarily it'd be time for an oil change. But the manual says to wait for the computer to tell you when, and the dash reads "40% oil life remaining."
I intend to take her in. Anybody think I'm wrong--or that the dealer will?

bodble2

'95, or '05? :confuse:

In any case, you should wait for the computer to tell you to change oil. The dealer may happily take your money though! :P

pack14

If I remember correctly, there should be two small plugs - one on either side of the ACURA nameplate that is inscribed on lower part of the front bumper. Removing each of those plugs should allow you to place the screws through the plate holder and into the bumper. I think I also got the screws with the holder. Must admit though, that I only watched the dealer put it on. In Texas, we have to carry front plates so as part of new car delivery that portion is done by the dealer. Deep down inside, I think the car looks so much better with out the front plate. However, the fine for not having a front plate is rather steep.

bgeman

Does anyone have a Bluetooth phone from Sprint that is compatible with the TL system? I only see one, for a cost of $500 by Palm.

upstatedoc

Acura website lists a few specifically from sprint that are compatible w/ tl. There are others that are not on the list that will work, or so I've heard, with software updates.

sushi96720

pack14 is right. just remove the two plugs and attach the two screws. whatever you do don't throw away those plastic plugs. for those that want the plugs since the dealer already took them off, they retail for $17 ea. or $34 (can't belive the price it's a-rip off). sell it on ebay and get something back for your trouble.

sushi96720

the computer on the tl calculates the % remaining oil life taking into account how the car is driven and the amount of engine revolution therefore, mileage alone doesn't mean that the car needs an oil change. go with the computer.there's a write up of this in your manual.

bodble2

Somewhat off-topic, but wouldn't you think that since the computer is doing all that fancy schmancy calculation to determine oil change interval, they could have programmed it to monitor oil level also? Isn't low oil level a more commonly neglected, and potentially more devastating, maintenance issue than oil life? I mean, really, if you got no oil, your engine ain't going to last too long, but I think the jury is still out on just what is the effective "life" of modern engine oil.

That's my rant for the day! :P

goodegg

True...but wouldn't an oil pressure warning light alert you to that? And I've owned 2 Hondas and 1 Acura and never had any of them leak oil. Also an oil change is probably the cheapest and best maintenance you can do for a car....

eblock

2001 Acura TL w/ 75,000 miles in Florida. I tried to use heat for the first time yesterday morning & it blew cold air; NO heat. AC has been working fine for 5 years. Any similar results? Any problems w/ heat? Thanks.

armand

No, the oil pressure light does not tell you when oil level is low. I think it would be difficult to measure oil level -does anyone know a car that does this? Looking at the dip stick once a month or so doesn't sound like much of a problem and Honda products typically don't burn much oil. I have never had to add oil between oil changes which I do only when the maintenance minder tells me to.