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Comments
Does everyone agree the vibrations and rattles are a design problem?
Are the vibrations being experienced by all 04/05 TL owners,even those with Michelins?
This *potential* or is it an *inevitable* problem is the only thing preventing me from buying a TL...even one with Michelins. This is a major Bummer.
When you say the ride has improved 95% is this in regards to flat spots or vibration ? Can you be more specific. I have a vibration which goes onto a shudder at 1500rpm to 2000rpm, we have not exchanged tires yet. My car is a 2004 tl. Thanks
Posted by doja: "cabowabodude: Are you saying that the service manager (a highschool friend) told you to stay away from the 04 TL due to the vibration problems? If so did he say anything about the 05 TL? Thanks."
Reply by cabowabodude:
"Doja, Yes, I am saying the service manager told me to stay away from the 04 TL's and also stay away from the Bridgestone tires. I was at several dealerships that day and I found out that my friend/service manager had worked at a certain dealership. So I started to ask if there were any problems with the TL's, I was told to stay away from the 04's. I was told the 05's had a change to the undercarriage, and there was nothing that could be done to the 04's."
Has anyone else heard that the vibration problem has been fixed in the 05 TL by making a change to the under-carriage? I would like to believe it, but....
My problem is a very loud whistling noise from the engine compartment that fades in and out during low outside temps only (single digits).The noise only tends to fade in during cruising speeds (not idle). The problem seems to be getting more pronounced every year, but is hard for the Acura Service Dept to diagnose due to having to test drive the car when it is very cold outside(also inconvenient for me).
I am thinking it is the fuel pump, as the whistling noise reproducibly dissipates when I step on the gas when it fades in.
As I am getting very close to my warranty expiration, I would like to have some feedback from others who may have had this problem, as I may not be able to get the car into the dealership during a cold day and any ammunition I have, will help me to get them to solve the problem. Thanks.
Fortunately I've loved the car and have no complaints...so far. I've noticed slight creaks from the rear of the passenger compartment (i.e. in an uneven parking lot), but certainly not a big deal. And there's a whiff of torque steer on hard acceleration. But no harshness, no vibrations, no prolonged cranking, no rattles, no bumpiness. Instead, it's been amazingly luxurious, comfortable, and composed. Mebbe I'm just too used to racecars and motorcycles...
However, what's this complaint I see about "flatspotting?" Is it really flatspotting (as in what happens when you lock up tires or spin a car, and wind up rubbing away a localized patch of rubber, thereby resulting in a no-longer-round tire)? Or is everyone really complaining about uneven tire wear and/or vibrations? I've gone back quite a few pages, and can't really find a good explanation for this thread's definition.
It takes a few minutes for the tire to heat up and regain its round form. In the mean while, you hear and feel the flat spot.
I have the newer EL42s on my '04 TL and only rarely notice it. It happens most often when it's cold outside and the car has been sitting for more than two days.
Based on earlier responses, the newly formulated tires are much better than the older ones with regards to this issue. It was a real problem. Hope this helps.
I'm a repeat Acura costumer ('02MDX,'05TL)and we are all luxury car owners who have gotten the same run around as we've been reading about on this and many other boards. People like us are probably numbering in the thousands with complaints about a disturbing ride characteristic of the TLs, namely a very rough ride with no apparent cause, fault, or responsible party to seek remedy from. Recent history reminds us that the manufacturer of the L42 tires is the same (Bridgestone) that was implicated in the deaths of many people (worldwide) who were driving Ford Explorers just a few years ago in the '90s. I've downloaded hundreds of stories about these TL problems and the lack of accountability for them. The common thread in them is :you're on your own.
While my Acura service mgr says that he is not authorized to replace tires, his mechanics have said that no one is complaining about the Michelins that come with the Navi package. (check out all of these complaints, virtually no one is!) We're taking our case to the Atty General in NY State, Eliot Spitzer. Many of us are driving these cars through our first winter and we don't even know if they are safe. Pardon the mellow drama/righteous indignation rap and give it some thought. Some of you might remember the last 5 minutes of the PBS Frontline Series on the Bridgestone-Firestone-Explorer story. A PBS repoter was using Federal buildings in D.C. as a backdrop while giving his closing monolog and as fate would have it a woman rolled her Explorer right over just a 1/2 block away.
Can you share with us the web site where hundreds of stories about TL problems are posted?
Also, you don't mention what Bridgestone's response was to your complaint. Each time I've ever bought a new car, the tire manufacturer's Tire Warranty was included in the paperwork discussed at delivery. With each car I've purchased, the car salesman pointed out to me that the tires are warranted by the tire manufacturer. Like you, I too would try the car dealer first (just for the heck of it) but I'd expect my next stop to be a tire dealer.
Unless you can prove that a safety defect exists, I think it unlikely that Mr. Spitzer will expend political capital on behalf of luxury car owners with lumpy tires.
Thanks for sharing your concerns and best of luck to you in getting this issue resolved without having to buy your own tires.
Have to say this forum has been very useful. I've now got 1500 miles on my new TL and i've been getting 20 MPG - i think this is pretty common for most TL owners as the car needs to break in. But how long did you have to wait until the MPG started increasing????
Habitat1,
I just found out that the computerized service reminder is able to detect how severe the car has been driven. That is why the avg mile for oil change is different from one car to another. You maybe having too much fun.
VIBRATION
No vibration or whatsoever @ 19kmiles. Try to reduce air pressure in your front tires (but not less than the lowest recommended level). That might help a bit.
1. Tire Tear. My rear passenger tire has a 3 inch tear between the treads. I took it to the dealer and they said that I hit a pothole which may have caused the tear. I took it Firestone and they said it wasn't a manufacture defect and they won't be able to replace it. I explained to them that I didn't hit a pothole, but heard a loud pop in the middle of driving. Have anybody else experienced this?
2. Rattles. My dealer was able to fix one of the rattles above the driver's side window. They added more adhesive glue to the padding. That seems to fix one of the rattler.
3. Rolling down the window all the way or halfway on the driver side and front passenger window causes the door to vibrate when shutting it.
There is a slight vibration, or resonance coming from the drivetrain when accelerating in first gear, more noticable with more load on the car, like going uphile. Some of you have eluded to having this problem.
Dealers, of course, two of them so far, characterize this behavious as "characteristic of the car". Here are my guesses:
1 - Engine might not have enough low end torque -very slight chance this is the culprit, since if you accelerate very softly, you dont' have this problem.
2 - Possible issue with the torque converter. It feels that the resonance may come from the TC until is spins up to certain cycle.
Any thoughts?
Has anyone talked to Acura (the company, not the dealers) to see if they are aware of any torque converter issues on 04-05 TLs?
I have since reviewed the Turanza EL42 on Tire Rack and there are many entries from '04 TL owners that speak of bald tires at 15000 miles or less. It appears that this is a common occurrence for this car & tire combination. Although this is considered a premium tire, there is no tread life warranty on the EL42's.
I am almost certain the dealer will replace the tires with new EL42's, but I am not sure.
Thanks for your cooperation.
This lack of Acura responsiveness to the consumer and the numerous rattles, vibrations and feeling of hollowness rather than solidity has soured me to buying any more Acuras (and this was my third).
vibration, rattling...regarding the 2004 TLs, and
some postings inferring this prob has "presum-
ably" been corrected w/the 2005....should 2005 TL-ers be on the look out for this? I am getting
my new TL this week.
Thanks for your cooperation.
That is precisely why I DON'T think it's a great car.
For $31K, it's hard to find a car that does everything well. You just have to give and take some. TL is a great blend of many virtues, while others excel more in one area or the other.
That said, Honda's workmanship is very good traditionally (I've owned a few). I don't know why this TL received these many complaints. Maybe because it's built in US? But then so are Accords and I don't think Accords got this kind of complaints that much.
My 05 TL is coming soon and I am crossing my fingers to have none of these issues. I do know a few friends of mine that own 04 TL and have no workmanship problems. So I know 'it can be done'!