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This becomes a real safety issue when your transmission decides to shift into second gear when you are traveling 65 mph on the highway, causing you to very quickly slow down to 30 mph with no break lights while in heavy rush hour traffic. I was just about rear ended. Some owners have had accidents because of this defect, and they have pursued legal action on their own.
Last night,I was pulling out of a parking space in my condo development (trying to avoid the melting snowbank and sign) and hit a fire hydrant! The driver's side rear bumper is dimpled and punctured(the size of a melon)and the headlight above it is cracked, but no metal body damage is done. Basicallly I have to replace the bumper and have it painted, with the rear light replaced. I cringe everytime I look at it. I am new to the area and trying to find an autobody shop that will make it look like new!! Pohanka says they have a collision center, but I'm not sure about them, as I bought my car out of town. If anyone can recommend a good place for me to go, that does a good job on Acura's- I'd really appreciate your advice-especially looking for paint to match the car-white diamond parchment. Thanks for any advice you can give me.
I was not aware of this problem...
I was told that there was a lubrication problem and they were going to add an oil jet to the second gear.
Are you saying that the (04-TL) car transmission goes from 5th gear to 2nd gear by it self?
Is this wide spread?
Thanks,
I found some info on the model years 00-02, but this info is now obsolete. Honda is doing a good job of keeping this all low key. Here is what i found, a list of the problems:
1. Erratic shifting, flare at upshifts, wont move (5/02)
2. The roughness of the third gear clutch steel plates is prematurely wearing the third clutch disks in production and requires a remanufactured transmission
3. ATF leak at axle seals, roaring noise, erratic shifting (5/02)
4. An ATF leak at the axle seals, a roaring noise or erratic shifting can be caused by wear [cut-off in scan], which requires transmission replacement. When the differential carrier bearing get d [cut-off in scan].
5. ATF Leak – If the differential carrier moves around, the axles can exceed the range [cut-off].
6. Erratic shifting – Contamination from the damaged differential carrier bearings can [cut-off] lock-up valves. A common DTC that accompanies damaged differential bearings is [cut-off] system).
7. Transmission noise – Worn bearings allow the differential carrier to move and cause [cut-off] carrier-bearing contact. This often causes noise that has been described as roaring.
I found some info on the model years 00-02, but this info is now obsolete. Honda is doing a good job of keeping this all low key. Here is what i found, a list of the problems:
1 Erratic shifting, flare at upshifts, wont move.
2. The roughness of the third gear clutch steel plates is prematurely wearing the third clutch disks in production and requires a remanufactured transmission.
3. ATF leak at axle seals, roaring noise, erratic shifting (5/02)
4. An ATF leak at the axle seals, a roaring noise or erratic shifting can be caused by wear [cut-off in scan], which requires transmission replacement. When the differential carrier bearing get d [cut-off in scan].
5. ATF Leak – If the differential carrier moves around, the axles can exceed the range [cut-off].
6. Erratic shifting – Contamination from the damaged differential carrier bearings can [cut-off] lock-up valves. A common DTC that accompanies damaged differential bearings is [cut-off] system).
7. Transmission noise – Worn bearings allow the differential carrier to move and cause [cut-off] carrier-bearing contact. This often causes noise that has been described as roaring.
Similar deal with my TL/Auto/Bridgestone EL42 tires. So far the TC/VSA/ABS have kept me going but I've been very disappointed in the (lack of) snow traction of these all-seasons. I guess they're really three seasons!
I haven't slid like you have (glad no damage to car or driver), but I imagine the Michelin's on the 6MT are summer tires? (not all season's), which are a disaster in the snow.
Good luck, you can use the tirerack.com to research snows/wheel packages.
Where'd you buy your TL? Acura of Boston or Clair?
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Thanks for the reply. They are all season tires, not summer tires. I have checked out tirerack.com and acura of canada websites. Both have alternatives, none of which is cheap (given the cost of alloy wheels, but I will probably just have to do it).
One alternative suggested by my salesperson (Acura of Auburn; his initials are RV, best car salesperson I have ever dealt with) is to find a 16" steel wheel that would fit. The steel would be better for the bumps of winter and cheaper, while the 16" size would enable me to use a higher and narrower (as opposed to wider and low profile) snow tire for the car, which is supposed to provide better snow traction. Do not know whether I could find such a wheel and, if it would fit over those brembo brakes on the MT.
Will let you know.
So far the car has been realigned twice, and the alignment is within specs. Tires have been rotated and checked on a new precision balancing machine the dealer is evaluating; the machine evidently checks for both balance and asymetrical pulling tendency in the tires. The car's been been back to the dealer four times.
The car still drifts left and, more importantly, the steering effort issue remains unresolved. The Acura rep has driven the car, and states that nothing is wrong in writing (even though he acknowledged the drifting issue during a test drive). All dealer documentation states that nothing was found, but on the phone the service manager stated that he had to be careful what he said, but in his professional opinion the power steering rack should be swapped out and failing a solution there, the vehicle should be replaced. The next day the same manager left me a voicemail stating the party line, that nothing could be done and the car was within spec. I also got a voicemail from the Acura area rep stating the same. The problem now rests with the Acura customer service people.
I'll post again as developments occur.
I replaced my tires this week on my 1999 TL (45,000 miles) with Kuhmo's 716 but I'm still having the same problem which I thought would be corrected with the new tires.
Between 55mph-70mph the steering wheel vibrates consistently. I believe this issue has been addressed before and if I'm correct is just inherent with the car?
Over 70mph the ride does smooth out. However, the vibration does come back every minute or so. It's like a wave (sorry for the bad analogy these days). I thought this issue would be corrected with the new tires and at least a little improved between 55-70.
Can anyone shed any light as to why this happens? Thank you!
Mark
Why would you change oil at only 550 miles anyway?
I have the same problem (04 TL vibration in 5th gear at 45 to 64 mph). I spoke to the district manager who told me the vibration (harmonic vibration) is a characteristic of the car. He went on to say that the characteristic was corrected on the 05 models. I don’t know if that’s true. Does the 05 do the same thing?
He also told me the Acura engineers are working to correct the characteristic or problem in the 04 model. I think it’s funny that they are working to correct something that they say is not a problem. Do they really think a jury is going to buy into that?
I have asked for an arbitration hearing to see if they will replace or refund my money. I’m not too optimistic so I have spoken to a very large Lemon Law Firm. They advised me to take it back to the dealer three times for documentation purposes and then I’ll file a lawsuit to recover my money. I don’t want another Acura TL.
How is the class action suit going to work? If it does not interfere with my lemon law suit, I will join the class action suit.
PS: There is evidence that Acura knew about the problem when they sold us this defective car I believe that’s called fraud.
Tell me more about your plans and also let me know what you know about the vibration problem. I live in the Phila PA. Area.
Honda made a calculated decision that there is remote chance the tranny will fail completely so they roll it. As in most biz cases, unless the software can cause serious data corruption, let's release it.
99% of users won't do anything or in our case, we can't return the car. Honda/Acura is still denying it when you call them. I am wondering if the problems are exclusive to the TL or other Hondas like Accord, MDX which use the same system also experience similar problems.
Bodble2-
My 04TL engine is humming or buzzing depending on your ears when starting from complete
stop. The humming/buzzing goes away when it reaches 30-40MPH, then the engine seems
to grind or vibrate when it reaches 45-55MPH. The problem can be easily replicated
if I get on freeway, get the speed up to 60-65MPH then slow down to 50MPH, again
I can feel the engine is grinding or vibrating. The best way I can describe is that
like you are driving at slower speed but the gear box is stuck in 5th or 6h gear.
Yes, the suspension is extremely tight on TL but in my humble opinion, it is the
engine that is grinding and vibrating. It is almost like the engine was trying to
find a correct gear for the speed the car is traveling at
Of course, the dealer balanced the tires. Acura CS said it is normal. I can deal
w/ the squeaking doors but not the engine. Maybe my engine issue is rare among
thousands of engine Aucra produced. My 04TL only has 8k so it should not grind or
vibrate. I don't push the car very hard so there is no reasons for the engine to
grind hard. I can barely feel a pulse when driving it before but now the engine
is much louder and I can hear the humming/buzzing very clearly.
Armand-
The fact Acura recalled early TL produced in 03 and early 04 tell me it is the same
tranny system which Honda has not fixed YET. Sure the TL offers the best value and
performance in its class but for 35k, all I want is a car w/ reasonable ride, a
good engine that will last at least 4 or 5 years. I doubt my TL engine will last
beyond 50K the way it sounds and behaves today.
This is a scary post for someone interested in buying an 05 TL. If this is generally as serious a problem as you say then wouldn't this be a well known issue by car magazines, consumer reports, radio car talk hosts...etc. I just read in a magazine that the 05 TL was expected to be among the top sedans for re-sale value. How can it have this major defect yet be on a car magazine's list as a top value for re-sale purposes?
I'm not doubting that you have experienced this problem. I'm just questioning how wide spread it is?
How can the TL have a defective torque converter which causes, at the very least least an annoying vibration and at most a serious safety problem without other automobile sources reporting or warning about it?
So perhaps my question should be whether the vibrations I feel are unreasonable AND how do they compare to Ricko and the others who say their's do. Yes mine vibrates, but it doesn't really bother me, so I'm guessing their's are worse. How can I tell if my vibrations are 'normal' versus unreasonable.
I believe Ricko and the others aren't unreasonable and aren't complaining about 'reasonable' engine vibrations. But how can we quantify it?
I believe that's the ABS self-check.
I actually find the TL quite "sealed" in terms of road and wind noise, but I'm coming from other Acuras and Hondas, not Mercedes.
Honda calls this a 'normal' characteristic. Sound familiar.
On vibration, obviously the car will vibrate a bit when engine is on, vs. when engine is off. But I've not sensed any unusual vibration to date (only 1K miles tho).
So far I really enjoy driving this car, just that I won't use it for a long trip. Will go to Lexus or a van/suv for that.
1. When I'm low on gas, the red airbag light comes on and stays on. It goes off after I fill up.
2. When the wipers are in intermittent mode, they will activate every time I take my foot off the brake. This happens even on the slowest setting where the wipers have just gone.
Anyone else experience these 2?
Lucky you!
PS: What does the dealer have to say about the standard vibration between 50-55 mph):
I can accept the logic of it if the rain falls against the direction of car, but not quite if it falls vertical to the car (little wind) or at the same direction of car (wind blows to where you're heading). Am I interpreting this feature incorrectly?
Anyway every time it rains I am stuck in traffic so it's hard to tell how wiping actually relates to speed.
i'd decided, i thought, to buy an 05 TL given that it seemed to offer the best combo of value,drivability, and, i thought, reliability in the under 35K hi-end entry level cars. lexus seems to be for old men, didn't care for the infiniti G35, and wasn't willing to put up with reliability issues of audi, bmw, and mercedes.
am i wrong about this acura? this tranny stuff has me running scared. i'm gonna get stuck with that soft ES330.
what do you guys think?
I have no problems with my TL and I believe I am in the (vast?) majority. I'm not saying there aren't those with problems, but my impression is they are few and far between. You just hear about them more here.
My opinion, go for it for the reasons you gave.
Is that all SSW does on TL? I guess it's useful more because you don't get that much rain from other moving cars when stopped, vs. from the sky....
As to soft ride vs. firm ride between ES and TL, that's very true. That said, even though my butt is not that old yet it does find the ES seat more comfy. Of course if looking manly is important, then TL will do a much better job than ES.