loulinjai

Would Honda be better off using the 7DCT used in the RLX Sport Hybrid? We know it can be paired with the J35, perhaps it can be used without an electric motor?

2011TL

I had the update today. So far, so good! My dealer has been waiting for this update since February. I'm the first to have it done.

mondster

Could you elaborate more on what "so far, so good" means? How big of a difference is everything when compared prior to updating?

2011TL

^^
a) The rough shift from 1 to 2 is no longer noticeable.
b) The very rough shift from 2 to 3 is still noticeable, but significantly smoother.
c) The hesitation in engaging from 2 to 3 is no longer present.
d) The surge in speed during downshifting from 3 to 2 is no longer present.

I'll report back in a week or so if there is a change in results.

Momyc

Sounds encouraging ...
What about the throttle response ? Any improvement ?
Thx

neoshi

Please ask them for the campaign/tsb number so that we know for sure that you're not just happy with the immediate and temporary effects of an idle-relearn, which they do with all these transmission "fixes."

mondster

Thanks!

This is awesome news. Cant wait to get mine updated

2011TL

I haven't had a problem with throttle response, other than the delay in gear engagement from 2 to3.

2011TL

They used the TSB released on July 25. I took a copy with me. Shop foreman said they have been waiting for this update since February.

This is on the service order:

CAUSE:
UPDATE 125517 ECM/PCM - REPROGRAM S/B: 01-038 S/B: 05-007 S/B: 06-013 S/B: 06-023 S/B: 06-027 S/B: 06-052 S/B: 08-043 S/B: 1752 WAR2

PARTS:
1168 PERFORMED UPDATE 125517 .2, H .1 03214 PERFORMED SOFTWARE UPDATE VERSION L93160. RELEARN IDLE

neoshi

Thanks. http://www.urvi.net/forumfiles/SB/B15-038.PDF
Too bad it's specific to the TLX only and the other 9ZF cousins don't get the update.

mani

27 days and still waiting. Dropped my car off at the dealer on July 3rd for the tranny bug coming back after they did the last update back in march. The jerk on the 2nd to 3rd just got louder and I couldnt deal with it anymore. Its has now been almost a month and yesterday i was invited to the dealer to test drive it before they can move on to the 2 other issues that needed attention. I was first told, update, that didnt fix it and then from what i was told Acura sent their tech guy to the dealer to diagnose the problem and then i was told that most likely tranny is going to be replaced BUT eventually last week another update with re-learn process came out which has fixed the issue. I did not feel the jerks anymore how ever the shifting does feel a lot stiffer than before but in a good way. (Could be because of the reset ECU and relearn process). Dealer still had to keep the car cause of noise coming from the front shocks and foul smell from the AC unit which is like humidity or something.
Luckily Acura gave me an 16 MDX tech for the month otherwise I might not have been this patient. Im amazed of how the MDX has the same tranny as our TLX's but is smoother and much more responsive and sportier. Not an SUV guy but I kinda have feelings for the MDX now lol.

mani

I had those issues back in Feb when i picked up my car... They did a similar update 2 weeks later and all the stuff you mentioned was on my car. It went away but then the 2-3rd gear jerk came back in a month or so... Hopefully you dont have to go through the same.

ltommylel

I received the TSB 15-038 today and definitely confirm that my tlx is also acting the same way. I used all IDS modes while I was driving and the shift is definitely a lot smoother(but still noticeable as its mentioned above) than it previously was. If you guys are getting the update, I recommend printing out the TSB. The service rep said all the software in my car was up to date initially before I showed him a print copy. Gonna give him the benefit of a doubt that he really didnt know there was a TSB out or he was just lazy

mondster

Did the update this morning and am very happy with the results. The hard shift is definitely gone. There were times when i still felt a nudge from the 2 to 3 shift but only 10% of the time or maybe less. The surge is also gone when i downshift whether im using the paddleshifters or not. I no longer tighten my neck in anticipation of the hard shift. Lol

Stew4HD

Thanks for the info guys. I don't know if it'll fix my rolling start issue but it still sounds like an improvement.

chrisr

I'm about to take my TLX on Wednesday. I'll print out the TSB. I'll let you know how it goes.

Tully88

Just got the update. Car shifts smooth as butter now. Go get it

ATXTLX

I think everyone will have varying degrees of success with the update. Although there is an improvement for me with some of the shifts, I still can feel the 2-3 shift (though it is less noticeable 75% of the time.) I still REALLY feel it 25% of the time. This variation changes in different drive modes too. My car is far from butter.

ATXTLX

Strangely enough, my car has a much more pronounced 4-5 shift. It seems if I don't feel the 2-3 shift as much, 4-5 is felt. If I do feel the 2-3 shift, then 4-5 is smooth. It's like my car has this aggression pinned up, and it has to release it somewhere. Either 2-3 or 4-5. Aye! Can't win with this thing! I miss the 4,5, and 6 speeds! They felt invisible.

alpha0

I was looking at Acura website and found gear ratios for 9zf same for tlx and mdx (except final drive). So why dog clutch is not an issue in mdx as per many on this forum?

neoshi

Oh, it is. You TLX owners are just way more vocal. I've complained to Acura that they're stupid for not applying B15-038 in some form to the MDX also, but they're like "THANK YOU FOR WASTING OUR TIME BY MAKING US SEND A CANNED RESPONSE TO YOU."

chris03tl

MDX also hasnt had the 9AT as long as the TLX

Just wait for the complaints to come in from people that bought the new Pilot with the 9AT.

Acura sales are decent but will pale in comparison to how many new Pilots they sell....if the 9AT has issues there its going to be a major PITA for Honda.

mondster

I was told that if the b15-034 is applied that it also covers the 038 fix. According to my service rep 038 is only a portion of what 034 covers since not all vehicles are part of the 034 recall. If you look.at the notes on both, they both have the pgm-fi software update, but the 034 has other updates as well. They did 034 on mine and it made the tranny issue better. 034 covers 2016 mdxs as well

neoshi

Yeah but this only works for the TLX. The MDX won't have the update available when you do the update and so there's not 038 similar fix for the MDX yet. Heck, they won't even apply the 034 to our MDXes unless we're Advance (this likely has to do with the stop/start system, which may be causing the issue).

neoshi

I can only hope man. They would likely do something like apply the fix to the Honda side but not the Acura side.

miner

Just got update, also -- much better shift points.

Rocketsfan

I decided to ask the dealer to apply this software update, as well. The update took less than an hour, and I have to say after having driven this car for almost exactly 1 year, I was pretty happy again. The hard shift from 2-3 that would happen probably 95% of the time from a stop is subdued now. I can still feel a shift, but nothing like the *thunk* I felt before. I still felt it once or twice in about 30 or so miles of driving, but nowhere near the harshness as before and the rest of the time, I barely felt anything worth commenting about. If the shift was a 7-8 on the annoyance meter before, it was probably a 1-2 on it on this particular drive. I was in NORMAL mode the entire time and was in NORMAL before I took it in for the update -- like I said, it was a definite upgrade so far. My only worry is that the hard shifts return later.

neoshi

I'm a fricken jealous 9ZF MDX owner now. lol AARG ACURA!! Well, I'll keep following to see if this actually sticks.

Momyc

I'm scheduled next Friday to fix my back door handle sensor and to get the transmission update also.
I'm really looking forward for this. I'm hopping to start enjoy my TLX finally.
I'll keep my fingers crossed and I hope my expectations wouldn't be betrayed !

MTD

The Canadian Honda Tech Info website doesnt even have an update listed. Its actually a real joke as to how little info id does have. The US seems to have TSB's and updates galore. Canada has about 4 lol.

Momyc it would be great if you could get details of this update for us fellow Canucks.

Momyc

On another thread a fellow Canadian (from Ontario , I believe) said he got that update and he is quite happy with it.
Sure I'll have it print it out , just to make sure the tech get it right...

mondster

1 week into the new update and i can say that eventhough the shifts are much better, it's still not 100% smooth. There still some jerkiness, and a few hard shifts here and there, which are unpredictable - not sure what triggers it. I just hope that acura sees this as a temporary fix and come up with another update that would fix it all.

Rocketsfan

Day 2 of driving around with the update .... I still feel the harsh shifts, but not as regularly as before. I did feel somewhat of a more harsh one today. This is making me wonder if it's somehow a temporary fix (as weird as that sounds). The shifting has still been better than before, however, in terms of the lurch/thud shifting.

weather

*shaking my head*

I think this is ridiculous to see all these back and forth issues with these tranny software updates! Why can't they get this thing sorted out once and for all?! I can appreciate that it is never easy to solve software issues but they had the opportunity to test drive this thing, then they drop the 8 DCT (also with issues) in both the TLX and ILX....and the 9 speed unit in the MDX and Pilot?!

It is sad to see a brand that I was so fond of, just seem to not be able to get their act together!

Quandry

They have my sympathy. My conclusion is the combination of hardware, software, driving styles, and temperatures makes this a very complex problem. Same general reason why MS is still providing security fixes for its OS many years after its initial release.

A vague part of the description for the latest TSB that seems to fix the problem is "idle learn is unable to relearn its parameters". Finding that little bug likely involved a huge amount of effort. For some reason most cars do not seem to have the problem making diagnosis that much harder.

Rocket_man

If Honda has these same problems on the mass-market Pilot it will not be a good thing. There doesn't seem to be as many issues with this tranny in the MDX but I've seen a few with problems.

It does seem that there are many that don't have a problem. I just hate the crap-shoot nature of it. It is a $40K gamble now when you buy a TLX.

quantum7

The solution is easy....slap the old 6 speed auto or a manual in the car and forget about the few mpg advantage that you get....or....make the 9 speed optional

Rocket_man

The V6 with the 6-speed, this car would be a no-brainer... no hesitation. Yes less mpg but that would make it about the same as all other V6 sedans out there.

weather

Rocket_man and quantum7...I agree with you both....especially about the manual option!

jeffNB

In this article, ZF blames their transmission woes on the fact that "Americans drive differently"

What was Honda thinking when they partnered with this vendor?

Jeep, Chrysler, Acura 9-Speed Automatics: Supplier ZF Offers Tips