andrew070489

hey everyone, i got a 1997 acura tl 2.5. recently got a complete engine swap (3 months ago), had trans checked out by aamco. trans is good and had a flush 10k ago. but i feel like something is holding my car back..its obvious.. i was thinking maybe flush the differential gear oil? i could be completly off.. can someone put in their ? thanks!

bigwerm187

like what do u mean..? when your driveing your car it feels like something is holding it back..? like you press on the gas and when you let go it slows down..? well if thats wat you mean then the only thing i can think of is maybe the brakes are holding you back. i think so beacuse on time i left my E-brake on just an lil and it was doing that. it took me like a couple seconds to find out wat was going on

andrew070489

nahh, its constant.. and not my brakes. at first i thought i had a bad trans and maybe that was holdin me back, but its not? and the trans also shifts slow..no idea what i could be anyone?

bigwerm187

what bout the fluids have u changed them at all..?

andrew070489

transmission flush -- 10k ago
engine oil w/ rislone -- 500 ago
differential

andrew070489

sorry, differential i dont have any service record of it being changed.

andrew070489

other maintenance.. new brakes, tires, spark plus, suspension, water pump, all belts, radiator, exhaust.. that might help

bigwerm187

yeah i still havent dont that to my TL and she still drives smooth. i dont really drive her any ways juss to skoo and back id had her for a year and a half and i only putt 1000 miles on it. and am doing a full tune up right now on my TL

andrew070489

thanks for gettin back.. my assumption was right i replaced my differential fluid last night.. smooth and quiet as anything now after 185,000 it needed it. ill prob do it again a couple months just to flush the remaining stuff out. you got the 2.5?

Go90go

^ That's one thing most people never think of replacing, haha.

~Cheers~

andrew070489

yeah it was a huge difference.. do you think if i do it again in a couple weeks it will get better? it wasnt ever changed before yesterday 185,000 mi...thanks

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

even though it seems like your prob is solved. have you changed your air filter??? before 0104TL gets in here, have you seafoam'd your engine??? that stuff is like magic too...

andrew070489

seems like my problem is solved? whats theres more!? ha yes my airfilter, spark plugs, oil w/ rislone, trans fluid, engine, water pump, all belts, radiator, suspension.. and yes i put some soafoam in the engine through the pcv valve but only 1/4 bottle should i use more? i didnt even see any white smoke

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

i use about half the bottle into the pvc/brake booster line... let it sit for 10-15 mins and start her back up and she is smoking like a whore after sex...

andrew070489

what so just suck it through the pcv til half is done then turn off immediately..sit for 10-15 then drive for 10-15 at high rates of speed? sounds great

BobbysTL

I would also recommend cleaning out your Throttle Body with some Throttle Body Cleaner

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

yeap that is all...

andrew070489

thanks guys.. ill do this today hopefully

andrew070489

hey, so i used 1/2 bottle of seafoam via pcv let sit for 10 then went to the roads.. it smoked alot! i guess cuz i didnt let it sit the 1st time.. i got stuck is some slow spots but got it nice and hot. a check engine light came on though... will this go away? will running the other 1/2 can through it on the way home help clear more of it and the code? and i could def feeeeel the power! i got a in-line 5 with new exhaust..not the fastest.. but pretty darn quick this thing screammsssss!! but thanks alot for all your help .. all now is just that CEL and im good

andrew070489

hey guys>>> so my check engine light is on now after the seafoam can someoen help me out with that? will it go off by itself? and will it hurt to use the other half can tomorrow just to get rid of it>

Go90go

I don't like running it through the PCV, as I prefer the brake booster (stronger vacuum).

For your CEL, it's common for it to come on when you SeaFoam because the ECU reads it as mis-firing. I'm sorry I didn't post my personal way of SeaFoaming before you did this, but here's what you do from this point:

Since you already ran it through the engine via the PCV, we don't need to go at it again with the brake booster, but I'd do it because of the CEL. I also normally don't recommend going high speeds right afterwards, but that's neither here nor there now.

Pour out a few ounces into a glass, and with the car idling, dip the brake booster line into the glass and let it *sip* the liquid. If the car starts to sputter, pull out the hose and let the idle go back to normal. It might help to blip the throttle just a little from the engine bay when it starts sputtering. That'll help it normalise faster. Keep doing this until the glass is empty. Idle for a minute, then shut the car off.

Pour the remainder of the can into your gas tank. How much gas you have doesn't really matter as long as you're not on the E line, haha. Go have a cigarette, but not near the glass you just used, though, haha! Once you're done, start the car up, and let it idle, blipping the throttle as necessary to keep it from stalling, but don't rev it past 3K. If possible, take it on a slow drive around the block a few times, not grannying but the normal 35 on a 25 stuff, . Go back home, idle for 30 seconds, then shut down.

Now for the CEL, disconnect the negative terminal of your battery and wait 30 or so seconds. You'll lose your radio presets and if you're still using the factory deck you'll need your security code so make sure you have that handy. After the 30 seconds, reconnect the terminal, and start your car. Your CEL should be gone now, but take it out and drive it around the block again to let the ECU check everything and adjust to your driving style. If after 30 seconds, you didn't lose any settings and/or the CEL is still on, disconnect it and try turning on your headlights. That guarantees any residual energy leaving the ECU.

You're good to go after that, and enjoy your refreshed motor!

~Cheers~

andrew070489

wow thanks alot.. one thing i have no idea where the brake boost line is on my 2.5? would it be in the service manual? well probably ill look.. good tip too with the cigg! i lit one up before i realized how flamable this stuff is ha close call, but thanks alot.

Go90go

It's the thick hose connected to the big disc shaped object in the engine bay, directly in front of your steering wheel. It should lead to a grey plastic piece with "To Engine" on it.

~Cheers~

andrew070489

i just did it through the pcv.. ha alot easier.. thanks alot for your help though.. Go90go you seem to know alot have any input on my other thread for tick tick tick?

Mr_Outside

What is differential fluid?

Mr_Outside

I'd also like to add that I feel the same kind of sluggishness with my TL. Like it isnt driving as well as it could/should be.

Go90go

It's this thick, nasty smelling fluid that should be changed more often than most people change it. It's what drives your axles.

^ There's my shitty drawing of how our tranny looks, haha. The horizontal lines are the axles, and the little circle is the diff. The vertical line underneath is the output shaft from the tranny going into it. I use 75w90 Valvoline, but I'm about to change it again since it's already been about 25K miles since I last changed it.

~Cheers~

andrew070489

yeah, very easy to do but makes big difference. might as well drain and fill tranny while your at it.

Mr_Outside

How do clean your throttle body? :p

andrew070489

there should be a DIY on it, btw guys the tl 2.5 is no longer sluggish! ha my hard work has paid off and im pretty happy with it now.. of course i will continue to upgrade but thanks for the help

Mr_Outside

What all did you do to it? Mine is still pretty sluggish.

andrew070489

transmission flush 2x, seafoam crankcase, flush diff's 2x, iridium plugs, short ram intake, pcv oil/air separator mod, soon to be custom throttle body spacer(2''), valves adjusted helped alot also