Mine is a 2.5 TL 1998, with only 50,000miles on it. I love my car. I bought it 3 months ago with $8500. The very first day the check engine light came which the dealers had taken out before selling. I went to the Acura dealers and they said that it is related idle air control valve. So they cleaned it and the car became very smooth. After 1 week the car started shaking in idle position and the rpm went up and down and the engine in the end died.

I had taken it back to the Acura and they recommended that I get a new part (idle air control valve) which cost me $550 in total. I was so releaved to have my beautiful car back. The day I drove my car home and the second time i started the engine the problem came back again. The car sometimes gives this sort of problem after driving for some time but when it runs it runs very good without any sound.

The dealers have offered me $7500 in return and they kept the car for 7 days to check where the problem is and yesterday told me that there is nothing wrong and even said the check engine comes intermitently which is a lie. Yesterday after coming home I faced the problem again.

The main problem that i am facing is no one is able to detect where the problem is. 1 month ago I had to change the exhaust manifold for $1300 under warrenty.

I love this car. I want to keep it. But it is draining money without giving me any result.

Do you guys think that I should return the car and get back $7500.

Help me make a decision or let me know if you guys faced similar situation.

 

Oh I forgot to mention that the dealers did not tell me that it was a rebuilt because to their knowledge it was in an accident. Do you think that it's a problem?

I agree that i should have gotten a carfax report before buying.

The car has no signs of damage and it runs great when on the road except when i am starting the engine then it behaves very weird where the rpm goes on up an down shaking the car.

 

Get your money back and look for another TL

 

One of two options in my mind:

1. Get ALL of your money back, including repair bill. If not, threaten to go to the states attorney regarding the rebuilt situation. They knew about it.

2. Have them provide you with an equivalent car for the total money you have dumped into the vehicle with the repairs. Acura could/should compensate them for some of the repairs as it is emissions related... not sure on this because of the age, and the 98 does not have that 14 year or so warranty.

Tell them that you will be seeing the states attorney if you get no satisfaction.

 

Get your money back. The 98TL is not covered under the 14year/150K mile emissions warranty. I own a 98 2.5TL and had to go to great lengths with Acura Client Services to have my exhaust manifold replaced for $340 - the price quoted to me by the dealership was $18xx.xx.
Our cars are great - but certain repairs are very expensive. Like Ken said - look for another TL.

 

I really appreciate the feedback from this great community. I really love the car. Thats my problem. Hard to let go.

I have talked with the Acura dealers and they say that after the accident this car was bought by the insurance agency and that they sold it in auction. So it does not have any sorts of warrenty from the Acura.

Another thing is.... I have no idea what sorts of accident it had. There is no way to say as the car is spotless. But it did start with a lot of trouble. Today I went to an Acura specialist and they said that they would have to do a number of checks to figure out the problem. The are also asking $70 an hour. And not finding the problem means losing money for me which I have already done too much.

I am really angry that they kept the REBUILT title from me. But the dealers are not agreeing to refund me with full money. They say I would be losing $1000 for keeping the car3 months (in that 3 months it went to the mechanic 4 times) and i would also lose the tax money. $2000 in total that i would lose.

 

Threaten to get a lawyer, withholding that information from you is ridiculous. You purchased this car from an Acura dealer? If so let us know which one so we can let others know.

 

I got this car from a local dealer. Not an Acura dealer.

I will speak with a lawer tomorrow.

 

My car is starting to do that weird shake at idle, never did the engine just die.. yet [knock-on-wood] huy... i need to get that SOB checked out..

EDIT: oh and good luck on ur car/deal...

 

DEFINETELY, DO NOT let the dealer get away with it. They sold u a freakin REBUILT CAR for crying out loud without tellin u. They didn't know - bullshit! Now, im not just talkin out of my ass mind u - ive owned 2 rebuilt vehicles, both Hondas, and I still have one (which I rebuilt myself). I don't think rebuilt vehicles are bad if the repairs are done properly, but regardless, its not something that should be kept from a prospective buyer.

Similarly, they're trying to rape u on the problem that they say they've "fixed" when they actually haven't.

Like Ken said, and like u said, these are WONDERFUL cars, especially 1st gen TL's. Consider giving this one back, and getting the FULL AMOUNT including repairs and heck even gas back, and then purchase another 1st gen, maybe even a 3.2 (puttin on my flame suit, in case the 2.5tlers are out! ). These are great cars with very few problems, none particularly major, aslong as u do routine maintenance on them from time to time.

Hope everything goes well, and please let us know how it goes.

 

Oh, then that is a little different than anticipated.

 

Let me tell you, this whole REBUILT TITLE, and SALVAGE CERTIFICATE business of late is nothing that protects any regular consumer. It is there solely to protect:

---The insurance companies. Period, that is it.

When I have time, I can get into it more. May have even written some on this forum.

You can have a car stolen, driven across the street, Nothing done to it, You receive your money from the insurance company, and then the police recover it. In certain states, the vehicle is required to have a salvage certificate given to its VIN.

That car is now classified as a "Rebuilt" upon getting the salvage certificate changed for registration purposes.

On the other hand, you could have a 100K BMW get hammered, have what was originally estimated to be $50K of work done to it, that after getting into it be $75K of work. Know what???

--That BMW with $75K of work is not rebuilt, shows up as clean, and if the accident did not have a police report with it, never shows on carfax, and the vehicle would get a friggin green light from them.

What a crock.

 

Guys..... thanks a lot for the support. I have spoken to a lawyer and he said that definately i have the right to take legal action against him.

I really appreciate vishnus and racerrock's feedback. I have spoken to the dealers again and they are simply not agreeing on giving me the whole money. what surprises me the most is..... they are very eager to have the car back for $7500 but they are telling me all the time that for the time I kept the car to them for fixing.... it ran perfect. The day I came back home from the dealers mechanic.... the car started to shake heavily in idle. I come to think of it I just had to spend $500 for getting a new idle air control valve. When I called them again .... they said that they dont believe me. How can it be .... that they did not see the problem for the 2 weeks they had the car to their disposal.

Its not like I want to give back the car...... I just love it. And after buying I am doing every normal maintenance from the original Acura guys. Before buying I did not care to go for a carfax report but I did go to the Acura guys to go through a complete check up of the vehicle.

And now not even the Acura guys are sure where the problem is. The car is always showing a check engine which whenever I am taking to the dealers.... they are taking the sign out and saying there's no problem and the sign comes back again.

I am a student with not tooooo much money to throw away for without having any result. I love the first generation TL. Its the best that I ever can have. So I will go for another TL and maybe a 3.2 this time.

But before giving the car back I would like to ask if any of you had this weird shaking problem in idle and also in park position where the rpm went up and down and also giving too much shaking on the car. I know KADAW has this problem now. If you could tell me anything on this I would really appreciate.

I just cant let go of my car without knowing that there was something that I could do.

If there isn't then I will give this back.

Dave
98 2.5TL

 

maybe something as simple as a motor mount, or pcv valve.

Maybe timing needs to be reset.

 

Could be the EGR as well.

Most likely PCV though

 

yes, it just started to happen to my 3.2 within the last few weeks. Where it feels like the car is going to stall and die, but never has[k-o-w]. It [the car] shakes at idle and low rpm [takes off and slow downs]. O and the engine light came on a few days after the first hint of the shaking, and when on the high way, or travling at higher speed then maybe 40mph.. the engine lights blinks and the TCS shuts off. Took it to AdvanceAuto, had a 'manufacture air idle sensor' readout. But was told to take it to acura dealership, but have not cuz i fear they will juss ripme off... so ive asked my brother whos a machanic to take a look...

well ya thats me juss telling my problem so thats no help to you, but juss seeing if u had the same problem, if so then when i hear from my brother i will post/tell you...

best of luck to you

 

Yep, changed the belts on the accord the other day, and had to pull out the vacuum hoses etc. - noticed that my PCV valve had split in half when i pulled out the hose! Currently the car idles high, and idles lopes up and down between 1000 and 1500 rpms when at a stop. Just picked up a PCV valve today for $3 so ill let u know how it goes once i put it in.

Hopefully you return the car and get a 3.2 though

 

what kinda crock are u talking about?....rebuilt title doesn't protect the consumer - the fact that its rebuilt sure as hell lets 'em know that at one point the car most likely incurred damage that was great enough for it to be considered a total loss by an insurance company. Course the percentage of the car's value depends from state 2 state, but regardless, u can't sell someone a rebuilt vehicle without disclosing that information to them. Among other things, rebuilt vehicles no longer have a manufacturer's warranty attached to them, even though they might still technically be within warranty period - im sure a 96 or 97 acura with a rebuilt title wouldn't be applicable for the extended emissions warranty.

I do agree with u on ur BMW analagy, but the chances of that happening are quite rare. Usually most owners will go through their insurance companies, who will total the vehicle.

 

I have the same problem. I have already spent $500 on the idle air control valve and still the problem was there. The check engine light was always saying for the idle air sensor. The Acura dealers did give me a wrong advice, cuz i did not need a new part cuz the problem is still there.

I am suppose to go to another mechanic to see if he can help. But let me know the things you are fixing for the shaking problem in idle. Weird thing is when i am putting my foot down on the brake sometime the rpm moved up and then came down.... so weird.

Its the last try i want to do. Hell.... i have spent already too much ..... maybe another $100 wont kill me .

Dave
2.5 TL 98

 

Oh by the way .. . .. .. I am taking legal actions. It may take time .... thats one problem.

 

Reread the post, and maybe search this forum for more information on this to understand why the whole thing is a crock. Crock being worthless information for you and me.

The ONLY organization this whole "Salvage Certificate" and "Rebuilt" really protects are the insurance companies.

Absolutely NOT. It does not gaurantee anything to you the consumer. I have three vehicles that the CARFAX information is totally wrong, and you would look at the information and think totally otherwise:

The following examples are either mine, or a close friends:

1. -Range Rover - Involved in a front collision - sustainted $20K damage when it was new (value was $50K at the time). No police report written vehicle actually transferred ownership to me from a friend that took the insurance estimate, my money and bought a new one. I fixed it. Perfectly clean title. No history whatsoever that the front was replaced. It was fixed so nice, that when I took it in for warranty work, they did not notice at all. Even had a body guy try to tell me which panel was repainted, and he guessed wrong. Went ot the effort of going back to the original hand pinstriper to match them up. BTW, it was black.

2. My Mustang - Saleen copy - replaced front end including front subframe/suspension. It was actually salvaged in a state, and transferred with a rebuilt title. For some reason, my state gave me a clean title. What does Carfax have? Nothing, nada. Not even the accident or salvage - just the "Green Light"

3. A friends Toyota 4 Runner - book value about $25K. His wife nails a tree in the snow storm a few months ago. No police report written. At the dealership, the original estimate is about $15K. The shop is authorized to start work. A grand or so of hours into the job, there is "hidden damage" discovered. Now the estimate is at about $22K!!!! Know that the insurance company wants to do??? FIX IT! Told my buddy to refuse it. Now, if they were to fix it, know what the title would be?

100% Clean, perfectly clear, no damage history whatsovever.

What would CARFAX say? Green light, go ahead and buy the sucker...

4. My 2002 Expedition - Vehicle had the drivers seat stolen and the DVD player ripped out of the headliner. No body damage whatsoever. Original engine... Police report written in NJ. Gets Salvage title. In NJ, any stolen car - regardless of if there is ANY damage at all - gets a salvage title if the insurance company has paid out on the theft. I have a "Rebuilt Title". Carfax gets this Expedition a "Red Stop sign.


Not true. The percentage is up to the adjuster, the insurance company, and how hard the owner pushes to just total the sucker.

Regarding warranty, see above.

Not as rare as you think! I have two friends in the body shop business. I've seen brand new Expeditions and GM Suv's where the whole front and the complete frame assembly was replaced - Because the vehicle is book value of $55K. Think about it.

Wanna bet? I have two cars that show a perfect history. I did nothing wrong in getting their history, it was flaws in the system that only protected the insurance company.

 

Wait a minute, look at the purpose of this thread:

-the guy bought a "rebuilt" vehicle without the seller disclosing it.

If there was not a problem with the car, he would likely never known........

Until he went to sell it, adn the buyer did a check.

 

yeah, and what im trying to say is that isn't it "illegal" to sell a vehicle with a rebvuilt title to someone, without disclosing this fact?

Yeah, my mistake on the state to state thing, i meant to say that it varies from insurance company to company.

In regards to the warranty, I am almost 100% sure that if the car has a rebuilt title currently, it is not applicable for a manufacturer's warranty (e.g. Honda/Acura) even though it may still be in warranty period. e.g. i live in KY, and if I buy a 05 TL with a rebuilt title from someone today (i wish! ) i wouldn't be able to go to the dealer to get work done under warranty.

Also like i said, again and again, a rebuilt title is somethng to potentially "be aware" of - yeah, there are one off cases like u mentioned, but more often or not, it is likely that the vehicle sustained enough damged (flood, collision, etc.) to where an insurance adjuster deemed it to be above a certain percentage to fix.

Other than that, I agree with u! And btw, DAMN on that range rover and 'stang. And I can't believe that ur expedition has a bad title!
Other than that, i agree with u.

 

No.