Hi everyone. I've had my '03 Type-S 6spd for a bit now and gotten to enjoy her a lot. Had several mechanics look at it and say everything looks good. It's sitting at about 106k and so far I've basically cleaned the upper air chamber of the intake, installed a CAI to fix a "frankenstein" intake it had, and gotten 4 new tires with a full alignment. I also ran a can of seafoam through the intake only for good measure. Oh the previous owner had recently had the clutch replaced through his local Acura dealer. I also know the car needs new brakes/rotors, a timing belt within 15,000 miles, motor mounts (front and passenger side I was told), and possibly a valve job (:S) do to ticking in the engine.

Now, on to trying to explain two annoying issues.

1.) I previously noted downshifting seemed rough, not smooth, and it was pretty much indicated as characteristic of the car. However, I do also notice I little roughness when I hammer it during acceleration. I had ignored a slight stutter in the RPM need when I idle her up, figuring it was a bad cable or something, but perhaps it should tell me something? (I can post a video of the needle moving up if anyone thinks that would help, I believe it's around 2000-2500 rpm.)

2.) OK, so here comes the really hard one to put into words. Now cruising along the expressway is great. The car rides straight with no issues... I can be cruising along and take a slight right turn in the road and its solid. However, if the expressway turns to the left and I give it any gas while turning left, or let up on the gas while turning left, I feel the strangest split-second sensation... the best I can equate it to may be more for guys in snow country, but it feels like the feeling you get the moment to hit a patch of "black ice" and are about to lose control. This is extremely brief however, and I never lose control at all. My only guess at this is the weak motor mounts are causing something when strain is put on or taken off the car in one direction but not the other. Crazy I know, but I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks everyone in advance and sorry for the lengthy post.

 

1 could be a clutch issue. Maybe it needs to be adjusted.
It might possibly be the throttle position sensor, although you typically get a CEL with that.

2 could be motor mounts. Do the test...(you'll need two people to do this) open the hood and with the engine in gear and your foot mashing the brake, give it gas. Look to see if the engine rocks significantly. That is a telltale indication that one or all of the mounts are bad. Have they ever been replaced?

 

1. You mention needing a valve job due to ticking. I believe you meant valve adjustment. Either way at your mileage and prior diagnosis it's safe to say they are probably all out of spec. If just one valve is way out of wack it could be producing some of those symptoms you mentioned. (rpm fluctuate, rough acceleration)

2. What your describing to me sounds like the sloppy boat-like handling this car makes at highway speeds on stock suspension. Are you lowered? My car used to make me nervous during lane changes before the sway bars and coilovers went on. Could be that your in need of some mods! I would def check your motor mounts as NSX suggested.

 

[QUOTE=NSXNEXT;11401920]1 could be a clutch issue. Maybe it needs to be adjusted.
It might possibly be the throttle position sensor, although you typically get a CEL with that.

2 could be motor mounts. Do the test...(you'll need two people to do this) open the hood and with the engine in gear and your foot mashing the brake, give it gas. Look to see if the engine rocks significantly. That is a telltale indication that one or all of the mounts are bad. Have they ever been replaced?[/QUOTE]

this would be kind of hard to do with a 6 speed. if he is off the clutch in gear and on the brakes the car will stall and probably rip the motor mount because of him giving it gas and brakes at the same time.

take an LED flashlight and light it on your mounts to see if they are leaking or torn.

 

rouch idle is definitely the valves.

if you feel shaking during acceleration it could be a hot spot on your flywheel. but i wouldnt put all my chip on that last one

 

Replace the mounts, & you'll see an vast improvement in ride quality.
Start there.

 

Thanks! Not sure if they have been replaced but I know my mechanic advised I change two of them within about 6 months... just saving $$$ at the moment and possibly waiting for these new improved aftermarket mounts. :/

Yes, sorry my bad, I meant a valve adjustment. I'm trying to save to just do the timing belt, mounts, etc... all at once. I get a good discount from the honda tech if I do it on the side and pay cash. I can't see paying him multiple times to take stuff apart so I'm trying to do it all together.

With regard to the handling... no I'm riding stock ATM I was going to get adjustable coilovers, but at this poing I think I'll look into good lowering springs and struts after the above stuff, and a new set of rotors and pads... <sigh> lol

[quote=phee;11401943]Great information thanks! I'm sure there is some sort of adjustment needed. I just cannot shift this damn thing cleanly and I consider myself good with a manual tranny. A "mechanic" friend of mine who has no idea in particular about the CL had lead me to believe its a hydraulic clutch and there would be no adjustments possible... good to know there might be.

Luckily not a full on shake, just rougher than I would expect a luxury sports car to have... I'll get this worked out. Thanks for the advice.... I guess I'll have to add the costs of a valve adjustment to my list... I checked out the AllData site and was going to attempt it myself, just too much at risk not to get it right!

Awesome thanks fuzzy... and if you are ever up for it, I'd love to have a seasoned CL owner drive this thing and see what other recommendations come to light!

 

Ok...here's my stab at it.
I believe your car has this too...read this thread and decide for yourself. Not being able to get a smooth shift is exactly what I felt too.
1) https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-performance-parts-modifications-112/113-removal-slave-cylinder-check-valve-734300/

#2, only because you said that it's mainly felt with left lane switches...I'm thinking possibly passenger axle since that is the one that has linkage to the halfshaft.

2) https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-problems-fixes-114/driveline-vibration-possible-fix-now-3g-garage-010-a-556987/

My opinion based upon problems I've had and read about. I may be wrong...but it can't hurt.

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

Thanks Rockstar... going to read both in detail now and I will definitely keep this thread posted. Thanks!

 

Very basic...have you checked the tire pressures? Low tires will give the sloppy feel you describe.

 

NP man...hopefully it helps!

 

Yes, that was the first thing I did... new tires and a full computerized alignment. Thanks though, it's easy to forget the simple stuff sometimes!

 

In the interest of completeness, wanted to post that removing the intake manifold and cleaning the egr port (which wasn't that dirty) made a world of difference in the smoothness of the engine!

(Also, my honda tech realigned my car after another issue involving a curb(!) and notified me that Pep Boys never touched the rear alignment as part of their "4-wheel alignment"! Not all store are the same, however, not dissing the "good" mechanics that work for PB.

 

The EGR port is under the intake? I thought it was the little thing you can pull out with a bolt at the front part of the engine.

 

The valve itself is located to the front of the engine. The port I cleaned runs from the air intake manifold, down into were the valve is located.

 

Hmmm...so I guess my assumption that it was super easy to clean was partially wrong then since I didn't actually clean the port, just the sensor! lol.

 

Well I did the opposite, just cleaned the upper part of the port from the top of the intake, and then the full intake port... Sunday my mechanic is going to replace the valve, clean out the lower port, and put in a sleeve that is part of an egr valve "kit"... will post the results.

 

Have your mechanic check the ball joints, as they will eventually wear out on any car. One would hope this check is routine when doing an alignment, but who knows what really goes on at PB?

 

Thanks. I recently had to replace my passenger side rod and lower control arm due to a fight with a curb I lost. I've noticed a pile of green grease on top of the tranny from the cv joint boot. Can't seem to find a tear, and am having no problems so hoping it holds out a bit longer.

Was going to try and replace the boot but am leaning towards new axles with the cost of them not too bad.

With regards to the shakiness while downshifting and at low speeds, I believe I found the culprit.... Champion sparkplugs! I torn apart the engine this weekend to clean it, but right before I did I replaced the burned Champions with NGK lasers and found a HUGE improvement overall with the engine. Definitely not worth skimping on plugs... oh the joys of getting a used car! :/