Fellow RL owners, I need a hand.

See if your RL does this.

Steps:

- Go into SportShift mode
- Hold 3rd gear @ 4000 RPM.
- Floor it!

As the RPMs climb, do you notice a hesitation in the 5000-6000 range?

I can get this to happen every single time I follow the above sequence. I can actually watch the PRM needle dance up and down.

If I’m not in SS mode, 3rd gear pulls smooth all the way to the shift.

Anybody have this occur? Any idea what’s going on?

 

I believe that you are experiencing the rev limiter. When you hit 5000 rpm is when you hit the peak of the RL's torque and horsepower and it jumps to the rev limiter (redline) in a hurry. The computer will cut the throttle on you so it drops you back down to 5500 or so. This has been discussed in another thread, but the best performance seems to be achieved in Manual mode by shifting up at around 5000-5500 rpm. The slight delay in the shift will make the actual shift happen near 6000 rpm which means you never hit the rev limiter. If you try to up shift at 6000rpm, the delay allows the revs to climb over the redline and the rev limiter cuts the throttle on you before the shift. Good luck and have fun.

 

Yes I have noticed this as well, but not following the same process you did. This has happened to me multiple times when out in the passing lane on a two lane road when I downshift to 3rd and try and use the whole powerband up to 6K and it hesitates at about 5.5 and knocks back down to 5 and won't go up from there.

I've not tried it in automatic mode to see if it happens there as well.

Chris

 

I'm pretty sure this is not related to the rev limiter. I know what that feels like. It's not as dramatic.

This is some kind of hesitation in the RPM band, approximately 5200-5500 RPMs that causes the RPMs to drop back to 5100. It's visable when looking at the needle.

 

It almost sounds like the redline in 3rd gear is lowered to 5500?? Maybe Honda doesn't want you going that fast in 3rd. I've never experienced this phenomenum so I was just guessing at the cause. Redline in 3rd gear is around 100mph which is why I have never experienced this phenomenum. You're doing speeds that don't result in a ticket but rather a court date and an impound lot.

 

It happens around 85-90 MPH.

 

I stand corrected.

 

I was a bit off. (Tough to watch the road, tach and speedo )

I played around on the way home from work.

It actually happens right around 80 MPH.

Anyone else wanna give this a try and report your findings?

 

Maybe I'll try it next tiem i am on the highway.

As for the rev limiter/redline, the RL's rev limiter is higher than the redline. I think the rev limiter is somewhere around 7000rpm.

I've hit the rev limiter in a 99 TL before...that was neat to experience even if I hit it by accident.

 

Try just sitting in park and reving up into that range while in neutral.

 

OK, never tried that before. You know something I don't?

Going to try that . . .

WTF? I didn't like that at all. Almost feels like something cutting out. It happens a little lower in the RPM band when I rev in neutral when compared to the original problem described above.

 

Yeah, I was sitting in the drive one evening trying to get an idea how the exhaust bypass sounded (the literature made a reference to the bypass and resulting exhaust note) and noticed the cutout. I remember reading about the limiter somewhere, either in the owner's manual or on this site, so didn't worry too much about it.

At about 8,000 miles, my RL occasionally produces a rather pleasant exhaust resonance at idle...kind of a soft low rumble that is music to the ear. I haven't been able to hear the exhaust note at throttle and in gear...but I've not really tried too hard...I suspect that the change in exhaust note hinted at in the literature, is not noticable unless in the mid to upper rpm's and perhaps under a bit of load...I haven't decided whether what I hear when pushing the car, say when passing at higher speeds, is from the engine or the exhaust...mostly engine, I would guess...

 

Stupid Observation - If this was a "common" problem, wouldn't it be replicated in the dyno printout that g6civcx posted a while back? He indicated the info was obtained from a 3rd gear pull ... And I don't see any problemz in the 5K-6K range. Then again, there have been some concernz about those dyno resultz that haven't been addressed yet.

 

Was the dyno done is SS mode? Did you try this is SS mode?

 

Not sure how it was done ... Try shooting g6civcx a PM to inquire.

Just tried it myself on the highway ... No problemz at all.
You do owe me about $10 buckz in gas though.

 

Thanks!

Anyone else?

 

No problem right up to redline. Haven't taken it to rev limiter.

 

And you were in SS mode in 3rd?

 

Yes

 

Thanks guys.

Time to schedule my first appointment.

Arrgh.

 

I don't believe my RL has the hesitation that you've described, but I was looking for a pronounced hesitation. The highway close by isn't ideal for trying this out and so only tried it twice. Sure was fun though.

Taking my car up to that range in 3rd results in speeds exceeding 100 mph. I'll post again if I do find out later that the car hesitates. I have a cut out when revving up in park, which may or may not be normal.

 

Rev limiter in Neutral or Park is much lower than while driving, a little over 4000rpms in my TL - that's completely normal. Perhaps the other stuff you feel is an SH-AWD affect?

 

Today I was told by my Acura dealer's service team that the hesitation in SS mode at the top of 3rd gear could be replicated with other RLs at the dealership. I'm going for a ride in another RL tomorrow to see for myself.

I'll post more info tomorrow when I return . . .

FYI - For those looking to see if their car does it, you need to watch the RPM needle from 5100-5500 RPM (Only in 3rd gear, in SS mode, under Wide Open Throttle). You should see the dip occur. It may take a few tries, but mine and apparently others do it consistently.

 

That doesn't make sense. The gearing should be the same on all our cars. The hesitation happens around 75-85 (Between 5100-5500 RPMs).

 

How about 3rd gear redline is right at 100?

http://www.roadandtrack.com/assets/d...data_panel.pdf

 

Exactly, way up @ 6800 RPM, which is 1700-1200 RPM higher then where this hesitation/dip takes place.

 

Confirmed this happens "normally" with another RL today.

Dealer was nice enough to pick a random new RL and let me take it for a spin with a tech. Same exact scenario, same exact results.

Acura techline confirmed this condition as well. It must have somthing to do with SS mode.

 

Well, instead of watching the needle, I paid more attention to trying to notice a hesitation in acceleration...if there is one, it must be small.

 

It's barely noticable by "feel". If it wasn't for the needle's dipping movement, most would have a hard time knowing it was there.

 

Transmission TSB 05-027 did nothing for this problem. Blah. It still exists.

 

My TSX does this same thing between 6,400 and 7,000 rpm in both manual and auto modes. The dealer of course won't drive the car up in those areas in order to duplicate the problem. A friend of mine who used to be a Honda service tech told me it may be the electronics themselves, nothing actually mechanical.

 

Hi all, I was reading about this on you tube, some one posted a vid of it. I was on my way home today and I shot an ugly video of it with my cell phone. I have a 2005 RL w/ ~34000 miles. It absolutely does it and it's only in SS mode 3rd gear, at ~5400rpm, the tach dips a little and then continues to red line. BUT, there is NO hesitation in the acceration. The speedo climbs non-stop. I'm not sure it's a problem exactly? If there is a necessary fix, then cool of course! I've attached the link to my terrible youtube vid. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfviXTM0Nu0

Cheers,

Rob

 

I may be way of base here, but is this vtech being engaged?

 

No.

My RL has always done this. I suspect this is "normal behavior". This topic comes up from time to time in the forum.

 

I'm not sure.. The exhaust note changes when it happens, but there is no lag in the acceleration. V-tec is a viable thought, but it would do it in all gears in that case... Maybe programmed to make up for the tall third gear? A six speed would have been nice... mmmm.. six speed... heh-heh...

It may be normal, and I'm not terribly concerned, but it's a very valid question. Acura has not coughed up a valid explanation, and no one has anything more than speculation.

Cheers,

Rob

 

My car does it as well [Australian Legend]. It is more a "feel" thing, but is quite noticable on the track. But it's interesting that it coincides with the spike that is evident on the "baseline dyno run" in another thread.

https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-rl-2005-2012-76/dyno-completed-today-baseline-runs-697144/

To me it definitely feels like a drop in "urge" is happening.

 

Well, I can't argue with the dyno! The speedo seems to have a consistant climb, but I can see what you mean. I bought the car for the value, reliability, and luxury so I'm not too worried about it. But I would have a different thought about it at the track for certain, that would be a hit in the 1/4 mile for sure.... When's the bolt on supercharger kit for the RL gonna be available?

Cheers,

Rob

 

Shot a night video, appears to drop about 300rpm while accelerating. Very interesting for sure. You have to look and listen carefully just past 5k.

LINK