I have a 2005 RL that has broken down several times with the same problem. Basically, shortly after starting the car and driving (less than a mile) the RPMs fluctuate all over the place. The car will drive around 20 miles per hour at 3 or 4 thousand rpms. At this time, I receive error messages on the screen for the transmission, VSA system, emission system problem, and an adaptive headlight error. The problem is intermittent. I had what was supposedly a broken wire on the transmission repaired, but the car broke down again the following day. The shop insisted that the wire was repaired properly. I took it to a mechanic who drove it and said that there's absolutely nothing wrong with the transmission and that it shifts perfectly, but he's not sure what the problem could be since he has not been able to replicate it yet. He suggested "something with the electrical or computer system".

Has anyone else had a similar problem? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

Did you have someone read ALL of the error codes in the car? That's usually the first place to start. And I'm not talking about a generic basic OBDII scanner... I'm talking about the Honda HDS that dealers have to read codes from ALL of the cars systems.

 

Yes, they were the same codes as on the screen. Nothing more specific except an additional code for solenoid-d. I didn't know any better at the time so I agreed to have the solenoid replaced, but there was absolutely no improvement. Right now the problem is mostly that it's driving fine so there are absolutely no error codes. I've been to 4 different mechanics at this point, and still the problem persists.

 

How did you get the codes read and WHAT exactly were the codes? Codes read from the Honda HDS diagnostic tool are specific down to the component and is WAY more detailed than the screen ever tells you. In addition, even when the codes go away on the screen because it's normal now, any fault codes are permanently stored in the computer until specifically cleared one by one. This is why I said you need the codes read by the Honda HDS tool.

 

That was exactly what the mechanic told me and he cleared out the codes to get it out of the safe mode so we could move it.

 

go to : Acura and leave it there for a few days to let them check it out and drive a loaner in the meanwhile. They know best when it comes to our car. Regular Machanic never see (KB1's) Acura RL's, the older ones yea, cuz that motor and trans been around since 1994. This car is way more complicated only a Acura A-Tech will know this car, he has been trained to work on this car very well.

 

That makes no sense. Clearing out the codes alone shouldn't do anything to improved the situation. Was this an Acura or Honda mechanic with the factory tools?? In any event, before cleaing any codes, he should have written down each and every code for you. The RL is as much computer as it is car... tlmaster is correct, this car is way more sophisticated than a regular average joe mechanic can deal with (especially without the Honda Diagnostic tools)!

 

The problem is that the dealer will just want to replace the transmission, because they don't diagnose anything anymore. Just leave it there and watch. I'd bet money on it. Surprised no one has mentioned the battery yet. How old is your battery?

 

Agreed, this smells like the 100 other bad battery stories... Perhaps the "broken transmission wire" is just a red-herring?

 

Similar situation with my 05 RL. First I was told by the Acura dealer that it was the PCM. Then after they replaced that and it still did the same thing(actually worse, now it won't start at all). Now they are telling me it is the counter shaft in the transmission that is bad. So I need another transmission at the tune of $3800.00

 

While the battery does cause a "Slew of Codes..." I have yet to see it actually shut down a car or cause it to drive in any decreased performance mode.

OP, take it to a dealer.

 

I don't have any experience with a bad battery on this car, but I remember years ago in my fathers 86 Mercedes 560SEL (it was high tech and top of the line back then), we had a battery go bad and the engine starting cutting out and all kinds of lights came one including the CEL (or whatever was the equivalent for M-B back then). So if voltage gets low enough, the computer can't run the engine.

BTW, that was some supreme driver back then, even by today's standards. Engine was smoother than our Acura' by quite a bit and felt just as fast, but with more torque. Wonderful car until the warranty expired. Then it was CHEAPER to buy a new Jaguar than to repair the 560 @ about $1000 a month on average. Gee, I wonder why Acura and Lexus are so successful now!!!!