I recently bought a 2005 RL with 120k miles. Overall it's in excellent shape and well taken care of.

However I keep noticing that whenever I let off the gas the car slows down quickly. It almost feels like I'm breaking. At first I thought it might be the transmission because it seems like it's sort of a rough downshift, and I drained and filled the transmission fluid twice, but the problem still exists.

The car shifts perfectly when accelerating, just when decelerating it just feels like the car bogs down. Anyway it's just really annoying and wondering what else I should look into.

 

A New Tranny! sorry to hear that, its going to be expensive cuz ur out of warranty now (120K). Its not common for RL tranny togo, but I've seen other acuraziners with same issue.

 

The first thing is you have a lot of "feels" in your post, and we don't know if you car is being normal or not.

You could buy a new tranny, or you could try the re-learn steps and possibly reset the car at the battery.

 

Basically when I let off the gas to coast the car slows down quickly, at first it's pretty sudden and it's like I taped on the breaks, but nothing too serious as to jerk me forward or anything like that.

It doesn't so much if I'm going 50+... it moreso happens around 30mph or so.

I changed the trans fluid twice, the first time I took the car out it seemed to not have the problem, or at least not as bad. But when I did a second drain and fill the problem was the same. I don't know if I was just hoping the first time would work and therefor it as all in my head that it felt better, but maybe I should do a third drain and fill?

I'm sure I'll take it to my mechanic soon, I was planning on getting some things checked over. But as of right now I'd just like some peace of mind... hoping I don't need a new transmission.

 

Does it do the same thing in manual mode?

What was your previous car?

 

I want to say that it's normal. The RL downshifts when coasting (around 30mph sounds right) and breaking to save the brake pads. I have 40k on mine, and I haven't even changed the pads once, and they still have a ton of life on them.

 

I haven't tried manual mode, but if I put the car into neutral after I let off the gas it doesn't slow down as quickly and feels more "normal"... Previous daily car was a GMC Envoy which of course felt entirely different, and all previous cars have been domestic.

 

I think its normal too... do the tranny re-learn and see if that helps.

 

Flush the fluid again. There are at least 6 chambers that can hold fluid and not drain. The purpose of multiple drain/fills with drives between is to cycle the fluid through all of the clutches and chambers. Did you engage all five gears and the torque converter in 1st and 5th between each fill?

I also think that what you feel is normal. The RL is HEAVY (only ~400 lbs less than the Envoy) with more drive-train resistance than the Envoy. I can put the car in neutral, coasting down a low grade incline, and still lose speed. Adding transmission resistance will only make it worse.

Give it another drain and fill, and make sure to cycle all gears and the TC.

It may also be worth inspecting the condition of the brakes, especially the e-brake. You may have a slight contact that is adding to your resistance.

 

This might be obvious but are you in D and not D3?

What you describe sounds exactly like when the car is in D3 because it doesn't shift into the overdrive gears. Sometimes in heavy traffic I will move it to D3 and then when the traffic opens up I forget to move it back to D and the car will lug like that.

 

^, but he said it doesn't do it at 50. D3 would definitely do that at 50 mph.

 

Definitely just in D... it also does it in manual mode.

 

Mine (2005 with 146K) does not slow down very quickly at 30 (or anywhere between 30 and 50). I paid particular attention to it today after reading your post.

 

Do an ecu reset and see if that helps. Maybe you need a reflash? My car can cruise at speed with my foot off the gas for a decent amount of time

 

Now that I think of it, I agree with L and getakey regarding coasting in gear. I will slow in neutral, but the car has enough power to maintain speed well in gear.

I wonder if you are losing power b/c of something. When was the last time the air filter was changed?

 

I too was wondering about the air filter. I recently had a broken coupler on the stock intake box and resulted in loss of power. "Forced" me to create a custom CAI

 

I just purchased a 05' RL with 117k. Just did a flush also on the tranny and differentials. I have noticed the exact same thing when down shifting the car downshifts. Not so much on the acceleration. I starting to believe this is just normal for the car. I may try to do a reset as other suggested also.

 

Sorry for the gibberish on my reply..cannot edit due to the "rules". What I was trying to say is that I notice the downshifting issues as you described.

 

well i changed my air filter and it seemed to help a great deal. once again just could be all in my head but so far it seems a lot better.

 

im getting the same problem too.i got a 05rl with 112k and around 30 to 40 mph feels like im slightly braking. Ive heard so many different answers motor mounts or diferentials transmission im confused :/

 

at 112k just drive it.