I'm not sure if this is the place to ask but I've got an '03 TL-S with under 10k in miles and since the day I got it it seems like the engine is starving for fuel sometimes. It usually only happens once or twice within the first 5 minutes of driving. It doesn't seem to happen at idle or during acceleration. It's usually when I'm just maintaining speed. The RPMs drop down to about 500 or less and then a second later it's back to normal. I happens just about every time I drive it and I've got two friends that have the exact same cars that both do it. I live in New Orleans and we have wonderfully hot and humid weather most of the year so I haven't had a chance to drive it in cool weather since I've only had it since March.

Has enyone else experienced this or do you know what could cause it?

Thanks

-S

 

At what speeds are we talking about and can you see in what gear you're at?

 

It generally happens between 30 - 40mph. I would guess it would be in third or fourth, but I'm not sure. I'll have to check it
and post later tonight.

-S

 

Mine does the same thing, 30-40 MPH. Normaly it happens when it still is warming up. With in 15 miniutes of startup. I`ve got 14,000 miles on mine and it`s been doing that since new. I use to have a truck with an overdrive gear and the dealership explaned to me that the transmission needed to warm up, that it was normal to ack that way. I assumed it was the same with these cars.

 

tried d4 v.s. d5 and it still happens. I was told I was just being paranoid when I posted on it

 

Bear2Day/groebuck1 - What years are your cars?

Paranoid? Hmm. I've never had any other car do that, new or used. To me, it's a sign of something not quite right. I'm bringing it in to the dealer in the next couple of weeks so I'll let you know how it goes. I'm sure I will get the standard "we couldn't find anything wrong, although you are due for a <insert expensive service>" response.

-S

 

1600 miles on it

 

Mine does it too... 2003 TL-S 2200 miles and It has done it from day 1 took it to the dealer and It is a normal occurance ( or so I was told) by the way when I got the car it had 25 miles on it

 

03, 14000 miles on it. It`s not on the extended warenty list. Let me know Thanks!

 

The transmission is either hunting for a gear or it's locking and unlocking the torque converter. The shift mapping on this car could have been better and there's virtually a small gap in the mapping. The minimum speed for it to shift from 4th to 5th gear is 35mph, that's with very little, if no, gas peddle being pushed on. Mine does this once in a while and it has since it was new too.

Yes, it's annoying and I'd like to change that one shift point but I just chalk it up to it being a high-performance car.

 

I think you hit it on the head, Tom. I work and drive on base, the speed limit is 35mph, it drives me nuts. Six days a week it`s the same thing. 35 must be in the dead center of the range.

 

I have an '03 TL-S and it does the same thing, but at around 50 mph. Interestingly, it's always in the first 10 min. of driving, and when I take a certain freeway bridge with a slight uphill grade. It's very annoying. Any way to correct this problem, or was my dealer correct in implying that I'm focusing on something minor??

 

i have just experienced the same old thing in these recent days..
Let me tell you guys my story.. For the first 5 mins.. the car suddenly 'stutter' and the rpm drops to 500 then back up again.. the feeling was that braking suddenly then accerlate again.. plz comment if anyone has the same problem.. it's horrible~

 

I have this "stuttering" problem as well in my 2003 TL-S. It has occured from the day I picked it up, always in the first 20 minutes of driving, and generally around 50 mph. Interestingly, it occurs in D5, but if I Sport Shift and keep it in Fourth, it doesn't do it. Almost as if it is the downshift from 5th to 4th that is causing it. I took it into the dealer and they said "it was normal." I later heard that it had something to do with the ECU. I guess it doesn't hurt, but it still is annoying.