That03TLguy

I know this has been an issue for a while although I'm hoping to get better responses here then on page 11 of some old thread. The car shifts up just fine, though quite a bit harder when cold. My main issue is with the downshifts. It seems as though the car is WAY to willing to downshift to help with de-celeration. Why don't they just re-program the shift points instead of screwing around with rebuilts? Any help / insight would be greatly appreciated.

yield2s

your car should only "engine brake" automaticly when you are going downhill and aplly the brakes=Gradelogic

That03TLguy

Yes I understand that but the downshifts are quite rough and unexpected at times. :banghead:

ou sig

I think everyone is just too paranoid about the trannys...they arent the best, but the % of your messing up isnt good at all, its just the only people that post on here about the trannys are the people who have had issues.

That03TLguy

So auto-sticking from 2nd to 5th isn't good Gotcha, I'll relax. It's just hard to not ask questions after dropping 27k. Take it easy guys.

Vicman17

I know what you mean. I experienced it while keeping the car in D5. Now I use D3 and D4 in the city and D5 only when I'm on the highway. Each seems to have different shift points and not just excluding the next higher gear. I love D3 'coz I'm in the power band to pass people (and nutty ricers of course) and I only have to pull it down one notch to keep it in second gear in case I had to take it to the redline. D4 is to save gas.

I just don't like the way the car behaves while I'm in D5 and going the speed limit (city). At 1500 or so RPM, seems that the car gets confused at what gear to stay in. And there is NO power in case you need it since it has to hunt down 2 or 3 gears. I also don't think it's healthy for the engine/ tranny to go from next to idle engine speed to VTEC at the stomp of the accelerator.

Just my 2 cents.

atl-abp

That is exactly what happened to me and it didnt seem like a real big deal but the dealer said the tranny is bad and they are replacing. Yes while you will see more people complaining about their tranny as this is a good place to do it, that doesnt hide the fact that there is a problem with them. Now for even further info on the effects of warped rotors and bad trannys, look at trade in vale of an es 300 compared to the same year tl type s. I am assuming they cost new about the same - now there is at least a 4k difference in comparable models. The market speaks and if you part with your tl you will suffer $$ loss relative to competitive models. Maybe on average acura maintains good resale, looks like the tl does not. 1 yr depreciation of almost 9k. No I will not own another acura.

`ill*tl

Might I add that it may also be the torque-converter locking up..

yield2s

Ya can someone with some knowledge on the subject please explain how when cruising at 70mph in SS 5th and appling a little throttle the RPMs can jump up 800-1000 rpm w/o that much of an increase in speed. I know its the t. converter locking or unlocking but what the hll does that mean? (in technical jargain please)

Vicman17

The way I understand it, at top gear (in this case, 5th), in order for the tranny to help in fuel economy, it locks it up, like it shifts to another higher gear, but no torque. In essence, when it locks up, the engine "dies" or simply maintains your speed at close to idle engine speed (rpm) in order to save fuel. The reason why you see the RPMs jump is because the lock-up is disengaged and the gear is again ready to give you some power sensing that you "kicked down" the gas pedal. This happens in D4 also, since if you drive at around 50-60 mph and let go of the gas, there is a sensation of the engine either switching gears or downshifting. So if you count the gear changes, you may confuse the top gear "gearing up" to 6th gear, but that is the torque converter. I own a 1.7 EL with a 4-speed AT, and it does the same thing, but only in 4th gear.

Vicman17

Excerpted this from a source:

"Recently developed torque converters have had a "lockup" feature added to reduce energy loss and improve mpg. This lockup feature will not engage until the vehicle reaches approximately 40 mph. For most converters to lockup, the following must be present:

a. Coolant must be at or above minimum temperature.
b. Transmission selector must be in drive if a non-overdrive vehicle or in "O" or "OD" overdrive if an overdrive vehicle. (In our case D4 or D5)
c. Vehicle must be at or above minimum lockup speed.
d. Vehicle must be in a cruise or near cruise condition.
e. Transmission must have shifted into the top gear. "

in non techno-jargon.............

yield2s

hey thanx