I have a 2002 TL non-NAVI with about 3000 miles on it. Seems like in the last month or so, I feel more vibration in the gas pedal and steering wheel than previously. I have tried messing with the tire pressure and different brands of premium gas - no difference. While the vibration is only minor, it's annoying. The car seemed buttery smooth when I drove it off the lot. The dealer checked it out and said it's perfect - no diagnostics on the computer. I wonder if it's something as simple as tire balancing. Any ideas?

 

Well, first of all, let us know what kind of vibrations and when does it do it. Does it do it at idle only? At certian speed? All the time? Does your steering wheel and accelerator vibrate at the same time? Let us know the details so we can help you out. Welcome to the board man

 

Thanks for the welcome. It seems to do it while moving - not noticeable at idle. I don't notice it at any speeds in particular - seems to be pretty consistent across all speeds. I don't feel it in the seat at all. It's mainly a "coarsness" in the accelerator pedal and the steering wheel. Let me stress that this is not a shaking kind of vibration where you can see your hand moving or anything like that. I know this sounds odd. The dealer drove it and said it seemed normal. Not trying to be anal or anything - it just doesn't feel right to me and I don't recall it behaving like this on the test drive! I am used to a V8 in my prior car - thought maybe that was part of the issue but the TL is a much more refined machine than the Ford V8 I was driving a few months ago. One other thought I had - I had test driven a 2001 model much more so than the 2002 model that I bought. I understand that there were many changes in the 2002 model - could a redesign to the suspension or steering calibration on the 2002 be the difference that I am feeling?

 

Well, we can rule out alignment or wheel balance problem because you feel it both in your accelerator and steering wheel. If I have to guess, it could only be a bad engine mount. But you will feel it the worst at idle with a bad engine mount. You might want to go to the dealer and test drive another 2002 and see if you feel the same vibration. Just to let you know, I do not think there were any changes in the suspension from 2001 to 2002.

 

I, too, am extremely anal about my car and perhaps expect too much.

Mine also has increased vibration in the wheel and accelerator compared to when it was new. I know exactly what you're talking about; the vibration is not what the other folks are getting at, but instead the vibration of the engine being transmitted through those two places.

Both gas pedal and steering wheel have isolation damping built in to reduce NVH (noise, vibration, harshness), and this is part of the luxury of the car. Given that they are both more or less connected to the engine bay, it's hard to reduce all NVH. perhaps the rubber that isolates those two places wears out, or maybe the engine just runs a little rougher than before. maybe it's both...

Either way, the car is still pretty smooth - anything else this side of a Lexus will be worse. Speaking of, go test drive any V8 Lexus and you'll be amazed at how refined a car can be. I drove a '99 SC400 the other day that had 40,000 miles, and it was SOOOO much smoother and quieter than my TL. I kinda wish I'd have bought one of those, or perhaps an LS400.

Oh well, the TL is still nice, but I know what you're getting at with the vibration thing. If it makes you feel any better, know that the TL has highly sophisticated engine mounts - they're electronically-controlled hydraulic mounts that actually produce kinetic pulses 180 degrees off the engine's vibration for smoothness. In other words, they actively cancel out vibrations from the engine as best they can.

 

DO NOT DRIVE OFF ROAD!!! j/k

 

You are comparing apple to orange. The prices of Lexus SC or LS are way over the price of TL. You should match with an ES or IS.

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Either way, the car is still pretty smooth - anything else this side of a Lexus will be worse. Speaking of, go test drive any V8 Lexus and you'll be amazed at how refined a car can be. I drove a '99 SC400 the other day that had 40,000 miles, and it was SOOOO much smoother and quieter than my TL. I kinda wish I'd have bought one of those, or perhaps an LS400.

 

Thanks for all the responses. I think maybe the suggestion of driving another 2002 TL will put this to rest - assuming it feels the same. I wondered about the Lexus - I guess I know that answer now. But - as was said, were talking a lot more money even for the ES300. I also don't like the Lexus "stigma". You know - if you drive a Lexus, BMW or Mercedes, people think you are rich and that you think you're better than everyone else. Acura thankfully doesn't seem to fall into that stereotype - people just seem to think you're wise if you buy one. At least that's been my experience in this area. Thanks again.

 

Sure, but a 2-3 year old SC400 costs the same as my TL when new so it's a fair comparison. Don't get me wrong, the TL is a great buy, but it's not built half as well as a Lexus SC/GS/LS/ES or Bimmer 5/7 series.

I bet that SC400 that I drove with 40,000 miles would easily last as long as a new TL, so why not compare? When looking for a car and I bought my TL, I cross-shopped the TL against IS300, ES300, S2000, Z3 2.5, used 528i and many other cars. Apples and oranges and kiwis to be sure, but they all more or less cost around 30 grand so they were cars I looked into.

I still really like my TL, but often wish I'd have bought SC400 or 5-series used, or perhaps a new stripped 325i or an IS300 (but I hate the interior on that car).

hey, this is America and the grass is always greener - I'm sure if I had an M5 at times I'd probabbly wish for an LS430 instead!

 

down the road at 65 - 80. When I touch the gas pedal it's vibrating like crazy. You can feel it though the soles of your shoes.
One of the folks on the CL-S forum had a similar issue. No resolution yet, just the same info as here.

I have not taken it to the dealer but I do not remember the demo doing this. I will take the tires down to have them checked next.

http://www.acura-cl.com/cgi-bin/ulti...c&f=1&t=007840