Hey all,

OK, I've finally decided to put some mods into my '02 TLS. However, I'm not looking for power per se, I'm looking to make my car run smoother, longer, and quieter. Now if power is a side-effect of making the car run smoother, well I can't say I got a problem with that .

What brought about this decision? My car currently has 33K miles on it. It's not much, compared to my old '94 Accord with 120K, but to be honest it's running about the same as the Accord . Here're some examples:

1. When I'm stopped at a light, the whole car vibrates. Not so much as to impede a conversation, but enough to annoy me. Now when I drove my parent's 3-year old 525, you couldn't tell the engine was running.
2. The engine becomes cantankerous when accelerating. A year ago, my car would acclerate smoothly and without a hitch. Now, the gas pedal shakes as the RPM increases, the engine is much louder than before, and honestly, it just doesn't feel like it's moving as fast as before.
3. I've stood outside of my car while it was idling, and the engine sounds much worse than a year ago. Before, the engine was at a low pur when idling. Now I can hear squeaks, rattles, and it's much louder overall.

The car's been in for regular maintenance, so I know that's not the issue. I'm thinking that some of the parts just aren't quality. I've done some searching through the board and I've seen a couple things that would help, i.e. better air filter and quality synthetic oil, but I'm still not sure which brands to go with other mods would help.

So if you've any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks!

 

There's something wrong with your car. My car is whisper quiet in idle. Well, not quite as quiet as a Lexus but close. And no vibration at all. Maybe you need a tune up?

 

Hmmm. That's odd about the vibration and lack of power. If the power drop is VERY noticeable, get it checked out at the dealer, could be something wrong. Check your air filter and see if it's clogged up or something. Poor airflow into the engine definitely robs power. Get a K&N. I have put one on every single car I have ever owned - improves gas mileage and power.

Not sure about the vibration though. How's your idle - do the RPMs stay steady? There are a bunch of things that can affect a smooth idle.

As for the noises coming out of the engine...check to see what is making the rattling sound - could be a loose wire or something. The belts/pulleys will make noise as well as your climate control equipment if you're running it. Some noises are normal.

 

Maybe your motor mounts are done. Get it checked out at the dealer...

 

Do you use 93 octane gas?

I do. I use Techron every 7500 miles with my synthetic oil change and a good oil filter. I also have the CAI and keep the filter clean. My car runs terribly smooth and I realyl attribute that to the synthetic oil...The Royal Purple even purportedly helps the car run cooler than Mobile 1...

 

Wow, thanks for the replies all . OK, here're some more details:

At idle, my RPM's drop below 1K. I'm not sure if that's normal, because my Accord has always idled at about 1.5K or so. As for the gas, we only have 91 octane here in CA , but I only use Chevron whenever I fill up.

Now the drop in power isn't a lot, but it's definitely noticeable. Honestly, it just feels like the car is "trying" harder than before to get up to speed. I'm not sure how else to explain it.

I'm not sure if a tune up will help. I just brought it in for the 30K service, and they said everything is withing "normal parameters". They just replaced the oil, oil filter, rotated the tires, and did a bunch of checks.

 

The car should go 100k before you need a tune-up...
I'd say get something and clean the injectors...As an aside, my car does idle below 1k rpm's, too...

 

It should idle at like 750rpm

 

That is what mine does I think its normal...

 

I just drove out to get some grub and did some checking. The car does idle at around 750. As for what I can do for my car, I'm going to start a list for myself. Please feel free to add your suggestions:

1. Redline/Royal Purple synth oil, filter?
2. K&N air filter
3. ?

 

You can do those things but you shouldn't have to to make it smooth and quiet.

 

I totally agree with you. But I'm kind of stuck here since the dealer says there's nothing wrong with the machine. They say it's just normal wear-and-tear. I've been thinking about taking it to another dealer to have them check it out, but it's gonna be more money of my pocket for their questionable analysis. Man I wish I had an Acura mechanic friend .

 

Sounds to me you have a mis-firing cylinder!

The ruff idle, the lack of power. Since you say your running 91 octane, perhaps we can rule that out, clean filter and oil would also be assumed......THEN FORSURE, you either have a plug/coil/connect problem, or an injector problem. If the dealership does a diag. on the car they should be able to get the info needed.

BUT, definitely get that car in for service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

....cheers

 

Hmmm, I'm gonna have to listen more closely tonight. If that's really the case, then I guess I have no choice but to take it back to the dealer .

 

STP FI Cleaner may do the job. Has anyone tried out the Lucas gas additive? I heard that works wonders too. About the same price as the STP.

Maybe it's time to go to another dealer. Have someone run a full diagnostics on the car. You're only getting one opinion from one dealer and if they keep on shafting you, you would end up thinking that the car is a POS.

 

i dont wanna jack ur post but as far as smoothness is concerned, recently ive been feeling a grind on the pedal. it comes and goes, but its not as smooth and consistent as before. u think i should look into the same areas as fortunate?

 

...but since you did, I noticed that nice sig of yours! Cracking me up!

 

i just bought my TL about 5 days ago. smooth as melted butter. i used to own a taurus SHO and bad motor mounts would cause the same problems you listed (all too often on the fords). i agree with the others that you should have it checked out.

 

What's SHO mean? And I've decided to bring my car in to another dealer, better safe then sorry eh?

 

i agree... its probably your motor mounts

 

S.H.O. ='s Super High Output.

It was one of Ford's ways to incorporate a racing team themed performance modifier(s) to their vehicles, namely the Taurus.

The problems sure don't sound like they are normal wear-anr-tear things. Unless your vehicle had the snot beat out of it everyday, you shouldn't experiance those types of problems. But, the most important thing is this...you are warranted for these things...am I wrong? So, use the dealership for what they are there for: To provide service to you when needed. And you need it!

Hell, you might even want to tip them (inside joke from another thread)

SGT. C.J.

 

The first Ford Taurus SHO's from the 80's wasn't too bad on power for the time. It came with 220hp from a front wheel drive V6 and a little rare. Not as rare as the Mustang SVO 4cyl turbo but rare. The second edition SHO came with a front wheel drive V8 and wound up being slower than the V6. V8 also had this stupid rear spoiler on the trunk that looked like a boomerang.

 

yeah bro, dad layed down the hammer, so no modz just yet, but im still savin up for em

 

yeah the ford SHO was pretty nice. the ones from the 90s (i had a 93) i liked better because of the body style. the engines were designed by yamaha and they kicked ass. they had distributorless ignition (which in the early 90s was rare), dual stage intake manifolds, DOHC. but alas the ford parts attached to it were always failing. tranny, starter, alternator, motor mounts, etc. ford designed the v8 they started using in 1996 (when the bubble style taurus emerged) which is why the v6's were faster

they came in two flavors in the 90s for the v6. 220hp, 215 ft/lbs of torque for the automatic or 220hp, 200 ft/lbs of torque for the standards. the standards had pretty decent pickup.

all in all a fun car to drive (comparable to the TL in the sense it had full leather, auto climate control, cruise, moonroof, 8 way power seats with lumbar, fogs) i just got tired of repairing mine and as luck would have it, mine broke down again the day i went to buy my TL last week. oh well....

 

hey, SatinSilverTypS, what does your Gutter Mesh Grille look like? i thought u couldnt do that on the '02+ TL'z

 

I remember that....it was Yamaha's Marine division at that!

 

haha, wow, you learn something new every day. speaking of marine division, did anyone happen to see on monster garage when acura gave them a 3.5L (i think) version of our engine to use on a boat. it was up around 320hp they said if i recall properly.

Dark DJ - here are some pics for you. it looks like gutter mesh to me, but i just bought the car 6 days ago and i dont really know if the previous owner did this himself or what. i apologize that the pictures arent better, but we are digging outselves out of 10 inches of snow here right now.

bottom body kit grille:


top front grille:

 

hey man, the picz aint showin up..

 

i tried fixing it, hopefully it works now

 

HEY FORTUNATE, I THINK I HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS U AND MAYBE DJ. I HAVE AN 03TLS, TRANNY REPLACED @ 9K. FROM TIME TO TIME IT FEELS VERY ROUGH, HARSH ACCELERATION, NOT AS MUCH POWER AND IDLES A LITTLE FUNNY, NOT SMOOTH AT ALL, NOT LIKE IT USE TO BE OR SHOULD I SAY SHOULD BE.EVEN MY GAS PEDDAL FEELS FUNNY, FEELS LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING IN IT, LIKE A LEAK OF SOME KIND. CAR ALSO FEELS MUFFLED, LIKE SOMETHING IS CLOGGED OR HOLDING IT BACK, SLUGGISH. BUT THEN THE PROB GOES AWAY FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, COMES BACK FOR A FEW DAYS, AND THE CYCLE CONTINUES. OBVIOUSLY THE DEALER CANT FIND THE PROBLEM B/C THEIR MICKEY MOUSE TECHS DONT KNOW WHAT THE HELL THEY ARE DOING. LET ME KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BRING IT IN FOR SERVICE, I COULD USE A FIX. GOOD LUCK!!

 

http://www.acura-tl.com/forum/showth...threadid=70108

lots of people have the vibration at idle problem .. it's a Honda characteristic after a couple years...

 

hey guyz, i fixed my problem i think. i switched to Chevron gas and it seems to have returned the smoothness to the pedal

 

i changed my spark plugs to iridiums... i must say ive accedently try to turn on the car again while running... its silent and its shaking reduced by atleast 50%. trust me youll like those plugs. but use some fuel injector cleaner, rev your engine high to burn any carbon build up you might have accumulated. good luck

 

How many miles on your ODO when you switched to irridiums? I may be due for new plugs to settle out the vibrations.