Help! Can anyone tell me what could be causing this problem? '00 TL-P ~ 60k miles. When I start the car, it turns over, idles for a moment, then the RPM's drop, and the car sputters to a stall...it won't re-start immediately (within 30 seconds)...just cranks.
When it finally turns over, I find that I need to gently feather the gas to keep it running (flooring it kills it), but if I shift it into gear, the RPM's stabilize, and it runs fine. The MIL **flashed** at me this morning, at which point I turned it off. But when I re-started the car later in the day, there was no MIL light at all.
The closest Acura dealer is 200 miles away, so I tried to take it to a Honda dealer, and they flat out REFUSED to look at it (something about their parts coming from different supply chains).
I called Acura customer care, and he said that they could not force a Honda dealer to look at an Acura, and that I should take it to whatever the closest dealership is (2+ hours away, yeah right). He did mention that even though my VIN is not included, if it was an ignition switch that needed to be replaced, I could call them for reimbursement consideration. Could this be causing this?
The guys at the Car-X down the street said that they could plug it into their machine on Friday...so I'm hoping that they will be able to tell me something. Does the ECU store the last error code in it? Any ideas what I should have the mechanic look for? Would a failing torque converter cause idle problems? The car does not feel as zippy.
Thanks!

 

Mine along with everyone else on here does similar things. Although mine has never stalled, the RPM's do drop right after i start it, if its cold, but it never stalls. I bet is has something to do with your O2 sensor(s). They may be about shot. I would have your mechanic check that first.

 

Yes, the ECU should store the last several codes in it (not just the last one). Perhaps it is the ignition switch, but the symptoms made me initially think fuel pump or fuel filter. Flooring it would require an increase in fuel delivery - which apparently is not happening.

Could you have gotten bad gas, or have water in your tank? When is the last time the injectors were cleaned?

 

acura has recall on some cars with ignition switch... check at dealership, they change it for free...

 

I'll put money on it that your fuel pressure regulator needs to be replaced. They have a TSB on this, starting that you will experience hard starts in hard soaks. Your explanation of the things happening matches to that of a car with a bad fuel pressure regulator. Have acura replace the Fuel pressure regulator and replace the PCM, the tsb for this is here:

http://www.a(uraw0rld.com/tsb/2001/B01-001.pdf

replace the ( with a "c" and the 0 with an "o"

there ya go...it states that the car may show the MIL light to be flashing...this is a known issue within acura, let them replace the parts under warranty.

On top of which, in the TSB under probable cause, it mentions the states which have a modified gas contents for winter months. Illinois is one of those in the list, and you live in IL, so this has to be your problem...

hope this helped.

 

Thanks for the info. I appreciate it.

 

not a problem...hope everything works out with that.

PM me with the outcome.

 

I've got exactly the same problem and asked this same question here last week. The only thing is the TSB mentions only 00 & 01 models... mine is a 99.
I'm going to bring this TSB with me when the car goes in.
Thanks clearing this up for me!

 

I have 2000 and had same problem. They replaced the Fuel Pressure Regulator under the warranty. Now my car idles much better.

 

so was I betting myself??? Cause it looks like I was right!!!

I knew that's what the problem was.