amobley

I have a 2002 TLS. I have 22500 miles on it. Ever since I bought it, I've had this little problem. It doesn't seem to be a big deal, but it bugs me. Here's what the deal is:

First, I noticed that at slow speeds (20-30 mph) it would act like it was going to shift, but it didn't. It almost seemed like it didn't know which gear to be in. But, then I started noticing it at higher speeds and with cruise control on. Another way to describe it, is that it feels like my motorcycle does when I run out of gas and have to switch to reserve. It's not really cutting out, more like hesitating for a moment. Last Friday it did this close to 10 times within about 5 miles, so I drove it directly to the Acura shop. Of course, they won't drive it right then when it's acting up. Instead, they set me up for an appt. Monday morning. Well, they didn't find anything wrong. No codes were stored, the tranny fluid was fine, and he said they drove it and it didn't act up for them.

I know I'm not imagining this, because the last time my husband drove it he noticed the same thing. He thought the car was in too high of a gear (5th instead of 4th) when it "tried to shift". I'd appreciate any thoughts as to what might be going on.

Thanks.
Andrea
Tulsa, OK

r10apple

If you are in the manual shifting mode, and when you shift up in gear, does the car gradually change its gear or do so immediately?

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Sounds to me like the torque convertor is locking and unlocking. When this happens the car feels like it shifts, but it's really in the same gear and the TC is working. Do you notice that the RPMs fluctuate as much as 500RPM as well?

BTW, I should have added that this is normal (assuming it's the TC).

r10apple

Yeah, reason why I ask as mine did this too. The dealer ran the diagnostics and I even had the 30,000 mile service (at 32,500 miles) and tranny fluid change which was uneventfuly. They said nothing was wrong when I knew it was.
I just drove the car harder and harder and the tranny crapped out just short of 36,000 miles and it was replaced with a silky-smooth new one...The 100,000 mile warranty should make you feel safe...

amobley

When I'm in Manual and I shift, I think there's a small hesitation before it shifts. I don't think it shifts immediately. (But, it's been a while since I've driven it in Manual.)

I also don't notice much of a speed or RPM difference when this happens either. Usually, I'm not expecting it to happen, so I haven't been able to watch the RPMs. But, last Friday, when it happened so often, I studied the RPMs, and if they moved, it definitely wasn't as much as 500.

I was wondering about the tranny, too. I hope that's not the problem, but I guess the 100k warranty will save me if it is!

Thanks!

r10apple

My hesitations came as if I had a manual car with a bad, slipping clutch. I would shift and the car would hesitate and then shift gradually and longingly into the commanded gear taking an inordinary amount of time. This is not like the normal complaints which came later: Like I got on it and the car hit second and stayed there, then jumped to fifth, then third, then got stuck, then chirped tires...It'll come...

amobley

Oh, well that doesn't describe how mine shifts while in Manual. It just doesn't seem to be as immediate as it would actually driving a "normal" Manual 5-speed.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Are you talking about the actual time it takes from when you "push" the Sportshift to the time it shifts? If that's what you're referring to... then it's totally normal since there is a delay from the time you shift to the time the car actually shifts.

You have to keep in mind that this car is an automatic.... so even if you're in SportShift mode... it's still an automatic. It will not shift anywhere near as instantly as a manual tranny does.

amobley

Thanks! That's what I figured, so I never really worried about it.