2nd Gen VTEC

Hey everyone, I'm new to the forum. I have an 01 TL with just under 118,000 on the clock. I've had it for two years now and have had no issues with it whatsoever. I have meticulously maintained it and cared for it as an Acura enthusiast should. However, I started the car tonight (engine was not cold) and I noticed that the steering wheel, the driver's seat, and the driver's door which was open were all significantly vibrating. The check engine light came on along with the tcs light. I wasn't even able to rev the car up without the pedal vibrating, and I looked under the hood and the engine was slightly shaking. Any ideas as to what this could be would be greatly appreciated. I initially thought that I had a clogged egr valve, which would have explained the rough idle, but there seems to be more going on under the hood.

Karanx7

iTrader: (2)

Obviously, get the codes read first. Probably a bad misfire on more than 1 cylinder.

webmastir

Agreed with Karanx7. Get the codes read first. It'll give you a good clue as to where to start troubleshooting. It's probably something that can easily be resolved.

dreem1er

iTrader: (2)

Misfire maybe, but yes get codes

2nd Gen VTEC

Thanks for the advice I appreciate it. It turned out that a few friends have code readers so I will check to see what codes the car is throwing. A friend said I might have a bad cat, could that be true also? I do notice that there is a slightly potent exhaust smell when first starting the car

01tl4tl

cats are rare failure and smell like rotten eggs
car runs on rich cycle at startup

you most likely have a single coil failure which will spit out multi cyl misfire codes
as its not sure whats wrong

you are overdue for egr system cleanout, and clean idle air control in TB while there.
,ck your plugs- every 70kmiles a good plan on ngk iridiums

of course seafoam,,thru gas tank easy method,,1 16oz can into 8 gal or just under half tank..repeat when following tank down to half
then good for a year with all systems like new clean!

dreem1er

iTrader: (2)

Til the car warms up you'll always smell something, as for the cat being bad it could be a o2 sensor,



If you go by advancd auto or napa or whatever close to you they usually will lend you a scanner to see the codes

2nd Gen VTEC

Thanks everyone, I appreciate all of the advice very much. 01tl4tl I think you're right on the mark with what's wrong with the car. As for the plugs, I bought it with 102k from a dealership so I wasn't sure if the plugs have been replaced. I haven't gotten around to changing the plugs yet so I will do the seafoam treatment and make everything nice and clean and then pull the plugs out. Also, I will definitely have to clean out the egr system. That is something that the dealer should be doing for free on these cars right? I've seen a few threads where people were talking about the dealer doing that free of charge

3.2TLc

A TL being 10 years old with over 100k is going to start requiring more attention in the way of maintenance. You're pretty much going to be on your own with whatever may come up.

The only thing that's going to be "free" will be advice from your friendly 'Ziners right here at your fingertips. Many various challenges will start to test you and the car as it enters middle age pains.

It's always good to know the car's previous maintenance history along with the recommended "PM" schedule to provide troublefree driving pleasure from your TL.

01tl4tl

its never had plugs and it needs the 105 service at a minimum
plus ps and brake fluids (coolant comes with 105-water pump timing belt)
the dealer doesnt do squat to make it run better for sale unless they have to

they do complete all recalls for you~

only 99s had an egr cleaning and only once
the rest of us must diy..every 75kmiles a good plan- and be ziners to even know about it!

LAMike240

Having recently gone through the same issue, I can tell you that I had the idle issue, multiple misfire codes. Indy mechanics 1st cleaned egr, adjusted valves and replaced the #3 coil. Cleared codes and car ran fine for a couple of days.

Check engine light back on and rough idle again. They now replaced all 6 coils with new ones. 2 days and counting. So far so good.

With these final repairs (including a new trans and shocks/struts )about 2 months ago, I know have put the value of the car back into in the last couple of months. The car with 222k on the clock (03 TL-S) runs very well (assuming the new coils fixed the issue).

2nd Gen VTEC

Thank you for the advice everyone. As soon as I get the codes read, I'll share what they are. I will get the issue fixed as soon as I can so I can drive her again. Once everything is taken care of, I'll do plugs, the water pump and timing belt, the crank seal, clean my egr valve, and do a PS, brake, and coolant flush. Thank you again for the advice everyone.

01tl4tl

egr is not the egr valve cleaning,,if thats what shops did its wrong!!!!!

the problem is inside the intake manifold
which must be removed from the engine, and literally have a metal coat hanger shoved thru the LENGTH of the egr passage and each of its ports

3 cans carb cleaner help!

2nd Gen VTEC

Thank you for pointing that out, I'll have to pull that off and clean the buildup out of there

LAMike240

I know...they did the full cleaning..pulled manifold, etc.

2nd Gen VTEC

Finally got her running smoothly again. I found out that it was a bad coil on cylinder #1. I checked what codes it was throwing, and I saw that there was a misfire, but I really had to get in there to see what the problem was. $45 fix and she runs like new again. I checked my plugs while I was in there and they were good, they were the correct NGK iridium plugs that the TL takes. Keeping my fingers crossed that she runs smoothly over the next week.

3.2TLc

You're learning that with the help of fellow 'Ziners,..... you can keep your TL running smooth without having to get raped by the dealership. Good to hear that it seems to be better. Were you able to isolate the bad coil easily ?

2nd Gen VTEC

Yes it was pretty easy to tell which one was bad, I swapped them just to be sure and got the new coil this morning. Just 5 minutes to get the new coil in and the car is running like a clock again. And yes, the dealers are ridiculous. They wanted $150 just to diagnose the problem, probably $70 for the new coil which I picked up at Advance Auto Parts for $40, and some ridiculous fee to put the new coil in. I was able to isolate the bad coil in 5 minutes and the fix took 5 minutes. DIY is the best way to go. Back on the road and cracking in some more VTEC.

smartypants

2ndGen :

Glad to hear all is well. Yes, dealers are clearly there to spend your money with reckless abandon.

I have a mini rant regarding the EGR system. I've seen it blamed for poor mileage rough idling, surging, stalling.....and the list goes on.

The EGR system is completely benign and the engine will run just fine (with exception of throwing EGR lift codes) with the EGR completely disabled. All it does is allow a measured stream of CO2 into the intake to reduce the exhaust NOX content. I know, because mine was completely plugged for at least five years and other than the CEL light on, the car ran fine.