When my 2002 TL-S (leased in November) was new, I was impressed at how smoothly it shifted under any driving conditions, compared to my previous car, 300M, whose tranny searched too much for appropriate gear in slow traffic.

My TL-S is still a lot of fun to drive, especially when I gun it. But it has become similar to 300M at slow speeds.

The other day, I was cruising at 80+ mph. Then I ran into some traffic before a toll. I gradually slowed down to about 20mph. Then when traffic picked up a bit and I lightly pressed the gas pedal to get moving, the tranny "greeted" me with a stong kick.

Actually to think of it, even when the car was a few days old, it occasionally kicked in stop and go traffic.

Now it does it very often. Say, the trffic picks up and I press the gas pedal a bit to get moving. The car accelerates well. Then it is time to start slowing down. I take my foot off the gas pedal - BANG!

Are these the signs of he tranny going bad?

It's a shame, it's such a beautiful color...

Ruski
2002 TL-S - Aegean Blue Pearl

 

I have had a few minor glitches in my trans, but nothing like that and nothing recurring.

 

Here is another thought: is the TL-S' tranny a learning kind?

Maybe it has learned some bad habits?

 

how many miles are on it?

 

Sorry I edited your post, I dont think posting your entire VIN for all to see was a good thing.

As far as that statement goes, yes it is a learning tranny so if you were gunning it and taking the tranny into the upper RPMs alot and then all of a sudden took it real easy due to t raffic or a change in mood it could cause what you describe.

Also if you gave it the gas lightly and then harder after slowing down and the tranny decides that one dropped gear isnt enough, in that lag time it may also shift a little rough, but since I didnt feel it for myself, its hard for me to say.

 

I drive hard whenever possible, and when in slow traffic I never notice any abruptness whatsoever.

 

thanks for looking out for me

Do you know if the tranny can un-learn bad habits on its own? or do I need to disconnect the PCM or the tranny fuse or the whole battery so that it would "forget" bad lessons?

(in 300M, I used to take out the PCM fuse and tranny's got memory cleared like that)

I have probably answered my own question.


Also I am driving in SS more and more and it is much more pleasant, except for those times when I enjoy the acceleration too much and forget-get-get-get-get-get to shift