Hi

Please don't flame me if this has already been discussed. I have searched the site for this item and cannot find this issue (This has nothing to do with manually downshifting or tranny failures)

I have a 2002 TL-S. If I am crusing about 80mph (using automatic shifting) and suddenly have to slow down to say 40mph (say because some %&*# crosses three lanes to get to an offramp on a freeway) and then I stomp on it to get out of the way of the big 18 wheeler comming up my rear, it takes about 2 seconds before it kicks into a lower gear and goes. The engine revs, but that is all. Scares the hell out of me!! My dealer says that this is "normal". (I say it is a safety issue.) Do all TLs have this problem or is it just mine and the dealer is putting me on. (So far I have talked 5 people out of buying an Acura because of this.)

Would like some feedback on this.

Thanks

 

use the ss shift... the torque converter has to unlock and buid some torque... and I pretty sure some times it drops in 4th and stay there rather than downshifting to 3rd.

 

I noticed this with my car today driving home from work ... I was at a light and all of a sudden all of the cars in front of me moved into the right hand turn lane and my lane opened up wide ... Since I knew the light was short and I had a little ways to go to get into the intersection I gunned it, but the car didn't go for about a second or so ... I sat there puzzled until I suddenly felt the car pull really hard ... So I'd say that this is somewhat normal. I've noticed however if instead of gunning it you slowly press down on the accelerator the car seems to respond a little bit better.

 

The VSA also has something to do with it too. If you turn your VSA off, the car response quicker to downshifts. Try it.

axleback

 

Thanks guys (and gals) for the imput.

This seems to be a serious SAFETY design defect. I wonder why more of you have not complained about it? I suspect most of you zoom around using the SS. On Los Angeles freeways you pretty much have to use the auto shift, unless you are some sort of massochist.

 

honda's transmission is known for being slow to downshift...

did u give WOT coz it won't go downshift quickly unless u gave full throtte....on most cars...

 

are you sure about that, my tl-s downshifts really fast. ive been in a 99 accord and noticed that it also downshifts really fast. put your car in SS and downshift. When i compare any downshift in my GS4 vs. TL-S, i would say the tl is much quicker with the downshift. The lexus, even in e-shift, is damn slow at downshifting. try the ss thing, if it seems slow in there too, then there probably is something wrong.

 

toyota cars never wants to downshift...their auto tranny always goes to the highest gear as soon as possible for fuel econ...

ya..honda is slow for downshift...not talking with using SS..but in full auto it seems to slow to downshift at times...such as going up a slope or 5th gear at 40mph...but already better than the accord's one

my old buick regal's tranny was very responsive...and it can kick down 2 gears...going at 75mph with 4th gear..and still able to kick down to 2nd at 5200rpm and rush to the redline at 5500rpm...u just won't see this happen on a honda...

 

SS downshifting is fine. No problem. But in an emergency when you are already in auto shifting and you have to stomp on it after and emergency breaking, you would use your precious 2 seconds up just shifting into SS mode and then downshifting twice. I guess I will have to live with it, but I don't like it. This is my first Acura (or Honda). My old Toyota Cilica did not have this problem. Even in auto, it would respond when I stomped on it. Bummer!! I kike I said before, it has scared the crap out of me a couple of times while it just stood there waiting to respond.

Thanks everyone for the feedback. This is something I will test for, before my next purchase.