acurabum

Hi all
Does someone know how to adjust the TB cable in order to have the Tranmy
shifts well ??
Got a new tranmy from Acura for my TL-P 02 and i think the cable is mis-adjusted ?
Please help . Thanks guys

fsttyms1

If your having issues bring it back. The cable doesnt hook to the trans or control it.

01tl4tl

do you mean the throttle cable has too much slack?
Might be time to clean and relube all the spring mechaism and the cables inside
Deep Creep, wd or silicone spray all work good inside the cable- then set to proper freeplay/tension as you reinstall

If the throttle plate is flat open when the pedal is full throttle, its set right
It needs to be closed at idle too- too tight a cable may pull the throttle plate open and make the car run funny

But as fsttyms1 says- if you just got it worked on go back in. A vac hose may be off or somethinng like that
Did they say it needed a motor mount which you declined?

01tl4tl

It will take abut 500 miles for the new trans to break in and get super smooth.
What exactly is it doing?

acurabum

First ATF fluid leaks at the external A/T filter ...
then second ATF fluid and anti-freez leaks at the ATF warmer ( o-ring and broken hose )....during this time the transmy shifts funny ( like missing power )
After two others visits at the dealer , finally leaks stops .
The car shifts lazy from start to 40mph but very fine in full throtle.
I feel some slack at the TB cable but not sure 1/8 or 1/4 freeplay ???
1/8 might have more response at slight touch to the pedal but does it do any harm to the trasnmy in long term ?

acurabum

So do you think it will smooth out after 500 miles or so ?
Maybe I will pull the back up radio fuse to reset the ECU and see !!!

acurabum

I thought it does control the shifting by hooking to a cable run to our transmy

fsttyms1

Dont even waste your time. If its leaking and causing you issues call teh dealer and bring it back

And no the tb cable doesnt hook up to the trans to control the shifting.

01tl4tl

the shifting is all electronic- all the gear lever does is trigger a microswitch and the computer decides what and when to do it

1/8 to 1/4 inch is normal throttle cable freeplay

Do you have an aux trans cooler and that gave them problem with leak?
It should have normal power and shifting right away- it wont smooth if its got it bad, only if its the gentle wearing in of parts
slight throttle half or full it should always feel smooth and strong
MAY be issue with it after the leak probs~

Another replacement trans..another track day in the loaner car

Im am the one saying be nice, be gentle dont race etc- acura service dept says just drive it and dont worry

01tl4tl

DONT reset the ECU- it may have some codes already --
the Head TECH needs to drive it with you and check it over, not the service writer, unless they are also a retired acura tech

acurabum

It leaks ATF at O-rings bottom of warmer and anti-freez at the hose to warmer.....

acurabum

So I go ahead and adjust the throttle cable from 3/8 to 1/8 inch ...and it shifts better
It looks like the car response more from start .
Did not change my plugs yet( 91 kmiles) and don't know if they will make a diff. ?

01tl4tl

no pic display, but sounds like a warranty issue- the replacement trans has its own warranty

01tl4tl

seafoam it after the trans has some break in miles then change the plugs- its definetly ready
How did the TB plate look?

acurabum

Oh I did actually put a bottle of seafoam in my 1/2 tang gaz ...the transmy has 350 miles break in now ...And I did clean TB plate last summer ...
Well I guess the only thing left to do is replacing the plugs with NGK Iridium ..

newperson

iTrader: (2)

Sounds similar to what I experience now...loss of power & funny shifting, which was noticed after a new transmission was put in by the dealer (and possibly other events). But the trans has about 8k miles of break-in. I'd be more than interested if & when your problem is resolved.

01tl4tl

seafoam in the gas is no sweat, (1 can to 1/2 tank for cleaning doseage)

I meant the full treatment for intake manifold with 4000 rpm sustained warm up and blow out after with full throttle runs to blast out crud... after doing the intake manifold method- thats where major gains are made with a simple treatment

Attention All with replaced trans-
If it feels funny call the dealer, speak with the service manager and ask for a time you can take the Head Tech/Trans Tech on a test drive
Find out if its really something with the trans- or its how they are now, or other problem

01tl4tl

the TB plate gets dirty every day, PCV= positive crankcase ventilation
Means it pushes partially and unburnt fuel and oil vapors up that pipe from the valve cover,,, and into the rubber intake snout just before the TB for reburning in the engine
Thats why the TB plate gets all oily and dirty

fsttyms1

Careful adjusting the TB cables. You can cause issues having it too tight.

newperson

iTrader: (2)

That's the problem though...if it's not something that's obviously wrong, most of the times if you can't convince them that there's a problem, you've just wasted your time. Being told "it's normal" is what I dread.

01tl4tl

If you speak with the Service Manager and explain its a hard to detect problem-
they will send a well trained tech out- with you driving- to demonstrate
Acura is happy to fix whatever problem- warranty or not- but they do need to be able to feel it~
You driving can speed the process
Remember that techs are wearing heavy duty boots, not great feedback and not gentle on the throttle

If you are going to adjust the throttle cables- remove them- clean and lube- reinstall and adjust
More likely grime in the spring than out of adjustment

01tl4tl

There are enough of us here to have experienced most problems, and what is normal feel- just ask~

or go to a ziner meet and drive someone elses car same year as yours

newperson

iTrader: (2)

I went to the dealer today but was turned away. I don't know why I thought that I didn't have to make an appointment. Well, what a waste of 100 miles and on top of it I skipped class. I have zero luck.

acurabum

Spend 2 hours last night to fine tune the throtlle cable , it's actually to tight not to loose
so I went the other ways ,clean the TB and now the transmy shifts very smooth ...
Newperson : I suggest you verify the ATF level when engine warm and make sure it's in between the Max & Min only . Then clean the TB , verify the freeplay of your throtlle cable .......
I got only 1 question : in D5 at around 90 miles/h and if you floor the throtlle ,does the transmy downshift to 4th or not ? Mine just pick up speed but do not downshift at all ..
Anyone notice the situation while you were at 90 miles / h ?

newperson

iTrader: (2)

Do you mean you cleaned the TB plate? And that alone greatly improved your shifting? Never looked at the ATF level.

Can't verify your flooring @ 90mph...can't say I'd ever try that. But flooring does 'cause a downshift when I'm in 5th gear. Sometimes the rpm's will just shoot up to 5k without any change of speed until I let off a bit then it kicks in, while at other times it'll kick in soon as it is floored.

acurabum

Under 90 miles/h I feel the downshift ... but over 90 m/h mine will not downshift but the car still pulling.Just wonder it's normal to our car not downshifting after 90 miles/ h ....

I have to remove 1/4 liter of ATF from my transmy to have the right level.
I loosing up my throtlle cable to have the right freeplay and clean the TB at the same time .

newperson

iTrader: (2)

Acurabum, did you do your idle air control valve too?

acurabum

My idle is fine , so I did not clean the IACV . Just change my oil and the car is smoother.
Did u check your AFT level and throtlle cable freeplay ? It's only take 5 minutes to check them so what are you waiting .

newperson

iTrader: (2)

ATF level was midway between the two holes...and was reddish-brown. Think I might need the TB cable adjustment. I'll have to get a ruler.

01tl4tl

atf fluid must be checked when driven 10-15 miles on freeway so its at operating temp- then pull off and shut off engine in Park
Check level - between marks
color not a great indicator- smell it for burnt

to clean the TB plate you remove the rubber intake snout from air filter to engine.
Look inside the TB- there is a 3 inch diameter round metal plate- it opens with the throttle so use carb cleaner or tb cleaner on both sides and the edges especially.

Oil and fuel vapors get pumped there from the valve cover and load up the plate!
It must seal to get a good idle and be free operating at its pivots to work smoothly
clean and lube return springs-gen2

Clean airflow improves drivability

Its not usually the throttle cable adjustment, but it doesnt hurt to remove lube and reinstall them.
Adjustment without lube is a waste of time

01tl4tl

a ruler? a small amount of pressure from 1 finger should push the cable slightly and not move the throttle mechanism on the outside of the TB

newperson

iTrader: (2)

Sorry, I'm just a numbers person.

What are some tell-tale signs that your TB cable is too tight? I lubed it up a while ago but may have put it on too tight.

acurabum

By checking the freeplay pushing the throttle cable ...you can feel the engine
raise RPM to quickly ( small freeplay ) or a bit of slack before it raise the RPM.

acurabum

Check your ATF level after 15 or 20 minutes of driving ...Stop car on the Gaz station pump ( most level ground that you could have ) and check the fluid in between nest 1-2 minutes .
If the level is still low then top it up to almost full mark ..it will sure help the transmy to shift smoother .
Did you see any leak of ATF ? or It has been low for all that time ?

01tl4tl

ALMOST the full mark- not a drop over or it causes other problems
Acura says between the dots when at operating temp

ok -use the gas station-
I didnt mean pull off the side of the freeway to check the trans fluid~
The freeway speed cruising is important- in town shifting creates different temps and the fluid level indication as a result

newperson

iTrader: (2)

No worries, the reading I specified was after a 15 minute drive on the expressway. It was in-between the holes so the level should be fine.

And I guess my question was misstated; I really was asking what were some of the effects of a too-tight throttle cable.

acurabum

And I guess my question was misstated; I really was asking what were some of the effects of a too-tight throttle cable.[/QUOTE]

OK when you do not spend enough time to warm up the ATF ...with a too-tight cable feeling like it shifts very hi RPM and the car is not accelerate ...
I don't know what temp now at your region ...but in Canada Montreal it's
-11 oC right now and it will take more then 15min of driving to warm up
the AFT in order to have the transmy shift smooth .
So in total you have a feeling like the car is losing power .

newperson

iTrader: (2)

It's about 2 degrees Celsius here in Chicago. It shifts smooth after warmup; sometimes the shift points just seem random; one time it might shift around 2k and others almost at 3k with the same amount of pressure on the gas pedal.