I was speaking to an Acura Parts Manager today, and when asked “How do you like your car” I said “I like it a lot, but I’m worried about the transmission failing.”

He stated a theory to me, which I found interesting and wanted to share with my fellow TL’ers:

He thinks the fail rate as it is, is due, in part, to the car being placed into D5 while people drive around town; causing the transmission to make 50% more shifts they usual, at the same time, loading up the transmission, since the car is basically “lugging" while being driven at lower speeds

Now I will be the first to say, that you “shouldn’t” have to put your car into D4 while driving around town, and that there is still the likely hood that the transmissions needs to be improved. But, I’m going to give this a try, and thus far, I noticed that car sprints around town much nicer, without having the tramission automatically shifting from 4 to 5.

With that said, “Don’t shoot the messenger”

Mike Smeezy


Anthracite 2003 TL
Rear Deck Spoiler
H&R Sport Springs
35% Full Tint
3” Exhaust Tips

 

Why they make a D5 for then?

 

THE HIGHWAY.

 

When in D5, my car will stay in 4th until almost 50mph, thus, around town it never goes any higher than 4th. Also, SportShift won't allow you to upshift to 5th until you're going fast enough so it won't lug, either.

 

Well we 99's only have up to D4 and still get tranny problems. And I think 4th is our only overdrive gear, not sure. BTW my car drives in 4th at low milage I think 20mph or so, I have to check

 

I just took deliver of my car two days ago. I asked the salesperson if D4 had a different program than D5, ie. did it shift at higher points given the same throttle and load variables. He said yes. It does seem to be the case as I drive around, but I'd love to have this confirmed or not definitively. Anyone know for sure?

 

I've got 2000 miles on my car and I've noticed much better gas mileage in D4 vs D5 when around town.

I think it does make a difference. We'll see!

 

When I picked up my car, the salesman and the service manager both said to use D4 in and around town.

 

Mine TL goes into 5th at 50mph too (and I'm here to tell you, I can go that fast just driving down the street, without a highway near by), it also was still in 5th as the car declerates down to 35 mph, IMO thats "lugging."

Since this is a Forum, I just wanted to share that information for those who can use it. Feel free to drive in the gear that makes you the happest. I now like shift points with the use of D4 around town.

 

When I first got my car, the salesperson told me D5 was the main gear. I put it in the sportshift gate though, thinking that was D5. Since I wasn't shifting, it felt sluggish, so I threw it into D4 and drove it in that gear for the first 700 miles before I realized that D5 wasn't in the sportshift gate!

Am I going to have any problems down the line??????

When I was in D4 going down the highway, I will say that the car felt nice and the rmp's stayed low. Was the car automatically throwing it into 5th for me???

Thanks!

 

Oh yah, one more thing....are you able to shift while the car is in motion but not in the sportshift? Ie. you're on D4 and then start merging onto a highway, can you put it on D5 w/o stopping and will this harm the engine?

Thanks.

 

Yes you can. I don't believe it will harm the engine...in fact, when it goes into 5th from 4th, the rpms will drop, which puts less stress on the engine.

 

JohnnyB

did you have a black typeS before?

 

I wish Nope, just have my '00 Firepepper TL. You should head down to Hampton Roads sometime...

 

I have a '99, and I'm not sure about the overdrive. I know there are times when I stomp the pedal and I can feel the VTEC start to kick in. The RPM's rev up and it doesn't get to 4th gear until the car hits 80, so I feel like there is overdrive capabilities in the lower gears.

As far as getting to 4th gear at a low speed, in a residential neighborhood, my car will be in 4th by 30 mph.

 

I believe you can shift "on the fly" between D5, D4, and D3. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong about this.

Peter.

 

If you shift from D4 to D5 while on the gas I am pretty sure that is a bad thing. Cause when you push the gas pedal while shifting from D4 to D5, the rpms increase rapidly as if the car was in neutral right? Isn't that just like power shifting in a manual car? I don't know, someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

nope...not at all. doesn't harm anything at all. i always do this. I also use those gears to engine brake as well.

also...for those that uses D4 all the time, do you pop it right into D4 from morning start? I always wait until the cars warmed up..then i put it in D4..hehe...i'm weird. yes i know..

 

I discovered long ago that D5 sucks on the street. The revs are always too low and any power is at least two gears away. The car is much more drivable in D4. I never shifted my manuals into top gear on the street, so why should I let my auto? Especially when its as tall as our 5th.

 

For what it's worth, when the car is coasting it doesn't matter what gear it's in because there's no load on the engine so it can't lug. In fact, when you remove your foot from the gas pedal (coasting down from speed) current is cut off from the fuel injectors.

If you coast down from speed to 35mph and even feather touch the gas, it'll downshift. If not, something's wrong with the car.

Lastly, I wasn't shooting the messenger or ripping you in any way. Just sharing another idea.

 

I agree with the Acura service tech and noticed this lugging myself with my 2002TL when tooling around town in automatic mode. I was actually quite surprised by it for the first week or so that i got my car. There is not anything wrong with my tranny about this condition, it is most certainly a computer shifting design flaw - trying to maximize fuel economy, but in situations where the low revs are almost inappropriate.

For that reason alone, I found myself almost always use the sportshift and i tend the keep the rpms up higher, like 2500-3000, when driving around at lower speeds on single lane roads or in town (basically anywhere other than the highway) using mostly 3rd and then going to 4th. Running with the slightly higher RPMs will give you even more kick in the pants faster when you want a little extra burst of power, while at the same time its certainly not overreving it at those relatively low RPMs. (BTW, just for info purposes, I think maximum torque and HP is acheived in the TL-P at around 4500-5000 RPM.)

 

I like what you said, and how you stated it. Thank you so much for your Thread.

Mike Smeezy


Anthracite 2003 TL
Rear Deck Spoiler
H&R Sport Springs
35% Full Tint
3” Exhaust Tips

 

I almost always keep mine in sport shift and while it's not like a manual, I do sorta feel when I need to be shifting, it doesn't get to 5th unless I want it to or am going to be crusing at a steady higher speed, and so on...inbetween work and home I rarely leave 2nd gear (I work like 2miles from home and there's like 10 lights)...


NovaWhiteTypeS, PM man, haven't seen you on in ages!!

 

Vffr1, just digressing for a second off the initial topic, i see you have the HR springs. Which drop did you go with, and how is the ride with them. I dont want things to get to harsh over bumps, tar strips in the road, etc....?

 

I tried to make a link, but couldn't get it to work, try a search under in TL Discussion: "My H&R Springs Went on Today - My Notes" hosted by yours truly.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Mike Smeezy