Whizzbomb

Hello,

I have an 03 TLS outside of the VIN range for the ext trans warrenty. I've been noticing something that's very odd and I never seen anything even close to it on here.

When going from 0-30 in the city there is a "slipping" sensation when the engine is moving from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd. I don't that for sure but looking at RPMs that seems to make the most sense. If can be both felt and heard but only if you know to pay attention to it. No passenger has felt or heard it before I said something.

The only way I can think of to describe it is as to get to the point where you'd go into the next gear you can feel/hear the engine trying, but failing to get in. It feels kind of like a stutter, like the engine starts to catch but then misses. It sounds like the excelerator is being pressed while in neutral.

I know this is a rather vague description but it's the best I can do. Any thoughts of suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Joe

fla-tls

What's the condition of the fluid?

Are there any lights on - on the dash?

Whizzbomb

Sorry, meant to mention that. There are no dash lights on at all. I drained and flushed my tranny fluid at 30k miles and am at about 44k now. I've done all routine maint.

Thanks!

Joe

MOBB

Is it like a stuttering motion feel? If so other members have it, I really wouldnt blame it on the tranny., some say its the torque convertor actine up in low RPMS not knowing what to do.

phipark

where do you think the torque converter is?

Whizzbomb

That's exactly right. "Stuttering motion" is the best way so far I've heard to describe what it feels and sounds like.

Thanks!

Joe

MOBB

Alrigt don't jump to conclusions and think its the tranny. I have this motion too it always happens around 2k RPM's from accelerating from stop signs. it's not a tranny problem i really don't know what it could be but have a mechanic check it out.

Whizzbomb

This is really what I'm trying to figure out. I know we can have tranny issues so I'm always on the look out for anything out of the ordinary. I'm trying to avoid getting worked up about something that just "is" for a 3 year old car. At the same time if something does happen with the tranny I want to get it looked at before I end up stranded somewhere.

Thanks again and keep it coming!

Joe

blk2001tlon19s

What dearler do you use, Chevy Chase, Rosenthal, Pohanka or Karen Radley? The one issue I had with the transmission I took to Tischer and they looked at it(was leaking from one of the seals). I don't think there is a change for checking it out or at least I wasn't charged. I would take it too the dealer.

Whizzbomb

I use Rosenthal and have nothing but good things to say about them. I just want to be sure before I take it that I'm not being overprotective...

Thanks,

Joe

blk2001tlon19s

They should be ok. I purchased my car from Rosenthal however only services I got done from them was oil changes and I don't have anything bad to say about that. Good luck and hopefully you don't have any transmission issues.

fla-tls

Mine shuttered on the 1->2 shift until I switched to Amsoil. With the Amsoil fluid it shifts a little more firmly - with no more 1->2 shudder.

dwboston

It's the torque converter. Same thing happens on my TL-S at the same RPM's and speed.

fla-tls

It's not the torque converter. Nothing he described could be caused by that.

phipark

My car did the same thing, then the CEL came on for a failed torque converter.

If not, it could be the axles or cv joints.

fsttyms1

On all of my failures that is the way it started out was a slight slipping feeling between teh 1-2 and 2-3 shifts

fsttyms1

no doubtfull, they wouldnt make a slipping clutch feeling, and wouldnt only do it in the low gears. You would hear them making noise

tim'sTLS

Does it happen in ss(tip tronic) as well?

phipark

Well, considering it's still the same tranny, it's not going to matter.

Whizzbomb

I actually never drive in SS. Good question. I'll check and let you know.

Thanks,

Joe

fsttyms1

shouldnt matter. SS is just a manual control of the automatic shifting. it shifts the same gears

AMGala

iTrader: (4)

I'm also experiencing the same silpping. I figure it's my tranny, especially since my bro had my car for a while and probably drove the shit out of it even though I told him it has a weak tranny...

Whizzbomb

I found it was easier to replicate the stuttering in SS. It was also much more pronounced when the poor engine had to rely on me to shift gears. I'm taking it in on Monday. Let's hope it doesn't explode before then.

Thanks again everyone...

Joe

importvizion

My car was slipping from 2nd to 3rd too, kiss your tranny goodbye, I just got my car outta the dealer, they cut that plastic piece that goes on top of hte headlights, dunno wut the hell that was all about I'll go back and say WTF happened next week. The car doesn't slip anymore they also replaced my broken motor mount because it was under warranty, it also looks like they had fun trying to get the radio code to get my radio and NAV working

Whizzbomb

So I had my appt at the dealer today. The tranny has to be replaced. RIP at 44,972. They said it should take about a week including shipping and the actual work. I'm just glad I could get it done before the warrentee was up. I'm outside of the VIN range for the extended warentee.

*sigh*

Thanks,

Joe

UTacuraTL

My car has been acting funny over the past few weeks and I am not sure if I am just being paranoid. I had the tranny replaced in my 2000 TL a few months before the supposed new trannies were released Feb. of last year.

So I called the service manager at David McDavid in Austin and he said for me to bring my car in and he would have a mechanic take the car out for a drive and determine if it is bound for "failure". Is that normally how they determine the tranny is going to die, or do they hook it up to some machine?

jperdoch

you can always buy an extended warrenty to cover you for another 50,000 miles - might be worth it...