effen5

I own a 2003 TL and just recently, maybe 2 days ago, one of the dash board lights came on. It was the malfunction light. I looked at the manual and it said to check the gas cap...which I did and light still hasn't turned off.

Today, on the highway, when I was about to switch lines, I hit the gas and the car jerked like how a car would jerk in a manual shifting from 4 to 2. Then every time I hit the gas remotely hard, the car jerks hard. The RPMS also started to become erratic today while driving.

Any ideas? If this cost more then 1k to fix, Im going to get rid of the TL.

Thanks in advance

totaledTL

Malfunction light- check engine light?
Sounds like the transm. is slipping. Read the code(s) and report back.

effen5

Will do, Ill get it checked tomorrow.

I am actually afraid to drive it right now.

fsttyms1

Does the RPM bounce while in park?

Aman

Maybe the torque converter?

Whatever it is, it doesn't sound cheap. What's your transmission fluid look like?

01tl4tl

explain how the rpm became erratic while driving-
was it
rpm increase with gas pedal not giving back increase in forward motion-clutches slipping in trans
Or
rpm needle bounces while driving under steady throttle
OR
actual rpm surged or changed while under constant throttle
Or
only have problem under hard-3/4 or more throttle?

Is it guage error or engine rpm change?

might not be trans- there are other things in play, could be a sensor

ck the trans dipstick for burnt sugar type smell and dark color

effen5

I have no idea, but last time I got my oil changed about a month ago, the guy recommended me to get my transmission fluid flushed?

If it doesn't sound cheap...good bye TL
Nothing but problems since I've had it.

effen5

First bold, when I increase RPM with gas pedal, you can feel the car jerk back hard like how you would feel driving in a stick shifting from 4 to 2.

Second bold, when driving under constant throttle, randomly, you can see the needle and the rpm surge which makes the car jerk.

I feel there is something wrong with the tran and not the guage. I was hoping it was something easy like a vaccuum leak from the cai but i hardly doubt that.

effen5

It does not, its perfectly fine in park.

01tl4tl

ck your vac lines and vac boosted motor mounts to be sure
get codes read
dont want to be the bearer of bad news,,
so it may only be a wire bad--that happened on a ziner car recently when we thought bad trans

and it was rats ate the wiring under the car!!

effen5

It blows my mind that a few wires can make my car jerk like crazy

01tl4tl

if the wires go to a controller for shifting...

but your symptoms and a tech suggesting a fluid change point towards the typical failure

an 03- are you covered VIN on the trans warranty extension?
not sure call acura 1 800 382 2238 x5
If covered get to dealer ASAP
GO IN PERSON and speak with service MANAGER - tell them car is non driveable and request first avail appt with the trans tech

you can try that with the phone girl, but they just look for the next space in the book without regard to your needs and the correct tech having time to inspect and diagnose.
Manager has certain techs that are the diagnosers

01tl4tl

how many miles ?

sbuswell

Sounds like your tranny is going south and it will get much worse quickly. What DTC's is your car throwing?

effen5

Sorry for the late replies guys, it looks like it was a pressure switch that went bad.

01tl4tl

sweeeeet!!! that beats a new trans any day!!

been a few of those go out recently
we should make a list on new failure reports as the cars age

MadAzzy

Mine does, just started. What should I be checking?? I have had the trans replaced via the recall.

01tl4tl

you didnt get trans replaced under recall UNLESS they found severe heat damage to specific parts on borscope camera exam inside trans- then they replaced trans

Everyone else got an external oil jet kit installed into the normal filler hole on top of trans
Ck to see if warranty trans: look at bolts on trans- blue paint on bolt heads = acura warranty unit

On top of trans- small line going to oil rig looking device going into large hole on top of trans,,the assembly held on by 1 small bolt to the side--thats a recall kit installed, not a replaced trans

Note: replaced trans after early 2005 have that kit moved internal to the trans case

axelski

Just wanted to make a note about auto transmission fluid--bad fluid (dark, burnt) is never the cause, but the symtom of a tranny problem. You can't replace much more than half of the fluid in a tranny which uses a torque converter (holds almost half the fluid), and every tranny rebuilder I spoke to said that power flushes risk blowing particles into places they wouldn't get (delicate valves etc.); thereby wrecking the tranny. They all said that the power flush is a really bad idea. "Let sleeping dogs ly"

Marcia644

Yes mine does and also when slowing down it feels like a pop in the car sometimes check engine goes on and it feels like I'm breaking when I'm not just lift foot from gas pedal

01tl4tl

axel- you are correct that power flush is super bad for the TL,
FORBIDDEN!!!! would be a good description, and most machines use the specific fluid- dextron3- that kills our trans

Yes the TC does hold about half the capacity of trans fluid, and it can be moved thru there and to the drain using Hondas 3x3 method , see owner book or diy on here

You drain and refill trans 3 qts, drive 5 minutes using each gear up and down, max speed 35mph, then back on the ramps to drain and replace another 3 qts
do this 3 or 4 times and all fresh fluid will come out the drain!

01tl4tl

Marcia welcome to the forum
Stop by a parts store for a free code reading- A CEL will store codes that may be false but point us in the right direction
Codes are clues not a diagnosis in themselves

Please describe your symptoms, time its been doing it, any trans or engine maintenance done or overdue, car year and miles on it,
How does the trans fluid look and smell? is the level between the 2 dots as specified in owner book?
if trans was replaced by Honda before = blue paint on bolt heads for things attached to trans and trans main mounting bolts to engine..blue paint is really easy to spot, tells us the trans is newer that total miles suggest

Chrlie-wrk

Was this a big problem? Expensive ?

Karanx7

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