so i picked up my taffetta white 2002 Acura TL Type S from the original owner 2 weeks ago fully loaded - navigation - body Kit.

The dashboard rattles!!!
Oh so much wind noise heard from the cabin - no different then a civic
The leather has ripples & is very thin.
Transmission shifts rough at low speeds (replaced at dealer 20k ago)
CD gets stuck in the CD changer! (recently replaced at dealer)

I really un-happy with the quality of this vehicle... i expected so much more for a car thats sits in the same playing field as a E-class GS300 E39 ect. I just feel the quality of this vehicle is far less superior then what Acura used to be. I can compared b/c I have owned more then a dozen cars in the past including legends, integra, 2 NSX, 528i e39, 328i e36, accords, civics, preludes, ect.

Since I paid taxes and tags on the vehicle already I'll stick with it for a year.... sigh. oh & btw my friend has a 04 TL and her dashboard rattles.

any comments?

 

Sucks to be you??

 

do you have a sunroof wind deflector. cause i can't hear any noise in my car...

rattles are a part of life but i have like one. i guess you got a lemon get your money back

 

Did you test drive the car before buying? If not, I agree w/ what Pure Adrenaline said.

 

Didnt you test drive the car before buying? all of this should have been seen at that point.

Bring it to the dealer and have the stuff fixed

 

I think the wind noise might be just a tad better than a civic.

 

ok yeah the noise is better then a civic but in the 02 TL there is still a lot of wind noise that can be heard inside the cabin compared to my current 97 528i. I also noticed the windows are thicking in the bmw... maybe i'm expecting to much.

I was ready for transmission issues. But the dashboard rattles is not justifiable and the leather is satifisfactory... not excellent.

oh i do have sunroof wind deflector... i might give the car to my mother.

 

Unfortunately, that's one of the risks of buying used cars. You don't know what the car's been through before.

 

My 03 TL that I picked up about 2 weeks ago has been great. I do hear the dashboard occasionally creaking, but nothing too crazy. Wind noise isn't bad - no tranny issue (knock on wood).

Compared to the problems I had with my Piece of S**T BMW that I had before this car, This car is a DREAM...

Deep

 

Maybe I am wrong but Acura goes down hill a bit so does BMW and MB in quality department, nowadays, it is hard to find a car that lasts forever. So, I guess everybody is in the same boat. At least, I think Acura is more reliable than BMW and MB. Or at least, they (Acura) "truly" stand behind their products.

 

Not to be a Dick but if its that anoying BRING THE CAR IN TO GET FIXED. its not supposed to rattle. Mine doesnt make a peep even after 196k.

 

Kris, beside your transmission, I think you have one of the best 2nd gen TL in term of quality and gas mileage.

 

I'm sorry if I sound little harsh on you but why did you buy the car if you know the leather has ripples and is very thin, transmission shifts rough at low speeds, wind noise, and CD gets stuck in the CD changer? On top of that, did you do the test drive before you buy because it seems that you did not know those problems before hand. Even with a brand new car, test drive is a must. Obvisously you must like the car enough to buy it even those problems exist, so like other said, bring to the dealer for rattles fix, replace the CD changer if CD still get stuck in the CD changer and try to love the car until you decide to sell. Good luck and have fun with your new ride.

 

Wow, think you got a bad car or something cause my car has no problems like you are naming...mine is older and more miles ......I like the TL .....u should go ahead and get a 2006 M5 or E55 ...those dashes don't rattle I heard. Good luck

 

Could be

 

With so many '02 tl's available (I have 6 on my lot), you should have been able to find a rattle free example with a working cd player.
Other than an occasional motor mount or a warped rottor, all of the tl's I have seen reciently just need some fresh fluids, a detailing, and they run like new. None of the annoyances you are talking about.

 

I bought my car at the end of summer and it is still silent,rattle free. I did have trouble with the cd/radio not accepting any cd at all but after 3 tries it is fix, except they had to take my wood face and give me a plastics, something about thw wood being too thick.

but all in all, I am very happy with the car, like other, i think you just got a bad one,bring it in and get it fix. I brought mines in and they never gave me a hard time about the radio/cd. Just go to a good acura dealership. Ask here for and see if anyone around your area recommend any particular dealership.

 

I did test drive the vehicle... come'on. Its just after two weeks of ownership you pick out things you don't like.

Ok maybe I'm being picky and don't want to spend the extra money to fix the dashboard rattle because of the labor involved and it might get worst afterwards.

In general i'm sure its a reliable vehicle with the normal clitches that any car would have. But from my general perspective or opinion - however you want to put it.... it will be hard for me to reconsider another TL purchase..... but i still am in love with my old NSX.

maybe i'll trade it in for a 6 speed TL... at least i got one less problem to worry about :-)

 

So what makes the dashboard rattle? I bought my TL in September and i absolutly love it even though it has the rattles and other noises.

 

My TL is a piece of crap, the gas tank keeps getting low and the bulb in the clock died and I had to get the oil changed. piece of crap.

 

they made taffeta white in 02 for the type s? i guess you do learn something new everyday.

 

oh what is the white for 2002? did i just pick up the wrong touch up paint?

 

white diamond pearl.

 

The only way the dashboard could be rattlin is when u launch on wet surfaces, like "bam bam bam bam" and then stop. The noise, mine is quiet w all the windows up.... Compared to my truck a 00 Mountaineer, that was loud, maybe cuz i think i needed to change the driver side weather stripping. My CD player they get stuck sometimes, all u have to do is put another CD in to move it a lil bit, then it comes out. The gas mileage, i think is sucky...... I dunno why, I think i need some new plugs or something.... The seats ripple due to sitting too long w/a boney ass, same with the passenger side.... And the tranny, not sure make sure its fully warm, and das about it...


I don't have that many complaints wid my 02 Type-s... OTher than wut i sed....

I think the gas goes fast because the gauge doesnt really mean that ure usin the full 17 gallons.... Cuz when fill up from when the light is on.. It only takes 14 gallons.... So that means the reserve is about 3 gallons....

 

The only complaint i have is i wish i bought a type S

 

My 99 model has 147,000 with original transmission and doesn't have a single rattle. Best car i ever bought.

 

There is no 6-speed TL, unless you have it custom made which = $$$$$$

 

yes there is. 04 and up have an optional 6 speed my friend.


and to the poster, it should be White Diamond Pearl i believe. i'm almost positive there is no TW for the type S.

 

Bought a used one about a month ago. Mine is an '02 with about 60k on it at the time of purchase.

Worked for Honda in Marysville, OH for about 4 years in Engineering and I know that you cant find better cars. The problem is that there are several known issues that I did not know about with the second generation TL S Types.

Honda / Acura extended the transmission warranty out to 7 years, I assume due to issues with it not being reliable. I have only seen small issues with mine not wanting to shift in to overdrive sometimes. Hasn't been a big deal though. I Did not notice this on the test drive, and I was very particular.

I am also asking some of my contacts about Honda issuing a bulletin on the Bose CD / Tape decks in the S-Type. There are many posts on this site about problems with the CD players not ejecting CD's. Again something I tested, but it did not act up until later. Others have taken the systems back for repair or replacement, but most seem to opt for putting another Alpine system in to take its place. My tape and CD player will not eject.

Dont know about the rattles and wind noise, my TL has been very reliable in that arena. Doesnt take much to get noise. Need to take it in and have the seals and trim checked to see if it is curling up. Sounds like stuff that can be fixed. Your tranny is probalby still under this extended warranty too. Found this info on CarFax. I would check out your VIN on this website to get your cars history.

 

well my dashboard rattles whenever you hit a bump on the road... it happens so frequently i want to pull out my hair... i'll get it fixed somehow when i have time.

 

In my experience most of my car rattles ended up actually coming from the rubber sealers on the windows/sunroof/doors. I put some Finish 2001 on the rubber strips inside and out every once in a while and have a squeek/rattle free car.

I agree with the above - except for the transmission - this is the best car I've ever owned.

BTW - I have an '02 TL-S (and yes - it's WDP - not tafetta white)

 

quick fix for rattles. Turn on your radio and listen to some music.

I also had a CD not able to eject fully. It was a burnt cd that I guess my buddy had put too thick of a lable on. Didn't look any differnt than a regular CD but I gues sit was too much for this system to handle. I had to take some tweezers and get it out. Other than that, I wish late models like my 03 would play mp3's and burnt cd's thats rediculous that it doesnt in 03. But other than that, would you rather have a bmw or mercedes that can't go a month without an electrical or reliablity issue, or would u rather have a Honda that may have a little rattle here and there that like I said, just turn on some music and it's gone.