Ok, I've had my Acura for 7 years now. It's a 1999 my mother in law purchased new in 1999 and gave to me in '07.

Well I drive hard and the Acura has a few known issues, but all in all it's been a great car.

Well the thank you is because every issue I have had with this car I have found the solution here. Quickly and accurately. And in some cases with a DIY.

I've replaced ignition coils, cleaned the EGR passage (5 times), Replaced the radiator and both fans, master control relay, ignition switch and all of the routine maintenance. I always read here before I do anything with this car.

Next I'm going to replace the struts/shocks and springs. Then if it rides a lot better I'm going to get it painted.

But again, thank you all for the forums and the help over the years.

 

careful with the strut spring combo. some new gas stuts wont need new springs too- it will ride like a tank
ck suspension section for ideas on stock to radical

 

Hey UNCatTech, how many miles are on your TL now ?
If you're getting a harsh ride, make sure that ya check all the other suspension components for wear. Things like worn end links and bushings can also cause poor ride quality. If you're sticking with the stock springs and height, just try get a better brand of replacement shocks for replacing the old ones with.

 

Normal maintenance on a car; brakes, oil change, regular intervals for fluid changes and running premium fuel can extend the life of your car considerably.

 

^^^ Yeah, for sure.....but it's surprising how many people feel as though they only need to do minimal PM the first 100K. Once the big ticket items such as T-belt servicing come due, those folks get cold feet. Same thing with tires, brakes, exhaust, suspension, cooling & tranny fluid require attention and money. Got a "CEL"....get a new car !!! Dealer service has the bait & hook set up with a net to catch the runaways who don't get reeled in.

 

220K miles.

I paid to have the struts replaced 2 years ago. I don't believe they were a good quality strut because after about a year the ride started to deteriorate now it rides like it's directly on the ground.

 

My TL was purchased by my MIL. She does every recommended service, with the dealer, on the recommended schedule. When she gave me the car she gave me a stack 3 inches high of receipts for all of the service.

Since then I do all of the service, I just do most of it myself. I do pay for some things just because of the time involved.

My car ran great on the drive to work today. It runs good, that's why I'm considering rebuilding the suspension and painting it. Anyone know where I could purchase a suspension rebuild kit?

 

I feel the same way about the resources in these forums!

Pull a wheel off and look closely at all the joints and little rubber pieces. EVERY one of those needs to be changed to restore your ride quality to new. Don't expect struts to cure worn rubber bushings. Have an expert determine if you really need struts. (unless you can see lots of strut seepage -- small amount is OK...)

At your 220k miles I suggest prioritizing safety and reliabilty.

 

for reference: our mega moderator fsttyms1 has over 600,000 MILES on his 00 TL
it sports several cool mods, a different motor and trans, and sees the race track for some full throttle fun in addition to its obvious use on the street to get those miles~
also has an amazing amount of original parts on it
he seems to hold the record for parts longevity!
preventive maintenance and a good ck of all the rubber bits keeps our baby going and going