redren

My Acura is TSX 2010. Not it has about 20,000 miles. The car has the followings and wondering if those indicate a problem:

1) On a even road, speed starts from zero and steadily increases to 40 mph, then keep the speed. I find the engine keeps 2000 RPM, which is relatively high I think;

2) On above 1) situation, force it to shift to a high gear using the manual peddle, and it shows it shifts to the 5th gear from the 4th, then the RPM jumps back to about 1500 RPM, and speed keeps the same, e.g. 40 mph;

3) Or from condition 1) above, accelerate to about 45 mph, and find the RPM suddenly jumps back to about 1500 RPM.

My questions are:

a) Is it normal that 40 mph keeps 2000 RPM? Is this RPM too high?
b) If it is not normal, does it indicate the transmission has problems shifting form the 4th gear to the 5th?
c) If above is not normal, any other possible reasons? Should I visit dealer?

Thank you ahead!

TSXV6Guy

I can't answer your question (a) [i have the V6 so different RPM value compared to the L4]. I think that what you describe is the lock-up torque converter that is engaging / disengaging depending on the load on the engine/transmission. So i think it's normal.

wvtriple

Somebody please correct me if my thinking here is askew. Our transmissions are made to adapt to our styling of driving to a certain degree. My typical driving style is fairly spirited, not WOT every time I leave from a stop, but I do like the sound of our motors when they start to wind up. Anyway I have had moments when I lift off the throttle, but the transmission holds gear thinking I will be rolling longer on the gas, when in fact I'm not. This could be what your car could be exhibiting.

redren

Thanks. Mine is 4 cylinder, AT. The car also has another situation I just suspect they are related:

When accelerate a little aggressively such as when trying to merge onto the free way from a upward ramp, the car makes a high pitch squeal noise for few seconds (RPM range typically 2500~3000). It sounds the car is crying: do not push me so hard, I have reached the limit...

Does anyone any ideas about that? Thanks.

T-jay

The car has a function called i believe its called grade control. It keeps The car moving steadily on flat surfaces and throttles it down going downhill. Also The drive by wire system is constantly trying to learn so if you drive different everday its get a lil retarded. Sprint booster should fix that and The delay. What your feeling is totally normal. Ots more of a hesitation when you floor it and The car revs up but debates going. Mines actually shifts a lot better since i removed The secondary cat. Wierd!

PyroDave

i hope this kinda helps, sorry hard to record and drive through ezpass http://s1136.photobucket.com/albums/...nt=RPMat40.mp4

sorry for it being sideways, i forgot my phone was locked in portrait mode =/

TSXy Luster

when you use the paddle shifters while in "D" mode, the car will automatically override it a second later to go back to "D" mode. It will not 'hold' the gear you manually shifted into.

The paddle shifters work like they are meant to only in "S" mode.

Novichek

Your transmission is fine - absolutely no problems. 40mph is too low for 5th gear in most conditions so it stays in 4th. It's actually better for the engine and transmission. I noticed it would usually shift up to 5th at about 45mph if accelerating gently. I think, if anything it's too early, but it's probably trying to save gas by shifting up as early as possible.

Simba91102

I completley agree with this, plus I'd like to add that emissions concerns are at work here also. A happy enigine is a clean engine....