Acuraboy7

It seems to me that sometimes when I'm coming to a stop the car pulls down a little, like a bit of a hard downshift. I asked the dealer and they said it maybe the program and can be corrected, but they want to wait till I have at least 1,500 miles on the car first...i'm only at 800. But wondering if any of you have noticed the same problem.

boxstock

I've noticed this in my 07 also.

boxstock

Desert_TL

I'm pretty sure this is a common observation among all of the 3G model year cars. My collegues and I theorize that the car downshifts when slowing down in order to anticipate the possibility of the light turning green (for example) and the driver accelerating. If the car has already downshifted, then there isn't a delay in response if you mash on the accelerator after the light turns green if you're coasting up to a red light.

weedeater

My '06 does this going down hill when more or less coasting, maybe also light braking.

mike1988

happens to my 06 tl when i drive it cold.

Maryland Mike

Happens to me when going downhill and not giving it gas.

JPA3

I noticed it as well. Not bothersome to me.

datboyali

yes, even with my type S... n this is not only with braking but also when letting go of the accelerator, when decreasing speed, coming to a lower gear it jerks a lil..

rshanahan

I have had it happen about 5 time in 3k miles. It's consistant at 20mph downshift while coasting to a stop/light/car in front of you. It kind of sounds like it starts to shift, changes it's mine, but then shifts anyway. Hasn't done it in a while so maybe it IS a break-in sort of thing. Most of my driving is highway, btw.

I have a non-S (2007 AT).

Rick

groovyone789

it happens with mine. although when that has happened i would either throw it into neutral or give it a little more gas. I might have trained the car, or its part of the breaking in. Cuz..... it's happened a lot less recently but it's still there.

ps I have 2900 miles on the car

Knockz

Happens on my 05. Scared me at first.. but use to it now. I think it happens mainly when going downhill and breaking.

Acuraboy7

Its suppost to do it on hills thats what the dealer told me, they said that sometimes the car gets confused and can be corrected by hooking it up to the computer. cuz at times it wants to do it when you are not going down hill, like coming up to a light like most of you have noticed.

Acuraboy7

Yeah thats what mine sometimes does, my 05 never did this at all.

TypeS Racer

Mine feels like it shifts harder after I installed my short ram air intake. same for anyone?

cbbutlercm

My Type S does this same thing but it’s perfectly normal. To get similar performance as you would in the 6spd manual, Acura reprogrammed the computer to down shift sooner and firmer while braking in order to hold the right gear for aggressive corner entry and exit. The systems at work are electronic brake distribution and two shift algorithms, one to help slow the vehicle going down steep hills and the other for accelerating through curves without gear hunting. To utilize these systems I found myself a safe location with both a hairpin and decreasing radius curve and left the car in “D”, I entered the corner at a brisk pace then applied moderate braking the car down shifted twice just before I got back on the gas and powered through the apex in second gear from 4k rpm. For anyone reading this post, this doesn’t mean go and kill yourself testing out this maneuver, I had lots of room for run off space in case of emergency and by moderate braking I don’t mean as hard as you can. I am also not responsible for what you do after reading this post.

Hardtimes

youmust bea lawyer.. LOL. J/K

mine does it too. but i kinda like it. i have 1200 miles

cbbutlercm

LOL... not a lawyer just a marine with insomnia. I too love the new shift program, makes me not miss a manual as much...

Acuraboy7

Cbbutlercm we have the same TL, you have good taste...lol

cbbutlercm

Thanks! It was the only color on the lot for me as far as im concerned (although all TLs are beautiful).

Acuraboy7

what color did you have before

cbbutlercm

This is my first TL but i test drove every color on the lot and the only one that looked like something i would pay 40k for was the CBP. I had a black 1996 Impala SS that was wrecked before i got the TLS.

MGD3

Its good to read this. I bought a few weeks ago a 2007 Acura TL, (my dream car )

I TOO noticed this hard downshift. I didn't understand it. I drove my 1997 Nissan Maxima my entire life and it died. So I thought this transmission on this car was broken. I thought OH NO I BOUGHT A LEMON!

But I switched it over to Manual when I was about to brake and noticed its down shifting hard from 5 to 4 etc... I dont like it though. I feel like my passengers are getting whip lash. I like smooth braking. I wish I could stop it. Its my only beef.

VQPower37

good job searching mgd3 ... personally i have noticed this happens with the front of the car sloped downwards due to the grade logic system

RedCap-S

this also happends whit my 2008 tl-s AT its not that hard in my case tho

bonnhew

same problem here with my TL-S ... previously i was driving a 2000 nissan maxima AT (125k miles)and it shifts up and down silky smooth... i was really scared when i got the TL-S which still has only 40k miles on it..
good to know its normal..lol

TheChamp531

iTrader: (3)

Sensors or GM Sync.

ParaSurfer1979

My Non-Type-S does this. I found it odd when I first bought the car back in June when I got the car that I called my Acura dealer where I purchased it and they explained that the cars RL tranny does this and that it was normal. I'm gonna have them take a look at it with me. They take care of me since this is my 10th car from them since 98 . They're also gonna switch my tranny fluid to redline when i bring it by also. That said, my moms 06 TL back when she had it did not do this when I drove it. It feels as if someone with no skills rev-matched wrong haha.

Hacura

It's only slightly jerky upon a cold start but other than that, I think it's badass the way it slows you down up to a light or stop sign. Feels like I'm in a true sports car...lol

edit: Don't forget to change to a better tranny fluid with new switches. Check the threads on Redline Racing Type-F. This is one of those noticeable differences.

08WDPTL

I've noticed my 08 base TL has the same hard downshifting. I've gotten used to it, but it is a little annoying at times.

Has anyone been able to get the ECU reprogrammed by the dealership?

ZLTFUL

Happens on my 07...noticeable but never a nuisance to me. Just helps me drive a bit more agressively!

jkuzmick

I just purchased a like-new '08 TL Type S and noticed this as well. I love the drive of the car with the exception of the harsh downshifting. I apologize up front for not knowing much about the inner workings of transmissions, but are there negative impacts of having the ECU reprogrammed to lessen the jerkiness of the downshifting. If not, does anyone know if the dealer will do this and/or how much it would cost?

Thanks!

ParaSurfer1979

Short answer is no. The ECU isn't the real issue in the 1st place. It's the fluid. Changing to Redline ATF is the best fluid. It actually keeps the firmness but it shift's quicker but isn't done in a harsh nature. Honda also just switched to a new fluid but I have no heard any feedback from anyone here about it. I hope this helps.

LoveMyTL-S

The downshift is normal, even though it's a bit hard.

LessisBestmakingendsmeet

Yes it is normal. Have you thought about upgrading the tranny fluid?

~Lefty~

iTrader: (1)

Actually I complained about this to my dealer, and they went ahead and reprogrammed the transmission under warranty. They said there was a software update for it. Fixed my problem with the hard downshifts. I also changed the fluid a few days later.

ParaSurfer1979

Awesome information bro... Thank you for sharing. I'll add this to my issues list to go over with my dealer when i'm off bedrest .

1islandparadise

Yes mine was the same and it was very noticeable after I installed my atlps. The drone was pretty loud so it made for a lot more noticeable downshift.

jkuzmick

Yes! Good to know, thanks!

jkuzmick

Another quick question on this... did your dealer charge you a "diagnostic fee" for this? I feel like everytime I have had my cars into my local Acura they charge a diagnostic fee. I swear, I think they'd charge one for changing a flat tire.

skippyTL

My 04 does it too... Going downhill, under moderate braking - Usually when doing a quick slow down on an exit ramp or the like.