I tested out a 2004 automatic TL at a dealer for a few kms (I'm Canadian) and it seems to rev at around 3500 at 60km/h, which is way more than my Honda Accord. Is this normal? If not, what could be broken? Full history was disclosed to me, and it only seem to have some minor cosmetic damages that were fixed. It was almost empty on the fuel if that has anything to do with it... thanks in advance.

 

From my experience my 07 TL-S sits around 2.5k RPM at 75MPH.

 

So what could be the problem then?

 

60 km/h is what..... 25-30 MPH in US terms?

If you had it at a steady 60 km/h and had it on cruise control than it shouldn't be at 3500RPMs, more like 1500-2000RPM.

 

You were probably in 3rd gear. It won't shift from 3 to 4 under heavy or even moderate acceleration, or while climbing an incline.

 

Did you have it in D (Drive) or Sport mode (Manual). The 60km/h is equivalent to 38 mph at 3500 RPM in SECOND gear. I believe that the AT will shift automacially from 1st to 2nd when in Sport mode, but will then stay in 2nd, so take a test drive with the selector in D.

 

It was the first time for me driving this car, I'm pretty sure I put it on D although there seems to be a manual mode... I didn't pay attention to the gear it was on, but I will try again tomorrow... However, otherwise what could cause high reving? Engine problems?

 

No explanation, just that it was in a lower gear.

 

OP the car is in lower gear because up hill climb or at low speed, your transmission won't shift into next gear until your car get up to certain speed.

 

I put the car in l when I first test drove it.
Caused the same issue. I would put it in sports mode and make sure you see the gears change past 5th.

Light throttle you will hit second gear at 16km
get into 3rd at 32
4th at 48
5th at 64

On a level road you should be able to get into each gear at those speeds
If not, the sensors for the AT may need to be swapped.

Are you able to get to 100km on the highway or do the rpms continue to rise?
Last person that I saw stuck in 3rd had a cracked ATF sensor

 

Gears not fears lol

 

Corrected......

 

Change the transmission fluid and pressure switches and it will be golden.

 

That certainly won't have any effect on the RPM's if it's in the incorrect gear.

 

The rpm it shifts at is completely dependent on how much throttle you're giving it. More throttle and it shifts at a higher rpm. If it's fully warm, it will shift around 2,500rpm at light throttle and easily 3k+ at moderate throttle. If the engine was still cold when you test drove it, it will hold the gears a little longer.

At 80mph rpms should be around 2,300-2,400 with it in 5th gear and the TCC locked.

 

If it's in the wrong gear but in D it would
The sensors are there to tell it when its time to enter a higher gear.
Even driving in SS mode, if it does not sense it's ok to be in 4th... It wont
This is more the sensors than the ATF, ATF would only help if the oil is black and contaminated. I would suggest it to allow looking at the magnet in the transmission plug and see what is on there. Luckily mine had nothing out of the ordinary for being it's first swap after 70k. I'm the 3rd owner

 

Replacing the switches did make a small difference in the shift points. Whether that was perception due to more positive shifts or whether the switches influence shift points I don't know. If they have an influence it would be minimal but it's definitely possible. Before replacement it felt like it would hang out in 3rd for a while before lazily shifting to 4th.

 

Thanks guys, but I didn't experience any problems today while driving. I bought the car as I absolutely need one by next week due to work. It does seem to have a strage light whisper like noise when it hits around 120kph (I think that's 75mph)....

 

Hopefully it came with all the service records...
Mine did not, so I had to assume not done right

Luckily I went under that assumption, love the way it drives now
Nothing like 0-70 before it hits third...
Would like to know what 0-70 is like in the 6MT

 

Locate a preowned M/T and take it for a ride.

 

The manual keeps pulling pretty well when it hits third, proportional to speed anyway. The auto hits a wall.I don't race the TL except for the very occasional redlight race, maybe once a year but when I've raced an auto TL, just shifting 3-4 manually and winding out another 500rpm is worth 1 carlength to the other driver that lets it shift itself. It's a matter of who can hit the wall last lol.

 

just dont get an 04 unless its manual...those transmissions suck

 

Yep, those had the same gear lube issues as the 2nd gen. As long as the oil jet kit was installed early on, they have the potential to be fairly reliable but it's best to stay away if you can. This is a completely different issue than the normal shuddering and 3rd gear clutch pack failures. Unfortunately it's really scared some owners by locking up on the freeway, imo much worse than a normal failure that just leaves you stranded.

 

I have not hit this 4th gear wall yet... I normally pull back after I hit 100
What speed is this so call wall occur? Right after shifting from 3rd to 4th?