Hey everyone,

I just bought a 2007 TL replacing my 06 Civic EX-L with nav got rear ended

I am using my TL as a daily driver but I still don't like to keep my cars stock. I want to leave most of the big performance mods to my my other car.

TL has 116K on her, what mods would people recommend for a daily driver?

Thanks for any advice!

 

you need to have goals.
we dont know what your goals are for the TL.

since you sound like you mod your other cars, its the same process. start with things that need improvement...

sun heating up your interior? get tint.
car is not sporty enough looking? get the OEM body kit.
car audio not up to your standards? update the sound system
would like a throatier throttle noise? upgrade intake or exhaust systems to provide more noise.
too much torque steer?? upgrade to a better tire

and so on and so fourth.


HOWEVER, MAITNENANCE OVER MODS ALL DAY EVERY DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it has 116k miles on her, I'm am super positive that you will need to fix some things FIRST, before you even THINK to start modding

 

Audio system would be a nice touch, I'm sure there is a thread I can find to updating it.

The tires that came on it are awful they are worn snow tires, the noise is crazy loud so that will be first haha. What tires are best on these?

Yes maintenance for sure lol! I don't have the sill to do the timing belt so I am bringing it to the dealer tomorrow morning for that. I guess it also needs a valve adjustment how hard is that to do myself? I have records that the previous owner did most routine maintenance apart from the 105k which is expensive lol. Anything else I should do since its over 100k?

 

so, you need to take care of the maintenance first.

so get the thought of modding out of your head!!

the timing belt and water pump need to be done ASAP! you are risking driving by either stretching the belt or worse case SNAPPING it, causing the pistons to hit the valves!!!!!

so, water pump, timing belt, spark plugs, valve adjustment, tensioners, coolant ALL NEED to be replaced under the 105k mile service.
you said it! it's expensive and for good reason, because it's the main BIG TICKET item.


you need to do that ASAP!

 

Yup, that's for sure that part worries me. I talked to the dealer and they are going to do it for $700 labor. I already have the parts from Acura and they said they would use them, new water pump and belt. They will still provide the tensioner and I am going to have them do the accessory belt too since it is right there and squeals a bit in the cold.

 

Spark plugs I can do as well, the valve adjustment I wasn't sure about but will research that to see if I can do it.

 

Yeah lol should have put that in

 

the valve adjustment would be easy for the dealership to do it, because it will be out in the open while they are doing timing belt.

Tires; depending on what area you live in.....I live in Texas where there are only 2 seasons...HOT and HOTTER!
so, I can afford to run Summer tires ALL year long.

in colorado, depending on where you live...you might need two pairs...a pair of winters and a pair of really really good all seasons


my summer tires are sticky and wide and help prevent torque steer.

 

Really they wanted another $435 to do that!

 

seriously; when they remove all the parts for the timing belt, and remove valve covers, the valves ARE right there!

 

I'll talk to the service adviser when I drop it off tomorrow and see if we can work something out, that way everything will be done except plugs which are easy enough.

 

valve adjustment is easy it just you need a set of feeler gages and adjust according to manufacture specs.

 

I was going to do it but the dealer just said it was included in the price of the timing belt already, may as well just let them do it then.

 

hell no, dealer won't include that in the bill, TB/WP is 6-7 hours labor and valve adjustment is another 3-4 hours labor. your cost for labor won't be under $1200 and I willing to bet anything on it.

 

Well damn lol, I am going to have to get this sorted out when I drop it off tomorrow....

 

^it's not another 3-4 hours, as all the work is taking the parts off.

 

here are the valve springs that you adjust



and you need to rotate engine to find TOP DEAD CENTER.
this means, after they install the new timing belt, they can work on adjusting valves.

you can see in the pic, there is no timing belt

 

here's new timing belt attached to heads.

 

and here i am, adjusting valves.

 

For tires you should get the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 if you want an all season. They are some of the best performing tires out there.

 

Wish I had the confidence/skill to do that on my own car... come do mine lol!

So either way they will have access to the valves so in theory shouldn't be that much to have them do that as well.

 

Cool that was one of the options I was thinking of getting! I will get them come spring since snow tires are already on them may as well use them for the winter and just deal with the noise.

 

valve adjustment is not that hard, on the scale 1-10 I rated at 3. the only hassle part is you have to find whatever cylinder you want to adjust and make sure it timing mark is death top. There also a DIY video for it.

 

As for the squealing serpentine belt, if it only happens when it is cold outside its possible that the suspect item is actually the A/C compressor bolts which were too small from the factory causing a mis-alignment in the belt hence the squeal.

Just had those bolts & a new serpentine belt thrown on my car today cause of a squealing upon cold starts sometimes

edit: here's the TSB info: http://acura-club.net/index.php?act=...e=post&id=6621

 

I just dropped the TL off at the dealer for its service should I call them and tell them about the bulletin so they can do that too?

 

Your car is out of warranty now, unless it makes sound and even if it does you still end up paying.

 

You're out of warranty so you're looking at half an hour labour plus $90ish in parts. I was able to get some goodwill so I only paid the parts & at a 10% discount on top

 

True, had them check it and it looks like the bolts are correct. They did find a broken motor mount while doing the timing belt. Having them replace that now too.

 

seems like motor mounts are pretty crappy on these vehicles in terms of longevity of the part. I'll probably do all 3 of them soon

 

Just had the motor mounts replaced at 70K... probably been busted for the last 5K or so. I would take a look at the suspension also before you buy your new set of tires if yours are getting loud. IMO the stock struts and shocks aren't that great. Should have replaced them around 40K to 50K max. Congrats on your TL!

 

I'll look into those as well, gotta hold back a bit though service yesterday was a lot lol.
Also my other car's first set of upgrades is 3k and I really want that done!

 

whats your other car? and what is it that needs done for 3k??

 

2015 Evo I want to do the upper and lower IC piping, turbo back exhaust with test pipe, Boost controller, Intake,BOV, and Dyno tune.

Will probably do the Turbo back exhaust first since it is the only thing that doesn't require a tune.

 

and you want to mod the TL. pshhh!



I would make TL super comfortable daily driver. plush tires and cadillac suspension


and have my race car the evo be all out modded machine!

 

That is the plan with the Evo lol I already ripped out the crap OEM seats and put in Recaros, but I find myself really liking the TL and I have a problem leaving things stock.

It would probably be a better idea to leave the TL alone and just make it comfy, but makes me jealous looking at all the cool stuff the forum members have done to their TL's

 

lol!

if you can do both! why not?

but it seems like the racekor will get more play.
I know I would spend more time with the EVO

 

For sure the Evo will get more attention but not going to neglect the TL. All it's maintenance is done now got it back last night, I saw a few posts back in the thread I should look into the suspension for the road noise it is making? That is the big part bugging me now is the noise past 65 mph.

 

suspension goes clunk clunk clunk as metal on metal makes a metallic noise.

if you're hearing "road noise" ie; tire wear noise, then you're better off trying a new tire instead of replacing suspension pieces

my 2cents which is I believe common sense

 

My 07 Civic had the Clunk noise which when I did struts fixed that. It not metal on metal or clunk noises. It sounds like bad road noise from tires. The previous owner put winter tires on it GlacierGrip II no studs but they are worn, I think that is why the noise is so bad. I am fairly sure it needs an alignment as well.

 

yeah, winter tires are known for their NVH (noise, vibrations and harshness)


But dont get me wrong, the TL is a FWD vehicle, so the front suspension DOES take a beating.