This weekend I picked up my new '07 TL in NBP, pretty sweet so far, its got 200miles currently, but I noticed something strange and I wonder if it is a problem, or a design feature.

It seems that at times the transmission downshifts when it dosn't need to. Its kind of tough to explain but at certain times, like when I pull into my driveway, the car will shift to a lower gear, and there is a little jerk forward. I had a friend suggest it was a downhill feature, but my driveway is slightly uphill, and the driveway for work is totally flat. It seems to happen when I am slowing down, although not always.

I guess the best description is that it behaves like you might if you were a person with a manual transmission shifting down through the gears. It dosn't really bother me but I want to see if other people have the same experience or if it's something I should worry about.

Advice, questions, and stupid comments are welcome.
Thanks in advance.

 

Yeah I notice the car downshifts to help decrease stopping distance, I experience it all the time. What it does is have the motor slow the car down in order to save the brakes. I would think it would cause more wear on the transmission, but I guess not.

 

Grade Logic Control

 

Well, I'll admit, I'm not real swift when it comes to the mechanical workings of an automobile, but don't *all* AT's downshift as you reduce speed?

I mean if the AT puts me in, say 4th gear, as I drive through my neighborhood at, say 30 mph, then when I reduce speed and/or brake to ~ 5 or 10 mph to pull into my driveway, the car is not actually going to *stay* in 4th gear is it? My guess is would have downshifted into 2nd.

 

yup mine does the same thing when I begin to slow down, I switch to manual mode to see what gear it dropped down to, like it will be in 3rd then drop to 2... but I really notice this when i am on the gas on curves, if you gas it through it will shift to the lower gear and the vtec will push you all the way through, it is actually very cool feature

 

See above. My 2000 accord cpe v6 had this feature as well.

 

Correct, they ALL downshift on their own, but the TL uses grade logic control; guess you can call it engine braking to help with braking / slowing the car down.

Normally a car would drop gears in a manner that you don't notice, but the AT TL downshifts like a "stick" to use engine compression to help stop the car.. (I think that's correct anyways).

There are some things I don't know about the system, but i'm guessing this feature only activates when the brakes are applied, so if you pull into your driveway and start stopping it might dropping from 2nd to 1st..

 

Timmahh, that sounds like what I am talking about, and because it felt so much like what you might do with a stick (without getting into the "save the transmission-use breaks" or "save the brakes-use the transmission" discussion) I thought it might be something that was designed into the car.
However, since I have never been in an auto that had a downshift this noticible I didnt want to wind up in a situation where people were like "you idiot, why didn't you get this fixed earlier"
I dont dislike the feel, nor do I particularly like it, it is just something different than the usual. As a former SAAB owner, I have certainly come to know that different is not always bad.
Thanks for the comments, I feel better now.

 

are you still trying to shove your key into the cup holder in your TL? =p

 

LOL, I actually did that this morning. Well, actually I reached into the cup holder to shut the car off, but its the same issue. Gonna take some getting used to after 10 years of SAAB.

 

I've never driven a Saab, so: Why does Saab put the ignition in the cup holders? Seems that'd make for really poor ergonomics.


:wink:

 

It's actually a useful thing. I have it on my MDX as well. Though I have to admit it did scare me when it first happened.

 

I noticed this one too .. normally it will pop up when you let go the gas around 40 MPH & then another noticable jerking/slowing around 20 MPH....

My 00TL can coast through a lot smoother than the current TL. It's def. something different, has its advantages and disadv. I'm getting used to it and utilize this more and more without stepping on my brakes ..

 

I can't remember which brand it was, but I remember hearing the key placement was put there when they were race cars. They used to have to run to the car and jump in start it and go (kind of like the lawnmower races) and this would allow them to keep their hand near the shifter and the other hand on the steering wheel.

 

I'm SO glad someone else mentioned this. The same exact thing happens to me on my new '07 (approx 449 miles right now). I can feel it down shift when I go from 40 to 35 let's say, but it's not too noticable. But, whenever I decelerate and hit the 20 mph mark, I can feel that hard downshift. So much so, that the car really slows down and you almost lurch forward, like you mention.

I figured this is normal, but it's so strange for me to get used to compared to my 3.0 CL that I was driving before the TL. Man, once I got the TL I realized how horrible rough the CL trans was (I'm sure it got progressively worse, seeing as it's in for trans repairs now )

 

Consider this... I recently purchased a silver Type-S automatic. I have read the posts, so I know everyone reading this already understands the issue of coasting to a stop and feeling the transmission noticeably downshift.

What if we do this instead... as we are coasting to a stop, what if we just pop the car into neutral? That takes the transmission out of the equation. Then we just apply the brakes as normal. If the light turns green, we just pop the car back into gear or at around 5mph and we're good to go.

I've been doing that lately and I like it, almost like I'm implementing my own logic into the transmission behavior.

My main concern is this... if I were to do this ALWAYS, will this adversely affect my transmission?

 

why not just let the transmission do what it was designed to do? Granted, it caught me off guard on the test drive, but coming from a manual, I like it!

I don't know how much it would affect your transmission by taking it into neutral and drive all the time for braking but my guess is it will have adverse affects.

 

I really enjoy it to be honest with you..my buddy was with me the other day and we were pulling into my driveway and it downshifted automatically ( as it does often) and the deep purr that comes from it is beautiful..my boy was like "Ahhh listen to that.." with a huge grin on his mug.. it was great!

 

In my Honda Pilot, grade logic only kicks in when I apply the brakes going downhill. If I simply take my foot off the accelerator I simply coast. It it pretty dramatic when it does kick in, like you've over applied the brakes.

I've got almost 50K on the Pilot and the brakes still have lots of useful life left on them which I attribute to the fact that the grade logic keeps me from hitting the brakes as much.

I've got a 6MT TL so I can't comment on it.

 

If you guys think shifting into neutral is adverse on the transmission AND that it is normal the way transmission downshifts, then I'll just get used to it.

Answer this though, assuming normal operation when coasting to a stop and letting the transmission downshift as it should. ... IF I apply the brakes (calipers are in contact with the rotors, lets say caliper pressure on the rotors is 10), when the transmission downshifts (and I feel the slight "lurch" forward as the car slows down abruptly due to the shift), then will that downshift create extra pressure (say 12) to be exerted by the calipers on the rotors?

I've never driven a manual, but I'm not completely unfamiliar to the concept of using downshifts to slow down a vehicle, I've ridden with friends that have done it. I just want to make sure that while I'm applying the brakes AND downshifting, that the downshifting will not promote extra brake pad/rotor wear&tear.

Thanks for your advice.

 

I thought I was going crazy... I noticed the "downshifting" too. I was all set to make an appt this morning but if its normal, I'll let it be. Thx

 

I just purchased an automatic 2008 TL Type S and I noticed the hard down shift too! Personally, I don't like it. I used to drive a manual car and I bought an automatic car because I wanted the easy and smoothe drive, so the jolting doesn't appeal to me. I took it to the dealer today and a technician test drove it and he said that he noticed it on other TL's too and that it's normal. However, I don't think it's normal for an automatic car. He said that the they couldn't do anything to fix it, but I could call customer relations to file a complaint. I guess if enough people complain, they will look into it and possibly recall it if something is wrong. I have already called, so if anyone else wants to call, here's the number: 1-800-382-2238. Make sure to have your VIN when you call. Hope this helps =)

 

I have had an automatic 2007 TLS since march and notice the same harsh downshift at about 20 MPH when slowing down. I was OK with it initiatially but having driven the car now for 7 months, it is getting annoying. I had the dealer look at it and they said it was in specification. I am guessing that there are varying degrees of harshness in the downshift. Mine is extreme - enough so that I would not consider buying another Acura. I am going to have the dealer look at at another time. I had posted about it before and someone said that it is cool because if you are slowing down for a red light and the light turns green before stopping, you are already in a lower gear to take off. I agree with this in concept but when that situation occurrs, my TLS hesitates and struggles to find the right gear before taking off.

This is my only beef with the car. It is a blast to drive on the freeway - short trips or long trips - It just hates braking. I also figure with a 286 HP engine and sports suspension that you are going to compromise on the smoothness of the ride. If I had wanted a quiet, boring and smooth ride, I would have gotten the Lexus ES30.

-Rich