noles.alum9

My TL just got a new clutch 15 months ago. Over the past week or 2, 1st gear has been kind of shaking on start with 1.5-1.8 RMPs as I have always driven her, now to make it stop I have to go to 2.0-2.5 RPMs. A friend drover it doesn't seem to think it is transmission but maybe engine... Any ideas with this little bit of information, I know. I am in Orlando, my husband passed away 6 months ago so short of a dealer and friends, these boards are about all I have. I also changed back to premium gas... IDK.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

Trish, sorry about your husband.

it could be motor mounts?

JJH

iTrader: (1)

Sorry for your loss Trish. I second motor mounts. My friend had the clutch replaced in his WRX and described the exact same problem that you are describing in that he had a stutter during a certain RPM range. It was the motor mounts.

JTS97Z28

iTrader: (4)

I'm sorry as well.
Not sure about the stuttering, but one thing I have read is its not a good idea to use regular grade fuel in these cars, so atleast you did the right thing and went back to premium.
I have had a couple manual TL's and don't recall any stuttering developing. Is there a possibility that the new clutch is already fried? If you floor it in third or higher gear does it hold without slipping? Otherwise if not then justnspace has a very good possibility of the motor mounts being the issue.

noles.alum9

Thanks everyone for your kind words regarding my husband. Like the Acura community the FL3S community outreach has been amazing in his loss.
I will have the shop he used to work at look at the motor mounts. That was mentioned to me as a possibility. I love my TL, Mike bought it for me for my birthday 4 years ago.

Grand_hustle17

Ouch... Srry to read about your husband... Thats gotta be extremely difficult... Im having the same issue with mines, though it was signs of my spark plugs going bad lol... Good to know its most likely mounts... though plugs are cheaper lol

noles.alum9

Thanks guys! I didn't get any responses on Acura World.com so at least this gives me a direction to head.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

^thats because this site is 10x better than acura world.

has it improved any?
did you get it checked out by a mechanic?

noles.alum9

Going to get it checked Friday. Right now just going easy on it and going with higher RPM from stop.

noles.alum9

Wasn't motor mounts... Still trying to narrow it down. The friend that drove it thinks there some kind of chatter, vibration, something. Going to get transmission flush and gearbox serviced tomorrow... It's a start I guess.

noles.alum9

So I took the car to Valvoline for a transmission flush, after 30 minutes they said they couldn't do it but that the fluid looked good. But that the lower transmission mount was cracked/busted. Guess thats the problem.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

same thing happened to my 6MT.





I did not, however, feel the car "stutter"
when shifting i felt the weight of the car change. felt very odd to brake and all of the car shift forward.

noles.alum9

Going to try and get it into a transmission shop this week here in Orlando.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

^if you can confirm that it is that mount. its on the driver side, then any mechanic shop can do it for you. it took me less than an hour to change it.

noles.alum9

THe guys at Valvoline gave me the contact info for the Transmission guy. Outside the dealer I have no idea where else to take it here in Orlando.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

interested in seeing your car fixed!
report back as soon as possible!!

noles.alum9

SHe's up at Trans Max now... Let's keep our fingers crossed.

noles.alum9

2 mounts are totaled. $490 + tax to get 2 lower mounts replaced.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

did you get her back yet!??!?!?!? how does she drive!?

noles.alum9

Not yet, she had to stay and get probed overnight, in that dark dirty place. Parts should be in this morning, hopefully I can go bail her out by lunch time. Originally he called me with $260 for 1 mount and $180 for the other, I said no, that's to much. He called me back with $180 and $150 + $150 labor plus tax.

noles.alum9

Got the TL back and what a difference!! Shifting out of first is solid. No vibration, no shaking!! 102k miles, she's a trooper for all I put her through! Under the speed limit, always, of course.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

Trish! I'm glad that we could help!!
I'm also glad that she's back together in one piece without too much $$ being spent.

nj2pa2nc

Sorry for your loss. I can relate as it will be a year tomorrow for my husband. Glad you now have a fixed TL. I own a 06 6MT tsx, since new. Still has the original clutch after almost 160k miles.

noles.alum9

Thanks Justin, I am so happy she is fixed. As much as I want a 2012 SH-AWD, my 06 is my baby. Mike bought it for me from the Repo Depot in 2009. nj2pa2nc, I am sorry for your loss as well. Positive vibes for you for tomorrow. Milestones, anniversaries, birthdays all suck. Mike was my Knight, my king and my love. All gone at once in the blink of an eye. <3!

noles.alum9

What if this didn't completely fix the problem??! Just tried pulling between 2 cars quickly and had a hard "rubbing feeling".

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

can you explain or describe it better?

with my broken transmission mount, I felt the whole car shift. like weight was transferring when I hit the brakes.

a rubbing feeling?
did you feel it below the car? in the engine?

noles.alum9

It's almost like if you were trying to start in second gear but not as bad. That same hesitation, strain, roughness?

noles.alum9

I let off the clutch and give it gas at about 1500 rpm.

noles.alum9

A friend texted me maybe bushings in the suspension or subframe???

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

can you please try to be more specific when you're describing your problem?

its very hard to diagnose it over the internet.
If you say, it "stutters" or feels like its going to die/feels like starting in 2nd gear, it sounds mechanical and not related to bushings/mounts/subframe/suspension

noles.alum9

I'm sorry. I program computers and build software, the widow of a car guy. I have no idea how to explain in car terms what it's doing.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

Does it happen during a certain speed?
during a certain RPM?

but it definitely feels like its going to die? stuttering? almost like starting in 2nd?

noles.alum9

When in first gear from stop, as I give it gas and let off the clutch there is a vibration/shaking resistance around 1.5k rpm. Only on start. If I give it gas up to about 2k rpm, it doesn't do it. Best way I can discribe it is trying to start in 2nd gear, that shaking and heavy vibration you get before you look down and notice you are in the wrong gear.

noles.alum9

Add this... Just got back from dropping my daughter at school, less than 5 miles away and when I got out of the car in the garage, it smells like maple syrup...

JJH

iTrader: (1)

Burnt maple syrup? Not the first time I've heard someone describe a burnt clutch as smelling like maple syrup. Really hope that's not your issue! I really can't think of any reason you would be "bogging down" the engine between 1-2k rpms in first gear...unless your clutch isn't engaging/disengaging properly.

ez12a

that's burning coolant i'm afraid. pop the hood and look for leaks.

noles.alum9

She has an appointment at a local shop Tuesday. He seems to think clutch as much as I don't want it to be that...

noles.alum9

So with Tina the TL going to the shop tomorrow, and IF it is the clutch. Does the Flywheel, throwout bearing. pressure plate and all that have to be changed out if I need a new clutch? Can anyone one of those things be changed indply or am I better off changing the assembly? The slave cylinder was replaced last year as well.

JJH

iTrader: (1)

If the clutch is done, you might as well have those other components replaced too since they will already be in there. Flywheel might be okay. Rear main seal might be something you want to have replaced too.

noles.alum9

Ok thanks. If it is the clutch it kind of pisses me off since this one was just put in March 2012. 40K miles, maybe. I don't rag out my car but I do drive it.