Hi all,
I have a 2008 TL with automatic transmission. I bought it 6 months ago and the whole time I've been unhappy with the smoothness of gear shifts. When I'm in auto mode, and accelerating lightly or light-medium, when it upshifts in 3, 4, or 5 gear the car lurches forward when it grabs the new gear cuz it doesn't RPM-match. It is much more noticeable if I am going down a slope and not pushing the gas, and it upshifts and really lurches forward. If the trans is in manual mode, it still kinda lurches when I upshift. I took it to the dealer and they said it's 'normal'. There are no error codes or no mechanical issues.
So I thought if I could mod or remap/reflash the ECU to change the shift points and the way it shifts, I could improve it. Has anyone experienced this, and/or fixed it with the ECU or another way?

I saw this thread - https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-performance-parts-modifications-112/group-buy-jnr-ecu-dynos-gains-12-23-%3B-prices-posted-1-7-a-841554/ - and I tried to read through it and much of it didn't make sense to me. Would this solve my problem? I certainly wouldn't mind better performance either.

 

I just found this thread - https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-problems-fixes-114/interesting-transmission-issue-2005-acura-tl-840747/
My car has 35k miles, do I need to do the transfluid and pressure switches?

 

I'l save the headache....theres not a way to mod the ECU.


BUTT, in your research you did find the cure!
replace the 3rd and 4th gear pressure switches!
and drain and fill with new fluid!

 

I'm not handy enough to do it nor have the tools/location. So do I have to take it to a dealer? Or is this something that Midas/Pep Boys can do?

 

If you don't have the means to DIY, I would go to an indie mechanic. Drain 3 quarts, fill with 3 fresh quarts. Shouldn't cost a crazy amount. Have you checked the DIY in the 3G garage? (I know you stated you couldn't do it...just wondering if you've seen what all goes into it)

 

Oops...also, have you looked into what kind of trans fluid you want?

 

Thanks for all your help.
I get the DIY aspect of it, but I live in an apartment complex, so no driveway to work in. I have only basic household tools. I've replaced the air filters and radio in my cars, but I don't think I want to mess with the trans.
From that other thread, I've seen people discussing which fluid to use but I really have no idea what's best for me. What would you suggest for a good mix of price/performance? Where would I buy the fluid? Where would I buy the switches?

 

Might try resetting the ECU and see if that helps. Could be the ECU has adapted to the way the previous owner drove the car. Fast, easy and free so you have nothing to lose.

 

I too was in your spot. I bought my 2008 TL at the beginning of the 2011 and was NOT happy with the "smoothness" of the shifts. It almost felt like the transmission was getting hung for a second and than would snap the shift off. I found myself driving and anticipating/dreading each shift.

I took my car in to have an oil change and a couple of TSB items addressed recently. Originally I was planning on doing the trans fluid myself, but came to an agreeable price with the dealership to have them do it for me. I went ahead and had the 3x3 done with DW-1.

I am not going to get into the debate about DW-1 vs. Redline/Amsoil et al and the amount of FM, but what I can tell you is that it has made ALL of the difference in the world. With the results I would have been happy paying $500 ... it's worth it, just get it done. I currently have 40k on my car and will look to do the pressure switches around 50k, but for now the change in shifting behavior has been great! Shifts are much smoother, but feel and appear to be just quick.

 

Thanks Scottwax; I did reset the ECU. I think I feel a bit more pep but no difference in shift smoothness.

Thanks for your input Blooze. Sounds like you went through the same thing I did. Just so I'm clear, when you say a 3x3 flush, you mean the trans was flushed with 3 fresh quarts, and done 3 times right in a row? So you drain the old fluid, put the plug back in, fill it with 3 fresh quarts, drain it, plug it, fill it, drain it, plug it and fill it? The car is not driven in between the flush cycles? Have you done the trans switches? How much did the dealer charge to use DW-1?

 

^ it is a 3x3 drain and fill but you definitely want to run the transmission thru all gears between each drain and fill.

 

For your switches, try acuraoemparts.com or go through AckTL05. I ordered mine from him for 80 shipped.

 

Yes, I am referring to a drain and fill of roughly 3 quarts at a time, but you DO want to drive the car in-between these if you are doing it yourself.

I have not done the switches yet. That will be a job next summer.

I chose to have the dealer do it because it was getting cold here, I was getting more frustrated with the shift smoothness and wanted to get something done. I read in the Acura Service Newsletters here on this site that the dealer had "procedures" for being able to properly do the full 3x3 in one visit and decided to just get it done. Unfortunately, you won't be able to apply my cost "model" to what you may encounter. I was originally quoted $190 for them to do it. I figured that was about $80 more than if I bought the fluid myself and was worth it. Turns out that was only for a 1x3. Long story short, my service adviser and I met with the service manager and they did honor the $190 price for the full 3x3.

I found out later that it "should" have cost a little over $300. At this point, as I noted before, it still would have been worth it.

I don't think the drain and fills are too challenging, just a pain dealing with the fluids and the fact that you'll have to do it 3x. Going forward, I'll be doing 1x3's on a regular schedule myself.

Again, definitely worth it for me.

 

OK thanks for the followup.

 

I ordered the switches, new gaskets and 6 qts of DW-1. Hoping to get this all done soon in the next couple weeks.

 

'08 you say? Give this a shot

 

Wow, $500 for $50 worth of fluid and 30 minutes of labor (if they actually did a 3x3 and not a 1x3).

There's nothing that could make me pay that kind of money for such a simple job unless I was handicapped.

 

IHC if you are referring to the dollar amount I stated, my point being that the satisfaction derived from the fluid change was worth it regardless of cost (i.e. having the dealer do it).

My circumstances dictated it was the best choice for me at the time. As noted I'll be keeping up on 1x3's myself.

I am glad that you are not handicapped nor are being forced to pay for labor on your vehicle.

 

Don't lie.. you still wouldn't pay that much if you were handicapped. Unless you mean handicapped in the mental facilities like Justn.

 

Like BUTTER!!!

I just got home from having my car worked on by a friend who is a professional mechanic. He did the transmission switches for me, and a 2x3 trans flush with DW-1. What an amazing difference! I am thrilled with the results, it finally feels like what I think it should. We followed the recommended steps on the first page of this Acura Service Bulletin. Drained the fluid, did the switches, refilled, went through all the gears in the sequence recommended by the document, drained and refilled fluid. The car was on the lift the whole time and when I started trying to run the fluid through the trans, it wouldn't go faster than 20MPH and the engine backed off even with the pedal floored. Turns out it was the traction control (cuz the back wheels weren't spinning) so I turned it off; no problem after that. It also would not shift up to 3rd from 2nd but the document covers that. FYI, a 3/8" socket wrench with no socket on it fits in the ATF drain plug perfectly.

He also did a the stage 3 exhaust mod for me. I love the exhaust note.

Funny enough, while he was working on my car, I went to go pick up lunch with the car he drove to the shop. He had driven his mom's car, which was an 08 TL Type-S AT so I got to feel what that trans was like.