I have an 08 TL 5AT. I purchased new with < 10K miles. Is it normal during deceleration to feel the transmission downshifting same as you would if you were going through the gears with a manual transmission? I can feel the downshift occur noticeably around 35MPH and again at around 20MPH. I notice (as would be expected) a slight increase in the RPM when this happens. For such an otherwise smooth riding car this seems unusual and thought I would bounce it off the experts sicne the dealer dismissed the issue.

Has anyone else experienced this, is it normal? Thanks

 

Hey, and welcome to Azine...

This is absolutely normal. This is your grade logic at work.

I have the same 'feeling' in my TL-S. Once you'll get use to it, you'll love it. In traffic I barely press the brakes, and the people in back of me learn to keep distance.

 

Its normal.
I feel it more so in the cold weather when the needle on the temp indicator is barely above "C".

 

I notice the exact same thing with my 08 TL 5AT. I love the car **EXCEPT** for this "feature." Sadly, I did not notice it during the test drive. Very often when I slow down I can feel the downshift, see the RPM jump slightly, then a bit of a pull back. The car is amazing and so smooth other than this.

I asked the same question to my dealer and on here when I first got the car. The answer is always... grade logic. BUT I'm sure you've noticed this happening on flat ground, too. Why? It's designed to help with hills.

Unlike TeknoKing, I have not gotten use to it and definitely do not love it. I've had the car 2 months so maybe I still need to give it some time. I actually had a friend say, "I like it, but I definitely have never seen a car do that before!"

If this continues to annoy me, I will trade in or sell. That's the great thing about cars.. they are not family; you don't have to keep them.

 

I actually like the way the transmission behaves. Sure, it's a bit jerky, but it means I don't have to hit the brakes to keep my distance from the guy in front of me. I like the way manuals pull back anyway.

 

all sorts of info about this, and other important systems operational features can be found in the cars owner book- give it a good read and learn about your ride- grade logic and what its logic is...ABS and traction control systems that will apply 1-2 brakes and limit throttle in what it thinks is an emergency or believes its overdriving the drivers limits- so the car steps in to save itself-
All things you really want to know and practice before discovering them on the road

Note: Use BRAKES to slow the car down- the trans is for accellerating off the corner in the proper gear for torque/pull
$300 Brakes are cheap compared to a $2500 clutch job~

 

Grade Logic only works on a GRADE.

THe TL does downshift when you slow down. Depending how you slow down, it may go (for example) 4 --> 3 --> 1 OR 4 --> 1. IOW, it'll skip gears as it sees fit.

The 2 --> 1 auto-downshift is the harshest and a lot of members don't like it.

Personally I don't care; it doesn't bother me and it is not harsh on every stop.

 

I like it. But the thing I hate is when it does it when the car is cold. I live on a kinda long block, get to 3rd gear by the time i hit the stop sign. then after day almost a mile long block, which i get to 5th obviously.

I dont think it will cause any problems, but it just makes me wonder

 

Bearcat 94! Finally someone who acknowledges the downshift but does not attribute it to the GRADE logic. Is this just a TL characteristic? Or do all Honda automatic transmissions downshift like a manual?

And WHY?!

 

Not all Honda/Acura transmissions do this. In fact, I believe only the 3rd generation (07 & 08 years only) and possibly the new 09 TLs have this unique downshift feel. My 07 TL does, no Honda or the previous 03 TL I had felt this way. The MDX, RDX, & TSX did not feel like that at all. Most honda transmissions are very smooth.

Even upshifts on the 07 can feel like a manual transmission. I don't mind it. Could it be a little smoother? Yes. But the transmission does have more a heavy duty feel to it than the 03 TL or an 06 TL I had driven around for a while. The transmission is generally smooth with upshifts, although shift points are more noticeable than any other car or SUV I've driven.

I don't find it problematic. I believe this transmission is more durable than ever given the tranmission problems of the past with Honda. It needed to be with the higher horse power in the 3rd gen Type S which shares the same transmission as the base model.

 

FWIW - I've got an '07 TL-S. And you're right, I've never noticed this on my '02 TL-S.

The '07/'08 TL-S (base also?) AT is based on the RL transmisison. Does the RL do this or is the ECU/AT programming different?

 

normal

 

I think those that really notice and don't like the 2 --> 1 downshift experience it during more aggressive braking. I decelerate like a 70 year old when given the opportunity to save brakes and tranny. My theory is this is an odd sensation because those of us that grew up on manual's couldn't break and downshift at the same time...unless you were driving a rally car, maybe.

I stand by this transmission in that if you drive it for smoothness and comfort, that's what it gives you, whether accelerating or decelerating. Well, except for that 3 --> 4 shift, but that's for a different thread.

 

I've noticed my TL only shifts / stops like this after it's warmed up or been on the road for awhile.. anyone else?

 

It holds gears longer when it's cold. Function of the ECU.

 

vptrails, apparently some Accord owners are feeling this same kind of downshift. Not just TL, I guess.

http://www.hondacarforum.com/honda-2...c-control.html

 

Bearcat94:

My 07 is a base TL. My 03 was also a base TL.

I'm not sure about the RL's tranny behavior. I never driven one. However, being a more luxurious type of vehicle, I would image the transmission would be smoother. Even though the TL's tranny is derived from the RL, I don't believe it's exactly the same. I believe the gear ratio's may be a little different, just like the ratios of the 03 & 06 being different from the 07 TL.

 

yeah i feel it too, on my 07 but it doesnt bother me at all, kinda cool i think..

 

I bought a 2005 RL about 4 months ago. The first thing I noticed was the abrupt and rather rough downshift when decelerating from 4th to 3rd gear. I have only owned Honda vehicles: 3 Accords and an 04 RL. All of the Accords shifted with a "sporty" feel; you can feel the downshifts and upshifts. I liked this sporty feel that is characteristic of Hondas. However, I was not thrilled about the abrupt downshift in my 05 RL. My 04 had a transmission that was incredibly smooth as a 50k luxury cruiser should be. The 05 is sportier so I guess it makes some sense to feel the shifts. When rolling through a stop sign at 5-10mph, the downshift is a bit rough as well. After changing transmission fluid at 70k miles, the downshifts are actually smoother, but still noticeable.