chillout24

Hello everyone I just got a certified pre-owned '04 black TL with navi and the chrome version of the TL rims w/ about 49,500 miles. I test drove many other cars, like '04-'06 Infiniti G35, Lexus IS300, Acura TSX, Lexus GS300, Subaru Legacy. I wanted a Japanese car because I used to have a 2002 Audi A4 that was breaking every couple months and costing me thousands in repairs.

I had picked the TL a few weeks ago after it was the only car I really liked when I stepped into it and drove it (my 2nd closest choice was an '05 G35 but I did not like the interior or the sound system at all). I was waiting for a Gray or Black color w/ tan interior to be for sale because I really liked the tan/wood interior look more than the gray/carbon fiber interior. When I saw my car up for sale I called right away and saw it the same day.

I test drove it and it seemed to drive with no problems both times I test-drove it. I bought it a couple days later after negotiating down from $22,995 to $21,500.

Now that I have it home, I have noticed a few things that I'm not sure if other people are having problems with?

When I first start the car, especially in the morning after not being driven for a while, the car/engine seems to shake/vibrate/sputter until I put it into drive and actually put the car into motion. Once it is in motion, most of the shakes/vibrations/sputters go away but it has slight sputters (I don't know if sputters is the right word, just like slight breaks in the constant engine noise) that aren't really noticeable and might be my imagination but probably are not.

Also, I successfully paired the handsfreelink with my Sony Ericcson W300i (a phone listed as having full compatibility with the car's handsfreelink), and it seems to work fine until I try to make a call from the car or from the phone and try to hear the other person over the car's speakers. When I make the call by saying the name to call through the phone, the call always gets transferred to the cell phone and I can't transfer it back. When I press the "talk" button on the steering wheel to say "Transfer" nothing happens so I can't tell it to transfer, and when I try to transfer from my phone to handsfreelink my phone freezes and won't do it.

Has anyone else had any of these similar problems? Other than these I really do like the car.

-Chill

trancemission

hey chill, sounds like you are having a compatibility issues with the HFL...

you can go here and make sure your phone is on the list...http://www.acura.com/models/handsfreelink/hfl_home.asp

as far as the sputtering goes. I would see if you can take it back to whomever you bought it from and ask if they can tune it up. Sounds like it needs one,.

01tl4tl

motor mounts? transmission issue?
that certified stuff only means a tech looked at several things and those passed inspection.
they check for any recalls and fix those, but basic issues or probs internally they dont touch.
Does not certify anything else
The TL has a notorious transmission problem- see the selling dealer, and take the Head Service Tech for a test drive.

Blazing GT

hmmm not sure about the engine rattling, my car does that in the morning also when it is cold but it only does it for about 30 seconds. After the engine become silent. Mine is a 2004 with 55k miles. I doubt it is a SERIOUS problem, but still check it out

Sivitaliy

my tl also shakes in the morning i brought it in and they told me it was a common problem on 2004 . They said something like it initiates misfires to heat catalytic converter more quickly .

chillout24

Ah ok, as long as the engine is doing what it should do that is fine with me if it grumbles when I start it. Thanks.

RACINGHART03

iTrader: (2)

Correct. The TL deliberately misfires to generate a rich mixture which in turn warms up the cats quickly to help lower emissions.

JustinZ

If i remember correctly, HFL units in earlier models had some problems and amny were replaced with newer units (06+ units i think)

blahzace

Hey Chill, I have the same issue w/ the sputter thing....dotn worry about it.

wasupdog

iTrader: (2)

the startup sputtering is the honda ULEV system. it starts rough and heats up quickly, the end result is that it's better for the environment and our cars run like crap when they're cold.

eluzion

Yeah, rough idle seems normal from a cold start. I thought it was just my car at first but after searching around, it looks like it's normal (based on the reasons listed above).

No clue about your HFL issue though. I have an '04 TL and use the iPhone (1st gen) with no issues. The only "issue" (although it happens on all phones from what I know) is if you make a call from the phone, it will automatically transfer to the phones speaker and you can't transfer it to the HFL until the other person picks up. Other then that my HFL has been working great.

Snowball

FYI, I have the same transfer problem with this particular phone on a '05 TL non-Navi too, even after the person on the other end picked up the phone. I went to the Sony website to update the phone's firmware, but I still have the same problem.

YeuEmMaiMai

Chill,

Did you reset the HFL when you got the car? That may solve your problems with the bluetooth not working correctly

Snowball

Hey Chillout24,
Just found out on the Acura website that the HFL is not compatible with software version R9A036 of the W300i.

To check what version your phone is running on, do these sequence of keys on your phone:
Right, *, Left, Left, *, Left, *
then choose software info.

JustinZ

HFL issues are almost always phone firmware problems

upgrade it to the latest using the SE upgrade software

... or spend 10 bucks and debrand it and upgrade to the newest firmware (the newest firmware usually is not available to branded phones) you can do this at wotanserver.com

240sx acura tech

needs HFL unit , (covered) needs pcm update (covered) make sure you run 92 or higher octane.