In February of 2011 I become the very proud owner of a 2008 Acura TL Type S in ASM. It had 57,000km on it and seemed to be in great condition both cosmetically and mechanically. Here is my issue...I absolutely love this car...but...it has spent so much time in the shop with various repairs. All maintenance performed was done at an Acura dealership and since the car had extended comprehensive warranty most of the repairs performed were completed under warranty. My question is: At what point do you say enough is enough?

Allow me to elaborate on the issues I have experienced...some of these are relatively minor...some not so much.

1. Noise from front suspension: Tightened front suspension bolts and lubed pivot points.
2. Squeaky clutch pedal: Lubed clutch pedal pivots and clevis pivots.
3. 3rd Gear popping out, hard to engage, Infamous 3rd Gear Issue: Replace 3rd Gear gearset, replace clutch and inspect flywheel.
4. Both outside mirrors chatter and dont return to original position: Replace both mirror actuators.
5. No heat from heater, A/C and fan blower OK: found heater cable disconnected, replaced cable and tied
6. Chirping/squealing noise from belt area, changes with RPM: Replace drivebelt tensioner and belt.
7. Vibration noted @ idle, engine seems to move more than it should: Found right side engine mount cracked, replaced engine mount.
8. Car pulls to right, wicked tramlining, "spooky" handling: Car out of alignment, performed 4 wheel alignment.
9. "B1" Service performed
10. Positive battery cable found corroded @ post clamp: Replace positive battery cable.
11. Chirping/squealing noise from belt area, same as before: Replace drivebelt tensioner and belt.
12. Power steering pump "groaning": Replace power steering pump.
13. Car will not start, boosted and ran to check electrical system out: Battery shot, replace battery.

I have owned this car coming up on one year and I understand the pitfalls of buying a used car. I am really torn as I do love this car but just not the pain in the ass its been as far a service requirements go. Does this seem excessive to anyone? Anyone else have to the same luck? Im hoping I have taken care of most of the gremlins that plague this car.

Sorry for the rant...just frustrated.

 

That is actually a lot for a TL in one year of ownership I think but some of those items you listed are common to these cars and we have several DIY threads on how to cure some of the issues. I owned an 07 TL-S for about 18 months and took it to the dealer at least 10 times for very minor warranty work. Mine was an automatic but I had the same issues with the battery, mirrors (twice and on both sides), heater (was intermittent and started working again), motor mounts replaced, and a few other things. The 3rd gear popping out is a common issue and a remedy some 6MT owners do is change their fluid to the GM Synchromesh fluid.

Hopefully this is the bulk of the problems and you will be able to enjoy your car a lot more. If any issues do arise in the future I would check our 3G Garage for useful information for a possible easy fix and cause of the problem.

EDIT: Link to our 3G Garage....https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/3g-tl-service-department-aka-garage-questions-answers-check-here-first-553557/

 

That seems like alot of shop time for a car with only about 26K miles on it...previous owner might have beaten the crap out of it...

 

seems like the previous owner let you inherit some of the issues. most of the issues that you have listed...from what i have read and seen...pretty common issues with this car. granted i haven't had some of them. i'm the original owner and in 6 + yrs of ownership...(of your list):

1. Noise from front suspension: Tightened front suspension bolts and lubed pivot points.
nope haven't had this one (changed to Aspec suspension at 50k mi-currently at 56kmi)

2. Squeaky clutch pedal: Lubed clutch pedal pivots and clevis pivots.
i have this with hot weather and bumper to bumper traffic

3. 3rd Gear popping out, hard to engage, Infamous 3rd Gear Issue: Replace 3rd Gear gearset, replace clutch and inspect flywheel.
still on original clutch, have the 3rd gear issue every blue moon (your was replaced pretty young...sounds like the previous owner beat on her or didn't know how to drive a MT).

4. Both outside mirrors chatter and dont return to original position: Replace both mirror actuators.
my mirrors do this...stopped using my tilt function

5. No heat from heater, A/C and fan blower OK: found heater cable disconnected, replaced cable and tied
nope

6. Chirping/squealing noise from belt area, changes with RPM: Replace drivebelt tensioner and belt.
my chirp lasted 3 days and resolved itself.

7. Vibration noted @ idle, engine seems to move more than it should: Found right side engine mount cracked, replaced engine mount.
nope.

8. Car pulls to right, wicked tramlining, "spooky" handling: Car out of alignment, performed 4 wheel alignment.
regular maintenance

9. "B1" Service performed
regualr maintenance

10. Positive battery cable found corroded @ post clamp: Replace positive battery cable.
had some noted from when my battery was replaced a few months ago

11. Chirping/squealing noise from belt area, same as before: Replace drivebelt tensioner and belt.
see above

12. Power steering pump "groaning": Replace power steering pump.
whiny PS pump...usually fixed with a 60 cent o-ring

13. Car will not start, boosted and ran to check electrical system out: Battery shot, replace battery.
you have an 08 most likely on the original battery....known to die after 3-4 yrs. i'm on my 3rd battery (#1 last 3 yrs, #2 lasted 3 yrs and a few months, #3 i went after market so far so good).

so....as you can see your list while extensive in a short period of time...is seemingly common as many might chime in to affirm.

every car will have its isssues including the TL. the car was used and abused prior to your ownership. hopefully you have all the little things worked out and you can enjoy the car. you dont' have a lot of miles on her, so with proper care and love the issues should be minimal and mostly regular maintenance from here on out.

 

I believe that "No Good Rant Should Be Denied", but a few of those items you list are just routine maint, not "problems" (alignment & B1 Service).

A couple of others are (usually) very minor and quick fixes, but not necessarily the "Acura Fix". Particularlly the 3rd gear issue. Acura will NEVER fix it, imho, because they won't use the right fluid. Put in GM Synchromesh Friction Modified and your troubles with this will be behind you.

Some are definetly common, but annoying none-the-less. The Power Steering o-ring, the chirp in the engine, the weak battery (again won't be "fixed" until you get a good after-market battery) and the motor mounts.


I've had a some of these issues, but not all at once. Makes it easier to take.

 

my 04 only had a handful of problems, most pertaining to maintenance from the previous owner (tires, alignment, fluids, rotors, pads). I replaced the pass side mount and the mirror chatters when putting it in reverse but i'm used to it (it's a 8 year old car..)

other than that, 14k miles since i got in feb '11 and it has been all i could ask for. it has never failed to start or leave me stranded. all the electronics inside work as they should, though i think i have 2 bulbs burned out in the steering wheel (both call cancel and voice cancel are not lit)

I can only imagine an 08 with that low miles having that many issues was abused by the previous owner...but who knows..we dont know how the OP drives either. Pretty sure i'm still on my original gearbox with GM FM fluid.

 

i have my own list of problems in my TL-S also...

Already done:
Front motor mount
Side motor mount
Upper transmission mount
Belt Auto tensioner
Power steering pump overhaul due to leak

Upcoming fixes:
Need to send navigation dvd drive back to alpine for repair
Need new bluetooth module
Need rear motor mount

my passenger mirror has a slight click too but still works fine *crosses fingers*

 

Wow thats alot for one yr, I purchased a 04 DGP in 12/09 and i spent 6-8k fixing that damn car in a one yr time period so i traded for an 08 tls w/ 18k miles a yr ago and my biggest issue was engine light was on due to bad gas in my tank (87)so the dealer flushed it out and problem solved. One more thing why do people buy these cars to only put 87 gas in it WTF this makes no sense.....

 

10. Positive battery cable found corroded @ post clamp: Replace positive battery cable.

Probably didn't need to replace the terminal cable. When you replace your battery or perform regular maintenance you should purchase the following

Battery post and terminal cleaner(wire brush), CRC or permatex battery cleaner and CRC or permatex battery protector.

1. Remove the terminal clamps
2. Spray cleaner on clamps and posts
3. Use the terminal and post cleaner (Wire brush)
4. Attach clamp to posts
5. Spray battery protect on posts/clamps

 

I have my own woes as well. Recently purchased a 06 TL with 75k miles on it. I got it for a pretty good price but that's changed. First thing to hit me was the battery. Changed a new battery from dealership for $55 with their discount. Then I notice the steering was hard at times during minimal speeds. Read a few threads here about the power steering pump and called Acura to confirm recall was done. It was but problem still exist even after recall work.

Just took my car to Paragon Acura in Queens, New York and man... I was stumped.

I know there's a lot of DIY threads here which is awesome but I don't have any car ownership experience nor tools to perform most of the adjustments/modifications.

The damage handed to me was a broken power steering pump and a broken right engine mount. Total for parts and labor... $903.

Ughhhh....

 

Lol I hear you on the love-hate, welcome to my world.
07 TL-S 6MT

Have fixed :
- Axle nut clicking issue (twice)
- Squeaky clutch pedal (lubed)
- Squealing belt (AC pump bolt TSB)
- 3rd gear TSB
- Fuel gas cap light TSB


Upcoming fixes :
- New tie rod end casing
- Belt squealing again
- Browning side mirrors
- Clutch creaking (Master cylinder TSB)
- CV joints grinding when very cold
- Side view mirrors going bananas when in reverse (forcefully trying to angle down non-stop)
- High pitch whine from audio when cold
- Driver heated seat no longer works on low

Some of these things are annoyances but ya.. It's way more than I experienced with previous cars.

Good luck

 

You are not alone. I bought my TL with 18k. I am now over 30 k and I have the mirror issue. I am also having inconsistent shifting after going to GM synchromesh. What I mean by this is under normal shifting conditions, it is supposed to just click into place. Mine feels like there is some resistance on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gears. It feels like I am breaking something in the gearbox when shifting at times. As far as the belt chirp I am having something going on in the timing belt area(passenger side of the engine bay). Mine sounds like there is a hamster running around in a ball under the hood. HONDA will not get anymore of my money until I am convinced they have got their shit together. I love the TL but for what I paid I am losing my utility on it each time I drive the damn thing. Sad when your buddy has a Hyundai with over 100k and he is still on his OG clutch with no clicking or any other issues. It also speaks volumes to Honda's decline in quality over the years.