Hello,

I'm looking for some input on an issue I've been experiencing - thanks in advance!

Car:
* 2008 Acura TL Type S
* automatic transmission
* 166,000 km's / 103,000 miles

Observations:
* motor bogs down on startup and sounds/feels like it might stall then catches and runs OK
* it doesn't seem to matter if it's a cold start vs warm start but I've definitely noticed it more on warm starts (car started again after an hour or two vs sitting overnight)
* on one occasion I did turn the car off and started it back up immediately after one of the "bogs" and it fired up without issue
* I haven't noticed it bogging when running although I've seen the idle fluctuate slighty at times
* I would say I've noticed this happening around two or three times a week
* the car hasn't completely stalled yet but did come close a couple times
* car seems fine when driving - no hesitation issues

Additional Background:
* I had a mechanic in the family perform the 105K maintenance and valve adjustment (after-hours at the shop he used to work at) and things seemed to be OK - he moved on to a major dealership now and unfortunately isn't in a position to work on the car at the new shop - I'm going to give him a shout and see what his thoughts are but I wanted to check on here as well
* the bogging issue started a few weeks after the 105K maintenance
* I always run minimum 91 octane gas

Parts Used for 105K Maintenance:
* AISIN TKH002 timing belt kit
* NGK Laser Iridium #6994 plugs
* OEM: valve cover gaskets, cam seals, crank seal, spark plug tube seals, thermostat and coolant
* Gates ACK060841 serpentine drive belt component kit

Jon

 

Hey Jon, I know it's been a while lol. But I have a 3G TL with a 6 spd. 230k miles. And it has the same exact issue you described. Doesn't seem to have a correlation with anything. I've done valve adjustment, new timing belt, water pump, oil pump and numerous odds and ends. Still likes to do it every now and again. Any info is appreciated! Thank you.

 

How is the condition of the battery? If it's old or bad, the car might have an issue with the idle setting. Disconnect battery for 15-minutes and reconnect. Turn the car to accessory mode and turn off the a/c and all other items (headlights, heated seats, etc.). Turn the car off and then turn it fully on. Rev the car to 2000-3000 RPM's until the car reaches operating temp and the cooling fan cycles twice. This is the idle relearn process. If the battery goes flat or is disconnected, you'll have to redo this.

A great way to check and see if this is the issue is to try and turn on the A/C while at a redlight. The idle will drop below 750 and suddenly pop back up.