car: 2004 TL 6MT 117k miles.

Over the last few months, I've noticed that there's a distinct "surge" in the acceleration at times. I can't entirely describe it, but it feels almost as if there's some slack that gets built up somewhere in the drivetrain, and when you transition with the throttle between "decelerating" and "accelerating" instead of being a smooth transition, the car sort of "jumps" into the acceleration part. It's really annoying... at first I only really noticed it when driving around town in 2nd/3rd gear (where the torque would be more responsive anyway) but now that I've really started feeling for it I can find it in any gear at almost any time. I *think* it's also related to a sort of sluggish/jumpyness when starting from a full stop in first gear -- the car sort of has this "surge" to it.

One suggestion from the mechanic was the motor mounts, but that wasn't confirmed as when I was in the shop the last time it was just for an oil change and I wanted to ask here before I had them tear the whole thing apart. I'm pretty technically inclined -- "I'm an engineer but not a mechanic" -- but I don't have the tools or the space to tear the thing apart myself... is there any way to realistically confirm that it is or isn't the mounts?

If it is the mounts, or at least some of them... is this age/mileage a realistic time for these to be failing and needing replacement? is this something where once you've done enough work to get to one set, we might as well replace them all?

if I'm going to open the thing up for major surgery anyway, is there anything else I should consider doing? Note to self: I should have done this when I had the 105k mile service done, as we did the timing belt and all that stuff then... ;-(

thanks...

 

its most likely your APP sensor. its very easy to replace and cost about 140 i belive, maybe less.

 

acuraOEMparts.com has it for ~120 IIRC

If that's what you go with, here's a helpful thread for the DIY.

http://www.acura-tsx.com/forums/showthread.php?t=730958

 

I thought about that, but if it's the AP sensor, wouldn't I be able to detect the surging in the throttle even when it's NOT in gear? If I leave the car in neutral and move the accelerator, the movement through the RPM range is smooth.

If the car is in gear and the drivetrain is under load, that's when it gets rough and "surge-y"

 

check your motor mounts.

 

I always thought my 6mt was like that. Going on and off the gas at low speed was like a bucking bronco. When I was running a lightweight crank pulley, it was much smoother in that area. I put the stock pulley back on since I am going with a lightweight flywheel so I hope that it is like running the light crank pulley.