Hi, I was about to buy a 2005 TL and when i took it for a test drive, I put it into tiptronic and noticed that it shifts automatically from first to second gear. It shifts at only 2000rpm. After second gear the rest are manual. Is this normal? Do all TL's shift automatically from first to second at 2000rpm? Should i get it checked by acura becuase it could be a transmission problem? Thanks in advance and sorry for the noob question.

 

Yep thats normal, it depends how aggressive you are on the throttle for it to shift to second. I believe the 07-08 will let you shift to second instead of it doing it for you.

 

So if you apply normal pressure to the gas it should change to seconnd gear around 2000 or 2500 rpm in tiptronic right? I guess I don't need to get it checked at acura dealership. I'll just get the regular pre inspection check from midas

 

yes normal gas it will switch to second by itself in tip ... but if u gun it, it will hold first. i would still get the tl checked at an acura dealer, just because they will know the car better than a midas IMO

 

I was told on a test drive with the "Master Technician" at my dealership that the "safety" gear in Tiptronic is 2nd gear.

Not sure if that's accurate.

 

Safety gear??

 

It shifts from 1-2 in tiptronic exactly as it would if it were in drive. Less throttle and it shifts early, more throttle and it shifts later. If you want it to hold 1st, put it in low.

 

That *should* be the gear it will default to if it loses the electronics.....or he was talking about starting off in 2nd on slippery surfaces.

 

As IHC mentioned, this is totally normal for that year TL. Things changed in 07 when they went with the RL trans. Manual mode can be fun, but you can hold out every gear longer and prob shift at the optimal rpm if you just leave it in drive and mash the pedal. The only time i use manual mode is in the winter at a stop, or slow stop and go freeway driving...i just leave it in 2nd. Good luck and enjoy with no worries

 

Oh ok I gotcha. I was confused as to what he meant by safety gear

 

It's all good and normal mine does the same thing

 

You seem to know these cars inside and out...what is the purpose of the "low" gear?

 

 

Perfectly normal. When I was autocrossing the same car, this was a GREAT feature honestly. It would autoshift first to second on a wide open throttle and hold it from there. As most of the course was driven in second gear...and sometimes third....it was very handy.

 

I guess anytime you want to keep it in 1st gear. I've only used it once and that was when my brakes were squeaking terribly in a parking garage. I kept it in first so I didn't have to use my brakes.