Megster83

This morning I was going to work and my car saw fit to act up. It was about 50F out (so not hot) and I proceeded down my street. From the stop sign I felt a slight hesitation in ecceleration (it didn't have the gusto it usaully does). This happened every time I eccelerated from a stop the next 3 times. but I just thought it was taking longer than usual to warm up. From a slight hill I was stopped and getting ready to make a left onto the blvd, so I let off the brake and usually it moves forward a bit, but it just stayed (like a manual). I went, and no guts on take-off at all. I proceeded and the next turn from a stop, the same, no guts and slow as she goes. About half mile down, at a red light again, and no shifting out at all, just slow, slow, slow. I pulled over and put it in park. Then tried again. NOTHING. No gears at all D-N-P-R nothing worked. I put in manual shift and nothing there either. So I called a tow truck. About ten minutes later I turned it on and tried again and everything worked like nothing was wrong. SO...before I bring it to the shop and just let them go at it, I would like to know if it sounds like the torque converter or the tranny. It wasn't slipping, it just wasn't shifting out as usual. Please help.

avs007

Sounds like your tranny went into limp mode... In limp mode, the tranny locks itself into 4th gear, which is why it's so gutless. (On my infiniti, the manual says limp mode is 4th gear, so I'm assuming it's the same with the TL)

There should a trouble code stored in the ECU. When you restart, the ECU probably didn't detect any errors, and that's why it worked fine... This happened to me once in my other car, when I first got my car, and the dealer said it must've just been a glitch.... HAven't had that problem since...

If it was your Torque Converter, you'd know... Usually when that goes out, it makes a loud whining sound, or your car will feel like it has no gears, and it will free-rev... Also, usually when a TC goes out, it doesn't "fix itself", it goes out.... At least that's been my experience with other cars...

01tl4tl

the TL has something that when you park for 15 minutes or so- it will restart and let you get home safely--at least in limp mode which limits rpm to 2500

to the dealer for you- sorry to say
whats your year and miles?

Megster83

I limped it to the tranny guy after work yesterday...and yes there was a whining sound the whole way. From a stop, it would almost go, then no gears. I would wait a sec, turn it off and back on and it would go again. When I pulled into the shop and went to park I rolled bakward in D. I just don't know. It's an 04 with just over 100,000 miles.

avs007

According to my tranny guy, he said the TC makes a whining sound if the fluid pressure is too low... So he recommended to replace the pressure regulator when I had this problem on my other car, which ended up fixing the problem... On my pontiac, the Tranny Fluid Pressure Regulator was a $70 part.

01tl4tl

there is a thread about the pressure switch for gen3--might be a diy by now~
common problem- lets hope thats all you need!!

Normal trans clutch failure is different than you describe

01tl4tl

04 has gen2 trans with its bad problems
Did your 04 get the RECALL installed oil jet kit? it is an oil line going into a special bolt on top of trans- where normal filler hole is

If not sure call acura 1-800-382-2238x5 and ask- need cars VIN
there may be salvation from acura if you never got the recall done

Megster83

Well I took it to the tranny man and after spending a day with her said it's the tranny... and he can replace or rebuild. Either way really expensive...So we'll see. I never beleive it until it's back and running fine for a while.