Hi guys, looking to get some insight into a problem im having with my 05 tl. i currently have 134000 , ive had it for about the last 100000 miles.

Its making a whinning noise, which sounds almost like a supercharger when i accelerate with a load on it. No noise in P or N. it also seems so change in pitch slightly when it shifts and every once in a while i notice it when i slow to a stop.
Now the noise isnt too loud, if i have the radio on, i cant hear it, but it is there. I cant remember when it started, but i do know that it didnt make that noise when i bought it. It seems to be loudest at first around 1500 rpms then increases in pitch w/ acceleration from there on.
Shifting is fine, no slips. no hard shifts or loss of power that i notice.

I have searched around on the forums and I had a couple of gear friends take a look at it and everything that ive read on here concurs with their assumption of it being the torque converter.

Now, what i would like to know is has anyone had luck replacing the torque converter for a problem like this/ or did you go for the whole trans? any other ideas?

I'm probably going to take it into acura sometime next week to have them take a look at it. Unless someone can reccomend a good shop for this kind of stuff in south jersey

 

Sounds like a good diagnosis! May just wanna try swapping convertors. its much cheaper than the trans

 

WOW OP holy shit. Mine started doing this too in the last week. Only thing is, it only happens when I am only in 4th gear at 2500RPM and 5th gear when I let off and it drops down to 2000RPM. Man this is fucking buill shit b/c I only have 31000 on mine. I am so pissed. Definitely to the point now where I am reconsidering my loyalty to Honda.

 

I thought you have a 6mt...

Sounds like a torque converter. Just to clarify, does it make the noise at idle in gear without the car moving? What happens when you powerbrake it, again with the car sitting still.

In drive and sitting still, nothing is moving in the trans but the pump. As you accelerate and rpms begin to go above 2,500rpm or so, engine speed and input shaft speed are closely matched so the noise won't be as loud. If it's the converter, you probably won't hear the noise at all when it's locked such as steady state down the freeway. It should be worst at low speeds and low rpm.

With no noise in neutral or park it sounds like the stator bearing. Before letting Acura loose on the car which will result in them telling you that you need a new trans and converter or that you can only replace the converter to the tune of $800 in parts, I would find a good independent shop. You can usually get yours repaired or a rebuilt convertor for about $200. The labor to R&R the trans is going to be expensive though.

For the heck of it, make sure the fluid level is ok and that it's not aerated. Check the factory filter to make sure it's not plugged. See if the fluid is sparkly, usually the converter sheds a lot of metal when it's failing, usually aluminum. Little chance this is anything but converter but it doesn't hurt to try.

 

Yep it's a 6SPD Type S(HIT)
Just put a fresh batch of ACURA Manual fluid in about 3 weeks ago. The car is still under warranty so I am going in there today after work and going hard. This is just too much BS for a newer car with such low mileage. If the damn thing weren't still under warranty I would have it in parts trying to figure out WTF is going on.

After this bullshit and the bullshit with my CL Honda has already lost a loyal customer. I am done with them after the TL. That's it for me. Throwing in the towel. There is just no rhyme or reason that a 30k car should have this much crap wrong with it.

 

Your MT is under warranty and that sucks, but Lets keep this on track for the OP. R&R the auto should be about 450.00 + parts and fluid.

 

^ Not trying to get sidetracked I was simply chiming in that, while yes my car is a manual, I am experiencing very very similar symptoms that the OP was describing.

 

No noise at idle, no noise when powerbraking. It seems it is still there at highway speeds, but barely noticeable and totally disappears after 75 mph. Looks like ill be going away for a couple of months soon, so ill have to get it looked at sometime this summer. Ill post then if i have any luck.

 

Oh wow, that changes things a bit. It doesn't completely rule out the converter but it definitely makes it less likely. I wonder if you have the final drive whine like many of us have. Mine has done it since I bought the car with 8 miles on it and hasn't gotten worse, probably just a little better with the Redline fluid at 107,000 miles so I don't worry about it. If you can hear it around 75mph, it's definitely worth looking into.

The big question I forgot to ask is if it follows road speed or engine speed and does it get worse with more throttle. If it follows road speed it's not the converter and could be anything from the differential to the hubs and everything in between.

 

def follows engine speed, you can hear it change pitch as the car shifts. It it prob loudest between 1500-2500 rpms, and it increases in pitch and not so much volume as i accelerate

 

I am having this EXACT problem with my 2005 AT w/50k on it. I just started another thread before reading this one (sorry). I have searched and can't seem to find a solution. Mine is exactly the same in 4th gear. Does anyone have any solutions?

 

I'm in with you, I might be throwing the white flag with Honda. Quality has really gone down the drain. I understand little things that can go out but transmission issues left and right.