MPMG42

04 TL (auto) w/65000miles on it.

When driving intermittently slightly jerks (feels like it wants to go and then feels like it wants to break) usually starts around 40mph. Then the VSA and Check engine light will turn on and acceleration is minimal. I usually pull over to the side of the road and turn the car off. The VSA light will turn off and later on when driving, the Check Engine light will turn off. Not close to an Acura Dealer but everytime I take it to have the computer read, they state they can't do anything without a check engine light active. I haven't seen a definite fix for this problem. Was wondering if anyone has had the same issues lately with their Acura and what they did to fix it. I honestly don't have the patience nor the cash to waste on "it could be" from mechanics like I previously did with my Integra which ended up costing me WAY too much money not to fix.

Thanks

conester

That's exactly what happened to me before I took my car in and had the APPS (Accelerator pedal position sensor) replaced. My engine light and VSA light came on and I couldn't accelerate over 2000 rpm or something like that. Restarted the car and the vsa light went out but the CEL was still on. After a little while the CEL went out. Took it to the dealer and they replaced the sensor and the car drives perfectly now.

About them telling you they can't do anything if he CEL is out.....that's BS! They can still hook it up to their diagnostic machine and see what code came up even if the CEL is not on anymore. That's what they did with mine since the CEL was out when I took it in to get fixed and they still saw the code that was thrown.

Good luck!

miah2178

Check out this thread...
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...7#post10997707

I'm sure there are other threads that relate. I'm going to do the test NE14RoxCJ suggested later on today. We might be able to "see" the APP working faulty.

NE14RoxCJ

Agreed, they should still be able to see what caused the light. Just because the light's not on doesn't mean it didn't store the fault code. This seems to be how most people's APP sensor fails. Intermittent hard fail that causes a CEL and limp mode. If it doesn't fail hard enought to cause that, then it just irritates the crap out of you every day.

RSECMD

I have a 2004 TL with about 65K miles. Intermittenly, the VSA, MIL (check eng), and yellow triangle lights come on and the car is in "limp mode" (greatly reduced power) until ignition is cycled.

The only code set is P0122 (throttle/pedal position sens A ckt low input).

I've replaced the Accelerator Pedal Position sensor and the throttle body but this didn't help.

The problem seems to happen after the car has been driven for a few miles. At that point, it happens almost every time the car is moved in Reverse. It happens less often in Drive, and then more frequently after slowing down and turning.

While monitoring the engine with a scan tool while reproducing the problem, I've noticed that the cacluated load seems to be way off. It reads about 27 to 30% with the transmission in neutral and the engine idling.

I'll check the %load when the engine cools off to see if it reads correctly then.

Any suggestions? What sensors does the ECM use to calculate load? Is there a calibration procedure after the throttle body and APP sensor are replaced?

Thanks for your help! Ron

Teehel

so..what was the problem? how much it cost to fix it?

quantum13

i am having this problem too...any input from anyone on this?

exactly as described, even down to the part where the CEL turns itself off after awhile...

tsill

same issues here. i've had it for about 3 yrs. I have to pull off the road and cycle the key to get it to come out of limp mode. Scan tool is telling me its the throttle pedal position sensor circuit c/d voltage correlation. If I find anything else i'll try to post back.

n-cal05

Just had this happen to me last week. Took the car to acura and they said "accelerator position sensor" bad. They fixed it and also "programed fuel injection (PGM-F1) thats what it said on the invoice. All is good.I have the extended warrenty so America Honda is paying the $317.86.

cmbsc12

I had the same problem just a few weeks ago. Took it to the dealership, it was the throttle positioning sensor as mentioned above. All is well now. Glad to hear i was not the only one having this issue. I was starting to think my car was a lemon.

quantum13

same issue here..replaced the APP and all is well.

i had the fluttery throttle body butterfly valve and jerky low-rpm acceleration...not anymore!

tsill

I have a.p.p.s on order and will let you know if that is what fixes the d/e incorrect voltage correlation code p2138.

ABP_04TL

iTrader: (2)

damn imma have to do the same

37971-RBB-003 SENSOR ASSY., ACCELERATOR PEDAL 1 2004 TL 165.57 $$124.18

its a quick fix it, if its really that... keepin my fingers crossed

tsill

installed it in 20 minutes on a hot car. reset the battery by disconnecting it for 30 minutes, then proceeded to drive it from cincinnati to south carolina. the difference in drivability was amazing. it was completely like driving the car as new again. this was an intermittent issue for us for a long time, years. like night and day. no more jerking all over the place. after a while of driving it all jerky you think it's just cuz of the power of the car. plus this is my wifes car so i dont drive it but once a week. fixed for me.

abcsoup10

Im having this same problem at the moment on my automatic 04TL and its driving me nuts. If it infact is the APPS, is this something that can be replaced easily or am I better off sucking it up and taking it to Acura?

dob0308

I'm in the same boat as alot of you... and am asking the question too: Is this a fairly simple job to change out the APP sensor? Isn't there 2 of them (A and B) ?

Thanks for any info!

azzyork

MPMG42 i feel your pain, im having the same problem. cel comes on and when tryin to gas car barely moves but just enough to not get other drivers mad lol, also the jerkiness like you said "feels like it wants to go and then feels like it wants to break". good luck and keep us updated.

frdm2002

I was having the same problems - acceleration hesitation, one case of "limp home" mode, etc. Read this thread and others, bought a new APP sensor through Delray Acura (one day to my doorstep!) and after a 15 min removal/reinstall process, no more problems.

tsill

its easy as pie to install. small hands help but i did it with big fat hands. a magnet tool helps just in case you drop a screw and i use it to hold under what i'm working on and it catches the stuff outta the air. take of the pass side plastic and the firewall plastic. the app is under the strut bar on the firewall. unclip the connector, take off the cable, and then unbolt it. reverse and your done. 20 min's. if you have a friend helping count on it taking an hour. tell ur wife/girlfriend that it may take all nite.
sorry for the goat thing. my god who put that in there.

abcsoup10

I hope this is the piece I need because Im going to go ahead and order it.

http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/...AL_SENSOR_ASSY.

also I found this, pretty much a DIY for the installation:
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-problems-fixes-114/diy-app-sensor-730958/#post11104711

ABP_04TL

iTrader: (2)

APP sensor on the way!!! cant wait to swap that shyt out of there

abcsoup10

me too! i hope this works

driver4life43

I've been having the same problem with my 04 TL 6MT for about a year.

Thank you!

driver4life43

Is the programming required for the new install, or does the app and computer link up once you reattached the battery?

tsill

disconnect the battery for 30 minutes. I would disconnect negative first then take the positive off as well. clean them while your at it. reattach, enjoy your smooth ride.

azzyork

good to see a fix niped in the bun!

leprekhan

Wow, I didn't know so many guys were having this problem. I just ordered a new sensor myself. I hope this works. I'm as annoyed as all you guys wuth this, and I've only had it bothering me for a week. I'll keep you posted.

tji1976

I have had this happen to me twice. I am not the smartest tool in the shed, can someone post a few pictures on where this is at? I did see the other link with a couple of pics, but could use a couple more to help me out.

Thanks!

TBone2004

Holy crap this EXACT thing just happend this morning for the first time '04 acura TL 123K miles...I have now gone from the initial crappy feeling on the side of the road, to a feeling of relief thanks to this thread...printing it now and will be dbl checking the symptoms then ordering as well.

Guys thanks!!

abcsoup10

Just finished installing my new APP sensor. Went for a short cruise and the drive seems alot nicer. I dont want to get ahead of myself here and give a biased answer. I'll post again in a week or so and see how it goes.

As a side note, for the last week and half or so I hadn't been having the car go into this "limp" mode and the problem seemed to be gone. It started to get better when the weather got a lot hotter here, when the car was running cold, it seemed to happen 1-2 times daily. Anyone else experience this?

TiggerL

what are the exact tools you need to replace the app sensor? i saw you just need a 10mm socket. is this accurate?