This has happened a few times the last couple of months (randomly).

While driving, usually when I stop at a traffic light, the engine light, VSA light, and the ! warning light would turn on and after that when I try to accelerate, the car will barely respond and fastest it will go is 15 mph! I literally have to put on my hazards and wave cars by then find a place I can stop my car, turn it off, restart it, then the warning lights are gone and I can drive again. This has happened 3-4 times in the past two months.

I have read the manual and made sure my gas cap is on tight and also that it was not caused by me accidentally hitting the VSA button.

This is very dangerous since it happens while I am driving. Has anyone else heard of this? I tried searching through this forum and other places, it seems like others have had the warning light issue and has had to turn off the engine and back on, but I haven't heard anyone that couldn't accelerate while the lights were on. Is this because the VSA is braking the car and slowing it from moving forward?

Thanks in advance. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

Sounds kinda like limp-home mode. How old is your oil?

 

I just had this happen a few months ago. Its the TPS sensor I think. I'll look for my invoice.

 

I wish mine would do that. It just constatly acts like it wants to. And never sets a code!! You're lucky, the car will tell ou what is wrong. Have someone check the codes with a scanner.

 

Just about due for an oil change. I think I'm at around 15% left.

I am scheduling service for oil change and this VSA problem tomorrow. What is limp home mode? Any particular thing I should ask the service reps to check on?

It seems like a pretty big road hazard. Is this something the Acura service center would take care of or are they going to charge some serious $$$?

 

It allows you to get home while keeping RPMs low. That's about the simplest definition of it you'll find, but you get the point. Not saying that it applies in your case (or even mine) but it has the symptoms.

Mine was that I guess oil was clogging some passages or the oil pick-up screen was clogged (bullshit guesses, but it's what I can think of). Oil change later, and it's fine. This was on a CR-V.

The oil change wouldn't hurt, though.

 

How did you solve this problem? im having the same issue.

Can u please provide me the info you sent DGTC i would truly appreciate it thank you.

 

Your car year, if type S, and current miles are very helpful in diagnosing problems
state your symptoms as they may differ from those above
Anything you did before it acted up- and anything you have checked or tried so far

Throttle Position sensor has been a popular failure recently

 

transmission?

 

I have a 05 TL Automatic 96K. Exact same symptoms as above it happened after a red light i kept hitting the gas and it would only goto like 15-20mph and both those lights came on first time its ever happened. VSA light is gone but the engine still on.

 

This sounds just like a feature on my B'mer. It can be caused by a ton of different things, usually sensors though.

Basically the CPU gets a major warning signal (and it's usually not a major problem, but it could be) and then puts the car in limp-mode, which limits the RPM's and speed to keep you from doing more damage to the car in case it is something major. The only way to solve it is to put it on a scanner and figure out what the malfunction is. Again, 9 times out of 10 it's just a sensor.

 

if you live anywhere in the usa but CA, you can go to a parts store and borrow the scanner tool or they will come out and do it for you
report back with those codes
They are clues- not diagnosis!!- a code leads you to the real prob and can mislead you too

 

It's most likely your Accelerator pedal position sensor. I had the exact same thing happen....dash lights on, limited rpm etc. Took to the dealer and they replaced the sensor and all was good! DO that!

Brian

 

100% APP Sensor!

 

How much did this cost you at the dealer? That is the same thing happening to me. Any idea how hard it is to DIY?

 

I took my 05 TL in for this same issue and they told me the APP sensor is bad. It sends data to the transmission. If you were like me, your transmission was stuck in 3rd gear. That is why there is no aceleration. The part is about $175 plus labor. I will be picking up my car this afternoon. Ill let you know if it fixes the problem.

 

it took me 15 minutes. There are some instructions in this thread: https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-problems-fixes-114/acceleration-failure-while-driving-726039/

 

having the same exact problem..since u replaced the sensor is everything ok?

 

Yep, car has been perfect with new sensor......go get a new sensor!!!

 

replaced the APP and solved the problem

verified the issue by seeing the butterfly valve in the throttle body flutter like crazy on low throttle

doesn't do that anymore and accelerates nice and smooth

thanks for all the help here - so glad this 'safe mode' or 'limp home mode' thing is over!

 

Can anyone confirm that they sense a slight pulsing during start up?

Perhaps my problem listed here: https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-problems-fixes-114/engine-pulsing-surging-upon-light-throttle-when-cold-765504/ also pertains to the APP.

I have the hesitation upon acceleration but I was told by a tech that its due to the drive by wire system trying to calculate the best emissions/acceleration map.

 

I have a 02 TL type S, and my engine/VSA light are on. It will not accelerate. I had to shut the engine off and restart to get it home. Long story short, had it towed to and "Acura Specialist" they said that I need a whole new transmission . I was soo blown away I did not even bother to get the code they got. But can it be true that I need a whole new transmission???? I have about 160,000 miles on my car now.

 

I have the very same issue with my 2006 Acura MDX (80,149 miles). I had the front rotors and all brake pads replaced at 67,700 miles. My VSA light came on on the freeway while I was driving and had to pull over. My brakes were smoking. I turned my vehicle off and turned it back on. The VSA light was off. But my brakes were not working properly. Drove it into Pepboys, which was the closest shop around. The mechanics there couldn't figure out the problem. They checked the brake lines, master cylinder, calipers, brake pads...One of my front and one of my rear brakes was not getting brake fluid. I had them flush the brake fluid. But the problem persisted. I had to take it to the dealership today and I already feel like I'm being ripped off. They're blaming the problem on DOT 4 brake fluid and said I should have had DOT 5 brake fluid put on. They're saying they have to take my entire brake system apart. Anyone else experiencing this problem?

 

I have the 2004 TL same issue fixed yesterday. It was the TPS. I went to a local mechanic total price fix was $369. He had to buy the part from the Acura dealer and remarked that they had a bunch of them in stock which told him this is apparently becoming an issue

 

its definitely the tps

 

Samething happen to me two days ago.. Have to Replace the TPS today... ((

 

I had this problem and before I bought the part I tried to tighten the throttle cable. It helped the initial acceleration to be less jumpy, but the VSA light still came on and the accelerator cut off. I bought the part from a store online thats aftermarket Japanese, Intermotor because the store offered a free 2 year warranty thats better than the OEM 1 year for just like about $150. Install was easy and I have no previous auto mechanic experience other than oil and other fluid changes. The diy is very good for this with the photos. I am going to do the O2 sensors soon to. Thanks everyone for the DIY.
Here is the link for the APP
http://www.theautopartsshop.com/auto...al-sensor.html

Also after doing this all my surging, rough shifts and problems are gone, I have 170,000 on my 05 and still on my original spark plugs. No issues yet but the VSA was put off because the dealer wanted more than $400 to change this.

 

Does anybody know if Honda part number 37971-RCA-A01 (APS for '06 Accord) is the same as Acura part number 37971-RBB-003 (APS for '06 TL)? The Honda part is about $30 less.

 

This happened to me today. I was on the expressway, thank God, I was only one exit away from the dealership. It was also my APP sensor. Was quoted $285 total by Superior Acura. Thanks for all the posts, I learned so much from reading the responses

 

Side note, I have been noticing for about a month that my car was accelerating funny, or should I say differently than I believed it normally behaves. I'm not a car person at all, so it's hard for me to tell if something is really wrong or just my imagination. That may have been a warning of sorts. So happy, the car tells you what's wrong with it and has built in precautions to prevent additional damage.

 

 

Good info in this thread. Just figured I share this story in case anyone else runs into a similar situation, which is different from where this thread started.

Two weeks ago, had front brakes replaced on 2006 TL as they were due. Got in the car and took a 600 mile r/t noticing all the way there was a slight vibration in front at speeds over 50. Wasn't enough to cause immediate concern, but was going to have it checked out.

Last night, driving on highway, felt like Luke Skywalker with R2D2 having a meltdown. Check Engine light comes on, ! warning light comes on and VPS indicator comes on. Wife told me to watch my language. I was going about 70mph and it felt like the wheels were going different speeds. RPMs and all other indicators were fine, though.

Wife checked Owner's Manual which said to pull over, turn off and turn car back on to reset VSA, which worked, but the Check Engine light stayed on and jumpy feeling was still there, though not as severe. Wasn't forced to drive slow (good thing! driving on DC Beltway would have been hell) but you could tell something still wasn't right. Thought was a sensor was malfunctioning or when they replaced brakes, something didn't get reset.

Taking car to local trusted mechanic, but want to give him the solutions you all have come up with. Thanks for the info. Will let you know answer he comes up with and how much.

 

i have that happen to twice in the same day the car wont accelerate if riding 60 to 70 mile a hour the lights come on the car wont slow down is can keep riding but it wont slow down the car wont pick up the speed back put it in neutral and the rpms wont go past 3. I have to turn the car off then restart it then it hall the power all the lights go off but the check engine light that will go off in a day or so.i stopped by and put it on a machine one day the lights came on and the computer reading was low voltage check the battery but put a brand new battery in a couple weeks ago.and while you riding you can feel the car hesitating while you are driving lights while cut on.any body know how to fix this please let me know

 

Same issue this Friday also. Could only shift in 2nd and 3rd gear. Had my pedal all the way to the floor and there was hardly any acceleration. Took it to the dealer to get a firmware update for the throttle position sensor and a transmission flush to boot.

 

ok so this just happened to me today driving home. It took me about 30secs to get my car to 25mps with the petal to the floor. Im looking thru the tread and people say its the TPS or APP Sensor.Is there anyway to tell which one it is? I have a 08 TL-S 105k miles. This is the 2nd time its happened to me in about 3months. I changed my oil on sunday so it should not be that problem.

 

These are the errors my car is saying. Throttle system P2138, Emissions System P0171

 

It's your APP Sensor my friend. Easy Fix. Mine just went up at 231K

 

Awesome, mine just started pulling this shit on me today. It doesnt like the supercharger I guess

 

Great info- question though. This happened to me about 2 weeks ago. Problem seemed to resolve itself after a battery disconnect. I have now driven maybe 50-60 miles since then with absolutely no issue.

Should I expect this to happen again? Should I just replace the sensor preemptively :/ ? wish the damn sensor was cheaper!

 

My 2004 TL had the same problem with going into limp home mode with the check engine light and VSA triangle light going on. After reading through this forum I was able to find a quick and zero cost solution - I simply tightened the accelerator cable at the APP sensor. This fixed the problem immediately and my car is running great with no warning lights. Easy fix even for an amateur. I would suspect that most people who replace the APP sensor really don't need to. Just tightening the cable should do the trick.