I'm sure many of you have been given the run around about the rattles and fading dash.. I just wanted to see what the dealership did for you in similiar circumstances... I brought my 05 TL w/10k miles on it yesterday to Vandegriff Acura in Arlington, TX... I've had some issues with the tranny, several rattles, the passenger window creaks when bringing it up, and we found scratches on the roof the day after delivery... We went for a drive with the tech, and he was unable to notice the tranny problem, even though he admitted that the car shifts hard.. He did notice the dash was fading and the rattles that were in the car however... They put us in a loaner for the night to see if we noticed a difference in the way the car drives.. The loaner shifts a lot easier than our current TL.. I am all new to this.. I've leased several luxury vehicles but never had problems at such a low mileage... How far can I take this, what is too much to demand, and what is a fair demand? I don't want blood, I just want to feel good sending that $430 dollar lease check in every month... From reading on here people have said that they are unable to fix all the rattle problems, and the only way to fix the dash issue is to apply a polish (I'm sorry, but I've NEVER had to treat a dash in my life at 10k, not even my mom's mercury sable ).. So what do you guys think....

 

Hey there. Can't really help you with the tranny, since I assume yours is AUTO and mine is 6MT, but I di dhear a lot about the dash. It definitely is an annoyance, but the explanation I got is that as the plastic cures, it releases some of that white stuff. So the dash looks like its fading.
Definitely shouldn't be this bad, but its not that big of an issue. 303 cleaner worked great for me and the delaer also has a solution from Acura now that polishes off the "excrament" of the plastic. Again, annoying, but a pretty small issue in my book.
I had only one rattle and it was promptly fixed by the dealer, so I have not really had any problems on that side.
Hope this helps a little......

 

I used 303 agian this morning...it works great. Go invest in a bottle. It should last at least 6 months to a year. You don't need much for it to look like new. Good luck.

 

Actually the fading dash is quite bad. My TL is now two years old and requires near weekly applications to look nice. If this is the norm Acura should start supplying 303 like protectant with the car.

303 does help but what I am still disappointed in is the fact that the dash no longer matches the door panels,, IE dash is a "lighter" black than the upper door.

RedSoxGuy, You did the right thing by bringing it to your dealers attention. Let us know what type of response you get from them. Best to get it documented early.

I almost purchased from Vandegriff but went with David McDavid in Plano.

Keep us posted.

Cheers

 

they have the best customer service IMO..

 

Vandegriff or McDavid?
A coworker purchased a 2002 TL-S from McDavid and had good things to say about their service. It was that and ease of access via "George Bush" that pointed me in the McDavid direction... I have yet to use them or any service dept for the TL to date though...

Even though I worked at a large dealership for 8+ years I tend to despise them all... Maybe someday one will give me a reason not to.


RedSoxGuy,
What issue have you been noticing and/or are you concerned about with your transmission?
-- My 04TL-5AT has two "peculiarities" but even I think they're a characteristic of the transmission/programming.

Cheers

 

my bad bro, I meant David Mc David....

 

Thanks

I will admit I haven't heard anything negative about them.

Cheers

 

They gave me a bottle of it for free... See my problem is, I don't think I SHOULD have to treat my dash at this mileage.. I find it totally unacceptable... We brought the car in with 4 problems: fading dash, tranny shifting issue, screeching passenger window, and of course the rattles.. Of these problems the only one they fixed was the window issue (but the lube they applied is starting to fog the window).. They said they couldn't hear any rattles, even though when we were with the tech he heard some, and on the ride home we heard them again... They applied the treatment to the dash on saturday, and the following day you could already see it fading...They also said the tranny was operating as normal... They gave us a loaner 05' TL that drove 200% better than our TL (shifted smoother, NO rattles, or fading dash etc)... When we brought this to our service advisors attention, he looked at us like we were crazy.. He told us that there was nothing to fix, and maybe we got 'bad' gas or something... They are trying to keep both myself and my fiance happy with these issues, but our patience is running thin... We are going to wait about another week and make our second appointment... Side question, does the lemon law apply to leases, if so what happens when you return the car.. Does the lemon law only apply to mechanical problems, or defects as well?

 

That all sounds about right... They cannot fix a bad design you know. If the product has cheaper materials or manufactured using a process that yields these problems, then they are by design and there is nothing to fix according to the dealer.

The window problem resolution is crazy. That should be fixed correctly. As for the rest, did you get the tranny (I am assuming a 5AT)oil changed? or Flushed? applying something on your dash is not a big deal.

 

You aren't my service advisor, but you sure are taking the attitude like one... Not to get rude or nasty, but applying something to my dash at 10k miles, on a weekly basis, IS a big deal to me.. I just graduated college, the TL was the first car I bought with my own money.. I'm sorry, but I worked my ass off to become an engineer and I have every right to be picky about my new car... The bottomline is, its a new car there shouldn't be ANY problems... I wouldn't expect this many problems from a Kia.. Shit at least they have a better warranty....

 

they have a better warranty cause they suck!!

but I do understand what you're saying bro. but Im afraid that this is something that you are going to have to live with. it is obviously a problem with some of the TL's. Im just not sure at this point what you can do other than maintain it. But I ask you please dont turn into an Elmer on this one. David Mc David will do what they can if you bring it to them. I have first hand experience with them. Ive been going to them for over 3 years. Bob Johnson is a service advisor up there and he is the best. If he cant help you then it is completely out of his hands. He is one of the nicest guys Ive met and he has bent over backwards for me. Just goto the Dallas meets thread and ask anybody. I reccomended him to everyone.

 

I've driven two different TL loaner cars.. When you drive a loaner that drives better than your car, its something that you can't stop thinking about... Trust me, I'm not going to turn into an elmer.. This thread isn't for my personal enjoyment to celebrate the problems the TL has.. I'm not trying to rub this in anyone else's face.. I'm simply trying to get help from others who were in the same boat.. Trance I'm going to take it to Vandegriff probably 2 more times, just because I want to deal with the same person I have been dealing with... I'm sorry guys, but I won't be taking it up the ass from Acura like some of you have.... One way or the other, the problems will be fixed or I'm getting out of the lease...

 

I would never expect you to take it up the ass. Thats not at all what I was telling you. I hope they address your issues. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

Wasn't directed at you.. =P Just to the people who think having issues at low mileage in a $30k, is no big deal.. Hope I'm not comin off like a dick, I really don't mean too.. I'm just frustrated, humor me...

 

you're not at all bro. I understand your frustration. If Vandergriff does not handle it they way you think they should, get with me before you do anything else and I will call Bob myself and see if theres anything he can do for you

 

Very much appreciated....

 

"303 does help but what I am still disappointed in is the fact that the dash no longer matches the door panels,, IE dash is a "lighter" black than the upper door."


As has been discussed in the problems forum - the dash is actually a different color than the door panels. Even brand new, the dash is more of a flat dark charcoal grey, where the door panels are shinier black. This is likely done to reduce glare.

 

Oh I think you already are. The metamorphis has begun...

 

:theghey: Oh shit!!!

 

RedSox,
I too just bought a 05 TL from the same dealer in arlington!
Bought mine with 50 miles on it from Lewis @ vandergriff.

I bought some 303 like a week or two ago... if your in town and wanna see what it looks like applied to the car before buying it.... hit me up and maybe we can meet somewhere.... say the dealer and you can apply some of my 303 to your dash. That way you can see if you like it or not......

Just a thought.

 

Nooooo...!!! :theghey:

 

Update.... I brought the car in two times since this original post... The passenger side window was screeching, there were numerous rattles, the dash was fading, and the transmission seemed to be shifting rough... The first visit we left the car overnight, we were given a TL loaner (which drove smoother than our TL)... When we returned to service, they told us they were unable to reproduce any of the problems we were having... They told us they applied a lube to the window that was screeching, and gave us a bottle of applicant for the dash... I bit my tongue and left.. I waited 2 weeks and the rattles and problems only got worse.. The dash seemed to fade only two days after applying the polish.. Turns out they put the lube on the drivers side window instead of the passenger side, so it was still making noise... I brought in this morning again for the same symptoms... This time the service advisor himself took a ride with us, and he saw the problems we were having first hand... He assured us he would take care of us, gave us loaner and sent us on our way... About 2 hours ago I got a call from him saying they are going to replace the entire dash... He told us he couldn't guarentee it wouldn't fade (its pretty obvious that it will), but said the option was there... We agreed and he told us it would be next week before we would see the car... This is only the fading dash, hopefully they'll fix the 7 different rattles my TL has, and address the problem with the tranny we are having.... Seems like this is only the beginning of the bullshit.... Meanwhile we'll keep paying the $430 lease payment Cheers...

 

303 all the way. I put it on my dash before any fading would occur. It worked wonders for the dash; it feels smoother and looks better than the first day I bought it. Sorry to hear about so many rattles; I just have the one on top of the the driver side B pillar (closest to my ear) and my glove box.

I will get them fixed at service time

Keep us posted on your situation!

 

i feel for you ,
this is what happens when honda(acura) makes cars in amercia,,lol
there is no fix for the rattles,sorry to say
thats why the service dept blows you off,and they know about the trannie too
but they wait for it to go out, then and only then honda pays them to take it out to replace with a refab on


dont do this but the only ture fix is leave the keys in it at a bad location and let someone steal it ,thats why leases have gap ins,,lmao