so i just picked up a 14 TL SH-AWD and used sport mode for the first time; without using paddle shifters

is it normal that the tranny won't go past 4th/5th gear? I was on the highway pushing it hard and it wouldn't go into 6th at all; normal???

 

Yes, this is normal. You can upshift using paddles in sports mode but it's designed to not go past 4th gear in sports mode.

 

If you are pushing the car hard, I doubt it will hit the higher gear.
Lay off the gas and it should engage into 6th at the appropriate speed.

 

thanks! heres what the manual states:

To shift into the S
position, press the release button on
the front of the shift lever, and move
the lever to S. This position is similar
to D, except only gears from first to
fifth are selected. (When shifting up
automatically, the vehicle speed is
higher than when in the D position.)
The S position keeps the
transmission from cycling between
fourth, fifth and sixth gears in stop-
and-go driving.

 

Congrats on your TL..

 

Yes its normal!
congrats on your purchase!

 

congrats.

just for your info.. the 5AT can hold 1st gear all day.. while the 6AT cant due to the shorter gear ratios..

 

"In Sport mode the transmission typically operates in the four lowest gears, and won't shift to Fifth gear unless the vehicle reaches very high speed. In Sport mode, the economy-oriented Sixth gear is locked out."

2012 Acura TL - Powertrain - TL - Acura News

Though the link references 2012, the transmission is the same in 2014.

 

At highway speeds in sport mode the RPMs still stay at around 3k to 3.5k so it's totally not over revving. It's actually perfect for torque.

Just use you paddle shifters if you want 5th or 6th. Keep in mind with this trann you can double or tripple tap the paddles. It may take a second or two but it will shift down three gears after three quick taps.

 

Since I installed the new Magnaflow mufflers yesterday, I was driving in S mode. I was trying to go into 3rd from 2nd and tapped the up handle several times and the car wouldn't shift. It pegged the rev limiter which I didn't want to happen and did whir whir three times, before I let off the gas. I have used the S mode several times in the TL bit it's a bit slow and not a great build quality. There are many other cars that the paddle shifters work much better in. I'm surprised that Acura has such a slow responding paddle shift system.

 

It typically won't go lower than 2nd when the car is in motion UNLESS you are going fairly slow AND applying throttle. Then it will go into 1st. And since 1st is such a low gear, it's really easy to hit the rev limit.

I agree that the transmission isn't the quickest to respond, and I also feel the computer sometimes gets in the way, especially if going around a corner. I understand one should't change gears while in a turn, but I've found the TL will prevent a downshift even at a very slow turn, like a rolling stop.

 

^^^^ if you are referring to my post you misread what I wrote. I was trying to get into 3rd from 2nd, this was also on a straight section of the highway.