I have a 2011 TL-SH Auto with about 32,000 miles.

About a year ago I brought the car to the dealer and complained of a hesitation in city driving, a waffling as I called it. They quickly diagnosed it as a bum torque converter and booked an appointment to replace it. Took them a week to do the job, allegedly after telling me what was wrong and all that, they couldn't get a "snap shot' for an approval from Acura. Eventually they replaced the torque converter.

The problem never went away. I brought it back to them, they couldn't replicate the problem despite not even road testing it. Brought it to another dealership who also claimed they couldn't replicate them problem. It is easy enough to replicate my wife who is usually oblivious to car problems asked me what was wrong with my car.

They called me last week about a long lost part to fix the trunk liner they broke on a previous repair visit and I asked them to look at the problem again.

Took a 45 minute drive with a tech today. Tech got out and said to service advisor "I know something is wrong, just not sure what yet". Service advisor agreed that 4th gear and 1000 rpms was not right. Car in city driving is in 4th gear, barely over idle at 1000-1500 rpm's, and a little gas sends it into a waffle. It has no power to accelerate, the engine is as if it doesn't have enough fuel or air. The engine rpm's don't increase, the gear doesn't down shift. Most times it snaps out of the funk and accelerates, sometimes it doesn't, sometimes it is starting to accelerate and will stop and start waffling with the rpm's dropping.

Torque converter has been replaced, today they mentioned a recall they weren't sure if it was reprogramed for that. I think the milage is terrible, under 20 mpg. Car can only run on super, anything less is all pings and knocks.

They tried to give it back to me again at the end of the day saying operation is normal and I told them to look harder. Said another 2011 they have performs the same way. My boss has a 2012 TL-SH and it does not act this way in similar driving.

Any ideas?

 

I have the same problem with a 2010 FWD 30k miles. I had trans fluid serviced/replaced and had a trans software update. Helped the first day or two now it's back to the same. If your in traffic the car won't downshift when you change lanes. You hit the gas and sometimes nothing happens for a few seconds like literally nothing and it's dangerous. Sometimes first gear feels like it has 3 gears in it. Takes off slow then a hesitation then a little faster then vtec kicks in and it takes off. I can not spin my tires even with traction control turned off. Feels like I am starting in second gear. It seems like a very common problem with these cars.

 

Does the 4G TL have or use an APP (accelerator pedal position) sensor like the 3G? There are a number of threads on the 3G side of AZ where these have failed.