Hi All,

I have a 2012 Acura TL SH-AWD that was driving fine up until yesterday. I was driving then the car decided to stall on me. I quickly put the car into park, started up again and continued to drive to a nearby parking lot.

The drive to there was rough when shifting through the gears and I could tell the car wanted to stall again when coming to a stop, it did. So I repeated the process another time and made it to the parking lot. I let the car sit for a while before starting it back up.

After starting the car back up it wouldn't stall in park and wouldn't stall in drive with my foot on the brake. Once I shifted it into reverse the car stalled right away.

I wasn't too far from home and decided to drive it home. I had to use the brake and feather the gas in order for the car not to stall in reverse. Drove it home with the vehicle shifting gears roughly and wanting to stall at a stop.

Not sure what the problem is because there is no CEL and even having a scanner in yielded no results. I disconnected the battery for 5-10 mins, reconnected, then did a Transmission ECU reset by holding my foot on the gas pedal for 30seconds in position 2. After the starting the car back up its back to normal... I don't know what the issue is and if it could possibly come back and put me in danger.

Also looked up the VIN and the car does have a recall for torque converter software update. Could that be the issue? I

 

So started up the car with a cold start and it the rpms behaved a bit erratic. I went for a drive down the street and the following messages came up;

- Check VSA System
- Check SH-AWD System
- Check Emission System
- Check Hill Start Assist System

After turning off the car I got another message saying "Battery Charge Low"

So with all the codes coming up the CEL light came up. I connected an OBD2 Bluetooth Scanner and the following codes came up;

- C1555 Chassis
- P0300 Powertrain ( Random Multiple Misfire)
- P0302 Powertrain ( Cylinder 2 Misfire )
- P0303 Powertrain ( Cylinder 3 Misfire )
- P0304 Powertrain ( Cylinder 4 Misfire )
- P0305 Powertrain ( Cylinder 5 Misfire )
- P0306 Powertrain ( Cylinder 6 Misfire )
- P0103 Powertrain ( Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit High Input )

 

Did you check your oil level? I received the first three messages you listed (Check VSA, SH-AWD, and Emissions Systems) when my oil levels were dumb low because I had just bought the car not knowing that some of the AWD models, including my own, consume oil. In my case I knew it was consuming oil but I had only noticed about a 1/2 quart every 1k miles. When I received those messages I had 4k miles on the oil since I had bought it, and inbetween 3k-4k miles it had burned 2 quarts of oil. I also have a '12 6AT SH-AWD. I had the torque converter update and that only fixed acceleration issues I was having in between 2-3k rpm. If you do get the update make sure you get your trans fluid flushed out for new fluid and a new trans fluid filter because your current software deteriorates the quality of the fluid the way it runs the car without the update. I've seen people around here say that Acura says the filter is not something they recommend you change but mine went bad right after the update (90k miles) since my dealer didn't change mine with the update.

 

Yes I also did get the car, the oil level was on the bottom end of the dipstick. I too did top it off to the right level. Used Pennzoil Platinum Ultra 5W20. The next day is when I started having the problems.

 

When you drove it with those codes is the engine running like crap and sounds like crap?

Did you check the battery?

Mine did something similar but it did not stall. Similar codes in the computer though. It was the EGR valve stuck open and needed cleaning.

 

I've cleaned the MAF Sensor with the MAF cleaner and then the misfires and CEL light went away.

The other system lights I mentioned earlier were still there but disappeared after a few restarts. However the low battery voltage warning is still there. I will get the battery tested later today.

Here is how the car the sounds on a cold start;

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0lhp36r8su...00231.mp4?dl=0

 

So I cleaned the MAF Sensor prior to having the P0103 code and after driving for a while it happened again.

I figured the battery may be an issue because I get a low voltage warning when I turn off the car, and had a battery light on when the car stalled while I was driving. I went ahead and changed the battery out for an AGM Battery thinking this is more than enough and I shouldn't have any problems....

Then it happened again. Stall while driving. I had the check engine light on and scanned the car again. This time I have a P0102 code.

Could the MAF sensor itself be the problem?

 

Check the alternator. Had to replace the one on my 2011 TL and also on a 2008 MDX I recently sold. They are known to go bad on these vehicles. I don't believe a bad MAF will cause noticeable drivability issues, at least not abruptly/in the short term.

 

The next day and now onwards I haven't been having the problems. Maybe the battery has done the trick?

Also have a new Air Flow Sensor just in case

 

The low battery voltage message has never returned but today something strange was happening. The car stalled immediately going into Neutral on a cold start early in the day but never again for the day.

I also had a new "Check Charging System" message and battery light appear on my dash later in the day. The lights came on at low speeds but disappeared for a while then returned again and continued to this.

​​​​​​I suspect the Alternator is a prime suspect but I'm in doubt since the previous owner has done some work on the cars electrical system before (Alternator?/Battery?) not quite sure what, but shows in the vehicle report. My previous battery checked out clean but I changed it out and have it

Ive read online that Acura's have faulty HFL that can damage electrical components on the car. I'm hoping that's not the case but was wondering how I could go about checking this.