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I do some contract work for an Acura dealer, and know the tech who works on TLX's and transmissions. I had the transmission update done a few months ago, with the results most of you had - some improvement, but not a complete fix.
As I was walking through the shop today the tech called out to me and asked if I was still having the shift 'problems'. I said yes, and he told me there is new software and instructions, and when he applied it to a TLX with really bad shift issues, it dramatically smoothed it out. He told me to get my car in and he'll update it.
This 'fix' is in two parts - one is new software and the other is a "learning" process the tech has to perform. That involves driving the car in a certain way for a certain period of time so the trans can re-learn the shit routine.
I'm going to try and get the car in tomorrow, and will report back.
I do some contract work for an Acura dealer, and know the tech who works on TLX's and transmissions. I had the transmission update done a few months ago, with the results most of you had - some improvement, but not a complete fix.
As I was walking through the shop today the tech called out to me and asked if I was still having the shift 'problems'. I said yes, and he told me there is new software and instructions, and when he applied it to a TLX with really bad shift issues, it dramatically smoothed it out. He told me to get my car in and he'll update it.
This 'fix' is in two parts - one is new software and the other is a "learning" process the tech has to perform. That involves driving the car in a certain way for a certain period of time so the trans can re-learn the shit routine.
I'm going to try and get the car in tomorrow, and will report back.
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Good news! Do you have a 4 or 6 cylinder? Also, please take note of the TSB number when you get the update. And of course, do keep us posted. Thanks!
Good news! Do you have a 4 or 6 cylinder? Also, please take note of the TSB number when you get the update. And of course, do keep us posted. Thanks!
V6. I'm scheduled to go in tomorrow morning, and we'll see how this one does.
Just hope it doesn't screw anything up!
BTW, the tech said he had a V6 that shifted so hard 2-3 that it would almost snap your neck, and after the update it shifted nice and smooth. We'll see ...
V6. I'm scheduled to go in tomorrow morning, and we'll see how this one does.
Just hope it doesn't screw anything up!
BTW, the tech said he had a V6 that shifted so hard 2-3 that it would almost snap your neck, and after the update it shifted nice and smooth. We'll see ...
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Oh, I certainly hope this is different from TSB 15-040. This would suck if it turns out that is the "update" your guy was talking about.
This just sounds like the same procedure that we've been doing. After I did TSB 038, I felt like everything was solved or solved "good enough". I noticed within a day or two that it wasn't. It's definitely better than it once was, though. I tried getting 040 applied, but the service guy was hesitant to and the VINs on the TSB seemed to be incorrect, so we decided not to.
I'm not saying this isn't a fix, but just saying that it's a fix and after a day or two... it isn't. lol.
Yes, I had the first transmission update done awhile back, and this is a brand-new one according to the tech. He did the first one on my car, so he knows what's been done to it. That's why he flagged me down and told me about this new one.
If it the 15 -034 update it does work. Car shifts feel solid smooth andFAST Only problem it seems to deactivate the Auto idle stop which I hated anyway so I haven't brought it back to have that fixed. Love the way the car drives now. Don't want to risk changing anything
Hi guys. I am kind of a new member and thank everyone for the info and help on this forum. Looks like tsb 15-040 was updated with new info within the last few days...maybe this is what the tech OP refers to was talking about.
Thank you for sharing this information. I have one of the first 4 cylinder models that were produced and have had transmission problems since day one. After multiple trips to the service department and interactions with Client Relations, I basically gave up with trying to get this resolved. Fortunately, all of this is well documented with e-mails and service documents. I just reached out to the law firm that is representing the plaintiff... maybe I'll finally get somewhere. I've been an Acura loyalist for over a decade and this has destroyed my confidence in the brand.
Thank you for sharing this information. I have one of the first 4 cylinder models that were produced and have had transmission problems since day one. After multiple trips to the service department and interactions with Client Relations, I basically gave up with trying to get this resolved. Fortunately, all of this is well documented with e-mails and service documents. I just reached out to the law firm that is representing the plaintiff... maybe I'll finally get somewhere. I've been an Acura loyalist for over a decade and this has destroyed my confidence in the brand.
This is not exactly new stuff with Honda & transmissions. A few generations back it took a class action loss to get them to fix the AT on my daughters V6 Accord. My 3G TL got its 6MT rebuilt with a class action hanging over Honda's head.
Regardless of car brand you always take an extra risk buying the first year of a "new" product.
Think its a game of hope & pray by the manufactures. They hope they can get a handle on the problem before the crap really hits the fan. They are reluctant to admit to a problem on a new model fearful it will dry up sales early in the products life cycle tainting the rest of the production run.
Be interesting to see if that gets rid of the last vestiges of this problem. After a couple months since the last update, it still is there, but only between 2000-3000 RPM, and for me at least it is not really any more noticeable than some of the shifts in my 2014 MDX 6AT. But it would be nice to have those 2-3 shifts as smooth as the others. The other thing I have noticed is that sometimes it doesnt downshift as quickly as I would like when going into a corner and I start accelerating to kick in the SH-AWD. But for me at least, these are nits.
They hope they can get a handle on the problem before the crap really hits the fan. They are reluctant to admit to a problem on a new model fearful it will dry up sales early in the products life cycle tainting the rest of the production run.
I think they can't/won't admit it's a problem for liability reasons. That's why they say "operating normally" or some such crap - which simply means it's operating like all the other like models - but doesn't mean it's operating properly.
Be interesting to see if that gets rid of the last vestiges of this problem. After a couple months since the last update, it still is there, but only between 2000-3000 RPM, and for me at least it is not really any more noticeable than some of the shifts in my 2014 MDX 6AT. But it would be nice to have those 2-3 shifts as smooth as the others. The other thing I have noticed is that sometimes it doesnt downshift as quickly as I would like when going into a corner and I start accelerating to kick in the SH-AWD. But for me at least, these are nits.
Yes, I feel the same problem, it's only between 2000-3000 RPM. I didn't get any of the updates. Only one I got was the TSB 15-034 because the dealer had to do it. Surprising, the shifts feels smoother.
I might have stuck it out longer if ACR would have been more receptive. They are the ones that finally pushed me over the edge after nearly a year of complaints, they just said "continue to work with your local dealership". The region rep always said "operating normally" and "the transmission is working as it is designed to".. *shrug*
Good news!
Now I'll have to go ask my local dealership service department too.
However, I have a feeling the dealership here won't do anything unless there is a TSB number they can reference. I was told by the service manager here that they only perform TSB work by request.
Good news!
Now I'll have to go ask my local dealership service department too.
However, I have a feeling the dealership here won't do anything unless there is a TSB number they can reference. I was told by the service manager here that they only perform TSB work by request.
Thanks for sharing.
Well, I took a copy of 15-040 with me and showed it to the tech. He said he'd already done that one, but I don't think he noticed the date and the fact it included changes to the original document.
I didn't want to challenge him since he seemed to know what he was doing ... and I suspect the updates in it were performed as part of his "fix".
Either way, I guess the proof is in the pudding (or, rather, the shifting ).
Anyway we can get this done at a Canadian dealer? I was promptly hushed away and was told the "this is normal" spew from my dealer where I bought the car from
The TLX got slammed today by Consumer Reports for reliability due to these transmission issues. My 2.4 is at the dealer again today for yet another software update. Last one was about 2 weeks ago. Still jumps forward at a stop sometimes, especially if engine is cold. The TLX is now rated in the 20 most unreliable cars by Consumer Reports for 2015. That should get Acura's attention.
I think they can't/won't admit it's a problem for liability reasons. That's why they say "operating normally" or some such crap - which simply means it's operating like all the other like models - but doesn't mean it's operating properly.
Pretending there is no problem to the customers, when a fix is being worked on, will not absolve them of any liability, Just ask GM. Expect in the penalty phase of a class action loss it would only make it worse.
Saying there is no problem just gets the customer out of the shop when there is no available fix. At least until he gets more p***ed off & pushes the issue further with a comeback.
They hope the fix they all know is being worked on, some techs have advised customers of the WIP, will come in before the issue blows up.
Hi guys. I am kind of a new member and thank everyone for the info and help on this forum. Looks like tsb 15-040 was updated with new info within the last few days...maybe this is what the tech OP refers to was talking about.
Looks like they have the SH-AWD and PAWS VIN's swapped again. My car is just outside this VIN range (PAWS) but I don't have the 2-3 harsh shift. I do have the hesitation at downshifting.
Originally Posted by Mike_TX
Okay, here it is:
O. M. G.
I can't believe how this thing shifts now. Seriously. The 2-3 bump is gone. Totally. I've only driven it about 15 or 20 miles, but it is like butter.
Here's the repair order:
.......
i had sort of gotten used to the bump and had learned to sidestep it most of the time by working the throttle, but this wonderful!
Yee- HA!
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That is great news. Did you have the downshift hesitation? Did this do anything for that?
"Shifting normally at this time" What confidence lol
Looks like they have the SH-AWD and PAWS VIN's swapped again. My car is just outside this VIN range (PAWS) but I don't have the 2-3 harsh shift. I do have the hesitation at downshifting.
Which downshifts? All of them? The hesitation only seemed to happen for me when it involved the dog clutch gears (ie: going 9-8, 5-4, or worse, 9-4). The hesitation was only very slight on 9-8 and 5-4. 9-4 took extra time, probably because the transmission is disengaging 2 sets of dog clutches.
In any event, it can still do it faster than I could downshift in my 3G Type-S 6MT. I think people have gotten used to automatics shifting so quickly that they change their driving behaviour. As someone going from a 6MT to a 9AT, the only thing difficult to get used to is the fact that the TLX kind of 'freewheels' a little bit (other cars do it too, but the more gears you have, the more pronounced the effect) when downshifting 1 gear since the ratio change isn't very large. In other words, using the brakes a lot more because when in Sport or lower modes.
There's 3 ways around the downshift to pass thing:
1. Anticipate the pass like you would while driving a manual transmission. Downshift the entire way prior to exiting the lane, not after. This can be done using the gas pedal by itself. Step on it hard for a second just to get the car to perform the 9-4 shift, and then exit the lane and pass. If you want, you can tap the paddle to upshift to 5th during your pass, to hold 5th gear. I like this way of doing it, so that the car doesn't upshift further until I've completed my pass.
2. Tap the paddle to get the car into 8th gear while you're still in the travel lane. Do this anytime. This just locks out 9th before your pass and you've already dealt with one dog clutch, so when you go to pass, the 8-4 shift takes much less time.
3. IDS yourself into Sport+. This locks out 8th and 9th. The car will not shift past 7th. Passing is much quicker since you only need to dive down 3 gears at most, and the transmission is more eager to downshift. Acura really needs to add an easier way to shift to Sport+. A little button somewhere (maybe on the steering wheel?).
If your downshift delay is on ALL your downshifts, something is wrong with the transmission. Downshifts tend to be very quick going just one gear down on the non-dog gears.
Which downshifts? All of them? The hesitation only seemed to happen for me when it involved the dog clutch gears (ie: going 9-8, 5-4, or worse, 9-4). The hesitation was only very slight on 9-8 and 5-4. 9-4 took extra time, probably because the transmission is disengaging 2 sets of dog clutches.
In any event, it can still do it faster than I could downshift in my 3G Type-S 6MT. I think people have gotten used to automatics shifting so quickly that they change their driving behaviour. As someone going from a 6MT to a 9AT, the only thing difficult to get used to is the fact that the TLX kind of 'freewheels' a little bit (other cars do it too, but the more gears you have, the more pronounced the effect) when downshifting 1 gear since the ratio change isn't very large. In other words, using the brakes a lot more because when in Sport or lower modes.
There's 3 ways around the downshift to pass thing:
1. Anticipate the pass like you would while driving a manual transmission. Downshift the entire way prior to exiting the lane, not after. This can be done using the gas pedal by itself. Step on it hard for a second just to get the car to perform the 9-4 shift, and then exit the lane and pass. If you want, you can tap the paddle to upshift to 5th during your pass, to hold 5th gear. I like this way of doing it, so that the car doesn't upshift further until I've completed my pass.
2. Tap the paddle to get the car into 8th gear while you're still in the travel lane. Do this anytime. This just locks out 9th before your pass and you've already dealt with one dog clutch, so when you go to pass, the 8-4 shift takes much less time.
3. IDS yourself into Sport+. This locks out 8th and 9th. The car will not shift past 7th. Passing is much quicker since you only need to dive down 3 gears at most, and the transmission is more eager to downshift. Acura really needs to add an easier way to shift to Sport+. A little button somewhere (maybe on the steering wheel?).
If your downshift delay is on ALL your downshifts, something is wrong with the transmission. Downshifts tend to be very quick going just one gear down on the non-dog gears.
That right there is a valuable post.
We aren't dealing with a 6-speed AT any more, and the more gears you have the more time it's going to take to downshift through them for a pass (or just a burst of acceleration).
Here's a 'funny' thing about the fix - Over the past 11,000 miles I've adapted my driving to the 2-3 shift. I've trained my accelerator foot to lift ever so slightly when the 2-3 shit is coming, and that softened the gear change.
AFTER getting the fix yesterday, I've learned that if I keep pressure on the accelerator during the 2-3 shift (like you would normally do), the shift is virtually imperceptible. My wife commented from the passenger seat that she couldn't tell it shifted at all.
I've made a point of NOT easing off the throttle since then, and the 2-3 shift is literally like buttah. Compared to before the fix, it's like magic.
Anyway we can get this done at a Canadian dealer? I was promptly hushed away and was told the "this is normal" spew from my dealer where I bought the car from
Hey, where in Canada are you? I'm in Kitchener, Ontario, and I've been complaining about the transmission shifts since last December when I bought the car. I keep getting told there is no software fixes for it. However, I called yesterday to schedule an A1 service, and brought up the Transmission problems again. This time, they finally said there are a few procedures available now that they can perform now. I'm assuming it is the TSB. It's going in next Thursday, so I can let you know if it was the TSB they perform, and if it solved the problem. My dealer is Schlueter Acura (formerly Fairview Acura).
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