Hey Guys,

I dropped my car off this morning for my first A1 service on my SH-AWD TLX. I was given a 2016 Acura MDX as a loaner. This has the same 9spd Auto as the TLX as far as i know. It even has the push button gear selector too. Now my observation, is that this MDX drives quite amazing. The shifts are smooth from 1-9. Quick shifting, and feels like this heavier, larger vehicle has more power than my TLX, which has the same engine. I know it has to do with the Transmission, and i wish my TLX could behave the way this MDX feels. I've complained about the hard shifting problem in my TLX, and was advised that there are no software updates as of yet. Mind you, i'm in Canada......we always get software updates later than the U.S. I just wanted to share my thoughts on this issue and my observations. I really hope that soon enough they can program the TLX the same way they have programed the new MDX 9spd auto. Sorry i guess there was no real question here. Should have titled it as Observation rather than Question.

 

Is it the same exact Transmission ? Any time I have brought my cars in for service, I almost always get a new MDX as a loaner. I love the way the MDX drives. It's very smooth and fast. Certainly much smoother than my 2011 MDX and doesn't exhibit any of the transmission jerkiness/surging that the TLX loaner car I had once did.

 

As far as i know, it is the same transmission as the TLX. That was the big change for the 2016 MDX, was the 9spd Auto. I could be wrong, can anyone verify this?

 

Are you SURE it was a 2016 ?
It would be odd for a dealership at this point to have a 2016 MDX as a loaner car being they are so new. I know the ones I drove were 2015.

 

If it had electronic push button shifter, it was a 2016.

 

The MDX has a much shorter final drive ratio (4.33 vs ~3.5), which is probably giving that extra feel of torque despite the extra weight.

 

This is a review I read recently about the new MDX transmission.

2016 Acura MDX: 9-speed transmission puts the thrill back into SUV driving - Torque News

"2016 MDX presents a 9 speed automatic transmission with 2 preset electronic activated shift logic, “Drive” and “Sport,” and 3 dynamic-drive-modes; Comfort, Normal and Sport."

It sounds like the IDS only has two modes and the "dynamic-drive-modes" sounds like something new to me.

I don't know about you but when I drive my SH-AWD in sport + mode this is how my car feels. I love it. Smooth shifts and always in the power band that I need. I use sport mode if I am feeling conservative in my driving.

On a side note: I bet Hondata will come out with a reflash that will add a good bump in power and will change shift points in some of the other modes under sport +. The TLX 3.5 is almost identical (slightly different bore and stroke) but with the same compression, direct injection and equivalent 3.5 liter engine it produces 310 horsepower. I would say the TLX 3.5 is "detuned"

 

Acura Canada also told me this week that there is nothing currently in the hopper as far as a programming fix for the 9 speed. I provided Ron, one of the Customer Service guys, with a link to the forum's discussion of the 9 speed that has been going for a while, so that he can see the number of US folks that received a TCM for the issue (at least that's what the posters believed). There is also a post there from someone in Milton to the same effect, so hopefully we'll get some answers soon. Love the car, but would love it a little more with the fix. BTW, i am beginning to think it does shift smoother in Sport. Don't use that much but will be experimenting more.

BTW, nice car colour!

 

I suspect the difference is about 7 or 8 additional months of testing and software development. I'm optimistic Acura will resolve the issues with the 9-speed, but they hatched this car before it was ready. Pressure to get sedans on the showroom floor.

I wonder also if Acura is in control of the TCM software or if ZF is heading this up? Maybe there was a change in management between the TLX and MDX in this area as well.

 

So is Ron just shining you on, or does he not realize this is going on? Not sure which one is worse.

 

Very good question. The more I read the more i wonder who's zooming whom. Is there really a fix, how does the Idle Learn help the shifting issue, is Acura being honest, etc, etc. I suspect that they are being very cautious until there is something concrete that can be rolled out without huge cost…IF that actually happens. In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy the car, especially now that spring is in the air.

 

Read on Vtec.net that they are the same transmisiion but tuned differently... the 2016 MDX 9 speed transmission is tune for a sportier feel (hence the lower MPG rating)... The TLX is tune to be a fuel optimizer which gives it a choppier shift feel.... I would personally give up a mile or two per gallon to get better shifts.

Hope this answers your question

 

Thanks for the information.....but doesn't that sound a little backwards? Acura is tuning the SUV to be sporty and the "thrill" sedan for the mileage? Really hope that they find the solution for TLX and ILX.