Thanks, I was going to wait til Jan-ish but I got an offer I couldn't refuse. So now there is a SSM Advance in my drive way, Aug 15 build. Now apparently I just need a sign to hand from my rear view mirror that says... "Please Standby While I Downshift..."

 

 

We need one of those yellow signs that says, "ZF 9-speed on board"

 

My transmission had sevier hard shift at the beginning then with driving close to 80-100 miles things started settle down to a bearable level. Today I did the 15-38 and 15-40 update and now it's smooth as butter. Hopefully now the problem is sorted for good. Good luck people

 

FYI, I am testing my theory this weekend. I have 160 lbs of evenly distributed weight in my truck, against my back seats. So far, the car shifts so so so much better. I hope this continues. I will let everyone know Monday.

 

Interesting. FYI... 17 gals of gas weighs about 115 pounds.

 

^^ That seems about right....My g/f will tell you I am full of gas and since I weigh about 115lbs, I guess I know what I am equivalent in gallons *lol*

So now I can tell people I am actually 17 gallons .... seems more sexy

 

The latest software update appears to have solved the transmission problems. No hard shifts and much less noticeable lag. And it permanently turned off my auto idle stop

 

Could be my imagination, or the transmission learning me, or me learning the transmission, but I notice less lag than when I first got the car. My car was built in Aug 2015 and has no software updates. I assume I have the latest software.

 

The dealer should have installed any available updates before he delivered it to you. I got my TLX in early November last year and it had the then new Nav System updates.

 

??????

 

This is a know issue if the PCM update is not executed correctly. (Issue may be in the mind of the beholder.) I have read other posts, though, that say Idle Stop eventually came back.

Anyway, if you have had this issue and still have rough shifting issues, get the dealer to re-do the PCM update and get it right this time.

 

Yep, had my A1 service on Saturday. I had them apply SB 15-034 as well. My idle stop has not worked since. It just displays "Idle Stop not Available" in the MID when it normally would be engaging.

I'll see how it affects my MPG; I'm in no hurry to get back to the dealer to have them re-do the idle learn correctly.

I didn't even bring up the occasional hard shifts at the dealer yet. IMO, mine aren't harsh enough to justify more updates that may not be ready for prime time yet.

 

For those of us affected by a jerky, hesitant, or otherwise poor transmission:

https://www.change.org/p/jon-ikeda-t...edium=copyLink

Calls to Acura Client Relations have not worked. If you would like to be heard, simply sign the document. If you would like me to reword any of it, let me know. Maybe this will be a good way to see how many individuals actually want an improved transmission.

Just one of a few ideas I have... Thanks for your time! I will be posting this on a few threads, Moderators, so I hope you don't mind.

 

Hey everyone...long time reader. I have a 2015 TLX v6 SH-AWD with Tech. I brought my car in for A1 service and had them apply TSB-38 and TSB-40 in addition to the 15-34 they knew about. Here is my question, the tech applied 15-38 and then 15-40. After he applied 15-40 he deleted 15-38 saying that 15-40 contained 15-38 and if the car took 15-40 then I don't need 15-38.

I still have the hesitation and jerk from 2-3 if not worse than before they applied the TSBs. Was the tech right or do I need to take it back in to have 15-38 applied again?

 

^ That sounds goofy to me. If 40 contained 38, then why do they keep 38 around? I had both applied a couple months ago and I didn't get that story.

That said, when I had 38 and 40 applied it did not fix anything. So I'm not sure your efforts to get 38 reapplied will actually change anything. If you go back a page (or two) you can find the exact name of the relearn procedure I had applied after 38 and 40. While I was initially very impressed and hopeful, the benefit only lasted 3-4 weeks. However I will say I'm not as bad as before, but only marginally at this point. For a week or two the shifts were great, but the 2-3 hesitation is back. But, I would say it's back to the way it was before 38/40, so if you feel like you've degraded, maybe that relearn procedure will get you back to where you were.

 

At this point , it looks like we have to do ourselves the relearn procedure every 3-4 weeks or so. After the last update (not sure what Canadian TSB was applied) , it was better for 2-3 weeks and now the hard shifts are back , I would say almost as before.
I'm scheduled for the oil change this Wednesday and it seems the Canadian K95-96 TSB is applicable for my VIN . I'll see what it will come out of that , but my hopes are not to high.

 

TSB 15-40 is cumulative of all previous updates in this category. Meaning, 15-40 also contains 38. These TSBs are not resolving the issue. I hope Acura can work with the Zf engineers to figure out a fix. It's times like this I regret selling my 05 TL with the 6SP manual gearbox. I'm very tempted by the new 2016 Honda Accord V-6 manual. :P

 

Not quite. 15-38 has update the PGM-FI software and 15-40 has update the TCM software and clear any DTCs. But 15-34, the "product update recall" does both these, so if 15-34 is done after 15-40 was released one would presume that it does all with the most current versions of the software.

 

New food for thought:

Complex new transmissions causing headaches for drivers | The Columbus Dispatch

 

Here is the original article from Consumer Reports:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-is-hurt-by-some-new-technologies

It has a nice picture of the Acura TLX transmission.

 

Here are some choice quotes from the consumer report article:

While problematic car infotainment systems continue to be among the top issues reported by new car owners, Consumer Reports has identified an emerging trend of increased troubles with new transmission systems developed to improve fuel economy.

The recently launched Jeep Cherokee has had persistent problems with its nine-speed automatic transmission. Despite several rounds of software updates, complaints of rough shifting or getting stuck in one gear continue. The six-speed dual-clutch transmissions also created problems for the Dodge Dart and Fiat 500L.

Nine-speed automatic and eight-speed dual-clutch transmissions are responsible for many of the problems reported in the new Acura TLX—key toward knocking the brand into below-average reliability.
...
Meanwhile, the number of complaints associated with infotainment systems has increased. Common issues include unresponsive or crashing touch screens, or a reluctance to pair a phone. AcuraLink, Cadillac’s CUE, and Infiniti’s InTouch systems have been particularly problematic.

 

For anyone who wants a good chuckle, watch this video Acura has on YouTube: . The funny part starts at about the 12 minute mark.

On a somewhat-related note: has anyone been encountering vibrations when their TLX gets to around 35-45 MP and the RPMs are at 1,400-1,500? I've been experiencing this sensation the past couple of weeks now and the dealership tells me that Acura is advising that this, too, is normal. SMH.

 

If you have the V6 it could be the shift from 6 cyl to 3 cyl mode. I don't feel mine shift but I'm not looking for it either.

 

I actually have started noticing this small vibration in the last month or so. I don't think it is VCM related.

I believe it has to do with the torque converter, as it happens in the same spot on my drive home, as I am in 4th gear coasting, and the car is trying to decide whether to shift to 5th or not.

I have studied this little shake for a month now, and I can almost predict when it will happen. I may be way off, but that is my guess.

 

Hi
I just got Canadian K-95 & K-97 done.
It didn't do anything , the car shifts as before with the return of 2-3 hard shift more and more evident. I start to be fed up about this.
If you can imagine I enjoyed my wife's Santa Fe going to work this morning like I did with my old TL.


Even my wife e-mail me today from work (she has the TLX today) , what the hell is happening with your car ?

 

I am seeing strange shifting through gears 1,2 and 3 as well. Of note, when shifting between 2 and 3, the car appears to "pause" and let off the gas for as long as 3/4 of a second before it shifts. As others note, this is more noticeable when cold. I've already had the dealer look into it and they applied a firmware (program) update that has had little if any impact.

2015 TLX V6 SH-AWD "Advanced" package, US-spec.

I am seriously missing my old 1999 TL, which simply did as I told it to do!

 

Just curious, what is the build date of your car?

 

Build date was mid-March 2015, dealer had it on their lot in mid-May and I bought it October 3. The update they applied on October 7 was listed as S/B 15-040 "For firm 2nd to 3rd gear upshifts under certain driving conditions 2235A2 (Update .2), 2235A2A (idle .1), 03214. Updated the TCM software and cleared DTCS. Performed idle learn procedure"

Folks, do not assume your firmware is up to date just because your car is new. It was apparent that my dealer did not update anything during the 5 months it sat on their lot.

 

I've decided not to have the relearn done. I never liked the auto idle stop and the car feels better now than ever. All shifts are smith no jerkiness minimal lag I don't want to chance anything changing

 

Yeah two weeks in, mine is shifting a little better.
Kind of odd though, my Idle Stop spontaneously came back about a week and a half after the service, and is acting normally now. Weird.

 

Brought my car in to the dealer because I received the official letter from Acura to bring it in for the software update. However the service person said if there's no lights on the dashboard then there's nothing to update. I pointed out the letter also mentioned it will improve shift quality and all they say is they can look at it but if no lights, no update... is this normal?

 

There's an official letter for the hard shifts? That can't be right... There's an official letter for the start/stop and 9ZF tranny mix causing a stuck in neutral thing.

Are you sure you're asking for the right thing?

 

Please see this post from Maple, I'm assuming by letter, he means this one. I would be absolutely livid at that service rep for sheer ignorance of this issue. Do they not do anything proactive in terms of learning about potential issues? I mean seriously, 1 year+ and dealers are still trying to play innocent and "working as intended."

Even Acura can't even be ass'd to admit the issue and have to carefully word the problem to not accept any fault.

https://acurazine.com/forums/fifth-g.../#post15593354

 

Yup, that's the letter I'm taking about. I'm more curious if he asked the SA about hard shifts and asked for a software fix for such, which there isnt (well, there is, BUT it has had mixed results and canadians dont have it yet i believe). But yeah, even so the dealer is supposed to update the software associated with that recall letter and if they wont without a warning light (essentially too late because you'll likely be in an accident when it happens), they're a pretty crappy dealer. Recommend trying another and/or calling ACR to open a case so the dealer knows theres something to bill against.

 

Yes that is the letter that I received. Aside from the shifting to neutral issue, it also mentions that the update can improve shift quality. Hopefully my dealer ended up doing the update. If not then maybe I'll have to take my car to another dealer. Honestly Since I brought the car, I've ran into so many issues and the dealer fixed like 1/10...Everything is normal as per their technicians.

 

Oh the joys of Honda dealerships with different emblems and paint schemes

 

I had 38 and 40 installed 4 weeks ago had the hard shift from 2nd to 3rd prior to that. I drove on vacation from Houston to Ruidoso NM, up to Taos, and back to Houston over 9 days, 2,300 miles, interstate, uphill, downhill, mostly economy mode, used paddle shifters in the mountains to control speed without burning up the brakes. Transmission has been flawless since the latest software version was installed (that contained 38 and 40). Car has a green sticker in the door, 12-14-2014.

Just FYI, I burn premium, gas mileage ranged from 35 to 42 per tank. 35 MPG was on level interstate running 75 MPH all day, cruise control. 42 MPG was up in the mountains, lot of downhill, speed limit about 45. Running about 70 MPH, I got about 37 MPG. I keep my tires properly inflated.

I will also say the car was a PLEASURE to drive, I enjoyed it on the curves in the mountains. Smooth and quiet out on the interstate.

 

Just got a call from the dealer, no updates available. What?! So is there an update for my car or not, I'm so confused. The letter is telling me to bring the car in for update but dealer is telling no there's none...

 

The way it was explained to me, if something is a safety issue they'll apply it automatically. If not, you have to complain about an issue first and point to the bulletin as the fix. There are no "lights" I'm aware of unless there is a catastrophic failure. So I'd recommend first logging the complaint, and then hand them a printout of the service bulletin.