I've really been paying attention to - and experimenting with - the transmission in my 2015 TLX, and I've concluded the following:

- The 2-3 "shift shock" comes about because the transmission control unit is applying too much throttle at that shift point,

So

- In all but full-throttle applications (where different shift logic is applied), the trans handles the 2-3 shift best at part-throttle.

What that means is that you need to "help" the transmission shift smoothly until the engineers at Acura figure out that the TCM needs to reduce throttle input just before that shift. (Hello, engineers!!!)

So what I do is to ease up on the accelerator slightly, immediately before the shift to 3rd gear. You know by now when the trans is about to shift into 3rd, so when that's about to happen, just ease up momentarily on the gas pedal until the trans completes the shift.

Don't get off the gas pedal, just ease up a little. When you see how to do it, you'll be rewarded with a smooth shift.

Yes, it's a PITA to have to work the transmission, but maybe, just maybe, the guys at Acura will see what needs to be done to make our transmissions shift like everyone else's and fix it.

Try it and let me know how it works for you.

.
.

 

Yes, this is what I've been doing. You're right- it is a PITA considering I want my car to synergize with the way I personally drive. Acura's goal with the TLX was to connect man and machine and make it feel like you were in complete control. It seems like I have to bend over backwards for my car, which is not the relationship I wanted lol.


All I can do is wait for an update to this and discover more ways to overcome it!

 

Interesting stuff. The revs certainly go up higher on that shift. I thought I had the secret by applying a little more throttle than normal. I had concluded that once you start worrying about this shift, you unconsciously ease up on the throttle, so I have started to do the reverse. However, perhaps I was easing up too much. I will have some fun experimenting with this today.

I no longer find this a particularly vexing issue, but am always striving for perfection. In every other way, I do feel "connected" with this car. As I have mentioned in the main thread, my neighbour, who is a car enthusiasts and has driven a 3 series, loved the car and didn't notice the shift issue. Perhaps hyper focus does play a role.

 

Honestly, it becomes some kind of second nature, I guess. I haven't felt but one hard shift in the past week since i started doing this. Too bad we have to even do it, but I'm beginning to feel like I have it pretty much licked.

.
.

 

An interesting approach, but it does not seem to be effective in my case (mild 2-3 bump). For me, harder acceleration with no lift seems best in any mode.

What does seem to make a difference is outside temperature and engine temperature. Now that we have hotter conditions my car only has a slight bump for the first 10-15 minutes of driving and then is as smooth as other changes. I expect the increase in complains to return in 6 months when the cold temperatures are back.

But there are so many different reported experiences that it seems this car really has multiple personalities, so do what seems to work best with your car.

 

I had a lot of success today with easing up a little, but I have also had success with harder acceleration and no lift - quite the Quandry (sorry…bad pun)!

More trial and error to come, but i definitely feel that I have wrestled this hard shift beast to the ground.

 

Doesn't work for me. The shift is hard no matter what I do with the throttle.

I hate having to drive around quirks with a car.

 

Have you had the update applied?

.
.

 

Yes. The car 'relearned' the hard shift not long after the update.

 

sounds like a fluid issue.

 

any one wanna experiment on using a different fluid?

 

I'd be scared to volunteer for what you are suggesting after looking at your avatar!

 

no, no.....not my fluid!

 

LOL. Well played.

 

Many of us have talked about the transmission learning our driving style and the shifts improving. It would seem that the driver needs to meet the transmission half way using a combination of the techniques that Mike_TX and Quandry have outlined in this thread. In the last few days I have been doing just that and for the large part the shifts have been either mildly noticeable to unnoticeable…in other words, quite normal. I actually enjoy the challenge and feel like the car and driver become "one" in in optimizing the operation of the transmission. One can then move on to pure driving enjoyment.

Call me a cockeyed optimist

 

You're reveling in applying multiple techniques that require a conscious effort to drive around a defect in a $40k car you're paying for. Sorry but that's sad.

 

Sad is reading the news and seeing the poverty and violence in the world. It is not sad to accept that most things are not perfect. Just for the record, I do not experience the type of jolts that some people describe. Rather, the transmission and I have achieved closer to zen with 6 absolutely seamless smooth shifts all of the time, and two other shifts that are smooth or reasonably smooth 95% of the time, all while enjoying excellent fuel economy and a silky smooth ride. As i have posted before, my neighbour, a car enthusiast, thought the transmission shifted very well. Perhaps his lack of awareness of threads like this played a role….as we know the power of the mind to create anxiety about a problem that far exceeds that actual issue itself.

Perhaps a little less hyper focus on life's imperfections and more focus on the positives is a happier approach. If Acura can find a way to re-program the shifts and achieve perfection across all 8 shifts, I will happily accept. Otherwise, I will continue to enjoy driving my car and having a little fun while striving for improvement.

 

Fair points but it still isn't right or proper.

For the record, my wife doesn't like the 2-3 shift as a passenger, let alone driving it.

 

I had brought my car in for an LKAS issue and while the tech was test driving noticed that I had the hard shift issue. He applied the TCM update. When I picked up the car and drove it home today, it felt MUCH better and I didn't get any hard shifts.

 

The update that doesn't seem to be an option in Canada. So today I drove a lot around the city today running errands. A funny thing happened….the first two shifts were smooth with normal throttle and without worrying about too much or too little throttle pressure. It's like the notched shifts never existed. As to why today, a few possibilities:

1. It was a warm day today, one of the warmest of the summer. After some initial slightly notched shifts, it was smooth for the rest of the day. Others have speculated about the positive effects of warm weather.
2. Training my foot on the throttle has really made a difference, but as I said initially, I was just using whatever throttle pressure was needed for each start-up at lights and stop signs.
3. I achieved Zen with the transmission.

Whatever it is, i look forward to tomorrow.

 

Just wondering , why the engineers didn't allow a "manual" transmission learning process . What I mean , put it on "learning" mode , do few runs with paddle shifter to do the gear changes at your likes and than memorise that as your personal setup and the car should drive as you like when is on "personal" setup. I know , I know they are a lot of parameters , but I think it can be done and everybody can have their own "sporty" or "relax" shift points and probably it will eliminate some hard shifts when the computer decide to change the gear.
My 2c

 

seriously sounds like a fluid problem.

after warm; the viscosity of the oil is perfect, but when cold...Jerky and weird.

 

hmmm Doesnt ALWAYS work for me.... I tried early morning after a 30 second warm up (even though here in SFL i need to with 86 degrees at 8am) and i also tried after exiting off an interstate driving for half hr. However I do agree with the person above who stated that it goes away when I do the opposite which is rev higher for 3rd gear.
Im really disappointed by Acura taking so much time on fixing this. Glad its a lease and if Acura doesn't fix it, I might have to switch to Lexus or Infiniti after 13 years of loyalty.

 

Interesting suggestion. Have you ever gone directly to Acura Canada?

 

A preoccupation with fluids?

 

Sad? We're talking about a very minor movement of the foot that becomes automatic and unnoticeable after a few days.

I drive all kinds of cars in a part-time job I have, and I can tell you about lumpy shifts in various transmissions. Some cars are so jerky and shift so abruptly that i don't know how people drive them smoothly ... and I have to say many BMW's fall in that category.

If this were the worst thing I had to do, I'd be in great shape.

There is no perfect car. Try driving a $250,000 DCT exotic from Italy, and you'll thank the transmission gods for your Acura.

.
.

 

I realize there's no perfect car but the flaw(s) should be less front-and-center. As for thanking the trans. gods for my Acura, why would I do that? First, there would be an expectation of that behavior with a DCT equipped exotic. Second, it would most likely feel that way on every gear change. Here we have a car with luxury pretensions and one out of seven shifts jerks you while the others are barely perceptible. Further, the OP's technique doesn't work on my car. It's still a jerky shift.

 

Agree. I dont ease up too, I just step on the throttle and let the car think on its own.
Also, I don't think much of the gas mileage. IDS is set on sport all the time

 

Try driving a Ford focus with DCT. A DCT will always feel like DCT no matter what

 

This isn't a DCT, nor is it an economy car. It's a premium car with 7 other smooth shifts coming from the same transmission.

 

I did not read the whole drama. What exactly is your problem? have you taken it to the dealer?

 

Jeich, maybe there is something more wrong with your car than mine. Yes, my car will often shift with a bump if I let it, but I've learned to use the throttle just a tad - now without even thinking about it - and I've been very happy with the car.

Like anything else, if you obsess on it, it will shift harder and harder ... it's some kind of physical, cosmic law. And it will interfere with your enjoyment of what is a really nice little car.

I have a part-time job where I drive all makes and models of cars all day, and I can tell you LOTS of them have hard shifts. I understand it's largely thanks to your federal government, who are requiring ever more ridiculous fuel mileage numbers, which the mfr's are trying to achieve partly through higher gearing. And if you've ever driven a manual trans car and tried to upshift too soon, you know it doesn't always work too well.

It sounds to me like you're really soured on the car, so I hope you can move on to something that better suits you.

.
.

 

Well you should do that before quoting someone and replying. The 8 page '9AT Hard Shift 2-3' thread is one I started. 2-3 jerks you while the other 7 are buttery smooth. Car has been to the dealer 3 times. Latest TCM update helped 1-2 but 2-3 is just as bad but now with a lag sometimes right before the hard shift.

 

FYI: Brought my BWP/SH-AWD/Tech/TLX, in for it's 1st oil change, today.
Retold the "hard shift', story to the Service Manager. He looked up my Vin#, & said there is no software upgrade available.
His logic, was that the ZF 9 speed, is like driving a manual tranny.
He thinks, eventually, Acura & ZF, will support a software upgrade.
I can live with it, because other than the tranny, I LOVE this car!
Told him it's my 6th Acura, & never had this problem before
Anyway, no biggie for now
Just drive & enjoy the holiday weekend; (headed to Cape Cod)