I notice the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts are often much harder than all of the others. This isn't the case all of the time but 60-70% of the time. I'm still trying to figure out the specific circumstances when they're particularly hard. Anyone else experience this?

 

My car I bought last week is shifting hard as well between 1st and 2nd. It is especially hard when I slow down to stop at a slow speed. The slower I go the harder it shifts right before I stop. If I aggressively stop it doesn't do it. I'm at the dealership now as service looks into it. The service advisor told me his car is doing the same thing. Acura better look into this issue.

 

That's kind of what I noticed, too, slower speeds, but again not 100% of the time. I guess you could call it "sporty" but shifts to the other gears don't feel like that. It might even be hard enough that a passenger's head will move slightly during the shift, I'll watch for this next time someone is with me. BTW I'm talking about upshifts, not downshifts.

 

Mine seems to shift hard sometimes going from 1 to 2 ( in normal mode) when accelerating normally but shifts smoother if I'm accelerating faster. ????? Also I think it smooths out some after it warms up.
I have found the shifting to be smoother in sport mode so that's what I keep it in. Maybe that's because it holds 1st gear longer and isn't as eager to shift into a higher gear to max fuel economy.

 

I noticed this too when test driving the TLX. The 2->3 shift was hard and clunky (you heard a clunking noise), I thought it was a problem with the 9AT it was so hard. 1->2 was not as bad. The car was also already warmed up.

When the car is cold, my 2G TL used to have a hard 1->2 and 2->3 shift and actually this was to help keep the infamous 5AT transmission working longer. So it isn't necessarily abnormal for this to occur when the car is cold.

 

Sounds similar to mine. I've been in Normal most of the time, I'll try Sport again tomorrow.

 

I've noticed it and I've been in Normal most of the time I've owned the car. I've noticed it on my latest tank of gas where I've been in Sport mode.

 

similar here. 1-2 a bit rough when cold and/or accelerating slowly. Warmed up is better.

 

Just got the 2.4 TLX Tech and im having the same issue. I think an issue contributing to the clunckiness of the tranny is how fast is shifts out of the first 2 gears. I've changed the IDS modes to see which style provides a better ride. I agree the Sport mode isnt as bad since it takes more RPM to change gears, yet the transition out of the first few gears still isnt smooth.

I've also had issues with the transmission while slowing down. What i've noticed is the tranny forces a downshift when it isnt really neccesary, leading to the car to a rough stop. Thats whats annoyed me the most, as even when i brake perfectly the tranny stumbles into first gear.

Hopefully this is either the tranny breaking in or fixable with a pushed update from Acura

 

Seems to me like its a computer fix as the transmission shifts fine at higher speeds and the variation in how hard it shifts is dependent on the mode its in.

Even with the slightly rough shifts I'm still enjoying the car, can't wait until they get it fixed.

 

I have to take the car back to get cargo hooks installed. When I do I'm going to report this issue, the 2-3 always feels noticeably different than every other shift and 1-2 sometimes does. Once you go 3-4 and above you can't even feel the shifts.

 

I too have noticed this. Doesn't do it when im accelerating normally, or if I'm at WOT. But when accelerating briskly but not all out, maybe to around 3500-4000 RPM it does this. It did concern me a bit as I'm still a bit uncertain of the reliability of a 9 speed auto. Glad to see I'm not alone! But hey that's whay warranty is for! Lol. Hopefully Acura will look into/fix this in the near future!

 

I have looked at the install sheet for the cargo hooks - not necissarily a do-it-yourself project. I would imagine they would charge at least one hr of tech time for this.

 

The trick is having the special tool that installs the "rivets". I added the hooks to my 3G, 4G and my Accord. I'll add them to the TLX as well.

You are right, without the tool, it's near impossible to DIY. I have read where people have made their own tool to do it.

 

This is happening on my car as well. And like the others, the hard shift seems to be more pronounced when the car is cold and when accelerating slowly (ie. at a normal speed) in those first 2 shifts. is there even anything the dealership/mechanic can do? If you've taken it in for this, what have they told you?

 

Well documented transmission shifting issues across the TLX fleet. As of yesterday, 10-16-14, dealers have no "fix" issued from Acura. You will have to wait till a software patch is available.

Have dealer write up a warranty ticket stating the issue to protect yourself. The more owners complain the faster Acura will react.

 

I am glad that I didn't get one just yet....not that I doubt that these issues will be rectified but I'd prefer to wait and make sure. If you guys recall, that was one of my biggest concern a while ago with the potential issues with 2 new tranny.

 

Yeah, I remember... You kind of hit the nail on the head predicting this one..

 

sorry to hear about the widespread issues everyone. hopefully a software update will resolve them.

 

I have read the ZF 9HP transmission is used in a few other vehicles. Chrysler, Jeep, Land Rover to mention a few. Chrysler has this note in their owner's manual:

NOTE: The torque converter clutch will not engage until the transmission fluid is warm (usually after 1 to 3 miles [2 to 5 km] of driving). Because the engine speed is higher when the torque converter clutch is not engaged, it may seem as if the transmission is not shifting properly when cold. This is normal. The torque converter clutch will function normally once the transmission is sufficiently warm.

The lower gear shifting seems to smooth out once my TLX has warmed up. I agree it is a nuisance.

 

i notice hard shifts in my C300 every once and a while. normally its pretty smooth though.

 

Seems like something an update would fix, they just need to release one!

 

This seems like this may be the answer, unless the rough shifts continue after the car has warmed up.

 

In mine 2-3 is always harder than any other shift regardless of whether the car is warm or not.

 

Just curious about the software updates. How do you receive them? can you do the update by yourself? or need to take the car to a dealer?

 

Any updates would be done by the dealer, typically when the car is in for some service.

 

Ambient outside temperatures 90 degrees, after driving 50+ miles, problem still persists.

 

In light of the last One Pack video where Pam both acknowledged paying attention to issues brought up on 'social media' and specifically mentioning the 2-3 shift I wanted to more concisely detail the issue.

Car: TLX V6 P-AWS Tech (VIN ending 3175)
Issue: 2-3 upshift hard/jerky, harder than any other upshift the car makes (after 2-3 they're so smooth you can barely feel them)
Engine temp: Cold and hot
Throttle: Light, moderate, and heavy (although the degree of shift harshness can vary depending on throttle)
IDS mode: Any


Side note on 1-2 upshift: this can be hard as well, primarily when the car is cold and not as harsh as 2-3 which is the real issue IMO.

 

I'm having the same rough shifting with my 2.4L. It is most pronounced when cold. 1-2, and 3-4 seem to be worst. I have also had the hard shift into first when coming to a stop. Happened twice in one day last week. For me it happens regardless of the IDS mode I am in. I took it into the dealer a few weeks back, and they said they could feel what I was describing but there is no resolution from Acura. They have another new 2.4L on the lot that was doing the same thing. It is really starting to annoy me, as I have a short commute to work, and I really notice it all of the time. I hope they can resolve this soon with a software update.

 

This thread is about the 9AT. Please start one about the 8DCT. If Acura really is checking these forums for information to attempt to identify and resolve issues (which they indicated they are) we're not making it easy on them by mixing unrelated powertrains/issues together. Not that I don't empathize with your issue, I do, but if they are going to look to what we post here let's make it as easy as possible for them.

 

I don't know if this was posted anywhere and I apologize if it was, but this article from "The Truth About Cars" seems to hit this topic.
click on link below

ZF's 9-Speed 9HP Transmission Puts Dog Clutches On The Leash - The Truth About Cars

 

Great article!!!

 

Good point.

 

I received a v6 fwd loaner today. Definitly less room inside than the 4g TL but it's a nice & quick car.
It has around 300 miles on it and has the hard shift into second and third.

 

My V6-TLX-Tech is now 1 month old (~800 miles) and I feel that I've been experiencing a transmission event that is similar to those reported earlier in this thread:

The car is regularly parked in an underground garage. After I've backed out of assigned space and have shifted to "D" and headed towards garage exit, I typically find that the idling engine speed (foot off of accelerator) provides a little more forward speed than I want and while my foot remains lightly on the brake pedal, the idling speed will suddenly jump up necessitating even a tad more braking to limit speed.

I feel this is not quite what one should expect?

 

What you're describing doesn't really match what we're discussing in this thread which is a hard 2-3 shift.

 

Oh come on Weather, man up! Add some drama to your life and fight this battle with the rest of us!!!
Still waiting on a fix!

 

^^ If I knew I'd be sure of getting some of this then I'd for sure get a TLX. It would be great to combine both PASSIONS into one....Car and Spanking!

Oh the fun it would be

Knowing my luck, I'd get the TLX and all I'd get would be

 

"Acura is aware of the problem" "Normal operation for the car at this time"

 

The Acura representative that told you "normal" whether at the dealership level or ACR, just patronized you because a software fix has not been released. It is not a normal condition and they know it as very carefully noted and acknowledged in one of the One-Pack Videos. Have an Acura engineer sit in my car as it literally jerks and/or slams into 2nd and 3rd gears, time after time after time, and tell me with a straight face its "normal". It's called poor software engineering and wasn't corrected in thousands of miles of testing prior to being introduced to paying customers. Have driven over three million miles and been an Acura owner for last 15 years.

Have a friend that ordered and took delivery of an Advance model about three weeks ago, $43+. First Acura he has ever owned and first new car in 6 years. Within couple days he almost returned the car because the transmission shifted rough. Now three weeks later it has gotten worse. Frustrated this issue continues to be an issue.