Alex Fletcher

Today i test drove a 2008 Acura TL automatic with 65,000 miles in great condition. First during my visual inspection in the engine bay, I noticed the throttle pedal positioning sensor box had been replaced recently as well as a gasket in the engine. You could see oil residue on the side of the engine and some of the bolts on top of the engine were brand new and shiny. Then for the test drive...


Initially when I went from park to drive, it took maybe a second or two before fully engaging. After reading about this, it seems as if it is normal but this issue paired with the next thing that happened has me worried.

I test drove it for thrirty minutes in city driving and moderate acceleration. It shifted great no issues. No problems at lower speeds and was driving wonderfully.

Then after doing some moderate acceleration, I did a couple hard rolling pulls at full throttle from 10mph to 60mph. During one of those pulls something happened that scared me. After getting to the top of the rev range for second (or maybe it was third) gear, there was a long pause of no acceleraton before third gear kicked in abruptly. The engine had enough time to fall back to around 5500rpms.

This video shows exactly how it felt. https://youtu.be/qxuswhh7r68

So I'm thinking it's probably going to need new pressure sensors and a transmission fluid change. No big deal. I did four hard pulls and this only happened on one of them.

My my concern is this, could this problem have caused too much damage to the transmission and reduced its future life? Should I just pass on this car and keep looking? Could the previous owner have thought this problem was due to the throttle pedal positioning box?

Thanks in advance for any input. If this isn't something I should worry about too much I will probably end up buying this car. I want it to last at least 5 years without a the transmission blowing though.

NetGnome

It seems like a pressure sensor issue. I would also add a transmission filter as well.

truonghthe

OP I am at work and cant see the youtube video however I can tell you the hard shifting usually occur on 3-4 or 4-3 gear, you might have some old ATF that need to be drain and refilled (3x3) method here on Azine.


@NetGonme 07-08 TL has internal ATF filter meaning you will have to remove the transmission out of the car to change the filter.

NetGnome

The 07-08 TL has a filter like a metal screen
I meant a better external filter one can replace more easily than removing the transmission.