CarComplaints.com Notes: The 1999-2003 Acura TL has a known & widespread defect with the transmission.
Honda fixed some vehicles with a recall in 2004 by changing the oil cooler return line. To settle a class action lawsuit in 2006, Honda extended the transmission warranty on some of these Acura TL's to 93 months / 109,000 miles.
Now these vehicles are past the warranty limit, so buyer beware.
So after shelling out $1800 on a new transmission, the IAC acts up on us a week later. Cost us about $200 and my husband 3 hours of his time. It probably would have cost us even more if my husband wasn't so handy.
Noticed it when I was at a stop light with the AC on. The car was stopped, but the RPM kept dropping like the car was ready to die. Sure enough, this car wasn't done giving us trouble. Complete piece of junk. Yes, I bought an old used car, but with only 74K miles, you wouldn't expect a car to have had at least 2 new transmissions and then IAC problems after a week with a new transmission. Please. Lemonade anyone?
Information on IAC from http://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-idle-air-control-valve-works website:
An IAC (idle air control) motor is designed to adjust the engine idle RPM speed by opening and closing an air bypass passage inside the throttle body. The cars computer or ECM (electronic control module) receives information from various sensors and will output signals to adjust the IAC motor in or out to adjust engine idle speed by controlling engine idle air.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
So after shelling out $1800 on a new transmission, the IAC acts up on us a week later. Cost us about $200 and my husband 3 hours of his time. It probably would have cost us even more if my husband wasn't so handy.
Noticed it when I was at a stop light with the AC on. The car was stopped, but the RPM kept dropping like the car was ready to die. Sure enough, this car wasn't done giving us trouble. Complete piece of junk. Yes, I bought an old used car, but with only 74K miles, you wouldn't expect a car to have had at least 2 new transmissions and then IAC problems after a week with a new transmission. Please. Lemonade anyone?
Information on IAC from http://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-idle-air-control-valve-works website:
An IAC (idle air control) motor is designed to adjust the engine idle RPM speed by opening and closing an air bypass passage inside the throttle body. The cars computer or ECM (electronic control module) receives information from various sensors and will output signals to adjust the IAC motor in or out to adjust engine idle speed by controlling engine idle air.
- tvinca, Banning, CA, US