Automobile / Acura / TL

Question: 2001 Acura TL 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 101,000 miles. My car was over heating and I thought it was my thermostat so I had the radiator flushed and a new thermostat installed. Air blows but does not get warm. Is there a relay/fuse that could be the cause. It happened all at once while my wife was driving. She said that the dash went out, radio quit and so did the heater. The radio and the dash lights are fine now.

Answer: Could be that the heater valve's cable is stuck, its in the engine compartment, behind the engine. Follow the coolant hose behind the engine and look for a thin piece of wire that's connected to a lever attached to a coolant hose. See if it moves back and forth when you the switch the temperature dial from full hot to full cold.

Question: 1996 Acura TL 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 147,500 miles. TCS light is on and stays on, what could be wrong?

Answer: There could be a problem with your traction control system, you need to have the vehicle scanned and diagnosed.

Question: 2000 Acura TL 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 123,000 miles. I have a strong steering wheel vibration when I apply the brakes. It is more pronounced when I decelerate at 40 mph. When I get down to 20mph, I feel the vibration very little. I installed new lifetime break pads at 60K miles and the dealer told me that the pads warped the rotors. The Acura dealership wants to turn and or replace the rotors and install new brake pads even though the existing pads have plenty of life left. What is your opinion?

Answer: They are correct, you need to replace the rotors and pads. If your already pulsating, turning rotors is a waste of time and they will pulsate again very soon.

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Question: 1997 Acura TL 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 182,000 miles. I have changed the ECT sensor, thermostat, radiator and radiator cap. The car takes a long time to heat up and when it does, it blows cold air and sometimes it will blow hot air while driving or idle. When sitting idle I can hear the water bubbling in the over flow. The overflow antifreeze is at the correct level but can smell outside the car. I am being told it is my head gaskets but Acura Service has checked and said the pressure checks and the head gasket check was fine but can't be if not heating properly. Is there a test where they can tell me if the head gaskets is blown. Acura said they were fine when tested and I paid for service but when it continued with the problem they said the only last thing it could be is the head gaskets. don't have money to just throw away.

Answer: Can you tell if the coolant is circulating? I have seen water pumps that the vanes have dissolved over time...This reduces or eliminates proper flow...

Question: 2000 Acura TL 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 240,000 miles. The 02 sensor was recently replaced, the check engine light is still flashing and it is still running rough. Do you have an answer for this?

Answer: What prompted you to replace 02? The flashing light means an emissions problem but usually a misfire.

Question:  1999 Acura TL 3.2 V6_mileage: 115,000.  The check engine light is on with code 0420 - Catalytic Converter below threshold.  I was unable to pass emissions recently so I had an after market converter installed along with both O2 sensors.  The problem still exists - the same code keeps tripping the check engine light.  I finally took it to the dealer and they tested it.  They said the new catalytic converter is bad because the air temperature is 375 degrees going in and 275 degrees coming out.  Seems odd that the original catalytic converter would fail and the replacement is also bad.  Acura says they can't test beyond the catalytic converter until it is replaced with genuine Acura part (get ready) for $980.  I am betting there is a problem elsewhere in the system that is setting the catalytic converter code.  Is the temperature test a fail proof determination the converter is bad?

Answer:   The fault code for the catalytic converter may be caused by a Mass Airflow Sensor that is slightly out of range.  Replacing it will probably fix your problem.  As for the after-market catalytic converter, it may or may not be functioning properly.  Rather than using the temperature test, the true test is the range of emissions is at the tailpipe. 

Question:  1999 Acura 3.2 TL 3.2 Vtec mileage: 22,000. I was recently driving my car and I was using the sport shifter, after stopping at a light, I began to drive and forgot to shift the gear to second. My car redlined at 6500 rpm, when redlining is 6300. What kind of damage did I cause if any. The car has a 3.2-liter Vtec engine.

Answer: Exceeding the "redline" by 200 Rpm may have caused some damage like bent valves. That would cause a very rough idle and lack of power.

Question (follow-up):  Thanks for the help.  I really appreciate it.  Another question if you don't mind me asking how would I be able to tell if I bent the valves? Could I take the car to an auto repair shop for checking out, or should I take it to the dealer?

Answer: An independent service center can check this for you.

Model / Acura / TL

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