Problem: Green "Drive" light blinking!
#1
Cruisin'
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Problem: Green "Drive" light blinking!
This malfunction is so strange that I don't know if I can explain it adequately. First off, car is VIN 17469, 5AT, two weeks old with 900 miles and no problems, till now. I was on offramp from highway doing around 65 when I flipped from automatic to manual. The lights changed but no gear light came on. The car acted as if it was still in automatic mode. No big deal, yet. I pulled over and shut it off and restarted it. I pulled onto the road and shut off the VSA just to see if that had anything to do with it. That's when all hell broke loose. Both VSA lights came on as well the check engine light and, get this, the green Drive indicator light was blinking! The car ran as though it was a manual with a bad clutch, sort of slipping. Pulled over and put it in park and the green drive light continued to blink. Yes, the red park light was on and the green drive light was still blinking! Parked it for about a half hour then started it and it is running OK but the check engine light is still on so it went straight to the dealer. Any ideas? I think I get the vote for strangest problem so far.
#2
an Acura has-been
mruscitti, when I read the service manual, it said that if the drive indicator blinked, it was a malfuntion indicator for the tranny computer. You did the right thing by bringing it to the dealer right away.
Keep us posted!
Keep us posted!
#3
Moderator Alumnus
Re: Problem: Green "Drive" light blinking!
nruscitti,
This is new to me. I never saw 04TL comes with this problem.
But, my 94 Legend had ever got green D light blinking. I had to replace the sensor in the tranny. But the solutions could be varied based on your issues.
Acura dealer should be able to find the answer after plugging the device to read the code your TL has saved in the ECU.
Good luck.
This is new to me. I never saw 04TL comes with this problem.
But, my 94 Legend had ever got green D light blinking. I had to replace the sensor in the tranny. But the solutions could be varied based on your issues.
Acura dealer should be able to find the answer after plugging the device to read the code your TL has saved in the ECU.
Good luck.
#4
Senior Moderator
That's an odd problem, I haven't seen this one yet, either. Pretty sure it's isolated. Do keep us posted.
#7
Moderator Alumnus
Originally posted by nruscitti
Got the car back. It was a faulty 'shift Solenoid A' according to the dealer. There are four of them they said. So far, so good.
Got the car back. It was a faulty 'shift Solenoid A' according to the dealer. There are four of them they said. So far, so good.
Good to know it's resoluble.
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#8
an Acura has-been
nruscitti,
Yep, four of them to do the shifting, glad to hear it was quick, from the svc manual, it looks like they come out easy from the outside of the tranny.
Yep, four of them to do the shifting, glad to hear it was quick, from the svc manual, it looks like they come out easy from the outside of the tranny.
#9
I know this is an old thread but I'm looking for a little guidance on a blinking D (Drive) light.
Good morning. I was about to purchase a 2005 Acura TL with 150,000 miles on it. One owner with all work done at the dealer. Dealer confirmed history of car and how well it has been taken care of, and that it's all highway mileage with the owner already putting 50,000 miles on his 2008 TL (I spoke to 2 separate techs there). The current owner brought the car in twice now for the green D light indicator blinking. He said no other signs (physical) from the transmission that there's a problem. Dealer both times said they couldn't find a problem, and the codes they read lead them to believe it's a sensor that's working intermittently, which is why they can't pinpoint exactly which one and fix it. Does this make any sense?
Should I be worried about having the transmission go completely and cost $5000 to fix (considering I'm paying $9000 for the car that would be insane to pay for repairs)? Or is the dealer correct that if it were a physical problem there would be other signs like grinding, noise, stuck in certain gears, difficulty shifting etc.? Thank you for your time.
Any experience with the Third Gen TL transmission failing completely and needing replacement? Or are these blinking D lights usually fixed with a sensor or other small repair?
Thanks,
Rashid
Good morning. I was about to purchase a 2005 Acura TL with 150,000 miles on it. One owner with all work done at the dealer. Dealer confirmed history of car and how well it has been taken care of, and that it's all highway mileage with the owner already putting 50,000 miles on his 2008 TL (I spoke to 2 separate techs there). The current owner brought the car in twice now for the green D light indicator blinking. He said no other signs (physical) from the transmission that there's a problem. Dealer both times said they couldn't find a problem, and the codes they read lead them to believe it's a sensor that's working intermittently, which is why they can't pinpoint exactly which one and fix it. Does this make any sense?
Should I be worried about having the transmission go completely and cost $5000 to fix (considering I'm paying $9000 for the car that would be insane to pay for repairs)? Or is the dealer correct that if it were a physical problem there would be other signs like grinding, noise, stuck in certain gears, difficulty shifting etc.? Thank you for your time.
Any experience with the Third Gen TL transmission failing completely and needing replacement? Or are these blinking D lights usually fixed with a sensor or other small repair?
Thanks,
Rashid
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#12
#13
I wondered what the experience was on here for 2004/2005 TL transmission issues. I can't seem to find anybody saying theirs had to be completely replaced. Is that correct? Heard of anybody on here with a Third Generation having the tranny replaced? Or always a sensor, solenoid etc.?
#15
Sound logical? I was surprised the code didn't say specifically like "sensor A" or "Solenoid B" etc.
#17
Thank you all for your continued input.
Only reason I haven't given up is the price is very good, the guy is nice, the car is nice, full history one owner all done at the dealer who also confirmed it's in great shape.
Only reason I haven't given up is the price is very good, the guy is nice, the car is nice, full history one owner all done at the dealer who also confirmed it's in great shape.
#19
Just called the dealer.
He said it's been in twice for the blinking D. He checked the system and said both times they drove it, no physical issue, pulled the codes, and there wasn't any. So no codes, which is why they can't diagnose the problem. Tech said he's pretty confident it's going to end up being a sensor (maybe temp guage he said) since they don't feel or see anything physically wrong with it and if it were a specific sensor right now the code would point them to it.
Opinion please?
#21
Comments?
#22
Burning Brakes
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That would be great, thank you.
Just called the dealer.
He said it's been in twice for the blinking D. He checked the system and said both times they drove it, no physical issue, pulled the codes, and there wasn't any. So no codes, which is why they can't diagnose the problem. Tech said he's pretty confident it's going to end up being a sensor (maybe temp guage he said) since they don't feel or see anything physically wrong with it and if it were a specific sensor right now the code would point them to it.
Opinion please?
Just called the dealer.
He said it's been in twice for the blinking D. He checked the system and said both times they drove it, no physical issue, pulled the codes, and there wasn't any. So no codes, which is why they can't diagnose the problem. Tech said he's pretty confident it's going to end up being a sensor (maybe temp guage he said) since they don't feel or see anything physically wrong with it and if it were a specific sensor right now the code would point them to it.
Opinion please?
#23
Burning Brakes
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The current owner described it as "once every 3 weeks or so the d light starts blinking and it looks/feels like the car is looking for a gear, so for example it will go from 5th to 4th, then back to 5th and does this for a few minutes then is fine for another 3 weeks."
Comments?
Comments?
#24
something isn't right if the code trips the CEL or trans light it is stored and it is retreivable.........
#26
Senior Moderator
I'd say look for another TL, 150K on a TL is a lot of mileage, expect to do some maintainance like in a little bit of miles...
#27
Here's the pics of the car:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3130970...7614076260714/
2005 with 260,000km so 162,000 miles. $8900 Canadian ($7100 US) including separate set of winter tires.
Damn blinking D, pretty good deal and the guy selling it seems like a good guy too. One owner putting 50,000 miles/year of highway driving.
Thanks for the input guys, if I have to budget in the cost of a new tranny I don't think the deal is worth it any more.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3130970...7614076260714/
2005 with 260,000km so 162,000 miles. $8900 Canadian ($7100 US) including separate set of winter tires.
Damn blinking D, pretty good deal and the guy selling it seems like a good guy too. One owner putting 50,000 miles/year of highway driving.
Thanks for the input guys, if I have to budget in the cost of a new tranny I don't think the deal is worth it any more.
#28
Chapter Leader (New England)
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Like others said, if I were you I'd steer clear of this car. IF the transmission is going out, and you buy this car, with the money you're going to sink into it to replace the tranny you could have bought a used one with a lot less miles.
Like spectro said, in my experience, a blinking D4/5 light in combination with shifting problems usually indicates the transmission is on it's way out.
Like spectro said, in my experience, a blinking D4/5 light in combination with shifting problems usually indicates the transmission is on it's way out.
#29
Thanks, guys. Decision made, I'm going to have to pass on the car. All your feedback is very much appreciated.
I've been a member since my 06 WDP TL and 02 RSX-S and I look forward to buying another Acura and coming back to the community.
I've been a member since my 06 WDP TL and 02 RSX-S and I look forward to buying another Acura and coming back to the community.
#32
#34
#38
Chapter Leader (New England)
iTrader: (1)
You could also pull a tranny out of a wreck and install yourself if you're mechanically inclined. But you're really rolling the dice if you do that, because you could very well be buying another bad tranny. Additionally, if you buy a tranny out of a wrecked vehicle, most likely you won't find a shop that will install it for you.