Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with acura

Defeating Acura TL "torque management"

queue_strategy — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:56:48 -0800

My 6-speed 2006 Acura TL has a factory installed "torque management" feature which limits power in first or second gear to reduce understeer. Any way to defeat this with replacement chips or other aftermarket devices? The low power and tendency to stall is killing me!

Link to video of an Acura commercial?

xmutex — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:24:45 -0800

There's this Acura commercial about the collision safety of one of its new cars, and the advert is a series of shots of people in normal environs (office, outdoors, etc) being essentially blown backwards as if in a collision. It's hypnotic. I could watch it all day. I'm not sure what that says about me, but can anyone find this commercial on Youtube or some similar site?

I need a ride!!

pearlybob — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 09:03:04 -0800

Need opinions before I buy a new car... I'll be getting a new car in the next week or two and I've researched myself to death. I've narrowed it down to two models. The Acura MDX and the GMC Yukon. Both have similar packages and goodies, the Acura fares a little better with higher resale value. Does anyone have any experience with either one? Would you buy either one? Why or why not? Also, wanting to move from a large SUV to something smaller (hence the choices) and I want to be sure that they are family friendly. Family friendly as in we still have several years of carseats, strollers and such ahead of us. Thanks again and I'm open to any other suggestions you might have.

My iPhone won't place nice with my car

aburd — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:18:16 -0800

What is the best way to play hook my iPhone up to my car stereo that doesn't involve the use of a tape adapter or a FM transmitter? I drive a 2004 Acura TL, if that is helpful. I'd love to have a dock that takes full advantage of the iPhone's capabilities, but any solution that gets the music onto my car stereo would make me happy. Thanks!

What the hell's going on with my car?

Vervain — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 10:59:42 -0800

CarRepairFilter: Help me figure out what's going on with my usually well-behaved car, and what, if anything, it might have to do with a letter I got from Acura back in January... Basically, it looks like Acura made a deal with the EPA because the onboard computer in some of the '95-'97 models is not CA-emission-compatible. As a result, they're replacing (for free) the spark plugs, ignition wires, distributor cap/rotor on qualified cars with 75,000-150,000 miles.

As for my car: it's a '96 Integra, with about 140,000 miles. I'd say I put less than 10,000 miles a year on it, since I don't have much of a commute. I've been searching for a new mechanic for awhile, since the place I'd been going to went downhill fast. As a result, the car hasn't really been looked at in about a year.

There's definitely something up with the brakes, and I think the old mechanics might've had something to do with that; last time I was in, they made some comment about the back brakes being "20% on one side, and (less) on the other". For the record, their fix might've evened it out, but it also made the brakes very spongy. Right now they're very grabby, almost pulsing, and there's a ticking noise from the back brakes when I'm slowing down. This goes away when I apply more pressure to the brake pedal.

In addition to that, I think the clutch may be starting to go. But I could be wrong--this is my first standard-transmission vehicle, so I don't know what to look for. Over the past few days, the engine has been running rougher for a few seconds after upshifting, eventually kicking into a smoother ride. But it's only while accelerating; downshifting seems to be just as peachy as ever.

Long story short, I know I've neglected the poor thing and that I'm going to be dropping some money on car repairs in addition to the free fixes the letter mentions, but that's about all I know. (I'm not mechanically inclined.) Can you give me an idea of what might be going on, so I know what to ask about when I take it in?

Have you used a low cost ($20-$50) Cold Air Intake on your car?

skyguy14 — Tue, 12 Jul 2005 09:18:08 -0800

Have you used a low cost ($20-$50) Cold Air Intake on your car? I am looking at the numerous cold air intakes for my vehicle for anywhere from $20-$50 on eBay, and I am wondering if they are any good. I am most concerned about the quality of the air filter, as to not allow any contaminants into the engine. I am skeptical of them as name brand intakes from AEM, K&N, and Neuspeed fetch $200 or more. Any opinions or experiences?