(Part 2) Top products from r/Acura

The people over at /r/autodetailing will be the first to tell you not to use any Armor All products. Overall just very low quality products and damage, rather than preserve your vehicle. They dry out the dash and cause cracking.

Meguiars makes great automotive detailing products. Their Supreme Shine Protectant is significantly better than Armor All's and will not damage your dash. Spray it onto a Microfiber towel or cloth and apply to your dash. If you are looking for something less glossy and greasy, their Natural Shine Protectant is great too.

Avoid buying the wipe type products as they just aren't worth the money.

If you want to thoroughly clean your interior like a professional, try products like 303 Aerospace protectant and Einszett cockpit premium. These are products used by pros and many detailing enthusiasts at /r/autodetailing and in the detailing world.

Wiping with just a damp cloth will not do, as the sun will eventually crack up your dash; its only a matter of time. The protectant will preserve your dash for as long as possible and it wicks up dust while leaving a glossy, or matte finish.

If the carbon film ends up looking like a bit too much you could get some satin film or some glossy black film, both are 1' x 5' which should be plenty to do all of the door trim pieces. You could also plastidip it and try different finishes with that, it is easily removable. But, I would only try that after I had made the surface nice and flat, which it may already be but I can't judge that from the photos. Good luck!

Most of the complaints for that car are for the auto-stop/start engine and with the 9 speed transmission. Also the infotainment is pretty outdated as you've seen...

Aside from that you are getting an excellent V6, best AWD system, high reliability, quiet and smooth ride, and great looks. Not to mention Acurawatch on the advance.

If you could get it for $22k I would say go for it. There are not many cars with more pros than the TLX!

As for the lack of carplay, my suggestion is this https://www.amazon.com/SCOSCHE-MAGVM2-MagicMount-Magnetic-Phone/dp/B00PMOCI72/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1527216510&sr=8-8&keywords=vent+magnet

Don't use a carwash was that uses those rubbery bands that slide across your car. Those cause micro scratches that can easily be seen on a black car. Take your car to a carwash that hand washes the car or you can use the two-bucket method to wash the car yourself.

Between washes (black cars get dusty quick!) I take my car to an automatic carwash that uses just a water spray and dry it down carefully with quick detailer and good quality microfiber cloth.

Calls only unless you get something like the [BlackBerry Music Gateway](https://www.amazon.com/BlackBerry-ACC-41596-001-Music-Gateway-Packaging/dp/B008736UWO. Pair your phone to the gateway and then you can play music off your phone. I've had one for several years and it's worked perfectly.

04 owner here. You can change both sides without removing anything. Make sure you have the correct size security torx bit and an adapter to use it in a 1/4 ratchet or a flexible screw driver like this https://www.amazon.com/Wera-Kraftform-Flexible-Bitholding-Screwdriver/dp/B003GDIT1U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1474927535&sr=8-2&keywords=flexible+screw+driver

Here's my recommendation:

Transmission Fluid

Since you are a fellow DIYer, follow this writeup:
Acurazine How To

Use GM Syncromesh with Friction Modifier for MT. You can Google "GM Syncromesh Acura TL" and find lots of positive reports on using this fluid versus Honda fluid.

Here is the fluid I'm talking about: Amazon Link

Oil Leak

So potential leak sites on the engine include the oil pan flange to block, the oil pump (located between the crank pulley on the RH side of the car and the engine block), and the main seal between the engine and transmission. On my 140k '06 TL the oil pump was leaking, which coated the RH side of the engine, and the RH subframe with oil. Like this.

To fix this requires removal of the oil pump, which requires removal of the timing belt and oil pan. I needed to do the timing belt, so I bit the bullet and knocked it out. Here is a YouTube video of a pro doing this.

PS Pump

There was a bulletin from Acura to replace an oring on the pump.
Part 13 on this diagram. The replacement oring is orange in color. There is an Acurazine post on rebuilding the PS pump as well, [here](https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-problems-fixes-114/diy-105-
power-steering-pump-overhaul-pics-sm-scans-841134/).

GL with your UA6. I want to run mine to 300k miles.

Acura EL is a RSX with a civic front end. And RSXs never came with factory remote start, so I highly doubt you car has a system in it already. I'm fairly certain that the 2nd gen MDX was the first model to get a remote start accessory from the dealership.

Edit: On my Integra I used a Viper 5606v alarm module with remote start, and then bought a bypass module that is only active when the remote start is active to bypass the immobilizer. Crime stoppers Honda sl3

The best approach with respect to grounding is to first measure the voltage drop at each ground point with a DMM; excessive voltage drop will cause issues like this.

Many OBD scan tools or apps that do live data can monitor vehicle voltage in real time. Alternatively, consider a cigarette-lighter volt meter for troubleshooting like this:

https://www.amazon.com/INNOVA-3721-Battery-Charging-Monitor/dp/B000EVWDU0

It’s very common for alternators to fail by first getting flaky with respect to voltage output.

The main battery to chassis ground is a common fault, as is the alternator connection. It’s not good enough that connections look clean and tight, you need to unbolt, sand chassis to bare metal, add dielectric grease, rebolt and slop grease on top.

Has car been in crash or flood or had stereo/alarm/remote start or other wiring hacks done? Any time a vehicle has electrical faults look for any shoddy work.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003YMTJ2G/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1468808224&sr=1-2&pi=SX200_QL40&vehicle=2005-58-2414-20--1-6-5-7513-2036-1-1-2612--7-0&dpPl=1&dpID=41wWxKxfruL&ref=plSrch#

https://www.amazon.com/Akebono/b/ref=bl_dp_s_mw_2581886011?ie=UTF8&node=2581886011&field-lbr_brands_browse-bin=Akebono

What I usually do is opt for the best pads I can and then skimp a bit on the rotors. For a daily driver you don't need any crazy high performance stuff so I like decent blanks and the akebono. Very quiet, linear feel, and very low dust.

Thanks for the info. I'm looking into the sub now.

I found this which seems to have the same depth as the stock sub.

There is a system that I've seen that intercepts the antenna plug into the stock radio, and connects via an aux cord or Bluetooth to a phone. When the radio is set to a given frequency it channels into the adapter and streams your music as though it was broadcast like any other radio station. It offers a higher quality sound and is generally more reliable than a traditional fm transmitter, and requires no real alteration.

Here is one on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002U5XPBE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_5TspybXTJD4VB

Just a CR2025 battery for your fobs each fob takes 2 batteries
https://www.amazon.com/Maxell-Cr2025-pilas-Litio-color/dp/B002E0DSBW

With this Loctite Vinyl, Fabric and Plastic Repair Adhesive.

Here it is on Amazon, there’s quite a few listings for it at varying prices (this was the lowest I saw) but they are all the same.

change your third and fourth gear pressure sensors

https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Honda-28610-RKE-004-Pressure-Sender/dp/B005AB0NGK/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1540213312&sr=8-7&keywords=acura+tl+pressure+switches&dpID=41%252BoG0Smn9L&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IMLAHHU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


thinking back these are what I bought for my type s which may have a different transmission so do some research if your car has the 3.2

Where's the leak?
The pumps are an easy rebuild, the dealer has all the seals.
The rack should just get a reman.
The pressure hose is a pain in the ass because of where it routes.
If the suction hose from the reservoir to the pump is stiff at all, change it. They get hard and cause air suction leaks, causing air in the fluid and pump noise.
Use only Honda/Acura fluid. Do not use any other fluid.