The 1997 Acura TL factory service and repair manual is matched to this exact year, covering both engines — the 2.5L I5 and the 3.2L V6 — and both trims, so every specification and sequence is the one written for your car.
Engines
- 2.5L I5 — 2451cc (150 cu in), SOHC, naturally aspirated, gas
- 3.2L V6 — 3206cc (196 cu in), SOHC, naturally aspirated, gas
Trims
- Premium Sedan 4-Door
- Base Sedan 4-Door
Known issues on the 1997 TL. Two recalls are on federal record for this model year. One covers the automatic transmission: a transmission case bolt can loosen and fall out, allowing the transmission to disengage from the differential, and the vehicle could lose power to the drive wheels without warning. The other covers the front lower ball joints, which can prematurely wear out and, in the worst case, separate, resulting in vehicle deceleration, a sudden loss of power, and compromised steering control. Owners have filed 29 complaints and Acura has issued 22 technical service bulletins for the year. This manual carries the factory diagnostic and repair procedures behind each of those systems.
From a routine fluid service to a transmission case repair or a front lower ball joint replacement, it keeps you on the OEM procedure and the correct specification for your specific 1997 TL.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A TRANSMISSION CASE BOLT CAN LOOSEN AND FALL OUT ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL.
THE VEHICLE COULD LOSE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO THE PARK POSITION WOULD NOT LOCK THE WHEELS, AND A PARKED VEHICLE COULD MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT SET.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED BOLT.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AND, IN THE WORSE CASE, THE BALL JOINT WOULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE.
THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.
Special Tool Loan Program: Under TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR LOAN, the list has been updated.
Sending vehicle data to tech line.
ACURA: THERE ARE GUIDELINES FOR VARIOUS SITUATIONS AND PROCEDURES INCLUDING: TIRE PRESSURE VALVE STEM INSTALLATION, TRAILER STABILITY MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ON, ENGINE OIL APPLICATION GUIDE, NEW SOFTWARE, NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID, NOTCHY STEERI
TROUBLESHOOTING ABS OR TCS DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 51 AND/OR 53. *NM
AIRBAG ON OFF SWITCH. *EH
INTERMITTENT SRA DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 1-1 TO 1-5, DRIVER'S AIRBAG INFLATOR CIRCUIT. OCTOBER TECH LINE INFORMATION. *TT
A/C COMPRESSOR CONTROL LOGIC. OCTOBER TECH LINE INFORMATION. *TT
CLEARING ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES. OCTOBER TECH LINE INFORMATION. *TT
Showing the 8 most recent of 24 technical service bulletins on file with NHTSA.
BRAKES: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH, SLOWED DOWN TO 10MPH TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. PUSHED PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKES DID NOT CATCH , RAN INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER CAR, RESULTING IN A COLLISION/INJURIES AND VEHICLE WA STOTALLED. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHICH ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN AT LOW SPEED. *AK
VEHICLE LOST ALL CONTROL RESULTING IN COLLISION DUE TO POSSIBLE RECALL RELATED FAILURE OF THE BALL JOINTS (99V-069), NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DURING COLLISION AND THE HEAD REST FAILED, THE BOTTOM POSTS THAT SUPPORT THE HEAD RESTS, SPLIT THE HEAD OF THE DRIVER THROUGH THE PADDING MATERIAL. *MJS
VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD / SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING A CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK *YC
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, RESULTING IN A MINOR COLLISION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
AT A 25MPH VEHICLE CRASH DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT FULLY DEPLOY. CAUSE UNKNOWN DEALER NOTIFIED.*AKI
MY 1997 ACURA TL 2.5 SPONTANEOUSLY BURST INTO FLAMES IN THE AREA OF THE STARTER. THIS WAS CLEARLY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *TR
DT: THERE WAS HEAVY RAIN THE NIGHT BEFORE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WHEN THE CONSUMER GOT UP AND WENT TO GET IN THE CAR AND FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, DRIVER SIDE DASH , AND DRIVER SIDE SEAT HAD BURNED. THE FLOORBOARD WAS DAMAGED BY DRIPPING PLASTIC. THE ONLY HOT WIRE WAS IN THE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM. THE FIRE WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF THERE WAS A FUSE OPERATIONAL IN THE CIRCUIT. THE BATTERY WAS ALMOST BRAND NEW, AND IT WAS ALMOST DEAD. THE CALLER
THE HE CAR WAS PARKED IN PARK AND SHIFTED BY ITSELF DOWN A SLIGHT INCLINE WHICH CAUSED IT TO ROLL EROVOV ROLL D. *AK
WAS DRIVING AT 5 MPH OR LESS NOTICED AN ODOR OF BURNED WIRE. MAKING A RIGHT TO PULL INTO PARKING SPACE WHEN CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT FRONT OF A BUILDING THAT WAS LOCATED AT LEAST 12 FEET AWAY, AND LOST CONTROL. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON MY 97 ACURA 3.2TL
CALLED DEALERSHIP, ACURA OF BOARDMAN SERVICE DEPT., SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AND HAD NEVER HEARD OF INGNITION FAILURE BEING A PROBLEM. DID RESEARCH BECAUSE OF THE ODD AND DAMAGING BEHAVIOR OF THE IGNITION SWITCH TO MY VEHICLE AND BECAME AWARE OF MAJOR RECAL ON IGNITION SWITCHES. HOWEVER THE RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE MY SPECIFIC MAKER IN MY SPECIFIC YEAR BUT IT DOES INCLUDE MY MAKE AND A DIFFERENT YEAR. WILL CONTACT ACURA/HONDA ABOUT HAVING THEM REPLACE. IT IS DEFINITELY A HAZARD! DT
1997 ACURA 3.2 TL FAULTY AIRBAG. MY ACURA RECENTLY DISPLAYED A SRS ERROR. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO RADLEY ACURA IN FALLS CHURCH WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT A POTENTIALLY FAULTY AIRBAG IS NOT COVERED BY ACURA AND THAT TO HAVE THE AIRBAG REPLACED TO PREVENT IT FROM EITHER DEPLOYING RANDOMLY OR NOT DEPLOYING AT ALL IT WOULD COST ME OVER $1200. *AK
ENGINE HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM SLOW SPEED.
VEHICLE DEACCELERATES 65 MPH UNTIL 0. YH
HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #99V069000. CONTACTED DEALER & SET APPOINTMENT. TOOK VEHICLE IN. LATER PICKED VEHICLE UP. QUESTIONED ABOUT FRONT ALIGNMENT. INFORMED NONE DONE & WASN'T NEEDED. WENT TO DIFFERENT DEALER & INFORMED IT SHOULD BE DONE AFTER RECALL REPAIRS. TIRES WERE WORN ON THE EDGE. *AK
Showing the 15 most serious of 33 complaints filed with NHTSA.
