2004 Acura TL Tech Review - Honda Tuning Magazine

We love the 2004 TL. We love the way it looks, the way the UA6 chassis handles, the way the V6 J32A3 engine screams through VTEC. You name it, if it's on the current generation TL we're smitten with it.

Even though Acura markets it as a performance luxury sedan, we think it's a misunderstood car. Team Honda Research got it right when it built its TL for racing (HT, March '05). Not quite a wolf in sheep's clothing, the TL is still a badass four-door aimed for a more refined crowd.

Unfortunately, because it is pitched as a luxo sedan the aftermarket precludes the TL from a lot of the accessories you'd see on more accessible, and tunable, buckets. The current iteration is still new as well, introduced just two years ago, which limits what's out there. That said, Team Honda Research's racecar ran the 25 Hours at Thunderhill with a motor that was pretty much stock, proving the mettle of the motor. Additionally the team was able to finish third in the marathon, a testament to the strength of the J-series powerplant.

To create its own everyday commuter racer, Serenity Sound Performance in Fountain Valley, Calif., snagged a contemporary TL to see what it could do to it with off-the-shelf parts. Like the Honda Research guys, they threw on a cold-air intake, one of Injen's, and the exact same 2.5-inch exhaust from Comptech. Sun Automotive also sent SSP proprietor Thai Nguyen one each of its Hyper Voltage System and Hyper Ground System. Both purport to improve the vehicle's electrical system and make more power.

Finally, we take the TL to MD Automotive in Westminster, Calif., to tie it to the Dynojet rollers and get an idea about what the mods are capable of.

Under the hood of the TL the engine compartment is festooned in plastic panels. In addition, we learn that they must be removed and replaced in a specific orientation otherwise when they are reinstalled they won't fit at all. Nguyen and his team make quick work of the covers. Most are secured with simple plastic fasteners.
Under the hood of the TL the engine compartment is festooned in plastic panels. In additio
Sun's HVS comes with hardware and a mounting bracket, which Nguyen and SSP associate Ricky Dunham modify to attach to the underside of the strut bar.
Sun's HVS comes with hardware and a mounting bracket, which Nguyen and SSP associate Ricky

Known as Hot InaZma in Japan, Sun Auto's Hyper Voltage System is said to stabilize voltage from the battery to help improve the efficiency of the car's electrical system.
Known as Hot InaZma in Japan, Sun Auto's Hyper Voltage System is said to stabilize voltage
Sun says the cables that come in its Hyper Ground System have 10 times less impedance than factory ground systems, which theoretically facilitates improved conduction (and all the benefits that implies).
Sun says the cables that come in its Hyper Ground System have 10 times less impedance than

The TL had a mess of factory grounding points throughout the engine compartment, most of them nearly inaccessible: on the compartment walls, next to the battery, inside the fender, under the fuse box, etc. This one on the gearbox mount was not so bad.
The TL had a mess of factory grounding points throughout the engine compartment, most of t
Nguyen had more cable to run, so he created a new ground on the strut tower using existing hardware.
Nguyen had more cable to run, so he created a new ground on the strut tower using existing

Injen sends us its RD Series cold-air intake, and it's a very straightforward install. Dunham rips out the stock air box and filter and this length of intake plumbing.
Injen sends us its RD Series cold-air intake, and it's a very straightforward install. Dun
Removing this hard line assembly also interrupts a coolant line, so Dunham is quick with the hose-and-fitting solution provided by Injen with the intake.
Removing this hard line assembly also interrupts a coolant line, so Dunham is quick with t

Injen sends a barbed, plastic straight coupler hose fitting to reconnect coolant hoses like so.
Injen sends a barbed, plastic straight coupler hose fitting to reconnect coolant hoses lik
With the TL raised and the wheel well shield pulled back, Dunham can get his mitts on the remainder of the intake assembly: a resonator and more serpentine plastic plumbing.
With the TL raised and the wheel well shield pulled back, Dunham can get his mitts on the

Again, no surprises--the 6061 T-6 aluminum pipe is snaked into the fender and the other end is secured to the throttle body opening with a hose coupler and a pair of clamps. Injen kicks in the hose for crankcase ventilation.
Again, no surprises--the 6061 T-6 aluminum pipe is snaked into the fender and the other en
Inside the fender on the frame rail are a duo of ground points, one of which Dunham has to move to accommodate the intake mount hardware and spacer.
Inside the fender on the frame rail are a duo of ground points, one of which Dunham has to

The filter element is secured and voila, we have a CARB-approved (or pending) cold-air intake. And for just $240.
The filter element is secured and voila, we have a CARB-approved (or pending) cold-air int
Here is perhaps our biggest complaint about the great motor under the hood of the TL.

Comptech's stainless-steel cat-back exhaust system for the TL is a thing of beauty, constructed from T-304 stainless steel and polished in all the right places.
Comptech's stainless-steel cat-back exhaust system for the TL is a thing of beauty, constr
The factory exhaust is off in a snap. Nguyen first unscrews the nuts holding the piping to the second cat.
The factory exhaust is off in a snap. Nguyen first unscrews the nuts holding the piping to

The form-fitting trapezoidal muffler tips are gone, but four-inch polished tips don't look too bad.
The form-fitting trapezoidal muffler tips are gone, but four-inch polished tips don't look
Underhood, the chromed intake tube definitely changes the aesthetics. Makes us think we should eliminate the rest of the plastic.
Underhood, the chromed intake tube definitely changes the aesthetics. Makes us think we sh

The reason we did all this was to see if the J32 had any hops given an average set of off-the-shelf bolt-ons.
The reason we did all this was to see if the J32 had any hops given an average set of off-

CONNECT
Comptech Sport	MD Automotive 714-891-1113 www.markdibella.com
Sun Automobile www.sunautomobile.com	Eibach
Injen Technology	Serenity Sound Performance www.serenitysoundperformance.com