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Acura TL 2004-2008: How to Reset the ECU

Your ECU and automatic transmission could be working against you. This article will show you how to get them back to the factory defaults.

By Jared Hammond - May 23, 2016

This article applies to the 3rd Gen Acura TL (2004-2008).

Sometimes luxury cars are too smart for their own good. That's the case with the Acura TL with automatic transmission. The ECU is programmed to adapt to your driving style to provide the most comfortable driving experience. Unfortunately, for some of us, it's the roads we drive on that determine our driving style. Even if you prefer a more responsive throttle if you're forced to drive in stop-and-go traffic, your TL's ECU will adapt to that, making the throttle less responsive. There are a couple ways to reset the ECU to its default state. The instructions below will tell you everything you need to know.

Materials Needed

  • Ratchet with 10 mm socket

The Gas Pedal Method

This method is the fastest and recommended way to reset your ECU.

  • Place the key in the ignition without starting the car. Make sure that the radio and other accessories are turned off.
  • Without moving the key, press down on the gas pedal. Hold the gas pedal all the way to the floor.
  • Wait for five seconds while holding down the gas pedal. Then, turn the key back to the off position and release the gas pedal.
  • Wait a couple minutes for the ECU to completely reset. Then, take the car out for a test drive.
  • Compare the difference in responsiveness to what it was like before.
Figure 1. Hold down the gas pedal without starting the car to reset the ECU.

The Battery Method

The battery method is simple and works on all cars.

  • Pull the hood release latch by the driver's side kick panel.
  • Unhook the catch and lift the hood.
  • Locate the battery and disconnect the negative battery cable.
  • Wait for fifteen to twenty minutes for the power to drain from the ECU, then reconnect the battery.
  • Wait another five minutes for the battery to reset.
  • Then, test drive the car to see if it had any effect on the throttle's responsiveness.
Figure 2. Disconnect the negative battery cable to reset the ECU.

Pro Tip

The disadvantage of disconnecting the battery is that it also resets your radio and clock. If you choose this method to reset your ECU, you'll have to go back and change those settings.

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