The Acura TL was produced in 2014. From 1995 until 2007 it was the most popular model produced by Acura, and it was ranked second best-selling of all luxury sedans sold in 2005.

It is no wonder then that many of these vehicles are still on the road today. Since these cars were discontinued in 2014, it is likely that your Acura TL has several miles on it already.

Because this is the case, maintenance is essential for keeping it running in a safe and effective manner. One nice thing about the Acura TL is that it is inexpensive to maintain when compared with other similar luxury sedans.

It is estimated that it will cost less than $10,000 to maintain an Acura TL over the course of a decade. For a regular tune-up, you will pay between $300 and $500 on average if you go to a mechanic.

Some of the more expensive extra items you might have to pay for are a timing belt between $150 and $500 or a new clutch system for around $1,000.

Acura provided a maintenance schedule with the vehicle when it was originally sold. This is an excellent reference point when you are trying to determine the necessary maintenance tasks that must be performed.

However, since the car may be aging to a point where it’s outlived the provided schedule, you may have to make some educated guesses about what is necessary.

How Much Does It Cost to Have a Mechanic Maintain My Acura TL?

On average, to have your Acura TL maintained by a mechanic, you can expect to pay between $300 and $500 for a basic tune-up.

The cost will depend greatly on your location and whether extra maintenance tasks are required. However, if your mechanic tells you that you need a major repair, you should get a second opinion before acting.

Finally, even if you decide to do much of the maintenance by yourself, you should still take your vehicle to a mechanic for jobs like a wheel alignment.

Mechanics have specialized diagnostic tools and computers that allow them or her do very accurate calculations. You would be hard-pressed to accomplish the same task at home without the same tools.

How do I maintain my Acura TL in my own garage?

Below you will find a list of maintenance tasks that may have to be performed on your Acura TL. Most of the time you will only have to do a few of these, but you should inspect the vehicle for any of these potential issues every time you do an inspection.

You should perform a maintenance inspection on your Acura TL every 10,000 miles, but you should also look for signs of damage in between inspections.

Your check engine light is an obvious indicator, but if you hear strange noises, feel poor performance, or are having braking issues, for example, you may need to act before your next scheduled inspection. 

Oil

The most important thing to maintain in any vehicle is the oil running through the engine. Keeping up to date on oil changes can drastically reduce the cost of maintenance overall.

Since the oil lubricates and protects the engine of your Acura TL, oil changes will prevent damage to other, more expensive, parts. You can get the correct amount of oil for around $60, and oil filters for around $10 to $25.

Transmission Fluid

The transmission fluid in your Acura TL performs many functions, most notably lubricating the internal parts of your transmission.

You won’t have to flush it very often, if at all, but if you do, it will cost you around $50 for the fluid and a new filter.

Power Steering

To prevent your power steering from failing you should flush the power steering fluid in your Acura TL every 60,000 miles or so. Power steering fluid should cost you less than $20

Tires/Wheel Alignment

You should first check your tires for wear and then ensure they have the proper air pressure. If you need a new tire, you will have many choices at many prices.

Most tires will fall in the range of $85 to $300. If you need a wheel alignment you would be best suited to taking the vehicle to a mechanic because they have computers for doing very accurate measurements.

A wheel alignment does not require parts, but you can expect to pay for about an hour of labor, or around $100.

Brakes

You should check the brake pads, rotors, and brake fluid. If you only need the pads, you will not have to pay much over $50, but if you need rotors as well you can expect to pay from $150 to over $300.

If you need to flush your brake fluid, you will need around 60 oz. of fluid told. You can find a gallon of brake fluid for under $25.

Exhaust

If you are having exhaust issues with your Acura TL, you may notice that your engine is louder, you are wasting fuel, or your steering wheel or pedals are vibrating uncharacteristically.

The cost to fix your exhaust system will greatly depend on the part you need.

To replace the whole system, you may need close to $4,000 in parts, although you could potentially get away with closer to $700 if you look hard enough.

The catalytic converter alone can cost from $100 to over $1,000, but most of them are in the $200 to $600 range. On the other hand, if you only need a muffler you can expect to pay closer to $300.

Spark Plugs

You should replace your Acura TL spark plugs regularly, but if your engine is misfiring, you are having issues starting your car, or if you are having trouble accelerating, etc., you may need to replace your spark plugs before the schedule calls for it.

The spark plugs alone can cost between $30 and $60. A wire set costs around $60. However, you can probably find a kit with all the parts included for around $100.

Air Filters

There are two relevant air filters in your Acura TL. You can get a replacement engine air filter for around $30. Alternatively, you can get the cabin air filter for under $20.

Fuel Filter

Most gas you get is generally clean, but over time debris will get into your fuel filter and you will need to replace it. A fuel filter and pump will cost around $40 for your Acura TL.

PCV Valve

The PCV valve is important for emissions control. They may be a little difficult to replace, but at least you can find one for less than $10 if you really shop around.

On average, however, you will likely pay in the range of $30 to replace this part.

Oxygen Sensor

The proper air to fuel ratio in your Acura TL is essential for proper performance. You should therefore inspect your oxygen sensors to make sure they are working correctly.

If you need to replace them it will probably cost you around $100 for a pack of four.

Mass Airflow Sensor

The mass airflow sensor is another part to measure air to fuel ratios. If you are just cleaning it, it will cost you between $5 and $15 for a cleaner, but if you must replace it you can expect to pay between $150 to $250.

Timing Belt

Although you will probably get close to 10 years out of your Acura TL timing belt, you should eventually replace it.

The timing belt ensures the moving parts in your engine work in harmony, so if there is a timing belt problem, there will soon be many other problems.

You can get a timing belt by itself for less than $100, but you should probably get a kit to replace the timing belt and other connected parts like the water pump. Expect to pay somewhere around $150 to $500 for a full kit.

Clutch and hydraulic system

If you have a manual transmission you may need to replace your clutch. If this is the case, you can expect to pay just under $1,000 for parts.

Windshield washer fluid

Not much to say here. Check if it’s low and fill it if you need to. A bottle of fluid costs a few dollars.

Conclusion

Your Acura TL is one of the least expensive luxury class sedans to maintain. This cost is further reduced if you do your maintenance on a regular schedule.

Many of the maintenance tasks can be easy DIY projects, but you should bring your Acura TL to a mechanic every once in a while. A good mechanic is an expert and will notice things that you won’t.

Further, a mechanic has specialized tools and accurate measuring devices that you simply will not have at home if you are not a mechanic.

Finally, remember that even though you may do maintenance to your Acura TL on a regular basis, problems will inevitably occur off schedule. Always be vigilant and pay attention to what your car is telling you. Like any relationship, communication will keep you together for many years.