When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Acceleration issues on '01 CL-S --- transmission or something else?
A very brief history of the car: it's a 2001 CL-S that I purchased from the original owner for my daughter to drive. He had the transmission rebuilt at the Acura dealer under the recall at 97,000 miles, back in late 2007, just before I bought it from him in early 2008. This car was dealer maintained from new, right up to 100,000 miles.
For the last 70,000 miles, I have faithfully done the drain and fills at a local Acura specialist, always using the Acura/Honda fluid at intervals averaging 10-12k miles. Up until a week ago, the car performed flawlessly.
Last week, my daughter told me that the car was "not accelerating" despite the fact that she was giving it gas. She backed off the gas, and it still didn't accelerate. When she gave it gas again, she said "it slammed into gear". It doesn't do it every time she drives the car, but it has done it about 6 times in the last 5 days. I went and drove it this morning, and the problem did not happen.
I thought the rebuild by Acura was supposed to fix the problem? Or is it possible that this is something other than the transmission?
Definitely sounds like trans. There's somethings you can try but we need very specific details of whats happening. Like what gear it's in when it's happening... up or down shifts, flairs or shuddering, forward or reverse, one gear or all gears etc... when it happens.
Make sure the trans fluid level is currently correct.
Definitely sounds like trans. There's somethings you can try but we need very specific details of whats happening. Like what gear it's in when it's happening... up or down shifts, flairs or shuddering, forward or reverse, one gear or all gears etc... when it happens.
Make sure the trans fluid level is currently correct.
Replaced the trans filter too?
According to my daughter, it occurs on upshifts, between 1st and 2nd gear. She did report some shuddering as well.
I'll double-check the trans fluid level this morning, just to be sure.
Unfortunately, I have not replaced the trans filter since I've owned it. It was replaced when Acura performed the rebuild.
I hear some people put in a 07 accord trans from the v6 its a much better design from what I read on these forums, what ever you do to the one that in there now it will just keep happening over and over...
Unfortunately there's not much options for 1st and 2nd gears externally.
Check readjust the shift cable.
You can try replacing the Shift Solenoids A, B, & C. However, you should know that's kinda a hail marry past.
You should change the trans filter if you are going to change solenoids. I recommend oem parts except for filter.
Thanks for the info on this --- I'm going to try a drain and fill and new filter and see what happens. I've forwarded your post to my mechanic in case the fluid/filter doesn't eliminate the problem.
Originally Posted by mattcl-s
I hear some people put in a 07 accord trans from the v6 its a much better design from what I read on these forums, what ever you do to the one that in there now it will just keep happening over and over...
Interesting --- is that a direct bolt-in? Or do you need to make some mods to drop an '07 V6 Accord trans in?
Okay......just got back from my mechanic. Here's a follow-up.
He drained the old fluid. It wasn't coffee-colored, but it wasn't as clean as the fluid we put in, either. The interesting thing is the old fluid had almost exactly 18,000 miles on it, which is a bit outside of the range I like to change it. However, as it is my daughter's car, I don't have the same access to it when she lived at home.
Now, on to the interesting part. I installed a new spin-on filter -- thank you, 01acls, for the wake-up call on this. The old filter likely had been on for 7 years and 65,000 miles. I DONOT recommend this change interval. AT ALL. Lol. I consider myself to be fairly car-savvy (i've owned 75 cars since I started driving -- long before most of you were born...haha), but somehow I never even thought about an external transmission filter on this car. Needless to say, I won't make that mistake twice.
The fluid that came out of the filter did not look all that great, either. We let the thing drain completely, and then my mechanic had a slick tool that he used to siphon nearly another quart out.
He put everything back together, added the fresh fluid, checked the level, and sent me on my way. The car drove MUCH better after that. I think I may have dodged a serious bullet on this, hopefully. Because the fluid is so cheap ($8/qt. online), and the drain and fill is so easy, I plan on doing this once every 12 months, regardless of mileage.
So, to recap, don't forget to change your filter if you haven't done it recently! For what it's worth, I took 01acls' advice and went aftermarket, scoring one for $19 at Advance Auto (the local Acura dealer wanted $78). This kind of maintenance is definitely critical if you want to keep driving your CL.
I cant find the thread... but I know people have done it, if you post a new thread I'm sure someone will come in with a little bit more knowledge then me
Nice one! Fortunate that you were able to change the filter and fluid for a problem fix. I have had my car (2001 CLS) for two years now. I've had a few issues that seemed to be transmission related but turned out to be other problems (O2 sensors, filters, speed sensors).
Nice one! Fortunate that you were able to change the filter and fluid for a problem fix. I have had my car (2001 CLS) for two years now. I've had a few issues that seemed to be transmission related but turned out to be other problems (O2 sensors, filters, speed sensors).
Thanks, J_Gats! I hope that this problem doesn't happen again. The car definitely drove better right after that, so I'll keep a close eye on it.
Glad to hear you've dodged any transmission troubles as well!
07-28-2015, 10:42 PM
