rickshobbies

I see several posts from people describing problems with their 3.0 tranny, but what I would like to know is how a properly functioning tranny should behave. I know this sounds like a strange question, but for those of us with these trannys that have not yet failed, and those like me who recently bought a 3.0 CL, it would be helpful to know what is normal with the shifts.

So, what should the 1-2 shift, 2-3 shift, 3-4 shift and all downshifts feel like? For instance, is it normal for the 1-2 shift to be more pronounced than the others? For some makes and models of cars it would be, some cars not. What is normal for the 3.0 CL?

Hopefully this is making some sense...

97Acura3.0CL

you should not down shift at all with the tranny on the 3.0, the 1st and 2nd are only for going up hill for towing, i sue d3 sometime when i am merging onto the freeway but thats it

shifting when felt in the car should feel smooth and not rough, if you feel jerking or a hard shift, i would take it in to be looked at or try a tranny flush

hope this helps

joeshmoe

All shifts should be smooth. 1-2 can be a little hard but not enough to warrant that a problem exists. Failing trannys usually have trouble shifting up early in the gears. Missing or delayed shifts are signs, particularly when the engine/tranny is cold. Before I replaced mine, it would have difficulty/delayed shifting from 1-2 and slightly 3-4, but only when it was cold. After warm up, it would shift fine.

You can definitely notice the problem. It is not subtle at all.

ib_jimmy

yeah when 1st to 2nd u should feel a lil bit of a pull if u get over 3K RPM....under that u should hardly feel the shifting. 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 4th is pretty smooth even at high RPM.

BTW guys, do ya shift from D4 to D3 a lot? is that bad for the car? do you guy drive on D3 on the inner road sometime?

97Acura3.0CL

D3 to D4 is not that bad but if you do it too much with high reving and red lining the car, then yes it can be bad, my transmission guy told me thats why mine was so bad

i only drive on d3 when i try to pass someone on a 2 lane road or getting onto the freeway but thats it

rickshobbies

Interesting. On my 3.0, the shift from 1st to 2nd doesn't bang into gear or anything, but you do feel it surge when it shifts. Almost like it's coming out of 1st and then getting off the gas a little before shifting into 2nd. I know that some cars just feel that way and it's normal but I am not sure how the CL should feel.