MaxMike93

I was looking at the 1999 Acura CL and on consumerguide.com, i noticed this:

I compared it to the 2001-2003 CL and it was the exact same thing, wording and everything. Is the '99 CL also prone to the transmission breaking like its successor? I am wondering since if the 1999 model is affected, then why not the 1997 or 1998? And since the 2nd generation CL has the disscusion sub-forum about the transmission failures while the 1st generation does not. Or is Consumer Guide wrong since the 3.2CL and 3.2TL had the problem with their 5-speed autos, while the 3.0CL was a 4-speed?

shnee

I don't know what to tell you exactly, but it is common for the auto transmissions to fail. I just replaced the one in my 1997 3.0 at around 175k miles.

MaxMike93

I mean like are they prone to the same issue as the 3.2CL and 3.2TL; the early wear-out. Just because the one I may be getting is a 1999 (around 55K miles), and Consumer Guide has the same transmission problem description on (only) the 1999 CL as the 2001-2003 CL.

shnee

From talking to my mechanic and from all the stuff I've read here, it seems the first gen CL transmissions are not nearly as bad as the 3.2s. So they are not as prone to fail, but they are still known to be poor.

MaxMike93

OK, thanks. It's just that when I get this car (hopefully), I would be pretty nervous about the transmission breaking immediately, causing me to pay over $1000 to get it fixed. I am wondering, though, if Consumer Guide did have it wrong and applied a trouble spot to the 3.0CL when it is really just for the 3.2CL . Just a note, this particular care has around 55K on the odometer, if it matters.

shnee

Just a heads up, you will probably be spending a lot more than 1000 if you get a full rebuild done well and don't have any connections. 55k is low as hell so hopefully you will be good for a long time. Install a transmission cooler ASAP (do it yourself, it's easy). My mechanic suggested I drain and fill my new trans every 15k for optimal care, but no later than 30k or I void my warranty. You might want to hop on that schedule as well.
Good luck.

MaxMike93

I can't get to it that soon because I don't have it yet. The car is my grandmother's and she says that she doesn't like it much anymore (V6 is too much power and fuel use, and the car is too big), so she said I was going to get it when I get my license (April). But I know that it isn't driven too hard, hopefully lol.

whiteyy97CL

dang dude nice score! (hopefully) i wish i could find any kinda cl with those miles.

MaxMike93

thanks. i would have been last year if it wasn't for New Jersey not licensing drivers until 17 . But I did drive it a few times and I did like it...a lot

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

MaxMike93

So Consumer Guide is wrong. So much for being a trusted source lol. They must have thought that it had the 5-speed auto or something

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Our trannies are notorious for breaking from defect, sorry I quoted the wrong post

DoubleSh0t

iTrader: (1)

Just to give you an idea, right around 80,000 miles is when my transmission started acting up. I now have just under 110,000. We had a very cold spell here lately, and most mornings my car was unable to find first gear. Now that it has warmed up, the problem isn't as bad, but our transmissions are definitely weak.

madsteez

from the grave.

I havent had my cl for but a week or so and I am already terrified about the transmission. It shifts perfect when you accelerate quickly,but under normal driving you can feel the shifts as well at 2-3 slips for about 200rpm till it catches its self again.


Am I destined for a rebuild?

fliplyricist1

only time will tell.

just to let you know, miles on the car really doesnt matter when it comes to these trannies. my mom ordered my cl new from the factory back in 97 and the tranny went out with only 15k miles on the clock and had to be replaced. Just the luck of the draw.

OttaWacK

It depends how cold it is and warm your car is. If it is too cold it will over-ride shifting and TC lock out. I notice that my 3.0 shifts perfectly at 3000rpm+ but under that it can be a little sluggish even when warm. When the car is cold it is absolutely awful. When I start the car, it warms up for 4.5mins then I put the car in gear and let it circulate the transmission before I pull out. I also back in at night so avoid shifting to R and D4 in the morning and making the transmission do any work when cold (I live in Canada, and it has been -13C for the last while).

Personally, I would not worry about it. Keep up maintenance and dont race it and it will last. As a further note, these Honda V6 transmissions are also known to shift hard anyways.

South Jersey CL

speaking of good deals, i bought my CL with 53k on the clock about a year and a half ago. you also said you live in NJ...i used to live there, where are you at?

madsteez

Well I just ordered a magnetic drain plug and I plan to drain and fill the trans about 4 times within the next couple hundred miles. Do you think that would be too eratic? Im hoping with the plug I will be able to remove as much metal trash and debris as possible without allowing it to recirculate.


As anyone gone though a full on trans. flush and seen good results? I had to do it and end up creating a block from loose debris.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

You do NOT want to flush our tranny, only drain and fill

madsteez

Why do you say that? Is it more common for the transmission's debris getting knocked loose to cause more problems than fixing them? Or because it may cause leaks?

I know that flushes rely souly off the power of the transmission to exchange old fluid with new fluid so why such a serious response?

MaxMike93

I live in Bergen, pretty close to NY. And in the summer I'm usually in Ocean County at my family's shore house. Don't know if that will change because of my part time job now

And on another note, why not flush the trans? I was thinking of going to Park Ave Acura where the car is originally from (I remember picking it up when I was 6 lol) when I get the car and having them do some of their advertised service specials, which I saw once was to do a full transmission flush and new fluid

MaxMike93

bump. wouldnt the flush make sure that all the old fluid is out and not just mixed with the new fluid that would be put in? Why drain and fill only and not flush?

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

With how fragile our trannies are flushing is a really bad idea, at least that's what I've been told

DaInFaMMuS1

And you're absolutely right. Flushing would cause any material that's helping to keep the tranny together right out of the transmission, like clutchdisc material that might've become loose over time but is still holding on due to the transmission fluid. Flush that out, say bye bye tranny because it'll then start to shift even harder than before and then fail on you. So yeah, drain and fill, do not flush.

dragon084

just make sure you keep an eye on your throttle body and IACV, if anything gets clogged or disrupts the airway or whatever, you can screw up the IACV and that valve can cause some funky shit to happen.

my trans was bugging and a swapped the IACV and it was all good.

my CEL is on, but i'll figure that out when I have time...

devlin1963

I just got my 3.0CL last week and was told to put Trans X in it by another ACura owner. Anyone ever done this before? Mine slips on rolling stops and from 2 to 3 when cold.